When I Love You, The Fog Rises Ahead

Once a beggar on the streets, Celeste was rescued by Alexander and transformed into a noble lady of the prestigious Shaw family. Despite their adoptive sibling bond, she harbored a forbidden, deeply buried love for her savior. Celeste believed her secret feelings were safe, but her illusions shatter when a sudden marriage decree banishes her to a distant, foreign land. Faced with exile, a devastating truth finally comes to light: Alexander has known about her hidden passion the entire time.

Chapters

Chapter 3

In less than half a day, the entire city of Selucia was abuzz with the news.

Lord Shaw had long been enamored with Princess Arabella. When he learned that she was being forced into a marriage abroad, he made a bold decision—he pushed his younger sister, Lady Celeste, into taking her place.

"Lady Celeste was but a beggar once. If it weren't for Lord Shaw's charity, there wouldn't even be a Lady Celeste in the Shaw household."

"I hear she harbored feelings for her own brother. How shameless! No wonder Lord Shaw grew to despise her."

Nearly everyone applauded the turn of events, and the streets were filled with tales of Lord Shaw's undying devotion to Princess Arabella.

It was then, amidst the gossip, that memories long buried began to resurface.

Alexander had always been distant, reserved in both manner and emotion. It was rare for me to see him smile.

But everything changed when Princess Arabella entered his life.

I had only watched from afar, but the sight of them together stirred an unfamiliar bitterness in my chest, spreading through me like a slow, creeping ache.

"Alexander," Princess Arabella had once asked, her voice light and teasing, "everyone says Lady Celeste is one of the most accomplished women in Selucia City. Do you admire her too, like the others?"

Hearing this, I had stopped in my tracks, hidden just out of sight. I held my breath, waiting for his reply.

Alexander's answer came swiftly. "You must be joking, Your Highness. She's merely my sister.

"She could never compare to you, not in the slightest."

But Princess Arabella didn't stop there. "Tell me, Alexander, have you ever had feelings for her? Romantic feelings?"

My heart was pounding in my chest, each beat filled with anticipation and dread.

They said Princess Arabella was unorthodox, but I had always thought those were just rumors. Now, I wasn't so sure.

But before I could entertain any further thoughts, Alexander's cold words shattered the fleeting hope inside me, dousing it like cold water on a flame.

"Never," he said firmly, his voice sharp with disgust. "I would never stoop so low as to entertain such an improper notion."

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