He Married Me For Duty, I Said No This Time

Chapter 2

The moment those words left her mouth, the entire living room fell into dead silence.

Lydia was the first to snap out of it. She hurried over, grabbed Violet by the arm, and pulled her to her feet.

"Have you lost your mind? What kind of nonsense are you talking about?"

"I'm completely serious, Aunt." Violet's voice was calm, without the slightest hint of joking. "I mean every word."

Lydia's face darkened. "Enough! If you don't marry Adrian, your reputation will be ruined! Do you really think you'll never get married for the rest of your life?"

Back then, a young woman's reputation could determine the rest of her future. Violet had only just turned fifteen. There was no way Lydia could stand by and watch her life be destroyed.

But what Lydia didn't know was that, for someone who had lived through it all once already, not marrying Adrian was freedom.

Violet softened her voice. "Even if I never get married, I can still have a good life."

"Don't be ridiculous!"

Lydia was so upset she completely forgot about appearances. She grabbed Violet and dragged her out of the living room, all the way back to the small bamboo courtyard where Violet lived alone.

"Stand there."

Her fingertips trembled with anger. "Who put those ideas in your head? Are you trying to drive me to an early grave?"

"Aunt..." Violet started to explain, but stopped the instant she looked up.

Lydia's eyes were overflowing with tears. One crystal tear after another rolled down her cheeks.

"This is all my fault. I wasn't strong enough. That's why you're being treated like this."

The guilt on Lydia's face stabbed straight through Violet's heart. Every explanation she had prepared caught in her throat.

Violet stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her aunt. For once, her voice turned soft and affectionate. "I'm sorry, Aunt. I won't say things like that again. I promise I won't make you mad anymore."

It took a long while before Lydia finally calmed down. After wiping away her tears, she left only one sentence behind.

"I'll take care of this."

Then she hurried out to discuss a solution.

Watching her leave, Violet let out a long sigh. She knew every single thing her aunt did was for her sake. But now that she'd been given a second chance, there was no way she'd become Adrian's wife again.

Not long afterward, one of the maids knocked on her door.

"Miss, Mr. Winston is here. He's waiting for you in the gazebo out back."

Adrian had come to see her? In her previous life, throughout twenty years of marriage, he'd never once sought her out alone.

A ripple stirred in Violet's heart, but she still got up and headed for the backyard.

*****

After exchanging a simple greeting in the gazebo, Violet instinctively turned to the maid beside them.

"Nina, could you make us some coffee? Skip the latte. A black coffee will do."

"Yes, Miss." The maid quietly left.

Adrian paused. Ever since he was young, he'd only ever liked black coffee. He'd never cared for lattes.

The only person who knew that was the male assistant who had been with him for years.

How did Violet know?

Thinking about it, she'd been living with the Winston family ever since Lydia married into the family ten years ago. They had grown up under the same roof.

Before the pool incident, he'd never once imagined she would become the woman he was supposed to marry.

Adrian had always been a man with principles. Since the whole situation had started because of him, he was willing to take responsibility. But what Violet had done in the living room today, calling off the engagement herself, had completely caught him by surprise.

A thoughtful look crossed his eyes before he spoke in his usual calm voice.

"Violet, don't take what my grandmother said to heart. I told you I'd marry you, and I won't go back on my word."

His voice wasn't loud. But every word carried the weight of responsibility.

Violet's heart tightened.

A wave of bitterness washed over Violet.

This was Adrian. Disciplined, dependable, a man everyone admired.

In her previous life, she'd mistaken that sense of responsibility for love.

It had taken her twenty long years to finally realize the truth. He had never loved her.

If any other girl had been in her place back then, Adrian would've taken responsibility all the same. He had never been the one who was wrong.

She was the one who foolishly believed responsibility could become love. She was the one who kept hoping for affection beyond duty.

Suppressing the ache in her chest, Violet met his eyes. "You don't have to feel responsible."

She spoke slowly, every word deliberate. "What I said in the living room... I meant it. I really do want to end this engagement."

Adrian looked into her eyes. There wasn't the slightest trace of hesitation or pretense. Something inside him shifted almost imperceptibly.

After a few seconds of silence, he finally spoke, "I wasn't saying those things just to be polite. You don't have to worry about what life will be like after we're married. If I marry you, I'll treat you well."

Those words, I'll treat you well, hit Violet like a punch.

Her entire body stiffened. She couldn't say a word.

Adrian didn't notice the sadness that flashed across her face. After saying what he came to say, he turned and walked out of the gazebo.

*****

Early the next morning, Violet planned to visit Lydia. The moment she stepped out of her courtyard, Lydia's personal maid came running toward her in a panic.

"Miss, something terrible happened! Ms. Ross went out yesterday to deliver a letter. By evening, officials had taken her to the government guesthouse. She... she never came back."