Chapter 6: A bracelet, The family heirloom

Stella’s Pov

I stood there, shocked, wondering why Jonathan, my new husband, had just acted that way. I knew that I was not his real wife, I never claimed I was his real wife and I never wanted to hold on to the bracelet for long, I would give it back to him and whenever we are going to see his grandma again, I will take it, but I guess he doesn't trust me, I at least expected him to treat me with kindness, I guess that isn't the case.

I watched Jonathan walk away and I said nothing, because at the end of the day, I was no one to him.

“I guess at the end of the day, I am just a substitute wife,” I sighed, as I shook my head as I walked out of the nursing home, my driver held the door open for me and got into the car. The driver began driving, and I told him to take me to my parents’ home.

Jonathan had already left and he didn't forbid me from going anywhere.

When I got there, I still had the key to the house, so I opened the door and went inside. The moment my mother saw me, she burst into tears. I rushed to her immediately and wrapped my arms around her tightly.

I know she must have been worried about me since I was taken away from them.

“Stella, I am so sorry this happened. This is all our fault,” my mother cried out, as she cried into my shoulder. My father who heard me walk in, stood behind her with his head bowed, shame written all over his face for dragging me into this situation.

However, I knew this wasn’t their fault. I knew they only took that loan from loan sharks, so they could buy me wedding gifts. I also knew that my ex-husband Andrew never gave my parents any money or assisted me, so I did not blame them for not being able to get the money back.

“Stella, can you find a way to forgive us in your heart? I know we made a big mistake, and I am going to fix it,” my father said, as he raised his head and my mother was still crying, as I gently patted her back.

“I plan to take a loan to pay him off so that you can get divorced. I do not want you married to such an evil man,” my dad announced his plan , clenching his fists. I gasped in shock ,because I did not want him to get into such a situation again.

We are already trying hard to get out of this situation and he's trying to take another loan that he doesn't know when he's going to pay off. It is better that I stay with Jonathan.

“Dad, please don’t take out another loan. Jonathan treats me better than Andrew ever did,” I smiled sadly as I spoke, but it was the truth.

He looked confused, clearly not understanding what I meant, so I gently led my mum to sit on a chair. Then I motioned for my father to sit in front of us, and he did.

I began from the beginning and told them everything that happened.

I told him and my mother of how Mary showed up at our house, how Andrew forgot about me, and everything that Mary had done to me and how I lost my child. My mother covered her mouth in shock when she heard everything.

“How could Andrew do such an evil thing to you and his child? He made your allergies flare up and made you miscarry just because his first love came to his house,” my father said in disbelief, his voice shaking in anger . He could not believe that Andrew, the man I loved with my whole heart, would do this to me.

My family knows how much I love and cherish Andrew and how I was willing to give up ever having a job ,so that I could be the housewife he wanted.

“Yes, Dad, that is what he did, you know that all I did was ever love him and for him to pay me back this way, I don't think I can ever forgive him for making me lose my child,” I said calmly, as I rubbed my empty stomach, even though my heart hurt,I knew I had to move on.

“So, no matter how much you ask me to go back to Andrew, I will never agree. Jonathan, my new husband, treats me well, he gave me a bank card and even a car.” I explained to them everything that Jonathan has done for me and they exchanged confused glances, because the Jonathan that they met here and the one I was talking about must be two different people.

“So no matter how much Andrew asks for me, don’t tell him I got remarried,” I concluded, looking straight at my parents. I knew very well that very soon Andrew would start asking for my whereabouts.

I want nothing to do with Andrew, my ex-husband. He can stay with Mary for all I care , I just want to start afresh.

“Andrew called five days ago to ask about you,” my father admitted quietly.

He shook his head as he continued, “I was too ashamed to tell him what happened or ask him for money, since he never gave us any. I told him I didn’t know. I had no idea you were divorced.”

My father looked at me with sad eyes, “Stella, I’m sorry you had to go through all this just because we are poor. If we were rich, no one would dare offend you,” he said, tears forming at the corners of his eyes.

I stood up, went to him, and sat beside him, wrapping my arms around him, pulling him into a hug. I rubbed his back gently, trying to reassure him that it was fine.

My father tried his best to give me the best education, and he succeeded. I got a scholarship and graduated with first class in my field of study, but I was the one who decided to be a housewife to an ungrateful husband who never even gave me an allowance, even though I cooked for him daily and took care of the house.

In front of my parents, I made a call right there to my new husband, Jonathan. He answered the call.

“I want to work, and if you don’t want me to work, you have to give me an allowance,” I said firmly into the phone.

“I never stopped you from doing anything, you have a bank card with no limit, use it as you please. Don’t call my line to disturb me if it’s not something important,” he replied coldly and ended the call.

I stared at the phone in silence. No matter what he said, I knew he had a soft spot for women.

No matter how ruthless he was, I knew he would not stop me from doing what I wanted.

Even though he gave me a bank card with no limits ,I didn't want to use it unwisely, so that in the future if he asked me to repay, I can repay the little money I have spent from the bank card.

Since he said himself he wasn't holding me back.

For that reason, I would continue doing what I wanted without him holding me down, just because we signed a contract. Besides, the contract didn’t state that I couldn’t work.

After my father had settled down and stopped crying, I held his hand and looked straight into his eyes. I saw the deep wrinkles on his face.

“Dad, you don’t need to worry about me or about your finances anymore. I am your daughter, and you raised me right. I will be the one to take care of you,” I told him sincerely.

He shook his head slowly. “I don’t need you to take care of me. I just want to make sure you are safe and happy where you are. That is all I desire,” he said softly.

I knew that was the truth, but he was still my father, and I wanted the best for him.

“Don’t worry about me. I know what to do, and I’ll make sure you’re taken care of, so don’t ever cry for my sake again,” I said with a smile and he nodded in understanding.