“And Aurelia was in on it. She's the one who fed me that line about being haunted by a vengeful spirit and dragged me to that spiritualist church, making me buy into the whole charade hook, line, and sinker. That's when I panicked and hired that so-called master. It was a trap, all orchestrated by her and Jelena. I've been played for a fool.”
She clutched her head, her voice rising in a crescendo of despair.
Fredric looked on with contempt, "You've lost your marbles. You're saying Jelena wanted revenge for Joyce, with Aurelia as her sidekick, but then they made you desecrate Joyce's grave? You're the one with a screw loose, trying to pin your twisted actions on them."
Sheryl's face shifted from pale to flushed in rapid succession, "You're so bewitched by Jelena, and you can't think straight anymore."
Jessica took a leisurely sip of her tea and said calmly, "If it was really a setup by them, they'd want you to make amends with Joyce, to soothe her restless soul. But instead of apologizing, you went and disturbed her final resting place."
Her words left Sheryl choked up.
"It was the 'master's idea, not mine," Sheryl protested weakly.
"Let's cut the argument," Jessica waved dismissively, "It's clear your relationship with Fredric has run its course."
At that, Sheryl burst into tears again, "Jessica, for the sake of the baby I'm carrying, can we delay the divorce proceedings? If I get divorced now, my child with Fredric will be born out of wedlock."
Fredric spoke up, "Don't even think about it. You're not having my child. If you refuse to sign the papers this afternoon, I'll have my lawyer handle it."
Sheryl wailed with despair, "How can you be so heartless? I just want to give birth before we divorce. Is that so wrong?"
Jessica sighed deeply, "Sheryl, it's over. There's no point in holding on. Let's part on good terms."
She got up to leave, tired of their drama.
That evening, Aurelia visited Jelena's home.
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