CHAPTER 237: CHAPTER 235: I AM JUST A SUBSTITUTE

Aron Hanson looked at Maya Spencer, who was at a loss for words. He slowly placed the document aside, lifted his head, and said to Maya with extreme seriousness, "Maya, if you’re determined to marry Kinsley Spencer as a way to defeat Liam, I have nothing to say. After all, marriage is your own choice. Even if I don’t agree, I won’t oppose it any further, but you must be mentally prepared. Are you sure Liam would let his fiancée become his sister-in-law?"

"I’m just a replacement, a punching bag. Now that the truth is out, I mean nothing to him anymore." Maya didn’t mention to her uncle about Liam talking about marriage, because she didn’t want to give him any hope.

More importantly, she didn’t want to sleep next to Liam, who she fantasized as a dead person. Being with Kinsley was undoubtedly the best choice for her.

At least Kinsley wouldn’t bully her, wouldn’t sleep with her, wouldn’t verbally assault her, and wouldn’t yell at or threaten her.

She would rather stick to Kinsley, guarding this nominal marriage, than suffer beside Liam, especially after knowing the whole truth.

Besides, she would never be able to marry the man she truly admired, so it didn’t matter whom she married, as long as it could make Liam unhappy, she would do it.

Listening to Maya’s explanation, Aron was a bit bewildered.

After a moment’s thought, he earnestly said, "Maya, how about you date Adrian Clark! That kid is quite good, at least simple-minded, without deceit."

"Uncle, you’re overthinking it. Adrian and I are just classmates, and I don’t deserve him," Maya said with a bitter smile.

Actually, she longed to return to her innocent self, the self she was before coming to the Spencer Family, a self that wouldn’t feel undeserving of any man.

But after the entanglement with Liam and the miscarriage incident, Maya felt broken and like a woman with mental issues.

She didn’t know what else she could do apart from resigning herself to her fate.

Perhaps to others, being with Liam was her good luck, but only Maya knew how disgusted she was with herself, feeling she no longer deserved beautiful love.

Even if she felt a flicker of attraction, it was like a thief, burying any beauty deep within her heart, undiscovered by anyone.

"Maya, you’re overthinking it," Aron said coolly, seeing Maya’s low self-esteem.

"Uncle, thank you for not forcing me," Maya did not continue the conversation but instead thanked him, then stood up from the chair and walked towards the door.

Aron watched Maya’s retreating figure, didn’t stop her, and didn’t offer any counseling. He just let her leave.

He clearly knew Maya had issues, knew her excessive self-esteem and inferiority, yet he watched her suffer alone, offering no comfort.

Maya was actually very fragile inside. Since childhood, she was mocked as an illegitimate child, and when her mother suddenly committed suicide, it dealt her a great blow.

The days in the Spencer Family could only be described as adding insult to injury, and the entanglement with Liam almost drove her crazy.

Ever since losing the child, she hardly smiled, and every thunderstorm made her head ache severely, often waking up from nightmares, dreaming of the baby dying coldly in front of her while she was powerless.

Several times, in the dead of night, she was in such heartache she wanted to commit suicide. Fortunately, Sister Taylor discovered it early and took her to see a doctor.

Although medication could manage her headaches, her mood did not improve.

It wasn’t until she went to school and met new friends that her condition gradually improved. But as soon as she was getting better, Aron brought her back home.

Facing this land again, facing the ’enemies’ of the past, those faded memories swept back, unsettling her hard-won calm.

In recent days, being around Liam had noticeably improved her condition, but after the engagement incident and the Grace incident, everything regressed.

On the way back, Maya pondered her uncle’s words and her current situation. She extended her right hand and switched off the car’s air conditioning.

In the sweltering August heat, she felt it was like the coldest winter, chilled to the bone.

After returning to the apartment, Maya locked herself in, unable to think clearly or judge if her choices were right.

She was afraid, fearing that leaving this door would bring more choices, more harm drawing near.

So, she hid in the apartment for three whole days.

On the fourth day, Sister Taylor came to the apartment door again.

This time, she knocked on the door for nearly two hours before Maya registered and opened it.

When the door opened, Sister Taylor embraced Maya, crying out loud.

While crying, she touched Maya’s face and said, "Miss, you scared me to death. I thought you relapsed again. Come back to the villa with me, okay? I’m so worried about you alone."

"Sister Taylor, I’m fine. My mind is just a little muddled, I want some quiet."

"Miss, please don’t do anything foolish. Shall we go see a doctor first?" These past days, Sister Taylor had been looking for Maya everywhere.

The worst was that last time she came to the apartment, she locked the key inside.

Later, when she asked Aron, he pointed her in the right direction, suggesting she keep knocking, as Maya must be home.

Sure enough, after pressing the doorbell for two hours, standing outside until her hands were sore, Maya finally opened the door for her.

Seeing Sister Taylor in tears, Maya smiled and patted her back in comfort, "Sister Taylor, I won’t let anything happen to myself."

She had just discussed a ’cooperation’ with Kinsley and wouldn’t irresponsibly abandon him. She was just tired, her mind was chaotic, and she wanted some peace.

At the same time, she was so helpless, hoping someone could give her advice, teach her how to live happily.

But the people around her, few could understand her predicament, not even the uncle she depended on most, could offer her strategies or plans.

Seeing Maya’s disheartened eyes, Sister Taylor felt a stabbing ache in her heart and held her tightly.

"Sister Taylor, I’m really fine. Just let me be alone for a while!" Maya’s mind was in a daze, without much to say to comfort Sister Taylor.

Sister Taylor, seeing her emphasize repeatedly that she was fine, feared insisting would be counterproductive, so she left.

After Sister Taylor left, Maya took a bottle of cold water from the fridge and drank it all in one go, her brain freezing with pain.

At that moment, the doorbell rang again. Maya thought it was Sister Taylor returning, so she immediately got up to open the door.

The moment the door opened, Maya was stunned. She never expected him to appear at the door of her apartment.