Unreturned When the Fog Cleared Chapter 02

Unreturned When the Fog Cleared Chapter 02

That evening, when Julian Rhodes and Yara Rhodes pushed open the door and flicked on the living room lights, they were startled by the figure on the sofa.

Yara was the first to recover. “Thera? What is wrong with you? Sitting here in the dark trying to scare us to death?”

Thera Sutherland’s gaze fell on Yara. “I thought you said you were too scared to go out and see people?”

Yara’s eyes flickered. “Where I go is none of your business!”

With that, she stormed upstairs without a backward glance.

Julian stepped forward, saying awkwardly, “I took Yara to see a Psychiatrist.”

“She definitely needs to. She went up to the rooftop again today. And she said she wants Sylvia Chevalier to be her sister-in-law.”

Julian’s brow furrowed, and he snapped impatiently, “She went through such an ordeal before. Of course she has issues. You just need to endure it a little longer.”

“Endure it?”

Thera shot to her feet. “How much more am I supposed to endure? She orders me around, has even forced me to slap my own face and kneel to apologize. I…”

Julian’s face turned livid as he cut her off sharply. “That’s enough! Whose fault is it that she ended up like this?!”

Thera’s nails dug deeply into her palms.

Two years ago, on an evening just like this, they had just pulled into the parking lot of a Western restaurant.

Yara had sent a message telling Julian to pick her up from school.

Thera, her fingers intertwined with his, had leaned in and gently kissed his Adam’s apple, her voice a soft plea. “It’s my birthday today. Can’t you… just stay and celebrate with me?”

Julian hesitated for a few seconds before nodding. “Alright.”

But before they could even get out of the car, Yara’s call came through.

“Let me explain it to her.”

Just as Julian was about to answer, Thera suddenly snatched the phone, turned it off, and said indignantly, “She always has an excuse to call you away. She’s an adult now, she doesn’t need you watching her every move!”

“Is she always going to be more important than me in your heart?”

Julian looked at her and finally sighed. “Our parents passed away early, leaving just the two of us. I… I guess I’m just too protective of her.”

Halfway through their meal, the driver had rushed in breathlessly. “Sir! Miss Yara… has been kidnapped!”

It wasn’t until the next day that Julian found Yara in an abandoned warehouse.

She had been tortured by their enemies for an entire night. Her body was covered in injuries, and her eyes were vacant.

“Yes, it’s all my fault she became like this…” Thera’s voice was hoarse.

“But for the past two years, I’ve slaved away taking care of her, and she’s trampled all over my dignity! Am I supposed to be tormented by her like this for the rest of my life?”

Julian was silent for a moment, then averted his gaze, his tone somewhat stiff.

“The Psychiatrist said that Yara needs a stable, soothing environment right now, so… Sylvia Chevalier will be moving in tomorrow.”

“What?!” Thera looked at him in disbelief.

“Once Yara is in a better mood, I’ll have her move out,” Julian immediately promised.

Thera looked at him and suddenly said, “Julian, I went to the Registry Office today.”

Julian’s body went rigid, his fingertips tightening unconsciously.

“The clerk said we’re already divorced.”

She gave a small laugh, but a tear slid from the corner of her eye. “It seems you all had this planned long ago, just waiting for me to make room for Sylvia Chevalier.”

Julian rushed forward and grabbed her wrist, his voice urgent.

“It’s not what you think! Yara threatened to kill herself, I had no choice! Thera, please, don’t worry. Once Yara is more stable, we’ll get remarried. I’ll never let you be wronged again, okay?”

“Threatened to kill herself?”

Thera violently shook off his hand, her voice suddenly rising. “How many times has she used her life to threaten us? She uses it as an excuse every single time, and you always believe her!”

Julian grew angry as well, a vein throbbing on his temple. “She’s my sister! My only family in this world! I can’t take that risk! It’s a gamble I can’t afford to lose!”

“Thera, why do you always have to push me? Do you have any idea how hard this is for me, being stuck in the middle? Can’t you just try to be more understanding?!”

Looking at the accusation filling his eyes, Thera thought, ‘Haven’t I been understanding enough?’

The first time they met, Yara pushed Thera into the pool right in front of him.

Julian had said, “I spoiled her rotten. She’s just a child, please bear with her.”

On their wedding day, not only did Yara skip the ceremony, she also locked all the doors to the villa. Thera, in her wedding dress, was left freezing outside for half an hour. In the end, they spent their wedding night in a hotel.

Julian had said again, “I’m sorry you had to go through that. Give it time. Yara will come to accept you.”

After Yara’s incident, she took her anger out on Thera every single day. If she couldn’t find Thera, she’d cause a scene.

Julian, his eyes red with exhaustion, had begged Thera to quit her job. “Please, help me. It won’t be for long…”

Every single time, she had endured it.

But now, Thera didn’t want to endure it anymore.

“But I’m tired, Julian.”

Julian immediately stepped forward and hugged her. “Thera, I love you.”

He tightened his arms, his voice laced with a plea. “Just for my sake, endure it a little longer, okay?”

Thera remained stiff in his embrace, seemingly acquiescing.

‘We’re divorced anyway,’ she thought. ‘It doesn’t matter anymore.’