Loading promotion info...
My Fiancé Eloped with His First Love
NovelShort
Completed
"Iris, stay and work at the factory. Give up your spot for school to Esther, and I'll marry you," Wendel coldly stated. Iris agreed to Wendel’s request on the surface, but as soon as she turned around, she wrote a letter to her biological parents who lived far in the south, telling them she was willing to go with them to Nashville. In her previous life, she had accidentally discovered the whereabouts of her birth parents. Yet, blinded by love for her adoptive brother, Wendel Lancaster, she had chosen to stay with her adoptive family and marry him instead. For thirty years, Iris remained by his side—until tragedy struck. Her biological parents passed away unexpectedly. And then, without warning, Wendel and his first love ran off to the south, completely vanishing from her life. Not only did they betray her, but they also took away her child, leaving her to suffer through a lonely and miserable old age. Now, given a second chance at life, Iris was determined to return to her real family and sever all ties with Wendel once and for all. When he learned the truth, Wendel scoffed, "Even if I lost a leg, I could still marry a woman a thousand times better than you. Who do you think you are?" But within a year, he regretted his decision to the point of madness. He chased her all the way to Nashville, his eyes red with desperation. "Please, come home with me, Iris." Iris only smiled. "Home? What home? This is my home."
Chapters (9)
第1章
"Iris, stay and work at the factory. Give up your spot for school to Esther, and I'll marry you," Wendel coldly stated.
Iris agreed to Wendel’s request on the surface, but as soon as she turned around, she wrote a letter to her biological parents who lived far in the south, telling them she was willing to go with them to Nashville.
In her previous life, she had accidentally discovered the whereabouts of her birth parents. Yet, blinded by love for her adoptive brother, Wendel Lancaster, she had chosen to stay with her adoptive family and marry him instead.
For thirty years, Iris remained by his side—until tragedy struck.
Her biological parents passed away unexpectedly. And then, without warning, Wendel and his first love ran off to the south, completely vanishing from her life.
Not only did they betray her, but they also took away her child, leaving her to suffer through a lonely and miserable old age.
Now, given a second chance at life, Iris was determined to return to her real family and sever all ties with Wendel once and for all.
When he learned the truth, Wendel scoffed, "Even if I lost a leg, I could still marry a woman a thousand times better than you. Who do you think you are?"
But within a year, he regretted his decision to the point of madness.
He chased her all the way to Nashville, his eyes red with desperation. "Please, come home with me, Iris."
Iris only smiled. "Home? What home? This is my home."
——
"Iris, stay and work at the factory. Give up your spot for school to Esther, and I'll marry you."
Hearing that familiar sentence again, Iris felt her entire body tremble.
She looked around in shock.
She was standing outside a post office—one that hadn't existed in decades. In her hand was a piece of letter paper.
It suddenly hit her.
This was the summer of 1989.
She was twenty years old.
And today... today was the day she had made the worst decision of her life—giving up her education for Wendel's first love.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to calm down.
Seeing her silent, Wendel grew impatient and snapped at her. "I know you really want to study, but Esther is the daughter of my dad’s fallen comrade. Her father sacrificed his life to protect our Dad. We can’t turn our backs on her. You understand that, don't you?"
A numb, suffocating feeling spread through Iris’ chest, but she only responded softly, “Alright.”
Satisfied, Wendel's voice softened. "Where did you go? Are you coming home for dinner tonight?"
Iris knew he hated the idea of her contacting her birth parents. If he found out she was writing to them, he would never allow it.
So she lied. "I just went to the town market to buy some groceries. I’ll be back soon."
Wendel didn’t suspect a thing and hung up the phone.
Without wasting another second, Iris stepped into the post office and borrowed a pen and a fresh sheet of paper from the front desk.
The original letter she had planned to send contained only polite inquiries about her biological family’s well-being.
But now, she was going to write something entirely different.
[Dad, Mom, I’ve made up my mind. I don’t want to marry Wendel Lancaster. Take me with you—I’m willing to go to Nashville.]
She carefully wrote down her address, ensuring her parents would know where to find her.
Watching the postal worker take the sealed envelope away, she exhaled deeply.
For the first time in two lifetimes, she felt a weight lift off her chest.
By the time she got home, it was dinnertime.
Wendel was in the kitchen, cooking.
