Jian leaned closer to me and whispered, “Wow, James is such a captivating, handsome man. If it weren’t for his behaviour towards you, I wouldn’t advise you to divorce him.”I nodded, sighing. “I know, right? Sometimes he’s everything you’d imagine in a dream man, and then in an instant, he can shut all your dreams down.”As I stood there, thinking over everything I’d been through with him, a voice interrupted us. “Mrs. Ferguson, shouldn’t you be shopping at high-end designer stores? What are you doing at a cheap clothing store?”I turned around, and to my dismay, there stood Helder Ferguson with Susan Wenger by her side. Just what I needed today.Helder was the youngest in the Ferguson family and, as the only daughter, had been spoiled her whole life. Then I came into the family, and suddenly, she wasn’t the only “princess” anymore. Though I never took the Ferguson name, Grandma and James made sure I had everything she had, which Helder seemed to take as some twisted competition. It w
Jian nodded, and we headed off, not knowing what awaited us.We moved toward the growing crowd outside the jewellery store, curiosity driving us. To my astonishment, a sea of people stood there, phones raised, taking videos and pictures. Jeanne gripped my hand, pulling me through the throng to see what had caused the commotion.The sharp cries of a woman pierced through the buzz of the crowd. As we broke through the front line, the scene before us was shocking. Xander stood at the centre, a hammer clutched tightly in his hand, his face a mask of rage. Nearby, Susan was restrained by two of Xander's bodyguards, each gripping one of her arms as she struggled and screamed.“How dare you take my sister-in-law’s family heirloom?” Xander bellowed, his voice echoing through the store. “She is the first sister-in-law and the rightful heir. She’s the one who deserves it. How did you get it? How did you come to possess it?”Susan thrashed against the grip of the bodyguards. “Leave me alone, Xan
JamesI carried Susan outside, my arms stiff as I tried to ignore the ache building in my chest. As soon as I stepped into the open air, I spotted Chang already waiting by the car. Without hesitation, I shifted her weight into his arms.“Take Ms. Wenger to the hospital,” I instructed, my voice clipped. “Make sure she gets all the medical attention she needs.”Susan clung to my shirt like her life depended on it, her grip weak but persistent. She tilted her face up, her expression pitiful.“James, please… don’t leave me,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.I didn’t reply. I didn’t even look at her. What could I say to her at this moment? Chang stepped in, his calm professionalism cutting through the tension.“Ms. Wenger,” he said firmly, “Mr. Ferguson has entrusted me to assist you. Please, allow me to help you to the hospital. His wounded arm hasn't healed yet.”Susan paled, her fingers loosening on my shirt. She let go, defeated, and murmured, “I’m sorry, James. I didn’t mean t
I stood there stunned, my hand pressed to my stinging cheek, staring at the woman in front of me—Lucy Wenger, Susan Wenger’s mother. A woman who had once been a mother figure to me for six years before discarding me like a broken toy when she discovered I wasn’t her biological child.“Why did you slap me?” I asked, my voice calm but cold, demanding an explanation.Her face twisted with anger as she pointed a trembling finger at me. “You! You are the reason Susan is in the hospital right now! Ever since she came back, all you’ve done is hurt her. Just last week, you hit her with a broom, and now you’ve caused her hand to be injured again. Why are you doing this? Why do you hate her so much?”I clenched my fists at my sides, biting back the sharp retort that danced on the tip of my tongue. Before I could respond, she stepped closer, her voice rising. “We took care of you! We raised you! We gave you everything! And this is how you repay us—by hurting Susan?”Before Lucy could continue he
JamesI couldn’t take it any longer. The weight of Susan’s tears and her clinging to me became unbearable, her sobs grating against my nerves. Without a word, I gently pulled myself away from her grasp and turned toward Hilda, who stood nearby, watching the scene unfold with a concerned expression.I guided Susan into Hilda’s arms, letting her friend take over the role of comforting her. Susan clung to Hilda now, her cries muffled as she buried her face in her friend's shoulder."I'm sorry about what happened to you, Susan, but it couldn't be Zelda. She's not responsible for this."Susan’s eyes widened in disbelief, tears streaming down her face. She stared at me as if she couldn’t process what I had just said. To her, the idea that I would defend Zelda—again—was shocking. Her lips trembled, and the sobs she had barely contained broke free. She turned and threw herself into Hilda’s arms, crying harder.Of course, Zelda, being who she was, tightened her hold on Susan protectively. But
ZeldaThe tension in the room was thick as Mr. and Mrs. Wenger confronted me, their eyes full of judgment. I could feel my blood boil with every word they spoke, each accusation more ridiculous than the last. When Lucy slapped me, I could feel the sting not just on my cheek, but deep in my chest. It was as though she had slapped James in the face, too. No, worse—because this wasn’t just about me; it was about us, our marriage, and everything that was being twisted in front of me.Lucy’s voice was sharp, but I held my composure. I had learned long ago not to let them see how deeply their words could wound.“Why should I apologize?” she snapped. “Look at what’s happened to Susan! She’s injured! And you’re asking me to apologize?”I felt James tense beside me, his protective aura unmistakable. My pulse quickened at the thought that he was standing up for me, not letting them steamroll me. His gaze was cold, and his words were like ice when he spoke."My wife is shy, tolerant, and reasona
