Chapter 7

In the end, Silas was rushed to the hospital by a kind onlooker from the banquet.

As the doctor dressed Silas' wounds, he repeatedly shook his head at the severity of the injuries.

"Your injuries are pretty serious. Are you sure you don't want to be admitted to the hospital?" he asked. "You look like a married man. Where's your wife? How could she not be here to look after you when you're this badly hurt?

"Did someone assault you? Would you like me to help you file a police report?"

"No, thank you," Silas replied numbly.

His wife was busy keeping another man company, and no one would believe him if he told them that someone else had pushed him down the stairs.

After all, he was the fool, the unreasonable man who couldn't tolerate anyone he disliked, the rebellious child who refused to behave or listen to anyone. In everyone's eyes, he was anything but a normal person.

Once his wounds had been treated, he took a cab back to the Larson residence.

When he next woke up, it was Nadine who had roused him. Her expression was cold, as though his real punishment was only just beginning.

"Jason's out of danger," she said, her voice softening ever so slightly at the mention of Jason, but the warmth vanished almost immediately. "But you pushed him, causing his old injuries to flare up again."

Silas checked the time on his phone, his expression impassive.

"And then what? Are you going to have me punished again? Lock me in the dark room? Or poison me?"

Nadine bristled the moment she heard his words.

"Do you have any idea that pushing him like that was practically attempted murder? You're putting someone's life at risk!"

"It wasn't me." Silas looked at her calmly. "You're going to say I'm lying again, aren't you? Fine, believe whatever you want. I never expected you to believe me anyway."

Nadine froze. Perhaps it was the strange tone in his voice, or perhaps something about his demeanor seemed off. Whatever it was, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was different about him.

But then she remembered that he was going through a rebellious phase, and she decided his behaviour was perfectly normal.

"I can let this incident go, but you have to leave," Nadine said, her voice cold. "Jason said you'd already found a place to stay, so you can live there on your own for a while. Once he has recovered, I'll bring you back."

There it was again—another lie.

She had previously promised to send Jason away once he recovered, too.

Silas looked at her, suddenly realizing how absurd this situation was.

"When I wasn't in my right mind, you promised you'd always believe me and stand up for me for the rest of our lives.

"Nadine, do you think you've kept that promise?"

Nadine paused for a moment, but then she turned away.

"You're the one who's been so unreasonable."

"What if I wasn't?"

"What exactly are you trying to say? That you didn't push Jason?" she demanded, her tone growing increasingly impatient. "That you weren't trying to hurt him? That you haven't been targeting him time and time again? Do you think I don't know about all the schemes you've been pulling?

"Silas, my patience has its limits. If you refuse to behave, I'll leave you for good."

Silas simply regarded her in silence. At that moment, he finally stopped agonizing over any of these things. Even if he told Nadine the truth, she would never believe him.

It was simply pointless.

"Got it."

He got up and went to collect his luggage.

Perhaps Nadine realized she'd gone too far, because she silently helped him carry his bags. Just as she was about to escort him out, her phone rang.

It was Jason.

"Take a cab there yourself, and remember to send me the address," Nadine said, placing Silas' luggage beside him. "I'll come and pick you up later."

With that, she left without looking back.

Silas didn't spare her another glance. He called a cab and headed straight to the airport.

On the way, he made a phone call.

"Could you please mail the divorce papers to the Larson residence?"

With that, everything was finally settled.

Silas gazed out of the car window, his emotions in turmoil. He'd spent 25 years in this place, and now, he was finally leaving it all behind.

He was leaving Nadine for good.

…

Several hours later, Nadine finally managed to soothe Jason to sleep. She stepped into the hallway for a cigarette and checked her phone, only to find that Silas still hadn't messaged her.

She was just about to call him and ask what was going on when an incoming call interrupted her.

"Hello, Ms. Larson. We have a package here for you from Mr. Fitzroy. Could you please come and sign for it?"