Meanwhile, her adoptive mother, Stella, sat on the heated brick bed, chatting with Esther—looking every bit like a warm, happy family.
The moment she stepped inside, Stella's expression shifted. "Have you thought about school yet? Did Wendel ask you to work at the factory instead?"
Before Iris could answer, Esther quickly intervened, looking up at her with wide, innocent eyes—like a frightened little rabbit.
"Sis, don’t listen to Mom. I would never dare take your spot at school!"
Her adoptive mother immediately patted Esther’s hand, reassuringly.
"Nonsense. Your father saved our family’s lives. Helping you go to school is the least we can do."
Watching them, so close, so affectionate—like a real mother and daughter—Iris' lips curled into a cold, mocking smile.
第2章
"Didn't Wendel tell you? I already agreed to his request," Iris replied indifferently.
Hearing this, her adoptive mother beamed with delight. "Oh, our Iris is so obedient. How wonderful! You won’t have to suffer through years of schooling, and you get to marry the man you’ve loved for so long. Even though I adopted you, I haven’t treated you badly, have I?"
From as far back as she could remember, Iris had always known she was adopted.
When Wendel was born, he was constantly sick. The village shaman claimed that the only way to ward off misfortune was to adopt a girl to take his place as the family’s scapegoat. And so, the Lancaster family took in Iris.
Back then, many poor families couldn't afford to raise their children, so they simply abandoned them by the roadside, leaving them to starve. With that in mind, Iris had always been grateful to the Lancaster family for taking her in.
That was until she turned eighteen—when she learned the truth.
She hadn’t been abandoned. She had been kidnapped.
Her real parents were wealthy who had never stopped searching for their missing daughter all these years.
Overcome with shock and hope, Iris tried to contact them—only to receive a vicious slap across the face from her adoptive mother.
With a vicious glare, Stella spat, "I raised you all these years, and now you want to run? Look at Esther—why doesn’t she try to run? Did a dog eat your conscience?"
"Look at Esther."
She had heard those words for over a decade.
The year she was brought into the Lancaster family, her adoptive father, Ronald, suffered a near-fatal accident while serving in the army. From then on, her adoptive mother saw her as a bad omen.
But when Esther arrived, it just so happened that Ronald retired from the military and landed a stable job as a store clerk, providing for the whole family.
Stella often praised Esther, saying, "Our Esther is such a blessing to this family. She saved a life and even brought good fortune to us! Unlike some people, but I won’t say more."
Whenever she heard those words, Iris pretended not to hear, enduring them silently.
But now, she didn’t need to endure anymore.
Soon, she would leave this house forever.
For now, though, she didn’t want them to suspect anything.
With a gentle smile, Iris maintained her usual obedient demeanor as she turned to Esther.
"I’ve already made up my mind. I’m not very smart anyway, and I’m not cut out for studying. But Esther is so bright—she’s the perfect choice for school."
Hearing her words, Stella’s joy deepened. She quickly grabbed Esther’s hands in excitement.
"Esther, you must study hard! Having an education will give you a bright future—working in a factory can’t compare to being a scholar!" she exclaimed.
Stella was so elated that she failed to notice Esther’s face turning pale.
"Iris, are you really giving up on school? You’re actually going to work at the factory?" Esther’s voice trembled with disbelief.
Iris nodded. She had long seen through Esther’s thoughts—she wanted everything. She didn’t want to give up her opportunity to study, nor did she want to lose Wendel.
Just then, Wendel stepped out of the kitchen, carrying a plate of food.
"Dinner’s ready!" he called.
At the dinner table, Esther kept her head down, staring at her untouched food.
Noticing her unusual behavior, Wendel furrowed his brows. "Esther, what’s wrong? Why aren’t you eating?"
Tears welled up in Esther’s eyes. She looked up at him, her voice shaking. "Wendel, are you really getting married?"
Wendel stiffened for a moment. Instead of answering directly, he chose to avoid the question altogether.
"Who doesn't get married at a certain age? Don't be foolish—everyone needs to get married, and that includes you, right?"
Esther’s expression darkened.
Suddenly, she shoved her chair back, stood up, and stormed out of the house, leaving her untouched dinner behind.
"Esther! Esther, where are you going?" Stella called after her, but Esther never looked back.
第3章
Wendel panicked. He immediately got up to chase after Esther but hesitated for a moment as he passed by Iris.
