Chapter 3

Just as the news of the annulment reached the Lynn family, Jackson showed up.

That day, I was sitting in the courtyard, checking out the new silk patterns Swiden had sent over.

Jackson burst in, fuming, and with a single swipe, knocked the pattern book off the table and onto the ground.

"Jessie, are you done making a scene yet?" he snapped.

I didn't even lift an eyelid. "Pick those up," I ordered.

Jackson stood in front of me, his expression downright terrifying. "First you had someone hang those paintings in the coffee house.

"And now you made Lord Richard break off the engagement. Jessie, since when did you stoop to this kind of stuff?"

I finally looked up at him. "Did you ever think you were being shady when you stood up for Linda in front of everyone?"

Jackson's brows furrowed. "Linda and I are completely innocent. There's nothing improper between us.

"She comes from a tough background, and since she returned to the capital, she's been looked down upon everywhere she goes. I'm giving her some extra support.

"Jessie, why do you keep picking on a poor girl like her?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "'Extra support,' huh?

"You went to the Grand Festival Night, shared a table at the Music Party, and even had a secret meeting behind Winterridge Temple.

"Lord Jackson, don't you think your 'extra support' for this poor girl is a little too much?"

As I spoke, I simply raised my hand.

The maid set a box down in front of him. Inside was a stack of letters, along with a few delicate sketches.

I might not have loved him, but that didn't mean I'd let my guard down around my own fiancé.

Andrea had been gathering all this for me, bit by bit, over the past three years.

Jackson opened the first sketch, and his expression shifted immediately.

The sketch showed him and Linda sitting face-to-face on a decorated boat during last Valentine's Day, admiring the lanterns together.

The second sketch showed him draping a cloak over Linda's shoulders behind Winterridge Temple.

The third sketch showed him staying with her at the guest house until midnight on her birthday before finally leaving.

Jackson's fingers went rigid as he looked up at me. "Did you have someone tailing me?"

I leisurely picked up my coffee cup. "If you've got nothing to hide, Lord Jackson, why worry about people watching?"

Jackson stared at me for a long moment, then let out a mocking laugh. "Jessie, you can't let go, can you? Deep down, you still care about me.

"But don't forget, when the Grand Temple caught fire, I was the one who dragged you out of the flames.

"Without me, you wouldn't have made it this far."

I set down my coffee cup and gave a light laugh.

That laugh caught Jackson off guard.

I said calmly, "Jackson, did you really think I haven't investigated anything all these years?

"The person who carried me out of that fire had a crescent-shaped scar at the base of their right thumb, and their palm was burned raw by a falling beam.

"Do you have those scars on your hand?"

Jackson's face went ghostly pale.

I stood up and slowly walked over to him, closing the distance with deliberate steps.

"You don't," I continued. "But Elias does.

"The day of the fire, it was Elias who carried me out of the side hall and personally took me to the palace hospital.

"You showed up a bit late, saw I was confused after waking up, and decided to claim the hero's credit for yourself."

Jackson swallowed hard, forcing himself to speak. "Who told you that nonsense?"

I threw an old handkerchief at his feet. In the corner, the name 'Sterling' was stitched, now blackened by the fire.

I replied, "I found this handkerchief when I was in Swiden.

"Elias injured his hand back then, and the Northern Defense Army's doctors still have the old case files. If you want to keep denying it, I'll have them all come here and face you."

Jackson's lips went pale, and he couldn't say a word for a long time.

I looked at him, and realized whatever little tie I thought we had was gone. Even the so-called debt of saving my life was a lie.

I said coldly, "I've already sent the marriage contract back to the Lynn family.

"From now on, whoever you want to be with or look after. It has nothing to do with me."

Jackson suddenly stepped forward and gripped my wrist tightly. "Jessie!

"Even if there was some misunderstanding about the fire, after everything between us, after all the feelings I've shown you, why do you have to burn all the bridges and leave no way back?"

I looked down at his hand gripping my wrist. "Let go."

Jackson didn't budge.

The next instant, a dark figure shot in from the courtyard entrance, seized Jackson's wrist in a vice grip, and threw him off without hesitation.

Elias stood at my side, his gaze stormy and intense. "She told you to let go."

Jackson stumbled back, and when he realized it was Elias, his expression soured even more.

Elias cut him off before he could say anything, glanced at me and asked, "Are you hurt?"

I shook my head.

Only then did Elias turn to Jackson, his tone chillingly cold. "Lord Jackson, even after the engagement's off, you still have the guts to storm into her courtyard?

"Guess the Lynn family's rules are really something else."

Jackson clenched his fists, his eyes flicking back and forth between me and Elias, then suddenly let out a cold, mocking laugh. "I see how it is now.

"Jessie, you ended things so decisively. Don't tell me you already had your next guy waiting in the wings?"

Before I could say anything, Elias had already stepped forward.

I raised my hand to stop him, then walked up to Jackson myself. "Jackson, are you even qualified to talk to me about who comes after you?

"If you dare come near me again, I'll make sure every sordid detail between you and Linda gets copied out and handed straight to the Censorate.

"By then, you'll lose a lot more than your reputation."

Jackson stared me down, but in the end, he didn't say a word. He turned and stormed out.

After Jackson left, Elias finally spoke up, his voice low and a little regretful. "Sorry I didn't get here sooner."

I tilted my head, glancing over at him. His ears were turning red again, and his hand had quietly balled into a fist at his side.

Suddenly, the memory of that night came flooding back. The flames roaring, and someone carrying me out, their heartbeat racing against my cheek, yet their hold was steady, reassuring.

It turned out everything was him all along.