A Vow of Deception, A Vow of Revenge novel Chapter 223

Winona stepped into the apartment and immediately noticed the empty wine bottles scattered in the corner. Some had toppled over, others sat askew—a silent testament to restless nights.

Catching her gaze, Sue offered a sheepish smile. “I’ve just been in a rough spot lately. My mind won’t stop racing, and honestly, a bit of wine is the only thing that helps me fall asleep.”

Winona’s concern was gentle but unmistakable. “Are you okay, Sue?”

“I’m fine now.” Sue’s tone was breezy, though Winona couldn’t tell if she truly meant it or was just putting on a brave face. “I’ve been thinking a lot these past couple of days, and I finally figured it out. It’s just a man, right? If it doesn’t work out, move on. Divorce isn’t the end of the world. In fact, once it’s over, I don’t even have to stay in this country anymore. I can go back home and be with my family.”

She walked over to the window and swept the half-drawn curtains aside, letting the daylight spill into the room. “Three years—it’s not that long, is it?”

But as soon as the words left her lips, her eyes grew red, and tears threatened to spill.

She turned to Winona, her voice trembling. “Winona, I was with him for three years. Even after seeing his true colors, it still hurts so much. But you… you and Tyson were together for five years. How did you get through it when you found out he’d cheated?”

Sue’s pain wasn’t just her own—she was hurting for Winona, too.

Winona managed a small smile. “Once I knew the truth, I realized he wasn’t worth my grief. It just isn’t worth it.”

She made it sound easy, but only she knew the excruciating agony that had torn through her when the truth first came out. Still, she really had recovered quickly. She hoped Sue would, too.

Now that Sue was heading home for good, she felt she owed the woman a proper goodbye. After all, the only reason she’d ever come back here would be to finalize her divorce with Eric—and after that, there’d be nothing left to return to.

When the woman heard Sue was leaving, she promised to stop by with her daughter to see her off.

“Winona, you can’t imagine how shocked I was to find that bistro in such a tiny town,” Sue said, laughing. “There are barely any restaurants there at all, and I never expected to find one serving Chinese food! And honestly, I don’t have many friends here… meeting someone from back home meant a lot to me.”

It was just a shame they’d met so late. Two months wasn’t long, and now Sue was already leaving. The woman, it seemed, had no plans to return home herself.

“But you know what’s strange?” Sue added, shrugging. “That woman’s living alone with her daughter out there, and when I asked her how long she’d been in this country, or where her husband was, she kind of dodged the questions. I figured she just didn’t want to talk about personal stuff, so I dropped it.”