Chapter : 36
Jacqueline was about to lift her teacup to her lips when she paused and looked at her. A playful smile had already formed at Samantha’s mouth.
It felt strangely leisurely like this, as if they had returned to their school days.
“You don’t have any plans this Sunday, right?”
“Mm, not yet.”
She generally had no schedule, but she didn’t bother adding that. After all, a well-liked young lady should always act as if she were busy, even when she wasn’t.
“Then come to Café ‘Ti Amo’ at noon that day. It’s the café in the square—you won’t have trouble finding it.”
The corners of Samantha’s lips lifted with effort. It was the expression she always made when trying to hold back laughter.
“Hm.”
Jacqueline looked at her suspiciously. She had always been like this, even in school—Samantha trying to pull pranks behind her back, only to be caught because of that very expression.
“Be honest.”
“About what?”
Samantha feigned innocence at Jacqueline’s sharp tone, but she was already completely exposed.
“Samantha.”
Jacqueline lowered her voice ominously. Samantha pouted, unable to hold out any longer.
“I’m saying this for your own good, Jackie. Just come, okay?”
“And what exactly is ‘for my own good’ supposed to mean?”
“Well… Evan Knox wants to see you.”
“Samantha…”
Jacqueline frowned slightly. As if expecting refusal, Samantha quickly added,
“Evan Knox still loves you. He said the broken engagement wasn’t his choice. He came to me himself when he heard I was coming to see you and asked me to tell you. There’s no man like him.”
“Love? We were engaged, but we barely even met a few times.”
“But Mr. Knox really does love you! Jackie, I’m saying this as your friend. He’s a good man. If you let him go, you’ll definitely regret it.”
Looking at Samantha’s innocent face, Jacqueline let out a bitter smile.
Samantha knew her family had fallen—but she didn’t truly understand what that meant.
Having nowhere to live and needing to send her mother to relatives. Having to work just to earn living expenses. Standing in front of something she wanted, hesitating for a long time before eventually walking away empty-handed.
To Samantha, the word “bankruptcy” was nothing more than something she had read in books.
It wasn’t resentment or disappointment. Jacqueline herself had been no different from Samantha just three years ago.
Perhaps humans were beings who could never fully understand others until they experienced the same situation.
“I know Evan Knox is a good person, Samantha,” Jacqueline said calmly.
Samantha smiled brightly and leaned forward, more like a student than a lady.
“Right? So this Sunday, you should meet him—”
“But he isn’t someone suited for me.”
“……”
Samantha fell silent, as if struck.
Jacqueline met her gaze steadily, seeing the faint bitterness at her own lips reflected in Samantha’s expression.
“The Knox family heir will eventually inherit a title and become the head of the household. Meanwhile, I have to worry about what I’ll eat today and where I’ll sleep tomorrow.”
“But Jackie, I’m sure Mr. Knox would help you. That’s what a fiancé is supposed to do.”
“Lord Knox has no intention of accepting me as a daughter-in-law—someone who would be nothing but a burden, not a help, to his son. You know as well as I do that marriage isn’t decided by just two people’s will.”
She did know. Even if Samantha was naive, she wasn’t completely ignorant of the world. Her own fiancé had also been chosen by his family.
Until then, they had only met a few times at gatherings—never exchanged a single meaningful conversation.
“Lord Knox would like you too. No one dislikes you, Jackie.”
Jacqueline only smiled in response.
If she told Samantha about the day Lord Knox had come to see her, what expression would she make?
He had come, angry and anxious, fearing she might marry Evan Knox and ruin his son’s future.
—“This is compensation for the broken engagement. Take the money and never appear before Evan again. My son has nothing further to do with the Somerset family.”
—“You don’t need to give me compensation. If it’s a broken engagement, I will accept it willingly.”
—“Take it if you aren’t planning to extort more money. Matters like this must be handled precisely. At the very least, once you’ve taken the compensation, you won’t have the face to appear before my son again.”
The humiliation of that moment came rushing back.
It had been miserable. Shameful.
Not because she loved Evan—but because of how Lord Knox, who once treated her warmly as “our family’s treasure,” had changed.
Everyone who learned of her family’s ruin changed their attitude. The meaning of downfall pressed sharply against her skin.
She no longer felt like the daughter of the Somerset Earl’s family—only someone useless.
