Chapter 2

I didn't go looking for Cora, but she came to me.

She looked gentle and demure, no wonder Declan liked her.

He probably thought I was too bright and flamboyant.

"I heard Asher almost gave up his life to marry you back then."

I looked at her face, silent.

When Declan pursued me, he was all high-profile and flamboyant, eager to let the world know he liked me.

To get Mr. Sullivan to agree to our marriage.

He jumped into an icy lake in winter to show his determination, injuring his little finger from the frostbite.

He said it was a badge of love.

Said that as long as his finger hurt, it would remind him to love me for a lifetime.

"But in the end, he still chose me."

Cora raised her eyebrows, looking smug, "Our child is already three months old."

"Back then, we were too young to know what we wanted."

"Just like me, I left him and went abroad to marry someone else. Fortunately, in the end, we got back together..."

She glanced at me as she spoke.

Her eyes were full of smiles.

My heart felt like it was being pricked by thousands of needles.

It started to hurt sharply, suffocatingly.

When Declan brought Cora back that day.

He once vowed in front of me, "It wasn't my will to be with her."

"If she weren't pregnant, I would've kicked her out long ago."

Later, I found out.

During his time in the States, he was always entangled with Cora.

They indulged themselves in my bridal chamber, with Cora gasping in his arms, playfully.

"Asher, I can't take it anymore."

Declan teased her, "If it weren't for you seducing..."

That's when I realized.

I was the fool kept in the dark the whole time.

Under pressure, Declan promised me.

"Adeline, once Fiona gives birth, I'll send her away. Aren't you afraid of getting out of shape from pregnancy?"

"Why don't you raise Cora's child?"

I stayed silent.

But when Cora heard Declan's idea, she accidentally fell.

Everyone said I couldn't tolerate her.

Declan also wanted to break off our engagement without a word.

"Adeline Harper, you malicious woman!"

...

Before Cora left, she taunted.

"Adeline Harper, you can't beat me. Asher doesn't love you. He loves me now."

I pretended to stay composed and ignored her.

But the pain in my heart was so intense, it made sweat bead on my forehead.

I lay at home for two days.

When I woke up, I decided to talk things over with Declan. Our engagement involved both families' reputation.