Chapter 13 Does He Know You’re A Whore?

Claire's POV:

I thought Colin would kiss me, but in reality, nothing happened. Colin didn't do anything to me. The scorching heat in the air from moments before slowly cooled down. I couldn't quite describe how I felt.

This man was supposed to be the closest person to me in the world, yet I'd only met him a few days ago. I had a constant knot in my heart, I wasn’t the right bride, and Colin probably doesn’t know that. I'd mustered the courage to admit that I'm not Hailey, but me.

But each time the words were on the tip of my tongue, I hesitated. If Colin thought that the Watson family had deceived him and made a scene, there's no telling how bad it could get. He has a fiery temper, and fighting is common for him; just in case, I couldn’t tell him.

My eyes fell on the punching bag and gloves in the yard, and I immediately dismissed the thought. As I dismissed the thought, my phone rang. It was Eddie. "Claire, don't worry, we've sorted out Mom's medical bills!"

"What?" I couldn't believe my ears, "Where did you get the money from?"

"It was delivered by Hailey today," Eddie said with a laugh, "She brought over a diamond necklace, saying it's a wedding gift from your father, worth three hundred thousand dollars!"

I was stunned and didn't respond immediately. Over the phone, an ecstatic Eddie shared, "Now we not only have money for medical expenses, but the Watson’s even upgraded the hospital room. They moved mom into a VIP room with private care and the latest imported medicines."

"Sis, I think the Watson family are pretty decent people," Eddie's voice was cheerful, his innocence was apparent. Only I knew it couldn't be that simple.

"Alright, I've got to go take care of mom. Oh, and Claire, don't forget my book fees. I'm the only one in class who hasn't paid yet!"

"Oh..." I murmured my agreement until Eddie hung up the call, still puzzled about what had actually happened.

Had Hailey suddenly turned nice? Does Mike really harbor old feelings for mom? No, that was simply impossible.

Considering how the Watson family treated me when I returned to their house, I had abandoned any hope for the compensation.

As Colin took his bath, I quickly slipped into the bedroom, carefully placing the bracelet back in its box. I was so glad I hadn’t sold it.

I chuckled to myself, my fingers tenderly gliding over each piece of jewelry in the box, whispering, "I'll protect you all well from now on, never selling you to anyone else."

On the weekend, while I was cleaning the house, Colin was in the yard, punching his heavy bag.

I listened to the rhythmic thudding and smiled faintly, though I didn't understand men's near obsession with such violent exercise, and he practiced daily. But I never stopped him; in fact, I was fully supportive. It was better for him to punch a bag here than to get into fights outside.

After tidying up the house, I was about to start cooking when my cellphone suddenly rang. I answered it, without looking at who was calling. It was Hailey's sharp, angry voice.

"You, you sure are something! To think, you could even charm the Brown family, you really did inherit your mother's sluttiness!"

"What nonsense are you ranting about, and so early in the morning!" I had been scolded for no reason and was about to end the call.

Then I heard Hailey's frustrated and scornful laugh: "If it weren't for the Brown family's interference, how could Dad possibly have lost that plot of land? Do you know what Kevin Brown told Dad?”

“He said that if Dad scrimps on money for his ex-wife's treatment, he wondered how he would treat partners. Do you know how much Dad invested in that project? The project is valued at one billion dollars! Months of hard work, just gone! You little wretch, this is all your doing!"

"What..." All this left me completely bewildered. Who was Kevin Brown, what land?

"Have you gone mad? It was clearly you who went to the hospital, and gave that diamond necklace to my brother, and now you’re denying it, concocting some story about Kevin Brown? I don't even know this person!"

"Stop pretending! You little wretch, playing the innocent and pitiful, but in reality, you’re nothing but deceit and schemes, always seducing men! I wonder how many men you've slept with behind closed doors? Colin's really struck luck marrying a whore like you!"

"You!" I trembled with rage, my face flushing red.

Although I was generally soft-spoken, I was not scared of a confrontation. Hailey's provocations and humiliations, I had endured them countless times from childhood; from initially suffering in silence to being forced to fight back.

But this time, I didn't even know how to respond to a rebuttal. Hailey's accusations were utterly nonsensical!

Just when I felt completely helpless, suddenly my phone was snatched from behind. I turned in shock to see Colin's grim face.

In a steady voice, he spoke into the phone, "I don't care who you are, when you talk to my wife, you'd better show some respect! That filthy rubbish you just spewed, if I have to hear it again, you better think about the consequences!"

The menace in his words was crystal clear, conveyed through each syllable, his tone was chilling to the bone. The phone suddenly went quiet, probably because Hailey too was intimidated by Colin's authority and did not dare to speak.

Colin hung up the call, handed the phone back to me, and returned to the yard to continue punching the heavy bag without any expression.

I stood there for a moment, overcome with an indescribable sense of gratitude. No one had ever protected me like this; Colin was the first.