Samantha, watching her carefully, asked cautiously,
“Don’t tell me… Lord Knox said something to you?”
“Samantha.”
“So that’s it. Oh my goodness! How could he… how could Lord Knox say something like that to you? This is unbelievable!”
Samantha flushed with anger as if she herself had been insulted.
“How could he treat you like that? I can’t believe it! This is outrageous, Jackie!”
“……”
“Does Mr. Knox know about this?”
Samantha asked carefully after a sudden thought.
Jacqueline let out a slow breath.
“There’s no need to tell him. It wouldn’t do him any good to know. So don’t say anything to him either.”
“But that’s so unfair to you!”
Jacqueline smiled faintly at that.
It was already too late to talk about fairness.
“There will be another young lady more suited to Mr. Knox. Maybe Lord Knox has already chosen her.”
“How can you be so calm about this?”
Samantha pouted—her usual expression when she was displeased.
Jacqueline looked at her gently.
At her friend who still possessed everything Jacqueline had lost.
Jacqueline wasn’t calm. It was just that when you were cut down so many times, even small wounds began to hurt less by comparison.
Samantha clenched her fist and said sharply,
“Then meet Mr. Knox yourself this Sunday and reject him properly.”
“Samantha…”
Jacqueline called her name as if scolding a child.
But Samantha remained stubborn.
“Mr. Knox said he’ll wait until you come. …If he doesn’t know the truth, I think he deserves a chance. He really does love you.”
“It’s already a severed connection.”
“You’re the one who severed it. Just like you did with me, Jackie.”
Samantha’s eyes turned sulky.
Jacqueline only gave an awkward smile instead of an apology. Samantha reached for a cookie.
“If it’s a severed connection, then cut it cleanly with your own hands. Or else let Mr. Knox wait there all day in vain. My job is done—I’ve told you what he said.”
Jacqueline sighed lightly.
Samantha’s expression brightened immediately as she bit into the cookie.
“I noticed it during the banquet too, but the cook at Preston Manor is quite skilled.”
“Right? I thank her every time I eat.”
“Come to think of it, I met Lord Preston earlier—he’s quite handsome… hm?”
Samantha stopped mid-sentence and gave Jacqueline a suspicious look.
Jacqueline raised her eyebrows as if asking why.
Samantha’s tone turned meaningful.
“About rejecting Mr. Knox… it’s not because of Lord Preston, is it?”
“Samantha! Don’t be ridiculous!”
Jacqueline shouted, startled as if burned.
Her overly shocked reaction only deepened Samantha’s suspicion.
“Then why are your cheeks red?”
“Samantha!”
“Hmm. Well, never mind.”
Samantha lifted her teacup but kept watching Jacqueline.
Then she frowned as if recalling something.
“That article…”
At those words, Jacqueline’s energy dulled.
She didn’t ask which article. It was obvious—it was about the “bankrupt young lady suing a swindler.”
“By now, the social circle must be buzzing about me.”
Jacqueline said it indifferently, as if it were someone else.
Samantha didn’t deny it, only chewed her cookie.
Jacqueline took a sip of tea and continued casually.
“What about my father’s story?”
Samantha dropped her shoulders and scolded her.
“Jackie… why did you have to sue him? It’s been years. That’s a severed connection too. You should’ve just let it go.”
“If I hadn’t stepped in, James Hemington would still be doing the same thing—scamming gullible nobles.”
“So what if he does? It’s not like it affects you anymore. No one cares about your noble intentions. They’re just busy gossiping about sensational newspaper articles. You don’t need to worry about them.”
Samantha replied bluntly.
She didn’t care who got scammed. What mattered to her was that Jacqueline was suffering unnecessary criticism.
Loyalty always turned inward first.
“I’m not asking for recognition. I just couldn’t ignore my conscience.”
At that, Samantha sighed deeply, as if conceding defeat.
Then she looked at Jacqueline with softened eyes.
“You haven’t changed at all, Jackie.”
“I haven’t?”
Jacqueline looked genuinely surprised.
She thought she had changed a great deal—more than anyone.
From an earl’s daughter to a ruined noble girl.
She had to beg for recommendations just to earn money. She couldn’t complain about worn-out dresses. Her pride had long since been discarded like something useless.