The Divorced Military Queen Awakens (by Sadie Baxter) novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31 Just Drop It

Jacinda trembled, her body frozen in place. Across the room, Penelope’s face twisted with fury as she stormed toward Quinn. “You wretch!” she screamed. “I swear I’ll tear you apart!”

Quinn sidestepped with practiced ease. Penelope lunged, only to miss completely and crash shoulder-first into a nearby cabinet. She let out a sharp cry of pain.

At that moment, the door slammed open. Trent burst in, flanked by startled hotel staff.

Jacinda’s breath caught. He really came… Could everyone outside have seen what happened in here just like Quinn said?

The moment Penelope saw her son, she scrambled to her feet and rushed over, clutching his arm. “Trent, thank goodness you’re here! This vile woman was caught cheating by me and Jacinda! I only gave her a few harsh words, but she turned around and hit me! If you don’t divorce this shameless woman, then don’t call me your mother anymore!”

“Mom!” Trent cut her off sharply, his face flushed with embarrassment. “That’s enough. Everyone outside saw what happened in this room!”

Penelope froze. “W-what? How could anyone have seen?” Her eyes darted wildly. “No, no! This must be a setup! It’s Quinn’s doing, isn’t it? Trent, you can’t trust her!”

Bitterness welled up in Trent’s chest. It wasn’t that he believed in Quinn, but he trusted what he had just seen and heard with his own eyes and ears.

The figures of his mother and sister on the screen felt like strangers, twisted reflections of the people he thought he knew. He had never imagined that they, his own family, would stoop so low, scheming to drive Quinn out of the marriage empty-handed.

He lifted his gaze to look at his wife.

Clad in a dark blue gown, Quinn looked utterly composed, untouched by the chaos that had just unfolded. The intensity in her eyes and the quiet strength she exuded were overwhelming. Regal. Untouchable.

They were only a few steps apart, yet the distance between them felt immeasurable. They had shared the same bed, the same nights, but now, he couldn’t even bring himself to close the space between them.

“Yes, Trent, it’s all Quinn’s doing!” Jacinda blurted out, voice shrill with panic. “She lured Mom and me here. It was a setup! She tricked us! You have to believe me, she planned everything!”

Quinn didn’t flinch. A slow, sardonic smile curled on her lips as she met Trent’s eyes. Her gaze seemed to ask, Well?Now that the truth’s in front of you… what will you do?

“Trent, you’re not seriously taking Quinn’s side over me and Mom, are you? We’re your family!” Jacinda cried, watching his silence with growing unease.

Panicked, Penelope jumped in. “You’re my son! How could you possibly trust a stranger over your own mother? You need to call someone and have Quinn arrested right now! She laid hands on me! I’m calling the police! I’ll sue her for assault!”

1/2

Fueled by anger and emboldened by Trent’s presence, Penelope stepped toward Quinn, arm raised as if to strike. But she didn’t get far. Trent seized her wrist in a firm, unflinching grip.

“Enough!” he snapped, his voice ringing with fury. “Mom! Jacinda! How much more disgrace do you want to bring me?”

Quinn’s icy gaze pierced him, and for a split second, he felt utterly stripped bare; ashamed, exposed.

But what drained him most was the realization that his mother and sister showed not a shred of guilt. Even now, they twisted the truth, piling every ounce of blame onto Quinn as if nothing they’d done mattered.

“Fine! You want to call the police? No need for that. I already did!” Laura stormed into the room, eyes blazing as she pointed at Penelope. She rushed straight to Quinn’s side.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

“I’m fine,” Quinn replied calmly, placing a reassuring hand on her friend’s arm.

In truth, Quinn wasn’t entirely unscathed. Earlier, the two men had released some kind of drug-laced mist into the room. Despite her vigilance, she’d accidentally inhaled a few breaths of it.

Fortunately, her prior training in chemical resistance kicked in. The dose had been minimal, and she remained in control, alert enough to handle the situation.

“You called the cops?” Jacinda’s face went pale the moment Laura’s words registered. She whipped around, staring at her in disbelief.

Penelope didn’t get it, but Jacinda knew exactly what this meant. If the police really showed up, there’d be proof that she and her mother had orchestrated the whole setup. And once that happened, there would be no talking their way out of it.

“You actually called the police?” Jacinda burst out, her voice rising in panic. “Are you out of your mind?”

“You think I wouldn’t?” Laura shot back, eyes blazing. “You harmed my friend. After everything Quinn’s been through, why shouldn’t I call the police?”

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