Chapter 506 His Affection Was All for Revenge
Sarah had arranged to go shopping and grab coffee with Calliope, but Calliope got held up at the last minute.
Sarah smiled to herself. She wandered around on her own, with no particular destination in mind, planning to kill time until evening when she'd pick up her husband from work. Then they'd go to their favorite restaurant for dinner before heading home.
Life was peaceful. She didn't lack for money, the children were looked after by Claire and the nanny, and she enjoyed these occasional romantic moments with her husband to nurture their marriage. Though if Oliver got any ideas about dragging her to a hotel after dinner, that was absolutely out of the question.
She never expected to run into Azalea.
In a children's clothing store, Azalea was selecting baby clothes. Her eyes were misty with emotion, her complexion glowing—she looked like she was doing quite well for herself.
Seeing Sarah, Azalea looked flustered. "Mrs. Windsor."
Sarah didn't scold her. She took the little outfit from Azalea's hands and said gently, "The child's gotten so big."
Azalea quickly explained, "The baby kept getting sick in Oceancrest City and never seemed to get better, so I brought her to Evergreen City. The pediatricians in the big city are so much more capable—she was completely well within a month."
Sarah wanted to see the child. Azalea had always been grateful to her and had no defenses up whatsoever.
Azalea had money now and wasn't depriving herself. She'd rented a three-bedroom apartment in Evergreen City and brought a nanny from Oceancrest City to help care for the child, which freed her up to handle her dealings with Nicholas.
Sarah thought this was all quite good, especially the little girl, Elspeth—so tiny and beautiful! Sarah took to her immediately.
Since she'd come unexpectedly and hadn't prepared a gift, she slipped off a bracelet from her wrist as a meeting present for Elspeth. Even with Azalea's humble background, she could tell this bracelet was extremely valuable.
She didn't dare accept it. Sarah held the little girl and smiled. "If you think about it, Elspeth should call me great-aunt! Keep it for her without worry. When she grows up and gets married, I'll prepare a dowry for her too."
Azalea was overwhelmed and uneasy. "Mrs. Windsor."
Sarah stepped away from the nanny and spoke to Azalea privately. "What Oliver did back then was completely inappropriate. We wronged you and we wronged this child even more. If you ever have any difficulties in the future, just call me."
Azalea was afraid of being a burden, especially since Sarah had three children of her own. Sarah took out a business card from her purse. Azalea didn't dare take it.
The nanny was sharp—the moment Sarah arrived, she could tell this lady carried herself with real class. So she took the card for Azalea and smiled graciously. "Mrs. Windsor, I'll thank you on my lady's behalf."
Sarah stayed a while longer before leaving. Azalea walked her downstairs.
Sarah asked about her plans. Azalea didn't dare mention her relationship with Nicholas, so she lied, telling Sarah she'd be leaving Evergreen City in a couple of days to return to small-town life.
This put Sarah's mind at ease. She didn't hide any of this from Oliver. During their private dinner, she told him everything.
Azalea was soft-hearted. Oliver asked Sarah for the address, saying he'd have Zoey check on her in a few days—he wasn't comfortable with her staying in Evergreen City.
Sarah agreed. "She's young and prone to making mistakes."
Azalea stood downstairs until the black car disappeared from view. By then, dusk had fallen and the sky was painted with brilliant colors—absolutely beautiful.
When Azalea returned to the apartment, the nanny was using the bracelet to entertain Elspeth. "Look at the bracelet your great-aunt gave you. Do you like it? Your great-aunt really loves you. With her looking out for you, you're sure to have a bright future."
The nanny certainly had good instincts. Though Sarah had fallen out with the Moore family, blood ties were mysteriously powerful. After just one meeting, Sarah was already making plans for Elspeth's future. The child was definitely destined for good things.
Azalea gently touched the little girl. Outside, the doorbell rang.
The nanny went to answer it and found an elegant lady at the door. "Ma'am, I think you might have the wrong apartment?"
It was Hestia. The night before, she'd discovered her husband was keeping a woman, and following the trail had led her here. To her surprise, it wasn't some young beauty—it was someone from the past, the very Azalea who had caused Nicholas to go to prison.
