Chapter 169: The Contest Between the Two Women


    Florence halted in her steps upon hearing Gemma’s query, and she could perceive Gemma’s ashen


    complexion when she had looked up towards her.


    Her heart was slightly jiggled from that realization, and she replied while pretending to feel


    embarrassed after being exposed, “There is only a small bruise on my leg, but Ernest does not allow


    me to walk on my own on the grounds that I’m still injured, hence he has been carrying me around


    wherever I go.”


    Gemma was greatly astonished to hear how Ernest had treated Florence, “Has he been carrying you


    up and down all this while?”


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    Florence nodded her head in reply while stealthily observing the abrupt changes in Gemma’s


    expression, and she continued in a low voice soon after, “He is also the one whom has personally


    changed all the dressings on my wounds every day.”


    She stared at Gemma and asked resignedly, “Did he take care of you in such a way when you were


    previously involved in that car ident as well?”


    Gemma was stunned on the spot by her sudden question as a sh of disappointment swept past her


    eyes in an instant.


    She hade very near to losing her life during that ident, but all she had gotten in return was just


    a little bit of concern from Ernest. He had only dropped by to pay her a visit and gave her his word that


    he would take care of her in the future, and that itself had sufficed as she was fully contented with his


    promise.


    She had always thought that for someone like Ernest to promise her that he would look after her for the


    rest of her life was already his greatest extent of giving of himself towards a woman, and it was the


    maximum warmth that he could offer to a woman as well.


    She had always taken pride in her special treatment and promise by him before this, and she was well-


    pleased with her current standing as well all this time.


    However, she had lost herposure the moment her eyes were set on the treatment that Florence


    had been receiving from Ernest.


    He did not even bother to help her up when she was unable to stand on her own due to her grave


    injuries back then, yet he had been carrying Florence up and down the stairs himself when she had


    only suffered from such a minor injury on her leg. It was as if he had treated her like a fragile porcin


    doll, caring for her in such an extremely gentle manner for fear of dropping or hurting her at all.


    Inparison, Gemma was worth nothing in Ernest’s heart.


    Florence had been observing Gemma’s expression all along, so she was able to catch the sh of


    disappointment that had flickered across her eyes.


    She hesitantly paused for a moment and blurted out in shock shortly after, “Was he not like this to you


    back then, Ms. Marlon?”


    The realization had caused Florence’s memories of that time when they had gone to Collin’s to treat


    Gemma’s illness to be suddenly evoked, and she could still clearly recall that even though Gemma was


    required to strip naked for the examination, Ernest had only instructed Timothy to look after her.


    Meanwhile, Ernest himself had followed Florence around during her unimportant full body checkup


    instead of keeping an eye on Gemma.


    She had always thought that it was weird for him to act like that, but now that she had perceived


    Gemma’s unusual series of reactions, the thought that had materialized in her heart was on the tip of


    her tongue now.


    Gemma snapped right back from her thoughts upon detecting the suspicion in Florence’s eyes, and


    she hurriedly exined in a guilt-stricken manner, “Of course Ernest had looked after me meticulously


    as well back then. Although he appears to be aloof and remote, he is actually really kind-hearted, and


    his sense of guilt is able to be roused easily. This is why he has been taking care of you in such a


    thoughtful and considerate manner after knowing that you are injured.”


    Her tone was calm and had even exuded the feeling of magnanimity as if she was consoling Florence


    to not feel bad in front of her, and it had given the impression that she was speaking from the


    standpoint of Ernest’s girlfriend.


    However, the thought of having to keep a distance from Ernest so that her intention would not be


    misconstrued had not urred to Florence this time, and she was also not difited by Gemma as


    she had used to before this anymore.


    Florence stared straight at Gemma and asked, “Ernest and I are both unattached, Ms. Marlon, and yet


    we’ve been hanging out and even staying together for such a long period of time… Won’t you get


    jealous at all?”


    Gemma’s smile froze on her face instantly when she was being asked that harsh question.


    Jealous of her? Of course, she was green with envy that Florence got to stay beside Ernest, but she


    did not any have right to be jealous of her to begin with as she was a no-one to him.


    Gemma pretended to be selfless and great-hearted as she replied, “I’m already immensely grateful that


    you’re willing to act as Ernest’s fiancée, and even though him and I are actually the real couple here,


    you are his nominal fiancée instead. If you want topete with me, I won’t me you for doing so.


    However, you’ve decided to reconcile to our rtionship and have always fulfilled us lovers’ wishes all


    this while, and I can’t thank you enough for that. Ernest has also let me know that you have rejected his


    proposal not long ago.”


    Florence’s heart somersaulted in that instant as she did not expect Gemma to bring up her rejection of


    Ernest’s proposal which had happened quite some time ago.


