Cheers to the New Year and the End of Us

"What do you mean 'go live with her'? Grace, can you stop being so petty? I was just checking in on a colleague as her boss. What's so wrong with that? How could you accuse us of something so awful?"

My words had clearly hit a nerve. Harry snapped back, trying to act like he wasn't fazed.

I let out a cold laugh and calmly asked, "Oh? Don't you think the way you check in on her is way too much? You care more about her than you do your wife.

"When I collapsed at the dinner, you were the first one to step back, weren't you?"

Harry froze, then tried to soften his tone. It was obvious he was struggling to hold back his temper. "Grace, I know you're upset. I'll definitely deal with Sally and make things right for you. But you don't need to call the police. She just graduated from college..."

"How exactly are you going to deal with her?"

After brushing up against death and waking up again, I felt like I could finally see everything clearly. My temples throbbed with a dull ache, and I cut him off before he could keep rambling.

Harry hesitated. Then, he muttered, "Dock half a day's pay."

"You're telling me I nearly died and all she gets is half a day's pay docked?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I almost laughed out of sheer disbelief.

"That's enough! It's not like she did it on purpose. She just graduated. She barely has any money. She has to pay rent and support herself. This is already a big deal! How is she supposed to survive if you take more?" His face darkened. He clearly just wanted me to drop it.

But I had no intention of talking to him any further. I pulled out my phone, ready to call the police.

Sally just having graduated was not an excuse. The moment she became an adult, she became responsible for her actions.

I had just started dialing when Harry rushed over, snatched the phone from my hand, and hung up. Then, he lashed out in anger, saying, "Do you have to ruin her future over this? She's still so young! What does she even understand?"

"I'm just trying to tell the police the truth. She knows exactly what she did." I frowned and reached for my phone again.

The room instantly filled with tension as neither of us was willing to back down.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Soon, Sally walked in carrying a fruit basket. She wore just the right amount of tears on her face, looking shy and nervous as she stepped inside. The moment she met my eyes, she bowed and apologized.

"I'm sorry, Grace. This was all my fault. I'm really sorry."

"Sally, come sit down," Harry quickly said, rushing over to welcome her. He took the fruit basket from her and even patted her shoulder. "You didn't have to bring this. Grace is fine now. Don't cry. There's nothing to be afraid of."

"I'm sorry for causing trouble."

If Sally had just left it at that, maybe it would've been tolerable. But the moment she said that, her eyes welled up with tears like she had been truly shaken.

Upon seeing her choke up, Harry looked even more distressed.

Just as her tears brimmed over, she glanced up at me. Her eyes were full of smug satisfaction.

I furrowed my brow and was about to call her out. Then, without warning, she dropped to her knees beside my bed. As she bowed her head, she pressed her forehead to the floor and burst into tears.

"I'm sorry, Grace. I really didn't know you were on medication. I only swapped the drinks to liven things up. I didn't mean anything by it."

"Sally! What are you doing? Get up!" Harry was completely stunned. He rushed forward to help her up, then turned back to me, furious at my cold expression."She's already doing this much! And you still won't believe her?

"Grace, how did I not realize how heartless you are? Just forgive her already! Don't make this harder on her.

"Sally, get up. Grace wouldn't want to see you like this..."

"I won't get up! Not until Grace forgives me!" Sally sobbed uncontrollably, begging for forgiveness.

My head pounded. I had no patience left to watch her performance.

Harry saw that I remained unmoved and, in a sudden fit of rage, slapped me across the face. "Grace! You cruel woman!"

It all happened so fast.

The right side of my face burned with pain.

With that slap, Harry shattered the last bit of love I still had for him.