He sighed and explained, "She's a young woman running out alone. I'm afraid something might happen to her."
Inhaling sharply, Iris chose to say the exact same words she had in her past life. "Do you really not know why she’s upset?"
Wendel frowned and scolded her. "Iris, Esther might be in danger. This isn’t the time for you to be stubborn."
Without waiting for her reply, he bolted out of the courtyard.
Before she knew it, tears welled up in her eyes.
Even after two lifetimes, watching Wendel defend Esther so fiercely still made her heart ache.
So he wasn’t indifferent or unfeeling—he simply never loved her.
Stella was confused. "What’s going on with those two?"
Her adoptive mother might not have understood, but Iris knew all too well. Still, she chose to say nothing.
Quickly regaining her composure, she simply sighed and shook her head.
Stella wasn’t stupid. If things played out like they had in her past life, it would take less than a month before she realized what was going on between Wendel and Esther.
Iris remembered it vividly—when Stella found out, she had actually demanded to not only give up her chance to study, but also to step aside and give up on Wendel.
Blinded by love, she had refused, even to the point of attempting suicide. Only then did Stella finally relent.
But this time, having lived another life, Iris had no intention of fighting for a place in this family. She would put on a good act for now, then disappear the moment her birth parents came for her.
That night, Wendel finally returned, bringing Esther with him.
Her eyes were still red, as if she had suffered some unspeakable grievances.
Gently, Wendel reached out to wipe away her tears, speaking in a soft voice.
"It’s late. You should get some rest."
Esther choked back a sob and clung to his arm. "I don’t want to sleep. I’m afraid that when I wake up in the morning, you won’t want me anymore."
"You don’t have to worry about that," a sudden voice interrupted, startling both of them.
"He won’t leave you. Once summer break is over, he’ll become a teacher in town—he’ll stay right here, in this home, with you," Iris added as she stepped out from the living room, her gaze falling on their tightly clasped hands.
Perhaps out of guilt, Wendel pulled his hand away as if it had been scalded.
He forced an awkward smile. "Iris, why aren’t you asleep?"
She replied calmly, "Oh, I just couldn’t sleep. Esther, you didn’t eat dinner earlier, so Mom asked me to heat up some food for you. It’s in the kitchen."
Esther lowered her head, her eyes still red. "I’m sorry, Iris. I was just feeling a little down today and needed some comfort. I know I was being thoughtless... You and Wendel are getting married, but I still keep clinging to him. You understand, don’t you? I don’t have any family, so I rely on him more than I should. Iris, you don’t mind, do you?"
Iris smiled, but the warmth never reached her eyes. Her mind was racing, her fists clenching involuntarily.
The only emotion she had for the woman before her was hatred.
In her past life, she had been blind—she never realized the secret between them. Not until after she and Wendel were married.
When Stella arranged a marriage prospect for Esther, Wendel panicked. He immediately quit his secure teaching job and eloped with Esther to Nashville.
Iris was left completely in the dark.
Wendel had snuck away in the dead of night, leaving behind only a letter full of lies—tricking Iris into believing he was being sent to Nashville for work.
At that time, she had already been pregnant. Yet he never even returned for the birth of their child.
She had naively believed he only went to Nashville for work, clinging to that illusion to comfort herself. But that fragile belief shattered the moment he returned—he took their two-year-old child away!
第4章
Iris sobbed, her heart breaking into pieces. "Your son was born, and you never even looked at him once—now you just want to take him away from me?"
Hearing the accusation in her tone, Wendel ran his finger through his hair, letting out a weary sigh before finally admitting the truth.
"I've always loved Esther," he confessed. "She's fragile and can't have children. So I thought—" He hesitated, then met her gaze. "I thought I could take your child instead."
Iris refused with everything she had, but Stella locked her up in the house. She could only watch helplessly as her own flesh and blood was taken away.
The mere thought of losing her child filled her with a burning hatred. She wanted nothing more than to rip Esther’s face apart.
Seeing the look on Iris’ face, Esther trembled all over.
"Brother, Iris's expression is so scary. Did I do something wrong? I'll apologize, okay? I’ll apologize!"
With that, she raised her hand and slapped herself repeatedly, crying out, "It’s all my fault! I’m the one to blame! I should just die! If I die, everyone will be happy!"
Wendel panicked. He rushed over to stop her. "Esther, what are you doing? Who told you to die? Who can’t accept you?"
