Chapter 20: The Deception
“If that’s the case, this would be Bianca’s first time taking something that belonged to Luna,” Christopher said. His face subtly shifted as he covertly glanced at Luna.
Christopher and Luna had been classmates in their home country. Fate brought them to the same country for an ill-fated summer camp, where Bianca was receiving treatment. Even at ten years old, an arrangement between their grandmothers had betrothed Christopher to Luna. Naturally, he was expected to meet the Cowell family.
That was Christopher’s first encounter with Bianca. In the hospital ward, she exuded a charming and delicate aura, like a princess. Bianca was mesmerized by Christopher’s charm from the moment she saw him. Upon learning he was Luna’s fiancé, she made a fuss, insisting on spending time with him. “Jealousy can truly distort one’s character!” Isabella stated. “Despite receiving unconditional love and full attention from her parents, Bianca still desired to claim what belonged to Luna. She felt that without Luna, everything would have naturally been hers.”
Christopher’s heart skipped a beat. “No,” he thought. “Bianca isn’t like that. She isn’t…”
Bianca had indeed caused a commotion in the ward. Christopher only felt pity for the ailing girl, wishing someone would keep her company. Her resemblance to Luna also evoked sympathy.
But Isabella mentioned Bianca received unconditional love and attention from her parents. What about Luna? “What did she have back then?” he wondered. “She had me, her fiancé.” The thought struck him forcefully.
“Originally, Christopher and Luna were supposed to attend the event together. However, Bianca, who was in the hospital, insisted on going with Christopher, preventing her sister from attending. Since the event wasn't something one could join on a whim, their parents asked Luna to forfeit her participation. Instead, they requested Bianca, her identical twin, to take her place, and asked Christopher to look after her.”
Christopher’s expression darkened. He hadn’t thought much of it back then and had agreed to Hayden and Marjorie’s request without considering Luna’s feelings. He assumed Luna would yield to her younger sister; it seemed the natural thing to do. He couldn’t recall Luna’s expression at the time.
The Quirk family had heard that Luna willingly gave her sick sister the chance to go out. They admired the deep bond between the sisters.
[The following text appears to be unrelated to the story and is likely from a different source. It has been omitted.]
…with greenery turned toward Luna, who was not far away. They had been exchanging plans with them, beginning to speculate about whether any changes… Halette… the red wing… continued observing everyone’s reaction with great interest. Vigen…Christopher… Ian…
Chapter 20: The Deception (Continued)
…belongings, ultimately leading to the discovery of the unconscious Christopher deep within the valley. She then carried him out on her back. Overwhelmed by shock, fear, and exhaustion, Luna fell ill with a high fever. She was promptly taken to the hospital with Christopher.
The Quirks were utterly confused. “So then… How did Bianca get into the picture?”
“Once her fever subsided, Luna appeared to forget her ordeal entirely. In contrast, Christopher was convinced he had encountered Bianca and asked about her as soon as he woke up. The Cowell family seized the opportunity and began spinning a web of lies. Eventually, Luna concluded that her sister was the one who rescued Christopher and had fallen ill from exhaustion. She even attributed her fever to sheer fright. As for the camp staff, they simply assumed the girl who returned to the campsite was too worried about her friend and fainted. Everything fell into place seamlessly, leaving no room for doubt. It was a remarkably melodramatic affair,” Isabella explained.
Christopher’s body stiffened. Isabella’s words felt so real that his memories began to falter. Yet, he was reluctant to accept that all those years of events were untrue. “Why did Henry and Marjorie persist in this? Their relationship back then wasn’t as strained as it is now.”
The Quirk family was puzzled. They couldn’t comprehend Henry and Marjorie’s actions; their family values were too different.
After cursing silently for a while, Isabella finally spoke. “It seems they had been contemplating swapping their betrothed all along. It wasn’t solely because of Bianca’s childish and selfish behavior, but also because they saw Luna as strong and capable of managing any marital alliance. Meanwhile, Bianca’s delicate health made it necessary for her to marry into a supportive family that could provide the resources she needed for recovery, without ever belittling her.”
The Quirk family finally understood. It was rare to find another prestigious and wealthy family like theirs that didn’t seek alliances through their children’s marriages. The Cowell family had only two daughters, and prioritizing a marriage alliance was inevitable.
In the past, it had taken Sophia years of persuasion to secure a marriage agreement with Esmee. Originally, their family didn’t have a tradition of arranging engagements in advance.
“Upon first learning that Old Mrs. Cowell had arranged Luna’s engagement to Christopher, they were deeply displeased. They believed Old Mrs. Cowell was showing favoritism, focusing solely on her eldest granddaughter while overlooking the younger one. Old Mrs. Cowell promptly fired back, saying, ‘You only show concern for Bianca while neglecting Luna. Shouldn’t I ensure Luna’s well-being while I’m still alive? Must I wait an eternity for you to acknowledge her?’”
“Wow, Old Mrs. Cowell sure had a way with words!”
The Quirk family sighed. Esmee had passed away long ago. The Cowell family had often considered altering their alliance, but Sophia always quashed the idea. The Quirks were determined to honor their commitment. It wasn’t until Sophia’s recent passing that the Cowells’ true intentions became evident. But Christopher…
The Quirks covertly glanced at Christopher, observing his darkened expression. They couldn’t discern whether he believed them. He was as stubborn as a mule.
He was still reluctant to believe. “What on earth is Isabella saying? Does she have any evidence to back it up? How can her words suddenly become the truth? She’s just imagining things. It’s more logical to believe that Bianca was the one who saved me.” He shot Isabella a fierce glare, his anger bubbling.
Alexander intervened. Christopher stared at him, filled with indignation, grievances, and frustration. Alexander frowned; he didn’t want to deal with his foolish brother. However, he had stumbled upon some potential evidence.
After pondering, Alexander muttered amidst the commotion, “You were taller than Callahan is now when you were ten, weren’t you?”
Christopher stared. Alex’s gaze intensified. “There probably aren’t many girls who can carry you.”
Between a healthy Luna and a weak Bianca, who could have carried him out of the valley?
Christopher’s face paled. Images of Luna and Bianca flashed through his mind. Luna’s crushed hand, her silent endurance; Bianca’s weeping over a twisted ankle. Luna’s surprising strength, Bianca’s inability to carry a child for more than three seconds.
Soon, the banquet ended amid whispers. Someone suggested the Cowells leave to discuss matters. Henry smiled. “We have an appointment with the Quirk family today, so we’re a bit pressed for time.”
Everyone wished they could stay, eager to witness the engagement’s unfolding. But they couldn’t insist on staying if the families wanted privacy. Those preparing to leave were reluctant to depart.
Then, someone barged in. “Luna, Luna! I heard you’re calling off your engagement! In that case, I’ll propose to your family today. I’ll marry you. After all, you are already mine! I’m responsible for you!”
Luna and Christopher looked up to see the man who had previously harassed Luna in the restroom, evidently drunk.