The delivery man paused at the door. "Miss Esmeralda?"


    Esmeralda nodded.


    "It''s for you, then." He handed over the insted bag and hurried off without another word.


    Esmeralda stepped back inside, curiosity furrowing her brow. She opened the bag to find a care packagefort food and a warm tea, the kind meant to soothe a body under the weather.


    Her mind immediately went to Fleming. He knew about her cycle; it seemed like the sort of considerate thing he might do. She was about to frown, but her phone buzzed in her hand.


    It was a message-Alexander.


    [Eat it, and I won''t dock your pay.]


    Staring at the text, Esmeralda could practically see the deadpan look on Alexander''s face, that razor-sharp tongue hiding beneath a stoic mask. She couldn''t believe he''d picked up that she wasn''t feeling well. The surprise brought the faintest smile to her lips.


    She was about to type out a simple "thank you," fingers hovering over the keyboard, but they froze midair. Fleming''s warning echoed in her mind—Alexander''s intentions aren''t so innocent.


    A sudden chill prickled up her spine. She hesitated, then typed, half-joking, half- testing the waters: [Wow, don''t tell me you''re actually into me?]


    Alexander''s reply came back instantly: [?]


    Just a single, cold, indifferent question mark. Somehow, Esmeralda felt more insulted than if he''d spat out a curse.


    Letting herself rx, she texted back: [Forget it. My cat typed that.]


    Alexander: [You''re nuts.]


    Esmeralda refused to let her mind spiral. She took a deep breath, shoved all thoughts of Fleming out of her head, and tucked into thefort meal Alexander had ordered for her. It helped. She let herself enjoy it.


    But Fleming had told her to wait; he said he''de by.


    Evening rolled in, and still, he didn''t arrive.


    Which, truthfully, was no surprise. In the past, whenever Lucy called, Fleming would always drop everything, swearing he''d be back soon-but he never returned. She''d twisted herself in knots, inventing excuses for him, insisting he must have been dyed by something important.


    But now she saw things clearly. If certain people didn''t want Fleming to leave, there was simply no way. And honestly, it didn''t matter anymore. She had already decided -she wasn''t going to marry him.


    None of it was important. Nothing was.


    The next morning, Esmeralda went back to her family home, the Mercer estate. The nanny had mentioned she''d left herptop there, and she needed it for work.


    But the moment she walked in, she stopped short. Arrayed across the living room were several wedding dresses on mannequins their white Silk gleaming in the soft moming light. Mr. Mercer and Lucy''s mother were there too, still staying over in Eldermere.


    "Come try these on, Esmeralda," her father called, smiling and waving her over.


    Esmeralda froze, her face tight.


    Mr. Mercer chimed in, cheerful as ever: "I gave Fleming a ring-he''ll be here soon to help you choose."


    It felt like being herded onto a stage, pushed into a role she''d never wanted.


    Esmeralda''s difort was overwhelming.


    Lucy''s mother gave her a gentle


    up


    smile. "We just spoke to Fleming. Both your fathers think it''s best for you two to sort out the marriage certificate first. When he shows you can take care of feat city hall. it The ceremony ising up, after all."  S


    That caught Esmeraldapletely off guard. Herposure cracked.


    Her father nodded firmly. "A wedding''s just a formality—the official paperwork matters most."


    Her mother said nothing, inly watching to see what Esmeralda thought.


    Esmeralda''s fists clenched at her sides. "Is this really necessary?"


    But no one seemed to hear her. The parents were caught up, already deep in conversation about floral arrangements and seating ns, joyfully nning her unwanted future.


    Esmeralda stood there, silent and motionless, watching them discuss a wedding she didn''t want.


    Fleming never showed up.


    Not even when dinner was served. He knew both families were meeting to talk about the marriage license; he knew she''d be sitting there alone, taking all the pressure. But he still left her to it.


    A slow, shaky breath. Esmeralda walked to the dining table. The room was filled with warmth andughter... until she cleared her throat.


    "I''m sorry," she said.


    All eyes turned to her.


    Esmeralda spoke, steady and clear: "The wedding is off."


    Just like that, all the joy was sucked


    from the air. Her father''s face


    darkened. Mr. Mercer stared, frozen


    mid-motion. "Lucy''s mother took


    slow sip of tea, something unspoken


    flickering in her eyes.


    "Esmeralda?" Her own mother rose, worry carving lines in her face.


    Esmeralda took another breath and held her ground. "It''s over, for me and Fleming.


    He loves someone else, and I have no reason to ept that kind of humiliation. So -I''m canceling the wedding."