Chapter 2
He made me apologize to Grace.
I slowly turned around.
I looked at his handsome yet aloof face.
I looked at that pitiful little 'angelic bitch' Grace in his arms.
I smiled.
I smiled even brighter than before.
I said, "General, are you kidding me?
"So your sweetheart's hand is precious, but my head is worthless?
"The coronet is just a thing, but the Bernard family's reputation means nothing?"
My voice was soft, but every word hit like a knife.
Gabriel's face shifted from ashen to livid.
"You..." he stammered, completely lost for words.
He'd never seen me this sharp-tongued before.
To him, I was always the meek, timid Shirley who followed his every command without question.
I didn't give him a chance to speak.
I said, "If you want me to be gracious, that's fine.
"Let this coronet be the Bernard family's apology gift to Ms. Russell.
"After all, her hand must be sore from hitting me so much.
"As for this marriage, I don't see any need for it anymore.
"Guess I'm just not worthy of marrying into the Adolph family."
With that, I gathered my skirt and walked off without another glance.
I made my way straight to my father.
"Father, let's go home," I said.
All eyes turned to my father, Thomas.
His brows knitted together, and his face was tense.
I could tell he was torn, trying to make a decision.
He was stuck between saving the Bernard family's reputation and obeying the emperor's order for this marriage.
Gabriel watched him, a warning in his eyes.
He was confident Thomas wouldn't dare break off the engagement in front of everyone and risk publicly humiliating the emperor.
In her previous life, he'd gambled and won.
But what about this time?
I stood in front of my father, my expression steady and unshaken.
There was no begging, no tears, just a clear, unwavering look.
My eyes were calm, almost lifeless, like a pool with no ripples.
He met my gaze, and for a moment, his eyes narrowed in surprise.
It was as if he suddenly saw something in me he'd never noticed before.
It was the calm of someone reborn from despair.
Gabriel spoke again, his tone impatient.
"Mr. Bernard, is this how you raise your daughter?" he said.
My father was silent for a moment.
Then, he finally spoke, his voice calm and measured.
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried across the entire wedding hall.
"No daughter of the Bernard family will ever suffer such humiliation," he said, his tone firm and unwavering.
He took off his coat and gently placed it over my shoulders, shielding me from the shame of my ruined wedding gown.
"We're going home," he said.
My father's words were like a dose of reassurance, steadying my heart in the chaos.
But to Gabriel, they landed like a resounding slap, stinging with public humiliation.
Gabriel's face went from stunned, to furious, to utterly incredulous.
He never expected this.
Thomas, always famous for his moderation, was suddenly so uncompromising.
Gabriel snapped, his voice sharp with warning, "Thomas! Are you sure about this?
"This marriage was personally arranged by the emperor!
"Are you really going to go against the emperor's will?"
Gabriel played his final card, invoking the emperor's authority.
This was his ace in the hole.
And it was his biggest trump card.
My father stopped in his tracks, but didn't look back.
He said, "Don't worry, General.
"I'll go to the palace myself and give His Majesty a proper explanation.
"But the shame my daughter suffered today? The Bernard family will remember it."
He finished speaking, then took my hand and led me out, never once looking back.
My eldest brother, George Bernard, the seasoned general who guarded the border for years, marched right after us, his presence commanding.
He came up beside me.
"Don't worry, Shirley. Your big brother's here," George murmured.
His hand was broad and warm, wrapping around mine like a shield, making me feel safe for the first time in a long while.
And so, under the gaze of every guest, the Bernard family walked out of a wedding destined to be the laughingstock of all Celestia.
Behind us, Gabriel was trembling with fury.
I could hear the sound of his teeth grinding in anger.
"Fine, Bernard family! Just you wait!" Gabriel spat, his voice dripping with venom.
"Just wait and see!"
Grace's crying just wouldn't stop.
"Gabriel, what should we do... It's all my fault..." she sobbed, clinging to him.
She was so noisy.
We climbed into the carriage, and it was dead silent inside.
George's eyes lingered on the cut on my forehead, his face twisted with worry and guilt.
"Sorry, I was late. This is all on me," he muttered.
My father sat in silence, his face so dark it looked like a storm was brewing.
I knew he was plotting his next move.
I called off the engagement, and did it in public.
It wasn't just the Adolph family's pride on the line; it was the emperor's too.
One wrong move, and we'd be ruined for good.
In my last life, it was that fear that made my father keep backing down, step by step.
And in the end, it doomed the Bernard family to a disaster we could never recover from.
The carriage came to a stop.
Back at the Bernard family estate, my father led me straight into his study.
George was kept behind as well.
After dismissing all the servants, my father finally spoke.
"Shirley, tell me, what really happened?" he asked.