Chapter 14

It was the night before the wedding, and a little smile danced on Bridget's lips as she clutched a book in her hand on her way to the library, the sound of her soft footsteps echoing in the silent hallway.

At last, she was finished with it—the book she and Abel had been reading together.

She couldn't help but wonder if he had finished reading it as well. She mused on what his thoughts on the novel's conclusion would've been.

Did the male protagonist's grand gesture of love truly make his nose scrunch up as he claimed it would? With such whimsical questions filling her mind, she couldn't help but chuckle softly to herself.

A blush spread across her cheeks, a warm reminder of her constant inner turmoil when thoughts of him arose. She questioned why he occupied her thoughts so persistently, why she could not seem to break free from his captivating hold.

It was a perplexing sensation, one that both delighted and confounded her. Perhaps she knew the answers to her questions as well, yet she was not ready to face them.

As she approached the library, however, Bridget's previous thoughts dissipated as the sound of hushed whispers drifed out of the nearby study.

Curiosity filled her, compelling her to inch closer, drawn by the intensity of the whispered conversation.

"They sent word the day before, as I said. If we don't pay up, we shall be forced to give up our lands on the morrow."

Bridget's breath caught in her throat as the words reached her ears, spoken in a hushed tone that betrayed the gravity of the situation.

Her father's voice was laced with desperation and urgency. Her eyes widened in shock, her mind racing to comprehend the implications of such a dire statement. With bated breath, she strained to hear more, her heart pounding in her chest.

"It's simply unfortunate how deep in debt we are, Son. It's overwhelming. If only we hadn't trusted the wrong people. Look at us now, left in this mess."

The tired sound of her elder brother's voice shocked Bridget even more. He did his best to offer reassurance as he spoke, "I know, Father. It's a difficult situation, but we must trust in the plan."

His tone dropped as he continued, "Olivia's dowry will provide us with a significant amount of money after the wedding. We will be back on our feet soon."

Bridget's jaw dropped, and she stayed frozen in place. Her entire system seemed to shut down, and she felt completely overwhelmed by the weight of the words resounding in her ears. Elliot continued to speak, but her ears could barely hear anymore.

"We could have never anticipated such losses. It is a heavy burden to bear, but there's nothing good to come from dwelling on it, especially with the wedding this close."

His tone was anxious. "You assured them they'd get payments made after the wedding, did you not, Father?"

"Of course, I did. It was in the letter I sent the day before and the one sent at noon." However, Leonard's worry persisted. "Yet, what if they come knocking on our door, demanding payment during the morning before the wedding, as they've threatened?"

His tone was tight. "Or worse, what if they disrupt the ceremony? Are you certain you do not wish to inform your bride of such possible complexities?"

"Olivia need not be anxious on her wedding day." Elliot's tone revealed his own anxiety as he replied, "I understand your fears, Father. We shall do everything we can to handle this delicately. For now, let's think of a solution and ensure that the wedding goes smoothly."

Bridget remained frozen in shock till the conversation began drawing to a close. Then she managed to retrace her steps back to her destination, righteous anger radiating from her body.

"Sister? What are you doing in here?"

Elliot's confused expression only grated further on Bridget's nerves when she saw it. She had anxiously waited in her brother's room, her heart pounding with the weight of the conversation she had overheard.

She attacked without waiting. "Brother, explain exactly what you and Father were discussing. I heard everything."

Elliot's face paled, and his eyes widened in shock. He was quiet for a moment, then he began stammering, desperately trying to deny her claim. "I… I don't know what you're talking about, Bridget. You must have misunderstood."

Bridget's voice remained firm, her eyes piercing into his. She wasn't going to let him evade the truth. "Do not lie to me, Brother. I heard every word. What happened to our family's fortune? Why are we facing financial issues?"

"Bridget… listen to me, whatever you heard?—"

"I know what I heard! It was crystal clear!" she cut him off, balling her fists to calm herself. "No more lies, Brother. Tell me the truth. How did we end up in this situation?"

Elliot stared at her for a moment, then he let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders slumping in defeat. "You're a child no longer, so I shall tell you. Yes, our family has been struggling for the past year. It's… it's bad."

His tone was forlorn. "It all started with a series of poor investments. Father trusted the wrong individuals, and we lost a significant portion of our wealth. We tried to recover by borrowing money, but the debts kept piling up."

He took a deep breath and hesitated before adding, "We are relying on Olivia's dowry to pay off our debts."

The silence stretched, the tension between them palpable, and when Bridget found her voice again, it trembled with rage as she spoke.

"And that is the truth behind why you're marrying Lady Olivia so hastily, Brother?" She paused, her eyes heavy with accusation. "Do you even love her? Or has she always been a means to an end?"

Elliot's eyes flickered with a hint of panic and shock. "Now, hold on. Of course, I love her. Sister, things are complicated. I?—"

Bridget's brow furrowed, her voice growing more angry. "Complicated? Whatever does that mean, Brother? Your intentions are pretty straightforward."