They were involved again. As soon as she entered, she saw their illegitimate daughter too. How could she not be furious?
Ever since she and Nicholas had reconciled, she'd served his family, cared for two young children, and swallowed her pride over his casual affairs. But she'd never imagined he would reconnect with Azalea.
Hestia's composure shattered completely. Just like before, she couldn't control her husband, so she took out her rage on his mistress. She completely disregarded her status as a lady and showed Azalea no mercy. Right in front of the nanny, she slapped her twice.
But that wasn't nearly enough. Hestia's hatred reached its peak as she grabbed Azalea's hair and unleashed a torrent of slaps, curses, and abuse.
Elspeth began crying. The nanny rushed to comfort the child, unable to protect her employer. The scene descended into chaos.
Finally, exhausted from the beating, Hestia collapsed onto the sofa in tears.
"Why did you come back? You ruined him so badly—the Moore family barely has any money left! What will it take for you to leave him alone?"
Azalea was utterly humiliated. Her face streaked with blood and tears, she knelt on the floor, clutching Hestia's knees as she promised, "I'll leave! After I leave Evergreen City, I'll never see Mr. Moore again. Mrs. Moore, please don't worry."
Hestia looked down at her from above—at this young woman who had borne Nicholas a child—and felt disgusted. Finally, she smiled coldly. "I hope you mean what you say."
With that, she stormed out. The door slammed shut with a bang.
The nanny quickly helped Azalea to her feet, pleading with her earnestly. "You have your own resources and someone like Mrs. Windsor looking out for you—why wade into these murky waters? Men say they love you when they're making love, but that's not real love. If it were real love, would he let others hurt you like this?"
Of course Azalea understood all this. When she and Nicholas had rekindled their relationship, she knew he was different from before, but her deep feelings made her deceive herself.
Now that Hestia had made a scene, she felt like retreating. She told the nanny, "Book tickets for before New Year's. We'll leave after Christmas."
The nanny wanted to say more, but Azalea, dragging her wounded body, walked into the bedroom. She didn't tend to her injuries—just buried herself under the covers and sobbed.
She knew perfectly well she was shameless, involved with a married man, but this was her beloved Nicholas, and she had once wronged him so terribly.
Others assumed she was materialistic, only after money. After all, who would believe a prostitute could have genuine feelings?
She wept bitterly, licking her wounds alone. But she didn't realize that her pain didn't come from society's judgment or from Hestia—it came from the very man she loved so deeply. All her suffering originated with Nicholas!
That night, she called Nicholas. He answered.
After a long silence, Azalea said quietly, "Mr. Moore, I want to leave. I wronged you in the past, but I'll make amends in my own way."
"Make amends." Nicholas had been drinking. He leaned back against the sofa with a low laugh, speaking tender words, "What's wrong? Why are you saying such things again? Azalea, the best way you could make amends is to stay by my side, where I can see you always."
Azalea buried her head under the covers, unable to stop her tears. "Mr. Moore."
Nicholas continued his gentle coaxing. Originally, Azalea had resolved to cut ties with him completely, but now she wavered slightly.
Nicholas had spent years in business and understood people's hearts well. Her simple thoughts were child's play to him. So he spoke more sweet words and invited her to spend Christmas Eve together, saying softly, "We've been together so long, but we've never had a proper dinner out in public. Azalea, let's talk about whatever's bothering you on Christmas Eve, all right? I've just been so busy with social obligations these past few days."
Azalea loved him deeply. She swallowed her grievances and didn't mention Hestia at all. With a catch in her throat, she said, "Mr. Moore, I never dared dream I could walk with you in the sunlight."
Originally, it had just been a transaction. She didn't care about status or how much she meant to him, but once a woman fell in love, she couldn't help wanting more. She began caring whether his love was real, whether they could be together forever, not knowing these fantasies were just her own one-woman show!
Nicholas had always been clearheaded—clearheadedly watching, clearheadedly observing her sink alone.