    Gemma’s eyes were full of tenderness and sorrow at the same time, and yet they were also filled with


    deep affection towards Ernest despite having to tear herself apart for giving him up.


    “You’re in the know about my rtionship with Ernest, and you’ve also been chosen by Mrs. Hawkins


    to be her granddaughter-inw, so it’s best for me that you are the one whom is going to get married to


    him, Flory. If he has to marry someone else, I would rather that person to be you.”


    “You would rather let him marry me? Just because I am willing to y along and get myself into a fake


    engagement with Ernest, do you think I will magically agree to a sham marriage with him as well? It


    would be best for you as you don’t have to worry about me having any presumptuous ambitions


    towards him and clinging onto himter on as I’m in the know about your actual rtionship and won’t


    overstep my boundaries, am I right?” Florence retorted bluntly as she shot her piercing gaze towards


    Gemma.


    Gemma was choked with surprise as she was taken aback by the unexpected and abrupt changes in


    Florence’s attitude which was in stark contrast with the mild and humble side of her.


    She had managed to maintain a charming smile on her face and keep her graceful manners in check


    despite being astonished due to her cultivation, and she promptly continued, “Don’t think of it that way,


    Flory. I’m not trying to take advantage of your well intention. It’s just that your rtionship with Ernest is


    indeed birthed from a deal, hence I might have gotten the impression that you would be able to ept


    a fake marriage with him as well. Of course, I will not force you on this matter, so if you are reluctant to


    marry him, we won’t everpelled you to ept it.”


    Every single one of Gemma’s words was sincere and truthful to the ear, and she sounded so


    convincing that Florence had almost believed in her subconsciously.


    Having said that…


    It was not true that Ernest had not impelled her to marry him.


    After Florence had rejected his proposal, he was still ceaselessly chasing after her and exhausting his


    every means to try to coax and pester her to change her mind. He was also relentlessly flirting with her


    by employing all kinds of tricks and making romantic advancements to her all the time just to get her to


    say yes to him. Furthermore, she could sense that he was very adamant and resolved to walk down the


    aisle with her apart from all those efforts.


    Both their parents had even started the discussion to set the date for their marriage, so it was apparent


    that he was not fooling around this time.


    It was apparent that Ernest was dead set on getting her to marry him.


    However, Gemma had implied that he would not force Florence to wed him, so was she trying to


    comfort her, or was she totally unaware of Ernest’s true intention?


    Florence narrowed her eyes and stared at Gemma, and she soon uttered in a particrly solemn voice


    that had been lowered a few decibels, “What if I want to get married to him for real?”


    Gemma’s body went rigid as her stunning face gradually turned colorless.


    She stared at Florence with her wavering expressions from the shock, and her voice had been raised


    uncontrobly as she asked in disbelief, “You want to marry him?”


    Florence paused for a moment, and it looked as if she was in a dilemma as she struggled with her


    inner conflicts, but she finally made her call and said decisively, “You have told me previously that if I


    want to strive for this rtionship, you could let go for my sake as I’m Ernest’s rightful wife after all.”


    “That is just to palliate you!” Gemma could not hold her smile anymore as she blurted out her true


    intention without giving it much thought, and she was immediately stunned on the spot after she had


    lost control of her temper.


    Florence shot a prating gaze towards her and uttered thoughtfully, “So, you’ve been speaking with


    a forked tongue then, Ms. Marlon?”


    Gemma had been feigning her magnanimity and generosity towards Florence since the beginning for


    the sake of her so-called rtionship with Ernest, but now all her big-heartedness that she had put on


    seemed like hypocrisy and pretense as she had been unmasked after just a simple trial.


    If her self-sacrificing manner was an act, how much of her words could be trusted, and how much of


    them was actually deception?


    Florence’s suspicious gaze had filled Gemma with fears, and her piercing eyes seemed like they were


    about to see through the intricate web of lies that she had scrupulously set up.


    However, if her words were to be disproved now…


    Gemma could not even bear to think about the consequences that woulde to her if she were to be


    exposed this instant.


    If Florence were to mention her spiteful lies to Ernest, it was very likely that she would not even be able


    to stay friends with him anymore based on his temperament, and in the end, it stood to reason that


    Florence would get married to him as a result.


    No.


    How could she let that happen?


    Gemma’s eyes welled up all of a sudden, and she almost stepped forward as she grabbed Florence’s


    hand in a hurry.


    A glum look had manifested on her face as she exined with a catch in her voice, “I’m sorry, Flory. I


    didn’t mean it that way. You should know that love is selfish, hence how could I really hand him over to


    others willingly when both of us still love each other so much? You’re a woman as well, so I believe you


    can understand where I’ming from, am I right?”