wrong?
It was completely insulting. She felt like she’d been slapped in the face, even though now things were fine. Now they knew she wasn’t after his money, so Charles finally deemed her worthy again. Anger replaced the sickness, and suddenly, she didn’t want to be anywhere near Charles Bingley anymore.
She stormed out of the house and into her car. She was all the way to the I-15 and heading south before she realized what she was doing. She should’ve turned around and headed back, but she just didn’t care. Instead, she drove blindly for some time as she thought about how ridiculous this was. Charles knew her! Charles should’ve known better! And Will? The whole time he was falling for Eliza, he was concerned about Jane? What kind of nonsense was that? How could he find fault with one sister for growing up with less money, but not the other?
The gall of him!
She didn’t know who irritated her more, Charles or Will—but one thing was certain. She was going to need some serious time to process this. All at once, she felt so, so cheap or—or used—or something. She didn’t know. She felt unwanted and cared about and … small and insignificant again.
The helplessness, the fury, the pain … it was all back, except the pain was sharper this time, much more noticeable. This time, she finally had the answer that clicked everything into place. This time, she knew the truth. The man she was falling head over heels for was clearly only here because her sister convinced him Jane was okay to date. Seriously?
Didn’t her own merits mean anything to anyone? Jane wanted to shout in frustration.
Why couldn’t people see the real her? Why couldn’t even the man she loved be loyal enough not to not fall for every rumor or observation someone else made? And who would think she was shallow enough only to love a man for his money? Did Charles never think that maybe she enjoyed his company too? His humor, his personality, his likes, his dislikes…? After all her years of not finding the right guy, did he honestly believe she’d only seen him as an object?
Even if things were different, could she trust that they had changed? What if he became paranoid again every time she mentioned money? Who could live like that? Urgh!
She banged her fist against the steering wheel and was shocked when she felt something wet hit the top of her hand. It was then that she realized she was crying. She’d been so angry, she’d hadn’t noticed. Wiping at her tears, she drove on.
It had to have been at least an hour or two before the phone began to ring. Jane pulled over into a little town called Nephi and coasted into a gas station. She looked down at the phone—speak of the devil. Charles must be at her house. There was no way she could talk rationally right now. He’d have to pay her to answer—since she needed his money so much! Once the phone stopped ringing, she turned it off.
Taking in her surroundings, she decided to fuel up and stay away for a while. It was time for a real break, anyway. She had a lot to sort out.
Without any clear direction, Jane headed east and came to an even smaller town than Nephi. She didn’t catch the name of it, but decided to drive around. It was gorgeous in its snowy all-white state—old Edwardian and Victorian homes with cozy fireplaces added to the ambiance of peace. They had even more snow than Salt Lake. She found a large park and stopped the car as she watched a few children sledding on the nearest hill. Their giggles brought her to the reality that she was very far away from home, but in the next moment, she realized that it didn’t matter. This was so much better than home anyway.
This was peace.
She cried then. Great big frustrated tears joined each other down her cheeks. So this was why he wanted to end everything, and this was why he was so willing to do anything he could to “win” her back. Charles felt guilty for thinking so low of her. But honestly— honestly —if Eliza
It was completely insulting. She felt like she’d been slapped in the face, even though now things were fine. Now they knew she wasn’t after his money, so Charles finally deemed her worthy again. Anger replaced the sickness, and suddenly, she didn’t want to be anywhere near Charles Bingley anymore.
She stormed out of the house and into her car. She was all the way to the I-15 and heading south before she realized what she was doing. She should’ve turned around and headed back, but she just didn’t care. Instead, she drove blindly for some time as she thought about how ridiculous this was. Charles knew her! Charles should’ve known better! And Will? The whole time he was falling for Eliza, he was concerned about Jane? What kind of nonsense was that? How could he find fault with one sister for growing up with less money, but not the other?
The gall of him!
She didn’t know who irritated her more, Charles or Will—but one thing was certain. She was going to need some serious time to process this. All at once, she felt so, so cheap or—or used—or something. She didn’t know. She felt unwanted and cared about and … small and insignificant again.
The helplessness, the fury, the pain … it was all back, except the pain was sharper this time, much more noticeable. This time, she finally had the answer that clicked everything into place. This time, she knew the truth. The man she was falling head over heels for was clearly only here because her sister convinced him Jane was okay to date. Seriously?
Didn’t her own merits mean anything to anyone? Jane wanted to shout in frustration.
Why couldn’t people see the real her? Why couldn’t even the man she loved be loyal enough not to not fall for every rumor or observation someone else made? And who would think she was shallow enough only to love a man for his money? Did Charles never think that maybe she enjoyed his company too? His humor, his personality, his likes, his dislikes…? After all her years of not finding the right guy, did he honestly believe she’d only seen him as an object?
Even if things were different, could she trust that they had changed? What if he became paranoid again every time she mentioned money? Who could live like that? Urgh!
She banged her fist against the steering wheel and was shocked when she felt something wet hit the top of her hand. It was then that she realized she was crying. She’d been so angry, she’d hadn’t noticed. Wiping at her tears, she drove on.
It had to have been at least an hour or two before the phone began to ring. Jane pulled over into a little town called Nephi and coasted into a gas station. She looked down at the phone—speak of the devil. Charles must be at her house. There was no way she could talk rationally right now. He’d have to pay her to answer—since she needed his money so much! Once the phone stopped ringing, she turned it off.
Taking in her surroundings, she decided to fuel up and stay away for a while. It was time for a real break, anyway. She had a lot to sort out.
Without any clear direction, Jane headed east and came to an even smaller town than Nephi. She didn’t catch the name of it, but decided to drive around. It was gorgeous in its snowy all-white state—old Edwardian and Victorian homes with cozy fireplaces added to the ambiance of peace. They had even more snow than Salt Lake. She found a large park and stopped the car as she watched a few children sledding on the nearest hill. Their giggles brought her to the reality that she was very far away from home, but in the next moment, she realized that it didn’t matter. This was so much better than home anyway.
This was peace.
She cried then. Great big frustrated tears joined each other down her cheeks. So this was why he wanted to end everything, and this was why he was so willing to do anything he could to “win” her back. Charles felt guilty for thinking so low of her. But honestly— honestly —if Eliza
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