Chapter 3

He had no idea how deeply his words cut me.

I hated that my father had abandoned my mother for his mistress. Julian knew this; he had even sworn an oath to me once:

"I, Julian Reed, will never cheat or take mistresses. I will love and cherish my wife, Eleanor Vance, for life."

The oath still echoed in my ears, yet the man who swore it had changed beyond recognition.

“Alright, you’ve always been gentle, understanding, and considerate of me. I know this situation is unfair to you, but I’ll make it up to you later.”

“Here’s a card with three million dollars. Go use it.”

He tried to appease me, as if I were a beggar.

I didn’t say a word. Instead, a sudden clarity washed over me, showing me exactly what I needed to do.

Seeing me walk out in silence, Julian assumed I had agreed to his outrageous request. He pulled a smug Chloe closer, resuming their passionate entanglement.

I found Mrs. Reed, who was deep in meditation.

I waited. After two agonizing hours, I took out the heirloom diamond pendant she had given me and handed it back to her.

“Mrs. Reed, I’m afraid I’m not worthy of this pendant. Please take it back.”

Mrs. Reed’s gentle face froze in surprise. She looked at me, bewildered, “Eleanor, my dear, what’s wrong?”

I answered truthfully: “Julian already has another woman beside him, planning to replace me. He wants to marry her, and she’s in his room right now. So, I hope you’ll give this pendant to her, Mrs. Reed.”

“My mother always told me: if your fiancé ever cheats or messes around with other women, you are absolutely not to marry him. I won't betray her memory, and I certainly won't betray myself.”

Mrs. Reed’s face immediately fell. She slapped the table and stood up.

“That scoundrel! How dare he bring some cheap woman from outside back here!”

“The alliance between the Vance and Reed families was set when your grandfathers were alive. Our late patriarch insisted that the matriarch of the Reed family must be you. He was a man of great foresight and impeccable judgment, so my daughter-in-law can only be one person, and that is you. He is not to bring a second wife into this house and break our family’s rules.”

I looked up at the peach blossoms outside the window, blooming profusely in the spring air.

“Mrs. Reed, if we cannot go against Grandfather’s dying wish, then I shall marry someone else. I want to marry Sebastian Reed.”

My words stunned Mrs. Reed. She stared at me, unable to compose herself for a long time.

She had been observing her spiritual practices for years, and from the first to the fifteenth of each month, she would not leave her meditation room, strictly adhering to her traditions. Otherwise, she would have stormed out to confront Julian.

Mrs. Reed twirled her prayer beads, “Eleanor, are you truly determined to marry his uncle? You must think this through. Sebastian is involved in both legitimate and illicit dealings, known for his ruthless and brutal methods. He’s not a tender man.”

“Mrs. Reed, we shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Some people hide their dirty deeds behind a facade of virtue and kindness. Others may appear ruthless and cold, yet they are capable of surprising acts of goodness.”

At that moment, the peach blossoms were scattered by the spring breeze, and I seemed to see that cold man patiently comforting children at an orphanage.

Just then, Julian violently pushed open the door and stormed in. He grabbed my hand, squeezing it tightly.