Chapter 36

I couldn’t say how much time had passed since I heard what Diana just said to me. In fact, I was fairly certain that I felt the impact of her words before really having a chance to comprehend any of them.

“...I’m prepared to offer you three million dollars to leave him...”

Good God. It was like receiving a harsh slap to the face. A punch to the gut. A stab in the back.

I fought to keep my composure as best as I could. Of course, my insides were fighting not to concave. But at the very least, I was doing my best to fight back the tears that were debating flooding my eyes.

“...No,” I said simply.

As soon as the word slipped past my lips, the shock wore away. Instead, I became filled with unexplainable anger and mass devastation.

‘Is this really what she thinks of me?’ I asked myself. ‘That I’m just some easy gold-digger who’s only after their family’s money and can be bought?’

Of all my years of countless bullying and being picked on for one reason or another, this was an entirely new kind of torment. It made me feel low—lower than I could’ve ever imagined. The idea of someone going out of their way to express their dislike for me by assuming that I could be bought with money. It made me feel cheap, as though I were nothing more than an object or a commodity.

‘I’ll never be seen as just a regular person.’

“Mrs. Derek, I have and will always hold you with high regard. You are James’ mother, obviously, that will never change,” I told her. “However, what you are trying to do is not only insane but exceedingly hurtful. I must ask that you please leave.”

From the astonished look on Diana’s face, I could tell straight away that no one had ever dared to speak to her in such a manner. It was obvious that she didn’t know what to do with herself. It was as if no one had ever rejected a request from her and now she was forced to recalculate her next move.

Her features grew sharp. The corner of her mouth pulled back into a spiteful sneer. She planted a hand on her hip and raked her eyes over me with heavy evaluation. Oh, boy...Here we go.

“I honestly haven't the slightest idea what could have been going on in James’ head when he chose you,” she hissed. “You could never live up to the Derek name. Your family had never come from any high social standing and I cannot find a single value in having married into this family.”

My anger rose to a new level I didn’t think was possible. That strange pull inside of me started to vibrate with rage.

I took a solid step forward. “Mrs. Derek, you can stand here and roll through every possible insult that you see the need to throw at me. Go ahead, I can take it,” I said darkly. “But don’t you dare speak a word about my family when you know that none of them are here to defend themselves.”

A startled look crossed her face. Diana let out a breathless scoff. “Well—”

“I won’t tell you again. Leave. Now.”

The moment the door closed behind Diana, most of my rage simmered away and left me feeling hollow. Bitter tears filled my eyes. I dropped my head to bury my face in my hands.

Two sets of footsteps came into the room. I felt the warm embrace of Emily and Lily’s arms wrap around me.

“Oh, Mia,” Emily whispered.

I muffled my sniffles as best as I could.

“That wasn’t right for Diana to do such a thing,” Lily said.

“What can we do?” Emily asked softly.

I shook my head. Now my heart and head started to ache. “I think I just need to be alone for a little while. I’m so sorry, Emily. I know we wanted a girl’s night, but—”

“Don’t even think twice about it,” she assured me. “You know that we can always have other opportunities to get together like this.”

I saw Emily out before turning back to Lily. “Lily, do you think the staff could run me a bath in the main bedroom, please?”

The older woman offered a soft smile and nodded her head. With the hour, I was slowly soaking my body in the oversized bathtub in the bathroom. A calming scent of lavender and other oils wafted through the room.

I tried my best to let myself relax but I couldn’t stop the occasional tear from falling every now and then.

“Did Emily head home early? I would have thought that two of you would have still been up,” James inquired.

My whole body tensed up. I hadn’t even heard him walk through the room outside. Normally, I would have tried to find something to cover myself up but my growing depression made it unworthy enough for me to care.

I turned my head to glance at James, revealing my pink, puffy eyes. Instantly, James became alert, his expression grew serious. He crossed the room to get to me.

“Mia? What’s wrong?”

“Your mother came by earlier.” James’ face filled with silent panic. “She really doesn’t like the fact that I’m with you...She tried to offer me money in order to get rid of me.”

The depths of James’ eyes welled with rage and disgust. A threatening growl rumbled from deep within his chest. Normally, this sort of thing would have had me anxious and inching back, but all I wanted was to stay close to him.

“I’m going to take care of this.”

“No,” I said meekly. I kept my head down. “Don’t go. Please, just stay...”

James nodded his head and brushed away any excess tears from my cheek. He grabbed one of the towels from the side and helped me out of the bath. Once I was dried off, he guided us over to the bed and had me lie down on my side.

Moments later, I felt the mattress dip as James took his designated spot beside me. He wrapped a strong arm around my waist and pulled me close. I relished the security and warmth from the firm planes of his chest.

“I’m sorry you had to endure that,” he said while rubbing small circles into my back.

“Am I truly that terrible? Is the thought of me so unbelievable that people will literally stoop so low as to make me disappear?” I asked quietly.

I didn’t need to look at James to know he was unhappy with the situation. “I promise...I promise I will take care of this.”