Bridgerton S01e02 -

When young Simon developed a stutter, his father rejected him as a "failure" and sent him away to be hidden from society.

By pretending to be "glued to each other's side," Simon avoids mothers looking to marry off their daughters, while Daphne becomes a "prize" coveted by other men who suddenly see her as more desirable because a Duke wants her.

A close friend of his mother, Lady Danbury, intervened, helping Simon find his voice and gain the confidence to eventually confront his father. Bridgerton s01e02

Anthony Bridgerton is furious about the arrangement, distrusting Simon’s rakish reputation and fearing for his sister's honor. The Origin Story: Simon’s Past

The episode follows the fallout of the Vauxhall Gardens celebration , where Daphne Bridgerton and Simon Basset, the Duke of Hastings, agreed to a fake courtship. When young Simon developed a stutter, his father

On his father's deathbed, Simon vowed that the Hastings line would die with him as the ultimate act of revenge. The Subplots Bridgerton - S01E02 - Shock and Delight [Transcript]

Simon's mother died during childbirth after finally delivering a male heir. His father, Lord Hastings, was only concerned with the boy's ability to carry on the family name and showed no grief for his wife. The Subplots Bridgerton - S01E02 - Shock and

The episode reveals why Simon is so determined to never marry or have children through a series of flashbacks: