Crouching down, Tracie asked gently, “Lumina, are you alright?”
Then she looked up at Floyd and added, “What happened that day wasn’t intentional on Lumina’s part. She was just spoiled growing up and maybe she has some bias against me—that’s why she lashed out.”
“Floydie, don’t be too hard on her, okay?” she continued, her voice softening further. “Look, I only hurt my leg a little and it’s been painful enough all this time. Imagine how scared Lumina must’ve been, alone in Mount Gravenwood. Let’s just take her home, alright?”
At the mention of that day, Floyd’s voice turned icy, colder than frost. “You should be glad Trace’s leg is fine. Otherwise, you couldn’t pay for it—even with your life.”
He didn’t stop there, his tone cutting even deeper.
“I’ve already made arrangements. The wedding is postponed by a year. Once we’re back, you can explain yourself to Grandma.”
The Ryan and Stuart families had been close for generations and Alice, Floyd's grandma, had always adored Lumina.
When Lumina’s parents tragically passed away five years ago, Grandma Alice had taken her in, welcoming her into the Stuart Family and publicly announcing her engagement to Floyd.
Lumina hadn’t objected—quite the opposite. She’d blushed as she stole glances at the tall, handsome young man beside her.
Since then, she had embraced the role of Floyd’s fiancée with full enthusiasm, fiercely guarding her claim. No other girl was allowed near him. If she caught wind of Floyd getting close to anyone, she would throw dramatic tantrums and cause an uproar.
Her antics earned her a nickname within their social circle: “The Tiger Wife in Training.”
Lumina remained utterly indifferent, continuing to do things her own way.
But no matter what she did, it was impossible to compete with the overwhelming pull of Floyd’s unforgetable love—Tracie Ryan.
It was because of Tracie that her wedding with Floyd had already been postponed once.
Back then, the entire capital of Bellford knew how furious she was. She had nearly torn the place apart, forcing even Grandma Alice to pull her aside and warn her not to go too far.
So, when Floyd announced another postponement, everyone held their breath, bracing for another explosion.
But this time, Lumina simply lowered her gaze and nodded obediently. “Alright. Whatever you say.”
Floyd was stunned.
He had fully expected her to cry and throw a tantrum. He had even prepared measures to subdue her outbursts.
Yet, seeing her so calm and agreeable left him unexpectedly uneasy and irritated. It felt as though he had lost control of the situation. Almost reflexively, he offered a concession, “If you think a year is too long, we can…”
“No need.” Lumina’s smile was serene as she cut him off.
Whether the wedding was postponed for a year, ten years, or canceled altogether, it no longer mattered to her.
What Floyd didn’t know was that Lumina had made a deal with the Spirit of Gravenwood while in the mountains.
In seven days, she would take the Spirit’s place and marry another man.
When the time came, Floyd could postpone the wedding all he wanted or even change the bride—it would have nothing to do with her anymore.
As they prepared to leave, a rescue team member tried to help Lumina up, only to be shocked when she couldn’t stand at all.
After losing all the food in her backpack, Lumina had gone several days without eating.
Driven by the desperation of hunger and dizziness, she had taken the risky decision to climb a tree over ten meters tall in search of food.
Luck was on her side at first—she managed to pluck and eat some fruit. But then came the misfortune: the fruit was poisonous.
The instant Lumina swallowed the fruit, a sharp, excruciating pain tore through her stomach, leaving her disoriented. Her grip faltered and she plummeted from the towering tree.
When she finally regained consciousness, the reality hit her like a blow—both of her legs were broken.
The rescue team’s medic, overwhelmed by the severity of her injuries, quickly determined they were beyond field treatment. Urgently, they contacted the nearest hospital to prepare for her immediate arrival.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were this badly hurt?” Floyd demanded, his voice tight.
For a moment, Lumina found the question almost funny.
If she’d had any way of contacting the outside world, would she have been trapped in this godforsaken place for an entire month?
Floyd seemed to realize the flaw in his words from her silence. For once, he lowered his head to her, a rare gesture of remorse.
