Chapter 1
“Otherwise, you can stay here for the rest of your life.”
“This is for your own good. Unless you change that attitude, you can forget about ever becoming Mrs. Hart.”
For my own good? What a beautiful lie.
For my own good meant taking Eliza’s side in every situation.
For my own good meant abandoning me in the countryside without a single call or message?
He knew perfectly well that my emotional state was already fragile when he did this.
Hearing those words now, I could only feel the bitter irony.
“It’s Eliza’s kindness that kept her from pressing charges. If it were me, I’d have made sure she stayed locked up for
years,” someone said.
Eliza responded softly: “Cassidy is still part of the Hart family after all…”
As she finished speaking, her eyes grew misty.
“Eliza, don’t be upset. That idiot got what she deserved. Can you imagine her face when she sees us all here?”
“Obviously she’ll be bawling her eyes out, begging Julian to take her back!”
Julian snorted coldly: “Three years should be enough. Even a dog would have learned its lesson by now.”
“If not, she can continue her reformation out here.”
Then a chorus of agreement followed.
“I’d prefer if she hadn’t learned her lesson. Then I’d never have to see her again.”
“Seriously. Just looking at her shameless face makes me sick.”
“But… don’t you two still have an engagement?” someone asked uncertainly.
At this, Eliza turned to Julian, her eyes full of expectation.
“The engagement… we’ll see how she does,” Julian replied.
Hearing his answer, Eliza looked away, disappointment clear on her face.
By this point, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
I didn’t bother trying to hide it. So the sound carried on the gentle breeze into the courtyard, startling the gathered
vultures.
The person closest to the gate turned and spotted me, exclaiming in surprise:
“Cassidy Pierce?!”
