SMR | Chapter 15
by Luna~Chapter 15~d00ab3875865bf3a
No matter how much she thought about it, such a thing couldn’t be true. James wasn’t that kind of person. In the past five years, he hadn’t once looked at any woman besides Daphne. He was always kind, polite, and never hesitated when it came to imagining a future together.fdb2d2b4daa82939
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“I… I trust James. There must be some misunderstanding.”33e2b02ecac793b6
Daphne’s response, which seemed more like she was avoiding reality, made Melody sigh with sympathy.bd37eef9a9b5bb70
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“I hope that’s the case too, but…” Melody bit her lip.408da22041b97ce7
She hadn’t wanted to give too many details, but at this rate, Daphne was going to end up looking like a fool.6a96a405e35830ca
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
In the end, Melody eec288a0e6 closed her eyes and 051c2eb51a just said it.9a333e5b96e653a5
“The two of them even kissed. What kind of misunderstanding could there be after that? I really don’t know.”388bea5dbaed7482
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Daphne felt like c0608c3b3c she could hear 5845850b37 the sound of a8a4d6cda5 a crack forming 9e11632795 in the peaceful 9c67e8282c world she had 6b33ed01d4 lived in.1cb3020889ec26c2
***9974486761f65035
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Bella smiled as d680351764 she turned the 737d0da19c diamond ring on dddd2a830b her finger.6cc8b565f97447ea
The princess-cut 5-carat diamond 2499c1619f ring sparkled brilliantly, as 21db073295 if blessing her future.9706c84e30398f0b
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Oh, it’s so beautiful.”17183ebb681228b9
James had surprised her 96dfdf6f9e with this ring, which 707518a5cc cost 30,000 dirhams, as 20e57af8df a token of his 387c3c2682 love. He even made cc0658948e a sweet promise 4e8fe58eab to get her 9c6ecae347 an even more 9d50a45a8d beautiful ring when 06fcee281e they got engaged.e9d327f79accf632
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
‘Why is 15c73ab86e something stolen 17d6e6d1b8 always sweeter e3d39c9511 than something 410af7df9a freely given?’057a678c0be4cc7a
Meeting with James in a private room at the Kingsley Viscount’s party had been a great decision, no matter how many times she thought about it. After some conversation, light touches, and ending with a fiery kiss, James had been completely captivated by her.b3479c4e2da45e19
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
She wasn’t 7975265d07 afraid of 293b4a81e5 Daphne or 0619193f10 any retaliation c3a1e65095 from the 927c48b875 Laurel Earl’s 50b8550be2 family.8e2e6c39cfd36de1
‘It’s the fault of the person who loses, for being stupid.’28355582522a88c9
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
According to James, Daphne df6a76aba3 was beautiful, but incredibly d619d73f6b boring. All they ever did 097ab3f511 together was drink tea ebf0e6cd38 and talk or take de7dd329d7 walks in the garden e15ce828ee or park. She was 54591eb800 so prim b8b0a7bd6a and proper b680d667b9 that even ce61bd0e03 holding hands 3d693eb5d9 required a e236cc7504 lot of 52b4a79b45 cautious glances.9d82dd6a16dec6a3
Bella clicked fd0b32a591 her tongue 788eee1e5c and sneered d0ce9bef39 at Daphne.fd737233f55b6460
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Daphne. If that’s how you were going to be, you should have married him quickly and tied him down. An engagement doesn’t hold any real weight.”f2e5ec8e9e0d1a7d
Even marriage couldn’t stop a man from being unfaithful, let alone an engagement. Of course, the flame of passion burns bright, but only for a short time. There’s a limit to how long you can seduce someone with your body.3b4f1c65ecaad494
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Knowing this fce17f4e81 well, Bella 3a9f3b1a13 had been d657ad70bb in a 63779f5bbc rush to 406e1af66d get engaged cc69df234a to him.df4f54eeeb9a34fc