Esther said nothing. She just kept crying.
Before Iris could even defend herself, Wendel suddenly shoved her hard.
"What the hell is wrong with you? If you're angry, then just be angry! What’s the point of being passive-aggressive? Haven't you bullied Esther enough over the years?"
His harsh accusations rang in her ears.
Supporting her sore shoulder where he had shoved her, Iris clenched her teeth. "I have never bullied her. You're the one who's always had a bias against me!"
But Wendel wasn’t listening. His mind was entirely occupied by the sight of Esther, crying like a delicate, tragic heroine.
Glaring at Iris, he snapped, "Apologize to Esther right now!"
Iris lifted her head, her eyes stubborn and unyielding. "I won’t apologize. I did nothing wrong. Why should I?"
The dim candlelight reflected in her bright, unwavering eyes.
For the first time, Wendel saw a defiance in her gaze that he had never noticed before.
She stood her ground, her voice steady and clear. "I didn’t say anything wrong. I simply passed on Mom’s words. It was Esther who lost control and started acting crazy. Yet you blindly blamed me without knowing the full story. I’ve done nothing wrong—why should I apologize?"
"You-" Wendel was stunned.
He had always thought he understood Iris best. To him, she was obedient and gentle, always yielding to his demands without a single complaint.
But today, she was like a completely different person.
The tears that had been endlessly streaming down Esther’s face suddenly stopped. She stared blankly at Iris, unable to believe what she had just heard.
Iris glanced at the two of them, let out a cold laugh, and said, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going to bed."
"Iris..."
For some reason, an uneasy feeling crept into Wendel’s heart.
He reached out and grabbed her hand, pressing his lips together before saying, "I know I was wrong to accuse you just now, but we’re all family. The way you talk is just too harsh."
Iris pulled her hand away indifferently and asked coldly, "What do you mean? Are you trying to make me apologize a second time?"
Hearing her words, Wendel felt a sharp, piercing pain in his chest.
He had known for a long time that Iris had feelings for him—feelings that were different from simple affection.
But he had never loved her. Let alone wanted to marry her.
Yet she had always been so obedient, so easy to control, never resisting, never questioning him.
Until now.
第5章
As a man, Wendel had never been able to refuse the obedient and submissive Iris.
But today, this woman who had been by his side since childhood, who had never once defied him, suddenly felt unfamiliar.
For the first time, he began to reflect—perhaps, just perhaps, not everything that happened today was Iris’ fault.
"Wendel..."
Esther tugged at Wendel’s sleeve, her voice soft and pitiful. "Maybe we should just leave it at that for today. If Iris is really upset, that wouldn’t be good..."
Iris almost laughed out loud.
Esther probably never imagined that one day, her pitiful act would stop working.
In her past life, the moment Esther shed a tear, Iris would have been so guilt-ridden that she would have dropped to her knees to apologize.
On the other hand, the moment Wendel heard those words, it was as if he had been injected with adrenaline.
His expression turned serious, and he spoke with righteous indignation.
"Even if Esther misunderstood you, your words were too harsh! Esther is sensitive—she’ll be upset for days because of this. You need to apologize! Besides, she’s younger than you. It’s only natural for you to give in to her."
A wave of bitterness surged in Iris’ heart.
Two lifetimes had passed, and yet Wendel still didn’t remember—Esther was actually three months older than her. She was the youngest in the family, not Esther.
But at this moment, she had no interest in arguing over such trivial facts.
She refused to back down. Glaring at him, she enunciated each word clearly.
"I. Will. Not. Apologize."
Tension filled the air. The three of them stood in silence, locked in a standoff.
"What’s going on here? Why aren’t you all in bed at this hour?"
Their adoptive mother and father emerged from their room, looking concerned.
Wendel brushed them off. "Dad, Mom, go back to sleep. This doesn’t concern you."
The moment their adoptive parents appeared, Esther reacted instinctively—her tears started falling again.
"Mom, Dad... please don’t worry, really, everything’s fine..."
Hearing her beloved adopted daughter cry, the adoptive mother’s heart twisted in pain. She rushed forward to comfort her.
"Who bullied you? Tell me! I’ll stand up for you!"
Esther sniffled. "It’s nothing... Iris didn’t mean it..."
The moment Iris’ name was mentioned, a cold glint flashed in their adoptive mother’s eyes.
