Chapter 14

"I'm so jealous of Alice. She's actually getting married at the Halstone Grand Hotel."

"If that were me, I'd be over the moon."

"Right? What woman wouldn't want to get married there? Oh, hey—Cora, when are you and Emory planning your wedding?"

The question cut through the hum of chatter as several heads turned toward Cora.

"Me?" She hesitated for a second, then offered a polite smile. "I'll need to discuss it with my mom first."

"Any idea where you'll hold it?"

Before Cora could respond, Scarlet scoffed from across the table. "Where else could it be? Probably one of Goldspire City's cheapest motels. Let's be honest—Cora's family doesn't have any connections, and they're certainly not rolling in money. And Emory? He's a nobody from the mountains. What more can you expect? The Halstone Grand Hotel? Please. She's lucky if they even let her through the front door."

"I don't need to get married at Halstone!" Cora said, lifting her chin. "A small motel is fine. As long as Emory shows up on our wedding day, that's all that matters."

"Tch. If you're going to worship a backwoods bumpkin like that, no wonder you'll never be anything more than ordinary," Scarlet sneered.

Cora turned to her. "Why do I have to be anything more? I—"

But before she could finish, Alice jumped in with a smile and turned to Scarlet. "Let her be, Scarlet. Everyone wants something different. If Cora wants to get married in a motel, that's her choice. Not everyone's meant to be a beautiful bride, and not everyone has what we have."

"You're right, Alice." Scarlet returned the smile, but inside, a weight quietly lifted from her shoulders.

Thank God she had broken off the engagement with Emory in time. If she'd married him and Alice ended up with a wealthy, handsome husband, how would she ever face her again?

"By the way," Madeline suddenly said over her bowl of soup, "I asked you all to speak with the Caison family about a partnership with the international music academy. How did that go?"

The room fell quiet in an instant.

"I went to Crystal Baycourt this morning," Cora said softly. "But the Caison family wasn't receiving guests. I didn't get to meet anyone."

"Hmph. What did you expect?" Scarlet leaned back in her chair with a smug expression. "You're a nobody. Of course they wouldn't see you."

She tilted her head, voice dripping with disdain. "Honestly, Cora, you and Emory should just go back to the mountains and start farming. Even if you went to Crystal Baycourt every day, the Caison family wouldn't give you the time of day."

"Do you even know who Cassidy is? She's the granddaughter of a legendary grandmaster. Even I have to be cautious around her, minding every word. And you think someone like her would waste breath on someone like you—from the bottom rung of Vermillion Delta society?"

"I…" Cora faltered, unsure of how to respond to the barrage.

But Emory, sitting quietly by her side, finally spoke. "Scarlet, whether Cassidy is willing to meet with Cora isn't up to you. Who knows—maybe tomorrow they'll strike a deal."

"Tomorrow?" Scarlet let out a sharp laugh. "Emory, you're daydreaming again. Why don't you ask Alice if she'd dare make a claim like that? Or Tyler? You talk a big game for someone who's never accomplished anything. And Cora's the only one naive enough to believe you. Look around—do you see anyone else here who takes you seriously?"

She barely finished before her phone buzzed inside her bag. Frowning, she answered, then sat up straighter. "Really? Alright, I'll head over right away."

As she hung up, she turned to Madeline, her voice a notch more serious. "Grandma, I need to go. Something happened with Lillian's family."

"What happened?" Madeline asked, mildly curious. She remembered the girl as Scarlet's middle school deskmate.

"Their house caught on fire," Scarlet said as she turned, already walking away without another word.

…

That evening, back at home.

The moment Helen found out Alice had married a wealthy, successful man, she turned to Cora with a look of bitter disappointment.

"Cora, just look at your cousin. She's not as pretty as you, not as young, and her figure doesn't even compare. And yet? She ended up marrying a man who owns his own company. You? You have everything over her, and you married some hillbilly?"

Her anger built with every word, and when her gaze landed on Emory, it hardened. She snapped, "What are you looking at?! Get out of my house right now! Cora's not crippled anymore. You're just some penniless nobody from the mountains—you're not good enough for her, got it?"

"Mom! What is wrong with you?" Cora cut in, voice rising in protest. "Emory is the one who healed my legs. How can you repay his kindness by kicking him out?"

"Bull!" Helen shot back. "It was Dr. Ian who cured you, not him! If Emory's so capable, why doesn't he fix your Aunt Hilda's legs too, huh?"

"Mom, you—" Cora clenched her fists. She didn't even know what to say anymore. The coldness in her mother's voice left her speechless.

"Sweetheart, I'm doing this for your own good." Helen softened her tone, the anger in her eyes replaced with something that almost looked like concern. "You're young and beautiful—no less than Alice. If she can marry into money, so can you. Listen to me. Tomorrow, divorce Emory."

"I'm not getting a divorce." Cora's voice cracked, her eyes shining red as she said, "Mom, why do you insist on comparing me to Alice? She married Tyler and will live a dazzling life. I married Emory, and I'll live a simple one. Why does marriage have to be about landing some rich man?"

"Cora, you're still young—you don't understand," Helen said with a sigh. "If you were still disabled, I wouldn't be pushing for a divorce. But things are different now. You've changed. You're better now. You deserve better."

"And Emory isn't good enough?" Cora shot the question right back at her.

"Good? Him?" Helen scoffed. "He doesn't even have a job…" She turned, glaring at Emory again. "Didn't I tell you to go out and find work? Did you?"

"I did," Emory answered, calm and quiet.

"Even if you did, you're still not good enough for my daughter."

Helen didn't bother asking what kind of job it was. Her voice grew sharper, each word colder than the last. "My daughter's beautiful. At the very least, she should marry a trust fund kid."

She didn't blink. "You've got three days. Leave her. Or don't blame me for what happens next."

"Mom, I can't leave Cora," Emory said with a tired smile. "I just can't."

He didn't say it out loud, but he knew it—if he left her, if he triggered another flare-up of the Solar Vein Curse in his body, he'd die.

"You—you shameless bastard!" Helen exploded. "Don't call me Mom! You—"

She raised her hand to slap him, but Cora moved fast, stepping between them.

"Mom, if you're going to hit someone, hit me." She stared her mother down. "But I won't let you lay a hand on my husband."