THIBV - Chapter 29

"If you came to find him?"

"If I had come looking for him, I would have run up to him and confronted him right away. I would have even punched him in the face!"

"And?"

"And? And I made him apologize. And made him promise not to do something like that again."

"Is it the end?"

Josh rolled his eyes and frowned, wondering what more he could do.

But even after waiting for a long time, he couldn't come up with an answer.

I, who had been expecting a little from my brother, began to breathe heavily.

I clenched my fists and jumped up as if I couldn't stand it anymore. My patience was running out.

"Can't you even think about getting me out of there? Can't you help me get away from that kind of man?"

"...What do you mean? Are you asking me to help you with a divorce?"

Josh looked troubled. I could tell what he was going to say just by looking at his expression.

I bit my lip.

Tears welled up in my eyes as if they might fall at any moment.

The tip of my chin trembled with sadness.

Josh let out a small sigh and came over to pat my shoulder.

"Bridget. You know that can't be done."

By all means, Josh broke my heart.

"We owe him money. I can't pay it back right now. If you divorce, our family will go bankrupt from paying Isaac's money. Bridget, I'm so sorry. I have to take care of my mother and my youngest daughter, Chloe, in addition to you. Chloe is not married yet. Shouldn't I find her a decent groom? I need to get married and produce an heir to lead the Florence family, but this is what it's like so far. We don't have money. Damn it, we don't have money!"

Josh sat down in the armchair where I had been sitting, holding my head.

I stood silently, glaring at Josh.

Heavy tears fell.

"Divorce. That won't do. You belong to Isaac, I'm sorry."

Then he quickly added.

"Hey, you said you ran away successfully in the end? Nothing bad actually happened, right? Can't you just quietly cover it up and not worry too much?"

He smiled a cowardly and mean-spirited smile.

"Instead, I'll tell you firmly. I won't tolerate it twice."

I raised my head and wiped away my tears.

I took a deep breath to calm my tremors and looked down at Josh with eyes that had suddenly become dry.

"Don't be sorry. I didn't expect anything anyway."

"I'm heartbroken too. Don't blame me too much. The situation is..."

"I don't blame you."

Josh looked up at Bridget.

She was glaring at him with eyes he had never seen before.

He shook his neck without realizing it.

Do you know that? My brother, who sold me to Isaac and received payment, is not much different from Isaac.

"Bridget!"

Josh glared, his eyes wide open.

Bridget didn't even blink an eye as if she had never shed a tear.

"From now on, don't use my sacrifice as capital and live on your own. Isn't it too cowardly to sell your younger sister to survive for your family?"

"Don't say anything you'll regret. I understand how you feel, but you shouldn't insult me. You must have forgotten, I am the master of this family."

"What do you mean, the head of a sinking family? You quickly ate up the money you made by selling me, and now you're groaning while flaunting your family's prestige. Aren't you ashamed?"

"Stop talking nicely, Bridget."

"People can't live by only hearing good things and doing only what they want to do."

"I said I didn't want to hear it!"

"Because you only want to take the sweets, there are always hyenas around you trying to eat you up. If you don't have the ability, please reduce your greed. I will listen to the bitter words too."

"Bridget!"

An angry Josh got up and tried to grab Bridget.

Bridget took a step back, avoiding Josh.

"Don't touch me."

It was a voice as cold as frost.

"If you touch even one hair on my head, a letter describing what you did will be sent to the palace."

"...!"

"My brother is worse than my family, but the reason I hide what happened that day from you is because I'm not like you."

Josh's gaze wavered.

His face turned pale as he realized what she was saying.

"That, that I decided to keep it a secret. If you bring it up, it won't just be me who'll be in trouble. It'll be my family, my mother Chloe, and you!"

"Yeah, yeah. So don't forget that I can always hug you all and drag you all to hell together."

Josh suddenly felt scared because Bridget's expression was so serious.

"Bridget, calm down."

Bridget laughed at Josh.

"Keeping the secret of that day is the final sacrifice I offer. Don't come looking for me again."

With those words, Bridget left the study.

The narrow stairs creaked.

Soon the front door on the first floor slammed shut, and Josh's heart sank, he sank into the armchair between his leg

He buried his head, clutching at his hair.

"I worked so hard for my family... and all I get in return is this kind of humiliation."

***

I, who got back into the carriage, burst into tears as soon as the carriage started moving.

The suppressed emotions burst out uncontrollably.

How did it turn out like this?

Neither my past life nor this life was free from that question.

Would things have been different if my father were alive?

If that were the case, wouldn't the family have been buried in so much debt?

If that was the case, wouldn't Josh have been worried about money?

If that were the case, wouldn't I have ended up in such an unfortunate marriage?

If that were the case, Julian would...

Thoughts that started with 'what if' kept coming to my mind.

The more this happened, the more I was stabbed by a sense of resentment and sadness at not having a place to go.

Josh wasn't the only one trying to protect his family.

I also gave it my all and did my best.

But why is it that the more I do for your family, the more miserable I become?

I knew that Josh wouldn't be able to protect me after he blew all the money he received from Isaac when I got married.

But I never thought we would end up having this conversation.

I wish he had been a little more resentful of Isaac and a little more sorry for me.

That was all I wanted.

Before he died, the father held my hand and said:

"You have to follow Josh. If your father isn't here, Josh is your father."

So I followed Josh's decisions without question because it was my father's will.

But what were the results of obedience?

In my past life, I suffered while locked up in a convent was not entirely because of Isaac and Penelope.

Josh also played a big role in driving me crazy in an attempt to prevent the divorce.

I still had high hopes for Josh.

In a letter my mother had secretly sent me while he was at the convent, Josh was described as feeling greatly remorseful and distressed.

He said that he regrets every night that he had to sacrifice me for the family.

But seeing him today, I was convinced that it was just a lie from a mother trying to comfort her daughter whose life had been ruined.

I didn't feel much apology or gratitude from Josh, who made excuses about the situation and his family and said he couldn't help it.

I sat down on the carriage floor and cried.

I cried and cursed as if I was venting all the anger I had built up inside.

Because I felt sorry for myself in my past life.

Even after going through that, I felt like a fool for not being able to disappoint Josh, who was my family, my protector, and my older brother.

It was sad to finally realize that the family I loved and relied on could be worse than others.

I knew the coachman would hear me, but I couldn't stop.

The groom didn't even bother to ask if I was okay.

That kind of crying was not the kind of crying that could be comforted.

The carriage circled the same spot over and over again, with the Winston Manor gate just a stone's throw away.

Until my pitiful cries died down.

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