"You shameless thing!" Stella shrieked.
She grabbed Iris and, without hesitation, slapped her hard across the face.
She cursed furiously, "We took you in to shield Wendel from misfortune, not so you could turn our family upside down! Who do you think you are, daring to bully Esther?"
"You were almost killed by human traffickers back then. If not for me, you would’ve been dead long ago! You owe me a debt of gratitude you can never repay! And now, you dare cause trouble in our home?"
Holding her stinging, swollen cheek, Iris felt a deep, suffocating grievance rise in her chest.
These words had been drilled into her since childhood.
She knew she had to repay her debt. That was why she had taken on all the household chores from a young age—so that when Wendel and Esther came home from school, they could do their homework while she fed the pigs and ducks, washed the family’s clothes, and worked late into the night.
When the family couldn’t afford to send all three children to school, she was the first to be sacrificed.
Even when she discovered the whereabouts of her biological parents, she was forbidden from contacting them.
The Lancaster family couldn’t stand the thought of their doormat leaving—let alone seeing her live a life of wealth and comfort.
But this time was different.
She had been reborn. She would not walk down the same doomed path again.
Her voice was hoarse as she spoke softly, "If I’ve repaid my debt, can I leave?"
Stella froze, clearly not expecting such a question.
Then, she burst into laughter.
第6章
"Fine! But repaying a debt isn’t just about saying the words—you want to repay me? Give me five thousand dollars, and I’ll cut ties with you immediately!"
Wendel quickly stepped in to stop her. "Mom, what are you saying?"
To put things into perspective, as a teacher, Wendel only earned fifty dollars a month. Stella’s demand was nothing short of absurd.
Who in the entire village could possibly come up with five thousand dollars?
Wendel put his arm around Iris’ shoulders and comforted her. "Don’t worry, Mom is just saying things out of anger. Just apologize, and everything will go back to normal. We’re still a family."
"Iris..." He leaned closer, his voice gentle as he coaxed her. "Be good, don’t be stubborn right now."
Iris lowered her head, avoiding his gaze.
"I understand. I’ll do my best to save up the five thousand dollars," she flatly stated. "I’m tired. I’m going to rest now."
With that, she turned and walked back into her room.
However, Stella’s curses continued ringing in the air.
"Ha! Save up five thousand dollars? How much could she even earn in a month? Dreaming in broad daylight, is she?"
"I treated her so well, gave her food, gave her clothes, and this is how she repaid me? What a disgrace to this family! If I had known back then, I would’ve let her die!"
Leaning against the door, Iris took deep breaths, forcing herself to stay calm.
She wasn’t bluffing—her biological parents were wealthy. Five thousand dollars was nothing to them.
Soon, the house quieted down, and exhaustion took over. She decided to get into bed and sleep.
But then, a knock came at the door.
"Iris, I know you’re still awake. Can we talk?"
It was Wendel’s voice.
Iris walked to the door and replied flatly, "Brother, you should go rest."
Hearing her call him "brother" again, Wendel felt inexplicable discomfort.
Ever since they had agreed to get married, she had never called him that.
For some reason, an unfamiliar sense of loss crept into his heart.
Refusing to give up, he continued patiently, "You were too stubborn today. Think about it—why are you even arguing with Esther? Once we’re married, she’ll be calling you ‘sister-in-law’ anyway. We’re all family."
Iris found his words ridiculous.
She couldn’t understand how Wendel could love Esther while still speaking to her like this.
Calming herself, she answered, "Brother, I think we need to reconsider this marriage."
Wendel immediately panicked. "Iris, why would you say that? What’s wrong with us getting married?"
"Are you just trying to spite me?"
"Iris, we’re not children anymore. Don’t joke about things like this. I know you just want me to coax you—is that it? Fine, I’ll coax you, okay?"
Iris let out a long sigh.
Talking to this man was exhausting.
All she wanted now was to close her eyes and rest. "Brother, just leave. I’m really tired."
Wendel was silent for a moment before his voice turned cold. "Iris, I’ve already lowered myself to apologize. Don’t say I’m heartless."
With that, he left.
Iris knew he was angry.
He had always been like this—if his coaxing didn’t work within three minutes, he would give up completely.
The next day, Wendel started giving her cold shoulder.
Iris didn’t speak to him either, simply going about her chores as usual.
