Chapter 3

Betsy’s eyes shifted before she rushed to answer on my behalf.

“Beacher, Hubery is handsome, and he and the Saintess also grew up together. It’s perfectly natural for them to be close…”

Beacher snorted coldly.

“No matter how close they are, she must maintain an appropriate distance and remember proper boundaries. She shouldn’t behave like some shameless girl who seduces every man she sees!”

I had endured enough of their insinuations and raised an eyebrow.

“Haven’t you and Betsy been seducing each other for quite some time?”

Betsy’s face instantly turned white.

Beacher glared fiercely at me before immediately lowering his head to comfort her.

The corner of my mouth lifted as I quickly walked away.

When I returned home and saw the traces of Beacher filling every room, hatred surged within me.

When we first met, he gave me a sprig of plum blossoms. Unable to bear throwing it away, I pressed it between the pages of a book and treasured it dearly.

Yet not long after meeting Betsy, he gave her a priceless flower-petal-shaped gemstone.

The painful contrast instantly made me realize who truly held his heart.

I personally gathered everything connected to him. By the time I finished, I was so exhausted that I collapsed heavily onto my bed.

Scenes from the final moments of my previous life haunted my dreams with terrifying clarity.

When I woke again, three full days had passed.

“Saintess, you’re finally awake! Who exactly did you choose as your mate? Why is everyone outside saying you and Betsy are both going to marry Beacher?”

“You’ve been asleep these past few days, so you don’t know how wonderfully Beacher has been treating Betsy. Not only did he dig a lotus pond for her at his home, but he personally transplanted the lotuses beloved by the old Luna for Betsy…”

“Betsy dislikes sweet food, so Beacher ordered that no desserts may be served wherever she is present…”

“He even brought an entire wagon of expensive fabric from another clan to make new clothes for Betsy!”

I suppressed the ache in my heart and forced a smile.

My maid Amy looked at me in exasperation.

“Saintess, how can you still smile at a time like this?”

“Beacher treats Betsy like a priceless treasure. If you bond with him, won’t you only be making yourself miserable?”

“That’s enough. Don’t worry. I didn’t choose him.”

I smiled reassuringly at her, only for Beacher to push open the door just in time to hear me.

Surprise flashed through his eyes before he gave a contemptuous laugh.

“Cheryl, you’re jealous after seeing how well I treat Betsy, so you’re deliberately saying that to upset me!”

I silently rolled my eyes.

How had I never noticed before how shameless Beacher was?

When I said nothing, he strode inside.

“I came today to inform you that I moved half the treasures you brought from the South to Betsy’s home. You owe her that compensation…”

My head snapped up, and I stared at him in disbelief.

“Beacher! Those things were given to me by my father. They’ve been with me for more than ten years. What gives you the right to take them and give them to someone else?”

I had left my home at a young age. Because my father worried about me, he carefully selected dozens of chests filled with precious jewelry and everything I loved for me to bring along.

Those belongings carried all his love and longing for me.

“I was merely giving you an opportunity to show goodwill toward Betsy. After all, once you marry me, you’ll need to get along with her!”

Beacher spoke as though his actions were entirely justified. His shamelessness left me stunned.

“We won’t take your belongings without giving anything in return. On our wedding night, I’ll enter your room and preserve your dignity as Saintess. However, I promised Betsy I would never touch you…”

“So once midnight passes, I’ll go to Betsy’s room!”

Beacher looked arrogant, as though he were granting me an enormous favor.

I laughed coldly and met his gaze.

“Beacher, return my belongings. I never said I would become your mate.”