Chapter 18 Disgrace
Okay, you can do this, Alyssa, do not disappoint Vince at the very least.
Of all the reasons for me, I accept this as the foremost reason for me to stand up, to confront this world talking ill behind my back.
Lord knows how many rumors behind my back?
After convincing my heart, forcing myself to maintain a cold outfront, I went to see my Father in his office to get the necessary documents for my company.
“Oh, look who is returning,”
I entered, only to be greeted by his mockery. Folding his arms at his chest.
It made me smile coldly.
Never fathomed a day like this would come where my own father would glare at me like I am his contempt.
“I am amazed at your audacity of showing yourself before me after smearing my name everywhere,”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I averted my gaze, not wanting to start an argument here and mumbled.
“I… need the papers,”
Growling, he threw the file at my face, inducing a painful humiliation in me. The papers scattered, stiffening my whole being.
A screen of tears form but bearing the ache, swearing to myself to not return to them after leaving again I shifted down and gathered my papers.
I won’t come back here, I won’t even show him my dead face.
How could he do this to his own daughter?
“You know what you are? A stain on the name of a daughter. You have disappointed me too much, Alyssa,”
“So have you… Papa,”
Releasing a tear, I breathed out weakly, gathering the file and pouring all my strength to rise.
At least my lawyer or others hadn’t seen this disgraceful sight.
“Huh? What do you mean? It is you who never listened to me, married a wrong man, disappeared with endless rumors,” He hissed, expressing his complaints with me.
His words were making it sure that falling in love had become a sin for me.
That I made the biggest mistake of my life by devoting myself to a person I thought I would spend the rest of my life with.
“Now suddenly separating your work from me? Don’t you have any shame to take my money after taking my respect too!?”
Losing my posture at his constant snarling, I glared back at him, “What respect? What did I do wrong?”
“What did you do wrong? After staining your character before all you are asking me!? How could you?”
“Papa, enough, I am not here to hear your stupid talks,” I hissed, done hearing those piercing statements.
“Don’t appear before me. I don’t even want you before me,”
He didn’t even bother to sugarcoat, folding his arms at his chest, not parting the glare.
“You think you can utilize my money for your selfish wants and I will let you? Like hell!”
Before I could yell back or break into a miserable sobbing, another dominant resonance joined us, sealing his mouth sternly.
“What you call your money is hers, you name it hers, it belongs to hers now. You can no longer object, Mr. Whitlock,”
Glancing, I saw Vince entering with my lawyer and Uncle, upholding his stoic, superior composure, holding his head up in pride that sent a shiver down my spine.
“You…”
Papa was taken back to find him here but Uncle chuckled nervously, waving his hand to lower the tension in the air.
“Come on, Greg, every child makes mistakes and besides, Vince is right, the money is hers now,”
“Don’t act like you guys don’t know about the talks going around. She has made herself notorious with your nephew,” Papa scoffed.
“Yeah, because she is marr-”
Before Uncle could tell that and worsen the situation more than it already was, I interrupted.
“Because I live with Uncle and Vince visits him frequently and people are talking… stupidly,”
Appearing between, I glanced at him distressfully.
“There is nothing,”
Vince arched an eyebrow at me, flashing a hint of disappointment before rolling his eyes and clearing his throat, not correcting me either.
“I don’t care, take whatever you want. Just disappear from my sight!”
“... Okay,”
After getting the essential documents and thick air of tension that made me hesitant, we left his office.
I could feel the discontent from Uncle for not revealing the marriage but I was not prepared nor do I think Vince as well.
“Alyssa, dear, why didn’t you tell him about your marriage with Vince?” Uncle asked strictly when we were returning.
“Because I don’t want to create troubles for us. I am already dealing with this shit, I can’t handle talks and work,” I trailed off, clutching the papers I collected with shame firmly.
Plus the way Papa threw a file at me, he would even call me a harlot after knowing about my marriage with Vince.
“Maybe we shouldn’t tell anyone for the time being.” I paused. Vince glanced at me with those inscrutable eyes.
It seemed like he wanted to disapprove but decided to not to as I continued.
“I don’t think I am ready to announce this wedding and let people think… I am some desperate woman,”
And then chuckled dryly, “Which I know I am but I just can’t deal with it for now,”
“Okay… if that’s what you want,”
Sighing in disappointment, Vince didn't question further as we both left for our respective places.
Subsequently, I mentally prepared myself for the confrontation, for seeing everyone with a nonchalant frontage and not their harsh talks affect my heart.
Especially Ken’s.
And for that, I knew I had to test my current capabilities first and went to a party where everyone would be present.
And curse my luck, to my all preparation, all dress up, I saw the most unwanted couple.
When I saw Ken, my scars revived, my strength got deprived as all the ache I went through weakened me terribly.
“Oh, look who is here. Good timing, Alyssa,” Ken smirked wickedly, placing his hand on Sadie’s shoulder, shattering my heart more.
That man truly felt nothing for me, he was using me, everyone was right about him.
Turning my head away, I was about to leave but kissing the neck of his woman, he snickered, creating a show of my anguish remorselessly.
“I am glad you left me so I could meet the love of my life and marry Sadie, I feel like I am the luckiest,”
“Hmm. Whatever,”
And then he said something that staggered me, explaining why I had become a villain for everyone.
“If you hadn’t betrayed me, I wouldn’t have realized that one must marry a devoted and faithful partner,”