He Begged Too Late After I Married His Rival

Chapter 5 A Promise Crushed Beneath His Hands

Back then, she had only felt a moment of grievance before being overwhelmed by joy at his recovery.

She had never imagined that the small, cherished sweetness of her girlhood would one day become a blade in someone else's hand, cutting straight into her.

Even after leaving the private room, Selene remained dazed. They said growth came with pain, but hers had come far too late, ten years too late.

She thought about calling her parents in Port Laurent, but after picking up her phone, she set it down again. They loved her too much. If they knew, they would hurt even more than she did. She couldn't bring herself to pass that pain on.

When she returned home, a gift box wrapped in fine gauze sat quietly in the entryway. She opened it. Inside lay an exquisite wedding dress. Her phone chimed. There was a message from Julian.

Julian: I'm sorry, I can't leave right now. I hope you like this gift.

Selene ran her fingers lightly over the fabric. A faint warmth rose to her cheeks. They all said Julian was distant, untouchable. Yet he had been so thoughtful with her.

Selene: I really like it. Thank you.

A childish smiling emoji came back. Selene couldn't help but laugh softly. Even the heaviness in her heart seemed to ease a little.

When she tried on the dress, she froze. It fit perfectly, as if it had been made for her. But this brand specialized in handcrafted Milareth designs. The precision of the tailoring alone meant it couldn't have been made overnight.

And she had only just met Julian. Had he planned this all along? Selene shook her head, dismissing the thought. Still, knowing his nature, she thought that he must have looked into her before agreeing to the marriage.

Since he didn't mind her past, she should give him her sincerity in return.

The first thing she planned to do was pray for a blessed devotion bracelet, an old tradition of the Vale family. By climbing the long steps outside the abbey with sincere devotion, one could obtain the bracelet, which was said to bless two people in love to remain together for life.

Selene decided to go to St. Elaris Abbey. That was where everything with Adrian had begun. It should end there too.

Perched high in the mountains, the abbey was shrouded in mist all year round. The stone steps stretched endlessly, steep and treacherous. One misstep could send someone tumbling down.

Selene kept climbing, step by step, bowing every few steps with her hands pressed together in prayer, sincere and unwavering.

'May I meet someone worthy.'

'May my life be safe and peaceful.'

These stone steps were not unfamiliar to her. Eight years ago, after first learning of her engagement to Adrian, she had come here in excitement to pray for a blessed devotion bracelet.

Back then, she had just finished her time of cultivation. Weak from long periods of restricted food, she had collapsed several times on the steps, blood staining the stone.

But she had still made it to the top. Yet when she carefully cleaned the blood from the bracelet and handed it to Adrian, he hadn't even looked at it.

He had tossed it straight into the incense burner.

"Always thinking about useless things. No wonder you lack discipline. I will never marry someone like you." He had given her the answer long ago.

She had simply refused to believe it. Only after falling hard enough did she finally feel the pain. Tears slipped into the morning mist.

But Selene's resolve only grew stronger. From this moment on, she would have nothing more to do with Adrian. Never again.

By noon, Selene finally received the blessed devotion bracelet from Master Rowan. Though covered in dust, she smiled.

Master Rowan looked at her with gentle satisfaction. "Adrian came to pray for one as well. Seeing both you and Adrian about to start a family, I can finally rest easy."

Selene gave a bitter smile, about to explain. But Adrian suddenly walked out. Vivian followed closely behind him.

After greeting Master Rowan, Adrian frowned at Selene. "Didn't I tell you? My fiancée is Vivi. Why did you follow me here again?"

"I didn't. I came for my fiancé…"

Selene instinctively hid the bracelet behind her back. But Vivian had already noticed.

With a playful grin, she snatched it away and held it up high. "What's this, Seli?"

"Another blessed devotion bracelet," Adrian said, taking it from her. He let out a cold laugh. "Selene, aren't you tired of this trick? Asking Master Rowan for one and pretending you climbed the steps yourself. What a pity…"

With a slight pull, the string snapped. The beads scattered across the ground.

"What a pity the divine won't bless someone as fake as you."