Chapter 2

The moment I said it, the whole courtyard went dead silent.

Emily was the first to react. She rushed over and grabbed my sleeve, nearly in tears. "Miss Hartwell, are you out of your mind? That's the Duke. People say he kills without a second thought and keeps countless beauties in his manor.

"No one who marries him survives more than three months. How could you think about provoking the devil?"

I patted Emily's hand to calm her down. I'd heard all those rumors in my previous life, too. But later, I realized they were all fake. Alexander was cold, sure, but he never killed innocent people.

And those stories about beauties? Total nonsense. He never married, didn't have a single maid in his manor. In Amiston, he was the most mysterious and the most feared man.

That was exactly the kind of power I want backing me up. "My mind's made up. Follow my lead," I said calmly.

Emily was about to say more, but then, my father, Richard Hartwell, and my stepmother, Fiona Hartwell, came rushing in after hearing the commotion.

Richard stormed in, jabbing a finger at me. "Have you lost your mind? The Sterling family's gifts are already here, and the marriage is set in stone. If you back out now, are you trying to make the Hartwell family a laughingstock?"

Fiona stood off to the side, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief, putting on a show of concern. "Isabelle, I know you don't want to leave us, but a girl has to get married eventually.

"Mr. Sterling is handsome and comes from a good family. Don't do anything foolish."

I watched them play their little act together, and honestly, it was ridiculous. My dignity? The Hartwell family's dignity? When Edward abandoned me in my previous life, did they care about our so-called dignity then?

When they threw me out and left me to survive on my own, did they care about the father-daughter bond? In the end, all they cared about was the Sterling family's future power. My marriage was a pawn in their plans.

As for Alexander, he wielded immense power, but his foundation was unstable, and he had too many enemies in court. In their eyes, he was far less reliable than Edward, whose future looked promising.

I didn't waste my breath on them. I strode right up to the pile of gifts. "Father, look closely. These chests are all the property my mother left me. Now, I'm using them to propose marriage to the Duke.

"Do you think the Duke will accept because of all this gold and silver? Or will he come down on me, and the Hartwell family, for breaking off the engagement with the Sterlings?"

Richard's face went pale in a flash. He was the type who'd rather grovel than risk offending anyone powerful. The Sterlings were a small, insignificant family. Nothing compared to Alexander.

"Father, I'm doing this for the Hartwell family. If I marry the Duke, I'll be a minister's wife. But if I marry Alexander, our whole family's status will soar with me. Isn't that right?"

Richard's Adam's apple bobbed, and his gaze wavered.

Fiona wasn't willing to back down. Her voice sharp, she said, "That's easy for you to say. Everyone knows what kind of man the Duke really is.

"Marrying him is a death sentence. Are you trying to drag the entire Hartwell family to the grave with you?"

I shot her a cold glance. "I'm the Hartwell family's daughter. My marriage isn't for a concubine like you to meddle in."

Fiona's face turned pale with rage. I ignored her and turned to Richard, playing my final card. "Father, if you agree, once these gifts are sent to Blackwood Manor, I'll have them send back 20,000 dollars for you.

"But if you refuse, I'll take everything with me right now. Then you'll have offended both the Duke and the Sterlings, losing both your reputation and your wealth. It's up to you, Father. Weigh your options carefully."

Richard's eyes lit up instantly. He was greedy to the core, and that kind of money was a temptation he couldn't resist. The anger on his face disappeared in a flash, replaced by his putting on his best doting father act.

"You're right, Isabelle. I wasn't thinking straight. Marriage is a big deal, and you should decide for yourself. Since your heart is set on the Duke, I support you."

He turned to Fiona and snapped, "What are you standing around for? Didn't you hear Isabelle? Go help count the gifts."

Fiona was furious but didn't dare talk back. She shot me a vicious glare, then stormed off to boss the servants around, clearly hating every second of it.

I shut down their little drama with nothing but money and power. I laughed coldly to myself. This was what my family was really like. When it came to profit, blood meant nothing.

*****

I watched as the servants marched out with my gifts in a grand parade. The convoy stretched all the way from one end of the street to the other, drawing crowds of curious onlookers.

I wanted the whole city of Amiston to know that today, I was heading to Blackwood Manor to ask for Alexander's hand in marriage.

As I was about to step forward, a voice I knew all too well, one that made me sick to my core, echoed behind me. "Isabelle."

I froze, but kept my back to him, refusing to turn around. A servant came running up, out of breath. "Miss Hartwell, Mr. Sterling is here."