Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Honey, let's exchange. ...
"Sir, please forgive my unsolicited visit." Herman White's voice was cold, his expression calm, and he didn't even try to ask for forgiveness. "Your debt has matured, and according to the contract, this estate now belongs to me."
As the strong men began to move, Edward opened his arms and shouted, "No! Mr. White! There are still two months until the due date! Are you mistaken?"
Herman seemed unwilling to waste any more words and waved back.
A gentleman in a wig stepped forward and pulled out two sheets of paper. "Sir Norman, I'm Mr. White's attorney. You can call me Charles. This is the mortgage loan agreement you signed a year ago. The outstanding amount is 20,000 Ceylon rupees, payable in full with interest by June 26th."
"Twenty thousand Ceylon riyals? That's impossible! I only borrowed ten thousand! And why is the repayment date brought forward?" Edward exclaimed.
Lawyer Charles slowly handed over the contract: "It has your signature and seal, as well as the handprint of your guarantor, Mr. Wickman Stephen."
Edward and Anna on the second floor were both stunned.
Wickman Stephen is Anna's husband who absconded with the money!
"It's him... Could it be that he lied to me?" Edward couldn't believe it, and his hand holding the paper trembled slightly.
On the second floor, Aunt Anna suddenly stood up and shouted excitedly, "Sister, brother-in-law! Wickman just failed in his investment and is too embarrassed to come back. He would never cheat you! This unscrupulous businessman must be lying!"
Hearing the insults, the strong men looked angry, but Hermann was calm and didn't even raise his eyelids.
Lawyer Charles sneered and spoke before the Normans. "Is that so, ma'am? Out of my lawyer's conscience, I must tell you the truth. My employer, Mr. Herman, is an excellent businessman. He withdrew his investment long before the railroad business collapsed and fulfilled his obligation to inform the partners. Mr. Wickman concealed this information and even persuaded you to take out a mortgage loan to increase your capital. In reality, he took all the money, not... an investment loss as you believed."
Anna's face turned pale, she broke down and cried, muttering, "Impossible..."
Edward trembled all over, and everything came to him.
He stared at the red seal on the loan contract with a dazed look on his face.
Now, he is not only a pauper with huge debts, but also the manor passed down from his ancestors is about to be lost.
Tears welled up in her eyes, and just as they were about to fall, she took the contract with one hand and said softly, "Edward, it's not the end of the world yet. Cheer up."
Jenny wiped his tears, looked at Herman, and said gently, "Mr. White, if your purpose is to collect the debt, then you should know that my daughter will marry the Duke of Spencer soon. The wedding gift from the Duke's Mansion is enough to repay the debt. I hope you can give me some time."
In the studio on the second floor, Isabel looked at her mother with admiration. In a family, someone always has to stand up, even if it's forced.
Charles glanced at Herman, as if considering whether he should speak first.
Herman suddenly raised his eyes, his dark grey pupils fixed on Jenny: "Your family is selling your daughter for such a high price..."
Jenny's expression changed, and she said coldly, "Sir, please speak with more respect!"
"No, ma'am, please don't misunderstand me." Hermann said with a half-smile, "What I meant was that since I sold one daughter, I might as well sell another. The price I pay will definitely satisfy your family."
As soon as the words fell, everyone's expression changed, except Isabel.
On the second floor, Audrey frowned and asked softly, "He wants to marry you, Bella?"
Isabel shook her head, her voice cold: "No, to be exact, he just wants to marry a noble lady with the surname Norman, no matter which one."
Audrey wondered, "Is there a difference?"
Isabel stared at Herman's face and smiled slowly: "Of course."
At the same time, Jenny also understood Herman's real intention.
He didn't care about the 20,000 Ceylon rupees at all. He just wanted to use the debt to force the Normans to marry their daughter to him so that he could enter the upper class and become the brother-in-law of the Duke of Spencer.
"That's absolutely impossible." Jenny barely suppressed her anger, her voice soft and firm. "We may be powerless to change the Queen's marriage, but Mr. Hermann's despicable tactics are obvious to all. We will pay off the debt, so please give up the idea of marrying my daughter!"
Edward forced himself to stand up: "Yes! Absolutely impossible!"
