Pausing briefly, I asked cautiously, “Have you… gotten the news?”
Hailey, lounging on my bed, replied impatiently, “Did you know? Shane stayed up all night at the hospital taking care of me and worrying about my safety.
Shane’s gaze grew colder by the second. “Why are you back here? Get out!” he barked. ” Hailey wouldn’t have gotten hurt if it weren’t for you!”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
Shane’s parents had been murdered, and he hadn’t even seen them for one last time. He had a chance to be with them during their final moments, but he chose to stay at the hospital with Hailey–all because she suffered a minor cut on her pinky finger.
The thought of Hailey’s injury possibly healing before they even reached the hospital sent me wheezing.
When I was done laughing, I met Shane’s icy stare before turning to Hailey. “Don’t worry. I’m not here to take Shane away from you.”
Shifting my attention back to Shane, I revealed, “Your parents were killed by the abductors. Their bodies are now at the funeral home. Uncle Craig is there. You should hurry over and help him.”
Shane’s fury erupted. He grabbed a vase and hurled it at me, but I stepped aside and dodged it with ease.
“Nat, you’re shameless! How could you curse my parents just to gain my sympathy and cheat me out of my money? Have my parents ever treated you poorly? How dare you utter such ungrateful nonsense?”
I sighed softly and shrugged helplessly. “I’m merely telling the truth. I’ve delivered the message. Believe me or not, that’s up to you. All I’ll say is your entire family is in a mess right now. As their only son, it’s your duty to go to the funeral home.”
A bitter smile tugged at my lips. Everyone in the family, even the housekeeper, had already heard about the tragedy by now. Only Shane remained oblivious. He stubbornly clung to the belief that everyone was conspiring with me to deceive him.
How ridiculous.
From the moment I married into the McClure family, I had endured the contempt of his relatives. He had to know. His relatives, who would’ve loved nothing more than to tear me apart, would never conspire with me to pull off such a farce.
“Nat, you’ve taken this joke too far. It’s not funny anymore,” Shane said as he slowly approached me,
Before he could get any closer, Hailey tugged at his sleeve, her saccharine voice grating on
my ears.
Shane, I’m sure Nat didn’t mean to do this. She probably just loves you too much. You should try to understand her. After all, she comes from a poor family. She doesn’t have money, let alone love.”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter any longer. “YO
I couldn’t hold back my laughter any longer. “You’re wrong. I don’t want his love anymore.