~Chapter 3~
“What is this?”
A few days later, Elin looked down at the dress her stepmother handed her, confused.
“I picked it because it would suit your eye color.”
It was a green muslin indoor dress, decorated with soft white lace at the hem and delicate ribbons on the sleeves.
“It’s Janice’s dress.”
Even before getting married and leaving the house, Janice had never once shared her clothes with Elin.
She hated even the thought of Elin touching her things.
So Elin had always avoided going near her room.
Janice had left behind many clothes, shoes, and accessories when she moved out—and this green dress was one of them.
Elin couldn’t understand why her stepmother was smiling and handing it to her now.
Just a few days ago, she had been furious about the party incident.
So why?
“We’re having a guest today. What will they think if you look like that?”
“A guest? Who?”
When Elin didn’t accept it, Rosana answered irritably.
“Fine. I’ll be honest. Baron Mackenzie is coming. So dress nicely and behave properly.”
Elin’s eyes flashed with anger.
“What? Are you really planning to sell me to that old man?!”
As she turned away, her stepmother grabbed her wrist.
“Let go. I’ll talk to Father.”
She shook off her hand and hurried to find him.
This was too much.
What kind of father lets his daughter be treated like this?
Elin had endured everything until now.
Even when her father brought home another woman and her daughter, she had stayed quiet.
She believed if she acted like a good daughter, she would be treated kindly.
But all she received was coldness.
When a good marriage proposal came for her, it was given to Janice instead.
She was even sent away to take care of her great-aunt—and the money was taken.
And now—
They were trying to sell her to an old man?
All the pain and resentment she had held inside finally exploded.
She saw her father in the hallway.
“Father!”
As she tried to go down, he quickly slipped into his office.
Avoiding her.
That cowardly act made her even angrier.
“Ha…!”
Tears burst from her eyes.
She wiped them away roughly and turned back to her stepmother.
Rosana looked at her coldly, chin raised.
What are you going to do about it?
Elin snatched the dress from her and threw it on the floor.
Her stepmother’s eyes widened.
“Y-you dare?!”
She trembled with anger.
Elin had always obeyed before—so this shocked her.
“I won’t wear this dress, and I won’t meet that old man.”
“What?”
“Even if I have to abandon this family name, I won’t marry him!”
The maids whispered in shock.
Marie clenched her fist quietly.
Miss! That’s right!
Elin ran past her stepmother and down the stairs.
Bang!
She ran out of the house as if she would never return.
“Elin! Come back right now!”
Her stepmother’s voice echoed behind her, but Elin didn’t hear it.
Running through the garden, she suddenly stopped.
“Oh, my lady! You didn’t have to come greet me—”
It was Baron Mackenzie.
His nose was red like Rudolph’s, and he looked even worse in daylight.
“You look even more beautiful in the daytime.”
A foul smell—either alcohol or flowers—hit her.
Elin instinctively stepped back.
“W-wait!”
But she turned and ran the other way.
Inside a carriage across from the Nelson estate, Dominic watched everything carefully.
“Follow her.”
At his command, the carriage began to move.
As she ran along the busy road, she looked dangerously out of place.
A horse reared up in front of her.
She almost collided with it—but kept running as if she saw nothing.
‘Does she want to die?’
Dominic grew tense watching her.
Soon, rain suddenly poured from the clear sky.
She stopped running and began walking slowly.
Dominic relaxed slightly, leaning back.
He let out a dry laugh.
Why was he so tense because of her?
“Keep following her. Don’t let her notice.”
The carriage kept its distance.
Through the window, he watched her.
She trembled in the rain.
Her already plain brown dress became soaked and looked even poorer.
Her red hair clung to her wet face.
Water dripped from her skirt.
‘Is she really the same woman?’
She looked like a lost puppy wandering the streets.
Was she really the same woman who boldly kissed him first?
The carriage stopped.
‘What is she doing?’
His golden eyes narrowed.
She wrung out her soaked dress like laundry.
She squeezed the water from her hair and tied it up.
Her face was wet—whether from tears or rain, it was hard to tell.
Then she walked into a brick building.
Only after she disappeared did Dominic properly look at it.
A red Gothic-style building.
‘A monastery…’
He leaned back, thinking.
Her poor appearance.
Running from an ugly old noble.
Her sad expression.
And finally, entering the monastery.
He understood her situation.
A bitter smile crossed his lips.
‘I’ve been wasting my time.’
Instead of pity, he felt foolish.
Why was he investigating someone else’s life like this?
“Let’s go back.”
He closed his eyes, trying to erase the memory.
The carriage slowly left.
A few days later, in a quiet office lit by the setting sun—
Dominic read a report about the Nelson family.
He remembered the girl entering the monastery in the rain.
“So that’s why she went there.”
He hadn’t expected she was visiting her sick younger brother.
As he read further—
“She almost got married before… to the Creighton family?”
He didn’t recognize the name.
He sighed lightly.
Tapping the sofa, he thought.
What should I do?
Can she be useful?
Am I being foolish?
Her family situation was clearly unpleasant.
No wonder her expression had been so dark.
His hand stopped tapping.
‘That’s why she’s perfect.’
He felt a slight guilt—but pushed it aside.
‘If I pay her well, it will be fine.’
His cold, business-like mindset took over.
“I’ll host a party.”
Higgins looked confused.
“A party?”
“If I’ve decided, the sooner the better.”
“What decision—?”
“I’m going to get married. As soon as possible.”
News spread quickly.
The Duke of Linderto was hosting a grand party.
“Why is the Duke holding a party?”
“Did the Duchess Dowager return?”
“Maybe he’s going to make an announcement.”
“Did he finally give in to the count’s daughter?”
People talked everywhere.
It had been a long time since such a party was held.
The previous duke had passed away.
The Duchess Dowager lived in the south.
And Dominic rarely attended parties.
So everyone was curious.
The invitation reached the Nelson household as well.