Cheng left in a rush, carrying the card as if it were more important than the flowers or fruit basket. He gave a polite nod to Susan and her mother before catching up with James and me.Susan, however, was not about to let the situation rest. Her frustration boiled over, and her voice, now shrill with anger, followed us down the hallway."What do you mean we owe each other nothing?" she cried, her words laced with indignation. "My hand was almost broken, and Zelda was just slapped in the face. How is that the same? And that card—how could he take it back?"I felt the weight of her glare without turning to meet it. She was livid, but her tears and outrage were a performance, just another one of her twisted games. I had seen it all before—the victim act, the exaggeration, the manipulation. I couldn’t bring myself to care anymore."James didn't even ask Xander to apologize," she continued, voice cracking in theatrical disbelief. "Does he think I don’t deserve it? Doesn’t my pain mean any
“All right,” James said, his tone commanding but calm. “Now get off the bed, go to the wall, and face it. You’ll stand there for an hour. Use the time to think about what you’ve done wrong, and when I come back, be ready to apologize.”Xander sulked as he shuffled toward the wall, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He faced the wall obediently but cast a quick glance back at James, pouting. I couldn’t help but speak up, whispering so Xander wouldn’t hear.“But he’s sick—”Before I could finish, James turned toward me, his gaze sharp as steel. He caught my hand mid-motion and held it tightly, his grip firm but not crushing.“You’re hurting me,” I murmured, looking up at him. He didn't answer as he kept looking at me silently“Are you going to break my arm to avenge your mistress Susan?..“ I asked, anger leading me on“Susan's hand is more precious, she actually has a career that depends on her hand.“ He answered snidely.I widened my eyes at him, this was clearly a jab at me and my choi
Days passed, and I stayed immersed in my work, juggling my dreams and responsibilities. My nights were consumed with designing, and crafting pieces for my portfolio, while my days were spent doing odd jobs to inch closer to my goals. The live interview with Master Zee loomed on the horizon, keeping me laser-focused. In the whirlwind of activity, I hadn’t visited Michael for a while.It was during one of these visits to the hospital that I ran into Madam T, the old housekeeper from the Wengers’ estate. She stood by the reception, a familiar, comforting presence from my past.“Madam T!” I greeted, surprised and pleased.Her face lit up. “Oh, my little girl, it’s so good to see you! How have you been?”“I’m doing fine, Madam T. How are you?”“I’m well, dear. And I’m so glad we ran into each other because I have something for you.”“For me?” I asked, puzzled.She reached into her purse and pulled out an envelope, handing it to me with a warm smile. “It’s an invitation from the Wengers.”I
ZeldaWe both turned toward the door to find Mr. Wenger standing there, his face tight with anger and a hint of surprise at the scene before him. His gaze shifted between James and me, his voice sharp as he demanded,"What is going on here?"James, still holding me on his lap, seemed completely unbothered by the interruption. He tilted his head slightly, meeting Mr. Wenger's glare with a cool smirk."Oh, Mr Wenger," he said as though he had only just noticed him. "Have you come to see Xander? How may I help you?"Mr. Wenger’s lips tightened, his irritation barely contained. "Susan is out there crying. She hasn’t stopped since you left. It’s getting worse. The wound on her hand hurts, and she’s calling out your name over and over."James’s expression didn’t shift. He leaned back casually, his arm still firmly around me. "And what do you want me to do about it? Soothe her! Tell her to stop crying! Do something!".Mr Wenger scoffed, a low, mocking sound. "Do you think I haven’t tried tha
“All right,” James said, his tone commanding but calm. “Now get off the bed, go to the wall, and face it. You’ll stand there for an hour. Use the time to think about what you’ve done wrong, and when I come back, be ready to apologize.”Xander sulked as he shuffled toward the wall, his shoulders slumping in defeat. He faced the wall obediently but cast a quick glance back at James, pouting. I couldn’t help but speak up, whispering so Xander wouldn’t hear.“But he’s sick—”Before I could finish, James turned toward me, his gaze sharp as steel. He caught my hand mid-motion and held it tightly, his grip firm but not crushing.“You’re hurting me,” I murmured, looking up at him. He didn't answer as he kept looking at me silently“Are you going to break my arm to avenge your mistress Susan?..“ I asked, anger leading me on“Susan's hand is more precious, she actually has a career that depends on her hand.“ He answered snidely.I widened my eyes at him, this was clearly a jab at me and my choi
