For his first love Eliza, my fiance of many years, Julian Hart, abandoned me in the countryside to fend for myself.
Three years later, he showed up with Eliza to collect me.
“Three years should be enough,” he sneered. “Even a dog would have learned its lesson by now.”
“I did this for your own good. Unless you change that attitude of yours, you can forget about ever becoming Mrs. Hart.”
Everyone expected me to break down crying, to cling to him while sobbing about three years of hardship and longing.
Instead, I just smiled calmly.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Hart.”
“I’m already married.”
I was just returning from the farmers‘ market with bags of fresh produce when I spotted a line of luxury cars parked outside the Hart family’s country estate. I hadn’t seen vehicles like those in years.
As I approached the gate, I could hear the buzzing conversations inside.
“It’s been three years. Wonder what that high–and–mighty princess looks like now. Probably turned into a complete country bumpkin!”
“What princess? She was just some orphan the Harts took in. Acting like she was actually somebody important.”
“Exactly! She has zero blood relation to the Harts. They were just being charitable, otherwise she’d be nothing but a beggar.”
“I heard she was just young and immature back then. After three years out here, she must have learned her lesson.”
A gentle feminine voice interrupted the cruel commentary, bringing momentary silence to the courtyard.
The voice sounded familiar–soft and sweet–Eliza, Julian’s first love.
Three years ago, after her father died in a car accident, Julian brought her to live at the Hart estate.
While I was shipped off to the countryside.
When he sent me away, he said: “Eliza has already lost her family, yet you speak to her with such venom. She’s always been nothing but kind to you. Do you have any conscience at all?”
“When you’ve learned your lesson and grown up, I’ll let you come back.”
“Otherwise, you can stay here for the rest of your life.”
“This is for your own good. Unless you change that attitude, you can forget about ever becoming Mrs. Hart.”
For my own good? What a beautiful lie.
For my own good meant taking Eliza’s side in every situation.
For my own good meant abandoning me in the countryside without a single call or message?
He knew perfectly well that my emotional state was already fragile when he did this.
Hearing those words now, I could only feel the bitter irony.
“It’s Eliza’s kindness that kept her from pressing charges. If it were me, I’d have made sure she stayed locked up for years,” someone said.
Eliza responded softly: “Cassidy is still part of the Hart family after all…”
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As she finished speaking, her eyes grew misty.
“Eliza, don’t he upset. That idiot got what she deserved. Can you imagine her face when she sees tis all here?”
“Obviously she’ll be bawling her eyes out, begging Julian to take her back!”
Julian snorted coldly: “Three years should be enough. Even a dog would have learned its lesson by now.”
“If not, she can continue her reformation out here.”
Then a chorus of agreement followed.
“I’d prefer if she hadn’t learned her lesson. Then I’d never have to see her again.”
“Seriously. Just looking at her shameless face makes me sick.”
“But… don’t you two still have an engagement?” someone asked uncertainly.
At this, Eliza turned to Julian, her eyes full of expectation.
“The engagement… we’ll see how she does,” Julian replied.
Hearing his answer, Eliza looked away, disappointment clear on her face.
By this point, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.
I didn’t bother trying to hide it. So the sound carried on the gentle breeze into the courtyard, startling the gathered vultures.
The person closest to the gate turned and spotted me, exclaiming in surprise:
“Cassidy Pierce?!”
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