Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 194

Seraphina attempted suicide?

Her depression flared up? Just because of a few photos she took?

Hester furrowed her brow. "Where is she now?"

"They just resuscitated her. She's in the ICU," Julian stared at her, taking a deep breath before continuing. "Caden is at the hospital. You're coming with me."

He pulled her arm, trying to lead her toward the door.

Hester pulled back stubbornly. "I'm not going."

Julian stopped and frowned deeply at her. "Hester, do you have any sympathy at all? She tried to kill herself because of you. If Jane hadn't found her in time, she'd be dead right now, and Caden would be an orphan."

"I don't believe I'm at fault here," Hester shot back, glaring at him. "Just because she cries and tries to off herself doesn't make her the victim. You think she attempted suicide because I humiliated her? Fine, let me ask you this: did I force her to put on lingerie and sneak into your study in the middle of the night?"

"Maybe she wasn't thinking about it like that."

"She is a mother, and Caden is a boy. Julian, do you honestly believe she normally sleeps in outfits like that? Why don't you go ask what she was wearing when she put Caden to bed last night?"

Julian froze.

He didn't even need to ask. Last night, around nine, Caden had come to the study to play with the Klotski puzzle. When Seraphina came to collect him, she had been wearing a completely normal, modest pajama set that matched Caden's.

Hester watched Julian, catching every micro-expression on his face.

She knew she had guessed right.

There was no way Seraphina paraded around in front of a five-year-old in a sheer nightgown.

Any sensible adult knew that kind of sleepwear was strictly meant for the bedroom.

A widow sneaking into her brother-in-law's study late at night in lingerie—was she really that clueless, or exactly the opposite?

The answer was glaringly obvious.

Hester let out a cold laugh. "Julian, if your heart bleeds so much for her, go take care of her yourself. I won't mind in the slightest. I am pregnant, and I need a stress-free environment. You have zero right to demand I go to the hospital to coddle her."

"When did I say you had to take care of her?"

Julian frowned at her. "I just want you there for Caden. He is absolutely terrified. I tried to bring him home, but he refuses to leave the ICU waiting area, and no one can talk him into it. He listens to you. If you go, he'll definitely agree to come back with you."

Hester considered it for a moment, but firmly shook her head.

"If Caden wants to stay by his mother's side, let him."

"It's a hospital. We have no idea when she'll wake up. That environment is way too heavy for a five-year-old. You're his godmother; do you really have the heart to just leave him there?"

"I respect his choices," Hester replied in a flat, indifferent tone. "Like you said, I'm just his godmother. His biological mother is lying in the ICU. If I march in there and drag him away, what does that look like? When Seraphina wakes up, she'll just accuse me of trying to drive a wedge between them. Why would I put myself in that position?"

"She wouldn't do that."

"Right, I forgot. She's pure, kind, and fragile," Hester scoffed, her gaze turning icy. "And I'm the toxic, cruel one. A person like me should stay far away from Caden, so I don't set a bad example, right?"