Bride To Be Not Me (Janice and Simon) novel Chapter 271

Simon felt his entire world turn cold.

Maybe deep down, he had hoped that if he played the sentimental card, Janice would remember their past and soften toward him. But not being able to have kids… That was an ironclad dealbreaker.

By the time Simon returned to his family's home in Yewford Town, the entire neighborhood had already heard the news. Everyone knew that Simon couldn't have children. The families who had once secretly hoped to cozy up to him quickly abandoned the idea.

"Oh, you're being ridiculous. Simon's already bankrupt. I heard he was messing around with that Burnett girl. And wasn't he also tangled up with the Appleton family's daughter? What kind of decent son-in-law would he make? And now, everyone knows he can't have kids. What a disaster."

Helena, overhearing the conversation, stormed into the neighbor's yard. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"Well, well, look who it is. It's Simon's mother. You've still got the nerve to show your face outside?"

"If you have the nerve to gossip behind people's backs, why shouldn't I step outside?" Helena snapped.

"What gossip? Am I lying? Your son's been shamelessly pestering Ms. Smith—sending her flowers, bringing her bread—thinking she'd take him back now that she's successful. What a joke! That bread from Oldman's Oven? It's what construction workers eat just to fill their stomachs. And he dared to give it to her like it was some kind of delicacy?"

The other women cackled. "Absolutely pathetic."

"You… You…" Helena clutched her chest, her face pale with rage.

"Get the hell out of here! Don't you dare drop dead in my yard!" One of the neighbors grabbed a broom and started shooing Helena away.

Back home, Helena sobbed and wailed while Simon felt like his head was about to explode.

"Simon, we can't stay in Yewford Town anymore. Let's go back to Greenfield City. These nasty, gossiping bitches won't shut up. I can't take it!"

Simon frowned. "We can't. I've got no money right now. And if you go back to Greenfield City, where would you even live? The cost of living keeps going up, and Sarah refuses to work. I can't afford to support her."

"What can she even do here?"

"She can be a cashier or a sales assistant. Everything is on the table. Worst-case scenario, she can work as a waitress. At least she'll earn something to cover her living expenses."

Helena thought for a moment, then suddenly had an idea.

"Wait, isn't Janice opening a factory here? Just ask her for a favor. She can give Sarah a good job. It's nothing to her."

"You think I don't know what Sarah's been saying about her all over town?" Simon looked at Helena like she had lost her mind.

"She burned that bridge completely, and you still think Janice would help us? Mom, can you stop trying to take advantage of people for once?"

Helena's eyes widened. "And who am I doing this for? Our family! We saved her, so asking for a job in return isn't a big deal!"

"Enough!"