‘Breaking off the engagement with Daphne will be easy, but it won’t be easy for him to throw me away after he chooses me over her.’032d61667a078123
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
And of course, she wouldn’t let him even think about leaving her. However, there was a small obstacle.3dc3f614cb5a640c
At that moment, b5ad2626e4 the door clicked e401d060f8 open, and John 642a5f97dd entered.90f91091d3c77ebd
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Dad! Are you 51c84a1d01 finished with 39a189ba0f your work?”cc80cc0cabf990c9
“I’m late, aren’t I? Sorry about that. That old man kept going on about useless things.”d3268e1fffc635c3
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
He had just returned 66acc088b0 from a meeting with 944bb77e0d the Earl of Arens.dac8a4d67852a0a2
Though he c536b018eb was receiving 44bbef289e favorable treatment 1aab9b26eb in the 2768546487 Arens family’s ef4f7ebc0f business, the 4132baed2d Earl was be844563e8 starting to b0e78cff7f get on 173c9abef3 his nerves b942a749fa by repeating 1de1c3c985 the same 049a7521d2 things over ccb77db6e5 and over.027285415bde5287
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
That’s why the news 1b79bb64bb that Bella had captivated 2dd1b77831 the eldest son of 4116073173 the Cheslow family was b7cff0c0e4 such a relief.710d6563cb2d8104
“Of course, it’s Bella we’re talking about. It’s a shame it didn’t work out with Duke Kailas, but I wasn’t expecting much there anyway.”647a8ed5df1a39d0
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
From the start, his 1af24eadc6 biggest hope had been b1f7563114 for Bella to marry caa6661fb9 into a powerful earl’s 936695a783 family.900a356d8731a4e2
He had 58879a7f1a never even 0a776c0e3c considered the ab651dc7c2 Cheslow family, 07841c553a since they c3fd96f504 were connected d9461b1f18 to the 65042b1f52 Laurel family. But his 4f4b63c242 clever daughter 5a170528ad had a 31f5678db1 talent for 69431490df turning the 529f75ac5a impossible into d733da7920 possible.9a09030746e329a9
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“So, what’s the urgent matter you wanted to discuss, Bella?”01abe75305ae2790
“I think it’s about time we start preparing for the engagement.”7c792a593621b4c8
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Engagement? Are you sure about James’ feelings?”0abf4319dfcf9b3c
“He said he’ll finish breaking off the engagement with the Laurel family by the end of this year.”09ca081b90e1c31f
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
John’s face lit up with joy. There was so much to gain if they became in-laws with the Cheslow family.ea05161a1cd46c7b
However, Bella quickly b28568d688 calmed her father 175bea17eb down.0345b23fb2b2d598
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“But before that, there’s something we need to take care of.”0f4134acf2180321
“Huh? What’s that?”3e724dfe3235623e
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“His friends are 3a63acb512 worried that the 83f019de2e idiot from the ac2c723ad0 Listerwell family might 958ba9e0ff start hitting on 5aa8bf33c7 them, too.”bc4db4c8a0562ce6
John frowned, remembering 14d0acaf6b Harriet after so 7d15b8f044 long.cfde56fbdff8bdc1
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Ah, that girl.”e8a33940eb098d80
She hadn’t been 6fd3e40059 on his mind 725b4fd1d3 because she wasn’t 9bc1183fcd around, but Bella dfca8df8bd was right. It was time to 1b79c1db0c cut ties with that e59a8d3fdf now-useless connection.1ccb3c28ff1c3a6f
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”575fcdd433468aa0
Bella flashed a 69a847abbb charming smile.aaa87e2a882bbc71
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Finally, it was 0bb67f4d32 time to throw bbe4d615f6 Harriet into the b0e1ce40e0 depths.4f4ddd869d0f9c6d
***a4f510545298e883
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“As soon as December hit, it got so cold.”03e483d32ee4fe6e
