Chapter 517
âŠ.
Nara clenched her fists tightly. A sense of humiliation she had never felt before surged to her chest. She angrily stared at Mrs. Spencer, then slowly turned toward Gary, gesturing with her hands. âIs that what you think, too?â
It was a simple sentence, so Gary understood it. He immediately shook his head. âNo, Nara, donât get me wrong!â
Nara let out a sigh of relief. But Mrs. Spencer suddenly said, âGary, are you sure you donât think that way? Because if I help her, sheâll leave you!â
That comment made Gary pause slightly before he looked at Nara with reluctance in his eyes. Mrs. Spencer continued, âMiss Gill is still young. She might not marry you for another five years, which means you have five years to keep Nara. Iâm asking you again: are you sure you donât want to do that? Itâll be your own choice, and later on, itâll have nothing to do with me!â
Gary fell silent. He passionately looked toward Nara, and a barely discernible greed flashed in his eyes. He wanted to keep her! He loved Nara enough to fight his mother for her, but his motherâs death threats left him no choice. If possible, he certainly didnât want to let go of Nara. But in this plan, Nara was the one who would be hurt the mostâŠ
Thinking of this, Gary felt a waver in his conviction but immediately firmed up his stance. However, Mrs. Spencerâs following words challenged him. âGary, think it through. After everything youâve done for her, can you really stand to break up with her just like that? Are you content with that? If she truly loves you, is that marriage certificate really that important?â
Gary hesitated, then shook his head. âItâs not importantâŠâ
Mrs. Spencer laughed, âRight, itâs not important. So why are you hesitating? Good boy, let her be your mistress, and you wonât be upset anymoreâŠâ
Gary immediately looked at Nara. âNaraâŠâ He held Naraâs hand. âHow about we try it? If you love me, can you also make some sacrifices for me? My marriage with Miss Gill might not even work out, and if it doesnât, we can still be togetherâŠâ
Nara looked at Gary in astonishment. Earlier, Mrs. Spencer forced Gary to marry Miss Gill by threatening to kill herself. If Gary chose to obey Mrs. Spencer, Nara would only feel sorry to end their relationship. She knew Garyâs shortcomings; he was too obedient to his mother. He was like a child who never grew up. Yet every person had flaws, and she was willing to endure that. But she could never have imagined that Gary would agree to Mrs. Spencerâs outrageous proposition. It wasnât about her status anymore⊠It showed that, in Garyâs mind, she was never fit to be his wife!
To Gary, she was just a toy that he had always wanted since childhood but never obtained. Once he had it, he would no longer care. Although Nara lived a life of poverty, it led her to value intellectual love. She stared at Gary, slowly pulling her hands back. But Gary immediately gripped them again. âNara, if you become my mistress, Iâll treat you well! Iâll even let you bear my child in the future⊠I just canât marry you. Can you compromise for me?â
Nara pulled her hands back and fiercely slapped Gary. Her mouth opened and closed. What Gary said was more hurtful than all the insults Mrs. Spencer hurled at her the day before. It made Nara feel even more humiliated!
She wanted to speak but couldnât get the words out; she just stared at Gary and took out paper and a pen to write. âYou bastard!â
âI am a bastard.â Gary was slapped, but he merely flinched. He stepped forward and grabbed her arm. âBut Nara, I canât lose you! I know this will make things hard for you, but I can give you money! I can provide you with a comfortable life as long as you agree to stay by my side. Please agree to my momâs terms!â
Nara struggled to push him away but to no avail. Tears began to well up in her eyes. She had come today just to tell Gary that she was Miss Gill, but now, she felt like a joke. She could understand why Gary would choose his mother over her. But she couldnât understand how he could do such a despicable thing!
She shook her head. Mrs. Spencer immediately shouted in anger, âYou have no right to refuse now that youâve offended the Gill family. Only I can speak a few good words for you. If you reject this offer, the Gill family will force you and your brother to disappear from Clance forever!â
Upon hearing this, Nara turned sharply to look at Mrs. Spencer. Anger colored her face, and she was no longer the pitiful and innocent girl wanting to explain things to them. Her eyes emitted a deep hatred. That hatred startled Mrs. Spencer, who immediately scolded, âHow dare you look at me like that? Who gave you the courage to look at me this way?â
Then she said to Gary, âSon, do you see? This is her true color! Youâre willing to live and die for her, but what about her? She wonât even be your mistress! She must be eyeing the power of our family, afraid that being your mistress for a few years will leave her with nothing in the end!â
Gary looked at Nara. âI can give you money!â
âSlap!â Nara slapped Gary fiercely on the face again. She glared at him. All the tender sweetness of the past seemed to turn into poison at that moment, pressing against her chest, making breathing difficult. She breathed heavily.
Gary, having been slapped, didnât dare to retaliate; he just stared at Nara⊠But Mrs. Spencer wouldnât stand for it. After the first slap, she felt distressed for her son, and now another slapâŠ
She pushed Gary aside, her finger almost poking Naraâs face. âHow dare you slap my son, little slut!â Having said this, Mrs. Spencer raised her hand.
âSlap! Slap!â Mrs. Spencer slapped Naraâs face hard twice, angrily saying, âYou should consider being my sonâs mistress an honor! Otherwise, you wouldnât even be worthy to carry his shoes!â She then pointed toward the gates of the Gill family, âDo you see? Thatâs what the houses of the real prominent families look like! My son will marry Miss Gill in the future! Look at yourself! How dare you reject my son?!â
After being slapped, Nara covered her face and glared at Mrs. Spencer. She also looked at Gary and saw him frown. âNara, donât be foolish. Only by becoming my lover will you and your brother be safe. If you say no, then my mom wonât plead for you!â
The last bit of hope in Naraâs eyes shattered with his words. He was actually threatening her. Nara gave a bitter smile, steadied her stance, and wrote on a piece of paper. âI donât need her help!â
Mrs. Spencer scoffed. âStill trying to be tough, huh? You donât need my help? Then rot away on the streets of Clance! Maybe someday you wonât even know how you died, little slut!â
Nara trembled with rage. She stared at them, wanting to say something⊠That was when a scolding voice rang out. âWhat are you doing?!â
They all turned and saw Lady Gill striding toward them!