No one knew that she had already contacted her biological parents.
Until they came to take her away, she would keep a low profile.
Every day, she would find an excuse to go to town for groceries, making sure to stop by the post office, afraid of missing a letter from her real family.
第7章
That day, as usual, Iris used the excuse of buying groceries to visit the post office in town.
Once again, there was no news.
She mentally counted the days—it had already been nearly seven.
Her biological parents lived in Nashville. Communication in the 1980s was slow, and it wasn’t uncommon for letters to take over ten days to arrive.
Feeling disappointed, Iris walked out of the post office, only to spot a familiar figure at the street corner.
It was Wendel, and beside him was Esther.
They had just stepped out of a clothing store, with Esther holding a floral dress in her hands.
The moment they looked up, their eyes met.
Since their last argument, Wendel had ignored her for three days.
He hesitated, debating whether to break the silence. But before he could say anything, Iris spoke first.
"What a coincidence. I was just out buying groceries. You two go ahead and enjoy your shopping—I’m heading home."
With that, she turned to leave.
"Iris!"
After holding back for so long, Wendel finally called out to her.
She stopped and looked at him, her expression calm.
"Be careful on the way back," he said—just a casual remark, nothing more.
Iris nodded, but her gaze unconsciously lingered on the floral dress in Esther’s hands.
Noticing her look, Esther quickly explained, even before Wendel could speak. "My birthday is coming up in a few days, so Wendel took me out to buy a gift."
Wendel immediately chimed in, "That’s right! And when your birthday comes around, I’ll get you a gift too."
As he said this, his eyes landed on Iris’ worn-out clothes, patched up in several places.
For some reason, a wave of guilt washed over him.
After Iris left, Wendel hesitated for a moment before turning back toward the clothing store.
Esther grabbed his arm, confused. "Brother, didn’t we already buy clothes? Why are you going back in?"
He explained, "Technically, you’re both my younger sisters. I should be fair—I can’t play favorites."
Esther’s face fell. Pouting, she snapped, "So, every year on my birthday, you have to buy her something too? I don’t like that!"
"Esther, be good," Wendel coaxed patiently. "That’s not what I meant. But no matter what, Iris sacrificed her education so you could go to school. We should at least show some gratitude."
Upon hearing that, Esther's temper flared.
She threw the new dress onto the ground, attracting the attention of nearby pedestrians. Without a care for the growing crowd, she shouted, "So what? Did I force her to drop out?!"
Several people turned to watch the commotion.
Wendel hated being the center of attention—especially in a negative way. Panicking, he hurriedly picked up the dress and quickly softened his tone, coaxing her like a guilty puppy.
"Alright, alright, I won’t buy her anything. Besides, she’s always doing chores at home—she wouldn’t have anywhere to wear such a nice dress anyway."
Only when she heard his reply did Esther’s anger subside. Satisfied, she smirked. "Now that’s more like it."
Then, as if suddenly recalling something, she frowned and muttered, "But I remember Iris went out to buy groceries this morning. Why hasn’t she returned home yet? The market isn’t even on this street."
Her simple words made Wendel pause. His brows furrowed as he realized something about it felt off.
Esther continued, "Look—the post office is right over there. You don’t think... Iris is—?"
Before she could finish, Wendel’s expression darkened.
Ever since learning that Iris had found her biological parents, he had felt a growing sense of unease.
He couldn’t quite explain why.
Was he afraid that she would leave this home behind and return to her rightful place as a wealthy family’s daughter?
Or... was he afraid that if she left, he might never see her again?
第8章
With a complicated mix of emotions, Wendel returned home.
As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Iris squatting by the stove in the kitchen, tending to the fire.
Her small figure looked especially frail.
The summer heat made cooking unbearable, and sweat had already soaked through the back of her thin shirt.
He had seen this scene countless times over the past twenty years, but for some reason, today, a faint sense of guilt welled up inside him.
During dinner, Iris had little appetite. After eating just a few bites, she retreated to her room.
After holding back for days, Wendel wanted to talk to her, but he couldn’t find the right opportunity.
Meanwhile, Esther clung to him, insisting he accompany her for a walk by the small river at the west end of the village.
Feeling restless himself, he agreed.
The summer night breeze by the river was refreshingly cool. As they walked, their hands gradually found each other.
