Chapter 3

Aurora and Samuel were laughing and chatting, and I even heard them mention my name.

I turned around and shot the two of them a cold look, catching them mid-laugh.

The moment our eyes met, Samuel instinctively tried to avoid my gaze, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. "Stella, why did you sneak out on your own? You're still not fully recovered."

Aurora, clinging to his arm, interrupted him. "Stella, don't be mad. I've been feeling sick lately, so I asked Samuel to come with me to light some candles for prayers.

"He really just sees me as a little sister, so you don't have to worry. You didn't need to push yourself and follow us all the way here. Do you really not trust him?"

Aurora looked at me with a pitiful expression, painting me as some irrational, jealous girlfriend.

As soon as Aurora said that, any trace of guilt on Samuel's face disappeared instantly.

His brows furrowed, and Samuel shot me a fierce glare. "Do your parents even know you ran out here alone?

"Can you stop being so reckless for once? If something really happened, everyone would be worried sick about you.

"I was just here with Aurora to light some candles, and you actually had someone tail me. You're really going too far. We're engaged, but that doesn't mean I signed my life away from you."

Samuel's voice grew louder, catching the attention of the worshippers nearby, who started to gather and watch the scene unfold.

Spotting the crowd, Aurora amped up her act. Before I could even react, she let out a dramatic cry and dropped right at my feet.

"Ah... it hurts," Aurora cried out. "Allison, I know you're mad and think there's something between us.

"But it's broad daylight, and we're standing here in front of the gods and all these people. How could you just kick me like that?"

With so many people milling around, Samuel and I were standing pretty close together.

With Aurora crying and collapsing at my feet, it looked for all the world like I'd secretly given her a hard kick.

"Seriously, girls these days are so entitled. Getting physical in a place like this. Doesn't she care about offending her ancestors?" someone muttered.

"Way too overbearing. She's not even married yet and already acts like this. That scholar's got trouble coming his way once she moves in," another person chimed in.

The crowd started pointing at me, gossiping without restraint and shooting me dirty looks.

I only came here to find Brayden, not to get tangled up in their nonsense.

Then I gathered up my skirt, ready to walk away, but Aurora clung desperately to my hem, refusing to let me leave.

Aurora wailed, her voice trembling for effect, "Stella, with everyone watching, if you keep saying there's something between me and Samuel, you're ruining my name. You have to clear things up for me, or I swear I can't live with this shame."

Samuel was already crouched down, worriedly checking on her, shooting me a furious glare. "I'm not someone you can just slander.

"You owe both me and Aurora an apology today, or don't even think about walking away."

Watching them push their luck, my anger only burned hotter. "Let go of me. You two sneaked around behind my back like some cheating couple.

"And now you want to smear my name in front of everyone and demand I apologize? Not a chance.

"I swear, if I kicked you just now, may lightning strike me down right here. Can you swear the same, right here in front of the gods?"

I fixed Aurora with a cold stare. She froze for a few seconds, then, instead of answering, her sobs grew even louder.

I was worried all this commotion would scare Brayden off, so I tried to make a quick exit.

But Aurora just clung to me even tighter, refusing to let go.

As we tugged back and forth, my skirt suddenly caught under my foot. Still weak from my illness, I lost control and went crashing toward the candle altar.

With a heavy thud and the crowd gasping in shock, my head slammed hard into a brass candle burner.

Warm, sticky blood started oozing down my forehead, the spot where I'd slammed it feeling numb and tingly.

My vision kept fading in and out, and I just lay there on the ground, totally out of it for what felt like ages.

Everything around me sounded distant and muffled, like I was listening through a thick wall.

Only Aurora's sobs got louder and louder. She cried, "The hot incense ash landed on me! It hurts."

Instinctively, I reached out to Samuel. "I'm bleeding. Take me home... Just help me."

I was barely conscious, struggling to get the words out.