No One But You

"Don't you feel good to be misunderstood by Calvin?" Brooke's voice was cool, and I could hear the irony.

I turned around, grinning. "Why did you say that?"

"You just like to pretend to be strong."

I didn't care. It was the way it is.

I got under the quilt and went back to sleep, without knowing what Brooke was doing.

Even if he helped me, I won't appreciate him.

He owed me.

As soon as I closed my eyes, the look of Calvin appeared in my mind, lingering.

I woke up late. I was the most arrogant one in the family. Every young generation greeted Master Knight in his room in the morning.

But I didn't. Since Calvin and Brooke got a job, so they got up very early in the morning.

I was unemployed. If I greeted him in the early morning, I could not sleep again.

Anyway, I was not going. Maybe I was not going to stay with the Knight family for the rest of my life, so I was afraid nothing. And they could not do anything with me.

I woke up and sat on the bed in a daze, shouting at Stella, but I had no response. I had to call her, and she took a while to come in.

"Josephine." She ran out of breath, "You wake up, I will get your clothes."

"No, I'll take the clothes myself. I'm not without hands and feet." I got out of bed. "I want you to hang out with me."

"Can you wait a minute?" She watched my face carefully. "Please?"

"Are you busy?" Brooke said I can use Stella. She had nothing to do besides staying with me.

"Today is the eighth anniversary of the Splendid Crystal. Mrs. Georgia asked us to prepare things for today."

"What is Splendid Crystal?"

"It's the Women Committee, an organization that speaks for women."

I knew it. It was started by the rich ladies.

The intention was good, but I heard that the rich ladies took this opportunity to compete with each other. There would be charity banquets to see who raised more money. But it was held in a luxury hotel. The ladies wanted to show off, wearing bling. "Mrs. Georgia is the vice President, so we are busy."

"Oh, I'll go out by myself."

"Don't." Stella looked at me in embarrassment, "Mr. Brooke does not allow you to go out alone,, in case, in case..."

Brooke was afraid his child would get hurt if I had an accident.

I want to think, "Then I go to find Angel."

I mean Mrs. Angel. I didn't call her Mom. I didn't like that.

"Mrs. Angel is an alternate member of the Women Committee, she is busy too."

"How can she become an alternate member?"

Stella did not speak drooping her eyebrow. I sure understood that she was under pressure by Mrs. Georgia.

After I washed and changed my clothes, I walked through the living room with a bottle of milk in my hand, and was ready to have dinner. Then I saw that everyone in the living room was busy. They were preparing presents. Nice paper bags were all over the place. Georgia sitting on the sofa ordered, "Angel, take that over."

"Angel, did I let you tie a bow. I asked you twist blue ribbon and pink ribbon together. It will look nice. Don't you even have the most basic level of appreciation?"

Whatever she said, Mrs. Angel hung her head and did as she was told.

I could not see anyone being bullied, but I also knew that the current situation was not formed in a day or two.

I thought Angel loved Philip so much what she had to to put up with Mrs. Georgia.

I heard that Angel's family was not bad. Although it was not a rich family, her parents were professors in university. Since she become Philip's second wife, they had long cut off contact.

Angel sent gifts home every year for the festival, but they were returned.

If Philip was not nice to her, it was hard for God to forgive him.

But he put up with that Georgia bossed her around, and that was what led to this scene.

I could not watch it, but I know it had nothing to do with me.

I went to the dining-room for breakfast. When I finished, Georgia came in and handed me an invitation. "You're coming tonight, too."

I opened it and saw I had become a member of the Women Committee.

"I did not join your Women Commitee."

"You are my daughter-in-law. I am the vice President, of course you are a member!"

Angel was now just an alternate member after these years.

I really didn't want to go, but Georgia was my mother-in-law anyway, so I should give her this honor.

Luckily, I was pregnant, so I survived being dragged to work. I still ate and drank.

In the afternoon, someone sent me clothes. It was an ice blue dress, which fit me well.

Stella helped me comb my hair, and I made up myself.

Then Angel brought me her jewelry and asked me to put it on.

I didn't like wearing jewelry because it weighed too much.

"You should look formal in this kind of occasion. If you dress too shabby, your mother-in-law will not be happy."

What did it matter to me whether she was happy or not? I didn't want to suck up to her.

But I had to accept her kindness, and I thanked her.

She helped me put them on, but she was still in her usual clothes.

"Angel, why don't get changed? If you are late, my mother-in-law will be angry."

She whispered, "I am not going."

I looked up at her at once. "You're not going?"

"Yeah, what can I do as an alternate member?" She still smiled faintly, but I clearly saw injustice in her eyes.

Even a newcomer like me could go, but Angel could not be there even she offered money and help.

She patted me on the shoulder. "Now, go downstairs!"

I could not tell whether she was suffering or lonely. The whole family would be there except her. Georgia did not regard Angel as a family member at all. What about Philip? Would he be there in the evening?

I walked out of the room and looked back at Angel. She smiled and waved at me. "Just go!"

To my surprise, Both Calvin and Brooke came back. Philip was also downstairs. It seemed that the whole family was out today.

Didn't Philip know that only Angle was left at home?

I was deliberately slow and Brooke looked at me. "What are you looking for?"

"Nothing, they haven't arrived yet." I spoke at a loud voice.

Georgia said, "Our families are all here."

Calvin suddenly said, "I am not going."

Philip frowned. "Calvin, what are you doing?"

"Your family has had enough. You don't need me." Calvin turned and went upstairs.

I was satisfied with his reaction. If he held his tongue, I would be disappointed in him.

But his handling method was different from mine. He was negative. Since his mother was allowed to be there, he won't be there.

But if it were me, I would be different.

I must let Angel to be there and stood next to Georgia, fair and square.