Diary of Fragile Heart (Spin of Loving You Too Long)

Julie Hampton stared at her son with a reddening face. The elderly woman seemed about to scold Gladwin but restrained herself due to embarrassment in front of her guests.

“At least appreciate Phoebe’s effort because she took the trouble to cook for us,” said his brother-in-law, who was also Abigail’s father, in a firm tone.

“I never asked her to trouble herself by cooking for me,” he replied, looking at his brother with a cold gaze. He then turned to Phoebe, half of his body turning towards her. “Or did you do all this because you need praise from me?” he asked, one eyebrow raised. The girl’s eyes widened, her face turning red, either from embarrassment or anger at Gladwin’s rude attitude.

Gladwin flipped his plate, spooning Phoebe’s cooking onto it bit by bit. He ate quickly, finishing it in less than two minutes. “Done. Still, Flavia’s cooking tastes better.”

“Gladwin!” his mother scolded.

“Yes, Ma?” Gladwin looked at his mother with a sweet smile on his face.

“Behave politely.”

“I am already in the category of politeness, Ma. Here, you want me to appreciate Phoebe, I’ve done that. But do you also appreciate me?”

“Didn’t Mom already know what I want? It hasn’t even been a week since I poured my heart out to you.

“If you choose to ignore my feelings, then I will do the same.” Gladwin replied with a cold tone that made his mother look at him in fear. Penelope stared at Gladwin and the rest of his family with a puzzled look. “Sorry, Mrs. Madsen, whatever you and my mom plan, I can’t get involved. I can’t accept Phoebe because there’s someone else I like. Someone I love.

“Thank you for dinner. I’m sorry, but I have to leave because there’s something more important I need to do.” Gladwin stood up and looked at his mother and the two guests with a cold gaze. “Next time, please don’t use your health as an excuse for something as ridiculous as this.” Gladwin said more to his mother and left the table.

“Is all this because of Flavia?” Phoebe asked, apparently following Gladwin to the back door. The woman stared at Gladwin cynically, but Gladwin ignored her. He finished putting on his shoes and grabbed his work bag. Phoebe held his hand and shook it roughly. “Answer me!” She shouted loudly.

What is this? A live show? Gladwin looked at his mother and Phoebe’s mother now standing tensely behind them. Gladwin smiled sweetly. “Yes. Because of Flavia.” He answered with an extraordinary gentleness. Penelope gasped while Julie glared at her son angrily.

“But she’s your niece,” Penelope said with a choked voice.Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

“Sorry, Mrs. Madsen, we are indeed uncle and niece, but we have no blood relation. And you don’t need to pretend, both you and Phoebe must already know that, right?” He said again in his sarcastic mode, making Penelope’s face turn red with shame. “So, any other questions?”

“What does she have that I don’t?” Phoebe asked harshly. A cliché question, Gladwin scoffed inwardly.

“Do I have to write it in the form of an essay?” Gladwin stared at Phoebe coldly. “Or should I type it on my phone, send it as a message so that someday you won’t have to ask such cliché questions again?” Gladwin’s sharp retort. “But no need, because it doesn’t take a long sentence to say Flavia’s strengths.

“In every way, Flavia is clearly much better than you.”

Phoebe smirked and snorted. “You know for sure that she’s not better than me at all, Gladwin. We all know she can’t give you a child.” Phoebe’s response hit Gladwin. Instantly, he looked at his mother in anger, and his mother turned pale instantly.

Gladwin turned to look at Phoebe. “So what? Not being able to give me a child doesn’t make her worse in my eyes.” Gladwin’s answer shocked his mother. “It’s better to marry a woman who can’t give me a child but live happily, love and respect each other for a lifetime. Rather than marrying a woman who has a child but can’t give full attention to her child, leaving her husband when he’s at his lowest point, and even easily disparaging others without knowing the truth.” Gladwin spoke every word with sarcasm. Phoebe and her mother turned pale.

“Having someone who loves you, respects you, accompanies you in health, sickness, difficult times, and happy times, that’s the kind of person I choose. A child? We can still adopt. And a child isn’t the only reason for a harmonious marriage. But this.” Gladwin pointed to his chest. “The heart determines the happiness in a marriage. And this.” Gladwin pointed to his head. “Will guide its success.” Gladwin turned to leave, but it seemed Phoebe was not satisfied yet.

“She might not even wake up from her coma.” She said loudly, and that made Mrs. Julie’s eyes widen instantly.

Gladwin turned around again to face Phoebe. He looked at Abigail’s parents who were now standing behind Phoebe. “Fine,” Gladwin said in a low tone. “Since you are all here, I might as well tell you. Flavia has had another accident, and now she’s in a coma.” His three family members were shocked by the news. “And to address the possibility you fear,” Gladwin looked at Phoebe. “I will marry her before she wakes up. So ‘if’ she doesn’t wake up, I’ve already changed my status to her husband, and she will be my wife. The only one.” He said with emphasis, shocking his mother. “So ‘if’ she doesn’t wake up. Then I will be her companion. Are you satisfied?” Gladwin stared angrily at Phoebe. The woman’s face was now covered in tears. Whether the pain was genuine or not, Gladwin didn’t care.

“Gladwin! Mama doesn’t approve of you!” Mrs. Julie shouted loudly.

Gladwin smiled and shook his head. “I don’t need your approval, Ma.” Gladwin said, making everyone look at him in surprise. The obedient child has now become rebellious, undoubtedly shocking his sister, brother-in-law, and mother. “All this time, I’ve tried to be a good and proud son for you. I’ve always done everything considering your feelings. And I’ve told you what I want.

“I love Flavia, and you all know how hard I’ve tried to restrain myself all this time. You’re just pretending to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear.

“I don’t ask for your approval… Because if you really love me, you should let me live with the woman of my own choice. The woman I love and who can make me happy. And my love, my happiness, is only with Flavia.

“Whether you’re willing or not, I won’t care. Just like you’re now doing this petty thing without caring about my feelings.”

“Are you willing to hurt your mother just because of a woman?” Gladwin turned to look at Penelope, who spoke.

“As much as you’re willing to separate a child from his father just because his father is in a low condition, claiming that your child and grandchildren cannot make him happy? Then yes, I am willing,” Gladwin replied sharply. “Perhaps you should find another prospective husband for your daughter. Another wealthy man who will kneel to Phoebe. Because clearly, I’m not the right person to be your son-in-law.” Then Gladwin turned around completely. He didn’t care about the shouts inside the house. Protests and insults yelled by Phoebe’s mother.

His mother might have been influenced by the instigations of Phoebe and Penelope. Just blindly believing the statements of the mother and daughter when, in fact, Phoebe left her husband due to domestic violence. But the reality was not like that.