Between Blood and Honor

When I woke again, dusk had already fallen. My parents, my aunt, and the Easton and Langdon families were all gathered in the room.

The moment I opened my eyes, Jude's mother, Catherine, hurried over to help me sit up. "Oh, sweetheart, you're awake," she said kindly.

But I pulled away from her touch and threw myself into my mother's arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Anyone watching would have thought I was a poor girl whose heart had been completely shattered.

Catherine awkwardly withdrew her hand. "Marina, dear, what's done is done. Why don't we… let your cousin be with Jude too? Don't worry, the title of Mrs. Langdon will still belong to you."

Then, she turned toward Jude and Erin, standing behind her. "Our idea is to let Erin live with you. That way, you sisters can support each other, and no one's reputation has to suffer. What do you say?"

My father let out a cold snort. "What a clever scheme you've cooked up. You think I'll let my daughter marry into your family after this? Dream on!"

The Eastons didn't look pleased either. After all, their soon-to-be daughter-in-law had just thrown herself at another man. If that rumor spread, what would people think of them?

Hearing she couldn't marry Jude, Erin refused outright. She had worked too hard to climb her way to Jude—she hadn't done all this just to end up as his "mistress."

Sniffling, she nestled into Jude's arms and cried pitifully. "As long as Marina can forgive Jude, I'm willing to be his mistress. I just don't want her to hate him because of me."

At that, my aunt burst into tears beside her. "Marina, if you don't forgive your cousin, she'll be doomed!"

"Enough!" my father barked, slamming his hand on the table. "Look at the daughter you raised! She brought disgrace to our entire family and still has the nerve to cry here?"

He had always been tolerant of his sister, overlooking her mistakes out of pity for her being a widow. But now, seeing how she had indulged her daughter to the point of shamelessness, even his patience had run dry.

Jude's heart ached at the sight of his beloved Erin in tears. He frowned and turned to me. "I've already promised to make you my legal wife. What more do you want? Must you really drive Erin to her doom before you'll stop?"

Before he could say another word, his father struck him hard across the face. "Shut up, you wretched bastard! You have no right to speak here!"

My father looked at the pair of them coldly. "Save your little act. My daughter doesn't need your pity—or your family's marriage."

That slap seemed to ignite something in Jude. He glared at his father, his voice sharp and defiant. "I'll marry no one but Erin. If you like Marina so much, marry her yourself!"

At that, Mason's father, George, who had been quietly observing from the side, let out a mocking laugh. "So, this is the fine upbringing of the Langdon family?"

Then, he turned toward my father. "Francis, it seems both our families are victims in this mess. Why don't we join hands through marriage? What do you say?"

My father stared at him, utterly incredulous. "You take this for a marketplace bargain?!"

George chuckled. "C'mon now. It's true our family's reputation has suffered today—but your daughter is the one true victim here. Tell me, how could she ever marry well after this?"

My father was about to refuse when I suddenly spoke up, my voice calm amid the tension. "What exactly would I gain from marrying into your family?"

The Proposal

George's face lit up with delight instantly.

He had never liked Erin. To him, she was petty and calculating, the kind of woman who schemed behind every smile. If not for his son's foolish affection for her, he would never have let someone like her step through his family's doors. Now that he saw I was willing to consider his proposal, he was more than pleased.

"Marina," George began warmly, "I can't promise you the world, but there are a few things I can guarantee. First, once you and Mason are married, we'll divide the family holdings. I'll go straight to the notary to make it official—each of my two sons will receive 40% of our assets, and the remaining 20% will be kept for me and my wife to live on.

"Second…" He drew out the word, casting a disdainful glance at Jude before continuing lazily, "Our family values propriety. We would never allow something as shameful as an engagement banquet turning into a scandal between a groom and his fiancee's cousin. And lastly, after the marriage, all property and assets of your household will be placed under the wife's name."

A collective gasp swept through the room. That was no different from handing over the family fortune to the bride. The Eastons, it seemed, were truly willing to go all in for this marriage.

The only ones whose faces turned grim were the Langdons, Erin, and my aunt. George might as well have pointed straight at them and called them shameless.

I nodded quietly after he finished. Others might not know whether he was bluffing, but I did.

In my previous life, after Erin's death, Mason had obediently followed his family's wishes and married another woman. Though he didn't love her, he treated her with patience and respect. Every house deed and property title had been under her name, while his remained empty.

If I were to marry such a man, even if he didn't love me, at least he wouldn't harm me. And with the knowledge I carried from my past life, I wouldn't have to rely on any man completely.

Still, this world was harsh to women. If I didn't marry, my parents would be mocked and shamed for the rest of their lives. It didn't matter what happened to me, but I couldn't drag them down with me.

"All right," I said after a moment. "I'll think about it."

George and his wife Alice froze for a heartbeat, then broke into wide smiles. But Erin, who had been quietly watching the drama unfold, suddenly lost her composure. She turned on George angrily. "Why? That wasn't what you said when I was betrothed to Mason! You said we'd only receive 30%! You never even mentioned transferring the assets to my name!"

George frowned. "From the day you got engaged to Mason, every bite you've eaten and every stitch you've worn came from our family. I made that arrangement because I didn't want you squandering our fortune. Besides, what do you even have over Marina? And yes, I like her better—so what if I'm willing to give her everything?"

Erin's face flushed with humiliation. Tears welled in her eyes as she turned to Mason. "Are you really just going to let them bully your fiancee like this?"

Mason looked at her coldly. "Ms. Zane, you'd better watch your words. We're no longer affianced."

Erin choked on her own breath, retreating into Jude's arms in tears.

While our two families sealed a marriage agreement within a few exchanges, Jude turned grim. He pushed Erin aside and stormed toward me, his voice trembling with rage. "Marina Andell! You're my fiancee! How can you talk about marrying someone else in front of me? Have you even thought about how I feel?!"