Chapter 4

Three days before my wedding, I went to the embroidery shop to pick up the bridal veil I'd commissioned.

The shopkeeper searched through his account books for a long time before finally looking up at me with an apologetic expression.

"Ms. Ellwood, Mrs. Ellwood collected the money you'd paid for the veil two days ago."

I trembled with anger. I'd designed the embroidery pattern myself, hoping to preserve at least a little dignity on my wedding day. Now, even that small measure of dignity had been taken from me.

When I returned home, the courtyard was bustling with guests who had gathered for my sister's bridal gift celebration, a family occasion where gifts were presented to the bride.

Clara sat among a group of female relatives. In addition to the gold bangle our maternal grandmother had left me, she now wore a pair of solid gold armlets adorned with intertwining floral branches.

My aunt took her hand and admired the jewelry.

"These must have cost a fortune!"

Mother beamed with pride. "They were made by the old goldsmith's shop and cost a full 96 coins. Clara is marrying into the Sinclair family. She can't afford to look shabby."

96 coins. It was exactly the amount I'd saved and deposited at the money house.

I hurried back to my room and pulled out the wooden box hidden beneath my bed. The banknotes were gone. Even the deposit certificate was gone.

Clutching the empty box, I returned to the courtyard.

Gradually, the laughter and chatter died down as everyone noticed me.

"Mother, where's my money?"

Mother frowned. "Today is your sister's bridal gift celebration. Do you really have to make a scene in front of all our relatives and friends?"

"Did you withdraw the silver I'd deposited at the money house?"

Clara instinctively pulled her sleeves over the gold armlets.

Realizing she could no longer hide the truth, Mother admitted it outright.

"Clara needed a piece of gold jewelry that would make an impression. I figured that since you're getting married soon, and Julian will have a salary of his own, you could save up some money and replace it later."

"That money was my bridal gift for myself! I'd spent five whole years saving it by copying books and embroidering handkerchiefs for others, all so I'd have something of my own to bring to my husband's home!"

Father reprimanded me sternly, "Why must family members keep such strict accounts over money? We've fed you and put a roof over your head for 20 years. Are we supposed to ask your permission before using a little of your money?"

"Then why didn't you use Clara's money?" I shot back.

Arthur's expression immediately turned cold.

"Clara is marrying into the Sinclair family. There are countless things she'll need to pay for and arrange. You're marrying a schoolteacher and will lead a modest life. How can the two of you possibly be compared?"

There it was again—the same old excuse.

Because my sister was marrying well, she deserved to have everything.

Because I was marrying an ordinary man, my family could take my wedding gown, bridal gifts, and savings whenever they pleased.

Clara's eyes reddened as she removed the gold armlets. "If you care so much about them, then you can have them back. I can still get married without all this jewelry."

She claimed she was willing to return them, yet made no move to hand them over.

Mother had already wrapped her arms around Clara protectively, unable to bear the thought of her giving them up.

"How can we take back jewelry that's already been given to her as part of her bridal gifts? That would bring nothing but bad luck!"

I spoke slowly, enunciating every word.

"Return everything that belongs to me—my fine gold thread, Grandmother's gold bangle, the Caldwell family's wedding gifts, and my 96 coins."

Mother's expression changed drastically. "Are you really going to tear this family apart over a few material possessions?"

"Those things belong to me," I retorted.

Father let out a cold laugh. "This family raised you and put a roof over your head. We even gave you your life. What do you own that truly belongs to you?"

The courtyard fell completely silent.

I looked at Mother, hoping she'd at least stand up for me and say something fair.

Instead, she held Clara tighter and looked at me with disappointment.

"Evelyn, you've always been the sensible one since childhood. Why have you become so difficult just when you're about to get married?"

Arthur impatiently tapped the table.

"Clara will only get married once in her life. Is it really going to kill you to go without a few things?"

One thing after another had been taken from me.

First, it was the food and clothing I should have been given as a child. Then it was the heirlooms my maternal grandmother had left me. Now, even my wedding gown and the savings I'd spent five years building up were gone.

They always seemed to believe that as long as they kept me alive, I had no right to complain about how they treated me.

When Mother saw that I wasn't responding, she assumed I'd finally backed down, and her tone softened.

"Once your sister's wedding is over, I'll sew a few flowers onto your roughly stitched wedding gown. Let's put an end to this matter for today."

I lowered my gaze. "Fine. Let's put an end to it."

…

That night, I picked up the bundle I'd packed long ago and left for an inn in town.

Father was busy entertaining the wedding guests, Mother was occupied with my sister's wedding gown, and Arthur was directing people as they delivered the bridal gifts to Sinclair Manor.

Everyone had their own tasks, and none of them noticed my departure.

It was as though I'd never existed in the Ellwood family at all.

…

On the morning of my wedding, I heard wedding music drifting up from downstairs before dawn.

Julian sat astride a horse at the head of the wedding procession, dressed in a brand-new wedding robe. When he saw me, he reached out his hand.

His fingers were long, his palm warm, and his hand remained steady as he held it out to me.

"Evelyn, I'm here to take you home."

I placed my hand in his palm.

From this day forward, I would have nothing more to do with the Ellwood family.