Imprisoned While Pregnant, She's Back for Payback novel Chapter 485

485 Far Apart

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The words landed on Kylie like a sudden blow, knocking the breath out of her. A surge of panic flooded her chest, and her lips quivered slightly. But then, a sharpness glinted in her eyes, hardening into pure hatred as she fixed Violet with a fierce glare. “Are you seriously cursing me?” she spat. “Violet, you’re the one being foolish! You’ve only spent two days with Tess, and already you’re under her spell. You don’t truly know who she is! You’re still the same as you were twenty years ago—jealous because I was loved more, because my life was better. That’s why you keep stirring up trouble!”

Her words hung in the thick silence between them, heavy and unforgiving.

Only then did Kylie realize she’d crossed a line she couldn’t take back.

She pressed her lips into a thin line and stepped back, trembling slightly as doubt gnawed at her.

Violet’s expression hardened in response. Usually composed and serene, now her anger was unmistakable, darkening her features. “Me? Stirring up trouble? No wonder you’ve hated me all these years. So this is what you’ve been thinking about me all along.”

Kylie knew she was wrong, but her pride refused to let her admit it. Her eyes blazed with fury as she yelled, “If you hadn’t gone behind my back to talk to Henry, he never would’ve left me. None of this tragedy would have happened!”

Her voice rose, almost a shout now. “If you hadn’t refused to let Henry marry me—and dragged Mom into it—why else would Aunt Olivia and Uncle Benjamin have forced me out of the Larsons?”

Violet froze, staring at Kylie—the same girl she had protected and loved since childhood. But now, Kylie’s face was twisted with years of bitterness, spewing two decades of resentment.

“It’s okay,” Violet said softly.

A wave of regret and exhaustion swept over her, settling deep in her chest.

Then, unexpectedly, she let out a quiet laugh.

Kylie bit her lip, a flicker of fear crossing her eyes as Violet’s expression shifted from anger to something fragile.

Violet exhaled slowly, her breath trembling. Then, locking eyes with Kylie, she said firmly, “I’ll never interfere in your life again.”

It was the promise Kylie had longed to hear for decades. Yet, instead of relief, it felt like a heavy weight crushed her chest, breaking apart with a dull, painful thud.

Without another word or glance back, Violet turned and walked away toward where Tess and the others had gathered.

“Kylie, what’s wrong?”

Henry’s voice broke through her daze. He had noticed she hadn’t come inside with the rest and found her leaning against the cold wall near the door, her face pale and drawn. When he took her hand, he felt it trembling faintly.

Kylie looked up at him, eyes glassy and unfocused.

Henry frowned. “Are you cold standing out here? Everyone else is inside. Why are you still standing here?”

His tone held no warmth—only emptiness, maybe even a trace of irritation.

She searched his face, desperate for the tenderness he’d shown earlier, but found nothing.

In the center of the room, three rows of couches were arranged.

The longest row was already occupied by Tess and the others. Olivia had pulled Tess to sit on her left, while Benjamin held her on the right. Abel, eager to sit beside Tess, was pushed to the far edge.

He glanced at Benjamin, who sat between them, and almost groaned in frustration. Just as he was about to ask for a seat swap, Benjamin’s cane blocked his face. “Abel, hold this for me.”

Abel took the cane, catching Benjamin’s raised eyebrows that silently said, “Calm down, kid.”

He nearly choked on his own irritation.

Tess, nestled between the elders, didn’t notice the tension. Her gaze was fixed on Violet, who had just sat down, her face heavy with unspoken burdens.

“Mrs. Violet,” Tess said softly, offering her a wet wipe.

Violet blinked in surprise, then accepted it with a quiet, “Thanks.” She pressed it gently to her temple, rubbing the cool cloth back and forth.

The sting of alcohol cleared her head a little, but the memory of Kylie’s harsh words still throbbed painfully at her temple.

She had poured so much effort, so much love, into protecting Kylie’s happiness back then. Yet that very care had become the reason Kylie blamed her for destroying her marriage.

And now, all that history felt like a fragile thread stretched too thin, threatening to snap.