He Drove Her To The Exam, Left Our Daughter In The Flood Chapter 03

He Drove Her To The Exam, Left Our Daughter In The Flood Chapter 03

For once, Arthur managed to make it back in less than two hours.

When he saw the divorce agreement on the coffee table, his face changed instantly.

He rushed over, trying to hug me.

I stepped back and gestured toward the table, “Just sign it. Let’s end this civilly.”

Arthur’s eyes turned red.

“Clara, I know you blame me. Just one last time. Could you forgive me one last time?”

“No.”

The bedroom door opened, and Hope walked out.

Her fever hadn’t broken yet, her face had an unnatural flush, but her gaze was exceptionally calm.

Arthur, as if catching a lifeline, walked toward her to hug her as he usually did.

But Hope shifted to the side.

Arthur awkwardly grabbed at empty air.

“Hope.” He smiled pleadingly.

“Dad knows you wanted St. Sterling. We’ll just do a gap year, and I’ll pay for the best prep courses.”

“Let’s just rest for a few days. Dad will take you to that steakhouse you love to cheer you up, okay?”

It was laughable.

Even now, he actually thought a few petty favors could win us back.

“No—”

“The prep courses aren’t necessary, but we can go to the steakhouse.”

Hope cut me off.

I was startled, having no idea what she was planning.

But since my daughter wanted to go, we went.

Arthur looked relieved and acted exceptionally attentive.

He didn’t just book a private booth; he ordered a massive spread of food.

But Hope didn’t touch her fork once, just sat there quietly holding her water glass.

I was about to ask her why she wasn’t eating when the door to the booth opened.

Sienna brought Madison in and sat down next to Arthur as if she owned the place.

Sienna explained as she took off her coat:

“Madison didn’t do well this afternoon. Arthur said a nice dinner might help her feel better.”

Suddenly, it clicked.

So this “big dinner” for us was just us tagging along for Sienna and her daughter.

I glanced at Arthur; he avoided my gaze guiltily and whispered,

“It’s just two more sets of silverware.”

I smirked coldly. Too bad it was me and Hope who were the “extra” sets.

Madison was still clinging to Arthur’s arm, acting spoiled:

“Dad, that good luck charm you gave me didn’t work at all. I still didn’t know the answers.”

Following her voice, I saw a Golden Horseshoe Charm hanging from Madison’s backpack.

A surge of rage hit me like a lightning bolt.

Three years ago, when Hope was in middle school.

I had gone to Saint Mary’s Chapel, knelt through ninety-nine steps, and prayed for that charm for Hope.

But it disappeared right before her finals.

Arthur even comforted me then, saying success depends on hard work, not superstitions, and that if the charm was gone, it was gone.

And now, it was hanging on Madison’s bag.

Hope’s jaw clenched so hard I could hear it, staring at the charm without a word.

Arthur followed her gaze and gave a hollow laugh.

“That… Madison was nervous about the test, so I just let her borrow it for a few days…”

Sienna quickly Chimed in:

“Clara, it’s my fault for being so worried about Madison’s grades. If Hope wants it back, Madison can give it to her right now.”

She reached for the string.

Madison immediately clutched her backpack, eyes wide with anger:

“Dad gave this to me! No one touches it!”

The room fell into an instant, awkward silence.

Arthur frowned and turned to Hope.

“What has Dad always taught you? You have to be kind to your peers. Since you’re doing a gap year anyway, you won’t need it this year. Let Madison have it for now.”

Madison looked smug and stuck her tongue out at me.

“This child…” Sienna scolded Madison half-heartedly, but her hands were very busy re-tying the charm securely.

Hope stared at the three of them, stubbornly holding back tears.

In a flash, my anger boiled over. I grabbed my water glass and hurled the contents into Arthur’s face.

“Kind! Kind! Kind your damn self!”

“Madison bullies Hope, and you tell Hope to be kind! Hope tries to take back her own things, and you still tell her to be kind!”

“Arthur Vance, if you want to be a lapdog, go ahead, but don’t drag your daughter into your pathetic brown-nosing!”