For the fifth time, the Ramirez family drew lots to select a daughter-in-law for the family, and Kayden Ramirez once again ended up drawing his widowed sister-in-law.
No one present looked surprised, and the gazes directed at me gradually became mocking.
“Five years already, and he still can’t draw her. Looks like even heaven refuses to let her become young Mrs. Ramirez.”
I forced out a bitter smile, my nails pressing hard into my palm, and even breathing felt painfully sharp.
According to the Ramirez family rules, anyone who wanted to properly enter the family and become the young madam had to draw lots, one person at a time.
Once, Kayden hugged me and made a promise. In this lifetime, if he could not marry me, he would remain unmarried.
Because of that promise, I gave up my hobbies, my friends, and my social life.
I learned how to manage the household, memorized all of Bernice Ramirez’s preferences, and handled every big and small matter in the Ramirez family.
Everyone in the capital’s upper circle laughed at me for wanting to climb into a rich family and rushing to serve as a free babysitter.
I kept telling myself that the lot drawing was only for appearances’ sake, but during the first year, Kayden included his widowed sister-in-law in the draw.
He claimed that because his elder brother died young, the infant could not be apart from its mother, and Evie Gordon needed to stay in the Ramirez family properly.
I chose to understand and accept it, forcing myself to endure the hurt and act generously.
Yet the second year, third year, and fourth year remained exactly the same.
Now, the child could already run around freely, but Kayden still used the very same reason to draw his widowed sister-in-law once again.
Kayden softly patted my head, his tone calm and gentle.
“Aveline Simmons, next year it will surely work out. We’ll have a beautiful wedding then.”
I looked up at the man I had loved for eight long years and smiled bitterly.
Kayden, there won’t be a next year. This time, I no longer want to keep waiting.
……
As I watched Kayden’s departing figure, I dialed a number that had long been buried in my contacts.
The call was answered within seconds, and the person on the other end sounded slightly surprised.
“What made you willing to call me? Did someone wrong you?”
In an instant, the bitterness I had been holding back rushed to my nose. Tears fell without warning, and I crouched on the ground, crying loudly.
Khalil Robinson immediately panicked, but he held back his worry and coldly mocked.
“Looks like the man you desperately loved for eight years completely broke your heart.”
Tears blurred my vision, and it felt as though I had returned to eight years ago.
I had been kidnapped by enemies and taken to an underground boxing arena to be used as entertainment.
In that dark and damp corner, those men tore at my clothes.
Just when I was drowning in despair, Kayden kicked the man away and lifted me up.
He removed his coat and gently wrapped it around my shaking body, constantly trying to comfort me.
“Don’t worry. I’ll take you away.”
From that moment on, I fell for the man who saved me, and for eight years, I stayed hopelessly devoted to him.
I ignored my parents’ advice, left behind my family and friends, and came to an unfamiliar city to love him with all my heart, desperately wanting to marry him.
Because of the Ramirez family’s tradition of drawing lots to choose a wife, I rejected every other opportunity and made sure to appear on time each year.
When I was severely injured in a car accident, and my parents came to visit me, I gave up the chance to see them for the last time so I would not miss the lottery drawing. It became my greatest lifelong regret.
On the other end of the call, Khalil sighed softly, his voice filled with concern.
“Aveline, stop being foolish. I need a partner for a marriage alliance. Interested?”
I wiped away my tears, my voice hoarse yet calm.
“Okay.”
Khalil paused, clearly not expecting me to agree so quickly.
“You’re not allowed to regret this. I’ll come pick you up in two days.”
After the call ended, my phone rang again. It was Kayden.
“Aveline, come to the hospital. Evie caught a cold, so make some soup and bring it over.”
When he noticed my silence, he quickly softened his tone and explained gently.
“My sister-in-law is raising the child alone. It’s not easy for her, so we should take better care of her.”
“Besides, we’re about to get married. In the future, we’ll all be one family!”
Those familiar words had already entered my ears countless times before.
When Evie suffered from palpitations, he had me brave the heavy snow to bring her calming soup.
But by the time I arrived, I saw him carefully feeding Evie dessert himself. The soup I made was dumped into the trash simply because she said it was bitter.
After that, he hugged me and gently persuaded me, saying that since we were family, we should take better care of his sister-in-law.
At the Ramirez family banquet, I rushed around like a servant while he held Evie’s hand and stood beside her as they welcomed guests together and accepted everyone’s congratulations.
I cried so hard that I nearly collapsed and asked him why.
He pulled me into his arms and comforted me, saying he only wanted to support Evie. Otherwise, people in their social circle would laugh at her for being widowed and alone. He told me not to think too deeply about it.
So many times, he had used the same excuse to push me away, making me willingly back down.
“Aveline, make sure it’s neither too hot nor too cold. Evie also hates bitter tastes, so remember that.”
Kayden’s reminding voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
I gave a mocking laugh and hung up.
After drying the tears from the corners of my eyes, I didn’t make the soup. I picked up my bag and went out.
I planned to reclaim the safety charm I had once obtained for Kayden after kneeling three thousand steps, paying respects three times, and bowing nine times.
Now that my love for him was gone, I would take my things back with my own hands.
From this moment on, I would completely cut ties with Kayden.
