Kath held Rowena's hand as she was about to leave. Their eyes met, Kath's sad gaze and Rowena's worried gaze—there Kath could feel that Rowena was really worried about her. Rowena, maybe if the misunderstandings about Kath's mother's death had never fallen on her, Kath would have loved her very much. "I don't want to go there; I don't want to marry a man like that." There was thrill in every word that Kath spoke.

“What do you think about this? He certainly has to be responsible. You are a good girl who has never touched anyone. How could I possibly accept someone treating you like this without marriage? Get up; we will go to Bellshill right away.” Rowena's words were so demanding, even though Kath had never experienced this, and she prepared Kath for something bigger, not to be tarnished like this.

Kath only answered with a weak shake of the head. Her tears had receded, replaced with determination never to meet the man because the image of the man was now repulsive, frightening, and violent. I don't know what will happen to Kath if she meets the man again, let alone the fact that the man wants to marry Kath. Then it would be a forced and miserable marriage; Kath had never thought of such a marriage in her life.

“No, Katherine! Listen!  We go to Bellshill and do everything possible to make him willing to take responsibility. Wake up, baby, please don't be stupid!! You won't let him quietly roam while you lose your honor and are haunted by that shadow? No, Kath, wake up!!!” Rowena looked frustrated when her daughter just kept quiet and resigned herself to the situation.

Rowena even hit Kath's shoulder lightly, at least so that she would realize how valuable she was and how much Rowena loved her. Rowena's tears made Kath flinch. She always saw the woman shed tears for Eleana, and this time Kath was able to feel how the tears spilled over for her.

"Mother..." Kath called, and Rowena immediately wiped her tears away quickly. “Katherine Aldora, if I didn't love you, I would have sold you long ago. I do this because I love you; you are my only hope. If Eleana's household is destroyed, you are our only hope. I want you to live happily without any shortcomings; that's why I'm hard on you. I can't explain how annoyed I am at that man.

After knowing this, I took care of you so that you deserve to even be side by side with a prince. I know you are my good daughter and will not forget her mother's services all these years."

"You really treat me like your daughter?" Kath asked, causing Rowena to take a deep breath and then rush over to hug her. "Mom.." Kath returned Rowena's hug and cried on her shoulder. It didn't take long for Rowena to let go of her embrace and to grip Kath's shoulder quite hard.

"You really don't want that man to be held accountable for what he did?" In response, Kath shakes her head confidently. “You idiot, then you have to stick to your word. You can't regret this choice of yours. Some days may be difficult to accept but will be forgotten as time goes by," said Rowena.

"How can I accept a man like that? After all, he is a mother's lover." "No, Kath, he's just a passing guy who gave me some money after we spent the night together," Rowena assured her.

"That sounds like a bastard who doesn't deserve to be a husband."

"Then I will find another man; the only way is to marry you off to a rich, kind man who is able to love you and accept your situation," said Rowena, her eyes conveying such high enthusiasm to find noble men who are worthy of being her son-in-law and dredging up their treasures.

"Is there anyone who can accept me who is no longer whole?" “Of course there is, if you believe that love has full control over a person's attitude and character, making the impossible possible, the impossible becoming permissible, and the inappropriate becoming something feasible. You will find a man who accepts you.” Rowena gave faith to Kath to restore her confidence.

“The Duke of Edinburgh is the most coveted man of the year; he is a perfect and kind man. Mom will get it for you.”

***

The piano's clatter echoed with Katherine's sobs, the woman ending her song with one hard tap on the piano keys. Katherine stared blankly at her open balcony, even though the weather was so cold it was giving signs that it was going to snow. Katherine was wearing a light dress as if she wanted to let herself freeze to death on purpose. That crazy thought had reappeared since yesterday, until now when she saw the balcony, a strange feeling prompted her to run towards the balcony and asked her to jump from there.

It seems like this will be the end of endless suffering; indeed, since childhood it has felt like life is too difficult compared to Eleana. Katherine has had a lot of pain, according to her. Eleana lived quietly and was overflowing with wealth from Katherine's father, even though Eleana was not a legitimate child. Sometimes Katherine was jealous, and the more she came here, her life became more useless. Without realizing it, Katherine was already standing on the balcony, the cold air making her thin dress and flowing hair dance without permission.

Katherine gripped the iron of the balcony; a smile that looked terrible was printed so awkwardly. Katherine lifted one leg to get past the iron, but she heard Rowena's scream. Katherine didn't necessarily stop her movement; she even accelerated it and managed to get out of the iron balcony. Katherine was now standing atop a small wall that wasn't even two feet wide. Rowena screamed again, running as hard as she could to keep Katherine from falling.

Rowena hugged her stepdaughter's body very tightly, and while sobbing, she asked Katherine to be aware of what she was doing at this time. “Katherine…” Rowena whispered, sounding so sincere. Katherine's gaze was unfortunately still so blank; Rowena only tightened her hug from behind and screamed for help. A male servant and two female servants came when they heard the mistress screaming hysterically.

The sight also took them by surprise. Katherine suddenly collapsed, passed out there, and managed to get the maids to lift her back into the room. Rowena still looks so panicked, even though Katherine is a stepdaughter, even though she hates Mrs. Sofia, Katherine's biological mother—and she is repeatedly made aware of Mr. Alice's messages asking Rowena to treat Katherine as her own daughter. Rowena still remembered that incident when Mr. Aldora kneeled in front of her to protect Katherine as Eleana deserved because Katherine was also her daughter.

Rowena put aside all her ego for Mr. Aldora, who is even seven years older than her; that's because Rowena loves that man. Rowena is determined to look after Katherine as if she were her own daughter—but Rowena wants something in return for Katherine's future. That's why she was angry when she found out that a man from Bellshill tainted the child she had groomed for something greater.

"Kath," Rowena held Katherine's hand as she hoped her stepdaughter would wake up quickly. There were still many maids who watched and brought water back and forth to compress Katherine, who had a fever. A few seconds later, Eleana arrived with her big belly, followed by her loyal Anne behind her. Eleana was no less panicked when she saw her sister; she even scolded the maids for not being able to take care of her sister, so she had thoughts of jumping from the balcony.

Eleana already knew what caused this to happen, so she took the time to come in the cold weather even when she was pregnant for Katherine's sake. Katherine slowly opened her eyes; the first thing she saw was Eleana to her right. “Why did you come here in this weather? This is not good for the baby in your tummy,” said Katherine, still in a weak voice.