She had spent the past twenty years living in isolation deep in the mountains. Never once had she expected that her first step after leaving that life behind would be getting married.
Her thoughts drifted back to the final words of Erin Warren, the person who had taken her in when she was an infant. She tilted her head slightly, looking up at the sky. Without a watch or a phone, she had no choice but to judge the time by the position of the sun.
By her estimate, it was close to three in the afternoon. A faint frown formed between her brows.
It was already three, yet the man she was meant to marry still hadn't shown up.
The blare of a car horn suddenly broke her thoughts. A black Maybach sedan slowly rolled to a stop beside the leaning tree nearby.
The passenger door swung open, and a well-dressed man stepped out briskly. He moved to the rear of the vehicle and opened the door with clear deference for whoever sat inside.
When the man seated in the back stepped out, even Cathleen found herself slightly taken aback, one eyebrow lifting.
His face was sharply defined, with a clean, angular jaw. He stood tall, his presence commanding, his broad shoulders tapering down to a trim waist. Both his build and appearance could only be described as flawless.
"Cathleen Stewart?" he asked, his tone cold as the words left his lips.
Cathleen met his eyes and gave a small nod. "Yes, that's me."
"I'm Matthew Spencer. Let's go." Without another word, he turned and headed straight for the entrance, making no effort to wait for her.
Momentarily caught off guard, Cathleen hurried after him and called out, "Wait!"
Matthew stopped and glanced back with a slight scowl, his eyes carrying an unmistakable warning. "I only have ten minutes for this."
A hint of irritation stirred within Cathleen. Was he really that eager to rush through a marriage?
Erin had once owed Matthew's grandfather, Edmund Spencer, a significant debt of gratitude. As she lay dying, she made Cathleen promise to marry into the Spencer family as a way of repaying that favor. If not for that obligation, Cathleen would have turned around and left the instant she encountered someone as insufferable as Matthew.
Before Cathleen could respond, Matthew had already entered the City Hall.
Years of rigorous physical training in the mountains had kept Cathleen in excellent condition, so despite Matthew's long strides and brisk pace, she had no trouble keeping up with him.
What followed was over almost as quickly as it began: documents filled out, signatures exchanged, formalities completed.
Ten minutes later, Cathleen and Matthew emerged from the City Hall, walking out one after the other.
Just before getting into the car, Matthew paused, turned back, and handed her a bank card. "There's no limit to this card, and it doesn't require a PIN. Use it however you like. Our place is House 16 in Ravine Estates. The entry code is four eights."
Without another word, he slid into the car, not bothering to look back, leaving Cathleen standing in the lingering haze of exhaust.
She lowered her eyes to the card in her hand. During her years up in the mountains, she had relied almost entirely on cash whenever she came down to buy essentials, rarely ever using a bank card.
With little thought, she slipped it into her backpack, then turned and headed off in the opposite direction.
...
The Stewart family had gathered around the dining table. A birthday cake sat at the center as everyone sang "Happy Birthday" to the young woman seated in the middle-Ashley Stewart.
"Go ahead and make a wish, Ashley!" her mother, Suzanne Stewart, said warmly, smiling.
Ashley brought her hands together, her face glowing with delight.
"So, what is your wish for this year?" her father, Bruce Stewart, asked, gently tousling her hair with clear affection.
Ashley blinked playfully and replied in a light, teasing tone, "Dad, if I say it out loud, it won't come true!"
Cathleen was actually Bruce and Suzanne's biological daughter. Today, the Stewarts were supposed to bring her back, yet not one of them was willing to make the trip to that remote mountain area. Instead, they stayed at home, celebrating Ashley's birthday. Though they had recently discovered Ashley was not related to them by blood, it didn't affect their love for her. After all, they had raised her with great care for two decades.
Kevan Stewart, the Stewart couple's first son, handed her a gift wrapped in luxury-brand packaging. "It's the bag you've been wanting, Ashley. I ordered it from Miaburgh."
Ashley's eyes lit up with excitement. She immediately wrapped her arms around him and said sweetly, "I knew you were the best brother ever!"
