Chapter 69 

I pressed my lips together, my eyes filled with a sense of determination. Some things just couldn’t stay hidden forever. “Ilale believes you because he had faith in your relationships, But others can see right through it; you can’t hide the truth from 

everyone.” 

“Also, Cathy, be honest with yourself. Back then, you deliberately kept silent, not just because you were at a loss for words, but there was also a hint of that spoiled attitude in you. You were certain that Hale cared for you deeply, and even if you were caught red–handed, he wouldn’t abandon you.” 

“You were waiting for him to speak up, to shatter his self esteem just to satisfy your own capricel Cathy, aren’t you being for 

too selfish?” 

I actually hit the nail on the headi 

Cathy’s anger quickly shifted to shock as she stared at me in disbelief. How on earth had I managed to see through what she was thinking back then? 

After a while, she finally thought of a way to retort. She was Cally, after all, and she wasn’t about to let me trample all over her like this. Thinking about that made her nad with a sense of satisfaction. “Yes, that’s exactly what I meant. So what? No matter how capricious I am. Hale loves me, and he’s willing to give me everything” 

She boasted about Hale’s love, and that once elegant and noble look on her face was replaced by something so shameless. She now seemed so vulgar that it was almost nauseating to look at her, 

I couldn’t help but wonder, if Hale saw her like this, would he still be able to like her? My g too far away, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips. 

gaze drifted to another figure nat 

Cathy didn’t notice the change in my expression and took a step closer with each word she said. “Ethel, this is the difference 

between you and me!” 

I had “stolen” Hale from her for four years, and that made her hate me to the core. During all that time, she’d been careful not 10 confront me directly, just to maintain her good image. But now, in this small village where there weren’t many people around, she probably thought that even if she crushed me, no one would ever find out. 

She stretched out her swan like neck, and a smug smile spread across her lips. “My man, he loves me. Even if you took him away, his heart has always been with me. Even if I make him do anything, he’ll do it willingly. But you? You could grovel in front of him like a dog, and he wouldn’t even want to look at you for a second longer!” 

I replied in a rather casual tone and pointed behind her. “Are you brave enough to say that right in front of Hale?” 

“What… Of course, I’m brave enough” Cathy was so caught up in her excitement that she couldn’t hold herself back. 

By the time she realized something was wrong, it was already too late. She’d blurted out everything. 

Reluctantly, she turned her head, and as soon as she saw the man’s face, her mind went completely blank. 

Her body swayed unsteadily, and the man standing there had such a gloomy and cold look about him, as if he was surrounded by a thick layer of ice. 

The air seemed to freeze in an instant, and it felt like even breathing had become a struggle. 

“Hale…” She whispered, her throat feeling as if it was blocked, making it hard to get the words out. Her body kept swaying. and she was on the verge of collapsing. What had she just said? 

She glared at me fiercely, finally understanding what had happened. I’d deliberately provoked her into saying those things! 

1 pursed my lips. If she hadn’t come to pick a fight with me, she wouldn’t have fallen into this trap. Well, it was all for the best. At least now Hale could see what kind of person he was about to marry. Maybe this would be the last bit of help I could give him in my life. 

I didn’t even look at Hale and just walked away. “Hale, listen to me…” 

Cathy had never been this frantic before. She grabbed Hale’s hand tightly, her fingertips trembling. “Actually…” 

What was she supposed to say? The words of explanation got stuck in her throat, and she didn’t have the strength to go on. Even if she had a thousand explanations, the ugly side she’d shown him just now had already been seen. Any more explanations would probably just make Hale think she was making excuses. 

Hale’s intense gaze was fixed on the panicked woman in front of him. His eyes were so deep that it was impossible to tell what he was thinking. He’d never expected Cathy to have this kind of side to her. Sarcastic, mean, and completely inconsiderate of others… 

He’d heard from Robert that she’d left alone, and he’d been worried, so he followed her. But this was the result…. It was just absurd. 

Cathy had always shown only her best side to Hale. In public, she always came across as elegant, pure, and aloof, as she was above all the ordinary things in life. But just now, she’d looked like a common, vulgar street girl. 

Her carefully crafted image was shattered, and it felt like she’d lost a part of herself. 

She clearly saw the disgust in Hale’s eyes, and all she could think in her mind was one word: Finished! 

Her body couldn’t help but stagger. Thinking about how all her efforts had been in vain, her legs gave out, and she fell to the ground. Suddenly, her arm was grabbed, and a voice whispered softly in her ear, “I want to take you out on a date.” 

Cathy thought she must be hearing things at first, and she opened her eyes wide in surprise, tugging at Hale’s sleeve. “E–Hale…” 

She stared at his face. His expression was calm, and his eyes were as deep as ever, impossible to read. 

Was she just imagining things? 

She’d been trying so hard lately, and he’d never said anything like this before. How could he say it now, after seeing her make such a fool of herself just now? 

Cathy was beyond confused, but her doubts were quickly drowned out by joy, and she threw herself into his arms… 

Hale closed his eyes silently and put his hand on her back, patting her gently. The Cathy in front of him now was truly someone he didn’t recognize, but even so, she had once been so devoted to him. 

As the sun slowly made its way down the sky, I sat by the door, gently washing Karina’s face. The warm, golden light of the setting sun seemed to wrap around the two of us, making it feel so cozy and peaceful. In the distance, I could hear the birds chirping away as they flew back home in pairs. 

After I finished washing Karina’s face, I picked up the basin and walked over to pour the water on the melon vines that Aurora had planted right beside us. Just as I was watering them, I felt Karina tug at my clothes. She said in her sweet little voice, “Mommy, look over there…” 

I put down the basin and followed the direction of Karina’s gaze. There, standing under the melon trellis, was a person. His 

19:15 

Chapter 

hands were hanging loosely at his sides, and I noticed his fingers were long and slender. He stood so upright, and the evening sun was casting a warm, golden halo all around him. Strangely enough, there was this kind of loneliness that seemed to be coming from him, making him look a bit out of place in this otherwise idyllic scene. 

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