Hearing this, Herman took out a silk scarf and carefully wiped his cane, saying in a leisurely tone, "Mr. Norman, Mrs. Norman, I think you have misunderstood something."
"I'm not here to discuss things," he said calmly, "but to... inform you."
"I'll give you three days to think about it. Goodbye."
After saying this, he threw away the silk scarf without any hesitation and turned to leave. The well-trained strong men followed closely behind him, filing out one after another.
Charles came last, took off his hat and bowed politely, but what he said was infuriating.
"Sir, Madam. In three days, if your answers are satisfactory, not only will the debt be written off, but a generous betrothal gift will also be presented. If the answer is no, then... please be prepared to hand over the estate." Charles pulled a business card from his pocket. "Oh, and if you want to sue, you can contact my office."
Edward took the business card and asked, "Can you help me win?"
Charles walked to the door, turned around coolly, and bared his teeth: "You will definitely lose. But if you insist on wasting money, why not let me earn it? Goodbye everyone!"
Edward: “…”
The gate closed again, and this time, the Norman manor could not return to peace.
Edward slumped helplessly on the sofa. Jenny didn't have time to care about him at the moment and hurried to the study. On the way, she passed by the second floor and saw Anna. She also rarely lost her smile.
Audrey followed and said, "Mom, is there anything I can help you with?"
"No, dear, go and rest with your sister." Jenny carried her skirt up the stairs. "I want to write a letter to your Aunt Mary."
Audrey and her sister looked at each other, confused, "Aunt Mary?"
Anna was surprised: "Mary?!"
Jenny glanced at Anna and said helplessly, "At this point, I have to ask Mary for help. Who is it that our Kavan family only has this one Countess?"
The three sisters of the squire Cavan family: Jane, Mary, and Anna. Jane, the eldest, is gentle and married to the bright and youthful Edward. Mary, the second most intelligent, is the wisest of the sisters and marries the prestigious Earl of Clarendon. Anna, the youngest, is warm and honest, but was deceived by Wickman and is now the most destitute, relying on her sisters for support.
Anna and her older sister, Mary, had been at odds since childhood, and as they grew older, they fell out over various conflicts. One of them was Mary's warning against trusting Wickman, which Anna ignored, leading to a heated argument. The two sisters lost contact.
The situation was urgent now, and Jenny didn't care about Anna's feelings and sent someone to deliver the letter overnight.
Norman Manor is far away from Earl Clauren's territory, and it takes at least two days to go back and forth.
The Norman family had no appetite for two days, and Edward fell seriously ill.
Just as Jenny was getting restless, the sound of a carriage was heard outside the door.
Soon, a dignified woman wearing a dark purple crinoline dress and a lace wide-brimmed feather hat walked in. Her facial features were 60% similar to her mother Jenny, but her temperament was more fierce.
"Mary! My dear! You don't know how much I want to see you!" Jenny kissed Mary on the cheek, held her hand tightly, and tears filled her eyes.
"Dear Jenny, I couldn't wait a moment after receiving your letter." Mary was also moved. When her eyes met the cowering Anna, she suddenly sneered, "Long time no see, Anna. I'm always curious about the astonishing stupidity of fools, and you are truly one of the best! Not only did you let that slick man cheat you of your dowry, but you also brought such a blessing to Jenny, causing her to lose even her daughter!"
Anna was so overwhelmed by the barrage of words that she couldn't even raise her head.
Jenny patted Mary's hand and said, "Okay, stop talking about her. Edward and I are both wrong in this matter. We should have listened to you and been on guard against any malicious intent."
Mary sighed and shook her head: "Yes, Jenny, you should have woken up long ago. Your unconditional kindness will only encourage the evil intentions of some people."
The two old sisters sat down hand in hand, and Isabel and Audrey came downstairs at the right moment to greet them, "Aunt Mary."
"Bella, Otti." Mary touched the two girls' faces, then took Audrey's hand and looked at Jenny. "But... Sister, there is one thing I am also responsible for."
Jenny: "What?"
Mary frowned and said, "Last season, Otti came to my house for a ball, and Sir Jarvis, the Queen's envoy, was there. That's when he picked out poor Otti and blamed me for bringing her out."
