Fleming saw the blood this time. He strode over, frowning, and took Esmeralda's hand. "Careless, aren't you?"

His words sounded like a scolding, but his actions were quick-he dug into his bag and pulled out antiseptic and a bandage.

He bent his head, carefully cleaning the thin line of blood on her skin. His brows stayed tightly knit the whole time.

Watching his expression, Esmeralda suddenly felt a dull ache in her chest.

She bit her lip and, almost against her will, blurted out, "Fleming, if Lucy weren't your sister, would you still want to marry me?"

He froze for a heartbeat, then his face grew cold. "What are you even talking about?"

"I don't want to keep having this conversation with you. There's no point getting lost in what-ifs."

He finished with the bandage and let go of her hand. Clearly, the question had annoyed him.

But why-what was really underneath that reaction-Esmeralda couldn't say. She knew Fleming's tone; he didn't want her being "unreasonable" in his eyes. She glanced down at the bandaged cut and nodded quietly. "Alright. I'll let you get back to work."

She hurried off.

she reached her room, Elodie Thorne was already

immediately noticed that something was off with Esmeralda. She paused, walked over, and tilted

describe it. Was it a fight?

she was the only one making a fuss—as if she was searching for reasons to be upset. After all, they're siblings and get along well, so why did it bother her so much? It made her seem petty

at her feet. "Not exactly.

Esmeralda, usually so cheerful and open-hearted, could be a

Elodie said gently, taking Esmeralda's hand. "If something makes you unhappy and you can't get

getting any younger, and I've been waiting

As for everything else...

they'd just spent

"That's your end goal, but the process matters too. How you feel along the way-that's

deep breath, then shrugged, trying to shake off the gloom.

over to hug Elodie's arm, her eyes bright with hope. "Things will get better, right? Besides,

they were married, she believed it would be a

watched her, wanting to say more

always the bright center

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