Chapter 309
“Why the hell do you see Sharon in every woman?” Edric, who had been disengaged, playing cards on his phone, shot a glance over and asked.
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Every time Sharon’s name came up, Edric visibly cringed. Just like that time Ray spotted a dancer in the ballroom and made the same snarky comment.
Already in a foul mood, Edwin couldn’t sit still anymore with the ongoing discussion about Sharon. He abruptly stood up and left the booth.
*****
After an engaging livestream that lasted over an hour, Sharon and Irene were still riding the high.
Irene removed her fox mask, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at Sharon. “Mommy, that’s the happiest I’ve ever seen you smile. You’re so pretty when you smile!”
Sharon froze for a moment, a sharp realization piercing her thoughts. ‘Four years into this marriage, and I’ve damn near forgotten how to crack a smile.
“You were amazing, Irene. I had no idea you could dance like that,” Sharon complimented, pinching her cheek gently.
Blushing, Irene looked down. “I’ve always loved dancing, but Grandma and Auntie hate it. I didn’t want them to scold you, so I stopped…”
Sharon’s eyes welled up with tears as the realization struck her hard.
After Sharon got married, she and Irene continued to live with her mother–in–law, Jasmine Stanley, and sister–in–law, Tina Stanley.
Ever since she was just months old, Irene had shown a natural talent for dancing. As a toddler, she’d choreograph her own dances. But over time, she danced less and less. Sharon had thought Irene had simply lost interest. Now she understood the real reason was fear of getting chewed out.
Overwhelmed with guilt, Sharon hugged Irene tightly. “From now on, you can dance whenever you feel like it, and don’t worry about anything else.” She reassured her. Then, hesitantly, she added, “There’s something else, honey. We won’t be living with grandma anymore, and I’ve separated from your dad. Is that okay with you?”
The notion of divorce hadn’t been discussed with Irene, leaving Sharon extremely anxious.
“Does this mean we don’t have to stay at Grandma’s anymore?” Irene paused briefly, then her face brightened with joy. “That would be amazing.”
“You don’t want to stay there either?” Sharon asked, taken aback by Irene’s enthusiastic response.
“No.” Irene shook her head firmly. “Grandma and Auntie don’t like you or me. I don’t like them either!”
Sharon felt an even deeper guilt. Being the daughter of a humble shoemaker had made her subject to the Stanleys‘ disdain, which they extended to Irene. Irene’s existence had been kept a secret for three years, a source of shame to the Stanley family.
Sharon pondered regretfully, ‘What if I hadn’t made that impulsive decision back then? What if I had raised my child alone after finding out about the pregnancy? Would things be different?”
Soon after, Alanna told her that the apartment she needed was available. Sharon took Irene to the new apartment, a place she had secured with her earnings from her pre–marriage live–streaming career.
The moment they opened the door, a respectful and enthusiastic voice greeted them. “Hello, host; my name is Eddy, your 1/3
Chapter 309
Chapter 309
“Why the hell do you see Sharon in every woman?” Edric, who had been disengaged, playing cards on his phone, shot a glance over and asked.
Every time Sharon’s name came up, Edric visibly cringed. Just like that time Ray spotted a dancer in the ballroom and made the same snarky comment.
Already in a foul mood, Edwin couldn’t sit still anymore with the ongoing discussion about Sharon. He abruptly stood up and left the booth.
After an engaging livestream that lasted over an hour, Sharon and Irene were still riding the high.
Irene removed her fox mask, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at Sharon. “Mommy, that’s the happiest I’ve ever seen you smile. You’re so pretty when you smile!”
Sharon froze for a moment, a sharp realization piercing her thoughts. ‘Four years into this marriage, and I’ve damn near forgotten how to crack a smile!
“You were amazing, Irene. I had no idea you could dance like that,” Sharon complimented, pinching her cheek gently.
Blushing, Irene looked down. “I’ve always loved dancing, but Grandma and Auntie hate it. I didn’t want them to scold you, so I stopped…”
Sharon’s eyes
welled up with tears as the realization struck her hard.
After Sharon got married, she and Irene continued to live with her mother–in–law, Jasmine Stanley, and sister–in–law, Tina Stanley.
Ever since she was just months old, Irene had shown a natural talent for dancing. As a toddler, she’d choreograph her own dances. But over time, she danced less and less. Sharon had thought Irene had simply lost interest. Now she understood the real reason was fear of getting chewed out.
Overwhelmed with guilt, Sharon hugged Irene tightly. “From now on, you can dance whenever you feel like it, and don’t worry about anything else.” She reassured her. Then, hesitantly, she added, “There’s something else, honey. We won’t be living with grandma anymore, and I’ve separated from your dad. Is that okay with you?”
The notion of divorce hadn’t been discussed with Irene, leaving Sharon extremely anxious.
