Chapter 13 Mrs. Forger, Maria Hudson

• May and I had known each other long before Nicholas appeared in my life. Naturally, she knew my affection him from the beginning.
• Specifically, she knew that all my passwords were the day when Nicholas and I met for the first time.
• December 27, 2009. It was the first snow of winter that year.
• "Ree, your face is pale, and you're not smiling sincerely."
• "Really? Maybe it's too cold here."
• I chatted with May in the teahouse and left. When I was about to return to the villa, an unknown number called me.
• I answered the call and asked, "Who is this?"
• "I am Mrs. Forger, Maria Hudson."
• I sneered and said, "You're not married yet."
• Maria paused, then she said obsessively, "I know. However, I must tell you I am Nicholas' wife, Mrs. Forger. The position you occupied for three years is now mine, which means I am his wife. Renee, I've endured you for three years, and I have been waiting for him during these years. Now, it's time to fix all the mistakes. I am finally the Mrs. Forger that everyone envies."
• Becoming Mrs. Forger could not earn people's respect.
• However, one could earn others' respect by respecting and loving themselves without making trouble.
• I was disinterested. "Okay."
• As she spoke, she choked slightly and said, "However, I can't blame you fully. Other ladies would've fought for the position even if you did not become Mrs. Forger back then. Moreover, they might be crueler than you, and they'd never let me go while trying to fight for his affection. I'd like to thank you for being merciful against me."
• I calmly asked, "Is that so?"
• I am not kind. She is just not worth my attention.
• "Yes. I've realized my mistakes now, but I couldn't help it back then. I've wanted to be Mrs. Forger for way too long"
• After a pause, her laughter came from a distance through the phone as she said, "I am Mrs. Forger, Maria Hudson!"
• I reminded her indifferently, "You're not officially married yet, and his father hasn't approved of the marriage."
• Do not place too much confidence in something, especially toward the man you love.
• Maria Hudson smiled. "Sooner or later, he will give us his blessings."
• She was picking on me, but I was too lazy to pay attention to her.
• I hung up the phone and added her number to my list of blocked contacts. Then, I saw a familiar figure down the road. I blinked and saw the empty street before me. I've been having hallucinations lately.
• I shook my head and went to the beach. This was where my wedding with Nicholas had been held. As soon as I got to the beach, I received a call from the man himself. He asked in a deep voice, "Why are you avoiding me?"
• As of late, he had been calling and asking me to meet up, but I refused all of his invitations and even said some harsh words. However, he continued haunting me and said some confusing words.
• I looked at the churning waves and asked, "Don't you know that already?"
• "I know, but I promise I won't meet Maria again before the wedding. I'll devote myself to you for two months. Renee, I want to make it up for you."
• Maybe he realized that he had bullied me too harshly in the past. Now, he was trying to compensate me due to pity.
• I laughed at myself. "Nicholas, do you think this is what I want?"
• "Renee, you want a romance where you are willing to divorce me and sell the Felix Family! However, I am the only winner in this decision, and I am not a greedy man who'd accept any gift. I will never accept the Felix Family without a cost. I will return them to you if you don't agree to this. After all, I hate being in debt to women."
• I had forgotten that he was a persevering man, and he would never give up after he set a goal. This time, he was determined to date me.
• He will not accept the Felix Family if I don't agree to a date with him.
• However, I don't have other candidates to pass the family to.
• If I put aside all the grievances, he is the most suitable heir for the Felix Family.
• I was speechless, and I never stopped thinking. The sea breeze was blowing against me, and my body was numb from the cold. Nicholas was not in a hurry and patiently waited for my answer.
• At this moment, there was only silence between us.
• After a long time, I said, "I have two conditions."
• "Hmm?"
• "Firstly, I don't want to see Maria ever again. You can't meet her before your marriage too, and you must never mention her in front of me unless I ask. Secondly, no love-making sessions."
• Now that my sickness is getting severe, doing that will likely lead to bleeding.
• Besides, I don't want him to notice my sickness.
• Nicholas laughed over the phone. "Why are you so domineering now?"
• "Do you agree to my conditions?" I asked.
• "Yes, I agree." After silence, he said, "I'll make arrangements in the company soon and make time for you. For the next two months, I will only belong to you."
• I will only belong to you.
• He is so sultry.
• When he hung up the phone, I was stunned.
• I never thought he would actually say yes, and I never imagined having him by my side for the rest of my life.
• I raised my hand and touched my wet eyes. It must be the sea breeze, or why else would I cry?
• Yes, it must be the harsh sea breeze.
• …
• Nicholas didn't call me again. Although I didn't care that much, I was still disappointed. Most of the time, I stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows and waited. I didn't know what I was waiting for, but I secretly hoped he would stand outside my house like that night.
• Similar to the clear wind in the mountains and bright moon in the starry sky, after going through right and wrong, gratitude and resentment, no matter the sadness we had in the past, I wanted to see him smiling outside my house at this moment.
• Nicholas was probably feeling regretful, but the man I knew was never a no-show, even if he regretted it. Still, he had been wasting time since he regretted it. From the day we agreed to date, I had been waiting for him in Felix's Villa for three days. During this period, he never once gave me an explanation, not even a text message.
• Right after I lost all expectations, Nicholas called me.
• I didn't pick it up but went to the bathroom to take a bath instead.
• After taking a bath and drying my hair, I poured a glass of red wine, took a book, and sat reading it in front of the window. The room was warm as usual, then it suddenly rained outside. At that moment, I was stunned as I turned my head and looked outside the window.
• Nicholas was wearing a dark blue knee-length coat. He was standing at the villa's gate with a large black umbrella in his broad-boned palm, and his other hand was carelessly pocketed in the coat.
• Since when has he been standing down there?
• During the day, he could see my room from the outside. He saw me turning my head and noticing him. He smiled warmly, then took out the cell phone from his pocket and waved it around, signaling for me to answer.
• After hesitating for a while, I picked up the phone and asked, "Is there anything you want to do with me?"