Filed to story: Billionaire Bride’s Revenge (Vera & Howard)
At that moment, Vera’s eyes fluttered open, slowly coming to grips with her surroundings and the familiar scent of sanitizer.
Seeing her mother in a heated argument with Howard, she croaked weakly, “Mom…”
Sharon quickly set aside her irritation and approached Vera’s bedside. “Are you feeling all right, sweetie? I’ll call the doctor over,” she said, concerned.
Jeff handed Vera a glass of water. Across the room, Howard watched her with a cold expression.
Sharon assisted Vera in sitting up, helping her lean comfortably against the headboard. The warm water soothed her thirst, making her feel considerably better.
Vera looked up at Howard, her gaze laden with disgust. “Dad, Mom, please ask him to leave. I don’t want to see him here.”
Sharon responded with a frown, “Absolutely not! He must face the consequences. We need to teach him a lesson.”
Howard nearly laughed out of sheer fury, thinking about how, if it weren’t for the Montgomery family’s interference, he would have married Lily instead of Vera, whom he considered beneath him.
Vera, gaining strength, held Sharon’s hand and pleaded, “Please, Mom, let it go. Even if Howard kneels and begs for forgiveness, I will never forgive him. I cannot continue with someone who betrayed me.” Her face was pale, yet her resolve was clear.
Howard’s betrayal felt like a sharp pain in her heart. In the past, Sharon might have forgiven Jeff’s infidelity to keep the family together, but Vera could not bear such a burden.
Sharon, saddened, tucked a strand of hair behind Vera’s ear, saying softly, “My poor baby, you’re such a wonderful person but ended up with such a cruel partner.”
Vera managed a weak smile, seeing the worry etched in the grey strands at her mother’s temple. She blamed herself.
“It’s all my fault… I’m sorry for the stress, Dad, Mom…
Luckily, I’m still young and can learn from my mistakes.”
Jeff sighed deeply, his gaze turning stern as he looked at Howard.
“If I had known the kind of man you truly are, I never would have approved of your marriage to Vera.”
Howard, unable to contain his frustration, shouted, “Vera, stop acting like you’re the victim here! You know very well who the real intruder in this relationship is.”
Enraged, Vera grabbed the water glass and hurled it at him, her patience finally shattered.
Howard swiftly moved aside as the glass crashed against the wall, breaking into fragments.
His gaze hardened as he confronted Vera. “Have you finished causing trouble? Enough with the theatrics.” He then glanced at Sharon with disdain.
“Do you see this? Your beloved daughter is always causing destruction. And yes, I regret not fighting harder to bring Lily back right from the start.”
Vera, unable to contain herself, burst into laughter at the absurdity of the man she once deeply loved.
Sharon rose swiftly, her finger accusingly pointed at Howard. “Do you even have a shred of morality left? Vera’s behavior is a direct result of your actions. If you hadn’t been cheating on her, how could she have ended up like this?”
“Say whatever you like-I’m done with this marriage!” Howard declared, then stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
Jeff, enraged, was ready to pursue him. “This is unacceptable. I’m going to set him straight!”
Vera caught his arm gently. “Dad, please, just let it be. I just want to finalize the divorce quickly.”
Sharon, struggling to contain her anger, muttered bitterly, “Men like him always believe the grass is greener elsewhere. Karma will handle him soon enough.”
She sighed deeply, looking at Vera with deep sympathy. “You’ve endured so much of this.”
Vera slowly shook her head, a serene look in her eyes. “I’m alright, but please don’t let this turmoil impact your health.”
Despite the distressing spectacle, Vera had decided to move past it.
Sharon, however, couldn’t just let go. As the echoes of her own past grievances lingered, she vowed to shield her daughter from a similar fate.
Resourceful as ever, Sharon swiftly located Lily’s contact details and arranged a cafe meeting under Vera’s name.
Lily entered, a basin in hand, but before she could sit, Sharon flung coffee at her face.
“Ah!” Lily cried out.
“You shameless woman! With countless men around, why target a married one? Proud to be a home-wrecker, are you? Perhaps you should ink that on your forehead for all to see!”
Lily, stunned by the assault and the barrage of accusations, soon realized Sharon was acting out of a desire to channel Vera’s frustration.
Choosing not to wipe the coffee off, Lily adopted a look of wronged innocence.
“Madam, you’re mistaken. There’s nothing romantic between Howard and me. It’s all a misunderstanding on Vera’s part.”
Coffee stains marred her white shirt as it trickled down her face, her eyes reddening from the sting, suggesting profound distress.
Sharon felt an inexplicable twinge of recognition watching Lily’s tear-streaked face but dismissed the empathy quickly.
This woman had tormented her daughter, after all. How could Sharon feel anything but disdain for her?
Sharon’s voice was icy as she issued a stern ultimatum. “Stop the theatrics. I’ve seen more than you can imagine. Leave this city within a day, or it won’t just be coffee you’ll be handling next time.”
Lily’s shoulders shook as she bit her lip, her appearance the very picture of distress.
“Why am I always blamed? Howard and I merely work together. Just because Vera might be overthinking it, does it mean he can’t work with women at all?” Her seemingly innocent demeanor could have convinced anyone, but she was facing Sharon.
Sharon, having maintained her role as Mrs. Montgomery over the years, had encountered numerous schemes and was not easily deceived. She addressed Lily pointedly, “Continue playing the innocent, and it might just cost you dearly. Is there a school teaching you how to be this deceptive? Why are all of you tramps so adept at it?”
The severity of Sharon’s tone pierced Lily deeply.
In that moment, Lily felt a surge of self-loathing. Jealousy over Vera’s seemingly effortless happiness gnawed at her.
“Madam, I-” Lily began, her resolve faltering yet not broken.
Sharon, rising abruptly and dismissing her with a wave of her hand, commanded, “Enough of your charades. Leave this city and stay away from Howard from now on, or you’ll regret it.”
Just then, Sharon’s phone rang.
She pressed the answer button, her expression shifting as a worried voice announced, “Something happened to Vera!”
Sharon’s voice grew louder. “What did you just say?” From the other end of the line came Jeff’s anxious plea as he watched Vera being rushed toward the operating room. “Hurry! Return to the hospital!”
In her haste, Sharon snatched her handbag from the chair and darted out of the cafe, neglecting the lesson she had meant to impart to Lily.
Upon eavesdropping, Lily’s eyes gleamed with malice and delight.