Love's New Bloom by Simone Hastings

Chapter 73 Self–awareness

Erin’s words surprised Mary. “What? You divorced my son?” she shrieked.

Her shocked face made Erin realize that Ian didn’t bring the issue up to Mary yet, which annoyed her for a moment. Mary wouldn’t have doubled down on her if he had told her about this earlier.

Just as Erin wanted to get up and leave without providing her a proper explanation, Mary grabbed hold of her arm and continued probing, “Could it be that my son caught you cheating?”

Her accusation made Erin frown. It was obvious that Mary didn’t hear a single word she said.

“You’re despicable, Erin! My son works so hard in the company to earn enough to give you a better life, yet look at the kind of wife you are to him! Who would’ve thought you would decide to leave my son and me after I requested you give me grandchildren…I’m still baffled at why my son even chose you in the first place!” Mary raged as her eyes glowed in furious.

anger.

Erin’s heart grew cold as she listened to Mary’s unreasonable ramblings. It was a good thing that she treated Mary well back then. At least she could now say that she did her part to fulfill the role of being her daughter–in–law. But now that she and Ian had divorced, she doubted that Mary would continue to see her in the same light as before.

Seeing it had come to this, Erin decided she would shoulder all of the blame Mary had dumped on her. “I don’t want to argue with you anymore. Since you insist that your son is a saint, you should be glad that he divorced me. I sure hope you can find another good daughter–in–law who can treat you well and give you the grandchildren you so desire, Mrs. Cooper!” she scoffed in response. Immediately after saying that, she forcefully shook Mary’s hands off her and shot her an icy glare before turning to leave.

Since Mary wore high heels, it caused her to lose her balance and start stumbling backward for a moment. Her friend immediately rushed to her side to prop her up.

“Erin, you uneducated rotten bitch! Eugh, what bad luck my son has to marry a wench like you.” Mary cursed angrily, and the middle–aged woman beside her followed suit.

Erin merely kept advancing forward until she could no longer hear their angry screams. Her anger only grew as she recalled the main person behind this whole mess all this time. It prompted her to immediately fish out her phone to dial Ian’s number.

Ian picked up the phone almost instantly.

you tell your mother about our divorce?”

you run into her?”

me in public today, but I didn’t care too much because she used to be my mother–in–law. I won’t hold back the next time she acts that way again! My parents raised me to be an

the phone without giving him a chance to question her about

The thought of being a scapegoat when Ian cheated on her was enough. to make her blood boil. But her anger was soon assuaged when she recalled

submissive

her phone started ringing again. She lowered her head and saw that

by downstairs if you have time? I have something important to tell you.” Caleb

outside now, but I’m still near the company. We can meet outside if that’s fine with you. I’m at…” she trailed off as she scanned her surroundings. She

there soon,” he answered.

later, Caleb strolled into the Starbucks she mentioned, and he quickly located Erin sitting in a corner by herself. He then went up

anything you’d like to drink,” Erin said with her head slightly turned to the side. She’d also used some hair to cover one side of her

happened to your face? Who hit you?” he asked in concern, as his expression

herself, “Even YOU can

could see that those are the faint remnants of someone’s fingerprints. Who’d be so cruel to do this to you? Was it Chandler?”

“This didn’t come from

to him. After all, he’d witnessed the heinous thing that had happened to her in the office last time, so she no

furious look on his face. Even though he and Ian were both men, he looked down upon scum who fooled around like Ian.

tried her best to force out a grin. “Yeah. Then again, I’m pretty sure that his feelings for me had long

his hand on the back of hers and started comforting her, “There, there, Erin. What’s in

his hand made Erin’s hands feel heavy, so

with an awkward look in his

tell me?” Erin changed

I’ve come up with a game plan, but I would need to trouble you in certain parts,” he said with a straight