Now that Melanie had returned, why should she stay here and be an eyesore?
By the time Laura had finished packing her things, it was already late at night.
She didn’t feel tired at all; she just sat on the sofa, waiting for Darren to come back, like the countless nights before.
Since she was leaving, it was time to say a proper goodbye.
As she was thinking this, the door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.
Darren, reeking of alcohol, staggered in. His steps were unsteady and even his movements seemed more irritated than usual.
But when he saw her sitting upright on the sofa, a sense of inexplicable calm washed over his heart.
Thinking about everything that had happened today, Darren impatiently yanked at his tie, his tone harsh and dripping with sarcasm. "Did I tell you to leave? You only know how to go home? Laura, do you not know how to get to the hospital, or are you just pretending to be pathetic?"
Laura lowered her head, remaining silent. Her nails dug into her flesh as she inhaled the strong scent of alcohol from him.
She went over to support him, just like she used to, soft and gentle, like a little rabbit who never cried out in pain.
"Darren, there's hangover soup in the kitchen. You should have some to help with your stomach," Laura said softly.
Darren abruptly pulled his hand away from her grasp, his displeasure evident as he snapped, “Why didn't you fight back? Didn’t you have any temper? Why did you just let those people talk down on you like that?"
Laura swallowed the bitterness in her throat. She sniffled, feeling a wave of helplessness and grievance.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to fight back, but what they said... was the truth.
After all, it was Darren himself who had told them the truth.
They stood there, neither of them moving.
Laura’s heart was filled with a mixture of conflicting thoughts, unsure if she should speak or not.
Darren looked up and saw nothing but an empty wall.
He pointed at the wall, his face darkening and the moonlight only deepened his suspicion. "Where's the painting?"
"I took it for repairs. It hadn't been taken down and cleaned in a long time and it had accumulated a layer of dust," Laura replied, not wanting to say much more. After all, whatever she said, it would always be her fault. Perhaps Darren had long been dissatisfied with her.