Love You Like I Used To Forget It (Millie Bridge) novel Chapter 12

With so many people present and the importance of the occasion, being scolded publicly made Mom and Dad’s faces darken with embarrassment.

Julianne immediately stepped forward and said softly, “Grandma, please don’t be upset! You’ve misunderstood Irvin. He was only helping me because I hurt my leg.”

Irvin added with a sullen look, “Yes, Grandma. I didn’t come here with Lianne. I ran into her at the entrance and saw that she was struggling because of her injured leg, so helped her in.

“As for her injury, it happened because she heard that the rosaries from Sacred Church are particularly effective, especially when prayed for on one’s birthday. She went to the church to get you a rosary. She climbed the mountain and sincerely prayed for your health and safety.

“It was an exhausting journey. On her way down, she slipped and fell, hence hurting her leg. But she didn’t stop to rest because she waited to make it to your birthday celebration on time. Grandma, Lianne genuinely loves you. Please don’t misunderstand her.”

As Irvin spoke, he shot me a glance, signaling for me to step in and smooth things over. It seemed I was supposed to assure Grandma it was all a misunderstanding and heap praises on Julianne for her “devotion“.

I couldn’t help but sneer.

How pathetic had I been in the past to let him think he had the right to expect this from me?

When I ignored Irvin, his brow furrowed, and displeasure flashed in his eyes. To him, he was doing me a favor by handling this situation, and I was the one making things difficult.

Meanwhile, Mom and Dad were beside themselves with worry when they heard their darling Julianne had fallen on the mountain.

Dad, in particular, was ready to rush her to the hospital if Julianne hadn’t reassured him repeatedly that she’d already seen a doctor and was fine.

Once they confirmed her injury wasn’t serious, they turned to Grandma and remarked reproachfully.

“Mom, look how thoughtful Lianne is!”

“Our precious little Julianne has been frail since she was a child. Yet, she went out of her way to pray for your well -being. But you wrongly accused her and humiliated her in front of everyone!”

Although Mom and Dad had always wanted Julianne and Irvin to be together, they knew perfectly well that as long as Irvin and I were still married, Julianne could never be with him openly.

Thus, to protect Julianne’s reputation, they always claimed to outsiders that nothing was going on between her and Irvin and that they were just close childhood friends.

The guests at the banquet were a gathering of wealthy families. Given how rare genuine emotions seemed in their circles, they were easily moved by such gestures of sincerity.

Sacred Church was perched on the highest mountain in the region. Even taking the cable car halfway up and climbing the rest could leave most people exhausted.

However, Julianne had supposedly climbed the entire way just for Grandma. They couldn’t help wondering how devoted and virtuous she must be, considering she and Grandma weren’t blood–related.

Before long, the chatter shifted entirely to Julianne’s praises, with some even implying Grandma didn’t recognize true devotion.

1/3

+25 BONUS

Chapter 12

People started murmuring about how her real granddaughter wouldn’t go to such lengths, yet here was Julianne, an adopted one, showing such heartfelt care.

It didn’t matter that Irvin hadn’t technically arrived with Julianne; even if he had, so what? Couldn’t two people truly in love show up together?

In this world, if a person stood high enough with power and influence, anything they did was considered right. Even infidelity wasn’t immoral but the reunion of star–crossed lovers.

Grandma’s face grew gloomier as she listened. She knew exactly what kind of person Julianne was and that there was no way the latter had gone to the church out of genuine concern.

But the fact remained that Julianne had gone and had gotten hurt in the process.

To outsiders, her actions appeared sincere and selfless. Refusing to accept her gesture would only make Grandma look ungrateful and harsh.

Since Julianne had joined our family, I’d experienced countless moments like this where there was no way to refute or fight back. I understood exactly how Grandma felt.

Julianne had a talent for putting people in these no–win situations–something I could never match.

“Grandma, this is the rosary I got for you.” Julianne held the rosary in both hands, presenting it as though it were the most precious gift. “I wish you a long life full of happiness.”

Her delicate, innocent appearance naturally made people think of her as a kind and gentle soul. With her sincerity on full display, the onlookers only grew more convinced of her kindness.

Grandma stared at the rosary Julianne held out, and her expression only stiffened further. She didn’t want to accept it but felt she had no choice.

Smiling, I stepped forward and took the rosary on Grandma’s behalf. I said, “Julianne, how thoughtful of you. Look, Grandma is so moved she’s speechless.”

“But honestly,” I continued, “you know how everyone’s been gossiping about you and Irvin, calling you two star- crossed lovers. We have many helpers at home. Why didn’t you let one of them help you inside?

“Instead, you had Irvin assist you. Let’s be honest, Julianne, Who here wouldn’t misunderstand that? You can’t blame Grandma for jumping to conclusions.”

Some things weren’t appropriate for Grandma to say, but as the legitimate yet much–maligned wife, I had no such restrictions.

Julianne froze, clearly not expecting me to respond to her intimate appearance with Irvin in such a composed, direct manner.

No tears, no breakdowns, no losing control–just a calculated counter.

After Irvin left the other day, I had done a deep clean of the house and stumbled upon my old journal. It was filled with entries about my emotional breakdowns and anguish after Julianne returned to our lives.

Nonetheless, Julianne was quick to recover. Her eyes turned red as she apologized meekly, “I’m sorry, Millie. I didn’t think that far ahead. I was only focused on delivering the rosary to Grandma as soon as possible and offering her my sincerest wishes.”

The added tears in her eyes made her seem even more pitiful, drawing sympathetic glances from the crowd.