Kevan smiled at her, his expression full of fondness. "Of course I am. I'll always pamper my little sister."
Ashley pulled back slightly, though a trace of unease flickered in her eyes. "But I won't be your only sister anymore."
At that, Kevan's expression changed, and a cold look passed over his otherwise handsome face.
Outside the house, Cathleen was speaking to the butler. "I'm part of the family. Could you let them know I'm here, please?"
The butler looked her over disdainfully, as though she were something unclean. He stepped back noticeably, increasing the distance between them, and said with irritation, "The family is busy celebrating Miss Stewart's birthday. Whatever you need can wait until tomorrow. And look at what you're wearing; don't come in here and spoil everyone's mood."
Though he mumbled the last part under his breath, Cathleen caught every word.
A faint coldness settled into her eyes as she glared at him.
He was about to continue with harsher remarks, but something in her eyes unsettled him enough that the words stuck in his throat.
Ignoring him completely, Cathleen surveyed the area, then stepped forward and pressed the fire alarm mounted on the wall.
At once, a piercing alarm rang throughout the house. Within moments, people began rushing out.
Bruce's voice rang out angrily. "What's going on here?"
The butler quickly moved forward to explain, and only then did the Stewarts turn their attention toward Cathleen.
Suzanne parted her lips as if she were about to speak and even took a step forward, but Ashley quickly looped her arm through hers.
Bruce and Kevan both maintained rigid expressions, while Ashley, positioned between them, didn't bother concealing the challenge and contempt in her eyes.
Cathleen absorbed the scene quietly. It was obvious to her that no one was happy to see her.
Still, it made no difference to her. She casually walked over with her backpack on and greeted every one of them.
Bruce responded with nothing more than a brief nod before turning around and heading back inside.
The rest followed after him.
The moment Cathleen stepped into the house, her eyes fell on the birthday cake arranged on the table and the decorations covering the walls. A cold smile appeared at the corners of her lips.
Two decades earlier, Kevan, who was a small child back then, had accidentally switched the name tags on the hospital bassinets. Because of that mistake, Ashley had been brought home by the Stewarts, while Cathleen ended up abandoned by Ashley's parents and left outside in the bitter cold.
If Erin hadn't happened to come down from the mountains and notice her, Cathleen would not have survived that winter.
The Stewart family had uncovered the truth and tracked her down a month ago, yet they had made no effort to bring her back.
It was only after Edmund called, requesting that Cathleen marry his grandson, that they finally decided to bring her back today.
Cathleen had waited the entire morning in the mountains, but no one had ever showed up.
Now she realized they had been preoccupied with celebrating Ashley's birthday.
Cathleen's eyes dimmed slightly. She had a feeling that her parents had long since forgotten that today was her birthday as well.
"Something came up today, so we were delayed and couldn't go pick you up," Bruce said, his tone carrying little warmth for the daughter who was essentially a stranger to him. He walked to the table, took a seat, and got straight to the matter at hand. "We wanted you back to talk about the marriage with the Spencer family."
At the mention of the Spencer family, the others, who had remained silent until then, began to chime in.
Suzanne started with a few perfunctory expressions of concern. When Cathleen didn't react, she turned impatient. She went on to lavish praise on Matthew while repeatedly elevating Ashley, making it unmistakably clear that she believed Cathleen was not a suitable match and that only Ashley deserved that position.
After finishing her speech, Suzanne spoke in a soft yet firm tone. "Ashley has always had feelings for Matthew. You should let her take your place in this marriage."
"I know this isn't fair to you, but we'll compensate you," Bruce added. "You've never had any formal education, so I'll arrange for you to attend a good school."
Kevan let out a derisive snort. "You're just an uneducated girl from some backwater. You can't compare to Ashley. Why would someone like Matthew ever choose you?"
A flicker of satisfaction flashed through Ashley's eyes, though she quickly masked it with a shy expression. "Don't say that, Kevan. Matthew isn't someone who looks down on others. Besides, Cathleen simply never had the opportunity to study. I can help her with it from now on."
"Are you all done?" Cathleen raised her eyes and, in an even tone, delivered a statement that stunned them all. "Matthew and I are already married."
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