Nine months too late: After divorce

Astrid didn't know what terrified her more--Sylvie's defiance or the fact that her world was crumbling even more.

"So, what? You just gonna stay back and watch as the company gets humiliated because you can't take a simple joke?" She angrily asked.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Sylvie didn't hesitate before she let out her next words. "I have duplicate of the designs, but if I'm to release them, I'll be doing it myself. Grandfather will need to know the designs are mine, and I'll need to be involved in the creation of them." Astrid gasped, even her mother's eyes rounded in disbelief.

What Sylvie was asking was impossible. She wanted to be known as the owner of the designs. Their grandfather would have to know that Astrid had stolen them from her, and her situation wouldn't be any better. What the hell?

"Are you being serious?" She huffed, batting her lashes. "You're asking for the impossible, Sylvie! You trying to take all the glory!"

"The designs are mine in the first place. I don't think I'm stealing anything from anyone.

Astrid's hands clenched beside her. Why the hell was she arguing? The Sylvie she knew wouldn't make this difficult for her. She'd have simply agreed to her terms a long time ago.

"Sylvie, come on," her voice turned more desperate. "If we do things your way, grandpa will know I stole from you, and I'll be in a bigger mess. He won't be happy with me."

But Sylvie remained unflinching.

Scarlett rose to her feet, her eyes blazing with fire. "What're you onto, girl? Why are you trying to be so greedy!? Huh? If Astrid hadn't taken those designs to Timeless Tale herself, they'd have never been recognized. She put in all the hardwork, now you

think you can just walk in and take everything from her?"

Sylvie stared at her in disbelief. 'She put in all the hardwork. Seriously? For designs Sylvie had spent days sketching!? If Astrid hadn't stolen her designs, she night never have gotten the deal with Timeless Tale.

"What you're demanding is bigger than you." Scarlett rolled her eyes. "Come on, make another request. What do Money? A house? A new car? Just say it, and you'll get it."

you

want?

y of Sylvie

Was that supposed to be problems?

"All I want is to claim what was mine." Her eyes were trained on the ground as she replied.

Her response stunned Scarlett. For some seconds, there was silence.

"You're just like your whore of a mother, aren't you? You always want to take what belongs to others! What is bigger than you!"

Sylvie's eyes blazed with barely restrained fury as she snatched them from the ground to meet Scarlett's.

"Stop talking about my mother!" She rasped. "She's dead already. Why won't you let her be!?"

The last thing she saw was the fire in Scarlett's eyes before her hand connected with her face, striking her so hard, Sylvie saw stars for some seconds.

"How dare you?" She gritted. "What gave you the impression of recent that you can talk back at me, you lowlife tramp? If it weren't for Ruby, you wouldn't even be qualified to be in my presence!" Sylvie's hand rubbed against her cheek, the sting from the slap resonating. She had only been defending her dead mother,

yet they considered that defiance?

It hurt and filled her with much more anger. If only she could say the words she desperately wanted to.

"Your actions further prove how alike you are to your mother. Greedy souls!" Scarlett added.

Sylvie's frown deepened. If this was what Scarlett has always been like, she wasn't surprised that her father couldn't find love with the woman and had to go running to her mother.

She wished she could say the words to Scarlett herself, but they remained tangled in her tongue.

"Sylvie, what mum and I is trying to say is

e simple," Astrid cleared her throat, stepping closer. "We just need you to help

us, that's all. This doesn't have to be complicated."

But Sylvie was done talking. Gripping her bag firmer, she walked away.

"How rude! where do you think you're going!?"

"Sylvie!"

Astrid and her mother called from behind, but she ignored them, stomping into the house.

As the clock ticked, Astrid was more horrified and had contemplated fleeing the house. But she couldn't arrive at a quick decision before Galen returned home.

"I hope you're done sketching already, Astrid? "Harry wasn't happy today. I had to placate him and let him know you'll be commencing tomorrow." Galen said to her in the living room, sipping from his cup of green tea, while Astrid stood before

him.

Astrid was terrified of her grandfather's temper. There was a time he'd cut off her allowances for over a week when she got on his nerves, And June-once, he had sent her abroad to a poor country just so she could be uncomfortable for two weeks! He could be very inconsiderate when he wanted to be.

"I..." she itched her nape.

The chips and sandwich-which were the only things she'd eaten for the day-threatened to make a reappearance in her throat.

Galen eyed her suspiciously.

"Yes, I'm working on it. As a matter of fact, I'm almost done. There's nothing to worry about, Grandpa." She forced a smile, hoping Galen couldn't tell it was fake.

She was banking on the fact that she could get Sylvie to change her mind and give her the duplicates before morning. She didn't care if she had to steal it again or something. She just needed to get those designs.

"Why won't you tell him the truth, Astrid?" Sylvia's familiar voice filled the room.

Astrid's breath snagged in her throat as she whipped her head to the direction of the voice and found Sylvie descending the

-stairs.

No. No and no. It couldn't be what she was thinking.

"Is it necessary to keep lying to him?" She entered the room fully. "You know that by morning, those sketches won't be available."

18:46 Sat,

"What is she talking about?" Galen sn