Year Five The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 175

Silvia’s coworkers stared at her, their faces tinged with confusion.

Wait a second... Didn’t she just say we were all leaving together?

But then, catching the subtle look on Silvia’s face, a few of them seemed to suddenly understand. They nodded quickly, exchanging knowing glances, and all burst into laughter.

“Wow, our memories are getting worse, aren’t they?”

“Yeah, Silvia, our car’s over there. Let’s get going.”

They joked with one another, grinning at Silvia. Outwardly, they looked calm, but inside, every one of them was on edge.

None of them could figure out why Silvia had suddenly said what she did.

But when their eyes drifted to the woman standing behind Silvia—the one with the sports car—they exchanged uneasy glances.

Could this have something to do with her?

Silvia turned, facing Laurinda directly. “I’m really sorry, Aunt Laurinda,” she said gently, her tone polite but firm. “I can’t just cancel my plans at the last minute. The company just started up, and things have been hectic. Once things settle down, I’ll reach out and we can have dinner together. How does that sound?”

Laurinda leaned back lazily against her car, a faint smile playing at the corners of her lips.

She fixed Silvia with a long, unreadable look, then reached into her purse and pulled out a cigarette. She struck a match, lit it, and took a drag, the smoke curling around her face and masking her expression in a haze.

Laurinda’s eyes narrowed, and suddenly she let out a soft laugh, sighing as if amused by a private joke.

“So it seems my dear niece isn’t too fond of me,” she said, exhaling a perfect ring of smoke, her smile sly. “But I like you—pretty and smart. Maybe we’re not close now, but give it time. Once you know me better, you’ll come around.”

Without waiting for a response, Laurinda slipped into the driver’s seat, one hand flicking ash out the window, the other waving at Silvia in a casual farewell—her whole manner youthful and relaxed.

She smirked, then laughed. “Well, Silvia, since you’ve got plans tonight, I’ll come find you another time.”

“It’s fine,” she replied. “Anyway, that’s over with. You all go ahead—I’ll catch up later.”

“Want us to give you a ride home?” someone offered.

Silvia shook her head.

None of them knew she was married, or anything about her real background, and she didn’t want them thinking there was anything “special” about her.

She waved them off. “Don’t worry, I’ll just grab a cab.”

With that, Silvia turned and walked away.

Her coworkers watched her retreating figure, frowning a little, but inwardly admiring her independence.

“How did we not realize before just how impressive Silvia really is?”