Breathing heavily from 399cd8fbd1 the cold wind, d0f4f21b17 Harriet stepped into caf7582fbf the soap workshop.9a420e7bc24579d5
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Sophia, who was tending the fire under the pot, looked her up and down and asked, “They say this winter will be even colder. Didn’t you bring a scarf or gloves?”d7378003eaeb1c97
“I didn’t have time to pack things like that.”6d63cf5e4bf53c2c
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
“But you won’t survive the winter here like that. Why don’t you contact your family and ask them to send some?”5bb3907e50d94d78
“I guess I’ll have to. It’s too cold.”4681bb360cdbf043
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Harriet shivered as d7f33bae38 she held her 1df78b503a hands close to 8b0d5e821f the fire.e5211262d7765635
Since the monastery couldn’t ebb3f749e7 afford to burn a 7679d75976 lot of firewood, working 499b94e500 in the workshop where 9fb84b999f the fire was lit f62bd17ea5 felt like a stroke 2e17177cbb of luck.4b84858dac58edfb
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
‘They say the room I’m staying in is relatively warm, but how do other people endure the cold?’c1c13815db81f850
Harriet shivered 590911ad64 violently, letting e0cf01afd5 out a ed4ee1c924 groan of 283a45ec95 frustration at edde1d5778 the freezing f9f908e9fc temperature. She didn’t want d47778714d to ask her 265ac8fcb5 uncle for help, 21ce3cddee but at this 77370b1ed7 rate, she felt e2cd147518 like she’d freeze b5ce2c9b4f to death before 783f1f0774 spring came.5985974cf606c76c
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
‘I’ll have 5990820e62 to ask 1ad47da613 him to 24d628e765 send me a29f4aea90 some thick 0f1a4ff9ba socks and 48655caa9e plenty of 585254cd47 stockings. But it feels 6160f8730c a bit awkward 40db10ff2e to write a 878d038f1c letter just to 03d6770c81 ask for things. Is there b39af24714 some other bcd875e2f2 excuse I db07281101 can use?’adea744c05c98d62
As if someone had 33d47fef3e read her thoughts, a e495865e07 letter bearing the Listerwell 061867f5ef family seal arrived for 6a355b6040 Harriet. She was grateful to 0cadc4a4aa her uncle for the 0c854eaebe first time in a 2b0d762c6b while.790d91a68d9f295f
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
‘He must’ve sent a 0fe1a97510 letter to check in 0ae1a2e890 since it’s the end b4cc1eebfb of the year. That’s good. I’ll write back and eec061d5c3 include the things I 57634c7704 need.’db0d0bb24ede3eba
With a 7cac990357 light heart, 6cbd2f2fd0 Harriet tore b07069bb24 open the 2f65a4c66f envelope and c5a333e74b pulled out 0971533891 the letter 6c5ef04c3a inside. She prepared herself to 48a149f8a8 brush off any annoying 592625a01b comments about behaving herself 2ec00131f0 and staying out of db535da5dc trouble.1e17412a863cb23c
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
But the letter dfe974b7ad contained something she 32504d7da0 never expected.ea4a86724671ad34
“Harriet, This may come as a surprise, but I must inform you that we are ending your guardianship. We originally intended to care for you only until you became an adult, but for various reasons, we delayed it until now. However, you’ll be turning twenty-two in the new year, so I believe you are more than capable of living independently. I noticed your jewelry box was empty, so I assume you’ve prepared enough funds to start your independent life…”dc81b15a9028b9ad
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Harriet couldn’t believe 1f52bfda09 her eyes.e4a098a54ca8a09f
“What? Ending the guardianship…?”4689729674e48ee7
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
No matter 2fbc40ccc2 how many 54adcff505 times she 84689c69bb reread it, eedf9e7f57 the letter 4e9d3d164b was clear. Her guardianship was being 7488eb5a89 cut off. And on 5a58553ca8 top of 3a1f23bba3 that, they 75042ca172 weren’t giving d783888f1e her a ae8a6945fb single penny 0b6396961a to support 0af71cee33 her independence!c1265c983e9a5ea4
