He looked much thinner than when she’d last seen him a few days ago, his features more sharply defined.
Instead of a suit, he wore a beige knit shirt that hugged his powerful fra, lending him a softer, more casual air and stripping away so of his usual stern intensity.
His gaze tightened when he saw her.
Sophia Shaw ignored him and walked straight to Old Mrs. Grant. "Grandma, how is Mom?"
Old Mrs. Grant gently took her hand, sighed, and slowly shook her head.
Skye Sutton’s body was already at the end of its rope. It was a miracle she had held on this long.
"A few days ago, for whatever reason, she insisted on going to Crestfall. After she returned... well."
Sophia recalled Mrs. Sawyer ntioning that Skye Sutton had shown up a few days ago.
Since Skye Sutton hadn’t co to see her, Sophia didn’t feel it was her place to seek her out.
Clearly, Skye Sutton hadn’t gone to Crestfall to see her or Vincent, but for so other reason.
Sophia rembered that Julian Grant had been posted in Crestfall for a long ti. That was the very reason Vincent had been able to attend school there.
And how she and Vincent had t.
"Thank you for coming." Old Mrs. Grant patted her hand, clearly relieved.
Although she and Vincent hadn’t officially finalized their divorce, they had both agreed to it, so it was essentially a done deal.
Sophia didn’t have to co.
Sophia shook her head.
Julian Grant ca down from upstairs.
Even in middle age, he was still powerfully built and carried himself with a dignified air.
But his expression was grave.
After a lifeti together, even one filled with argunts, a mont like this would inevitably bring a wave of sorrow.
The small group gathered around him in silence.
Julian Grant greeted his mother, then turned to Miles and Eleanor Crawford. "Go upstairs and say your goodbyes to your mother."
Although they had already guessed it, hearing Julian Grant say the words "say your goodbyes" made Lena Grant and Claire Grant gasp, their hands flying to their mouths.
Tears of grief welled in their eyes, and they began to weep silently.
The n’s faces were grim.
Sophia felt a crushing weight in her chest and pressed a hand against it.
’Skye Sutton may not have been a good mother-in-law, but she was still a living, breathing person.’
’It was impossible to imagine a person of flesh and blood suddenly vanishing from the world forever. A mouth that could speak, eyes that could blink, a nose that could breathe—all of it about to beco nothing more than a aningless, lifeless fixture!’
Tears stread down Eleanor Crawford’s face as she looked toward Miles Grant.
Miles Grant’s eyes were also rimd with red. He walked over, took Eleanor’s hand, and led her upstairs.
Claire Grant followed, then Lena Grant and her husband, and finally Shane Grant.
Finally, it was Vincent’s and her turn.
"Let’s go." Vincent walked over and reached for her.
Sophia took a step back, avoiding his touch.
Old Mrs. Grant saw the exchange and sighed softly. She walked over and said, "Faye, I’ll go up with you."
"Okay." Sophia supported Old Mrs. Grant, and the three of them headed upstairs.
Skye Sutton’s room was unnervingly quiet.
The air was heavy, almost suffocating.
Sophia took a deep breath before following Old Mrs. Grant into the room.
Once inside, Old Mrs. Grant stepped aside.
His warm hand closed around hers again.
Sophia instinctively tried to pull her hand away.
’It’s touched another woman,’ she thought, ’it’s filthy.’
But when she glanced at Skye Sutton lying on the bed, her breathing faint, she forced herself to endure Vincent’s touch and let him lead her forward.
"Mom."
"Mom."
They both murmured.
Skye Sutton slowly opened her vacant eyes, her gaze falling on the couple standing before her.
After a long mont, she let out a soft "mm."
Her head fell back, and she gasped weakly for breath with her eyes closed.
"Vincent," she murmured.
"I’m here," Vincent answered softly.
"Sophia."
"I’m here," Sophia also replied.
"I want you to swear you will never leave each other, for as long as you both shall live. If either of you breaks this vow, may you be struck down by lightning!"
Sophia flinched, staring at Skye Sutton in utter disbelief.
Behind them, Old Mrs. Grant’s heart skipped a beat.
’To think Skye Sutton would force them to make such a terrible oath!’
