4.

Simon’s face turned pale, his palm started letting out so much sweat as he tried to think of something to say.

A huge part of me felt like I already knew the reason he left, being with Jenna at that moment of her coma was a pain and so he took the easy way out.

He ran away.

“And what exactly is your business with that?” Simon quickly said defensively as he looked around nervously and I couldn’t help but manage a small smile.

“It’s none of my business,” I responded coolly, “I just want to know why you ran away when you claim you love her, it just doesn’t make any sense.” I added.

Simon stiffened, I could see and hear his teeth gritting as he glared at me with blazing eyes, “that’s because my sisters forbade me to get close to Jenna and forced me to go abroad.”

“I would never have left Jenna because she’s the love of my life, I lost my chance to marry her and that’s why she ended up with a pauper like you but now that I’m back, she’s mine.” Simon finished.

I didn’t say anything, I only shrugged and let out a sigh. I forced myself to feel happy for Jenna because I genuinely wanted to be happy for her because the love of her life is now back but I couldn’t bring myself to be happy.

Our marriage might have been a mistake, it might have meant nothing to the Nelson’s household but I genuinely loved and took care of Jenna.

I felt a pang of jealousy poking my chest but I didn’t say anything as I only moved away from Simon, giving him more space to pace around nervously.

“Well, I signed the agreement already and I’m leaving the house soon.” I said, my voice calm, low and carrying a little hurt.

“That’s good!” Simon said behind my back as I walked away, “the Nelson’s family does not need people like you staining the family name.” He added.

I didn’t respond, I only focused on walking and soon, I got to my room to start packing my things so I could leave the house like I had told Simon he would.

I let out a heavy sigh and my teeth gritted as I clenched my jaw even tighter. I felt useless but it wasn’t entirely my fault.

I’ve always tried my best to do things so that people would see that I’m not only a good person with a kind heart but I’m also very useful and hardworking too.

I’m not poor because I want to be. I studied hard, worked hard and even helped out around the orphanage a lot so people could know my worth.

But nothing worked out for me and at the end of the day I always end up getting mistreated by people from the higher class.

Opening my drawer, I stared at the wooden box that was carefully tucked away inside it and I sighed again as I brought out the wooden box. I opened it and stared at the ring in it for a while.

The ring was the only thing my family left for me and I have cherished it with everything I had, I protected the ring and took it everywhere with me.

A loud sneer caused me to close the ring box at once and I clutched it tight as I looked to see that Simon was already in my room.

“What are you doing?!” Simon yelled angrily, “you’re stealing something from the Nelsons, aren’t you?” Simon accused with a sneer.

“I’m not stealing anything, this belongs to me and it’s none of your business.” I quickly defended myself as I held the ring box even tighter.

“Really? Like a low-life like you can afford to have something. HAND IT OVER!” Simon scowled as he stepped forward and tried to snatch the ring from me.

I, without thinking, unconsciously pushed Simon away from me and he landed with his body support on his hand.

“Son of a bitch! Are you trying to break my hand?!” Simon yelled so loud that my ears rang, he looked as if he was on a mission to do everything in his power to bring me trouble.

The sound of approaching footsteps told me that his loud yell had gotten to Jenna and Lisa and it didn’t take long for them to walk in angrily.

“What the hell is going on here?!” Jenna’s cold voice resonated through the room as soon as she entered.

She looked down and saw Simon on the floor and that caused her to become hysterical as her eyes turned red in anger and she rushed towards me.

“WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!” She yelled, slapping my face so hard that I could feel the pain, it was obvious that she was angry.

“Simon is an honorable guest and you dare disrespect him, you stupid wretch!” Lisa fumed, both of them not giving me a chance to explain myself.

“It’s not what you think, I didn’t do anything wrong, he was trying to snatch my—” I tried to explain but the only reasonable response I got was Jenna’s disgusting sneer.

“He was trying to snatch something? From you?” She growled sarcastically and even though I could hear the sarcasm, I still nodded.

“Yes, my ring and—”

“Asides from being a cheap gold digger , you’re also a pathetic liar!” Jenna snarled, “Simon is from the Cavendish family!” She added angrily.

I listened as Jenna angrily told me that Simon was the adopted son of the Cavendish family and even though he's adopted, his family still loved him so dearly that if they should find out that I had done something to him, they would make sure I suffer the consequences.

“Apologize to Simon right now!” Jenna ordered, she was furious as she tried to help Simon up. I felt that painful pang in my chest again, I couldn’t believe it.

The least she could have done was hear me out and not try to humiliate me any chance she got but that seemed far fetched.

Compared to Simon, I was nothing.

“You don’t understand what it means to be rich, that's why that cheap, scrap ring seems so special to you!” She spat viciously.

“APOLOGIZE TO SIMON RIGHT NOW OR YOU’RE NOT GOING TO LIKE WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU!” She snapped.

I already don’t like what’s happening to me.

I shook my head slowly, I knew that the Nelson family would never support me and even though I was married to Jenna for three years, she would always choose Simon over me.

I was nothing but Simon’s substitute and even in the three years that we were married, the one night that we spent together, Jenna had called Simon’s name.

I tried to remain numb to the pain but nothing I tried worked, the more I saw Jenna doting over Simon, the more the feeling intensified and my teeth gritted.

Apologizing was one thing I didn’t want to do, I couldn’t possibly apologize to a man that saw no wrong in leaving a woman he claimed to love because she was in a vegetative state.

“You want me to apologize?” I asked, my confusion a little evident in my voice but my facial expression remained the same, there’s no way I’m going to apologize to Simon.

“You’re the one who pushed him first, do you not have any idea how powerful the Cavendish family are? You think they’ll let this go?” Jenna sneered.

I knew I should have expected that no matter what I said even though Simon was the one clearly in the wrong, they would never see anything wrong with his action.

They trampled over me, treated me like I was nothing and for three years, I had endured all of their treatment but not anymore.

“Believe it or not but he made the first move and he should apologize to me because I’ve done absolutely nothing wrong!” I added but Simon only scoffed and Jenna sneered.

“You’re really not going to apologize?” Jenna asked, her lips gathering in annoyance as she shrugged and shot me a glare.

“I’m not going to apologize when he’s the one who clearly did the wrong thing!” I said stubbornly, standing my ground.

“Well then maybe you should say goodbye to that money you need from me desperately because if you want it, you must obey my words!” Jenna snarled.

I couldn’t believe it, I wished I could do something to open her eyes and show her that Simon doesn’t genuinely love her but no matter what, Jenna would only look at Simon and not me.

I also needed the money for Mrs Winkle’s treatment or the hospital is going to stop treating her, I really can’t afford to let her die.

I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath, I couldn’t believe that I was going to apologize for doing the right thing.

I took a look at Simon who stood beside Jenna, holding onto her as if he was mocking me for not having that kind of access to her.

Mrs. Winkle’s hospital bills, lots of other bills to pay. I had no other choice but to give in to the harsh reality and with a rough voice, I muttered, “I’m sorry.”