Veera’s POV
I conducted the daily tasks inside the home after leaving Mr. Bo in front of the door, which included sweeping the floor, wiping the dust around the house, and wiping the floor. While I was doing all of that, the kids volunteered to assist me in finishing early. I was pleased and impressed that these children took the effort to assist someone without informing them.
"What are you cleaning for?" " Mr. Bo approached and questioned as to why I was cleaning.
"It's my house, so I should clean it," I said as I wiped the table in the living room.
Mr. Bo grabbed my arm and motioned for me to halt what I was doing, and I glared at him angrily, "What are you doing?! " I questioned, my voice angry.
"Stop, Ven, you don't need to clean the house by yourself, Mrs. Payne is here to clean, so just stop and let Mrs. Payne do her work," he said to me.
"I couldn't let Mrs. Payne clean the whole house since she is too old and can't handle long-term cleaning, and she can't finish cleaning the house alone, so I assisted her to make it easier." I also explain it to Mr. Bo.
"I appreciate your argument, Ven, but we can employ additional maids to assist Mrs. Payne with household tasks," Mr. Bo suggested as a solution.
Mr. Bo's proposal is nice, but the primary issue is that I don't have enough money to pay the new maids if I recruit them. "I deeply appreciate your offer, Boon, but I still can't take it since I don't have enough money to hire new maids, so it's best if I assist Mrs. Payne with the cleaning," I answered, denying his offer.
"I can pay them with my own money," he replied again, offering to pay the newly hired maids in my place.
“No, I will still decline your offer Boon because you are not here forever to pay them with your money so just drop it and leave me alone so I can finish wiping this table quickly” I said declining his offer again for the second time.
I attempted to push him out of the path, but he was frozen in front of me, and I didn't have much power to push him away since he was so heavy. I give him an irritated look, but I'm taken aback by Mr. Bo's attitude in front of me. I could see how sad his eyes were, and it made me feel terrible for some reason. I'm not sure what prompted him to make such grimace in front of me.
“Will you move?!” I said making him away in front of me in order for me to continue cleaning.
I can't handle staring at his sad eyes because it makes me feel guilty and sad at the same time. Well, if the reason he was upset was because of what I said about his not staying here long, I know he will go home and leave this property again within a few months.
“Are you going to keep those two brats with you here forever?” He asked in low voice.
“Yes, I will keep them to my side, I cannot just abandon those kids outside with so many danger around” I answered to him.
“Even if they are the children of my brother’s mistress?” He asked again at me.
My heart tightened when I heard him say those cruel words towards me and it made me emotional “Y-yes” I Replied again.
Suddenly he grabbed both of my shoulder and face me with angry face “Why would you do that?! They are the reason why my brother didn’t come back for your these years!” He yelled at me.
“S-stop!”
"You were ignored and mistreated here in this lonely home for 10 years because of those brats and that woman who seduced my brother!"
“Please stop!”
"Because of those imbeciles, you were branded the Forgotten Bride!" He went on.
“S-stop talking!”
"Because of my dumb brother who took you for granted his first bride who was devoted to him for over ten years waiting for him to return but instead of rewarding you for your loyalty he sent his two bastards to you to take care of and deal with his problem!" He fought again, his grasp tightening.
"Shut up!"
"Perhaps my brother's death is a blessing in disguise since it is my brother's punishment for being unfaithful-"
I couldn't take the harsh remarks he was saying to me any longer, so I decided to slap him hard in the cheeks to get him to stop.
"You have no right to say those insulting words towards your brother Mr.Bo and those kids doesn't have any fault about what Aji did to me, they are innocent" I said to him in angry voice, enduring the tears that threatens to fall down to my face " if you insult and question my decision about taking care of your brother's children I won't hesitate to make you leave this house even though you are the one paid for it Mr.Bo" I added again.
I gave up on cleaning the table I was wiping and just left Mr.Bo, who had let go of my shoulder when I muttered things to him.
Yes, everything he stated to me was correct. Why do I have to keep those children that aren't mine and are the children of another lady who Aji had substituted as a bride in my place? I should be furious and resentful of those kids since they existed, Aji did not return to me, and those kids are firm proof of what I wished I had with Aji but did not have.
Children.
Aji had abandoned me in this home almost ten years ago. I've had a lot of what ifs go through my head, like what if Aji hadn't left me 10 years ago, would we have kids right now? Would we be able to live happily ever after in this house? Will we be like those couples that tease and make love on a daily basis? Every day, I asked myself those questions until I became tired and forgot I was thinking about them.
But one question lingered in the recesses of my mind, one that I buried deep inside myself.
"Are you okay, Miss?" Mrs.Payne said as she noticed me enter the kitchen and go silent.
I can't tell her if I'm okay or not because I'm not sure how I should feel right now. When I became enraged with Aji, I thought I had already spoken everything. But I was wrong; it's been extremely difficult for me to move on because what Aji did was not an ordinary girlfriend and boyfriend relationship, but a relationship between a husband and wife who had married in front of the priest and promised to be faithful to each other, which Aji had broken and been unfaithful to me.
"Dear, I know it's difficult, especially because of what happened, and so you may take your time in moving on, it might take years for you to move and go ahead do that, okay?" Mrs.Payne replied, reassuring me with words.
And there, the tears that I had kept from spilling, came forth freely on my cheeks. Mrs.Payne rushed forward to embrace my body. While I continue to cry in her chest.