His and Her Unspoken Secret

George immediately stood up. “I’ll go with you.”

Just then, a servant spoke up. “Don, Ms. Josie’s doctor has arrived. He says he needs to speak with you in person.”

George told me to wait for him before heading toward the study.

The moment he disappeared at the end of the hallway, the atmosphere shifted. The fragile mask on Josie’s face vanished instantly, and the corners of her lips curled into a cold smirk.

“You have some nerve coming here… It seems like I’ve underestimated how bold you are.” She looked at me with disdain and said, “Do you really think you’ll become the Grimadi family’s Donna? As long as I don’t step aside, you’ll always be invisible. You'll be a whore everyone spits on.”

I frowned at how quickly she changed faces. It was almost absurd. However, I had no desire to argue. I turned, intending to leave.

She grabbed my wrist, her nails digging painfully into my skin as she leaned close to my ear.

“I heard your father’s been sending out wedding invitations everywhere? How embarrassing. His daughter’s a mistress, and the family is celebrating it. Aren’t you afraid he’ll die of shame?”

“Shut up!”

I spun around, my sharp gaze freezing on her face. I could tolerate insults directed at me, but I would never allow anyone to insult my family.

Josie lifted her chin slightly, malice flashing in her eyes.

“Am I wrong? Having raised such a vile daughter as you, I’m sure he wishes he was dea–”

Smack!

The sharp sound of my slap echoed through the room. I didn’t hold back. Her head snapped to the side, her cheek instantly flushed red.

“How dare you hit me?” she shrieked.

George rushed in at the noise. His eyes swept over Josie’s swollen cheek, and his expression darkened.

“Bella, Josie is a benefactor of the family. How could you bully her like that?”

I glared at her, my entire body shaking with anger. “Why don’t you ask her what she just said to me?”

Josie’s face turned pale. Tears fell the moment she willed them to, making her look pitiful and fragile.

“I didn’t… I would never…”

She performed flawlessly, and it almost made me laugh.

“She said I’m your mistress,” I said coldly. “She said my father should be ashamed of having a daughter like me and that he should die because of it. This is your ‘sweet and kind’ Josie.”

George ordered the servants to call a doctor. Disapproval filled his eyes.

“Even if she said something harsh, you can’t hit her. Her health is poor. What if something happens to her?”

As I observed the way he shielded Josie behind him and the undisguised bias in his words, my heart went cold.

“George,” I said evenly, my voice calm to the point of indifference, “I understand now. There’s nothing left for us to talk about.”

A flicker of unease crossed his face. “But our wedding–”

“The wedding will proceed as planned,” I cut him off.

Once, I had longed for a wedding with George more than anything. Now, I found myself grateful that it was nothing more than a performance. When the curtain falls, I’d finally be free.