Chapter 4
Stephanie stared at the barrage comment, but it quickly vanished, drowned out by the endless stream of regular comments.
[Stephanie, get some sleep early. You've got a long journey tomorrow.]
[Rest up so you can really give Porter a hard time.]
[Goodnight, Stephanie. Don't let that jerk invade your dreams.]
Stephanie let out a soft "mm," not even sure who she was responding to.
She lay down and closed her eyes.
Millie's sobs, Destinee's fake laughter, and Porter's cold voice echoed in her ears. All those sounds mixed together, forming a surreal lullaby.
Suddenly, she remembered her previous life.
Back then, she was just an ordinary office worker, working late into the night. On her way home, she got hit by a car and died. When she passed, she was still holding onto half a slice of bread she never got to finish.
No one knew she had died.
It wasn't until three days later, when her landlord caught a whiff of something rotten, that the police were called.
Her life ended just like that, barely leaving a trace.
But here, there were thousands—maybe even tens of thousands—of people watching her every move, caring about her, laughing and crying for her.
Maybe this was the reason she'd transmigrated into this novel.
[System Notification: Emotional Value +1000. Hidden Insight Unlocked: Meaning of Life.]
Stephanie paused, caught off guard.
'Seriously? That's actually a thing?' she thought. 'Forget it, I'm not going to dwell on it.'
She closed her eyes and drifted off into a deep sleep.
In her dream, she saw a man standing at the edge of a cliff, reaching out to her. But his face was a blur, impossible to make out.
On the morning Stephanie was leaving the Montgomery family, it was still dark outside.
Millie woke her up, and Stephanie groggily opened her eyes to find the live chat already swarming with comments.
[Here it comes, the countdown to Porter's downfall.]
[Stephanie's leaving today, and Porter still hasn't even gotten out of bed?]
[I'm so mad. He's not even here to say goodbye.]
[Hold on, the real revenge is coming up next.]
She sat up, spacing out for a bit.
Today was her last day at the Montgomery family.
Stephanie washed up, got dressed, and let Millie work her magic. Millie's hands were deft, styling her hair into a simple updo and pinning it with a plain silver hairpin. Stephanie glanced at her reflection and nodded in approval.
She thought, 'Not too showy, not too plain—just perfect.'
[Stephanie looks stunning today.]
[She's heartbreakingly beautiful.]
[Porter just missed out big time.]
Footsteps echoed outside the door.
Stephanie turned around, thinking it might be Porter.
It was the butler, with two servants behind him carrying a box.
"Mrs. Montgomery, Mr. Montgomery sent this for you. He said it's for your journey," the butler said, bowing respectfully.
Stephanie opened the box. Inside were a few changes of clothes, a small bag of silver coins, and a travel permit.
That was it. Nothing more.
The live chat exploded.
[Seriously? That's it?]
[Three years together and this is all she gets?]
[Porter is so cold.]
[My heart aches for Stephanie.]
Stephanie closed the box and said calmly, "Let Mr. Montgomery know I appreciate it."
The butler blinked, clearly caught off guard by how composed she was. He'd thought she'd break down or make a fuss.
"Mrs. Montgomery... is there anything else you want to say?" he asked.
Stephanie paused for a moment. "There is one thing."
"Go ahead, Miss Morrison," the butler prompted.
"Tell him to stay alive," Stephanie replied.
The butler was even more stunned.
'Why does that sound like a last wish?' he thought.
[She's totally raising a death flag.]
[Stephanie's about to do something big.]
[Brace yourselves—something epic is coming.]
After the butler left, Millie, her eyes red from crying, helped Stephanie with her packing. But Stephanie didn't take a single thing of her own—no jewelry, no clothes, no books. She left it all behind.
"You're really not taking any of this, Miss Morrison?" Millie asked.
"No," Stephanie replied.
"But... what are you going to use on the road?" Millie asked.
Stephanie just pointed at the box. "That's enough."
Millie didn't understand, but she let it go.
As dawn broke, the marriage alliance caravan was already waiting outside the Montgomery estate gates. Stephanie walked out of the courtyard, down the long corridor, and passed by Porter's study.
The door was closed.
There was no sound from inside.
'Just as expected. He didn't come to see me off,' Stephanie thought.
A comment scrolled across the live chat: [Don't worry, if he doesn't come now, he won't be able to come later even if he wants to.]
Stephanie paused, her gaze lingering on the tightly shut door.
It had been three years.
Night after night, she'd stood in this courtyard, watching the glow from his window, hoping he'd come out for some fresh air and maybe, just maybe, notice her.
But he never did.
The longest she ever waited was the night before the New Year. He drank alone in his study, while she stood outside for two hours, until the cold finally made her collapse.
When she woke up the next morning, the maid told her he'd gotten drunk and slept in his study, never even knowing she was out there.
[I just want to storm in there and curse him out.]
[Stephanie, stop waiting for him. He's not worth it.]
[Let him grovel in regret someday, begging for forgiveness.]
Stephanie looked away and walked on.
Outside the estate gates, a squad of soldiers stood at attention. The leader, a middle-aged officer, spotted Stephanie and bowed. "Mrs. Montgomery, please get in the carriage."
The carriage was draped in plain blue fabric, so barebones it didn't even have a cushion.
[This crappy ride?]
[So this is how they treat the marriage alliance bride?]
[The Northvalen are gonna lose it when they see this.]
Stephanie didn't make a fuss. She stepped onto the stool and got into the carriage.
Millie tried to follow, but the officer blocked her way. "Orders from the higher-ups. Maids aren't allowed."
"Why not?" Millie protested, her voice trembling. "Miss Morrison is traveling so far all alone, with no one to take care of her."
"Millie," Stephanie said, lifting the curtain. "Just listen to them."
Millie burst into tears. "Miss Morrison..."
Stephanie met Millie's tearful gaze and said softly, "Remember what I told you last night."
Millie nodded with all her might, her tears streaming down.
The curtain was drawn shut, and the carriage started off slowly.