Chapter 3

I'd cried and thrown fits over the whole co-wife drama, but all I got from Harry was not a shred of pity.

Instead, he acted even more fearlessly and believed that I was completely at his mercy.

Harry was clearly irritated.

"Can you stop? Everyone's wiped out today. If you really can't deal with Gillian, we'll figure out the wedding later," he said.

He gave me a look full of disdain. "Why bother threatening to call off the engagement? You can't bear to do it anyway."

Trying to reason with him was a lost cause.

I slapped the marriage contract right in Harry's face and stormed off, tuning out his yelling behind me.

He shouted, "Rosemary, after all that drama today, who else would even take you in but me?

"Where else can you go besides the Glisson family? Are you going back to that rundown place with nothing but an old lady?"

He was right. I was heading straight back home.

I was going to send my nanny, Fiona Gilbert, who traveled south with me, away.

My neighbors saw what was going on and spoke up for me, saying I was a decent person who had bad luck with people.

They insisted there was no way I'd ever get involved in dirty deeds like murder or arson.

I watched as Fiona, her hair as white as snow, climbed into the carriage and rode away.

It felt like a huge weight had finally crashed to the ground inside me, shaking me to the core and giving me the guts to burn all my bridges.

Since the engagement was off, there was no way I'd let my wedding gifts walk out the door for free.

I hired a team of bodyguards and stormed back to the Glisson residence to take my wedding gifts back.

Any servant who tried to run off and snitch got nabbed by my bodyguards.

As I passed by the study, I overheard Harry and his mother talking.

Gale nagged him, "Son, what's so special about Rosemary? Sure, she helped our family out before, but after all these years, you've more than repaid her.

"She never follows the traditions and always shows herself in public. How could she ever be good enough for a family like ours?

"If you really insist on marrying her, you'd better crush that defiant spirit of hers before the wedding.

"Otherwise, she'll make sure our family never gets a moment's peace."

I couldn't help but remember how Harry acted in court.

First, he tried to pressure me into giving in, and when that didn't work, he went ahead and made my disgrace official.

After all, once I'd been to jail, no matter what the marriage contract said, he could always use that as an excuse to tear it up and start over.

When I was completely out of options, Harry would show up with some grand excuse, acting all dignified.

He'd take me in as his mistress, all under the guise of pity.

Harry really thought he could play me like that.

As I was directing my people to move the gift boxes, Gillian showed up with a squad of servants and had us completely cornered.

She acted like she was the lady of the house. "Rosemary, you didn't even bother to announce yourself when you came back."

Gillian lifted her eyelids, her slender fingers raised with practiced elegance.

She sneered, "Or maybe you haven't had your fill of shady business yet, and now you're trying to snatch a few things before you leave?"

I didn't even bother with Gillian. "If you're so bored, why not go see how normal people actually talk? You always carry that bitchy vibe. Doesn't it make you gag?"

I walked right past her, totally missing the scheming look that flashed in Gillian's eyes.

Suddenly, her knees buckled and she crumpled to the ground.

"Gillian!" Harry shouted.

Harry's brows knitted together, his voice cold as ice.

He said, "Even if you're upset, why take it out on Gillian? She's done nothing wrong.

"When did you get so out of line? You're causing drama all the time. We haven't even sorted out the last mess, and now you're at it again.

"If you still want to stay in the Glisson residence, you'd better drop that bossy attitude. I have no idea who let you get away with this."

I couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.

He was the one who used to say that I was perfect the way I was.

When Harry and I first crossed paths, we were both running around, doing everything we could to help people hit by the disaster.

He was the son of one of the richest merchants in Daeryn, but unlike most, he actually rolled up his sleeves and handed out food to the people.

Back then, I was out investigating, and somehow the news leaked. Before I knew it, some local gangsters tracked me down.

I refused to back down, arguing my case, and when they realized they couldn't win, they went straight for their knives.

Harry stepped in and shielded me from the attack.

I wondered why things started to fall apart.

It all seemed to shift when the order came down from Malyr, and the Glisson family became royal merchants.

That passionate young Harry was slowly turned into a shell by greed and endless scheming.

Now, I wasn't even sure if holding the Glisson family up as a shining example had ever been the right move.

Lost in my memories, I barely noticed my bodyguards dutifully drawing their swords, standing ready to defend me.

Harry put on his usual charming act, speaking kindly to everyone.

"She's been acting out lately. There is probably something wrong with her brain. You know how women get when it comes to love. It makes sense.

"But really, it's some drama between us as a couple. I'll apologize for her. Sorry you all had to come out for this mess."

I frowned and shot back sarcastically.

"We didn't even hold a wedding. How can you claim that we are already a couple?"