Can't Win Me Back

After nearly a week spent in the Investigative Bureau, Sophia finally walked out, heaving her tired body like a lump of sand. Without her makeup and skincare routine, she seemed to have aged an additional decade. Even her hair had more gray strands than before.

She avoided the crowd of reporters and decided not to go home first. Javier would probably pass out at the sight of her. So Betty accompanied her to a beauty parlor, where she could wash up, pluck away her gray hairs, and put on some makeup before going back.

“We’ll go see Liana first.” Sophia pluckedaway the hair around her lips as she spoke. “I have to check up on her. She’s my niece, after all. That way, your Dad’s image of me will maintain.”

She couldn’t have her carefully crafted

persona of twenty-five years crash just like that. Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

“I couldn’t believe she pulled such a trick,Mom!”Betty cried. She hated Liana. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel upset by the memory of that bloody bathtub.”Whether or not Jasper takes the bait, she still could have killed herself if no one found her in time!”

“Of course someone would have found herin time.” Sophia rolled her eyes.

Betty blinked, confused. Then, a look of understanding appeared on her face.”Does that mean … Did you know?”

Sophia pressed a finger to her lips. She had been the mastermin d behind Liana’s decision to cut herself so Jasper would marry her. It was this very trick she had used all those years ago that made Javier finally marry her. Without her schemes, she wouldn’t have made it to where she was today.

Plus, Liana did help Jasper when he was depressed. Reliving his nightmare of yonder days would surely remind him of how much Liana had helped him. It was a high-risk investment, for sure!

“Liana might not be the best choice, but Istill can’t let Jasper have any chance of going back to that whore, Alyssa Taylor!”Sophia couldn’t help but snarl at the thought of her after all these days spent suffering in the Bureau. “I swear I will make her life a living hell if it’s the last thing I do!”

“Yeah!”Betty yelled.”Solana City is stillour territory no matter what! We’ll get our revenge for sure!”

…

When Sophia arrived at Liana’s ward, she took a second to put on a sad, motherly mask before going inside. She immediately burst into tears.”Lia! Oh, my poor girl. Why did you do this to yourself?

Oh…”

Sophia approached Liana, embracing her and projecting a saintly image in front of both sides of the family.”Why must the women in our family suffer so?I can’t live with this!”

“Aunt Sophia, don’t …” Liana playedalong with her as well.

Rosaline joined the charade too. The whole atmosphere resembled that of a funeral.

Jasper remained unperturbed. Liana saw this from the corner of her eye. She grew worried.

He used to come to her ai d the first instant she cried. But that warmth and care was no longer there. All the love and affection meant for her was slowly slipping away. And it was all because of that bitch, Alyssa Taylor!

The three Gardner women clung onto each other, sobbing their eyes out.

Javier’s gaze was hard and unmoving as he said,”Sophia, Jasper, come outside with me.”

…

A few minutes later.

“Oh, Javier!”