Chapter 13
“Linden, may I borrow your boutonniere for a moment?”
Lena stepped forward gracefully, plucking the flower from Linden’s chest and tucking it into her hair. The crowd immediately gasped
in admiration.
Linden’s eyes sparkled with approval, Ethan looked shocked and his body trembled, while Flora’s face darkened with hatred as she glared at Lena.
But Lena ignored those looks. Though she hadn’t danced in a long time, she had practiced diligently before, and her body responded instinctively to the music.
With fluid, effortless motion, she performed the Flamenco–sharp, elegant, and fierce–exactly as Ethan had glimpsed that day long ago. That silhouette was the very image that haunted his dreams.
It was Lena. It had to be Lena.
Ethan was entranced. He unconsciously stepped forward, unaware even when Flora grabbed his arm, and just stared in stunned silence at Lena’s poised, regal presence. Every gesture radiated noble grace, as if an angel had descended to earth.
Even after the dance ended and the applause thundered around the hall, Ethan remained lost in a daze, murmuring to himself, “How could it be you… the one who danced the Flamenco back then… it was you all along…”
Lena shrugged off the attention and handed the flower back to Linden before taking her seat again.
Mr. Sterling was positively delighted and repeatedly praised her.
“Wonderful! Wonderful! It’s our honor to see such a splendid performance to celebrate. Ethan, you and Flora should now proceed to the bridal chamber!”
Flora seized Ethan’s arm, trying to pull him away, but he suddenly broke free, his face full of regret.
“Lena, it’s you. You were the one dancing Flamenco back then, not Flora. I’ve been deceived all this time! I know you still love me. Now that I understand the truth, I’ll petition the king. Can we be together again?”
The sudden upheaval shocked everyone present. Flora’s face turned pale with rage as she ground her teeth, furious that Lena had ruined her wedding day.
Ignoring the eyes on her, she clung to Ethan, desperate to make him change his mind.
“Ethan, don’t you want me anymore? Though I lied to you, F truly love you. I only want to be with you.”
Tears streamed down her face, as they always did, but Ethan no longer felt any love or pity. Seeing her now, knowing how long he’d been deceived, a fierce anger welled up inside him.
He gestured sharply, and Flora was pushed to the floor. His expression turned cold with disgust.
“You lied to me for so long. It makes me sick! If you hadn’t kept deceiving me, how could I have ever missed Lena?”
He had finally come to understand his feelings. His heart belonged to Lena, but both in his past life and this one, Flora had lied to him.
In his past life, he had only been married to Lena for a year before Flora began seducing him repeatedly. She even played the victim, telling him how badly her stepmother treated her, begging him to run away with her abroad for a private life. That was when he lost himself and abandoned Lena.
Now, in this life, she had continued to deceive him, pretending to be his true love. If it weren’t for Flora, Lena would never have ended up with Linden. She should have been the one to marry him!
The scene erupted into chaos. The Vivian family looked displeased, and Mr. Sterling grew furious, standing abruptly.
“What nonsense are you spouting? The Princess’s husband was appointed by the king. You are also betrothed to Miss Vivian: How dare you treat this as a game and speak such foolishness?”
Chapter 13
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“Apologize to the Princess immediately and then proceed to the bridal chamber with Miss Vivian!”
But Ethan, now fully awake, ignored him. He left Flora behind and stepped in front of Lena, his face filled with hope.
“Lena, I know you still love me, don’t you? You’re just angry. I realize my mistakes now. You don’t have to stay with Linden out of spite. Let’s petition the king together. I’m sure he will approve our marriage.”
This was the first time Ethan had admitted fault to her. He had hurt her so many times for Flora’s sake without ever apologizing, but
now, all because of a simple dance, he was apologizing.
Lena found it almost amusing how simple it had been to see their true colors.
She smiled and said, “Why do you think a royal decree can be overturned? Besides, Linden is the man I chose myself. I stopped liking you long ago.”
Chapter 13
