Chapter 43 Uneducated Woman
Madeline felt like laughing all of a sudden. So, it’s true when they say that everyone gets their own fair share of bad luck. Before Sebastian told me about Bryan’s whole plot, I might have felt rather conflicted about Phoebe’s request. But now, I don’t feel conflicted at all.
“It’s too late to say that you’re sorry now! You should have never thought about messing with my son. I’ll never forgive you! You’ll have to look forward to being in prison!” Madeline uttered with a smile.
“No! No!” Phoebe screamed into the phone. “Don’t forget that the Taylors were the ones who brought you up, Madeline. The Taylors took care of you, and Dan even saved your life. He’s your savior! Also, my father was the one who saved Dan—he’s the reason Dan is alive. If Dan died back then, no one would’ve been around to save you. If you look at it that way, my father is technically your savior as well! You’re hugely indebted to the Taylors, and the Taylors educated and took care of you for such a long time. You wouldn’t be the person you are today if it weren’t for the Taylors! Y-You can’t forget our sacrifices and betray us just like that!”
Madeline chuckled once more. “I don’t care what you have to say. As long as you mess with my son, I will never let you go! I’m punishing you as a warning to anyone else who might think of harming my son as well.”
“I won’t do it anymore. I really won’t!” Phoebe wailed frantically. “I know what I did was wrong now, Madeline. I really do! Please give me a chance. I promise I’ll never do anything to Joel and Quincy in the future. Please let me go! I’m begging you!”
“It’s too late!” Madeline didn’t want to waste any more time talking to Phoebe, so she simply uttered those three words before ending the call. When Phoebe called again, Madeline no longer picked up the phone. Phoebe continued calling Madeline’s phone like a madwoman, but Madeline didn’t pick up at all. Eventually, Phoebe flung the phone onto the ground before shouting at the top of her lungs. “B*tch! B*tch! B*tch! That ungrateful b*tch! That traitor! When I get out, I’m going to kill her. I want to slice her into a million pieces and crush her into ashes. I want people to step on her, to curse at her, and to—”
“That’s enough!” Nigel, who had been sitting opposite her, got to his feet before growling at her. “Didn’t I just warn you not to scold Madeline anymore?” he uttered with a pale expression. Phoebe shuddered upon hearing his loud and fierce growl. “That ungrateful traitor refuses to save me! I’ve already begged her, yet she still doesn’t want to let me go! Save me, Nigel! You need to find her and convince her to let me go! Look at me, Nigel, look…”
Phoebe pulled her sleeves up to reveal her arms which were full of injuries. “They hit me… They hit me like they wanted me to die. I can’t stay here anymore, Nigel. They’re going to kill me! Nigel, you made a promise to my father before he passed away! You said you would take care of me and make sure that no one bullies me. But now, I’m about to go to prison… This place is terrifying, Nigel… Please save me… Get me out of here…”
She collapsed onto her chair and trembled in fear as she thought about the vicious female inmates that shared the same cell as her. Nigel shut his eyes for a moment. When he thought about Bryan’s face and the promise he made to Bryan, he felt both anxious and sad at the same time. There was a burning sensation in his chest.
It’s not that I don’t want to help Phoebe get out of here. I’ve tried my best! But the Taylors are simply no match for the Harts, and I’m no match for Sebastian. Whenever Sebastian mocks me, my face ends up turning red, and I feel extremely embarrassed.
I’ve thought about all sorts of other plans, and I’ve been feeling so anxious that my lips have been cracking. There’re ulcers in my mouth. Yet, I still can’t find a way to save Phoebe. What can I do? I’m not God; I can’t do whatever I want to. I really want to do it, but I’m incapable of saving her. This is something that’s out of my power.
Moments later, he opened his eyes and stared at Phoebe before speaking in a soft voice. “I don’t have any more plans… I’ve tried everything that I thought could work. You snatched the boy away in public, and the Harts sued you for kidnapping the child. There’s nothing wrong with that. They sent out a team of lawyers, and they have evidence for everything. I’m not God; I can’t have everything go according to my desires. I can’t save you…”
“No! No! No!” Phoebe shook her head hysterically before she leaped forward in Nigel’s direction. Her trembling hands clutched his shirt as she cried. “Save me, Nigel. You have to get me out! Don’t you forget that my father died trying to save Dan! Before my dad died, you swore to him that you would care for me and not have others bully me. But look at me now! Look at the way I’m living! The police said that I’ll be in prison for at least three years. I can’t even survive three days here! I don’t think I can even handle another three hours! Please think of something, Nigel. You have to save me. You have to!”
Nigel wore a pained expression as he shook his head. “I told you—it’s not that I don’t want to save you; it’s that I’m not capable of doing it.”
“That’s not true. No way!” She continued shaking her head. “You’re the richest man in Worrick, Nigel. You’re so powerful. Of course you can do it! I’m sure you can do it if you want to!” Regardless of what Phoebe and Isabel did, Nigel was always there to clean up their mess. Phoebe was certain that he could do the same this time. I’m sure he can do it!
But he only shook his head as he stared at her. “I really can’t do anything this time.”
“No way. No way!” She pushed him away before pointing at him. “Did you find another woman, Nigel? You want to get rid of me—that’s why you’re not saving me, right? You want to fool around with others while I’m locked up here!” she howled.
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Nigel got mad.
“That has to be the case! It must be!” Phoebe continued to hold her finger in front of his face. “Don’t you forget how my father died, Nigel! Dan would’ve been dead if it weren’t for my father. You owe my father a life! If you wrong me, my father will definitely haunt you as a ghost!”
“You… You…” Nigel was so angry that he saw stars. His heart was pounding furiously, and he felt like he was about to vomit actual blood. Have I not done enough for her throughout these years? If it weren’t for the fact that the Taylors owe Bryan his life, would I ever date someone as rough and uneducated as her?
I only swallowed all my disgust and hatred and married her because I owe Bryan his life. Throughout these years, I allowed Phoebe to do whatever she wanted to in the Taylors’ household. Even though I feel disgusted every time I see how rough and dirty she is, I still try my best to contain my feelings. I don’t love her, and I don’t even want to see her, yet I’m willing to stay loyal to the marriage. I poured all my heart into my work, and I’ve never messed around with others at all.
