Chapter 9
I’m the only daughter of the wealthiest man in the country–born with a silver spoon in my mouth.
Worried I’d be taken advantage of, my father arranged not one, but three engagements for me before I was even old enough to spell the word “fiancé.”
Everyone in our social circle envied those three men; after all, marrying me meant gaining access to the entire Windsor fortune.
But my so–called fiancés couldn’t care less about me. Even Liam York, whom I’d grown up with, treated me with icy indifference.
I used to think it was just his nature–until I saw how tender he was toward Jessica
Clarke, the underprivileged girl my family had sponsored.
He even gave her the priceless gemstone I
“Jess,” he said, “for the sake of the family, I have no choice but to follow my parents‘ arrangements. But I promise you, after the wedding, I won’t lay a finger on her. The moment the timing is right, I’ll divorce her and marry you.”
“Believe me, Jess. I feel nothing for Eleanor Windsor. You’re the one I love.”
The day before the engagement party, my father asked me to choose which of the three I wanted to marry.
Thinking of everything they’d done, I was exhausted–heartbroken, even.
I paused for a long moment before replying, “Dad, I don’t like any of them. If I have to marry someone, then I’ll marry the best.”
He blinked in surprise. “The Lancaster Family of Westminster is indeed a match for us in power, but Leonard Lancaster… he’s blind.”
Bitterness welled up in my chest, but I
smiled.”Didn’t you always tell me that love can be cultivated? Besides his blindness, Leonard is as outstanding as they come.”
My father fell silent. “Leonard is like an iceberg. I don’t want you to suffer in marriage. Are you sure none of the other three are worth reconsidering?”
I knew where his concern came from. After my mother passed, I became his entire world. He never remarried. Instead, he poured his heart and soul into raising me right. Even those arranged engagements had been carefully calculated on his part.
He wanted to ensure I’d be treated well and that no matter which family I joined, they’d benefit from Windsor support.
I understood him–he wanted to entrust not just our legacy to someone reliable, but also me, his daughter.
rested my head on his shoulder and
whispered, “Dad, Leonard’s eyes may not see, but his health is fine. As long as I can give birth to an heir for both families, everything will work out.“”
“And if it doesn’t, I still have you. If he treats me badly, I’ll take the child and move back home to live with you.”
My father lovingly patted my head. “If that’s what you want, then I’ll speak to the others and cancel the engagements.”
If he ever found out how little those three valued me, there’s no telling how furious he’d be.
After all, those families had long been basking in the glory of the Windsor name, wielding our influence like it was their own.
My parents were once madly in love, and growing up with that example made me yearn for a marriage built on love.
But if love wasn’t on the table then what did
And after all they’d done, those three had completely shattered my heart.Especially Liam. He made me feel like I was nothing but a joke.
I had my pride. I no longer wished to be entangled with any of them.
As I walked my father out to the car for his meetings, we happened to run into the three of them.
They greeted him politely, but my father simply gave them a cold glance and got into the car without a word.
His authority left them speechless. They didn’t even dare to breathe too loud until the car had driven off.
Then, of course, they turned on me.
Liam glared at me, demanding, “What did you tell Uncle Edward this time?”
Zachary Lleword sneered “Do you always
+ 5 Points
Ryan Lee rolled his eyes. “With your spoiled and bratty attitude, who the hell would marry you?”
I looked at their smug faces, my heart heavy with disappointment.“If that’s how you feel,” I asked softly, “why haven’t you annulled the engagement yourselves?”
The contracts were very clear–if either party wanted out, or if one found someone else, the engagement would immediately dissolve.
But of course, they wouldn’t.
They just wanted to keep leeching off the Windsor name.
