I Thought He’d Marry Me, I Wed His Rival

Chapter 3

The following afternoon, Clara paid a visit to the Blake family villa under the pretense of discussing details of the upcoming marriage alliance with Mr. Ethan Blake.

After chatting with Mr. Blake for a while, Clara gradually steered the conversation toward Mira.

Putting on a troubled expression, she hesitated before speaking.

"Mr. Blake, I hesitate to bring this up, but I think you should see something." Frowning, Clara handed over her phone.

Displayed on the screen was the carefully angled photo.

Mr. Blake's brows immediately knitted together. "What is this?"

"Please don't misunderstand!" Clara hurriedly explained, though her words were as sharp as hidden blades. "Mira may have just learned about her engagement to Oscar and had trouble accepting it. Maybe she went out to clear her head and happened to meet some questionable people..."

She paused before continuing in a seemingly sympathetic tone.

"Everyone knows that Mira has always... admired Julian. Please don't blame her. She's still young and immature."

Every word sounded like an excuse, but every word condemned Mira, suggesting that she harbored inappropriate feelings for her adoptive brother and that her private life was a mess.

Mr. Blake's face darkened completely.

He didn't care whether Clara was telling the truth. What he cared about was the Blake family's reputation. Especially now, with the alliance between the Blake and West families at stake.

If Mira had done anything that could damage the family's image, she had to be punished.

That very evening, Mr. Blake summoned her.

His expression was cold.

"Starting tomorrow, you are not to leave this house without my permission. I'll also be freezing all of your bank cards. Stay home and reflect on your behavior."

Mira immediately called Julian.

After hearing what had happened, Julian rushed back home.

"Mira." His voice carried a trace of exhaustion. "Father is furious. I can't let you leave. Just... endure it for now. For me, okay?"

Standing in the middle of the room, Mira felt her heart sink little by little.

In this family, Ethan saw her as nothing more than a pawn in a marriage alliance. And Julian was allowing her to remain trapped like a bird with broken wings inside this magnificent golden cage.

Worse, he was asking her not to resist in the name of love.

Staring at him, she spoke coldly. "The truth could be uncovered simply by checking the security footage. Yet you and your father would rather believe Clara's lies. I did nothing wrong. Why should I be the one enduring this?"

She stood up and walked toward the door. "I'm leaving today. If you've got the guts, just kill me and stop me."

"Mira!"

Julian grabbed her wrist. His grip was so tight that her bones ached.

Looking at the stubborn man who remained immersed in his own world, she wanted nothing more than to slap him across the face.

But suddenly, blood rushed to her head.

Her vision went black.

Her body went limp as she collapsed.