The Masterpiece of Leaving：Prepared A Perfect Stand-In For Him novel Chapter 81

Dr Cooper's accent was so strong that it made it sound like she was referring to Cathy instead of Navier when she talked.

Aubrey still didn't react much.

Dr. Cooper couldn't help but sigh, "Speaking of that girl, there's nothing I can say to you. She was always pampering and doting on you. Once, a nurse accidentally bumped into you, and she was so heartbroken that her eyes turned red."

"That silly girl came to me many times later, asking if I could treat your eyes. I told her that it's dangerous to extract corneas from living donors, and it could lead to blindness or even death. But she said it didn't matter. She knew our hospital couldn't do the tests and asked me where else she could go. Can you believe how na茂ve she is?"

"Later, I found out that she did all that because she was afraid your family would abandon you because of your blindness. She wanted to help you regain your sight so you could go back home."

After speaking for a while and seeing Aubrey's lack of response, Dr. Cooper sensed that something was off and didn't say anything more. She walked away.

Behind him, Aubrey stood still like a wooden sculpture.

---

Navier's perspective

I left the hospital and since I didn't have anything else to do, I decided to head back to the old house and clean it up. Even though I didn't really plan on living there anymore, the memories tied to that house were just too precious for me to let it fall into disrepair and go to waste.

When I got there, I saw that Aunt Violet and the others clearly hadn't taken good care of it at all. There were several places that were moldy, and the walls were peeling in spots. It really made me feel bad to see it like that. I thought to myself that maybe in a few days, I should hire a construction team to come and renovate it.

I spent some time cleaning everything up inside, and before I knew it, an hour had passed.

I walked out with the garbage in my hands.

I'd only taken a few steps when a long shadow fell across my vision.

It was the shadow of a woman, and from how graceful and slender it was, I could tell she must be wonderful.

I couldn't help but look up, and there was a face that was both familiar and unfamiliar, looking so radiant and captivating.

My eyebrows furrowed just a bit.

The last person I wanted to see, and yet here we were, running into each other three times in just one day. What kind of strange fate was this?

It was Cathy standing not too far away, glancing over at me.

I'd just finished cleaning and working hard, so of course I couldn't compare to her appearance at the moment. My hair was a little disheveled, and there was sweat glistening on my eyebrows. But my eyes were still shining brightly, I guess.

Cathy didn't seem too pleased and quickly looked away. Then she stretched out her swan-like neck, like she was trying to make herself look taller than me.

I didn't want to see her, didn't feel like exchanging any greetings with her, so I just walked right past her.

But then Cathy turned slightly and said, "Miss Armstrong, how about leaving Iris to us to raise?"

My steps froze for a second, and I turned to look at her. "You must be out of your mind, Miss Cathy. How could you even think of raising my daughter?"

To my surprise, Cathy didn't get angry at my rather confrontational words. Instead, she covered her mouth and laughed.

"Aubrey and I are getting married soon, and his daughter will become my daughter. Besides, it seems that you're not with the boss of Starlight Media anymore, and raising a child might be a bit difficult for you."

"As a mother, you always want to give the best to your child, right? Sending Iris back to the Spencer family would be the best for her, wouldn't it?"

"By sending Iris back to the Spencer family, Navier, you can also seek your own happiness. That Jagger from earlier could be a great match for you, especially with his solid financial situation."

"Dear, instead of being all tangled up with your ex-husband and constantly staying in touch, why not find a good man and get married? At least then you can experience what happiness feels like."

I listened to her long string of sarcastic words, and then it finally dawned on me what was going on.

"So, you suspect that I insisted on taking Iris away just to keep a connection with Aubrey?"

Cathy did all this just for one reason: she didn't want me to be happy!

After four years of trying to put those lingering thoughts aside, I was done being polite in the face of her lack of gratitude.

I said, "Miss Cathy, you seem to have a really bad memory. Back then, when the reporters asked you if you were cheating, you were silent for a full five minutes. Weren't those five minutes long enough for you to explain yourself? Even if the reporters didn't believe your words, Aubrey was right there; he would've been willing to listen, right?"

"..." Cathy's eyes narrowed all of a sudden.

In her mind, I was just some woman who didn't belong on the stage or anything.

But now, I was speaking so clearly, like I could anticipate every single argument she might have, and it left her completely speechless.

I slowly walked around Cathy, saying, "Miss Cathy, if it weren't for me stepping in, your cheating would've been confirmed, and you would've been completely discredited four years ago. What makes you think you can come here and act like a victim, trying to fool me?"

"I might even be your benefactor. I don't expect you to repay me, but please don't stand in front of me and say such hypocritical things!"

"..." Cathy just froze there again, and her face turned purple.

All that charm and radiance she had before was long gone!

She was pinching her palm so hard that her nails were breaking one by one, but she didn't even seem to feel the pain!

Suddenly, she, who thought she was the victim, had become the one who benefited?

And I, the woman she thought had caused her to lose Aubrey, had become her benefactor?

How could she bear such a huge blow?

"By the way, you said you and that man were just friends. Do you think there's something wrong with my eyes? So, you were both butt-naked under the covers and having a chat? Do you believe in something like that?" I continued, my gaze landing on another figure not too far away.