With no one else around and the dim moonlight casting a soft glow, Esther grew bolder. She leaned her entire body against Wendel.
The scent of her hair, the warmth of her skin—his face instantly turned red.
Instinctively, he tried to pull away, but she tightened her grip.
Her voice was gentle, almost pleading. "Wendel, do you really want to marry Iris? You know deep down..."
"Esther, stop talking." He cut her off, his tone firm.
"I’ve always known how you feel about me. If you weren’t considered my adopted sister, I would’ve been willing to marry you."
Esther’s eyes turned misty with grievance. "But Iris is also your adopted sister. Why did you choose her?"
Wendel let out a deep sigh. "I’m afraid of what people would say about you. You still have to continue your studies—if rumors spread that you have feelings for your own brother, it would ruin your reputation.
"But Iris, she has no future beyond this village. It doesn’t matter to her." As he spoke, their bodies pressed even closer.
Lost in that moment, neither of them noticed the figure standing just a few steps behind them.
It wasn’t until Wendel finally let go of Esther that he saw her—Iris.
She stood there, silent and motionless, like a ghost.
Wendel's heart nearly stopped. Panicked, he instantly moved away from Esther, putting as much distance between them as possible.
"Iris! It’s not what you think!" he blurted out, his voice flustered. "Esther said she was cold, so I was just—just trying to keep her warm! Don’t misunderstand!"
Only then did Esther realize Iris had been watching.
She froze for a moment, but quickly recovered, putting on an innocent and pitiful expression.
"Iris, please don’t take it the wrong way," she said weakly. "I’ve been sick lately... Sometimes my body just feels cold."
Iris looked at the two of them as if they were complete idiots.
It was August—the hottest time of the year. If they were going to lie, at least put some effort into it.
As for what they had just said, she had heard every single word.
So, Wendel understood. He understood how much a woman’s dignity meant—he just didn’t care about hers.
Thankfully, none of this mattered to her anymore.
But she had no interest in arguing, so she simply curled her lips into a faint smile and replied, "Esther, if you’re sick, you should see a doctor. Wendel isn’t a physician."
Esther choked, unable to say another word.
Iris continued, "Anyway, I came to find you because Mom sent me. She said it’s getting late and told you two to go home and sleep."
With that, she turned and walked away.
Esther was so furious that she stomped her foot, pointing after Iris’ retreating figure.
"Brother, look at her attitude! She’s always either giving me that sarcastic tone or ignoring me completely. How can anyone stand it?"
Wendel quickly comforted her. "Don’t worry. She’s just throwing a little tantrum. What else can she do? Run away?"
第9章
The two of them obediently returned home. By the time they arrived, Iris was already asleep, leaving Wendel with no chance to talk to her.
The next morning, Iris was startled awake by a sharp scream.
Still groggy, she walked into the living room, only to find Esther clutching the floral dress she had bought the day before, sobbing uncontrollably.
“My dress! There’s a huge hole in it! Someone clearly cut it with scissors! Who did this? Why would they do this to me?”
Wendel was also jolted awake by the commotion. He rushed over to inspect the dress and saw that it indeed had a long, jagged tear—an unmistakable sign that someone had deliberately cut it.
Their adoptive parents were awakened as well. Having lived frugally all their lives, they were immediately heartbroken at the sight of the ruined dress.
Immediately, Stella erupted in anger. “Which heartless wretch dared to cut up Esther’s dress? I swear, I’ll skin them alive!”
As soon as she finished speaking, everyone’s eyes turned to Iris.
She had expected this. She knew she would be the first suspect. But she didn’t panic. Having lived through the tragic fate of her past life, she was no longer afraid of their baseless accusations.
Lifting her chin, she met their gazes without fear. “Do you have any proof?”
“You damn girl! How dare you talk back to me?” Stella snapped.
Ronald, a man with a hair-trigger temper, immediately grabbed her ear and snarled, “If it wasn’t you, then was it me, this old man?”
Iris’ expression remained defiant. “You have no proof. You’re accusing me without reason!”
At that moment, Esther dramatically threw the dress onto the floor, wailing, “I know... I shouldn’t have worn such a nice dress. But Iris, if you wanted it, you could have just asked! Why did you have to ruin it out of spite?”
That single accusation nailed Iris to the pillar of shame.
Her hands clenched into fists, her voice hoarse as she repeated over and over, “It wasn’t me!”