Year Five: The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 20

Silvia lifted her gaze and met Shipley’s eyes—those cool, sharp eyes that always seemed to see right through her.

Her fingers instinctively tightened.

Shipley rarely lost his temper. In all the years they’d known each other, she could only recall one time: when she ignored his warnings and played too long outside in the snow. She ended up with a high fever the next day, and for once, he’d looked at her with that cold, disappointed expression.

But ever since Vianne returned, Shipley seemed perpetually on edge.

Maybe he just thought she was in the way now.

Well, it didn’t matter. She would be leaving soon anyway.

Silvia forced a thin smile, just as Shipley’s gentle yet frosty voice rang out, “Silvia, apologize to Vianne.”

“Vianne’s always had a delicate constitution, and tonight she drank so much for the company’s sake. Silvia, you shouldn’t have made a scene like that.”

Silvia listened, her face unreadable.

She remembered three years ago when they’d first come here, how the company was barely off the ground. She worked around the clock, entertaining clients, never complaining.

And in the end, Shipley always told her she was overdoing it, making unnecessary trouble.

But now, when Vianne did the very same thing, Shipley was filled with concern.

So this was the difference between love and indifference.

A sudden wave of humiliation washed over Silvia as she thought of herself tonight, heading alone to the clinic for an injection.

Maybe, after all these years, the only person moved by her efforts was herself.

She looked up at Vianne, and suddenly, a calm, almost serene smile touched her lips. “I’m sorry, Miss Williamson.”

She didn’t want to explain herself any further. She’d already made her choice—she would leave, go home, and get engaged to someone else.

The only thing she could do now was let them go, too.

Vianne hadn’t expected an apology. Surprise flickered in her eyes, vanishing almost instantly.

Shipley, too, looked momentarily stunned.

In the past, Silvia would always argue back when it came to Vianne. He hadn’t thought she’d back down so easily this time.

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