Chapter 4
On the drive over, Thurston had already investigated the full backstory.
Years ago, Lucy’s father Harland Lynwood set a deadly trap that led to a car crash for the Mason family of three p>
Joyce Mason, the only survivor, was left in a vegetative state and has been receiving medical care overseas since.
Kingsley let out a cold laugh, his eyes ruthless. “She is innocent? Were Joyce and her mother not innocent? If she wants to blame someone, she can blame herself for being a Lynwood p>
Thurston didn’t have the energy to debate moral relativity. “What is your plan now? Divorce p>
“I can’t divorce yet.” Kingsley pulled out his cigarette case, shook one out, and lit it with a “click” of his lighter. He looked at Thurston through the flame, expressionless. “Can you pretend you know nothing p>
Thurston looked at Kingsley’s indifferent face and grabbed a stack of files from the desk, hurling them at him. Papers scattered everywhere. “You’ve screwed me over! No divorce? Will Lucy agree to that p>
Kingsley took a deep drag, the smoke blurring his expression. “She doesn’t have a choice p>
“If you don’t like her, divorce her! Don’t ruin her life!” Thurston warned sharply.
“My affairs are none of your business.” Kingsley waved a hand impatiently, dark currents swirling in his eyes. “If you’re done, get out p>
After Thurston left, Kingsley muttered to himself in the quiet office, “Love? Impossible p>
He was more likely to love the comatose Joyce than Lucy.
At past nine that evening, Kingsley returned to the Vista Gardens. Paula met him with a worried expression “Mr. Sherwood, Mis Sherwood hasn’t eaten anything all day. It looks like a hunger strike… This isn’t good for the baby p>
Kingsley handed his jacket to a servant, a barely perceptible frown crossing his face. “Missing one meal wont kill her if she persists, have the doctor administer IV nutrition.
Paula watched him head for the stairs and whispered a resigned, “Understood p>
As Kingsley passed the bedroom, the door was yanked open. Lucy stood there, eyes burning with fury, voice trembling. “Kingsley, you bastard! Let me out p>
Kingsley stopped. His posture was rigid, gone was the gentle husband, replaced by
a stranger carved from ice. “Give birth to the child, and you can go p>
“In your dreams!” Lucy’s words were laced with hatred. “A man like you doesn’t deserve children p>
Kingsley saw the hate in her eyes. His heart constricted tightly for a second, but he suppressed the sensation.
He smiled cruelly. “Lucy, trying to threaten me with a hunger strike? It won’t work p>
Lucy stared at him, a thought striking her. She raised her voice, provoking him deliberately. “What? Can’t the love of your life give you kids? Or is she already p>
The word “dead” never left her lips. Kingsley’s large hand clamped onto her jaw, the force nearly crushing the bone. “The Lynwood family has no right to speak her name p>
His voice was heavy with frozen rage. “Lucy, do not try to provoke me. It will not benefit you p>
The pain in her jaw made Lucy see stars. She instinctively tried to slap him, but he caught her wrist mid-air.
“Whether the child is born or not is not up to you.” He shoved her away. The force sent her stumbling back. He turned and walked straight to his study, leaving her with a view of his, cold, unyielding back.