Chapter 14
Patsy indeed stayed at Auburn Heights for the next couple of
days.
Ellsworth was under a lot of pressure, and Harriet wasn’t
exactly better than him.
She kept falling off the couch every night.
Many times, he was awake and heard the thud.
But he never cared to ask.
She knew he was feigning sleep, but didn’t say anything either.
To think they were a couple-how laughable.
When Kathie finally returned from her business trip, she
treated Harriet to dinner, which felt like a lifeline.
After hearing her out, Kathie sighed, feeling both angry and
sorry for her, “I told you so. I told you not to be with Ellsworth
because he’s heartless. But you wouldn’t listen. See who’s
Chapter 14
hurting now?
“Do you regret not choosing Ken back then?”
She smiled faintly, “One can never know they’re wrong unless
they learn the hard way!”
Ellsworth had risked his life and saved her from the fire. Not
only that-he had led her to climb over walls to skip class for all
kinds of adventures, such as going to concerts and playing pool.
It was all things she had never dared to do, things she hadn’t
even dared to imagine.
All the cherished moments and vivid memories of her youth
were related to Ellsworth.
How could she not have loved him?
She had thought he had feelings for her, too.
So, when Raymond asked her whether she liked Kenneth or
Ellsworth, she blurted out Ellsworth’s name without hesitation.
At this, she said, “Besides, I’ve always been terrified of Kenneth.
He’s much more serious than my dad. I always stay away from
him whenever I see him.”
Chapter 14
Looking at the helpless smile on her face, Kathie shook her
head. “I can’t believe Ells. He’s such a jerk! He cheated on you
and even accused you of having an affair? Does he really think
everyone else is as shameless as him?
“What’s so good about him anyway? He’s always been this way.
Why are you so obsessed with him?”
Harriet felt her cheeks burning up.
She could only smile and say, “I guess I was too young and naive
back then, believing I could change him.”
Kathie let out a cold laugh. “Now you know how harsh the
reality is.”
Harriet smiled, saying nothing.
In fact, Kathie was wrong about one thing-Ellsworth hadn’t
always been this way. He had changed after the marriage.
Maybe it was her fault for keeping him and Kelsey apart.
Sensing her silence, Kathie comforted her, “Enough. Don’t
overthink it. I’ll take you out to get some fresh air later.””
Chapter 14
After dinner, Kathie brought Harriet to a bar.
As she greeted her friends with a grin, Harriet asked
skeptically, “Seriously, Kat? This is where we get fresh air?”
Kathie arched an eyebrow. “Yeah. Ells is such a party animal,
never coming home, right? You might as well do the same. See
how long he can hold back.”
Harriet felt momentarily speechless.
Then she pulled out a forced smile. “In case you haven’t
realized-he doesn’t give a damn about me at all.”
Kathie pulled her to sit down and poured her a glass of juice.
“Hey, enough moping. You gotta forget about him, or you might
get depressed soon. I mean it.”
She took the juice, saying nothing.
Since she was here, she shouldn’t be the mood killer.
So, she maintained a smile throughout the whole time. She
even tried dice games with several college boys Kathie had
pushed toward her.
To her surprise, the weight on her chest lifted-for the first time
Chapter
in days, she could breathe.
Not far away from them, a group of people were having fun.
Just then, someone spotted Harriet. “Hey, isn’t that Harriet and
Kathie?”
Another person immediately looked over. “You’re right. Harriet
is in a bar? How unbelievable. What about her ‘perfect wife’
persona?”
“I guess Kathie took her here.”
