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Chapter 41

Chapter 41

I never imagined that a man I’d only met twice would want to marry me. And the man I’d been in love with for a decade was keeping a mistress behind my back.

After the initial shock, I couldn’t help but smirk. “Mr. Collins, don’t you think this is too fast?”

Ernest’s expression remained unchanged, and his face serious. “Isn’t the point of dating to get married? Since you’re not interested in dating, let’s get married.”

His logic seemed flawless. But the person saying it… Wasn’t it odd to propose marriage to someone you barely knew? This plot twist might be popular in novels, but that was fiction.

My eyebrows arched a hint of sarcasm on my lips. “Do you always get straight to the point with your dates, Mr. Collins?”

The setting sun bathed us in its glow. Ernest’s shadow enveloped me. “You’re the first.”

I felt a tickle in my throat. “We… don’t know each other.”

We stood there, facing each other, the atmosphere charged. I could feel the heat rising in my body, even breaking out in a sweat.

F

As I fiddled with the wall behind me, contemplating what to say next, Ernest said, “I’m going to buy some clams.”

“I don’t like onions,” I blurted out, unsure why that came to mind.

Ernest hummed in acknowledgment and walked away. While watching his retreating figure, tall and upright, there was a sense of security in his presence, especially under the sunset’s light.

A daring thought crossed my mind. A quick wedding to someone like Ernest might not be so bad. Plus, he was a military man, vetted by the country, likely able to withstand the trials of life.

Returning home, my landlord, Ethel, wasn’t around, or she would have bombarded me with questions or raved about how good Ernest was.

When pushing open my room’s door, my phone buzzed with a call from Fanny.

“How’s your first day of the trip? Any joys or discoveries?” Fanny sounded exhausted. Her job as a surgeon was not for the faint–hearted, often spending hours non–stop in the OR. Lying on my bed, reflecting on the day, I told Fanny, “Does a romantic encounter count?” “What? That’s exciting!” Fanny’s voice perked up instantly.

I laughed, sharing the story of Ernest. Fanny sighed, “Felicia, God is fair. He might close a

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door on you but then open a skylight.”

“You haven’t even met him. How do you know it’s a skylight? Besides, I’m not in the mood for this,” I said, feeling a chill in my heart as I spoke.

“A man who wants to marry you right away only means one thing. He’s head over heels for you, Fanny analyzed.

I snorted, “Or maybe he’s just lusting after me?

I was confident in my looks, having won a beauty contest.

“You said he’s a soldier. Trust in the nation,” Fanny’s thoughts mirrored mine.

We fell silent, and Fanny continued, “I was worried you’d feel lonely and cold on this trip alone. With this encounter, I believe you’ll quickly heal from the wounds Conrad left.”

Mentioning Conrad stirred a mix of emotions within me. It was the bitterness and suffocation, different from the day before. It made me sick, and my stomach churned uncomfortably. My stomach would act up whenever I felt nervous, wronged, or unsettled. “Felicia, if I were you, I’d marry the soldier, show Conrad up, and save yourself the trouble of dealing with the Wagner family,” Fanny’s tone sounded with venom despite her angelic profession.