Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 23

Hester pressed her lips together, torn with conflict. She desperately wanted to tear down Julian's web of lies and tell Bella that he was a cheating bastard. But she was terrified of the shock it would cause her.

Bella had doted on her from a young age. For someone like Hester, who grew up in the cold, profit-driven environment of the Carrington family, Bella's affection was the only true familial warmth she had ever known.

Back when no one believed in her relationship with Julian, Bella was the only one who stood by them, cheering them on. To Hester, Bella felt closer than a blood relative.

"Hester." The elderly woman gently squeezed her hand.

Snapped out of her thoughts, Hester met Bella's eyes once again.

Bella patted the back of her hand, her voice radiating maternal warmth. "I know what happened back then broke your heart and caused you so much pain. But you have to learn to step into the light. Don't trap yourself in the grief. If you can never let go, those two precious angels won't be able to find peace either."

A sharp stinging hit Hester's nose as tears threatened to fall. "Grandma, I understand..." She squeezed the older woman's hand in return. "Don't worry about me. I'm doing perfectly fine now."

Bella looked at her face, which was noticeably fuller than the last time they'd met, and nodded with a smile. "I can see that. Julian told me you two are getting yourselves healthy and preparing to try again. That's wonderful news."

Hester felt a suffocating tangle of emotions. But staring into Bella's hopeful, gleaming eyes, she simply couldn't bring herself to confess that she and Julian were already discussing a divorce.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door.

It pushed open, and a nurse wheeled in a medical cart. "Mrs. Weston, it's time to change your IV..."

Hester immediately stood up. "Grandma, I'm going to step outside and return a call to my friend."

"Alright, go take care of your business. I've got the nurse and Joanna right here with me!"

Hester nodded, turning around and walking out of the ward.

...

It was late afternoon, and the horizon was stained the deep, brilliant colors of sunset.

Hester stared at the glowing clouds while listening to Julian outline his grandmother's medical situation.

"Dr. Evans said it's crucial that Grandma gets the surgery." Julian threw a glance her way and continued, "Heart bypass surgery isn't a massively complex operation, but because of her age, her physical metrics are nowhere near a younger person's. That drives the risk factor through the roof."

At that, Hester's eyelashes fluttered, and she finally turned to look at him. "Julian, with the kind of power you have now, you can absolutely find the most reliable specialist in the world to perform a surgery like this."

"I can," Julian said, his dark eyes locking onto hers. "But before they operate, Grandma needs to be in optimal physical condition, and she certainly cannot handle an ounce of psychological stress."

Hester pressed her lips together. She stared right at Julian. She knew exactly what he was implying. Yet, the raging injustice of it burned inside her.

"Julian, how can you stand there and use your grandmother to emotionally blackmail me without blinking an eye?" Hester glared fiercely at him, an unyielding fury roiling in her chest. "You were the one who betrayed me first! I am the victim here. What the hell is wrong with me wanting a divorce?!"