He Married Me For Duty, I Said No This Time

Chapter 7

Violet felt as if something had exploded inside her head.

For a moment, she stood there as if struck by lightning.

The sachet in her hand was clenched so tightly her fingers hurt, yet her expression remained unnaturally calm.

"What exactly are you doing right now?"

Hearing her voice, Adrian immediately pushed Sherry away.

Sherry instantly put on a pitiful expression. "Miss Ross, please don't misunderstand. I was just talking to Mr. Winston about my late father. I got emotional and lost my composure."

Adrian was about to explain. Violet cut him off first.

"I made a sachet for you. I came to give it to you."

Sherry's face stiffened for a split second. Seeing that Adrian hadn't looked at her even once, she lowered her head and said softly, "Mr. Winston, I won't interrupt you and Miss Ross any longer."

Once Sherry left, Adrian visibly relaxed. He carefully accepted the sachet and slipped it into the inner pocket of his jacket.

"It's beautiful. I'll carry it with me all the time."

After a brief pause, he added, "What happened just now wasn't appropriate. It won't happen again."

"Okay."

Violet forced a faint smile and nodded.

But deep inside, she warned herself silently. 'Adrian.

Don't keep testing my limits.'

After living through everything once already, her heart had become much smaller than before.

Whenever she remembered the countless nights from her previous life, sitting alone in an empty room waiting for him to come home, a suffocating ache swept over her.

*****

Lydia had been away for nearly a month. Even though Jane had repeatedly ordered everyone to keep quiet, the servants had long since spread rumors throughout the mansion in private.

That afternoon, while Violet was walking through the back garden to clear her mind, she overheard several groundskeepers whispering among themselves.

"Lydia's been gone for almost a month. They say she's accompanying the chairman's wife, but who stays with someone for that long?"

"You actually believe that? I bet she hooked up with some powerful official."

"Shameless."

Violet's expression darkened. She was about to step forward when a cold voice came from behind her.

"If you're so interested in gossiping, maybe you don't want to keep your jobs."

The women immediately straightened up in panic, their heads lowered.

Adrian's face was icy. "If I hear anyone spreading rumors about my her, the Winston family won't let it slide."

"We understand, sir."

Violet stood there in surprise. A warmth slowly spread through her chest.

In the entire Winston family, he was probably the only one willing to defend her.

*****

A few days later, the city's annual equestrian championship began.

For young women like Violet, it was a rare opportunity to attend such an event.

On the field, Adrian was dressed in a fitted riding uniform. A blue ribbon, the symbol of his team, was tied around his arm. Under the sunlight, he looked impossibly striking.

The competition was intense. Even though Violet already knew the final result from her previous life, her heart still raced as she watched.

After Adrian led his team around the arena, it was as if he sensed something. Across the packed crowd, he looked directly toward her.

Their eyes met from a distance. A sweet warmth spread through Violet's heart.

She was so focused on him that she didn't even notice when Sherry walked up beside her.

Then suddenly, chaos erupted.

A racehorse in the arena was startled and broke free, charging straight toward their section.

Adrian's expression changed instantly. He spurred his horse forward at full speed. But in the very next second, Violet watched him reach out first and pull Sherry up onto his horse, shielding her in his arms.

The runaway horse barreled directly toward Violet.

"Watch out!"

Adrian's pupils contracted sharply. He yanked hard on the reins, trying to turn back for her. Violet reacted quickly and threw herself to the side, but she still hit the ground hard as the horse's hooves thundered past.

The arena was filled with screams and confusion. Yet through all the noise, she clearly heard a sharp cracking sound.

Violet looked down at her chest. The pearl necklace Adrian had given her as a token of love had been shattered into pieces beneath the horse's hoof.