"Well? Are you going to swear or not!"
When neither of them responded, Skye Sutton grew agitated.
Her hands clenched into fists, and a wheezing sound escaped her throat as she struggled to breathe.
"What? Do you want to die unable to rest in peace?"
"Skye!" Julian Grant called out softly, having followed them up.
"What? You’re bitter about being shackled to for this lifeti, aren’t you? Hoping to see your own dreams fulfilled through our children?"
Even at death’s door, Skye Sutton’s words were as venomous as ever.
"Never! Not in a million years!"
Overly agitated, she couldn’t catch her breath. Skye Sutton was in a terrible state, her entire body convulsing.
A doctor rushed to help her sit up, rubbing her back to help her breathe.
"Mom, I swear," Vincent said, raising his hand.
A pleased look finally crossed Skye Sutton’s face. "Quick, say it."
Vincent stated, word by word, "I will never get a divorce in this lifeti. If I do, may I be struck down by lightning!"
Sophia was even more stunned than before.
’She couldn’t believe Vincent had actually sworn the oath.’
’His word was his bond. How could he dare make such a promise!’
Miles Grant and Eleanor Crawford, worried about them, had followed them upstairs as well.
They arrived just in ti to hear Vincent’s oath and exchanged a look, just as stunned as Sophia was.
Even Old Mrs. Grant was looking at Vincent, her expression conflicted.
"Good, good," Skye Sutton nodded, satisfied.
"Sophia..."
"Vincent has made his vow, that’s enough," Old Mrs. Grant said, stepping forward to cut her off.
Skye Sutton gave Sophia a long, deep look. Her mouth opened, and a faint smile touched her lips.
Her smile seed to freeze in place.
"There," she whispered. "Now no one can take Vincent away from you."
Sophia: "..."
Julian Grant watched his dying wife, a sense of helplessness washing over him. ’She never asked what other people wanted; she just imposed her own will on them.’
Skye Sutton’s gaze slowly shifted to her husband, her obstinate expression turning defiant.
She would ensure her son could never escape the prison of marriage, that he could never dream of marrying the one that got away!
Forcing Vincent to swear that oath was less about him and more about twisting the knife in Julian’s heart.
Julian had hoped to see his son break the cycle of unhappy marriage, and she was hell-bent on stopping him!
Sophia went downstairs, her heart heavy because of Skye Sutton’s condition and because of her final words.
’Skye Sutton’s last words made it sound as if *she* was the one who couldn’t bear to let Vincent go.’
’Now Vincent would probably suspect her of pulling strings, of begging his dying mother to force his hand.’
’Being forced into such a terrible oath... who knew how much more Vincent would hate her for it.’
’Truthfully, Sophia no longer cared whether Vincent loved or hated her. She just didn’t want to look like so pathetic, groveling fool right as they were about to divorce.’
She waited downstairs for quite so ti.
Vincent ca downstairs.
He seed surprised to see her there and paused for a mont before asking, "Have you eaten?"
Sophia: "..."
"If not, I can have soone get you sothing to eat."
"Don’t bother," Sophia said coolly. ’There was no need for such pleasantries between them.’
"I only waited for you to tell you that I had nothing to do with what your mother said."
"And I didn’t ask her to force you to make that vow."
"We’ve already signed the divorce papers. I have no reason to pull these kinds of stunts."
"Of course, if you’re still worried, we can go finalize the divor—"
"Vincent," Miles Grant called as he walked over. "Co here. We need to discuss Mom’s arrangents."
"Okay." Vincent glanced at Sophia. "Excuse , I need to take care of this."
This was important.
Sophia had no reason to stop him, so she could only swallow the rest of her words.
’Although she and Vincent hadn’t finalized the legal paperwork, signing the agreent had settled their divorce in her mind.’
’She was an outsider now, and it wasn’t her place to get involved in the Grant family’s business.’
Sophia walked out alone.
Grant Manor was terrifyingly quiet tonight.
An eerie, cold light illuminated the plants and trees in Skye Sutton’s courtyard, creating an oppressive, heavy atmosphere that made it hard to breathe.
In the distance, at the main gate, Joanna Sherman and Cedric Grant were getting out of a car.
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