Hearing this, everyone was silent for a while.
Jenny said cautiously, "Mary, Otti's talent is really not outstanding. It shouldn't attract the attention of Sir Jarvis."
Audrey blushed slightly.
"Not outstanding" is a conservative statement, and it can be said that we are striving to be at the bottom.
Isabel gently waved her feather fan and chuckled, "Perhaps, the other party wants a lady who is not outstanding?"
"Sister, are you saying that the Queen deliberately chose a non-outstanding partner for Duke Spencer?" Audrey looked puzzled.
Jenny frowned, lost in thought.
Mary gave Isabel an admiring look and answered Audrey's questions. "This wasn't the Queen's order, but rather a problem within the Duke of Spencer's household. As far as I know, the Duke's younger brother once fought for the inheritance, and their relationship was not harmonious. Therefore, it seems likely that the Duke's younger brother bribed Jarvis to specifically select a noblewoman for his brother, one of humble origins, unskilled talent, and a simple nature."
After saying that, Mary quickly added, "Of course, in our eyes, Otti is well-behaved and cute, and is definitely not as bad as they imagine!"
Audrey said gently, "It's okay, Auntie."
"Exactly." She lowered her head, her long eyelashes covered by her small golden curls, and smiled a little sadly: "I really don't understand the complicated twists and turns. This is why they chose me."
Hearing this, the ladies fell silent again.
Jenny covered her mouth with a handkerchief, stifling her tears. "Oh, my poor Otti. Those four fiancées who died in vain before were probably not accidents, but... they were a trick!"
"Oh my God! Wouldn't Otti be walking right into a tiger's mouth if she went there?" Anna hugged her beloved niece and started crying, "Is there really no other way?"
Mary turned her head away, holding back tears. "The Queen's choice cannot be changed. The only thing I can do is to raise money as quickly as possible to help you repay your debts, or at least save Bella."
"Oh, God. Not to mention how difficult it is to raise 20,000 Ceylon rupees in a short time, even if we could, that devil from the Elmi Federation would never give up! He just wants to marry Bella!"
When she mentioned another difficult matter, Jenny's heart ached again. She held Isabel's hand, tears streaming down her face.
The eldest daughter had been independent since childhood, and her relationship with the couple wasn't as close as the younger one. But after twenty years of living together, Jenny had sensed that the ice in Bella's heart was slowly melting. Her sharp and intelligent eldest daughter must not fall into the hands of that greedy businessman!
Several ladies looked gloomy. Isabel supported Jenny and fed her some medicine. Suddenly, she said, "I have a way to solve both crises at the same time."
These words were like thunder, and all the women looked at him.
Audrey always knew her sister's intelligence, so she quickly asked, "What is it?"
Isabel held up the scroll of the Queen's marriage grant, looked at Audrey, and whispered, "Dear, let's exchange."
"Exchange?!" several people said in unison.
"No, that's absolutely impossible!" Audrey was the first to shake her head, her aquamarine eyes misting over. "The Duke of Spencer's Mansion isn't a good place! If you go there, you'll be asking for my death!"
Isabel looked at Audrey quietly.
If she hadn't intervened, poor Audrey would have died tragically in the Duke's Mansion in the original book.
This little life that she watched grow up, the little girl who could cry and laugh and loved to follow others, would come to the end of her life on a winter night. At that time, she was only twenty years old.
Isabel took a deep breath and looked up again, a faint smile in her eyes.
She patted Audrey's head and said calmly, "A simple little lamb entering a dangerous place has no chance of survival. But... do you think your sister, Isabel Norman, is a little lamb like you?"
"Of course not..." Audrey was stunned, "But...but..."
"No buts, this is the only solution." Isabel looked at her sister, but her words were meant for everyone to hear. "Hermann only wants a ticket to high society. As long as our marriage to the Duke of Spencer continues, he will have room for maneuver for us. The key lies in the Spencer family's situation."
"Otti, in other words, our lives are connected." Isabel chuckled. "If you insist on going to the Duke's Mansion, are you sure you can gain a foothold? If anything happens to you, I in the Hermann family will inevitably be affected. Do you understand?"
