Chapter 2
Samuel, stubborn as ever, tried once more to grab my hand, hoping it would help him cool off.
Without missing a beat, I shifted to the side, dodging his touch in silence. I replied, "This is the lifeblood of the Morgan family.
"We can't trust anyone else with it. If you want her introduced, I can take you to see Lady Violet."
"You! Fine, whatever. I've never lowered myself to ask anyone for help, and the first time I do, you don't even give me a shred of dignity," Samuel snapped. "I rushed back for three days and nights without sleep just to see you, even brought you a gift. Guess all my sincerity was for nothing."
With a dark look, Samuel stood up, flicked his sleeve, pulled something out from inside his coat, and tossed it at me. Without so much as a backward glance, he walked out of my room.
I took a closer look and realized it was a beautifully crafted emerald hairpin, the one I recognized all too well.
As I picked it up and examined it, memories from my previous life flooded back in vivid detail.
Not long after, at my mother's birthday party, Samuel brought Aurora over to perform. She was wearing this exact hairpin in her hair.
When I clutched the cold emerald hairpin, a deep bitterness welled up inside me.
This was the man I was so desperate to marry back then, no matter what.
This hairpin was always meant for someone else. Now he was just pretending, tossing it to me like he was all sincere, hoping I'd cave and do what he wanted.
'Classic move. Passing off someone else's gift as his own to get what he wants.'
But this time, I wouldn't waste another ounce of my feelings on this jerk.
After coming back from helping with the disaster, Samuel looked busy as ever. Since that day, I didn't see him around for several days.
Thankfully, my condition picked up pretty fast, and I could finally step outside and stretch my legs in the daylight.
"What am I going to do now?" my father muttered to himself, sounding completely lost.
As I happened to walk past his study, I saw him pacing back and forth, sighing and looking really stressed out.
"Dad, what's got you so worried?" I asked.
Father always kept his cool, so if something had him this worked up, it had to be something big.
Father hesitated, clearly struggling with his words. Only after I kept pressing him did he finally speak up, reluctantly. "Do you remember Lord Brayden?
"He was a sickly child, so he was sent to live at Temple. He only just returned to the palace this year.
"The Queen Dowager took pity on him and said he could ask for anything he wanted. But all he asked for was to marry you.
"I tried to refuse by saying you were already engaged, and the Queen Dowager understood and didn't push it any further. But I can tell Lord Brayden isn't ready to let this go."
Seeing my father so worried, I just stood there, stunned. 'Wait, this never happened in my last life. This is totally new.'
The Queen Dowager had always doted on me since I was a kid, so I was in and out of the palace all the time. I was especially close with Lady Violet.
But I was sure I'd never even met Brayden, who'd been away from the royal court for so long.
'So why is he so set on marrying me?' I wondered, totally baffled.
After reassuring my father, I went back to my room and discreetly had someone look into Lord Brayden's whereabouts.
If possible, I was set on meeting him face-to-face and figuring out what was really going on.
Even though I was finished with Samuel, I wasn't about to just settle for marrying some random guy.
Soon enough, the person I sent to gather information came back with the news.
The day after tomorrow was the fifteenth, and Brayden would be heading to Minsun Temple to pay his respects.
While my parents weren't paying attention, I dressed up as an ordinary girl and slipped out to Minsun Temple by myself.
With all the worshippers milling around, it was tough to pick out my target right away.
"Samuel, you've been so busy lately, but you still took the time to burn incense with me. You're really the best." Aurora's voice chimed in, sweet as ever.
Before I could even figure out who it was, another voice cut in, making my heart skip a beat. "You haven't been feeling well lately, so of course I want to be here for you.
"I've been swamped with work and haven't had much time for you. Hope you're not mad at me."
"No way. I know you've always got me in your heart. I'm not like Stella, all spoiled and delicate. I'm not the type to make a scene for no reason," Aurora said sweetly.