Chapter 2
I
Tanya hid behind Myles, and said with sobs, Dad, I was caring about Nola Ire my fault. I shouldn’t have asked her about where she was going. But she looks terrible, so I–I thought something happened to her
Tanya was really good at playing innocent. Nola was stunned by her performance
Myles scanned Nola and settled his gaze on her shirt where the three buttons should be. He yelled again, “What is wrong with you! It’s deep dark outside, and you just came back in a mess”
Nola stared at her father without speaking. She had seen this man yelling at her like this countless times.
“In your eyes, I’m useless. Do you really care about me? If you want to know what happened tonight, you can go directly to Tanya. She knows about the truth better than I do.
Tanya instantly shook her head, “Nola, what are you talking about? I was worried about you. Please don’t be mad at me. Dad, I’m sorry.” Tanya said, almost crying
Tanya’s mother, Lelia Grant, felt sad about her daughter, “Myles, I believe Tanya was showing her kindness, but Nola was venting on her. You know, I’m a stepmother, and it’s improper for me to play favorites. Yet, I can’t just sit by and do nothing if Tanya gets mistreated.”
Lelia’s words ignited Myles‘ anger. Seeing Nola like a drowned mouse, he roared, “You look like shit. How dared you blame Tanya! Don’t forget you have an engagement with the Lee family.
Speaking of the engagement, Nola glanced at Tanya and her mother, “You would have kicked me out if without this engagement, right? You’re never satisfied with me, Father. But with this engagement, at least I could feel like I’m not useless like trash.”
As Nola expected, a stinging slap across her face.
But she didn’t dodge. She just stood where she was, her ears ringing. Coldness rose i life. This place, instead of a sweet home, was nothing but a cold house.
her chest. She had been living such a
“I guess this is the only way you can talk to me. I’m tired.” Nola walked directly to her room without looking at them.
even
She only had her mother. Her father was not better than a stranger.
For all these years, she had suffered this countless times. She cried in the beginning, and she went numb in the end. She told herself not to shed tears over these matters.
If she left this house one day, things might go another way.
If her mother wanted her to marry into the Lee family, she would say yes. People like her could never expect to marry a man for love. Like her mother, who once believed in love, but ended up in a miserable life.
So, she swore she would never be a copy of her mother’s life.
Nola thought what happened at Maple Hotel could be like a piece of trash flung into the trash can. But things got stirred up. She surprisingly found her father had prepared her a suit of clothes, and informed her to dress up tonight.
“You almost turn 24, so it’s about your wedding. I have invited the Lee family for dinner tonight. And you are supposed to
will you?” officially see their family members by then. Promise me you will not embarrass me,
This was the first time she got new clothes from her father after her mother fell ill. It made sense now because her father wanted to make a huge benefit out of her marriage.
Chapter 2
From Nola’s perspective. Mr. Lee was her mother’s good friend, and this marriage was what her mother hoped to see. She would certainly not mess it up.
But she was deadly wrong.
When she was in a simple dress and saw Tanya, who was in a pink Chanel suit, she realized she only served as a foil. Obviously, Tanya and her mother would show up tonight.
They seemed to be in high spirits, but Nola didn’t think about it too much.
The Lee family just arrived in time. Tanya and her mother were intentionally standing before Nola. In fact, it had been ages since the last time Nola saw Javion Lee. And what he had left for her was only his bright smile.
When she saw Javion tonight, he still wore that bright smile. The difference was impatience flashed in his eyes when she looked into his eyes.
“Good evening. Mr. Lee and Mrs. Lee.” Nola grinned and greeted the couple. Javion’s father, Micah Lee, smiled at her and motioned her to take a seat. But Nadia Lee, Javion’s mother, pulled a long face and settled herself in a chair.
Judging from their attitude, Nola knew Javion and his mother didn’t like her. Instead, they were talking with Tanya with great passion.
“Mr. Grant, Javion and Nola are at their marriage age. Our two families go way back, so I’ll say it bluntly. Nola is a good girl. and I liked her when she was young. What do you think if we set a date for their wedding?”
Myles was happy with this result. But Nadia frowned at her husband.
She pursed her lips, “We haven’t seen Nola for many years. We don’t know what she is now. However, my son is a very good. young man. Maybe they should hang out and see how things are going
“I believe they’re a perfect match. Nola is demure and sweet. I’m very glad Javion could marry her,’ said Micah.
“Don’t jump to conclusions. I have something here that I hope Ms. Grant can explain to me. Micah, maybe you’ll hold another attitude after that.”
Then, Nadia pulled an envelope from her bag and tossed it on the table. Stacks of pictures spread out. Nola was a little confused when seeing these pictures. She had no idea what this was all about.
“My good lord! Nola… You went to Maple Hotel that night?”
Nadia sneered, “Yes, she did. Nola, you have an engagement with Javion, but you walked out of the hotel at midnight half- dressed. How can you explain this?”
Nola clenched her fists, her fingernails digging into the soft flesh of her palm. Now it finally came to her why Tanya asked her to sign the contract.
“I won’t explain because nothing happened that night.”
“Nothing happened? It was you who stumbled out of the hotel at midnight. Micah, it will be humiliating to our family if Javion marries her. And I won’t allow this to happen,”
Awkwardness rose on Micah’s face. These pictures were really hard to tell..
Javion spoke to his father, “Dad, if she’s hanging around with men before we get married, I don’t know what will happen in the future. Plus, her mother is a lunatic. People will laugh at me if I marry
Nola.”
Apparently, Javion and his mother didn’t accept Nola. Nadia said firmly, “Nola, you can’t marry into the Lee family. For your good, I won’t make these pictures go public. But I’m going to cancel your engagement.”
C
