Resign with Grace, Return with Fire Chapter 26
Sandra trembled in rage, feeling stung by my retort. Her face turned steely, then pale. She kept oscillating between the two.
“You’re mine. I won’t let you be with anyone else!” In a fit of rage, she lunged forward to tear me and Ariana
apart.
However, Ariana reached out and shoved her aside. “The way you cling to Fred is so shrew-like, you know. Honestly, it’s ugly. Fred is my man now; you broke his heart back then by not cherishing him. But don’t worry, because from now on, I’ll give him all the love you never did!”
Sandra seethed. She shot Ariana a vicious glare and screeched, “Whatever happened between us is none of your business! Who do you think you are? You’re just the other woman who barged into our relationship!
“This is all your fault, you homewrecker! If it weren’t for you, Fred would never treat me like this. You must’ve cast a spell on him or something! I’ll ruin your face now so you can’t seduce anyone anymore!”
With that, she lunged, her fingers slashing toward Ariana’s face.
Just as her sharp nails were about to carve into Ariana’s cheek, I rushed forward and shielded Ariana behind me, taking the blow for her. Three bloody welts sprang across my face, and blood streamed down.
Sandra froze, immediately yanking her hand back and standing there at a loss. She looked frantic. “Fred, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
Ariana quickly pulled out tissues and carefully dabbed at the wound, a trace of heartache flickering in her eyes. Why were you so silly, Fred?”
The moment she spoke, Sandra shot her a death glare and vented her rage at her. “It’s all your fault, you witch! If not for you, Fred wouldn’t be hurt! Why don’t you just drop dead?”
She was like a beast gone feral. Her eyes turned red as she started to lunge for Ariana again.
I stepped in front of Ariana, raised a hand, and slapped Sandra hard across the face. “Haven’t you had enough of this nonsense, Sandra?”
With a sharp crack, a bright red handprint bloomed across Sandra’s cheek.
She cupped it and stared at me in disbelief. Her eyes welled up despite herself, and she sounded wounded.” Fred, you… you hit me? And you did it for that homewrecker? You’ve changed. You weren’t like this before. You never even raised your voice against me in the past…”
Yes, the old me had given Sandra anything she had asked for. When she’d fainted due to heatstroke, I’d been beside myself with worry. I’d stayed by her side and cared for her.
But it was precisely because I’d spoiled her rotten that she’d become what she was now.
I looked her in the eye and said icily, “Yes, I’ve changed. I don’t love you anymore. But aren’t you the one who forced me to become this person, Sandra?”
The version of me who’d loved Sandra had died long ago. I’d died bit by bit each time she’d ditched me for Lester, and each time she’d hurt me. And the heart that had beat for her had diminished with each betrayal until
nothing was left.
Now, facing Sandra again, I had no patience and none of my former tenderness. All I felt was irritation.
I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her. I turned and looked at Ariana gently, asking, “Are you okay? Did you get hurt?”
She shook her head and reached out to touch the scratches on my face. Her eyes were filled with heartache.