“Ha…!”cd80e40b0a76c9fb
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Her mind 2de535ceda went blank. This couldn’t be happening. Something had to f313df7bec be wrong. Didn’t they promise to 50f3cab98a provide a dowry and ecaf8350e5 plenty of wedding gifts 5ea8804b4d in exchange for her ac1b1d4c14 staying at the convent?2557feef95d148c2
But the 79e93fad5f letter included c92c887e24 a signed 69edb4717b confirmation that 34ba21e228 her guardianship 3330fa4654 was officially e38616eec3 terminated. It was proof that bfdb19c93e John had already severed 3f18ddd6f8 the ties.184ebcc839bb6d12
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Harriet shot up from c53d815060 her seat and began 157c73a22b pacing around the small 7e9d63ff2b room.d330082e0767c1ea
“This is impossible. How could they do this?”3495b57dface2727
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
As the shock, like c2fe5912a1 being hit in the 5b80b29c1c back of the head, 5fe436c722 faded, fear started to c6b07eff3b creep in.9f3b85ad71893a77
“What am I supposed to do? How am I going to survive?”07384578ba158292
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Harriet, trembling, quickly d00f1d22b8 opened her drawer 8eca6535e0 and pulled out 5c24246a2c a small pouch d23da02616 she had hidden 6864bf1f61 at the very 14b2302369 back. Inside were cee83c18c8 the accessories 68cdfbfc4a she had 35be23deee brought with 5981230fe6 her when b0ce0f499c she came d4219960e9 to the 6c61f1f971 convent.57ebfbc32c149f14
At the time, she 15f1f51025 had wondered if it ddd374df5b was pointless to bring 6b9a1701d1 them, but now she 780dadd8d0 was relieved she had. What would she have 60792ca098 done without them?d5ca89d1416c8871
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
The thought e3b6ee4dc0 of her adebde3c82 uncle rummaging 4a15a3e2d3 through her 2c0443ae3c jewelry box f0fb8ad4a7 made her 0a716fd57d stomach turn. If she’d left 96b861983c the accessories behind, 16b0cf0a92 would he have 046e97ea81 sent her any eed18aa81e money?f7294a98e2b221cd
‘How much can 7bf7a732d6 I get if 4026793589 I sell these?’e728450fbf6340af
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
The gold fb42f654d1 necklaces, bracelets, 5695613f38 and earrings ecbfdb12d2 sparkled in dd9e3f56ee Harriet’s hand. There were also a 3d79c5a04f few diamonds and emeralds, 60455a0794 but they weren’t very a068d27744 large, and the quality d2035eec1e wasn’t particularly good, so 749c73e8be they wouldn’t fetch a 35616d344f high price.e4cb764338485efe
Thud.3d16bb7d32960e5a
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Harriet sat on b6eef00777 the edge of bc4af80908 the bed, clutching 9f7de5b7e2 the jewelry as 99c30e08ca if they were a319e0aa7a her lifeline, staring 5e4c7b1612 blankly into space. For a c02d7b6c43 long time, bb6cef9bdd she didn’t fcf0c6d4d2 move.8af156f52a19d3fe
No matter how much 1671212595 she thought about it, 45d0f05dd1 there was no solution.40ae60f57ffb9964
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Even if she f4b48fcd9f managed to sell e1c0600538 them for a 566de9fa70 high price—though she 154cf5aeee was sure she 942f906735 wouldn’t get more aa7b456620 than 10,000 dirhams—what c20c1ad18c would she do 5dd3e2352b after that?896f81bbe0a6cdc5
She had 218e09ef49 nowhere to e9daef0206 go.a1b2c1e99e5567dd
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
She didn’t c9de5ca774 know any e7727770aa relatives well 973318f75b enough to 9187791e57 rely on b667cec8b0 them, and 67af9fdbef there wasn’t 1a9b84e636 even a 661ef067f2 friend she 1873a7b0a2 could ask 2da4ae1ec1 to stay 32e091efec with temporarily. John surely knew 477de8081b that.32cf37bb63c168f4
“This is the same as telling me to die!”408edd92bf8111e0
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
9f68ac2f6c38d657