Year Five The Perfect Goodbye Plan novel Chapter 214

Once she understood what Kent meant, Silvia nodded. She pressed her lips together, hesitated, then asked, “So, you and your father…”

The last time she’d visited the Parsons estate, she hadn’t seen much interaction between father and son.

Silvia found herself feeling a pang of sadness for Kent, imagining he might have grown up in a world without warmth or affection.

Sadness?

As soon as she realized what she was feeling, Silvia frowned slightly and glanced at Kent, her eyes flickering.

Was it because they were married now? She couldn’t believe she was starting to feel sorry for him.

Kent answered quietly, “There’s no real conflict between us, we’ve just never talked much. That’s all.”

It was, he supposed, like some fathers and sons—Carlisle Parsons showed love through strict expectations.

Neither of them was good at expressing their feelings.

Silvia nodded to show she understood, blinking thoughtfully. Suddenly, an idea struck her. “Well, if that’s the case, maybe sometime when we’re both free, we could visit your dad together.”

Kent’s lips curled into a faint, teasing smile. “Silvia,” he said, “he’s your father, too.”

A flush crept up Silvia’s ears.

Neither of them had eaten yet, so they decided to grab lunch before heading out. Afterwards, Kent drove Silvia to her office building.

As Silvia reached for the door handle to get out, Kent suddenly reached over, his hand closing gently around her wrist. His thumb brushed lightly against her skin.

“I’ve arranged for a security guard for your company,” he said. “Shipley won’t get another chance to bother you at work.”

Then, with a soft laugh, Shipley said, “Silvia, look, I brought your favorite for you again. Perfect for an afternoon snack. You’re getting so thin.”

His voice was gentle, his gaze warm, with a smile playing at the corners of his lips. The pale sunlight, rare on a day like this in the city, fell across Shipley, making him look almost gentle.

But Silvia could only feel revulsion and annoyance. Even the bread she used to like now seemed unappetizing.

She pressed her lips together and, unwilling to deal with Shipley’s persistence, instinctively glanced back toward the car.

She saw Kent had already gotten out and was walking over. Smiling quietly, Silvia stepped forward and moved to stand beside him.

She fit perfectly at his side; he was just a head taller than her, and together they looked every bit the ideal couple.

Silvia slipped her arm naturally through Kent’s and looked at Shipley, tilting her head and smiling sweetly—making a show of affection, as if she were doting on her husband. “Darling, I really don’t like strange men bringing me food.”