Cooper adjusted his spectacles as a small smile curved his lips. “All right. I won’t let you down.”
I won’t let Samantha off the hook, either.
That woman had been consumed with hatred just because Cooper’s father had left her. It had spurred her to kill Cooper’s entire family in a fire and manipulate Cooper like a pawn over the past twenty or so years.
If not for Samantha’s revenge, his and Genevieve’s relationship would not have ended in ruin.
Genevieve passed Cooper an apple piece. He popped it into his mouth and relished its impossibly sweet taste. He asked, “When will you divorce Armand, Genev? Even if he doesn’t involve the police in his grandmother’s sudden death, he may decide to settle the score with you in private. Maybe I should get you a lawyer and—”
“I’m not divorcing him,” she cut him off.
Cooper was stunned by her reply. He wondered if he had misheard her. “Why aren’t you divorcing him? Wait? D-Do you still love him?”
Genevieve merely smiled instead of gratifying him with a verbal response.
Then, she picked up her phone on the table. Her fingers flew across the screen as she said to her ex-husband, “Marilyn has a violin named ‘Night Breeze.’ Please get it back for me. If she refuses, show her this video I’m sending to you.”
Cooper unlocked his phone and watched the video.
In it, Genevieve looked straight at the camera and recounted an incident.
Right before the video ended, Genevieve raised three fingers toward the sky and declared, “If a fourth person learns about this, I deserve to perish immediately and suffer for all eternity in hell with no chance for repentance.”
Cooper was dumbfounded after watching the video. His shock lingered on his expression as he stared at Genevieve and muttered, “So fourteen years ago, you and Armand…”
He trailed off before asking, “Did Armand mistake you for Marilyn?”
“That’s not important anymore.” Genevieve ate the apple pieces leisurely, seemingly at peace with the past incident. “Show Marilyn the video. I’m sure she’ll hand over the violin.”
Cooper murmured an acknowledgment before keeping his phone. “I’ll ask to meet her tomorrow. Are you getting discharged today? I see you’ve packed your luggage.”
“Yes. I informed Steven of my decision yesterday.”
He was about to offer her a ride home when someone opened the door before he could even leave his seat. A tall, imposing figure stepped into the room.
The man’s gaze swept across the room and landed on the dining table. His gaze cooled several degrees when he noticed Genevieve and Cooper sitting together.
Armand side-eyed Cooper briefly before turning his attention to Genevieve. He asked, “Do you have anything to pack? I came to send you back.”
Cooper turned to stare at Genevieve and piped up, “I’ll send you back, Genev.”
“Mr. Sutton, I don’t need you to send my wife home.” Armand stuck a hand in his pocket and exuded an intimidating aura. His frown deepened as he questioned, “Don’t you think you’re crossing the line?”
“Genev is like a younger sister to me. What’s wrong with me sending her home?” Cooper replied with a smile.
The atmosphere in the ward instantly changed.
Genevieve pretended not to notice the tension in the air as she leisurely wiped her fingers with a tissue. “I married Mr. Faulkner. It’s perfectly normal for him to fetch me from the hospital.”
Her words caused Cooper’s gaze to darken in jealousy. His hands clenched almost imperceptibly.
Genevieve took her phone from the table and strolled over to Armand. She held his arm and smiled. “I don’t have anything to pack. Let’s go.”
Armand stared at the hand she placed over his arm and then at her calm expression. He grunted in agreement and led her out of the ward.
Right before they left the ward, she turned to glance at Cooper and remind him, “Thanks for the favor, Coop. Call me if you need anything.”
She even waved her phone at him for good measure.
Her endearing address wiped away all hints of displeasure from Cooper’s face. He smiled and nodded at her. Armand, who witnessed all of this, narrowed his eyes menacingly.
Soon enough, they arrived at the hospital parking lot. Genevieve had just settled in the passenger seat when Armand leaned over to inspect her.
He raised a hand as though to cup her jaw, yet his hand froze when he noticed how sharp her jawline had become. His heart ached as he realized how much weight she had lost during her stay in the hospital.
Suddenly, his hand stretched forward and cupped the back of her head. He pulled her close and growled, “Coop?”
Armand stared intently at her and sneered, “Did you forget who killed your parents, Genevieve?”
