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

Chapter 4

I lunged forward, shoved Vivian away, and ripped the dress from her hands. "Get out! Both of you, get out!"

Simon caught my arm and pulled me back. After making sure Vivian was steady, he turned on me, his gaze icy enough to make my skin crawl. "Being poor isn't a crime. Being poor and shameless is."

I gripped the white dress so hard my fingers shook.

My mother's face was white as a sheet, but she still managed a strained smile, "Vivian, you shouldn't say things like that. We may not have much, but I spent a long time choosing this dress..."

Vivian laughed again, "Mrs. Green, don't take it the wrong way. I just think weddings must be expensive for families like yours. When Simon's relatives show up and see this dress, won't they make jokes about it?"

My father finally pushed himself to his feet and moved protectively in front of me. "Vivian, we're poor, yes. But that doesn't give you the right to insult my daughter."

Vivian's patience finally wore thin. Cradling her dog, she rolled her eyes dramatically. "Was any of that a lie? Compare the Scott family to yours. Honestly, everything your family owns put together isn't worth as much as one of Simon's pets."

For the first time, my mother realized something was off. "Simon, what is she talking about?"

Simon remained silent. Resting against the couch, he lit a cigarette and took his time.

Then he spoke at last, his tone calm and detached, "Mrs. Green, Vivian's not completely wrong. Since the wedding is right around the corner, there are a few things we should clear up beforehand."

My mother's lips started trembling. "W-What are you saying?"

Vivian finally let out a laugh. She could no longer hold back. "Simon's the sole heir to the Scott Group. Practically every major shopping district in this city belongs to the Scott family."

My mother's eyes immediately filled with tears.

Her voice trembled, "Then all those things you told us, that your family was gone, that you were drowning in debt, that you had nowhere to stay..."

Simon answered without a trace of emotion, "I said those for Vivian's sake. Back then, your family pushed so hard over that scholarship that Vivian ended up with a disciplinary record. She took it badly."

Vivian stuck out her lower lip. "I did. I was planning to use that scholarship money to buy a nice handbag. Then your father went and reported me for cheating."

My mother stared at her, stunned. "You cheated, and nobody was supposed to call you out on it?"

Vivian merely shrugged. "Mrs. Green, you just don't understand. A scholarship like that would've been nothing more than an extra line on my résumé. For your family, though, it was probably a lifeline. That's exactly why I didn't want you to get it. So what?"

Back then, my father went to the school so many times for that scholarship that he wore his shoes right through.

Holding my transcripts from three straight years and evidence of Vivian's cheating, he had stood outside the school administration building from morning until night.

Then, on his way home, someone cornered him in an alley. He was attacked and lost two fingers, but not a single person was ever held accountable.

My father finally broke. His voice was hoarse with emotion, "That scholarship belonged to Nora. She earned it herself. For three years, she never went to bed before one in the morning. Having money doesn't give you the right to take what belongs to someone else."

The amusement vanished from Vivian's face. "Life was never fair to begin with. You've lived this long. How can you still be that naive?"

My father staggered slightly. My mother immediately reached out to steady him. But her hands were shaking just as badly.

Simon took in the scene before him without a hint of remorse. "In fact, your family don't get the short end of the stick."

His gaze settled on me, calm and assured. He was convinced I wouldn't walk away, and my parents would endure any insult as long as it meant securing my future.

"Nora, at 3 PM the day after tomorrow, the wedding goes ahead as planned. I'll send the address to your phone."

I looked at him with nothing but contempt. "You honestly think I'll still be there?"

Simon's tone stayed even, "Your parents will talk you into it. They've spent their whole lives struggling. Isn't all they've ever wanted for you to marry well? Under normal circumstances, people from families like yours wouldn't even get close to a family like the Scott family."