Chapter 6
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At the Liddells‘ residence, Bowen rushed to Kathleen’s bedside, reaching for her forehead. He shouted, “Kathleen! Why is she so
cold? Annie, call the doctor!”
Yvonne followed him in, pretending to be concerned. “Is she okay? Maybe she just got too tired after last night?”
Annie stood in the doorway, her voice calm. “Late–stage cancer. Mrs. Liddell has passed away.”
“What?” Bowen frowned. “Don’t joke around like that. She was fine last night.”
He turned to call his private doctor, but Annie stopped him. “Mr. Liddell, she’s been gone for two hours.”
“That’s impossible.” Bowen shook his head, his tone showing more irritation than grief. “She’s always looking for sympathy. Yve told me she’s been faking it lately.”
“Faking it?” Annie let out a cold laugh. “Then, maybe you’d like to see this.”
She opened the nightstand drawer, which was full of empty pill bottles. “These are lethal doses of painkillers. Mrs. Liddell took
them for three straight days just to hide how much she was suffering.”
“She…” Bowen started, still trying to say something.
“Three days ago, the doctor said she only had 72 hours to live,” Annie said. “You gave Ms. Lawson her only treatment option.”
Yvonne’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. “I didn’t know Kathleen was that sick… Why didn’t she say anything?”
“Would you have given the treatment back if she had?” Annie shot back.
“I…” Yvonne bit her lip, tears falling. “If I had known, I swear-”
“Enough,” Bowen said, clearly irritated. “She’s gone. What’s the point of going over this?”
He looked down at Kathleen’s still body and frowned: “She was always too stubborn. She was obviously sick but wouldn’t say
anything, and now look what happened…”
Annie stared at him, horrified. “Mr. Liddell, your wife has just died, and that’s what you have to say?”
Bowen remained unfazed. “I’m just being honest. She’s been like this for years–always competing, always fighting for
everything. Now look where it got her. She threw her life away.”
He turned to Yvonne, his tone immediately softening. “Yve, don’t blame yourself. This isn’t your fault.”
“But…” Yvonne sniffled, pretending to be upset.
“Don’t say anything.” Bowen pulled her into a hug. “She made the choice not to take treatment. No one else is to blame.”
Annie watched the scene, her heart turning completely cold.
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Chapter 6
“We need to handle the funeral arrangements. Have you notified her parents?” Bowen seemed extremely impatient.
“Mrs. Liddell said…there’s no need to notify them.”
“No need?” Bowen was caught off guard.
“Yes. Mrs. Liddell said Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan were so happy last night that she didn’t want to ruin their good mood.”
Bowen was silent for a moment. “Then, we’ll wait and tell them later. Yve, go rest–I’ll handle things here.”
“Bowen…” Yvonne leaned into his embrace. “I’m scared!”
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here,” Bowen said, comforting her as he patted her back gently.
Annie turned away, unable to watch anymore.
Even in death, Kathleen meant less to Bowen than Yvonne’s crocodile tears. He had not even asked to see her final letter.
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Then, Annie finally said. “Mr. Liddell, over the past three days, Mrs. Liddell had transferred all her assets to Ms. Lawson. The
gallery, shares, mansion, trust fund–every last thing.”
Bowen was stunned for a moment, then let out a sigh of relief. “That makes things simpler–less trouble down the line.”
Annie’s heart shattered. It seemed that in his mind, Kathleen’s death mattered less than the transfer of assets.
“I’ll go and prepare for the funeral arrangements,” she said as she turned to leave.
Behind her, she heard Yvonne crying and Bowen comforting her.
Yet, no one cried for the woman who had actually died.
That was Kathleen’s tragedy–unloved while alive and unmissed when gone.
Not interesting at all
