He Gave Her Strawberries, Gave Me Hives (Ford and Sylvia) novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9

ord froze. Lyla clutched her face in shock, her cheek flushing crimson as she stared at Mrs. Holloway in disbelief. “Mrs. Holloway, why did you hit me?”

Irs. Holloway glared at her coldly. “What? Are you going to tell my son to hit me back to avenge you?”

yla paused, then immediately burst into pathetic tears. “Mrs. Holloway, did Sylvia say something to you? Is that why you

nisunderstood me?”

he sobbed as she spoke. “Sylvia attacked me first and put me in the hospital! I was worried she misunderstood me, so I begged Ford ɔ take me back to talk to her. But when she saw me, she got even madder and tried to leave. I tried to stop her, and she tried to push

ne down the stairs!”

I was lucky Ford caught me in time. But Sylvia wasn’t satisfied–she hired someone to push me down the stairs later!”

Ford only punished her because he was scared she’d keep hurting people. He was just trying to stop her!”

yla wailed through her explanation.

Mrs. Holloway listened and laughed dryly. “You certainly know how to spin a story in your favor.”

You knew Sylvia didn’t want to see you, but you followed Ford home anyway. Wasn’t the whole point to force her out?”

You say she tried to push you, but you conveniently forgot to mention that she was the one who actually fell down the stairs.”

And you claim she hired someone to push you, but you leave out the part where you two nearly beat her to death as punishment!”

Ford’s expression shifted. “That’s impossible!”

Mom, it was just a few steps! I knew what I was doing. She wasn’t going to get seriously hurt!”

Hearing this, Mrs. Holloway looked at him with utter disappointment.

That is your wife, Ford. You pushed her down a flight of stairs with your own hands, and you claim you ‘knew what you were

loing?”

How did I raise a son so blind to right and wrong, so incredibly stupid?”

Mrs. Holloway couldn’t hold back, she slapped Ford hard across the face.

Ford flinched but gritted his teeth, doubling down. “She started it! Lyla is young and innocent, she just likes pranks. Sylvia kept attacking her and threatening divorce. I’ve always spoiled her, and if I didn’t stop her, she would have done something worse!”

Mrs. Holloway stared at him coldly, turned around, grabbed a stack of documents from the coffee table, and shoved them into his

chest.

“Read this. Now.”

Confused, Ford took the file and started flipping through it.

Chapter 9

As he read, his face turned an ugly shade of gray.

Lyla leaned in curiously, but one glance at the pages made her face drain of color.

she lunged to snatch the papers away, screaming, “Fake! These are all fake! Sylvia made these up to frame me!”

Ford read page after page. It wasn’t just proof of Lyla provoking Sylvia over the years.

t was her sordid past.

here were even transcripts of Lyla bragging to friends while drunk: “I heard Ford and Sylvia were so in love. I thought he’d be hard

o get.”

Turns out, it was easy. He was all over me in no time.”

Now, he does whatever I say. If I tell him to mess with his wife, he does it. He’s more obedient than a dog.”

Sylvia is nothing. Once I’m Mrs. Holloway, all that jewelry will be mine for the taking.”

‘ord looked at Lyla with bloodshot eyes, his knuckles white as he gripped the papers.

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