The Year I Stopped Being His novel Chapter 9

Inside the VIP room, Rosemary sat comfortably in a visitor's chair, her sprained wrist neatly bandaged.

Vincent rested in the hospital bed. He looked a bit pale, but his spirits seemed high. Garrison stood by the bed, while Quinn sat right next to Vincent, adjusting the height of his pillows.

"Quinn, sweetie, that psycho is going to be here any minute. Why don't you step out? I'll handle her," Rosemary said, checking her watch.

"Rosemary, you're overthinking it. Sloane isn't going to do anything to me," Quinn replied, wearing her signature gentle smile.

"Not do anything? Then why did she fly all the way across the globe? She's clearly here to throw a fit! I'm not scared of her, I just don't want her lashing out and dragging you into her mess."

"I doubt she'll do that. Archie will be here. she wouldn't dare act out," Vincent reasoned. He turned to his son. "By the way, Garrison, you two saw each other yesterday. I assume she just came because she misses Archie?"

"I assume so," Garrison said, his expression completely blank.

Standing outside the cracked door, Sloane heard every single word. She offered a tired, cynical smile. She wasn't even angry. For a fleeting second, she actually envied Quinn.

Rosemary genuinely loved the girl.

She remembered how her own mother used to worry about her getting bullied at school, how she would kiss her scraped knees, and how she would shield her from danger.

But ever since she was ten... no one had ever loved her like that again.

"Grandpa! Grandma! Quinn!"

Before Sloane could react, Archie let go of her hand and sprinted through the door.

Sloane rolled her eyes internally. Rosemary acted like she was a debt-collecting demon ready to devour their precious adopted daughter.

"Alright. Vincent, Rosemary, Garrison, I'll let you guys catch up. I'm going to step out," Quinn said, playing the perfectly obedient girl as she backed out of the room.

Garrison pulled up a chair for Sloane. Just then, Archie spoke up. "Mom, I want water."

"Okay."

Sloane grabbed a paper cup and poured hot water from the thermos. As she turned to hand it to Archie, Garrison's hand shot out, his long fingers brushing the side of the cup. "It's boiling. Archie can't drink that. Add some cold water first."

Rosemary's face instantly soured. "You've been a mother for five years and you still can't even get the temperature of a glass of water right?"