Chapter 2

April slowly regained consciousness, and Julian's sharp, icy face came into view.

"April, are you okay?" He held her hand, his eyes full of affection. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were there. How's your wound? Does it still hurt?"

If it were the old April, her heart might have fluttered at his tenderness.

But now, she only wanted to smack him across the face. Sadly, she didn't have the strength to lift her hand.

"Julian, let's..." she started, about to say they should get a divorce.

A nurse's voice cut her off, "Mr. Sheppard, Ms. Stanton is awake. She's crying and says her wrist hurts. She refuses to let us bandage it unless you come over."

"Okay, I'm coming," Julian replied quickly.

He gave April an apologetic look. "Mary has looked after me since I was a child. Hanna's her daughter, and I treat Hannah like a sister. I'll go check on her and be right back."

April let out a mocking laugh.

His wife was badly hurt and needed seven stitches, yet he cared far more about the maid's daughter who only scraped her wrist.

Julian's priorities were so twisted, it was almost laughable.

April grabbed her phone, dialed Matthew, and got straight to the point. "You've always wanted Julian to marry some gentle, well-bred lady, right? I'm agreeing to the divorce. My condition is half of everything."

Matthew's voice came through, old and resolute. "Okay. I'll have Julian sign the divorce papers. In seven days, you leave Petrico and never set foot here again. Keep this from Julian."

"Alright," April replied, hanging up.

She booked herself a flight to Sworiland, scheduled for seven days from now.

*****

Matthew had told April time and again that the Sheppards wouldn't accept a daughter-in-law who broke all the rules like she did.

His commanding voice still rang in her ears. "You're not cut out to be a Sheppard. Julian's young and impulsive; he'll regret marrying you sooner or later. Better to end it now, so our families can still stay on good terms."

But she hung onto Julian's tenderness, refusing to give in. "How can you be so sure he'll regret it? Why can't I be a Sheppard?"

Back then, Julian had always fought with Matthew, insisting April was the only one for him.

"Grandpa, I fell for April at first sight. She's the only one I want as my wife. I wouldn't marry any of those society girls," he'd said.

April had believed Julian loved her.

But looking back now, it was probably only her one-sided affection.

The conversation outside pulled April back to reality.

"Julian, you were so busy trying to help me that you forgot about Ms. Wynn. She must be super pissed. This is all my fault," Hannah said, sounding guilty.

"It's fine. April just looks like she's got a bit of a temper, but she won't hold it against you," Julian reassured her.

Their voices got closer. April stared coldly at the doorway, watching Julian gently help Hannah inside.

The way he gazed at Hannah, so soft, so full of emotion, felt like a knife straight to April's heart.

Hatred surged wildly inside April. She ached to scratch up Julian's seemingly devoted face and slap him twice right then, yet she knew she couldn't act on it.

In seven days, she could walk away clean with half of the Sheppard family's money. There was no reason to blow things up with Julian right now.

"April, this is Hannah. She realized I was so caught up trying to help her that I neglected you, so she wanted to come over and apologize," Julian explained.

Hannah held onto Julian, looking fragile and pitiful, yet a hint of defiance flashed in her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Ms. Wynn. Julian was in such a hurry to save me that he didn't even see you there.

"Please don't blame him. We grew up together, and he's always been used to taking care of me. Anyway, it's all my fault."

April stared expressionlessly, not giving the slightest reaction.

Hannah's tears spilled instantly. She bit her lip nervously, sniffling as she looked up at Julian with wide, scared eyes. "Julian, does Ms. Wynn hate me? Won't she forgive me?"

Julian's expression turned frosty. He spoke slowly, his tone heavy and unyielding. "April, Hannah apologized to you. Why won't you say a word?"

April's face stayed cold as she met his gaze, not backing down. "Just because she apologized, I have to forgive her?

"If she hadn't shoved me, would I have ended up hurt? Why should I forgive her?"

Julian rubbed his forehead, his patience running thin. "She didn't do it on purpose. She's always been a scaredy-cat; she freaked out. Why do you make such a big deal out of this?"

Hannah sidled up to April, pretending to be all casual as she took a seat.

Out of Julian's sight, she pressed hard right on April's injured spot.

"It's okay, Julian," Hannah said. "Ms. Wynn was born with a silver spoon. Of course she'd look down on someone like me. Don't push her."

"Get lost!" April snapped, pain shooting through her as she reflexively smacked Hannah across the face.

Hannah let out a sharp cry of pain and crumpled to the ground, shaking violently as she apologized, "I'm sorry, Ms. Wynn. I'm worthless and don't deserve to apologize to you."

She looked like a flower drenched by rain, stirring people's urge to pity her.

Julian slapped April across the face, his voice twisted and cold. "April, have I been too lenient with you?"