The fury in my heart was like a flood about to burst its banks. At this critical moment, my mother arrived just in time. She wrapped a scarf around me, helped me up, and stood protectively in front of me.
Mrs. Belmont, who was usually kind and had never given me the cold shoulder, simply had her staff carefully assist Burton to leave.
Mrs. Stratton's face was long with disdain, her eyes full of mockery. It was as if she was blaming me for ruining her party just to climb the social ladder.
Back home, my dad stormed in, not caring about my fragile state. He immediately launched into a blistering tirade.
"You little brat, have you lost your mind? How dare you mess with the Belmont family's son? Did you really think you could turn from a nobody into royalty?"
He paced back and forth in the room, his anger unabated.
My mother tried to get up and persuade him to leave, but he roughly pushed her aside, almost causing her to fall.
After my dad left, my mother sat by my bedside, holding my hand tightly, tears glistening in her eyes.
The news of my near-drowning and Burton's rescue spread like wildfire in our social circle. Everyone was waiting to see me humiliated. A daughter from a small company trying to marry into the Belmont family? It was nothing short of a pipe dream.Since falling into the water, Burton has been running a high fever and can't get out of bed.
I sit motionless on the bed, filled with guilt. It's my fault he's like this, which was never my intention.
There's always someone to blame, but involving an innocent person leaves me restless and uneasy.
Fortunately, after three days, Burton's fever broke and he gradually regained consciousness.
Though I've never been religious, I silently muttered a "Thank God" in my heart.
That day, my dad suddenly summoned me to the front hall.
"Quick, this is Aunt Myerson."
My dad's words snapped me out of my daze.
I looked up abruptly to see the elegant and dignified Mrs. Belmont sitting in the living room.
She pulled me to her side, held my hand, and examined me closely, a satisfied smile spreading across her face.
"Let's set the wedding date for mid-next month. It's an auspicious day."