“Does this mean we don’t have to stay at Grandma’s anymore?” Irene paused briefly, then her face brightened with joy. “That would be amazing.”
“You don’t want to stay there either?” Sharon asked, taken aback by Irene’s enthusiastic response.
“No.” Irene shook her head firmly. “Grandma and Auntie don’t like you or me. I don’t like them either!”
Sharon felt an even deeper guilt. Being the daughter of a humble shoemaker had made her subject to the Stanleys‘ disdain, which they extended to Irene. Irene’s existence had been kept a secret for three years, a source of shame to the Stanley family.
Sharon pondered regretfully, ‘What if I hadn’t made that impulsive decision back then? What if I had raised my child alone after finding out about the pregnancy? Would things be different?‘
Soon after, Alanna told her that the apartment she needed was available. Sharon took Irene to the new apartment, a place she had secured with her earnings from her pre–marriage live–streaming career.
The moment they opened the door, a respectful and enthusiastic voice greeted them. “Hello, host; my name is Eddy, your
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Chapter 309
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most devoted, smart butler. Just give the word, and I’ll be at your service.”
Sharon burst into laughter. “Alanna, have you lost your mind? I left that house to forget all about them, and here you are setting me up with an Eddy?”
“With everything you endured there, since we couldn’t get your money back, at least let’s get some revenge. I’ve programmed this smart butler not just with that jerk’s voice but his mom’s and sister’s, too. Switch them up when you want to give them a piece of your mind!” Alanna declared fiercely, as she knew all too well the pain and humiliation Sharon had suffered these past four years and felt indignantly on her behalf.
Sharon gave her a resigned eye–roll as they entered the apartment, with Irene happily scampering off to her new pink, lace- filled bedroom filled with dolls.
As they settled by the coffee table, scrolling through their phones and sipping coffee, Alanna suddenly asked, “With all those villas in your name, why pick this tiny apartment?”
After four years in the vast, cold mansion of the Stanley family, Sharon was done with the emptiness. She looked around her modest living space and shrugged. “Smaller feels cozier. It doesn’t feel so hollow. Besides, I bought this place before I got married. I want to get back to who I was before all that.”
Moved almost to tears by Sharon’s determination, Alanna felt a wave of relief wash over her. “That’s the spirit.”
They resumed browsing on their phones. The buzz around Sharon and Rocky Jensen hadn’t died down yet, and Alanna couldn’t help but let out a chuckle. “Everyone seems to think you two would be great together. Honestly, Rocky is leagues better than that scumbag Edwin.”
“Rocky is great, but let’s not play matchmaker. I just want to enjoy life with Irene right now. I’m not interested in romance,” Sharon said, clearly resigned.
After the emotional torture she had endured with Edwin, Sharon had given up on love.
“Damn it!” Amid their conversation, Alanna suddenly slammed her hand on the coffee table, making the cups rattle. “That Edwin is the ultimate lowlife! His divorce papers are still warm, and he is already planning to get engaged to Tilda Gill!”
Sharon looked over and saw Tilda’s Twitter page on Alanna’s phone. It showed a photo of her beaming and holding hands with someone. Although the man’s face was obscured, a distinct red mole on his middle finger made it clear–it was indeed Edwin.
The caption boldly declared, “Spring has sprung, perfect for getting engaged.”
Sharon glanced at the screen, offering a faint, dismissive smile. “To me, they’re just strangers now. Whether they’re getting engaged or married, it’s none of my business.” With that, she turned away, refusing to look again.
“Still, it pisses me off!” Alanna slammed her hand down on the table, her voice seething with anger. “If it weren’t for you speaking up back then, Edwin would’ve faced utter humiliation, and the Stanley Group might’ve tanked!” She continued, “He’s not only ungrateful but also totally ignores you. And flaunting his thing with Tilda so publicly, what’s that about? It’s like he is saying everything you did for him was a waste, and you deserved all the pain.”
“In his eyes, that’s exactly it.” Sharon sighed, having long resigned herself to that harsh reality.
“That fucking asshole!” Alanna grabbed a coffee stirrer and furiously scratched at the table, pretending it was Edwin. “We might have lost in love, but we won’t lose in life. If he thinks he can just stomp all over you, we’re going to stir up some trouble to make him pay. I’m deploying Randall this time; his unmatched noble charm will totally crush Edwin!” She clapped her hands decisively and grabbed her phone.
“Cut it out, will you?” Sharon pleaded, worn out by Alana’s schemes. “You’ve already set me up with two guys this month; people are going to start thinking I’m a serial dater. Plus, Randall is different from Rocky–so untainted and upright. I just couldn’t bear to drag him into this.”
“All right. All right.” Alanna looked at her with a mix of frustration and affection. Knowing she couldn’t sway Sharon, she
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reluctantly dropped the subject with a sigh.
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Although she hadn’t planned on involving Randall, upon hearing he had returned to town, Sharon decided to take Irene to
visit him.
