Chapter 118 Heartache
Alina took a few steps backward and nodded at everyone in the room as she said, “Sorry to drop in on all of you like this, but it’s the last time. From now on, we are going our separate ways, and we probably won’t ever cross paths again. I, along with the rest of the Harmons, will no longer have anything to do with the Wendels. Goodbye!”
With that, she turned around and walked out the door.
Nicholas immediately ran after her. “Lina, let me explain. Lina—”
“There’s no need for you to explain.” Alina stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him indifferently. “You could come up with the most reasonable explanation, and I’d still think you’re a moron for allowing this to happen in the first place. I’ve already told you that I won’t settle for a man who can’t tell right from wrong. I want someone who can take a clear stance when things come down to it; someone who is bright enough to know which shots to call. We’re over now, Nicholas, so stop pestering me while things are still amicable between us. I don’t want to make things ugly. I’m leaving, and you are not coming with me!”
She spun on her heels and left without so much as a backward glance.
Nicholas wanted desperately to run after her, but pride held him back. He stood in place and watched her leave, and she never looked back. When she was out of sight, he thought his heart had bled itself dry, but it still felt like someone was wringing it out.
He was foolish and lacked foresight; he was not a man who could call the shots, nor did he know which ones to call. Am I really like that?
He thought about his mother, who had apparently only taken Angie in not to raise her as her own daughter but to spite Crystal and cause discord among the main family.
He turned slowly like a broken figurine in a music box and cast a long, hard look at Erin.
Erin was gutted when she saw his pale face and glistening eyes, for he looked like his soul had been ripped out of his body. She hurried up to him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders before saying firmly, “Nicholas, there are other girls in this world who deserve you more. You’re still young, and you still have plenty of time to meet a better woman!”
Granted, she had been pleased with Alina’s family background, but the girl had not spared her any good graces when she called her bluff in front of everyone today. She shuddered to think how terrifying it would be to have a daughter-in-law like that.
More importantly, Alina had already seen through her act and learned of her dark secrets. If things had turned out different today and the engagement had not been called off, Erin would not be able to show herself in front of Alina without being reminded of the humiliation she had dealt her. Alina wouldn’t respect her even after marrying into the Wendels.
There was no doubting Alina’s impressive background, but she wasn’t the only girl in Wendel City who ran in the same elite circle as they did.
Nicholas was a fine young man with plenty of prospects, and Erin was sure that he would find someone better.
“What do you mean I can find someone better?” Nicholas let out a bitter laugh. “Mom, I have loved Lina for seven years. It took me nearly half that time just to get her to go out with me! I’ve met plenty of girls in my life, but only Lina has my heart, and I can’t love anyone else but her! Why would I settle for anyone else when I’ve already had the best? Lina is the most perfect girl there is, so who else can outshine her, Mom? Who?”
His gaze flickered over to Angie, and the bitter, humorless smile still hung from his lips as he demanded, “How do you intend to make this up to me, Angie? When your parents, brothers, and even my brothers refused to speak up for you after the incident, I was the only one who stood by you!” He pounded his own chest, sounding anguished as he went on to say, “I only wanted to take care of you. I felt sorry for what happened and I wanted to protect you by giving you a better life despite everything. However, what did you do? You set me up! You made me look like a fool in front of the love of my life! She left because I can’t give her the reassurance she needs to trust me with the rest of her life! I have been nothing but kind to you, Angie. How could you do this to me? Where is your damn conscience? Has it been thrown to the dogs?!”
Angie was sobbing hysterically as she begged, “Nicholas, you have to believe me. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. You were the one who got drunk and—”
“Shut up!” Erin barreled to the crying girl and clutched her by the collar. Then, she slapped her hard across the face. “You useless, lying tramp! Nicholas and I took you in when you lost everything, but you went ahead and stabbed my son in the back! You’re horrible and without conscience! I’ve seen animals more decent than you! I can only blame myself for not seeing your true colors sooner. I took you in because I thought you were a good kid, but you’ve only brought trouble to Nicholas! If you think a disgusting tramp like you can ever marry my son, you’re dead wrong! For as long as I live, you won’t ever marry into the Wendels!”
“No, that’s not true. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I’m innocent!” Angie screamed and shoved Erin aside before running to hide behind Michael. With tears streaming down her swollen face, she pleaded, “Dad, you have to help me! Nicholas made me his own last night, and if I don’t marry him, who else can I marry? Please, Dad—you need to help me. Please!”
Just then, Jonathan grabbed her wrist and dragged her out from behind Michael before he threw her onto the floor.
She shrieked as she fell into a heap on the ground. Then, she stared up at Jonathan in bewilderment. “Jonathan…”
“Don’t say my name. The only sister I have from now on is Madeline.” He gazed down at Angie’s miserable form and bit out, “You think you’re so smart, Angie? Do you think that you could just set Nicholas up and marry into the Wendels like you’re moving chess pieces on a board? Well, let me just point out how wrong you’ve been. You can move all the chess pieces you want, but you set yourself up for a checkmate from the very beginning!”
He took a deep breath as though to keep himself from roaring. In a barely-restrained voice, he went on to say gravely, “Nicholas is right. He truly loved you as a sister, and with that kind of support, you could’ve stayed with him and he wouldn’t mistreat you. You would still have a good life ahead of you had you not tried to get greedy, but you ruined your own future by pushing the only people who stood by you, and you revealed your true nature in the process. You think you’re so smart, but you were just paving the way to your own doom. From now on, the Wendels will no longer trust you or take pity on you… We are cutting you off entirely!”
“No, Jonathan, that’s not it… You have to believe me… All of you have it wrong…” Angie sat on the ground in a sad heap while crying hysterically, “Why don’t any of you believe me? I really didn’t mean for this to happen! Why can’t you just believe me? Why?”
Her voice was growing hoarse, and there was no hiding her despair and agony.
This isn’t how things are supposed to be. She believed that Nicholas was willing to go against the main family and take her in because he had feelings for her. She thought that as long as he had slept with her, he would love and care for her, not to mention take responsibility for her and marry her.
Alas, she had been wrong about everything. Nicholas refused to marry her, and he even went to the extent of hating her!
How could this be? This isn’t how it’s supposed to be! This can’t be!
Since he didn’t want to waste his breath on her, Jonathan walked over to Michael and said, “Come on, Dad. Let’s go home.”
Michael nodded sullenly, then glanced at Sebastian and Madeline. “Sebastian, Maddie, let’s go home.”
Madeline made a noise of agreement, and she fell in step next to him as they left the living room together.
When they passed Morgan and Erin, Michael looked straight ahead without sparing them a look. It was as if they were invisible to him.
At that moment, Erin knew that he was growing wary of her. She felt panic seize her as she rushed up to him and smiled apologetically. “Michael, don’t listen to all the nonsense Lina said earlier. I only brought Angie home because I truly took pity on her. I have no intention of aggravating Crystal at all! Besides, Crystal raised Angie for over twenty years, so perhaps she might even let Angie stay. What would be the point of me using Angie to aggravate Crystal? Lina was only spilling outlandish theories, wouldn’t you say, Michael?” she said.