On the other end, Nicholas hung up. He leaned back against the sofa, playing with his phone, and chuckled mockingly.
Isabella brought over some tea and happened to overhear. Though Isabella had seen Azalea and despised the prostitute's betrayal, she didn't want her son drowning in hatred. The Moore family had enough hatred already.
Isabella sat across from him and said calmly, "This afternoon Hestia left the house in a fury, came back even more upset, and by evening had taken both children back to her parents' house without explaining anything! I suspected something was amiss, and sure enough.
"Nicholas, I know you harbor resentment, but you have a wife and children. You should prioritize your family! Your casual affairs outside are already humiliating enough for Hestia—do you really need to keep a long-term mistress to torment her further? Besides, I suspect you don't actually love this Azalea—you just want revenge.
"Nicholas, let her go, and let yourself go too."
"Mom, what are you thinking?" Nicholas set down his phone and began drinking tea. He was skilled at charming women, and now he handled Isabella with the same ease.
He explained, "Azalea and I just happened to run into each other—nothing improper happened. Hestia's been emotional lately and tends to overthink things. Christmas Eve is coming up—I'll bring her and the children back, along with Hestia's parents, plus you and Dad. We'll have a nice big family dinner."
This explanation put Isabella at ease. She reminded her son, "Talk things through properly with Hestia. Don't damage your marriage. After all, you two are in this for life."
Nicholas got up and massaged Isabella's shoulders, the picture of filial devotion. Isabella was thoroughly pleased. "Don't give us any more cause for worry."
The night before Christmas Eve, Nicholas brought Hestia home and that evening, during lovemaking, thoroughly comforted her.
Hestia's reputation wasn't good. Though her family was supportive, with two children she didn't have many options. While Nicholas played around outside, at home he showed her more respect than before. When she considered divorce, even her parents advised her to think carefully.
After weighing everything, she forgave her husband once again. During this homecoming, her mother told her that a man's love could be measured by whether he gave her money. Nicholas now provided generous household funds monthly and bought her expensive jewelry—she should focus on draining his finances dry.
Hestia saw the light. She spared no effort pleasing her husband, becoming utterly alluring.
Nicholas fixed her with his sexy blue eyes, playing the loving husband, and she felt completely satisfied. When a woman's body was satisfied, she became much more magnanimous. She stopped questioning him about Azalea.
On Christmas Eve, Nicholas arranged for both families to dine at a famous Western restaurant, booking the finest private room.
When the wine was flowing freely, Nicholas casually sent a message on his phone.
Hestia suspected he was texting Azalea and was quite displeased that on such an important day, her husband still had the mind to flirt with another woman. But with both sets of parents present, she couldn't make a scene.
Outside the Restaurant, the winter night was cold as an ice cave, but there were still people dressed as Santa Claus handing out small gifts, and the streets twinkled with tiny lights everywhere, beautiful as a fairy tale.
Azalea had dressed specially for the occasion in a Christmas red outfit, her lips red and teeth white. She thought this would be her last dinner with Nicholas. Afterward, they would go their separate ways.
Even though she still loved him deeply, she knew he would never belong to her—they had never been from the same world. She wasn't greedy; just this one last meal!
The nanny was waiting with Elspeth at a restaurant across the street. After dinner, they would all go home together. She had even prepared a Christmas gift for Elspeth, hanging by the crib.
Azalea walked down the long corridor, looking for the private room Nicholas had specified.
A server smiled and asked, "Miss, are you looking for guests in this private room?"
Azalea nodded softly. "Yes, I have a dinner appointment with a Mr. Moore."
The server opened the door for her. The private room door slowly opened before Azalea's eyes.
Two children were running around inside, playing Santa Claus and reindeer. Nicholas had been drinking, and Hestia was tenderly serving him food.
Two families, a room full of warmth and celebration.
Azalea's face went deathly pale. She was utterly mortified. She had never imagined she would stumble into such a scene. Clearly, Nicholas had arranged to meet her alone—why had it become this kind of gathering?
What did that make her in Nicholas's heart? And these past two or three months when he'd treated her so well—what had that been?
Was it revenge?