Reborn to Burn Them All novel Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Sophia’s words stunned everyone in the room. Jonathan and Heather’s faces darkened instantly, while only Maelis nodded solemnly in agreement.

Maelis said, “You’re right. If someone’s mentally ill, they should be in a psychiatric hospital. Who knows when they might suddenly snap and start attacking people with a knife?”

She thought, ‘Just like that creep who is obsessed with Andy’s girlfriend. They need to be locked up, absolutely locked up.

Sophia shrugged and said, “The SWPC isn’t a bad place, pretty comfortable. Why not just send him there?”

Heather snapped out of her daze. She lunged at Jonathan and shrieked, “Jonathan, I’m gonna fight you!”

Jonathan grabbed her hand and said gently, “Heather, calm down. Just because someone is struggling with mental health doesn’t mean they have to be sent to a psychiatric hospital. I’ll find a way out.”

Heather, panicked and helpless, cried out, “A way? What kind of way?”

Before Jonathan could say a word, Sophia jumped in, “What Jonathan means is, as long as Howard’s injuries aren’t healed, he has to stay in the hospital. Just have a few people watch him so he doesn’t hurt himself or anyone else. Simple as that.

“Got to admit, Jonathan’s solution isn’t half bad, definitely better than being stuck in the SWPC, right, Heather?

For some reason, Heather suddenly felt a twinge of guilt.

Jonathan choked up. Visibly conflicted, he said, “Sophia’s right. Howard’s injuries are too severe. Even if he does have to go to the SWPC, he’ll have to wait until he’s recovered.”

Since Jonathan had publicly declared that Howard was mentally unstable, he naturally arranged for a psychiatric evaluation. Once the diagnosis confirmed Howard’s condition, many were quick to kick him while he was down, especially with intense public scrutiny online.

Whether due to public pressure or to shirk responsibility, Howard was bound for the SWPC. So Jonathan came up with this plan.

Heather sobbed between choked breaths. She said, “But what happens when his injuries heal?”

Jonathan took a deep breath and said, “Howard’s recovery will be a long process. Once he’s stable, I’ll arrange for his treatment abroad. Elliot is already overseas, so Howard could stay with him. If you want, you could go visit them.”

He thought, ‘Once Howard is out of the country, what’s there to worry about?‘

Heather was sobbing so hard for Howard that she could barely catch her breath.

Sophia narrowed her eyes and said, “Jonathan, you’re not trying to get Heather out of the way just to pull some shady shit, are you?”

Heather’s sobs abruptly stopped. She looked up at Jonathan, suspicion in her eyes.

Jonathan was livid. He snapped, “Sophia, can you shut up while I’m talking to your mother?”

Sophia shot back, “I’m not mute! Why can’t I speak in my own home? Want me to shut up? Simple, pay up.”

Jonathan’s face twisted with barely contained rage. He took a deep breath to compose himself before turning to comfort Heather.

With Jonathan’s gentle reassurance, Heather quickly learned the full extent of his plan. Her anger melted away. And she reconciled with Jonathan in no time. Jonathan then supported her as they went upstairs together.

Sophia watched coldly from the sidelines. If one looked closely, one could catch a faint trace of mockery in her eyes.

Maelis looked bewildered. She said, “One moment they were at each other’s throats, and the next, they’re acting like nothing happened?”

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Chapter 144

Sophia’s eyes gleamed with a cold light as she sneered, “Make–up sex fixes everything.”

She thought, ‘Guess I overestimated Heather after all. Even after all my efforts to drive a wedge between them, Jonathan still managed to win her back. How dull. So disappointing.‘

Sophia propped her chin on her hand, frowning seriously as she analyzed where she’d gone wrong. Having never been in a relationship herself, she couldn’t comprehend the romantic dynamics between men and women.

Her face showed complete bewilderment before she turned to Maelis, the resident “Simp” expert.

Sensing Sophia’s gaze, Maelis froze mid–sip, goosebumps rising on her skin. She asked, “Why are you staring at me like that?” She felt Sophia’s look was so’downright creepy that she wanted to bolt.

Sophia leaned in with genuine curiosity and asked, “So, what’s it really like being Jerome’s simp?”

Maelis’s face turned an ugly shade. She thought, “Who the hell asks questions like that? That’s so rude!” If it were anyone else, she would’ve picked a fight already.

But since it was Sophia, Maelis knew there was no way she could win, so she just had to let it slide.

Maelis comforted herself, telling herself to be the bigger person and not stoop to her level. Then she said, “I wasn’t possessed or anything, just completely love–struck back then. But I’ve come to my senses now.”

”

Sophia nodded thoughtfully. Then she pressed, “So, what’s it really like being a simp?” What she truly wanted to know was what Maelis was thinking.

Maelis choked, her face stiff. She said, “Can you not say ‘simp‘? I have PTSD from that word now.”

After asking twice and still not getting the answer she wanted, Sophia frowned in disgust. She said, “Jerome was out there sleeping around with different women every night. Didn’t you find that revolting? Cleaning up after him like some pathetic doormat.

“How could you stand it? What were you even thinking back then?”

At this point, Sophia looked at Maelis with undisguised disgust, her eyes practically screaming contempt.

Maelis was on the verge of tears. Even though Sophia hadn’t said “simp” outright, every word screamed it. She thought, ‘She is implying I was blind back then, falling for such a complete scumbag.‘

Faced with Sophia’s earnest questioning, Maelis stammered, “I’m human, not some emotionless machine. Of course, I felt disgusted. I knew he was a scumbag, but everyone around me kept saying, ‘All men are like that. It’ll get better after you’re married,‘ so I…”

Sophia shot her a look full of disgust and contempt. She said, “So you just went along with it?”

Maelis fell silent, her face clouded with discomfort.

Sophia rolled her eyes and said, “People who say that aren’t just trying to convince you. They’re convincing themselves, too. They’re so brainwashed and manipulated by men, they don’t even realize it.

“Or maybe they do know cheating is wrong, but they just tell themselves, ‘All men are like that,‘ to make themselves feel better.

“When everyone around them acts the same, they automatically make excuses for men, brainwashing and gaslighting themselves. What a pitiful, yet terrifying, bunch of women!”

Maelis suddenly had an epiphany and clapped her hands excitedly. She exclaimed, “Exactly! Their husbands not only cheat, but also have kids from affairs, constantly turning their homes into war zones.

“One day, they are gossiping about this family’s drama. The next day, it’s someone else’s turn, as if that’s the only way they can convince themselves all men are like that. In the end, they just accept it as normal.”

Sophia pressed, “And what about you?”