Chapter 509
A knock sounded at the door. Jonathan turned off his phone and spoke quietly, “Come in.”
The door to the hospital room swung open, and in walked Marina’s mother, Edna.
The moment Edna saw Jonathan, her face stretched into a practiced,
insincere smile.
But Jonathan couldn’t bring himself to smile back.
After all that had happened to Marina, her own mother was only showing
up now.
Jonathan knew the truth: when Marina went bankrupt and fell into
crushing debt, her parents had vanished without a trace, dumping every bit of responsibility onto her shoulders. It was painfully obvious-she was left to fend for herself.
Granted, Marina had been reckless and naïve, falling straight into the trap
Niamh had set for her.
But even when Edna heard what had happened to Marina-the assault-she didn’t come.
She was only here now, most likely for his sake.
Jonathan’s expression darkened as he sighed.
“Mr. Thomas, our poor Marina… That Niamh-she wanted to ruin her! If this goes on, I’m afraid Marina won’t… she just won’t survive…”
Edna’s voice trembled as she spoke, eyes glistening with tears.
She expected Jonathan to offer some words of comfort, but he stayed silent.
Edna, a little embarrassed, pressed on, “This whole scandal… after this,
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Marina won’t be able to show her face in public anymore… Unless-”
Even if she didn’t finish, Jonathan could guess exactly where she was
going.
“Oh Mr. Thomas, I’m not trying to force you into anything… but the whole world knows now that your ex-wife is the one who hurt Marina, and everyone’s talking about the love triangle between you, Marina, and Niamh. If you don’t marry Marina after she gets out of the hospital, not only will her prospects be ruined forever, but your own reputation online-well, it won’t look good either!”
“But if you do marry Marina, everything changes. People will praise you for standing by her, for true love that endures hardship… It’ll be great PR for the Thomas Group, too. Everyone will see what a responsible man you are!”
Edna rattled off her arguments without missing a beat, weighing the pros
and cons for him.
If she had her way, she’d never have to see Marina again.
She and Galloway Thornton had never much liked their daughter. They’d spent years and a fortune grooming Marina, all in the hopes that she’d one day marry rich.
And what had come of it?
Marina, foolish and disappointing, hadn’t landed a wealthy husband; instead, she’d managed to lose the family business and rack up mountains of debt. She was worse than useless.
But the worst part-the part Edna could hardly believe-was that Marina
had been assaulted.
Her perfect, untouched daughter was now “damaged goods.” Edna and Galloway had been beside themselves with rage. How could she ever hope to marry well now?
But then Edna heard that Marina had tried to take her own life, that she
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was in a private hospital room, with Jonathan by her side.
Suddenly, Edna realized her daughter might still be useful.
True, Marina had been through hell, but Niamh was the real culprit. Surely Jonathan must feel guilty-deeply, unbearably guilty.
If she could use that guilt to pressure him into marrying Marina, maybe this disaster could be turned into an opportunity.
That was the only reason Edna had bothered to visit.
If Marina somehow clawed her way back, Edna wanted to make sure she got her share.
The room was as silent as a tomb.
Marina was actually awake, but pretended to be asleep.
Her mother’s timing was perfect.
Hearing Edna say all this was far better than having to beg Jonathan herself.
But the answer both Marina and Edna wanted never came.
“Since you’re here, Mrs. Thornton, you can stay with Marina. I’ll head back
to the office.”
Jonathan’s tone was cool and distant as he spoke. Without another word,
he turned and walked out.
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