Chapter 306: A Marriage Alliance

Yvonne lowered her gaze. "I tried to find out about him, but he was already with Ines. I could only watch from afar, never daring to approach. Only when I heard he was studying abroad without Ines did I dare to reappear."

Isabella found this ridiculous. "What level of lovestruck is this? Striving to stay at the same school… few people go this far for a secret crush. Inspiring, really. Studying hard for a man, saving money…"

The Quirks, observing quietly, admired Yvonne. Had she really pursued him abroad?

Alexander raised an eyebrow. He hadn't heard of anyone new during that period. Aiden seemed constantly preoccupied with Ines, consumed by unrequited love. His favorite saying then was, "A day apart feels like an eternity."

Ines, too, seemed to be reminiscing. "It wasn't that I deliberately broke our agreement. I fell ill, and my family secretly took me for treatment. That's why I didn't attend school as planned. But Aiden still followed me later."

Ines questioned, "With such sincere feelings, how could he fall for someone else just because I wasn't there? Did he learn about my situation and waver?" She felt inferior.

Yvonne's memories were a slow knife piercing Ines's heart.

"Back then, they hadn't broken up, had they?" Elijah asked, puzzled.

Yvonne gave a bitter smile. "I only found out after I went there, but I also learned something else." Her tone shifted, startling Elijah. "What?"

"Aiden was with Ines because your family forced a marriage alliance with the Deleon family. You treated him as a tool, robbing him of his freedom and happiness." Yvonne's voice was pained; she glared resentfully at Elijah.

An arranged marriage? Coercion? Yvonne's previous words to Ines now made sense. How did she learn this?

The Quirks found it hilarious. They thought if Aiden wanted to deceive someone, he wouldn't have gone to such lengths. Even they, as outsiders, sensed the genuine happiness between Aiden and Ines; it seemed too real to be an act. Did Aiden need to act? He barely visited his own father, let alone the Burke family. Could he really be that threatened?

Was Yvonne deceiving Elijah, or deluding herself? Alexander considered Yvonne delusional from the start; she refused to accept it. She used others' malicious speculation to justify her actions. Outside the wealthy world, people loved gossip and speculation, assuming everyone was motivated by personal gain and advantageous alliances.

Ines was bewildered. Yvonne spoke with such certainty… But Ines vehemently shook her head. Even with her trust in Aiden wavering, she believed in his sincerity. Perhaps it was a lapse in attention from Yvonne. Maybe Aiden worried about her situation. Perhaps…

Had Ines been healthy, she wouldn't have harbored such self-doubt. A series of unexpected events and misunderstandings eroded her confidence and innocence.

Elijah was speechless. He spent little time at home; how would he know? The Burke family was keen on the Deleon alliance. They’d collaborated on many projects, the Deleon family making concessions. The Burke family was determined; even if Aiden wanted to break up, it wouldn't be possible.