Imogen forced a smile, âRegina, whatâs all this about? You donât come home often. Go see your dad in the study, will ya? Iâve got plans and canât stick around wasting time with you.â
âImogen, I donât want to waste your time either, but you owe me an explanation about whatâs going on between you and Domingo.â
At the mention of that manâs name, Imogenâs grip loosened, and pearls scattered, tumbling down the stairs. Her hand clenched into a fist.
âExplain what? I have no idea what youâre talking about. Why do you have to be such a brat as you get older? Move aside, I canât be late; I have a tea date with the ladies.â
The more desperate Imogen seemed to leave, the more Regina blocked her path.
âDonât play innocent with me. You and that man go way back. Donât think I havenât heard what you said to him. You know exactly what Iâm talking about. Arenât you surprised to see me standing here all in one piece? Do you think Dad knows about this?â
Imogenâs struggle ceased. âYouâre grown up now. You should know what should and shouldnât be said.
Spreading these baseless rumors will only worry your dad unnecessarily. Iâve been his wife for years now. Weâve had our misunderstandings, but you know how I feel about your dad, donât you?
After your mother passed, I was the one who looked after you. If not for my diligence, then for my efforts. If I were you, I wouldnât go running to your father with gossip and hearsay. His health isnât what it used to be, and as his daughter, you should be more concerned about him than I am.â
Regina fell silent.
Imogenâs words struck a chord.
No matter what had happened, it had always been between the two of them.
She had never brought it up to her father, partly because his health had indeed been failing over the years.
If Domingo truly was Imogenâs ex-husband come back into the picture, or if they had never really cut ties-
Regina couldnât bear to think what would happen if her father found out. It would be a devastating blow, especially since he had always believed this woman truly loved him.
âYouâve got it all figured out, donât you? On one hand, youâre involved with another man, and on the other, youâre clinging to my father. Imogen, whatâs the plan? Trying to have your cake and eat it too?â
Imogenâs face flushed with anger, her chest heaving, âDonât you dare insult me. Iâve never been overly involved with that man! I just wish youâd get your facts straight before accusing me. Iâve already been branded a wicked stepmother. Must I now meekly wear the crown of infidelity as well? Youâre a woman too; you ought to put yourself in my shoes for once.â
Regina couldnât believe her ears.
Were these really Imogenâs words?
How could she even say such things?
If only Imogen, as her elder, had ever considered her side of things, Regina wouldnât be confronting her with such distressing matters.
Whatâs more, Domingo had tried to kill her that day! And Nolan nearly didnât make it out alive.
It turned out everything was orchestrated by Imogen.
Regina never intended to take Imogenâs life, but the reverse was clearly not true.