Year Five The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 115

Silvia never would have imagined that Shipley would actually track her down at work.

He had the nerve to stop her right on the street outside her office, as if he owned the sidewalk. Somewhere along the way, Shipley seemed to have changed—something about him was different now, though Silvia couldn’t quite say what.

She looked up, her eyes sharp and just a touch mocking.

Pressing her lips together, she spoke in a cold, detached tone, as if Shipley were nothing more than a stranger.

“Shipley, do you really think I went after that project just to spite you?”

A faint, knowing smile played at the corners of Shipley’s mouth, his handsome face softening with what almost looked like tenderness. His eyes were fixed on her, full of an affection that seemed almost too gentle to be real.

“Sweet Silvia,” he murmured, his voice honeyed and low, “isn’t that what you wanted?”

He believed she was just trying to get his attention. That little scheme of hers—he was convinced it was written all over her face. He was so sure he saw right through her.

Silvia met his gaze, studying him carefully.

After a moment, she realized something: Shipley honestly believed she was doing all of this because of him.

She couldn’t help but find it a little funny, watching him stand there, so confident, so absolutely certain. How had she never noticed, after all this time together, just how self-absorbed he really was?

She let out a slow, tired sigh, her eyes cold as she looked at him.

Without giving him another chance to speak, Silvia tried to step around him and leave. But just as she was about to pass, Shipley reached out and grabbed her wrist, his grip ironclad.

People on the street were starting to stare. Silvia caught the curious looks from passersby, and irritation bubbled up inside her. Why did talking to Shipley always feel like running in circles?

“If you don’t let go, I’m calling the police.” Her thumb hovered over 911 on her phone, ready to dial if he didn’t move.

At this point, she wasn’t afraid of making a scene. Honestly, a clean break would have been best—just two people going their separate ways, living their own lives. Maybe, years from now, she could have looked back at Shipley without disgust.

But now, after everything, after he’d shamelessly forced his way into her life again and again, Silvia was just done.