Too Late, Hubby: You're Dead To Me

Jason and Sarah barely spoke during the drive. By the time they got close to Laurel Bay, Sarah finally said, "You can stop here."

She pointed toward a house around five hundred meters away. "I'll walk from here."

The last thing she wanted was for Shawn to see Jason dropping her off because she knew it would only lead to another argument.

Jason didn't question her. He slowed the car and pulled over.

"Let me see your phone." Jason held out his hand. Sarah only stared at him, so he added, "I need some way to reach you. How else am I supposed to tell you if I find anything new about your dad?"

Sarah nodded and passed him her phone.

Jason added his number to her contacts. While he was doing it, he noticed someone saved under "Honey." He couldn't resist changing the name before giving the phone back.

Just as Sarah reached for the door, Jason spoke again. "And if something happens, don't deal with it by yourself. Call me."

"I will." Sarah gave him a small smile before walking toward the house.

She had almost reached the entrance when her phone started ringing.

The call came from the overseas specialist hospital she had spent months trying to contact. She had submitted the treatment application three months earlier.

"Ms. Huntley," the staff member said warmly. "I have some good news. Your mother's application for treatment in our facility has been approved. The doctor in charge will be coming to Tolent next week to meet with her and do a full medical assessment. Once that's done, we'll decide when she should be transferred, and the new treatment based on her condition will also be discussed."

For the first time in a long while, Sarah felt a small spark of hope return.

She was so relieved that she could barely contain her excitement. "Thank you so much. Is there any chance I could get the doctor's contact information? I'd really like to talk to him about my mother's condition before he gets here."

"I'm sorry, Ms. Huntley, but we are not allowed to share the doctor's travel details or contact information," the staff member said politely. "He'll get in touch with you himself once he arrives in Tolent, so please wait for his call."

Sarah didn't insist. She thanked the staff member once more before ending the call.

The emptiness in Sarah's eyes slowly faded. In its place came a certainty she hadn't felt in a long time.

Her mother finally had a real chance to get better. Sarah knew she couldn't keep wasting her days on a marriage that had already fallen apart.

Her mother was the only family she had left now.

From that moment on, she wanted to put her time and attention into helping her mother recover.

The news gave her something to hold on to, and even her steps felt easier as she continued toward the house.

Shawn sat in the living room with his phone in hand. As soon as Sarah came in, he put it down and frowned at her.

He didn't seem to notice how weak or pale she was. Instead, he snapped, "You're finally back. You disappeared for a whole week because of one celebration dinner? Sarah, do you really have to make such a big deal out of everything?"

Sarah looked at him and almost wanted to laugh. After everything that had happened, he still believed she'd stayed away because she was upset over Lindsay's celebration party.

She'd swallowed her anger and disappointment for far too long, and she was done holding it in. Still, when she spoke, her voice was surprisingly calm. "Shawn, I can't do this anymore. I want a divorce."

Shawn clearly hadn't seen that coming. He stared at her for a second before his expression hardened. "Divorce? Are you serious right now? You're ready to end our marriage over something this small?"

"Small?" Sarah gave a bitter laugh as tears gathered in her eyes. "I almost died, Shawn, and somehow Lindsay's celebration still mattered more to you than I did..."

If Shawn had paid even a little attention, he would've noticed something was wrong when he went to the hospital with Lindsay that day. Sarah had been lying in that same hospital for an entire week.

Then footsteps came from nearby. Lindsay appeared in an apron and looked at Sarah as though she had no idea anything was wrong.

Under the living room lights, the diamond necklace around Lindsay's neck caught Sarah's eye immediately.

Lindsay quickly walked over and said in an injured tone, "Sarah, you're finally back. You used to come celebrate with me every time I won something at school, even when you were busy. But this time, you didn't come at all. That banquet meant a lot to me, so yeah, it hurt."

Sarah had personally sponsored Lindsay through college. Back then, the two of them had been so close that they almost felt like sisters. Sarah had taken care of everything for her, from school fees to everyday expenses.

After Lindsay graduated, Sarah had even used her connections to help her get a job at Harrison Group as Shawn's assistant.

She had never imagined that helping Lindsay would eventually bring her this close to Shawn.

"Did I do something to you?" Lindsay looked at Sarah with tears gathering in her eyes. "Why do you hate me so much now?"

Sarah gave a dry laugh and didn't bother pretending to be nice. "You should be happy I didn't show up. And stop acting like you don't know why."

"That's enough, Sarah," Shawn said sharply. "Lindsay's been worried about you all week. She came here today just to cook for you, and this is how you talk to her? At least have the decency to apologize."

Sarah looked at the man who had once stood up for her without hesitation. Now, he was asking her to say sorry to another woman, and whatever warmth she still had left for him disappeared.

She gave him a cold smile. "If she's that important to you, then fine. I'll get out of the way. Then you two won't have to keep pretending I'm the problem."

Lindsay felt a rush of satisfaction, but she immediately covered it with a worried expression. "Shawn, Sarah, please stop fighting because of me. If I caused all this, then blame me. Sarah, if you're really that angry, just hit me."

As Lindsay reached for Sarah's hand, Sarah pulled her wrist away and shoved her off. "Don't touch me."

A second later, Lindsay staggered back and fell to the floor with a cry of pain.

Lindsay grabbed her injured leg as tears spilled down her cheeks. "My leg... God, it hurts..."

Shawn reacted without thinking and shoved Sarah aside.

He crouched beside Lindsay and carefully checked her leg. Then he turned toward Sarah, who had fallen to the floor. Disappointment filled his face. "Sarah, what the hell were you thinking? When did you start acting like this? Her leg only just healed."

Six months earlier, Shawn and Lindsay had gotten into a car accident while they were away on a business trip. Lindsay had saved him during the crash and nearly lost her leg because of it.

"I don't even know you anymore," Shawn hissed.

He didn't even look at Sarah again. He lifted Lindsay into his arms and carried her out of the house.

Sarah pressed her lips together as pain pulsed through the leg she'd injured in her own car accident. Still, that barely registered compared to what she felt in her chest.

Her leg was hurting so badly, she stayed on the floor and watched them disappear through the door. For a long time, Sarah didn't move. Eventually, the pain in her body and the ache inside her faded into a dull numbness.

Using the floor for support, Sarah slowly got back on her feet. She went upstairs and took out the divorce papers she'd prepared a long time ago, signed them and then placed them neatly on the table.

Once her bags were packed, Sarah looked around the house one final time. She had spent seven years there, but whatever happiness the place once held had already disappeared.

Sarah finally looked away, opened the door, and left.