Year Five: The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 33

Silvia kept her head down, unmoving.

It wasn’t until Shipley’s gaze dropped lower that he finally noticed the injury around her ankle.

His brow furrowed as he stepped closer. “When did you get hurt? Why didn’t you tell me?”

The moment Silvia saw him approaching, she instinctively took a few steps back, putting space between them.

Everyone in the room could feel the chill in the air, the distance she’d drawn.

Shipley paused, and his tone turned icy. “If you’re hurt, there’s no need to be stubborn. Silvia, come home with me.”

She didn’t budge.

Silvia looked at him, seeing the worry and irritation on his face—once, not so long ago, she might have taken it as a sign that he truly cared. But those days were gone.

Shipley’s expression only hardened further. He moved to grab her hand, but a strong, unyielding arm slid between them.

Kent.

His voice was cool, his presence heavy as a thundercloud. “She doesn’t want to go with you.”

Shipley’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Kent, this is between me and Silvia. Why don’t you stay out of it?”

Kent didn’t move an inch. His gaze dropped briefly to Silvia; when she gave a subtle shake of her head, he said, “Mr. Barlow, I didn’t realize you enjoy forcing people’s hands. Or is it you just like playing both sides?”

Vianne jumped in, flustered. “No, that’s not what’s happening—”

But when Kent’s cold, unfathomable eyes met hers, she shrank back and fell silent, too intimidated to go on.

With the tension thickening, Shipley finally softened his tone a notch and turned to Silvia. “Sweet Silvia, you’ve made your point these past weeks, but work can’t wait forever. Are you still planning to come back to the branch office?”

At his words, Silvia frowned slightly.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify