Chapter 3
When I got home, I got down on my knees in front of my dad's shrine, confessing my sins.
Every time I got involved with Christian, I'd end up here, getting down on my knees all night long.
But this time, it was the last time I'd ever get down on my knees here to repent.
After midnight, I finally managed to get up, my legs shaky as I stumbled back to my room.
My phone in the room had a few unread messages.
They were all from Christian.
I tapped to check.
The first thing that popped up was a photo.
On a woman's back, there was a deep red mole on her shoulder blade.
[Finley, Christian told me this is his favorite spot on my back. Whenever we're in bed, he can't stop kissing it.
[You've been with him for so long, you know exactly what that feels like, don't you?
[From the start, you were just my replacement.]
Instinctively, I reached back to check my own shoulder blade.
I couldn't really see anything.
So I headed to the bathroom, took off my shirt, and looked in the mirror.
There it was, a red mole in the exact same spot as the one in the photo.
And all around it, the skin was covered in hickeys.
Whenever things got heated between us, Christian was always obsessed with this spot.
Turns out, it was all because this view made him think of his first love.
All that passion and affection was just for show.
The truth was laid bare before me, catching me completely off guard.
I scoffed, then headed straight to the hospital that night and had the mole burned off.
After a night of chaos, I crashed onto my bed, dead tired.
My dreams were a blur, with Christian's face flashing in and out.
And all that lingered was him, calling me shameless again and again.
"Finley, you had a nightmare," Mom said.
I opened my eyes to see Mom watching me, worry written all over her face.
I tried to say something, but all that pain and bitterness just flooded in.
She reached out and ruffled my hair. "Go ahead and cry if you want, Finley. I know life's been unfair to you."
I shook my head in Mom's arms. "I'm not upset, really."
Seeing I seemed fine, she finally asked softly, "Your fiancé is here.
"He wants to talk about the wedding date today."
"Would a month from now work for you?"
I nodded in agreement.
I picked up my phone and opened Christian's chat.
[Christian, my wedding's set for next month.]
A voice message came back.
I tapped to play it.
A flirty woman's voice filled the room.
"Christian is still asleep. I'll let him know," she said.
Her words didn't stir anything in me. I just felt numb inside.
I put my phone away, washed up, did my makeup, and went downstairs to meet my fiancé.
My fiancé, Samuel Grant, was the richest man in Crofast.
Crofast was a thousand miles away from Avlard, where I lived.
I asked Mom why she wanted to marry me off so far away.
Her eyes welled up with tears.
"I just can't stand seeing you getting down on your knees in front of your dad's shrine every single night, beating yourself up over everything," she said.
It was only then that I realized I hadn't been as secretive as I thought.
Mom had known everything all along.
I forced a smile and said, "It won't happen again. He's getting married too."
From now on, he was just my foster brother.
We'd each get married, wish each other a happy holiday once in a while, and that would be it.
Mom nodded and gently urged, "Samuel's been waiting for you for ages. Go on, head downstairs and see him."
After I got dressed, I went downstairs.
The living room was stacked with boxes.
All of them were engagement gifts from Samuel.
I couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.
He really went all out.
As I came down the stairs, I finally got a good look at my fiancé.
Samuel had an almost otherworldly face, paired with those chilly, aloof eyes. He wasn't feminine at all. If anything, he looked like a god straight out of a legend.
He turned at the sound of my footsteps.
Our eyes met, and my cheeks burned.
Samuel stood up, flashed me a smile, and reached out his hand. "Hey, fiancée. I'm Samuel."
I reached out and took his hand.
He blinked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.
Mom watched us and burst out laughing. "How long are you two going to just stare at each other?"
I quickly let go of his hand, coughing to cover my embarrassment.
Samuel didn't seem embarrassed at all. He just took my hand and led me to the couch.
I felt a bit uneasy, but since we were going to get married soon, I just let him hold my hand.
Mom made up an excuse and slipped out, leaving us alone.
For a moment, the air between us felt stiff and awkward.
Samuel rested his chin on his hand, looking at me. "Ms. Foster, marrying you is no easy feat."
I was a bit confused.
"Why do you say that?" I asked.
Samuel raised his hand, showing off his long, elegant fingers.
"I asked your mom about marrying you five times, and she shot me down four of them.
"Honestly, I'd already given up hope, but then you agreed."
I opened my mouth, struggling for words. "I-I didn't know."
"Even if you did know, you probably would've said no anyway," Samuel added.
Samuel's gaze was piercing, like he could see right through me.
I was silent for a moment, then nodded.
Back then, all I ever thought about was Christian. There was no room for anyone else in my world.
It was not like no one ever tried to pursue me, but I turned them all down.
Samuel looked me straight in the eye, not beating around the bush. "Since you said yes to marrying me, your heart should belong to me now."
"Leave all that in the past.
I pressed my lips together. "Wait, you know about all that?"
Samuel nodded.
"I saw you and Christian when you two visited Crofast," he said.
I was totally at a loss.
My fiancé knew about what happened between Christian and me.
He might think I was shameless.
Even Christian would probably judge me for it.
Samuel gently rubbed my head. "Don't let your mind run wild.
"It's all behind you now. You didn't do anything wrong.
"It's over, so don't dwell on it anymore."
I felt the warmth in his touch and nodded, comforted by his kindness.
After our families agreed on the wedding date, Samuel and I were off to Crofast to meet his family.
Three hours later, we landed in Crofast.
Samuel brought me to the Grant residence.
The whole Grant family was formally dressed, gathered at the entrance in a loose formation.
The moment they saw me, everyone broke into smiles.
A few kids couldn't help but cheer.
They said, "Samuel's finally getting married."