Chapter 1 Arranged Marriage

The classic, luxurious Lincoln sedan slowly pulled up to the grand entrance of a large estate. Subsequently, the driver opened the car door. His gaze was slightly lowered, but his expression was somewhat contemptuous and indifferent. A young girl was seen returning from the countryside. Her attire was incredibly modest and simple, making her appear like a young maid. The “young maid” was actually the daughter of the Sullivan family. It was truly baffling. “My father's mansion is huge! It's so beautiful!” Hazel Sullivan deliberately exclaimed, causing both the driver and the welcoming housekeepers to furrow their brows. She let out an exclamation, an act deemed highly inappropriate by the driver and the housekeepers. After all, a cultured city dweller, no matter how surprised, would never voice such candid remarks. They didn't hold the young maid in high regard, but as housekeepers of a wealthy household, they were required to maintain a certain level of elegance at all times. Hence, they would never overstep boundaries in their words or actions. Naturally, Hazel noticed the expressions on the faces of these housekeepers, but she didn't care. In the year she turned nine, she was left in the manor by her own biological father, living alongside her Alendorian nanny. It wasn't until today that she was brought back to the city. As for the specific reason for her return, even the housekeepers who came to welcome her didn't know why. Intrigued, Hazel couldn't help but wonder what her long-lost father, whom she hadn't seen for many years, wanted from her. Of course, there was one extremely important matter that necessitated her return to the Sullivan family. After passing through a field of flowers, she saw a three-story mansion. The front door was tightly shut, with only two housekeepers standing guard. As she ascended the steps, the housekeepers gently pushed open the grand entrance for her. “Sweetheart, you're finally back. Your mom and I have been waiting for you for quite some time,” said her father, Declan Sullivan. Rising from the couch, he stepped forward to embrace Hazel, with Julia Litchfield closely following behind him. Hazel looked toward the woman standing not too far away, a faint smile playing on her lips. The woman referred to as her “mother” was, in fact, her stepmother. She had never once called this stepmother of hers “Mom.” That was because Julia didn't deserve it. “Dad, it's been a while.” Hazel ignored Julia, treating her as if she was nothing but thin air. The woman, originally intending to embrace Hazel, became acutely aware of her awkward predicament, her gaze turning somewhat venomous. She shot her husband an angry look. In this household, no one had ever dared to treat her this way. Declan signaled her with his eyes to keep calm. Today, they hadn't brought Hazel back for a reunion. They had a crucial task that only Hazel could accomplish. “My dear, come here. I understand that you've reached the age of marriage. As a daughter of the Sullivan family, there certainly wouldn't be a man worthy of you in the rural estate. That's why I've called you back this time. I want to introduce you to an exceptional young man who is worthy of you.” Declan didn't want to waste a single moment. If it weren't for preserving his image of a benevolent father in front of the housekeepers, he would have considered selling his ex-wife's daughter directly for money. At that moment, he was coaxing and deceiving, hoping his daughter would agree to the marriage arrangement he had made with another family. “Marriage?” Hazel immediately understood her father's intentions. The sense of urgency in Declan suggested that there must have been some financial issues with the family business. It seemed they needed to sell off their daughter to acquire new funds. As for his mention of an “exceptional young man,” she didn't believe it. If there truly were such an exceptional youth, her stepmother, Julia, would undoubtedly reserve him for her two biological daughters. “No, I don't need to get married, especially since I'm still young.” Hazel feigned shock, shaking her head, clearly showing her resistance to the idea of an arranged marriage. “What did you say?” Julia's voice rang out sharply, her eyes glaring angrily at Hazel. At that moment, all she could think about was if Hazel refused, it would be her daughter who would have to get married. She certainly didn't want her daughter to marry a man on his deathbed. She'd heard that the family forbade women from remarrying. If that man were to die, wouldn't her daughter be forced into lifelong widowhood? “Listen to me! You don't have the right to refuse. My dear daughter, you wouldn't want to see my business go under, would you? All these years, your living expenses in the countryside were covered by me. Now, it's time for you to repay me.” Declan's patience was wearing thin. If his daughter continued to resist, he contemplated confining her until she gave in. “But...” Hazel inwardly snorted, she didn't mind her marriage being arranged. However, she needed to know which family Declan had agreed to an arranged marriage with. This way, she could plan ahead on how to secure her footing in that family. “Dad, can you tell me which family we are aligning with?” Hazel asked, appearing resigned to her fate. Her eyes were slightly red, looking as if she was on the verge of tears. She knew that her seemingly fragile demeanor was the best disguise. “Over at Maplewood Manor,” was all that Declan revealed. He left out the most crucial piece of information - the man in Maplewood Manor was seriously ill and on the brink of death. However, that family had an odd rule. Only those who were married could ascend to heaven when they passed away. Otherwise, their spirits would forever wander in hell after death. More importantly, in order to soothe the spirit of the deceased, that family did not permit remarriage. These two peculiar rules had countless refined ladies and socialites quaking in their boots. Upon seeing the confusion in Hazel's eyes, Declan speculated that she probably hadn't heard of Maplewood Manor. Having lived in the countryside estate since she was nine, she was likely unaware of the terrifying rules of that particular family. Seeing her in this state, Julia, who was standing nearby, felt an immense sense of satisfaction. Just look at this! Whether it's his deceased ex-wife or the daughter left behind by his ex-wife, I have ways to make their lives a living hell! Hazel had successfully deceived Declan and Julia with her seemingly delicate facade. Had she instantly agreed to the marriage arranged by Declan, Julia would have definitely grown suspicious. From the age of fifteen, she had taken a special interest in the activities of these families in Maritown. She had heard of what kind of place Maplewood Manor was, and she was well aware of a man on the brink of death there. Of course, she was also quite familiar with two strange family rules that were upheld in Maplewood Manor. However, these were trivial matters to her. If she were to marry into his family and the man happened to die, she would still be a member of that family. Regardless of her status within the family, she would inevitably hold some level of authority. Hazel's bedroom was set up in a separate house, a considerable distance away from the mansion where Declan and his wife resided. Her room was situated on the first floor. As she pushed open the window, her keen sense of smell instantly picked up the scent of blood carried in the biting cold wind. Hazel lifted her gaze, noticing a shadow moving in the flower bed not too far away. Not every corner of the vast Sullivan Manor was equipped with street lights, and the area surrounding her house was shrouded in darkness. Fortunately, the moonlight provided some illumination, though it was occasionally obscured by passing clouds. Could it be Julia who wanted her dead? No, it shouldn't be. That woman was currently preoccupied with the idea of her marrying the sickly man from Maplewood Manor. She shouldn't be after her life at the moment. Reason told her that this was not the time to meddle in other people's business. She should turn off the lights and go to sleep immediately, pretending she was oblivious. However... curiosity nudged her, compelling her to venture out. By the time she regained her senses, she saw the man lying amidst the flowers, the scent of blood growing increasingly stronger. “Who's there?” The man's voice rang out, weak and strained, suggesting he was injured. His actions were swift, and Hazel heard the distinct sound of a bullet being chambered. “This is my home! Who are you?” Hazel whispered, careful not to raise her voice and alert the housekeepers. “Save me, or I'll shoot you!” the man threatened, “I'm almost dead anyway. I don't mind dragging someone else down to hell with me.”