Chapter 3
Ashley wore a black veil, and her expression was somber.
Jordan was dressed in a suit and tie. His handsome face carried a trace of sorrow.
The death of an elder from the Hanson family had become major news across the city.
Ashley, an outsider, blended into the crowd of Hanson relatives without seeming out of place.
And there I was bowing to Ms. Hunt's grave.
It should be mentioned that Ms. Hunt was the one who had pulled so many strings to find those massage techniques for me.
During the six months Ashley rebelled against her family, Ms. Hunt felt for us and sent most of her modest pension my way.
Aside from how she treated me, Ashley was a grateful person. She deeply respected Ms. Hunt. After Ms. Hunt retired, the orphanage received as many, if not more, donations than before.
Now that Ms. Hunt was gone, the respect Ashley once had for her vanished into thin air.
After struggling to set down the offerings, I was about to leave when someone grabbed my wrist at the cemetery gate.
"The Hansons are here for a funeral. What trouble are you here to stir up again?"
Ashley pulled at my right hand. The pain from the fractured bone sent cold sweat streaming down my back, but my face showed no sign of it.
I lowered my head and replied, "Don't get the wrong idea. I'm just visiting an old friend."
The sorrow faded from Jordan's face, and the poise of a wealthy heir was back in full display.
"There's no misunderstanding. And even if there was, it's fine. It's thoughtful of you to come pay respects to a family elder of mine."
I felt a wave of nausea.
Whether in terms of background, looks, or talent, Jordan was someone hard to find fault with. Even as a schemer, he operated on a level far above others.
He could have been someone great, yet he settled for being a pest. Lucky for me, he found the perfect target in Ashley.
"Ashley, there's no need to pull on me. I'm afraid Jordan might get the wrong idea, so how about you let go of me?" I said. My gaze was cold.
Ashley's expression made it seem like she had just heard something unbearable.
"That's enough, Shaun! Is there anything in this world you won't get jealous over? Is being my husband in peace and contentment such an indignity to you?"
Jordan shifted slightly and pressed down on Ashley's hand, which had been tugging at me.
Ashley stared at me intently for a long moment before finally letting go.
The relief coursing through my right hand made me feel grateful to Jordan for the first time in my life. Yet, it did nothing to quell my fury toward Ashley.
"Is being your husband supposed to be some kind of prize?"
Ashley flew into a rage, even shaking off Jordan's hand. She stepped forward, and her eyes were terrifying.
"Shaun, as long as you're still legally my husband, I won't allow you to say such things!"
I smiled bitterly and took a step back. Then, I replied in a raised voice, "Ashley, you were the one who pursued me relentlessly back then, and you had to get down on your knees and beg your whole family before they would allow you to marry me!
"It was you who promised Ms. Hunt that we'd stay true to each other for our whole lives. Since you can't follow through on that, then let's get divorced!"
The veins in Ashley's forehead throbbed faintly, and a flicker of guilt crossed her face. Even though she was still angry, her tone softened considerably.
"In all these years, have I once been the slightest bit ungenerous with you when it came to material wealth? Have you ever been hurt because of me?"
I stared at her coldly. My arms hung limply at my sides. The pain in my hands made me realize for the first time how absurd this all was.
Her voice suddenly went soft, like it had drifted back to the tender way she spoke when we were dating.
"Once things settle down, I'll go with you to visit Ms. Hunt."
She paused, carefully choosing her words to console me.
"I always thought you could understand the unique nature of my relationship with Jordan. My migraines have been acting up lately, so find a time to give me a massage."
I smiled and used all the strength in my left hand to lift my right. The fingertips that had massaged her head countless times now throbbed with pain as they entered her line of sight.
"Here, let me show you, Ashley."
Biting back the searing agony, I rolled up my sleeve, exposing what I usually covered up. Doing so revealed my swollen, bruised, and deformed right arm.
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