The truth was right there, staring them both in the face. There was no need to answer.
What gives you the right?
Sherilyn’s voice cut through the tension like a knife, her anger boiling over.
She demanded, What gives you the right to think that? To make decisions for me? To just wipe everything clean on my behalf? Huh…
Her heart twisted painfully.
Do you even know what those four years were like for me?
Sherilyn locked eyes with Gilbert, her gaze unwavering. You used to ask, didn’t
you? You were so eager to know. Well, now I’m going to tell you!
Her emotions were a storm inside her, blood rushing through her veins.
Her lips trembled as she spoke, each word clear and deliberate.
I couldn’t afford the rent, so I had to move from our apartment to a rundown neighborhood!
But I still needed to eat! I couldn’t starve! Even if I could, Jenna couldn’t!
Tears streamed down her face…
Sherilyn stared at him, her silent sobs speaking volumes.
A rundown neighborhood.
Hearing those words, Gilbert felt his heart sink like a stone.
He’d suspected it, of course. Without financial support, Sherilyn’s life must have been tough.
But hearing her say it was a pain he hadn’t anticipated.
Do you want to hear more?
Sherilyn asked, a bitter smile on her face, her voice steady but broken.
But I don’t want to say anymore.
With that, she turned to leave.
Gilbert shut his eyes tightly, tears leaking from the corners. He reached out, grabbing her wrist.
Tell me, Sherilyn, tell me!
What good would it do?
Her eyes were like ice as she met his gaze. Tell you? Can you make things right? Can you make Caroline pay?
Wasn’t the answer obvious?
No!
Sherilyn answered her own question, her brow furrowed in frustration. Then why should I bother telling you?
She took a deep breath, the weight in her chest growing heavier.
Do you know why, after all that, I
stopped talking to you about
money? Because I knew, deep down, you’d always take Caroline’s side!
Her jaw clenched.
Just like now!
It’s not like that… Gilbert shook his head, his voice full of anguish.
It’s not?
Sherilyn laughed bitterly, tears falling unchecked.
This past year, you’ve been good t
me! So many times, I’ve ne
now-right now—I can finally tell you about all the hurt I went through!
She said, You didn’t want to hear it before because you didn’t care about me…
but now, you do, right?
Yes!
But what difference does it make?
Sherilyn’s frail figure swayed as if she might collapse.
Your feelings for me only matter when it’s just the two of us. The
moment Caroline comes into the net
picture… your heart tips in her favor.
Sherilyn…
Gilbert finally found his voice, I never loved her. The scales in my heart, both
sides are you!
Ha!
Sherilyn scoffed, looking at him.
Fine, let’s go with that you never loved her! But your kindness towards her, that’s a fact, isn’t it?
But….. Gilbert struggled to explain, You know, what I feel for her is… gratitude…
I don’t accept that.
Cutting him off, Sherilyn looked at him with a fierce resolve.
You’re my partner now, and I can’t accept that there’s someone like her in your heart.
Suddenly, her tears halted.
Maybe you think I’m being unreasonable, but the truth is… because of her, you turned a blind eye to my years in Crestwood!
She challenged him, Gilbert, how am I supposed to live with that? Let go! Ha…