I Learned To Be A Mistress, Not A Wife

Chapter 3

Heidi could no longer keep her smile.

"You've misunderstood, Bridget. I was only offering a suggestion."

"I know. You're only trying to help me."

I sniffed, sounding even more aggrieved.

"You told everyone I come from a poor background, have terrible taste, and don't deserve to be part of this family because you want me to improve."

"When did I ever say you didn't deserve Gideon?"

She rushed to defend herself.

I lowered my head.

"You're right. I should've kept that to myself instead of making you say it aloud."

Mom taught me never to make a direct accusation.

That was tattling.

Putting yourself down to make the other person look like the bully was a classic case of retreating in order to advance.

At that exact moment, Gideon came downstairs.

Heidi hurried over to him, then defended me with tears in her eyes.

"Gideon, don't blame Bridget. Mrs. Whitaker only said a couple of things, and she got this upset. She's just too sensitive."

How clever. "Sensitive."

It sounded as though she were defending me, but she was actually labeling me petty and cheap.

I didn't give her a chance to keep performing.

My body went limp, and I collapsed to one side.

Gideon marched over and caught me.

"Are you okay?"

I rested against his chest, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Don't blame Mom or Ms. Fletcher. I'm simply weak. I come from a humble background, so anything I wear makes me look like I don't belong.

"Honey, you should divorce me. Ms. Fletcher is cultured and capable. She's better than me in every way. You should've married her."

The living room became so quiet that a falling pin would've sounded deafening.

Heidi's face flushed bright red.

"Bridget, what are you talking about?"

I shrank into Gideon's arms and clutched his shirt tightly.

"Honey, she's yelling at me."

"Who's yelling at you? When did I ever say I wanted to marry Gideon?"

I timidly peeked out with half my face.

"Then why were you sitting here first thing this morning, criticizing his wife's clothes?"

Heidi opened her mouth, closed it, then opened it again.

Like a fish out of water.

Gideon looked down at me.

I was certain he'd seen through my act. Still, he kept me sheltered in his arms and spoke coldly, "Enough."

He turned to Heidi.

"Bridget is the lady of this house. What she wears is none of your business."

Heidi stared at him in disbelief.

"Gideon, you're scolding me because of her?"

"Go back to your room."

Tears spilled from Heidi's eyes, and she ran away.

Mrs. Whitaker was heartbroken, but she could hardly say anything else now. She could only ask Gideon to take me back to our room.

Once we were inside the room, Gideon looked down at me.

"Still dizzy?"

I immediately closed my eyes and pressed myself more tightly against him.

"Yes, but a little better now."

"Then stand on your own."

I quickly wrapped my arms around his neck.

"I can't. Moving makes my head spin."

Gideon stared at me for 3 seconds, but he didn't let go.

"Bridget, quit such cheap tricks."

My heart skipped.

Had he seen through me?

But his arms had clearly tightened around me.

I immediately buried my face against his neck.

Who cared if the trick was cheap?

It worked.

That evening, Gideon had barely entered the bedroom when a message about Heidi arrived.

It came from her assistant.

Heidi's Assistant: Mr. Whitaker, Heidi's heart is bothering her. She wants to see you.

I was pacing across the bed in my champagne-colored battle dress.

I nearly laughed when I heard it.

She got scolded during the day, and by nightfall, her heart hurt.

Mom had worn that trick out years ago.

Back when my father planned to visit his seventh mistress's apartment, Mom suddenly "couldn't breathe". Her assistant called him three times and even had a funeral home ready on the other line.

Compared to that, Heidi sending one little voice message through her assistant showed a real lack of dedication.

Gideon frowned.

Gideon: Call the family doctor.

Heidi's Assistant: Ms. Fletcher says a doctor is useless. She needs to see you.

I immediately clutched my chest and collapsed weakly onto the bed.

"Honey, my heart hurts too."