Chapter 8
Before I could speak, Simon stepped forward and punched him in the face.”
“Don’t think I don’t know what you’ve done to Suzanne all these years.”
“Maxwell, I told you, if you dare bully her, there will be no place for you in the Fergusons.”
In the entire Ferguson Family, Maxwell feared nothing and no one except his older half–brother.”
After Simon left for overseas years ago, no one could rein him in and he’d become increasingly reckless.” Simon gave the two of them a cold look, took my hand and walked away.”
“Suzanne, let’s go back to my family residence.”
I nodded. He was clearly planning to officially announce our marriage to the family!!
The family was already gathered when we arrived at the Fergusons‘ residence.”
Maxwell’s face darkened as he saw our hands entwined.
Simon led me to the head seat at the table and had me sit down while he stood beside me.
I panicked momentarily and tried to get up, but he gently patted my shoulder to calm me.”
Annabelle slammed the table forcefully, glaring at me.”
“When did an adopted daughter–in-law like you earn the right to sit at the head of the table?”
“Suzanne, have you forgotten all your manners?”
“Max was right to run away from that wedding. Marrying someone like you would’ve made our family a joke.”
Over the years, Annabelle beat or scolded me whenever she was unsatisfied. I shrank subconsciously when I heard her words.
Noticing my discomfort, Simon sneered and looked at Annabelle.
“Since when has it been your place to make decisions for the Fergusons?“}
Simon’s mother had passed away when he was very young and Annabelle was his stepmother.”
But the truth was, Simon was the rightful head of the Fergusons. He had only left the domestic businesses to Maxwell when he went abroad.
He swept a cold glance over the now–silent family.
“Suzanne is my legal wife. Why can’t she sit in this seat?“}
“What?” Annabelle shouted in disbelief.
Maxwell snapped his head up and stared at me in shock.”
Even Nicholas disapproved.
“She’s Maxwell’s wife. Your sister–in–law. How can you marry her?“>
“Besides, she’s just an adopted daughter–in–law. If you guys fight over her, won’t our family lose all face!“}]
“Simon, you’re being too reckless.”
Simon was about to respond, but I gently stopped him. I lifted my head and calmly looked around the room, stopping at Maxwell.
“I was never officially married to Maxwell. He ran away on our wedding day. We never registered and the ceremony was never completed. So legally, I was never his wife.“[
A flicker of regret crossed Maxwell’s face. He opened his mouth to speak, but I cut him off.”
“You all say I was an adopted daughter–in–law. Fine. But the Fergusons have two sons. If I were raised for Simon instead of Maxwell, what’s the problem?”
That shut them up. After all, Maxwell did ditch me first.
Simon looked at me with a soft smile, then returned to the others.
‘Since no one objects, Suzanne and I will hold our wedding in a week.“W
He gave Maxwell a pointed look.
“Unlike some people, I won’t run away over a turtle.”
Maxwell clenched his jaw and lowered his head, lost in thought.
I didn’t bother with him. I took Simon’s hand and walked out of the residence.\
Five days before the wedding, Simon took me to a bridal shop.
He hugged me from behind in front of the mirror, pressing a gentle kiss to my ear.”
A moment later, I heard his low, guilty voice.
‘Suzanne, I’m sorry. I should’ve come back sooner.”
patted his hand to comfort him.
When Katherine brought me into the family, Simon was just ten. We grew up together like childhood sweethearts. But back then, all I cared about was the man who’d saved me, Maxwell. I only ever saw Simon as a big brother. Simon confessed his feelings at eighteen, but I was too focused on chasing after Maxwell and turned him down. Afraid he’d make me uncomfortable, Simon went abroad after college to manage the family’s overseas business.”
I smiled bitterly, hating my own poor judgment.
How could I have overlooked someone as loyal and loving as Simon and fallen for a guy who’d run away from a wedding over a turtle?)
I put up with so much all those years because of a debt I thought I owed. Letting Chelsea bully me was just the tip of the iceberg. “Simon, I was wrong about everything.”
I turned and smiled into his eyes, then grabbed the custom wedding dress off the rack.
“Would you like to see me try this on?“}
When I married Maxwell, I was only wearing a shabby dress.
At first glance, I didn’t look like a bride at all. I was not as good as a hotel server.
Simon pinched my cheek affectionately.
“You’ll look amazing in anything, Suzanne.“}
Filled with excitement, I entered the fitting room and smiled at my reflection in the mirror.
I wondered how Simon would react when he saw me like this.
I shyly adjusted the dress and just as my hand touched the fitting room door handle, a feeling of being watched came from behind me.” My heart jumped. I turned around carefully and saw a pair of familiar eyes staring at me through the doorframe, filled with obsession. Before I could even gasp, a cloth clamped over my mouth.
My vision blurred, my limbs went numb and I collapsed into someone’s arms.
