Only After I Was Gone

For a moment, I thought Charles had overheard the part about the divorce. However, the first thing he said was, "Shirley, you're dropping out of the Nebula City Perfume Competition."

It was not a discussion. It was an order.

"There's no need for you to enter just to get our attention. Melissa wants to apply to Brighton & Co. in the second half of the year. If she wins first place, she'll get in directly."

Brighton & Co. was the most authoritative perfume company in the country.

"Winning that title won't do anything for you. However, for Melissa, it's different."

Whenever Melissa wanted something, she never even had to ask. Charles would fight to get it for her. He always expected me to step back.

However, the reason I was going to Nebula City… was to go home.

I pulled my arm free from his grip. "That's not why I—"

He did not even let me finish a sentence. "You're still holding a grudge over that child who didn't make it, and now you're taking it out on Melissa. Don't forget, she ended up like this because she saved you back then. Maybe the child's death is just the price you had to pay."

I went very still.

When I first got pregnant, he had wanted to tell the whole world. I did not even have strong morning sickness in the early stages. Instead, Charles was the one constantly nauseous with worry.

His mother had died during childbirth. He told me he would never let something like that happen to me.

However, the pain I went through, and the death of our child… All of it had been caused by him. If he had not let Melissa ignore those seven calls that day, the baby would not have suffocated inside me.

It almost took my life with it.

When he saw the redness in my eyes, Charles finally seemed to realize what he had just said. He opened his mouth, trying to take it back.

However, from downstairs came a louder interruption. It was the sound of Melissa being escorted out by the butler.

"Ms. Jones, this way please."

Lance usually only followed Nevin's orders.

Charles' expression changed instantly. The disgust on his face was impossible to hide. "So you really came to complain to Grandpa!"

He shoved past me and headed downstairs.

I stood there, dazed, watching him rush off to help someone else without a second thought.

Back when I first came to the capital for college, I had not reunited with the Jones family yet. I had applied to join the student council for two extra credits, and they had put me on the spot, demanding I perform something in front of everyone.

Charles, who had been in graduate school at the time, stood in front of me. With a smile, he eased the situation. "Don't scare the freshman."

Later, I found out the beverage shop where I worked part-time belonged to his friend, Samuel Carter.

After that, we started crossing paths more often. Samuel was the first to notice how I felt, and he warned me gently, "Charles' fiancée has been studying abroad all this time."

He was telling me not to walk down a path that would lead nowhere. He was right. Charles and I had always been worlds apart.

Now, even though we stood in the same place, we were further apart than ever.

By the time I went downstairs, only Maverick was still there. One look at me and he could tell something was wrong. "Did you and Charles fight?"

For a second, I thought he was concerned. I was about to say no. Then, his next words shattered that illusion.

"We're family, Shirley. You should know how to behave. Melissa didn't do anything, and you've been giving her attitude all night. The Jones family spent so much money hiring top etiquette tutors for you. It wasn't so you could come back here and stir up trouble.

"She got into a car accident and lost her memory trying to save you. Can't you just give in a little?"

Every word sounded like a lecture, laced with barely hidden contempt.

Even though I knew Maverick had never liked me and even though I knew better than to expect anything from him, it still hurt to hear it said out loud.

They were used to looking at me like I did not belong. If Melissa was ever upset, it had to be my fault.

I was too tired to argue anymore. Instead, I asked something else, "Do you know when Charles' birthday is?"

Maverick let out a mocking laugh. "Seven years of marriage and you don't even know your husband's birthday? It was the day before yesterday."

My clenched fist slowly loosened.

It was true.

However, for the past seven years, we had always celebrated it on November 20. That was tomorrow.

I chose to be honest. "I'm going to Nebula City because I want to go home."

Maverick looked annoyed. "Now, you're trying to use that to threaten us? Shirley, if you give up the perfume competition, I'll make sure you pass the job selection directly."

I had been in the company for five years. Every time there was a promotion opportunity, I failed. Even supervisors from other departments had spoken up for me.

Whenever I asked for feedback, Maverick would just tell me to figure it out myself. All these years… he had been holding me back for Melissa's sake.

I pushed the door open. An icy breeze rushed in. It swept away the last bit of affection I still had for him as a brother.

"Do whatever you want."

What he did not know was that before coming here, I had already submitted my resignation.