Chapter 3

No wonder my father had been so tense lately, shutting himself in his study after coming home, buried under piles of documents.

I pressed him again and again, but he only smiled faintly, brushing it off. "Nothing, just some work. Don't worry about it, Isabelle."

That was just how he was. No matter how big the trouble, he always shouldered it alone, never wanting to burden his family with his worries.

It turned out that it was the Quinn family's doing.

Daniel had power and plenty of loyal followers. Messing with an official from the Chamber of Revenues was nothing to him.

However, the Quinn family never expected my father to be so protective of me. He stood firm against all their pressure and never let a hint slip to me.

That was when they finally dropped the facade and sent Louis to threaten me in person.

Louis kept up his flowery talk. "Olivia doesn't ask for much. She just wants a quiet, happy life as a newlywed.

"Jeloria is nice, but it's also noisy. I've heard Noberton is lush and beautiful, perfect for someone looking to heal. Why not go there for some fresh air, Lady Isabelle? It might be what you need.

"Of course, if you insist on staying, that's fine, but remember this, your father's honesty will bring him more trouble, and he'll never get a moment's peace.

"A single mistake, and your family could be dragged into imprisonment. Do you know what I mean?"

The threat in his words was unmistakably clear.

I almost laughed out loud when I heard that.

What did my family and I ever do wrong? It was just an engagement. Why should we suffer such misfortune?

Just because Louis cherished his sister didn't mean he was entitled to scheming and hurting others.

I knew what he was afraid of. He was scared that if I stayed in Jeloria, I'd be a permanent threat to Olivia and Collin's marriage.

He feared that my presence would keep reminding everyone in Jeloria how Olivia schemed her way into this marriage.

Instead of even trying to make amends, they were using my father's career and my family as leverage, all just to force me out of Jeloria.

Olivia stole my fiancé. I never even held it against them, but the Quinn family tried to drive me, the one who had suffered, out of Jeloria.

I didn't want to compromise. There was no way the Quinn family could really control everything, even under the king's watch.

Suppressing the anger, I called for a servant and had Louis politely escorted out.

When my father came home and learned what had happened, he nodded in approval and praised me for handling things just right.

Still, I couldn't shake off the worry.

*****

Sure enough, the next day, as my father was heading to court, the carriage axle suddenly snapped.

He fell, breaking a leg, and was assisted back home by a servant, yet he still tried to comfort me despite the pain.

Luckily, he wasn't seriously injured. A few months of rest, and he'd be fine.

How could the carriage suddenly break down like that?

A chill ran through me.

The Quinn family's warning was loud and clear.

After that, more bad news kept coming. I couldn't afford to take that risk. I couldn't risk my father's career or my family's lives.

If I didn't leave, the Quinn family might go off the deep end and destroy the Sterling family for good.

That day, I went to see Louis alone.

"So, Lady Isabelle, have you made up your mind?" he asked, still wearing that gentlemanly mask.

I had to fight every urge not to slap him.

I'd been doted on by my family my whole life. I had never endured such injustice. Anger made my body tremble, and tears ran from my eyes.

Rage seethed inside me, and for the first time, real hatred took root in my heart.

I lifted my gaze to Louis, who looked so hypocritical with that smug face, and clenched my fists.

I bit my lips hard, barely holding back tears. "Fine. I'll go. I'll leave Jeloria."

As tears rolled down my cheeks, Louis's eyes softened for a moment, but then he remembered Olivia back home, who cried herself to sleep every night, miserable and alone.

All Olivia ever wanted was Collin.

How could he, as her brother, possibly fail her?

He hardened himself, said his last line, and walked off. "Lady Isabelle, you should never get engaged to Olivia's man. You brought this on yourself."

*****

"Isa... Lady Isabelle, how are you?" A deep, restrained voice broke through my memories.

I looked up and saw Collin standing nearby.

He looked at the face he'd thought of day and night, his eyes full of affection.

"My lord," I said, keeping my voice distant.

He looked sad when I kept my distance, his throat moving as if he had a lot to say but couldn't.

"Collin," Olivia's voice broke in, soft but tinged with panic.

She rushed over and wrapped herself around Collin's arm. "What are you doing here? I've been searching everywhere for you."

She acted all sweet and close, but couldn't bring herself to look Collin in the eye.

When she saw that Collin was still staring at me, she finally followed his gaze.

The instant our eyes met, her face went pale, shock written across her features. She quickly lowered her head as if scared.

I saw her gripping Collin's sleeve so tightly. There wasn't a hint of the pride or swagger she used to flaunt.

Collin frowned slightly and calmly withdrew his hand.

Olivia forced a smile. "Lady Isabelle, when did you come back to Jeloria?"

Cora let out a mocking laugh. "Lady Schmidt, what do you mean? Isabelle is always welcome in Jeloria.

"Master Marvin is now the Master of the Chamber of Revenues, valued by His Majesty. As his daughter, Isabelle doesn't have to worry about those hypocritical people and their nasty stunts anymore."

As soon as Cora finished, a few ladies couldn't help but giggle.

Everyone knew Olivia had used dirty tricks to marry into Collin's family, and then relied on her family's influence to drive me out of Jeloria.

Because of that, Collin had been cold and distant toward her for years. Even when people humiliated her in public, he'd just watch with indifference, sometimes even making things worse.

Were it not for the influence of the Quinn family, her position as "Lady Schmidt" would have crumbled long ago.

"I've heard Lady Schmidt is renowned for her harp skills. Why not surprise us with a performance?" a lady familiar to me spoke up, a touch of mischief in her eyes.

The suggestion was quickly echoed by several others, their agreement laced with hidden malice.