After saying his piece, Stanley turned on his heel and walked away
“Mr. Hawk…” Brittany called after him.
But Horace interrupted, “Stanley!”
Stanley stopped in his tracks and looked back. “Anything else you want to say?”
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Horace’s voice was firm. “Since you don’t want to marry my daughter, I won’t force it. However, when our families made that engagement, a formal contract was in place. Bring that contract here and tear it up–then this engagement will be officially breken.”
Stanley nodded. “Fine.”
And with that, he walked off once more.
“Stanley!” Jessica gasped, overwhelmed. “Mom, Dad, what am I supposed to do now? Stanley doesn’t want me anymore!” Brittany turned to Horace, confused. “What’s going on? Doesn’t Mr. Hawk love Jessica?”
Horace shook his head slowly. “No, he doesn’t.”
“If he doesn’t love Jessica, then who does he love? From the way he acted, it seemed like he’s in love with someone.”
“I’ll tell you who he’s in love with,” Jessica said quickly. “He’s in love with Wendy!”
What?
Stanley was in love with Wendy?
Brittany froze.
Horace nodded again. “Yes, Stanley’s in love with Wendy. They were already in love back when they were in Hovendale.”
Brittany hadn’t expected Wendy’s name, but thinking about it, Wendy was smart and graceful; she was hard not to love. Though this revelation caught Brittany off guard, it made sense in a way.
“Mom, you have to help me! I want to marry Stanley. I must marry him!” Jessica begged.
Brittany softened. “But he’s in love with Wendy, and I know Wendy well. She’s a wonderful girl, and she deserves to be loved by Stanley. Since they care for each other, we should support them and call off your engagement.”
Jessica was shocked. “What are you talking about? Stanley wants to break our engagement, and if you won’t stand by me, fine. But how could you side with Wendy, an outsider?”
“Wendy-”
“Wendy, Wendy! It’s always Wendy with you! Have you forgotten who’s your real daughter? Wendy’s nothing but a seductress! She tricked Stanley into bed!”
“Jessica!” Brittany’s face went icy, and she sharply cut the latter off.
Jessica froze. Since Brittany returned, Brittany had never looked at her with such cold eyes.
Brittany stared at Jessica, her voice hard. “How can you say such things about Wendy? Where is your dignity? You shouldn’t just say words that slander one’s reputation so easily.”
Horace stepped beside Brittany. “She’s right, Jessica. You went too far just now. Wendy isn’t that kind of person.”
Jessica looked at the two standing united, and all hope drained from her heart. Blood was thicker than water–both of them favored Wendy over her.
1/2
Chapter 744
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She was an outsider.
“What am I supposed to do now? Stanley wants to call off the engagement! Am I just supposed to accept that humiliation?” Jessica yelled.
“You just can’t force love,” Horace said gently. “I see it clearly now Stanley doesn’t have feelings for you, so we should call it off. There are plenty of talented young men in the Capital. I’ll find someone better, someone who truly loves you.”
“That’s right,” Brittany added softly. “Listen to your father and let go of Stanley. Holding onto someone who doesn’t love you will only bring you heartbreak.”
Both Horace and Brittany were encouraging her to give up. They had accepted the broken engagement.
Jessica couldn’t accept it.
“No! I won’t! How could there possibly be a second Stanley in the whole Capital? I’m going to marry him! No one else is good enough for me! Hmph!”
With that, Jessica turned and stormed off.
“Jessica!”
