Bride To Be Not Me (Janice and Simon)

If Simon was infected, it wouldn't be good news for Elsie either.

A tense silence filled the car.

Elsie couldn't shake the unease creeping up her spine. She knew she needed to visit a specialized testing center that afternoon.

But after spending the entire day helping Simon register his company, it was already too late. She had no choice but to schedule an appointment for tomorrow.

"What are you doing?"

Simon's voice rang out as he stepped into the hotel suite, company registration papers in hand. Elsie stood by the window with her back to him, engrossed in scheduling her test appointment.

At the sound of his voice, she froze, her fingers trembling. In her panic, her phone slipped from her grasp and crashed onto the floor.

Simon's sharp eyes caught the text flashing across her screen-CDC Appointment Registration.

The CDC?

How dare Elsie...

Simon's expression hardened. "Do you think I'm infected?"

Elsie quickly regained her composure. "No, you've misunderstood. Ms. Burnett was talking about her check-up today, so I thought I'd get a full-body exam too. It's always better to be safe, right?"

"And why exactly do you need to go to the CDC for a routine check-up?"

"The CDC offers a variety of medical tests, Simon. If you took a moment to look into it, you'd know that. This kind of check-up is essential, and I've even scheduled one for you. It's all for your own benefit, after all," Elsie explained. Simon shot her a cold glance. A flicker of irritation stirred in his chest.

Despite her modest wealth, Elsie spoke to him so casually, showing not the slightest bit of respect. He had always despised this illusion of equality in relationships.

"Go if you want, but don't drag me into it. I don't have time for that."

He was perfectly fine. There was no need for any test.

"Just make sure to show me your results when you're done."

Elsie's expression froze, frustration rising just beneath the surface. "What do you mean by that? Are you seriously questioning me now?"

As the daughter of the Appleton family, Elsie had never lacked financial security, nor had she ever needed to rely on a man. Though she wasn't born into aristocracy, she had never truly faced hardship.

Now, confronted with Simon's dismissive tone, she knew she could never endure it in silence like Janice, nor would she ever put on an act like Amelia. So, she chose to stand her ground.

Simon had always been deeply rooted in his chauvinistic ways, and now that he had a chance to rise once more, his arrogance resurfaced.

"I don't know your history. You

weren't a virgin when we got together, r, so how can I be sure you don't have any STDs? Since you're already getting tested, what's the big deal with showing me the results? Or is there something you're hiding?"

His ability to twist the situation left Elsie speechless for a moment. She stood frozen, watching as Simon closed the door behind him. It took her a beat to shake herself free, and an exasperated laugh escaped her.

"Unbelievable," she muttered, still in shock. "How can a man like that even exist?"

The frustration was almost too much to bear. For a moment, Elsie felt a flicker of doubt. Had she made the wrong choice?

Nonetheless, Simon had indeed

risen from nothing, and with all his success, his abilities were

undeniable. Maybe arrogance was simply a part of what made successful men who they were. She tried her best to convince herself of that.

Still, the idea of swallowing her pride and apologizing to Simon was somethingnoveldrama

she couldn't bring herself to do.

Out of nowhere, the hotel doorbell rang.

Irritated, Elsie called out, "I didn't ask for room service!"