Chapter 02

Rose stood behind me. Simon was mesmerized by her, and I was mesmerized by Simon.

My mother witnessed this scene and mistook Simon and me for being interested in each other.

Rose knocked the imported snacks Simon offered to her out of his hands.

I grabbed a teacup and smashed it at her feet.

She was dragged into a dark room by my father who grounded her as punishment, but in reality, the room was brightly lit.

Simon looked at me nervously and pleaded, "I won't give her snacks anymore. Please let her out. It wasn't intentional."

What infuriated me was that she wouldn't eat his snacks.

Now, he looked at me with the same pleading yet guarded expression, "Jasmine, it wasn't her fault."

I fell into deep thought for a while, my father and Simon barely daring to breathe, their bodies tensed in defense.

Watching them like this, I felt a wave of intense fatigue surge within me.

Rose pushed past them, grabbed my hand, and placed it against her throat, saying bitterly, "Go ahead. Strangle me! Jasmine, you think you have everything, but you don't know that you're the most pitiful one. You have nothing!"

I wasn't sure if it was her pulling that made it hard to breathe, or her words.

I pushed her away forcefully. Perhaps too forcefully, Rose turned around and her belly hit the table.

Blood flowed from between her legs, and my father and Simon rushed to hold her.

I fell to the ground in fear, reaching for Simon's hand.

Simon picked up Rose, his gaze cold as he looked at me with disappointment. "Don’t you have any heart, Jasmine?"

"Simon! Stop!" his father called out to him.

Simon hesitated for a few seconds before finally rushing out.

My father looked at me, his eyes also filled with endless disappointment.

I began to breathe rapidly, grabbed a bowl, and threw it near my father, uncontrollably shouting,

"Why do you look at me like that too? Have you ever cared for me?"

He left too.

I tore off my veil and yelled at everyone, "Get out! All of you. Just get out!"

Staggering to the lounge, I made a call to Mr. Hart and then passed out completely.

No one knew I was faint-hearted.

No one knew how scared and helpless I felt years ago when I watched my mother bleed in the same car accident.

When I woke up, I was in my own bed at home.

Mr. Hart looked at me worriedly and handed me a glass of water.

I stared at the ceiling and asked Mr. Hart, "How is she?"

"She was saved, but..." Mr. Hart paused for seconds and then went on, "The baby was lost."

I didn't speak. Mr. Hart continued, "Miss, the doctor says you're pregnant, already a month along."

I widened my eyes in disbelief, my hand instinctively touching my belly.

I turned to look at Mr. Hart, tears streaming down.

Mr. Hart turned away, removing his glasses to wipe his tears.

I arrived at the hospital, just at the entrance to the ward, and saw this scene.

Simon was still in his groom's suit, his white shirt stained red with blood.

He held Rose's hand so tightly, his eyes red, motionless as he watched her, his gaze tender and concerned.

Simon had never held me like that, let alone looked at me with such an expression.

Even in bed, he always kept his eyes tightly shut.

I heard he knelt down to the doctors last night, begging them to save Rose.

When I was interested in Simon years ago, his parents brought him to my home every day to play with me.

Rose always sat in a corner and dressed in a white gown, holding a book, her expression indifferent.

"What are you looking at?" I asked him.

The sixteen-year-old Simon withdrew his gaze, hiding all emotion, and said, "Nothing."

Suddenly, I felt like a very despicable person.