Chapter 2 One Month Later I Will Leave
Sloane's POV
The next day, I returned to the Winslow house - my parents' house.
The maid Anna opened the door and saw me, her face breaking into a distant smile: "Miss Sloane, your mother and sister are waiting for you in the living room."
As soon as I walked into the room, I heard my mother Isabelle's gentle voice: "Slow down, no one's going to take it from you. Look at you, child. Did you even eat properly while you were abroad?"
I looked up and saw a woman sitting at the dining table whose features resembled mine somewhat.
She wore a light pink loungewear set, had olive skin, and big bright eyes - like a delicate doll.
This must be my sister, Keira.
Keira was holding a bowl of vanilla milkshake, happily sipping it one mouthful at a time.
Isabelle sat beside her, watching her with adoring eyes, occasionally reaching out to brush away the stray hairs from her forehead.
That warm scene made me feel a bit envious.
Ever since I was adopted back into the family, my mother's attitude toward me had always been indifferent - she'd never looked at me with such eyes.
"Mom, is that Sloane?"
Keira saw me first and turned to ask Isabelle.
Isabelle's gaze swept over me lightly, and she hummed a faint acknowledgment.
Keira put down her bowl, stood up and walked toward me with a bright smile: "Hi Sloane, we finally meet. You're really beautiful."
Looking at this face so similar to mine, radiating infectious youthful energy, I seemed to understand why Jared liked her so much.
I nodded at her politely: "Welcome back."
"Don't just stand there, come sit."
Isabelle's tone was noticeably cooler than before.
I sat down on a single sofa, separated from them by a coffee table.
"Jared already told me."
Keira sat back down, hands folded on her lap in an elegant posture: "Sloane, I'm sorry. These past three years must have been hard on you."
As she said this, her eyes reddened slightly, her tone sincere - anyone would find it hard to blame her.
Isabelle immediately put her arm around her shoulders: "Silly child, how could this be your fault? Given the Montclair family's situation back then, I couldn't bear to see you get caught up in that mess."
I took a sip of tea, bitterness spreading across my tongue.
She couldn't bear to see Keira get caught up in that mess, but she was fine with throwing me in?
Three years ago, the Montclair family faced a financial crisis and could go bankrupt at any moment.
When Keira found out, she cried and refused to marry Jared and suffer hardship.
Isabelle felt sorry for her daughter but didn't want to lose face for the Winslow family by breaking off the engagement, so she thought of me - the one who'd been living in the countryside all along.
At first I didn't agree, but after seeing Jared, I changed my mind.
I spent the darkest three years with Jared, helping him pull the nearly bankrupt company back on track step by step.
"Sloane, what are you planning to do next?"
Keira tilted her head and asked me, her eyes full of expectation.
I was about to say I was planning to divorce Jared when I suddenly remembered his instruction yesterday not to make the divorce public yet, so I could only smile and play dumb: "What do you mean?"
I thought the Winslow family would at least preserve some dignity for me considering what I'd given these past three years.
But I didn't expect Isabelle to get impatient right away and spell it out: "Sloane, Keira and Jared have been close since childhood. Now that Keira's back, you should divorce Jared as soon as possible and return the position of Mrs. Montclair to Keira."
My hand froze mid-air holding the teacup, but I maintained a reasonable smile on the surface: "I understand. I'll divorce Jared."
Isabelle's tone softened slightly: "Good. Don't worry, the Winslow family won't treat you badly. Your father will arrange an easy position for you at the company. The salary might be low, but it'll be enough for you to live on."
"Mom, won't that be too unfair to Sloane?" Keira said the words, but couldn't hide the smile in her eyes.
"She's just a country girl with no real education. She should be grateful we're even giving her a job." Isabelle said with complete disdain.
"No need." I stood up, my voice calm: "If there's nothing else, I'll head back now."
After leaving the Winslow house, I took out my phone and dialed an overseas number. "Last time you mentioned wanting me to join your core technology research team?"
The other party responded earnestly: "Yes, our headquarters has always admired your academic achievements. We hope you'll give us a chance to work together."
I took one last look at this home that had never truly accepted me and said softly: "Alright, I agree."
"Really?" The other party said excitedly: "When can you come? I'll arrange for someone to pick you up."
I thought for a moment and said: "In a month."
In a month, the cooling-off period for my divorce from Jared would be over.
The next day, I went to the City Hospital.
Lila Merrick looked at my ultrasound images while frowning: "Going abroad alone with a child? Sloane, have you lost your mind?"
Lila was a doctor at City Hospital and also my best friend. She'd once interned in the village where I lived and was one of the few people who knew about my past.
I lay on the examination bed, looking at the ceiling calmly: "I've never been more clear-headed than I am now."
"What about Jared? Does he agree to let you go?"
"He doesn't know." Thinking of how Jared brought up divorce yesterday, I smiled bitterly: "He probably wouldn't care anyway."
Lila was silent for a moment, then said: "Why don't you come work at our hospital? You're the Legendary Doctor's successor - you'd definitely make a difference here."
"Lila." I held her hand and smiled: "Don't worry, I'll take care of myself."
She stared at me for a few seconds, then said indignantly: "What's so great about that Keira anyway? Why does everyone take her side the moment she comes back?"
I didn't say anything more.
Just as I walked out of the consultation room, there was suddenly a commotion in the hospital corridor.
"Make way! Emergency!"
Several medical staff rushed past pushing a gurney with an elderly woman lying on it, her face pale and breathing labored.
"Doctor, the patient has irregular heart rate - we need you for a cardiology consultation!" A young doctor ran in.