"Time will change everything. Besides, I never demanded that you wait for me. I have matters to attend to, so I must leave. Do as you wish."

With that, he left without looking back.

I was sent back home.

As soon as I entered the house, I heard my stepmother Melissa's sarcasm.

"You had this naïve notion of being Cinderella and changing your life, but all you've gotten are cold shoulders and being sent back. You should have married Duke Matthew's son three years ago. At least you would have had a husband. You've waited for Edward for three years, but what about him? He has become successful and been with someone else. You made such a mess. At the age of 20, you're still abandoned. You're such a loser!"

My father, Samuel Thompson, let out a series of sighs as if he also believed that I had brought shame upon our family.

Feeling overwhelmed by the weight of the situation, I locked myself in the room and slept for two days and two nights.

"Ms. Thompson, you are harming your health by refusing to eat or drink. General Edward would be deeply concerned if he were to see you in this state," Debra gently advised.

Debra, my loyal maid who had been by my side since childhood, was the only person who genuinely cared for me during this difficult time.

"Debra, should I question him? How is it possible for a relationship that lasted for ten years as childhood sweethearts to change in just three years? What about the promise he made to me? He swore to God that he would rather die than not marry me. How could everything has changed?"

My eyes were dull, and I kept asking Debra the same question as if I were possessed.

Debra set aside the food she held, sinking to her knees. She tightly held my trembling hand in hers, tears streaming down her face.

"Ms. Thompson, Ms. Thompson! You cannot go on like this. There must be a misunderstanding between you and General Edward. Why don't you write a letter to him. Express how you have prayed for his safe return day and night over the past three years. Tell him how you cared for his grandfather who raised him, even handling his funeral as his granddaughter-in-law! Perhaps, once General Edward reads the letter, the misunderstanding will be cleared up!"

What Debra said made some sense. Yes, there must be a misunderstanding.

Reluctantly, I managed to eat a few spoonfuls of oatmeal. Then, I took a seat at my desk, preparing to write a letter to Edward.

From morning till evening, I dedicated myself to writing the letter. Although it had been just three years since we last saw each other, the depth of my longing made it impossible to convey everything I wanted to say on paper.

Finally, as the clock struck around nine o'clock in the evening, I put down my pen and carefully folded the letter.

"Please deliver this letter to him personally," I told Debra.

Debra took the order and left.

However, three days slipped by without a response. Each passing moment at home felt like an eternity.

"Ms. Thompson, I personally handed the letter to General Edward, and I saw him put it away. Maybe General Edward has been busy with official business recently, leaving him little time to read it!" Debra reassured me.

Yes, Edward's recent promotion must have brought him a wave of responsibilities and obligations, especially as he dealt with high-ranking officials in Kingburgh.

"Do you know that General Edward returned from the outer frontier with a woman? She is said to be different from the women in our country, possessing a striking beauty. And I heard she excels in singing and dancing, her voice surpassing even that of a nightingale."

"Yeah. The news is all over Kingburgh. There are whispers that it won't be long before General Edward will marry her!"

"Well then, what should Ms. Thompson do?"

I suddenly opened the door, catching the two maids, who were chatting animatedly, off guard. Startled, they scurried away without even greeting me.

"Debra, what they said is not true, right?" I asked, my eyes fixed on Debra expectantly, hoping to get the last glimmer of hope from her.

Debra, however, avoided meeting my gaze. Her hesitation and silence spoke volumes.

It seemed that what they said was true.

At this moment, I made up my mind.

I would go find Edward, wanting to hear him say that he had indeed fallen in love with someone else and no longer wished to marry me.

"Debra, please help me dress up. I'll wear the same outfit I wore when I sent him to war three years ago."

As I approached the General Castle, soldiers on duty blocked my way.

"Who are you?" one of the soldiers asked.

"Allow me to explain, sir. Ms. Thompson has known General Edward since childhood. Today, she is visiting with the sole intention of seeing him. Please make an exception," Debra pleaded.

"General Edward has issued orders to not receive any visitors these few days. Please go back," one of the soldiers informed us.

I lifted my veil and said, "I came here on the day Edward returned. Now, I just want to take back my things. I don't necessarily need to go in, but please inform Edward come out to see me."

At this time, the door creaked open.

The woman emerged, wearing a graceful pink dress. Her fingertips were adorned with light pink nail polish.

Against the backdrop of my pale face and white clothes, she appeared more captivating.

"All are welcome here. Ms. please come in," the woman invited.

I was guided to a serene pavilion.

"I've seen you before. On the day we returned home, you fainted, and my husband was the one who brought you here for treatment. Since you're visiting today, is there something that you left behind on that day?" the woman inquired.

Debra discreetly tugged at my sleeve and muttered quietly, "Her husband? Isn't she ashamed to refer to him as such before they even get married?"

"Pardon me, but I am not familiar with you. Edward and I have known each other since childhood, yet I don't recall ever meeting you. May I ask who you are?" I asked, trying to act calm.

"So you are Charlotte. I am Abigail, which is the name Edward gave me. He claimed it is as beautiful as I am. Edward mentioned you to me. By the way, these letters were written by you, right?"

Abigail took out the letters and placed them in front of me.

Mixed feelings were swirling within me.

Those letters contained my affection for Edward. How could he have shared them with someone else?

Debra took the letters back and questioned, "I personally delivered these letters to General Edward. Where did you steal them from?"

Abigail burst into laughter.

She recounted, "On the day Edward returned home, he asked me to read the letters to him while I helped him change clothes and bathe. But halfway through, Edward abruptly pulled me into the bath. I begged him for a long time before he letting me go. To this day, I still feel like my body is falling apart."

Abigail, with her hands on her waist, appeared visibly exhausted.

The moment she opened her arms, I saw the lucky charm around her neck.

That was the lucky charm I had made for Edward.

Overwhelmed by a surge of emotions, I could no longer contain myself. I rushed forward and seized the lucky charm, asking sternly, "Why is it with you?"

Initially startled by my sudden action, Abigail quickly composed herself. She gently took my hand away and took off the lucky charm.

"You mean this? Once, I went up the mountain to chase butterflies. I accidentally fell off the cliff and got hurt. Later, Edward gave me his lucky charm, saying that I was his most precious treasure and that he couldn't bear to see me harmed."

Etiquette and manners faded into insignificance at that moment. I cried and grabbed the lucky charm.

"This is my stuff! Give it back to me! Give it back to me!" I yelled.

Abigail stepped back in fear. I didn't know if it was my illusion, but I saw a flicker of satisfaction cross her frightened eyes.

Just as Abigail neared the edge of the pond, Edward appeared and picked her up.

He asked softly, "Abi, are you alright?"

Abigail's cheeks flushed, and she responded in a tender voice, "Edward, I'm so scared."