Chapter 281

Chapter 281 I Do Not Want To See You Ever Again Linda clung to Charlie’s legs, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Charlie, can you truly be happy with. someone as hot–tempered as her? I can make you happier, can’t I? I love you more than anyone else, and I’ve never lost my temper at you...”

Julia’s anger boiled within her, causing her eyes to well up with tears. However, her pride prevented her from shedding them in front of her love rival.

She refused to stoop so low as to seek her husband’s sympathy through such a despicable tactic.

The tension in the living room was palpable, thick with an impending sense of explosion.

The air crackled with intensity as if it were on the verge of igniting into an inferno.

Inside the room. Christina’s desperation grew as she frantically pounded on the door, hoping to draw someone’s attention.

Alas, the escalating fight in the living room drowned out the pounding sounds she made, rendering her efforts futile.

Christina’s heart felt like it was about to leap out of her throat as she finally understood what Linda’s words. meant.

Linda used me to trick Dad into coming here.

Christina pounded on the door with all her might.

She persisted in her attempts to break down the door, pounding on it relentlessly until her wrists grew swollen and painful.

However, despite her best efforts, the door remained unyielding, not even showing a hint of damage or giving way.

Christina felt an overwhelming urge to rush out of the room and caution Julia against believing Linda’s words blindly.

Dad came here for my safety. He didn’t come here to celebrate Linda’s birthday. Who can relay this message to Mom?

Christina’s gaze swept over the room and landed on a small wooden chair.

She hesitated briefly before heading over to pick up the chair.

Charlie extended his arm to hold Julia, but the moment he reached out, she slapped his hand away icily.

“Charlie, it must’ve been hard for you to put up an act in front of me!”

Linda raised her hand to wipe away her tears as a smug grin played on her lips.

Yes, that’s it. Fight. As long as Julia doesn’t want Charlie anymore, I can take the opportunity to strike.

Inwardly, she was pleased by how things turned out the way she wanted.

Charlie was stumped as he was stuck between both women.

He glanced at Linda, and then at Julia who looked disappointed with him. It felt like his heart had been stabbed both ways.

He realized that if he didn’t clarify things with Julia that day, her trust in him would be irreparably damaged.

“Julia, listen to me. I came here because Linda kept Christina confined here. I had to come here to investigate and resolve the situation,” he explained, feeling compelled to reveal the truth in order to clear up the misunderstanding-

Julia froze in her tracks and gave him a baffled look. She still seemed doubtful despite hearing his explanation.

Realizing that the situation was slipping out of her control, Linda tightly gripped Charlie’s arm and pleaded, “Charlie, why won’t you tell her the truth? Using Christina as an excuse seems feeble, doesn’t it?”

Julia’s confusion heightened when she heard Linda’s attempt to drive a wedge between them, and her distrust for Charlie merely grew.

“It’s true. I have a photo of an unconscious Christina,” Charlie explained as he pulled out his phone.

To his shock, the message he received earlier was gone!

This is strange. It was still there a while ago. Why is it missing now?

With the most concrete evidence gone, Charlie found himself unable to provide any further explanation.

Linda was gloating inwardly. Back when they were cooking the pasta, she stole his phone without him realizing it and deleted the message.

Her scheming abilities were unparalleled, leaving everyone else in the dust.

As Charlie couldn’t provide any other evidence to support his claim, Julia let out an icy snort. “Charlie, let’s file our divorce tomorrow and go our separate ways!”

She no longer wanted to see the disgusting cheating couple anymore.

Julia glanced at Linda’s swollen cheek, feeling as though she didn’t slap her hard enough. I should’ve slapped her harder until she fainted from the pain.

Charlie extended his hand toward Julia, but unexpectedly, he received a stinging slap across his face, He could have easily dodged the incoming slap, but he chose to stand still, allowing her slap to land on his check.

As her palm came into contact with Charlie’s cheek, a resounding slap echoed through the room. Julia’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Charlie wordlessly.

They had been married for over two decades, and throughout their entire journey together, they had never resorted to physical confrontation.

Julia knew Charlie could’ve dodged away, so her heart skipped a beat when her palm landed on his cheek. It was as if time had come to a standstill, and the world was plunged into complete silence.

Charlie held onto Julia’s hand tightly and pleaded, “I understand that it’s hard for you to believe me now, but I swear I didn’t come here for her. If slapping me will make you feel better, then go ahead.”

Linda felt like a fool when she heard his words.

Her intention was to destroy their relationship, but she ended up pushing them together instead.

Never in her wildest dreams did she expect Charlie to get slapped willingly by a woman, especially since he was used to being in control.

Although Linda wasn’t the one who had been slapped, she could sense that the incident had created even more distance between her and Charlie.

Suddenly, a pounding sound caught their attention.

It soon occurred to them that the sound came from the guest room on the first floor.

Linda’s expression changed abruptly as that was the room Christina was locked in.

I gave her enough drugs to make her unconscious for the whole day. How did she regain consciousness so quickly?

Charlie glared at the butler. “Open the door.”

The butler hesitated, his gaze shifting to Linda before he cautiously responded, “Mr. Hadley, um...”

Charlie fixed an icy stare on him and commanded, “Open the door right now.”

“Yes,” Pressured by Charlie’s intimidating aura, the butler heeded the order and hastily pulled out his key to unlock the door.

The moment the door was unlocked, Christina ran out of the room.

The first thing she did was to explain to Julia urgently, “Mom, it was Ms. Macall who locked me here and forced Dad to come over. Don’t be angry with him.”

Christina’s face was as pale as a sheet, likely due to the lingering effects of the drug. She appeared utterly miserable, her body covered in a cold sweat, probably from her desperate attempts to stay awake.

Julia’s heart was filled with agony as she shot Linda a withering look. “How could you sink so low and use a young lady to accomplish your goal?”

“I... You can’t blame me for doing this! You were too heartless to begin with!” Linda protested, her entire being trembling profusely.

Yet, she didn’t believe she did anything wrong. “If it wasn’t for Christina, we wouldn’t have broken up!”

She still thought Christina was the reason Charlie chose to break up with her.

Charlie’s eyes were bloodshot from anger, his gaze turning icy as he spoke with a firm voice. “Stop blaming Christina. This has nothing to do with her. In fact, I intended to break up with you before all of this happened, but I couldn’t find the right opportunity to tell you”

Linda’s lashes trembled as though she had heard something frightening.

Charlie added darkly, “From today onward, I never want to see you again!”

With that, he left with his wife and Christina.

Linda stood in silence, her heart feeling as cold as ice as she watched the family of three leave her house. The emptiness and isolation settled upon her, enveloping her like an icy igloo. She felt numb, unable to feel anything at all.