Her eyes narrowed, her tone betraying her anger and disappointment. "How could you, Brother? How could you use a woman like this, you of all people?"

Elliot averted his eyes, his shoulders slumping in shame. "All right, Bridget. You're right. But?—"

"Of course, I'm right!"

"But I love Olivia, Bridget. I truly do." He sighed. "Still, I can admit we are rushing our marriage, and this is one of the reasons but not the utmost. By marrying, I could protect our family and provide for you, for all of us. It's my duty, after all. I?—"

Bridget's voice rose, her frustration boiling over even more. "Protect us? Through deception? By using dear, sweet Olivia's feelings for your own gain?"

"Bridget, I already said?—"

However, she cut him off again, her anger doubling at his exasperated tone. "I expected better from you, Brother. You've become nothing more than a common manipulator now, you hear me?"

A flash of anger crossed Elliot's face. "Pardon?"

Bridget scoffed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "How about pardoning Olivia? Did you bother to consider her feelings at all when you spoke so carelessly earlier? Or is she truly just a lifeless pawn in your eyes?"

"That's enough, Bridget!"

Elliot's shock reverberated through his voice as he yelled, his frustration and anger reaching their peak.

"Allow me to speak! Please!" He violently gestured for her to sit. "We can't continue like this, arguing and shouting at each other." He sighed, and his tone turned pleading. "Please."

Bridget, still fuming with anger, hesitated for a moment before reluctantly obeying his request. She took a seat, her body tense and her eyes fixed on him. Elliot sighed deeply, shaking his head as he tried to gather his thoughts.

After observing her fiery expression for a while, he finally began to speak, his voice filled with earnestness. "Sister, you have to believe me. I love Olivia with all of my heart. She knows about our financial struggles and understands the challenges we're facing too."

Bridget's eyes widened at this new information, then quickly narrowed in skepticism.

Elliot nodded, a hint of tiredness in his eyes. "I understand your surprise. It was Olivia herself who suggested that we marry quickly. She knew that by joining our families, we could overcome our financial burdens."

Bridget's initial shock and confusion slowly transformed into understanding. She pondered Elliot's words, realizing that Olivia's suggestion aligned with the strong-willed and kind nature she had come to know in her future sister-in-law.

Elliot's gaze softened as he met her eyes. "She did all of this because she loves me too, Bridget. She sees the potential in us, the chance for a brighter future. And I believe in what she and I have as well."

As Bridget opened her mouth to speak again, he continued as though he could read her mind, "She also made it clear that she wishes for her brother to remain oblivious. She fears the consequences if he were to discover the truth."

For some reason, this put Bridget on edge again. Her eyes were wide with disbelief as his words hung in the quiet room.

"And why on earth would you agree to such a thing, Brother? This further tarnishes our family's reputation! Wouldn't it have been better to be honest? Imagine what he would think if he found out now!"

"Bridget, I repeat, my love for Olivia is genuine. I would never choose to deceive her nor go against her wishes." Elliot's eyes blazed with a fiery rage along with his reply. "The decisions she and I made are ours alone, so it is not your place, Sister, to question or interfere."

Bridget's anger surged within her again, her voice sharp with frustration. "How can you say that, Brother? We are family! Our family's financial troubles affect all of us. You should have included me in this discussion from the start!" Her jaw tightened. "It is like you said, I am no longer a child. I can handle the truth!"

Elliot's shoulders slumped, a weariness evident in his voice. "I understand your disappointment, but Father insisted that we keep it a secret. He believed it was for the best to shield the rest of the family from unnecessary worry."

Bridget's eyes narrowed, her voice tinged with hurt. "Shield me? It's because Father doesn't trust me, isn't it? He thinks I am incapable of handling the truth and of being part of any decision-making process, really."

Elliot's expression softened, his voice filled with empathy. "Sister, his intentions may have been misguided, but he loves us all. He truly wishes to protect you."

The feeling of disappointment and betrayal welled up inside her, and she fell silent. Her chest hurt as she wondered if she'd ever be considered worthy in her father's eyes.

The weight of the intense conversation remained heavy on Bridget's heart after quietly slipping out of her brother's room. As she made her way to her chamber, the flickering candlelight cast dancing shadows on the walls, mirroring the turmoil within her.

Curling up in her bed, she couldn't shake the overwhelming guilt that gnawed at her conscience. How could she keep this secret from Abel? If they truly wanted to live as honest people, then he deserved to know about their family's difficulties.

The room was enveloped in a hushed silence, broken only by the soft crackling of the fire in the hearth. Bridget's thoughts swirled, her mind replaying the words exchanged between herself and her brother.

It suddenly felt like a wall had been erected between herself and Abel. She felt trapped by the web of secrecy that had been spun around them.

As she lay in the dark night, lost in her thoughts, she struggled to find a way to navigate this balance between loyalty and honesty.