Chapter 3

Since that day, something had been off with Benedict.

Even the friends he usually fooled around with had noticed his unusual mood.

“What’s wrong with you these days, Benedict? You’ve been totally out of it.”

“It’s just a fake engagement, right? Don’t tell me you’ve come down with pre-wedding jitters?

“I heard Sansa’s been busy at the mansion, getting everything ready for the engagement party. With a grand gesture like this, I bet the old man and Sansa will never dare to meddle in your life again!”

Benedict’s hand paused mid-air with his wine glass. A light flickered in his eyes.

“She’s still going through with the engagement party?”

Eric chuckled. “Of course! Everyone in our circle knows she’s getting engaged tomorrow.

“Honestly, Lina’s fake engagement plan was brilliant. Sansa’s about to lose a lot of face!”

Before the words had even fully landed, Benedict stood up and rushed to Alexander’s mansion.

Meanwhile, I was reviewing details with Theodore’s personal assistant.

“Ma’am, these are some of the gifts Mr. Theodore has sent over. The rest will arrive in the next few days. A lawyer will be here later to handle the personal asset notarization.”

Stacks of property deeds were piled high. Jewelry glittered across every surface of the room, crowding the space with its brilliance.

I nodded as I went down the checklist.

“Sansa!”

Benedict’s urgent voice rang out from behind me.

I turned, watching him jog toward me with purpose, assuming something important had come up.

But once he reached me, Benedict suddenly faltered.

“I…”

I didn’t have much time to spare. The engagement preparations were intense, and the schedule was tight.

“Benedict, what exactly are you trying to say?”

Even with the words at the tip of his tongue, Benedict still hadn’t learned how to speak properly.

“The engagement party hasn’t happened yet. Call it off while you still can. I don’t even like you, so why are you putting on this whole show?

“You might not care about your reputation, but the Bradfords still have one!”

I sighed wearily.

“Whether or not you like me has absolutely nothing to do with this engagement. If you don’t have anything useful to say, don’t waste my time. I’m genuinely busy.”

Hearing that only made Benedict angrier. He practically jumped in frustration.

“So in your eyes, marriage is just some casual arrangement?

“You’re willing to marry into the Bradfords just so you can control me? Don’t you even care whether I like you or not? Sansa, is your love really that cheap?”

His accusations left me baffled.

I had no idea what he was trying to get at.

“Relax,” I replied. “You won’t have to deal with me much longer. Theodore told me last night he’s shifting his focus.

“The Bradford Enterprise headquarters will concentrate on the domestic market, and all the overseas affairs will be yours to manage. Isn’t that the freedom you always wanted?”

That quieted him. But then, with a scowl, he asked, “And what about you? Are you planning to come abroad with me?”

I frowned. Since when did a sister-in-law tag along with her husband’s younger brother?

“Why would I go with you? If you're feeling lonely, you could always ask Lina.”

That lit a new fire in Benedict as he grabbed my wrist.

“So that’s it? As long as you can marry into the Bradfords, you don’t care where I go?” he shouted.

“You’re only ever strict with me because of Grandpa’s orders, not because you actually care. And now you’re pushing me toward Lina?

“Sansa, do you even have a heart?”

Just as Benedict and I were in the middle of our escalating quarrel, Alexander stepped in to defuse the tension.

“Benedict, can’t you just speak like a decent human being for once?

“Sansa, go take care of the preparations. Let me have a word with this foolish boy.”

I walked off, leaving the two of them—grandfather and grandson—alone in the hallway.

“Grandpa, let me be blunt,” Benedict started as he folded his arms defiantly.

“I only said I wanted to marry Sansa to mess with her. I’m not getting engaged to her tomorrow. So please, stop wasting your time. I won’t marry her.”

Alexander’s brow furrowed.

“Do you actually think the engagement is between you and Sansa?”

Benedict scoffed.

“Sure, I know. Sansa’s supposed to get engaged to Theodore, right? But then you will tell me he's stuck overseas and can't come back in time. You want to trick me into standing in for him with this ridiculous excuse. Grandpa, I’m really sick of your manipulations.”

He drew a deep breath and added with exasperation, “If you insist on going through with it, fine. But just know, an engagement party without a real fiancé will make Sansa a laughingstock.

“You should talk some sense into yourself, and her. Even if she’s materialistic, her marriage shouldn’t be the price she pays for your control over me.”

Something in Benedict’s words struck a nerve. Alexander gripped his cane tightly, his knuckles pale.

“I’ll ask you one last thing,” he said slowly. “Do you like Sansa?”

Benedict hesitated, then muttered, “No. I don’t like anything you’ve arranged.”