Chapter 6

Arthur spoke lightly, like he was talking about the weather.

My father slammed his hand on the table, furious. "Arthur! Do you take the Northwood family for fools? The marriage was arranged by the two families long ago. You think you can just call it off whenever you please?"

Arthur remained calm. "Please, Mr. Northwood, don't be angry. I know this is sudden, but marriage is a lifelong commitment. I can't force myself into it just for pride of family."

My mom was shaking with rage. "Force yourself? Don't be ridiculous. Isabelle has everything a man could want: educated, gentle, virtuous. There are so many men in Copperfield who would gladly take her. How can you say you won't marry her?"

Arthur lowered his gaze and said nothing

I stared at him and suddenly asked, "Mr. Grant, can I ask why?"

Arthur looked up, meeting my gaze.

A flicker of relief lurked behind his guilty eyes.

He opened his mouth, about to speak.

But before he could say anything, a muffled sob came from the corner.

Nora covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face, and turned to run out.

My mom cried out, "Nora! Where are you going?"

Nora stopped, her back to us, and her shoulders trembling. Her voice was trembling and broken. "Aunt Chloe, it's my fault. I shouldn't have come here... I'll leave right now."

My father frowned, looking at her, then at Arthur, and seemed to understand.

Arthur's gaze landed on Nora, and for a moment, I caught a hint of tenderness and heartache in his eyes.

Right then, I finally got what the live comments had been saying.

Arthur wasn't here to break off the engagement.

He was here to replace me with Nora.

I stood in the middle of the hall, watching it all unfold, and it felt like someone had punched me in the gut.

It wasn't pain. It was a suffocating sense of injustice.

The feeling surrounded me and I couldn't get away.

I had done nothing wrong.

I never made things difficult for her. I gave up my jewelry when she took it. If she wanted my maid, I let her have her. When she bumped into my fiancé, I just laughed it off.

I'd done everything a good cousin was supposed to do

Somehow, I ended up abandoned.

The live comments were scrolling like crazy:

[I'm so pissed! Isabelle is getting the short end of the stick!]

[She didn't do anything wrong! Why does she have to be treated like this?]

[Arthur, are you blind? Nora is such an angelic bitch!]

[My heart aches for Isabelle. If it were me, I would've killed the two bastards‌!]

I watched the live comments, took a deep breath, and slowly clenched my fists.

I couldn't make a scene. If I did, I'd just end up the loser.

I had to stay calm.

"Enough." I spoke up and my voice was calmer than I expected.

Everyone in the hall turned to look at me.

I looked at my father, my mother, at Nora still crying in the corner, and at Arthur, standing in the middle of the hall, his face utterly unbothered.

I asked Arthur, "Mr. Grant, are you calling off the engagement because of Nora?"

Arthur's expression flickered for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. He lowered his gaze. "Miss Northwood, this has nothing to do with anyone else. This is what I truly want."

I let out a laugh. "Is that what you really want? You've only met Nora a handful of times, merely spoken a few words with her, and you're so sure she's the one you want to spend your life with?"

Arthur frowned, his tone growing impatient. "Miss Northwood, I respect you as the heir of Northwood family. Please don't take your anger out on others."

He meant Nora.

I turned to look at Nora.

She stood in the corner, her tearful eyes meeting mine, looking so miserable. When she saw me looking at her, she trembled and whispered, "Isabelle, I'm sorry..."

I stepped right up to her.

She instinctively recoiled, nervously backing away.

I stood firm, locking eyes with her, and asked, "Nora, did you know he was my fiancé?"

Tears slipped down Nora's cheeks. "I knew. But I didn't do anything."