"If I were her, I would not acknowledge your existence and would break all ties, " Simon said as he defended Autumn. All this while, Yvonne was hiding in a corner of the stairs. The moment she heard Simon speaking for Autumn, she couldn't control her anger and dashed towards Simon in an angry stride. "Dad, how could you speak in an outsider's favor especially after how she treated mom? Do you forget that I am your real daughter? Autumn is just a shameless bitch. She seduced the man I was to marry and now she is trying to disown us. There is nothing good associated with her, " she exclaimed.
"Yvonne, why did you come downstairs unannounced?" Wendy asked as she yelled at Yvonne. "I am speaking to your father. You shouldn't come like this between our private conversation, " she berated.
"Mom, I am not a child anymore, " Yvonne snapped back. "If not for that ungrateful wretch, I would have married Charles and would have had my own child."
"Enough with you!" Simon shouted at both of them in anger. Simon was annoyed by their unrealistic expectations. "Just take a look at yourself. Do you really think that Charles would ever hit on you in a right frame of mind?" he berated Yvonne.
"Simon, what do you mean by that?" Wendy replied in shock and anger as to how he could say something like that to his very own daughter. 'Yvonne is not only my sweet little girl, but also his daughter. How could he belittle her like this without considering her feelings?' Wendy thought to herself in disbelief.
"Did I say something wrong?" Simon asked sarcastically. "I arranged your wedding with a good boy and family, but you ran away with a cheap man instead. Later, you came back alone and pregnant. Once you saw how handsome and wealthy Charles was, you started regretting your impulsive decision and tried all means to seduce him even though your sister married him. If I were Charles, I would have already taught you a lesson instead of letting you go time and again."
"Dad..." Yvonne called out as she looked at Simon in disbelief. She had never expected to hear such harsh and hurtful words from her father. "I'm your daughter. How could you insult me like this?"
Wendy started to feel queasy and anxious as she heard Simon go on...
"I shouldn't have showered you with so much affection and played along in your little sham. If I would have been a proper father then maybe you would not have become such an overbearing and unreasonable girl. Now it is too late, so from now on I won't interfere in your matters. Take care of yourself, " Simon glanced at Yvonne with dissatisfaction. He did not care about what she thought, not anymore at least.
"What... what are you trying to say?" Wendy nervously asked him as her heart starting beating much faster. "She is your daughter. Who will teach and guide her if not you?"
"She has you, she always has, " Simon snapped at Wendy. "When are you free? We can go to the Bureau of Civil Affairs and finish the procedures."
"Are you going to divorce me?" Wendy asked, dumbfounded as she did not see this coming. She almost broke down as she collapsed onto the floor out of shock. It had never occurred to her that Simon would really grow the spine to divorce her.
"Yes, I have every intention to divorce you, " Simon said adamantly. "Wendy, I have grown more and more tired of you over these years. I don't want to live such a harrowing life. I am sure about my decision to get a divorce."
"No, but I don't want a divorce, " Wendy retorted hysterically. In the past, she would have taken the money and agreed to divorce without hesitating for a second. But now she was old and that changed everything. The idea of losing everything after divorce petrified her. It was now impossible for her to marry another rich man as she was way past her charming youth.
After all she too was tired and all she yearned was to have a stable and comfortable life.
"Simon, I don't want to get a divorce. If you think that I have any shortcoming, please just let me know and I will change. Let us sort it out, we can't just end our long standing relationship like this. Please don't abandon me, " she said in an imploring tone, as she tugged on Simon's clothes tightly.
"I will do anything as long as I can convince you to change your mind, " she begged, gripping Simon's hand.
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