Chapter 13

Kieran's smile instantly froze. Even the corners of his eyes twitched a little. "The way you twisted it made you sound like you don't think Mr. Luzon is worthy of Mildred, Mr. Sheppard." Margaret visibly frowned. The Sheppards had been rising fast in recent years, and the engagement between the Luzons and Gingers was meant to preserve the old aristocratic order. Now that Dorian had interfered, could it be he was… Kieran smiled faintly. "If you and Mildred are getting along well, I don't see why we can't allow it." Margaret's expression instantly shifted. If Dorian and Mildred were engaged, wouldn't that be the same as kicking the Luzons back to their place after taking them for a run? "Kieran, I think—" "Enough," Mildred coldly interjected. "I thought you guys brought me home out of pure familial love, but it turned out I was nothing but a bargaining chip to you. First, I belonged to the Luzons; then, I belonged to the Sheppards. "What's going to happen next? Marry me to some Tom, Dick, or Harry if he didn't want me? What if I don't want to get married? Will you cuff my hands and force me to walk down the aisle like in TV shows? "If that's what you have planned for my future, then I don't want it. I don't care to be the Ginger heiress, either." Nox shouted, "Mildred!" Mildred screamed back, "I've had enough of you, Nox! Are you a dog or something? Why are you always barking at me? Why do you have to be yelling at me all the time? "What right did the Gingers have to dictate my life? Bear in mind that I grew up on my own, relying on myself, not any of you!" Tamara looked at Mildred with watery eyes. "Mildred…" "And you, Tamara. You grew up in the Ginger household and enjoyed all the benefits of being a Ginger. You got to where you are today because of them. If anything, you should be volunteering to contribute something to the family. "What? You think you could reap the rewards when it was easy, then shrink back and play weak the moment there was work to be done?" Tamara's tears fell like an untightened tap. Her body shook, and she leaned toward Dorian's arms. Calmly, Dorian shifted to the other side. "Go cry in your brother's arms." She was at a loss for words. By then, Arthur also chimed in with a mocking laugh. "Yeah, what are you even crying for? Mildred wasn't wrong, and Stoneface was right to question that as well. Why are you guys so eager to marry her off when you've only reunited with her for a few days? "Isn't it all so you could find out about the miracle doctor? If you'd simply asked—like a decent man would—I would've told you a thing or two about them. "But considering how you've schemed against a young woman who's also your sister, I don't feel compelled to say anything anymore. Grandma, let's go." Margaret rose to her feet, disappointment written across her face as she turned to Kieran. "I don't even have words anymore. I'll personally call your father to inform him about calling off the engagement. Let's not bring it up ever again." Kieran's hands, resting on his lap, had now clenched into fists. His face was ashen with anger. Meanwhile, a thought struck Tamara. She suddenly got up and lunged toward Arthur and Margaret, pleading, "I'll do it, Mrs. Luzon Senior! I'll marry Arthur!" Margaret was shocked by her antics. "What are you doing, Tamara?" Tamara looked up at Margaret with her tear-stained face. "I was naive in the past. I was too afraid to marry Arthur and end up being a widow. That was why I threatened my brothers to cancel the engagement with suicide. "I truly didn't think they'd make Mildred step in and take my place! This is all because of me! I promise you, Kieran would never have looked down on the Luzons! "After Arthur recovered slightly, I thought Mildred would be happy to become his wife. But who knew she'd rather fall out with the entire family than marry him? In that case, I'll do it. "Please, Mrs. Luzon Senior, for the sake of Kieran, who has been in a wheelchair for more than a decade, tell us about the miracle doctor! I promise you I'll be a great wife and daughter-in-law for the Luzon family!" Kieran felt so heartbroken for Tamara's sacrifice that his eyes reddened. "Don't you say anything like that again, Tammy!" He went up to pull her, but she remained on the floor, sobbing. Naturally, no one saw the faint smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She knew her brothers all too well that they wouldn't have the heart to marry her off to Arthur. Instead, they would be immensely moved by her unconditional sacrifice. Didn't Mildred tell her to contribute to the family? Well, what she was doing now went beyond anything Mildred's blood had ever accomplished. Nox stomped his feet in anger. "Kieran, say something! We practically raised Tammy together. Can you bear to trade away her happiness in exchange for some doctor's contact information?" Mildred softly refuted, "Why not? Didn't you just say Arthur is the best man I could ever imagine marrying?" "Shut your damn mouth!" Nox snapped, "Enough with your sarcastic remarks, Mildred. And don't even bother accusing us of being biased. Look at you, and look at what Tammy is doing for our family! Affection's a two-way street. "You claimed we've never done anything for you, but what have you done for us? What made you think you could share the same treatment as Tammy?" A sharp pain shot through Mildred's chest, her fingertips trembling. It felt as if that fire had scorched its way through both her previous and present lives, burning her hands all over again. She had believed then that affection was a two-way street. That was why she consistently gave in again and again, letting things slide, and giving away everything she had. In the end, she still burned to death in that basement. Clearly, it was never about how much she gave. Some people were simply born ungrateful. Right then, Dorian chimed in. "Ms. Tamara is surprisingly… selfless." Tamara's heart skipped a beat. He had finally seen her inner beauty! She pushed herself up with fragile grace, biting her lip with a look of helpless innocence. "The Gingers have looked after me for years. It's only right that I do something for them, Mr. Sheppard." "Then, why didn't you say anything last night at the banquet?" he questioned. "W-What?" "You were silent at the banquet; you didn't say anything when you saw Arthur today; you were definitely compliant while you watched Kieran forcing your sister into marriage. Yet… "When Mrs. Luzon Senior decided to call off the engagement for good, you suddenly became so selfless. If one didn't know better, they would've thought you'd been waiting for the perfect opportunity to do it." Tamara's expression stiffened. "I… I didn't think that much about it. I simply wanted to do something for Kieran." "Alright," Arthur stated, "then let's get engaged tomorrow." "What?" Tamara shrieked. A hint of mischief danced in Arthur's eyes. "Considering you're so selfless, I don't mind being forgiving either. That way, both the Luzons and Gingers are in a win-win situation. "I mean, this is what our families wanted since the beginning, isn't it? Tell you what—I'll pick you up to try on your wedding gown tomorrow, and at night, we can get straight to the main agenda." "No, I mean—" "Let's go home, Grandma," Arthur said, helping Margaret out of the dining room. It wasn't until Margaret confirmed no one came after them that she quietly asked, "That woman is obviously putting on a show. Are you really going to marry her?" He shook his head. "Nope. But I know she's even more reluctant than I am. We'll wait till the Gingers crack and then bleed them dry and finally settle the score properly." She laughed. "You rascal. Your body wasn't the only part that improved, huh? The Gingers have truly disappointed me this time. I don't care whether we're getting a Tamara or Mildred. All I want is you. "My sweet boy, life's finally turning around for you. From here on, I wish your days be easy and full of joy." "And what if I want to marry Mildred?" he asked tentatively. "Nonsense! She grew up in the slum—how could she be worthy of you? Didn't you see how unruly she was at dinner tonight? I don't want a woman like her ruining a family like ours. "Just because the Gingers were offering her to us doesn't mean you have to take her, alright? But don't worry, I'll find you a top-tier heiress. "Once you finally secure your position as the Luzon heir, I can finally leave this world without regrets." Arthur let out a quiet sigh. Margaret was wonderful in every way, except for her deeply rooted obsession with pedigree. The wife she had envisioned for him had to come from an old aristocratic family, flawless in both background and manners. However, there was no rush. He was confident that he could slowly change her old-fashioned ways of thinking.