Chapter 1 Fairy Tale and Reality

Have you ever imagined being the main character in a Disney fairy tale? From an ordinary girl meeting a handsome prince on a white horse to a magnificent fairy tale wedding, luxurious gowns with sparkling embellishments, and living in a glorious palace?

As a child, Eleanor Caldwell dreamed of having a destiny like the princesses in Disney fairy tales with the supposed "happy ever after" ending. But as she grew older, after aliveness led her through many pitfalls that caused her to fall, stumble, falter, and even drown, Eleanor realized that life analogous to a Disney fairy tale never existed.

Eleanor and millions of others in this world have been brainwashed by sweet stories like Cinderella and other fairy tales when they were young, so people think that happiness can be obtained by all people, without exception. It doesn't matter if you're poor; you'll meet a wealthy prince. It doesn't matter if you're ugly; you'll meet a handsome prince who accepts you for who you are. It doesn't matter if you suffer; you'll meet a prince who will make you happy forever. Ha, it's all nonsense!

Last week, Eleanor received news that she would marry Jonathan Abbe Turner, a man who would inherit the Turnerhail company-a company that produces whiskey and wine of the highest quality in the United States. Eleanor should feel proud and agree to the marriage immediately. Not everyone can become a Turner family-in-law. But no! Eleanor didn't feel any pride; she felt ... humiliated.

Undeniably, as a child, she dreamed of being a princess who marry a handsome prince on a white horse, living happily in a magnificent palace, and being served by hundreds of servants. But as she grew older, Eleanor realized that her dreams were just an illusion that would never come true.

Happiness is abstract, something that may or may not be attained by people. And now, she is increasingly convinced of her thoughts as her parents come to talk to her again.

"Are you willing, Ele?"

Pressed by the bitter question in front of her, Eleanor sighed deeply. "My answer remains no," Eleanor replied firmly.

"Ele, can't you help your father just this once?" pleaded Gemma, her mother, with a pleading tone. "You just need to marry Mr. Jonathan and give him offspring. Isn't that an easy task? This opportunity won't come twice."

"And what if I can't even give him offspring?" Eleanor asked skeptically, her gray eyes staring at her elderly parents firmly.

Gemma and Chad Caldwell fell silent. "At least, for the time being, our fields are safe, the workers' salaries are there, and we won't be short of fertilizer," Gemma concluded.

Eleanor chuckled bitterly. "In other words, you're selling me off to preserve the Caldwell family assets?"

"It's not like that, Ele..."

"Why should I be responsible for the damage Dad caused? Isn't Dad the one at fault for being easily deceived by Dad's trusted person? Why am I the one now being made a sacrifice?" Ele expressed her thoughts that had been wrestling in her head for days. Something she believed would make her parents angry, but Eleanor still wanted to say it.

"ELEANOR!" Gemma snapped angrily, as she expected.

"Stop it, Gemma!" Chad pulled back his wife, who seemed so angry to hear Eleanor's words. Weakly, the man looked at his wife, asking her to stop forcing their only child. "What Eleanor said has some truth to it. I am at fault here; I shouldn't have pushed Eleanor into this. Besides, she's our daughter. How could we give our beloved daughter to the Turner family to be a second wife?"

"Then how you should pay off your mountainous debts to the Caldwell family?" Gemma asked, staring straight at her husband. "If you're thinking again of selling all our wheat fields, how are our lives in the future?"

"We won't sell everything, Gemma."

"It took us years of fighting to get to this point, Chad! You know, many things we've sacrificed-"

"But I can't sacrifice my daughter, Gemma," Chad interjected. For a moment, the middle-aged man looked at Eleanor. His gaze was intense, faded, and filled with feelings of shame, and love. Then Chad redirected his attention to Gemma. "She's more valuable than any field or wealth in this world. I can live poorly and start everything from scratch again. But I can't see my daughter living a life that isn't her choice."

"Chad-" Gemma seemed about to say something but suddenly stopped for some reason. The woman in her early sixties grabbed her chest tightly, making Chad and Eleanor look at her in concern.

"Gemma, what's wrong?"

Before the two could digest what had just happened to Gemma, Gemma suddenly fainted. Chad panicked. Eleanor was hysterical.

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