Don't look back

I stood, watching, as the residential doctor tended to Mrs Inoue, until she finally fell asleep. 

I had no idea the woman was hypertensive.

Watching her like this broke my heart and I wondered whether it was right to have unveiled the mysteries surrounding her daughter’s suicide because of my personal revenge against Ophelia.

If I had not exposed the truth, this memorial would not have been so hard on the poor woman.

“We should let her rest, chairwoman.” The doctor bowed deeply before me.

I clung tightly to the strap of my Debbie Wingman Easter egg purse and returned his bow. 

I then smiled tightly at the maids and led the way out of the bedroom into the hallway.

I had just stepped out the door when I almost stumbled and fell.

“What do you think you are doing?” I gasped as I looked at Ophelia with wide eyes. 

She was kneeling outside the door with both her hands folded in a humble pose on her lap.

“I am truly sorry."

“If you truly were, you would leave after seeing how much distress you were causing her.” I shot out, finally losing my patience at her insensitivity.

Ophelia looked up at me from where she was kneeling, and her mask was gone. 

I scoffed in disbelief, stepping back.

I almost fell for it. 

I, who knew how ruthless and vicious this woman could be, had almost fallen for her game of pretend. 

Now I could not help wondering why she was truly here. What was her true motive? 

Did she come to plant a bomb here that would detonate by midnight?

Everyone around us scrambled away as Ophelia rose to her feet and looked me in the eye.

“Who do you think you are to talk to me that way?”

“Your superior” 

Ophelia scoffed at what I figured was my audacity, the vein in her neck beginning to pulse

I closed the distance between us to stare into her eyes in challenge. 

“You are moving too fast, girl.” She emphasized the last word condescendingly, a bitter smile crossing her face. “You might crash and burn.” She said, gently caressing the sleeve of my dress.

“Don’t talk to me like we are peers,” I smiled sweetly, “Old lady."

She lost it and raised her hand, bringing her clawed fingers close to grip my neck. 

I did not move, hoping she would really go through with it.

I needed the perfect excuse to release all my pent-up anger at this woman who killed my child. 

But she stopped midway and stepped back, breathing hard.

“Old lady? Is that why you think you can lure Blaine to your bed again?”

I looked at her, saying nothing. 

From the first day we met, she had made it her goal to emphasize how young I was with condescending terms and tones. Now that I mention her age, she cries fowl?

“You suddenly cannot speak? You social climbing whore.”

I giggled, unable to contain my sudden amusement. “You are no longer sorry?”

“What?

“Hansei shite orimasu” I brought my hands together in front of me, mimicking her act of repentance from the memorial just now.

“You little..” She stopped midway into attacking me again, and balled her fists beside her. She was shaking with rage and her skin was beginning to redden.

I scoffed and began to walk away.

My monochrome, ankle-length kimono dress fluffed around me, brushing Ophelia, and she finally combusted.

“Leave my husband alone, you homewrecker.” She shrieked.

I halted, feeling sudden irritation at her tireless accusation.

“What makes you think Blaine is so desirable?” I turned around to frown at her.

“Don’t play dumb with me. Why the hell would you come back if it was not to take him away from me?” She was trembling, and her mascara was beginning to taint her waterline.

“It never crossed your mind that I just may have come back for you?” I tilted my head to the side. 

She looked at me, as her eyes widened. 

“You know what you did?” I said, keeping my eyes on her as I began to close the distance between us. “You know how many lives you took in one night.” I continued, even as anger began to uncoil in my belly at the thought of that night.

Ophelia was backing away from me the closer I got.

“My mother, my son, grandfather.” I paused. “Even the maid.”

Ophelia was shaking her head at me now, her eyes wide with fear. “You will say anything to take my place. Is that your plan? To win Blaine over with these horrible lies.”

“What do you think the Tuckers will do to you when they discover you are behind their present predicament?

“Liar!” She screamed, her jaw trembling. 

I stopped. 

I did not want to disturb the minister’s wife’s rest. Ophelia would only get louder and louder if I continued to engage her.

“Think of the Karma that is already near your door, Ophelia.” I said calmly, with a sigh. “Keep calling me a homewrecker and I just might take Blaine for real.” 

I let the smile in my chest radiate out my face. 

“I did it before, I could do it again.”

I winked as Ophelia’s jaw dropped in horror and then flames leaped in her eyes. 

I giggled, turned around and saw Kan standing there.

He walked towards me, leaned in to kiss my cheek, and whispered, “Tucker was trying to get into Oliver’s ward.

My eyes widened, and my purse nearly slipped from my grasp.

“No, no, honey.” Kan whispered urgently, placing his hand on my lower back. “You cannot let the Turner bitch suspect something is wrong.”

I swallowed, still holding my back stiffly as my heart raced widely. 

I should have known. 

How the hell did Blaine find out so quickly though?

I knew I could not keep him in the dark for too long. He was much too smart for that. 

But still, this was way too soon. 

And what the hell was I doing here when that cold monster was so close to my precious boy?

The thought alone of that uncaring, power-crazed man anywhere near my Oliver made me want to run off to another continent with my son.

Blaine cared about no one but himself and the company. Every other person was simply a tool to climb higher, or some form of stress relief. 

Like I was almost two years ago.

“Come with me and don’t look back,” Kan said.