?Chapter 12:


    Neil swiftly moved aside as the ss crashed against the wall, breaking into fragments.


    His gaze hardened as he confronted Katelyn. “Have you finished causing trouble? Enough with the theatrics.” He then nced at Sharon with disdain.


    “Do you see this? Your beloved daughter is always causing destruction. And yes, I regret not fighting harder to bring Lise back right from the start.”


    Katelyn, unable to contain herself, burst intoughter at the absurdity of the man she once deeply loved.


    Sharon rose swiftly, her finger usingly pointed at Neil. “Do you even have a shred of morality left? Katelyn’s behavior is a direct result of your actions. If you hadn’t been cheating on her, how could she have ended up like this?”


    “Say whatever you like—I’m done with this marriage!” Neil dered, then stormed out, mming the door behind him.


    Jeff, enraged, was ready to pursue him. “This is uneptable. I’m going to set him straight!”


    Katelyn caught his arm gently. “Dad, please, just let it be. I just want to finalize the divorce quickly.”


    Sharon, struggling to contain her anger, muttered bitterly, “Men like him always believe the grass is greener elsewhere. Karma will handle him soon enough.”


    She sighed deeply, looking at Katelyn with deep sympathy. “You’ve endured so much of this.”


    Katelyn slowly shook her head, a serene look in her eyes. “I’m alright, but please don’t let this turmoil impact your health.”


    Despite the distressing spectacle, Katelyn had decided to move past it.


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    Sharon, however, couldn’t just let go. As the echoes of her own past grievances lingered, she vowed to shield her daughter from a simr fate.


    Resourceful as ever, Sharon swiftly located Lise’s contact details and arranged a café meeting under Katelyn’s name.


    Lise entered, a basin in hand, but before she could sit, Sharon flung coffee at her face.


    “Ah!” Lise cried out.


    “You shameless woman! With countless men around, why target a married one? Proud to be a home-wrecker, are you? Perhaps you should ink that on your forehead for all to see!”


    Lise, stunned by the assault and the barrage of usations, soon realized Sharon was acting out of a desire to channel Katelyn’s frustration.


    Choosing not to wipe the coffee off, Lise adopted a look of wronged innocence.


    “Madam, you’re mistaken. There’s nothing romantic between Neil and me. It’s all a misunderstanding on Katelyn’s part.”


    Coffee stains marred her white shirt as it trickled down her face, her eyes reddening from the sting, suggesting profound distress.


    Sharon felt an inexplicable twinge of recognition watching Lise’s tear-streaked face but dismissed the empathy quickly.


    This woman had tormented her daughter, after all. How could Sharon feel anything but disdain for her?


    Sharon’s voice was icy as she issued a stern ultimatum. “Stop the theatrics. I’ve seen more than you can imagine. Leave this city within a day, or it won’t just be coffee you’ll be handling next time.”


    Lise’s shoulders shook as she bit her lip, her appearance the very picture of distress.


    “Why am I always med? Neil and I merely work together. Just because Katelyn might be overthinking it, does it mean he can’t work with women at all?” Her seemingly innocent demeanor could have convinced anyone, but she was facing Sharon.


    Sharon, having maintained her role as Mrs. Bailey over the years, had encountered numerous schemes and was not easily deceived. She addressed Lise pointedly, “Continue ying the innocent, and it might just cost you dearly. Is there a school teaching you how to be this deceptive? Why are all of you tramps so adept at it?”


    The severity of Sharon’s tone pierced Lise deeply.


    In that moment, Lise felt a surge of self-loathing. Jealousy over Katelyn’s seemingly effortless happiness gnawed at her.


    “Madam, I—” Lise began, her resolve faltering yet not broken.


    Sharon, rising abruptly and dismissing her with a wave of her hand,manded, “Enough of your charades. Leave this city and stay away from Neil from now on, or you’ll regret it.”


    Just then, Sharon’s phone rang.


    She pressed the answer button, her expression shifting as a worried voice announced, “Something happened to Katelyn!”


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