Audrey hung her head in frustration, and the three Calvin ladies also fell into deep thought.
After a long pause, Mary sighed, "That's right. I've been in the Earl of Clauren's mansion for so many years, and I understand the complexities of it best. The Duke of Spencer's mansion is even more treacherous than what I've experienced. If Otti goes, I'm afraid her fate won't be much better than that of her previous fiancées. But Bella is different..."
Aunt Mary gazed at Isabel, her identical blue eyes filled with affection. "My dear, you are more like me than my own children, not only in appearance but also in temperament. I believe you have an extraordinary mind and can deal with those enemies."
"Yes, I can," Isabel said with a smile.
A bold plan was born during the secret conversation among the five ladies.
Swapping Isabel for Audrey was a painful experience for Jenny, as was the worry and heartache she felt. Therefore, the subsequent plans were largely discussed and finalized by Mary and Isabel.
During this time, Anna objected, shouting, "I still think this is too risky! The Queen's decree clearly states that the marriage is to Audrey Normand! If anyone reveals this, we will all be sent to the gallows!"
"So, this matter will be top secret. From today on, Bella is Audrey, and Otti is Isabel." Mary said solemnly, "Children, before you officially get married, you must not reveal a single word about this matter. After you get married, be very careful with your words and actions and don't let anything slip. Especially... Otti."
Audrey clenched her fists and felt nervous.
Jenny also began to think: "The Spencer Duke's Mansion is in Hank County, and the Herman family is in Kent County, both of which are far away from us. The two children look similar, and it's difficult to tell them apart if you're not familiar with them."
Audrey nodded. "Yes, Sir Jarvis, who I met once, didn't recognize me when he announced the Queen's decree last time."
The two sisters have similar blonde hair and blue eyes. Although their expressions and temperaments are different, they are enough to deal with strangers.
"I hope everything goes well." After the discussion, Mary sighed and made the sign of the cross on her chest.
"God bless us, we can't withstand the setbacks." Jenny closed her eyes and prayed.
Anna also followed the prayer.
The three Cavan ladies made a wish together, and the two Norman ladies looked at each other.
Audrey blinked her blue eyes and suddenly said, "Sister, I understand. You are lying to me again."
Isabel smiled without saying a word, holding the candlestick, and slowly walked towards the spiral staircase.
The elder sister walked in front, and the younger sister followed behind, stepping on her shadow, just like the little followers they were when they were little.
"You can live well anywhere, whether it's the Spencer family, the Herman family, or anywhere else." Audrey looked lonely. "All the assumptions you put forward are just so that I can exchange ideas with you frankly. You are just..."
She sniffed and held back her tears: "I hope I'm doing well."
Isabel walked slowly, listening quietly to the sobbing behind her. After a long moment, she stopped, stood by the bedroom door, turned around and smiled, "We're here, Otti."
The candlelight illuminated Audrey's tear-stained face. She finally couldn't help herself and threw herself into her sister's arms.
"Otti, the reason I'm exchanging with you isn't a deliberate sacrifice, that's far from it." Isabel patted her back gently, her eyes smiling. "You can think of it as a gift from your sister. It's no different than teaching you math. I'm just giving you another path."
"As for why I lied to you, it's very simple." She shrugged. "Remember, when you were little, you were afraid of the dark and didn't want to sleep in your own room. I was annoyed, so I coaxed you by saying that children who slept independently would receive gifts. From that day on, you bravely took your first step."
Audrey nodded and uttered a nasal hum.
"Today, I'm only using white lies to trick you into taking the first step. The rest of the way will depend on you." Isabel helped her unlock the bedroom door. Her icy blue eyes reflected the candlelight. She paused, "As your sister, I can only see you off."
"Of course, it's also my own selfish desire. I want to take you here." Isabel handed the candlestick to Audrey, her eyes calm and gentle. "I can only take you here."
Audrey gripped the candlestick, the warm wax falling into her palm, a burning sensation rising from the depths of her heart. She stared blankly at her sister as she left, feeling a strange surge of courage, alongside sadness.
She pushed open the bedroom door, used the candle her sister gave her to illuminate the dark room, and went to look for the possible gift.
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