He Hurt Me For Her, I Left, He Lost His Mind

Chapter 2

After kicking off his shoes, Simon looked up, caught sight of my tear-reddened eyes, and actually smiled, "What's wrong, sweetie? What's got you sulking now?"

The second my mother saw him, the tension left her face. She hurried over and reached for his coat.

Like he always did, Simon stopped in front of me, tousled my hair, and pulled a small box from his pocket. "Open it. Took me ages to find the right one."

It was a necklace. The moment I saw it, I knew exactly where it had come from.

Earlier that day at the office, Vivian had opened Simon's gift and taken out a Tiffany bracelet. Sitting beside it was a complimentary silver necklace.

She dangled the free necklace in front of him, laughing out loud, "Buy one, get one free? So what's the plan for this one?"

Simon had given it a casual glance. "I'll give it to Nora."

Without thinking, I stepped back. His hand stopped halfway toward me.

My mother, completely unaware, tried to ease the tension. "Every couple fights now and then. Alright, let's eat first."

Smiling, she brought over the pie she had reheated again and again.

"Simon, have some. Nora brought it to your office earlier, but somehow ended up bringing it home."

Simon glanced at the pie, then at my swollen eyes. The realization hit him almost immediately.

He quietly nudged the plate aside. "Mrs. Green, you really don't have to trouble yourself anymore."

My mother froze. "What?"

His tone was polite, but cold, "I won't be eating these things anymore."

Right then, the front door opened. My father walked in carrying an insulated food bag, smiling before he had even stepped fully inside.

"Simon's here? Perfect timing. I brought roast beef today, your favorite."

My father kept his head down as he slipped off his shoes. The soles were worn so thin they looked ready to fall apart.

With a bright smile, he opened the bag and offered the roast beef forward.

"You can't handle spicy food, so I asked them to make it mild."

Simon made no move to take it. A faint crease appeared between his brows as he subtly pulled back.

I knew my father. He definitely hadn't touched a bite of that roast beef. For his night shift, he had probably filled his stomach with stale bread again. Yet the person he had been thinking about the entire way home now seemed disgusted by him.

I dug my nails into my palms.

My throat tightened as I finally managed to speak, "Simon, this is enough."

Before I could say more, Simon suddenly turned to my mother.

"Mrs. Green, how's your health these days?" he asked with a casual smile.

The air caught in my chest.

My mother quickly waved him off. "Oh, I'm fine, really. Simon, the medicine you bought me worked like a charm."

Simon smiled back, "That's good. The doctor did say you need to avoid getting worked up."

While saying it, he looked straight at me. It was a silent threat.

What I had heard in that office had to stay buried. My mother's condition couldn't handle the truth.

But she remained completely unaware, still cheerfully fussing over everyone. "Once this debt mess is behind us, we'll find a good day and hold your wedding with Nora."

The doorbell suddenly rang. My mother hurried over to answer it. Vivian was standing outside with her white poodle in her arms.

"Simon," she frowned, "Lucky won't eat a thing. What am I supposed to do?"

She walked in as she spoke, her heels tapping sharply against the tiled floor.

Her gaze swept around the apartment, the mold creeping up the corners, upholstery peeling from the couch, the ancient radiator clanking in the background.

A look of distaste crossed her face. She lifted a hand and waved it lightly in front of her nose.