Cheng left in a rush, carrying the card as if it were more important than the flowers or fruit basket. He gave a polite nod to Susan and her mother before catching up with James and me.Susan, however, was not about to let the situation rest. Her frustration boiled over, and her voice, now shrill with anger, followed us down the hallway."What do you mean we owe each other nothing?" she cried, her words laced with indignation. "My hand was almost broken, and Zelda was just slapped in the face. How is that the same? And that card—how could he take it back?"I felt the weight of her glare without turning to meet it. She was livid, but her tears and outrage were a performance, just another one of her twisted games. I had seen it all before—the victim act, the exaggeration, the manipulation. I couldn’t bring myself to care anymore."James didn't even ask Xander to apologize," she continued, voice cracking in theatrical disbelief. "Does he think I don’t deserve it? Doesn’t my pain mean any
ZeldaThe tension in the room was thick as Mr. and Mrs. Wenger confronted me, their eyes full of judgment. I could feel my blood boil with every word they spoke, each accusation more ridiculous than the last. When Lucy slapped me, I could feel the sting not just on my cheek, but deep in my chest. It was as though she had slapped James in the face, too. No, worse—because this wasn’t just about me; it was about us, our marriage, and everything that was being twisted in front of me.Lucy’s voice was sharp, but I held my composure. I had learned long ago not to let them see how deeply their words could wound.“Why should I apologize?” she snapped. “Look at what’s happened to Susan! She’s injured! And you’re asking me to apologize?”I felt James tense beside me, his protective aura unmistakable. My pulse quickened at the thought that he was standing up for me, not letting them steamroll me. His gaze was cold, and his words were like ice when he spoke."My wife is shy, tolerant, and reasona
JamesI couldn’t take it any longer. The weight of Susan’s tears and her clinging to me became unbearable, her sobs grating against my nerves. Without a word, I gently pulled myself away from her grasp and turned toward Hilda, who stood nearby, watching the scene unfold with a concerned expression.I guided Susan into Hilda’s arms, letting her friend take over the role of comforting her. Susan clung to Hilda now, her cries muffled as she buried her face in her friend's shoulder."I'm sorry about what happened to you, Susan, but it couldn't be Zelda. She's not responsible for this."Susan’s eyes widened in disbelief, tears streaming down her face. She stared at me as if she couldn’t process what I had just said. To her, the idea that I would defend Zelda—again—was shocking. Her lips trembled, and the sobs she had barely contained broke free. She turned and threw herself into Hilda’s arms, crying harder.Of course, Zelda, being who she was, tightened her hold on Susan protectively. But
I stood there stunned, my hand pressed to my stinging cheek, staring at the woman in front of me—Lucy Wenger, Susan Wenger’s mother. A woman who had once been a mother figure to me for six years before discarding me like a broken toy when she discovered I wasn’t her biological child.“Why did you slap me?” I asked, my voice calm but cold, demanding an explanation.Her face twisted with anger as she pointed a trembling finger at me. “You! You are the reason Susan is in the hospital right now! Ever since she came back, all you’ve done is hurt her. Just last week, you hit her with a broom, and now you’ve caused her hand to be injured again. Why are you doing this? Why do you hate her so much?”I clenched my fists at my sides, biting back the sharp retort that danced on the tip of my tongue. Before I could respond, she stepped closer, her voice rising. “We took care of you! We raised you! We gave you everything! And this is how you repay us—by hurting Susan?”Before Lucy could continue he
JamesI carried Susan outside, my arms stiff as I tried to ignore the ache building in my chest. As soon as I stepped into the open air, I spotted Chang already waiting by the car. Without hesitation, I shifted her weight into his arms.“Take Ms. Wenger to the hospital,” I instructed, my voice clipped. “Make sure she gets all the medical attention she needs.”Susan clung to my shirt like her life depended on it, her grip weak but persistent. She tilted her face up, her expression pitiful.“James, please… don’t leave me,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.I didn’t reply. I didn’t even look at her. What could I say to her at this moment? Chang stepped in, his calm professionalism cutting through the tension.“Ms. Wenger,” he said firmly, “Mr. Ferguson has entrusted me to assist you. Please, allow me to help you to the hospital. His wounded arm hasn't healed yet.”Susan paled, her fingers loosening on my shirt. She let go, defeated, and murmured, “I’m sorry, James. I didn’t mean t
Jian nodded, and we headed off, not knowing what awaited us.We moved toward the growing crowd outside the jewellery store, curiosity driving us. To my astonishment, a sea of people stood there, phones raised, taking videos and pictures. Jeanne gripped my hand, pulling me through the throng to see what had caused the commotion.The sharp cries of a woman pierced through the buzz of the crowd. As we broke through the front line, the scene before us was shocking. Xander stood at the centre, a hammer clutched tightly in his hand, his face a mask of rage. Nearby, Susan was restrained by two of Xander's bodyguards, each gripping one of her arms as she struggled and screamed.“How dare you take my sister-in-law’s family heirloom?” Xander bellowed, his voice echoing through the store. “She is the first sister-in-law and the rightful heir. She’s the one who deserves it. How did you get it? How did you come to possess it?”Susan thrashed against the grip of the bodyguards. “Leave me alone, Xan