Chapter 8
The room fell silent. After a long pause, Mabel finally spoke. “Don’t worry. I’ll stop ‘hurting‘ her soon enough.”
Glen’s voice rose in urgency. “So, have you decided who you’re going to marry?”
“Anyone but you.” Then, Mabel raised a hand to pinch the bridge of her nose. “I’m tired. You all should leave.”
The three had no option but to turn and go. Glen, however, paused and returned her gaze shortly before leaving.
“Ms. Mabel, you truly have everything. You have everything you’ve ever wanted. Your wardrobe is stuffed with clothes, your jewelry box is overflowing, and you have far more than Ms. Anna has. Could you just be a bit gentler to her? She can’t even talk. You, at least, still can.”
With that, he left.
The door shut behind them, and the last trace of light vanished from the
room.
As Glen’s words echoed in her mind, she let out a bitter laugh.
She didn’t know why they assumed she was happy.
On her 16th birthday, her mother committed herself by jumping from a building after learning of her father’s infidelity and the presence of his illegitimate daughter.
Every piece in her closet was what Anna had already tried on and
rejected. It was the same for the jewelry. They only reached her after
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Anna didn’t want it.
She never wanted those things. But her father had warned her that if she didn’t wear them, she was forbidden from going out and bringing shame to the family name.
It wasn’t her fault that Anna was born inute, yet everyone treated her like she was the cause of it.
Now, to make up for it, she was being forced to marry Samuel–the crippled, impotent Scion of New York from the Norman family.
And still, Glen said she was the lucky one?
She closed her eyes, and a tear slipped down her cheek.
By dawn, Mabel had packed everything.
Through the window, she saw the Norman family’s Maybach already parked outside. It had been waiting for quite some time.
Her father stepped in. “Are you ready? Someone from the Norman family is here. It’s time for you to leave. Your grandmother couldn’t bear to watch you go, so she’s not coming. You will be on your own now, so be careful over there.”
“I know.” She then gestured toward the room. “There’s too much stuff. I’m not taking any of it. Please help me throw it all away.”
“Throw it away? Are you not coming back?”
“I don’t even know if I’ll make it out alive.” She smiled faintly. Even if she did survive, she would never come back.
“And what about those three?” Melvin hesitated.
“Like I said, they belong with Anna.”
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She dragged her bag downstairs and spotted Brett in the kitchen. Breakfast was cooked.
“Ms. Mabel, I’ve made your breakfast.”
“It’s not my favorite. Give it to Anna.”
As she approached the front door, Glen came hurrying over. “Ms. Mabel, are you using the car today?”
She wanted to say that she had a long journey ahead, but before she could, he cut her off and said, “I was planning to take Ms. Anna to the hospital.“/
“Go ahead,” she replied indifferently.
Seeing the change in her attitude, he frowned. “So you did hear what I said last night.”
He thought their words had finally reached her. What he didn’t know was that she didn’t need them anymore.
“Ms. Mabel,” Julian called out as he helped Anna down the stairs. “Ms. Anna was assaultedyesterday, and she’s in a frightened state. I’d like to take a day off to stay with her.”
“Sure.” Mabel agreed without even thinking. “Take as much time off as you want.”
“What?” Julian hadn’t caught what she said, and neither did the others, as their full attention was on Anna.
“Nothing. I’m leaving now. Goodbye.”
She dragged her suitcase behind her and walked out of the Jackson residence without looking back.
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Glen stared at her retreating figure, his lips pressed into a thin line.
He noticed that in just a few days, she seemed like a completely different
person.
If it had been the old her, she would have thrown a fit today. Despite the fact that none of them were with her, she remained calm.
Julian looked up and said, “Ms. Mabel has grown up.”
Brett sneered. “Or maybe she’s just weighing her options, deciding which
of us to marry. Once she gets back from this trip, our peaceful days are over.”
one
Mabel got into the Maybach and instructed the driver, “Start the car.”
The Norman family’s driver noticed the empty front steps and inquired, “Is there no one to see you off, Ms. Jackson?”
Mabel turned her head for one last glance at the old estate, then shook her
head. “No one.”
The car sped off, leaving dust in its wake, and she pulled her gaze back.
From that moment on, she would never fight Anna for anything again.
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