12
Menu
I knew nothing of these events. I stood in front of a row of dresses, feeling all kinds of conflicted as I sift through them. My aunt had arranged a fiance for me, but we’d never met since my arrival in England. My health had been poor, requiring an extended period of recuperation. Sure, my fiance had sent gifts and had people check on me, but this is the first time we’re actually meeting face to face. I’d seen his photo, but knew nothing of his personality. So, I was determined to make a good
impression.
To play it safe, I chose a sleeveless, off–the–shoulder A–line midi dress in a soft pink, accentuating my gentle demeanor. My long hair was meticulously styled, adorned with a simple jade
hairpin.
me,
I
As I walk through the door that the messenger opened for spot the man rising to greet me by the castle’s floor–to–ceiling windows. If Julian was like the cold depths of an abyss, then William was the warm sun of spring.
At first, I couldn’t believe my aunt’s words; I mean, who would really treat their wife like a queen in this world? Especially in a family as tangled as the Blacks?
Before the date, I’d researched the Black family. After reading their public info, my impression was just one word–chaos.
While William’s branch was known for its devotion to wives,
other branches were less exemplary. Illegitimate children abounded. William lived with his siblings, a situation fraught
with potential conflicts.
But today, I realized how shallow my understanding was. Once I
sat down, William took the initiative to introduce himself. He handed me relevant information, answering all the questions I
14:20
1.7%
< 12
Menu
had in detail. Plus, he kept checking in on me, pouring tea and handing me tissues. The whole experience made me feel surprisingly relaxed.
I took a good look at this man, who was also ten years older than me, and suddenly thought that marrying someone like him might not be such a bad idea.
At the end of the date, William graciously drove me home. Lost in conversation, I didn’t notice a black Maybach hidden behind bushes across the street from the estate. Inside those dark windows, a pair of deep–set eyes were fixed on the Maserati I
was in.
Three months later, Julian saw me again. Ever since he learned the whole truth, it took him a week to accept everything. The woman he despised was actually framed. The woman he deeply loved, Olivia, was the true killer.
At first, Julian couldn’t accept it. He couldn’t believe that the childhood friend he adored, the one everyone idolized, could be so ruthless behind the scenes!
That day, when Olivia woke up in the hospital after her miscarriage, she was on her knees, crying her heart out beside him. With solid evidence against her, she couldn’t even try to defend herself anymore. All she could do was keep telling him that her actions were driven by her love for him.
As for the other women who pursued Julian, it was the same reason. She wouldn’t let her man be coveted by anyone else, so she took matters into her own hands to make them disappear.
“Vicious.”
That was the only word Julian could think of to describe her. For a moment, he wondered if this was even the Olivia he
14:20
1.7%
< 12
knew, the kind, innocent girl he remembered.
Menu
< 13