Chapter 3

The third day arrived, the day I was finally allowed to visit my mother. I woke early, dressing in the plainest clothes I owned, eager to leave the oppressive atmosphere of the Shen household. As I was about to step out of the courtyard, Jasmine appeared, a bright smile on her face that didn't reach her eyes.

"Good morning, cousin," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Are you going somewhere?" She was flanked by her two maids, looking every bit the cherished family member.

"I am going to visit my mother," I replied, keeping my tone even. I didn't want a confrontation. I just wanted to leave.

Jasmine's smile widened. "Oh, how wonderful. Cousin Huaiyu is so thoughtful. He was just saying he wanted to accompany you, to show proper respect to your family. We should wait for him."

I knew it was a lie. Shen Huaiyu would never willingly accompany me. This was just one of Jasmine's games, a way to assert her control and delay me. "That's very kind, but I don't want to bother him. He's a busy man."

"Nonsense," Jasmine insisted, stepping in front of me to block my path. "It's no bother at all. A husband accompanying his new wife on her first visit home is proper etiquette. We wouldn't want people to think the Shen family is rude, would we?"

Just then, Shen Huaiyu himself walked into the courtyard. He saw us and his brow furrowed slightly. Jasmine immediately rushed to his side, taking his arm in a familiar way. "Cousin Huaiyu, I was just telling Autumn Frost that you would be happy to escort her to visit her family."

Shen Huaiyu looked from Jasmine's smiling face to my stoic one. His expression was unreadable, but his voice was cold as usual when he spoke to me. "Jasmine is right. It is a matter of appearances. I will go." He didn't look at me. He was speaking to Jasmine, as if I were merely an object they were discussing.

The injustice of it was a bitter taste in my mouth. He was doing this not for me, not for my family's honor, but for his own reputation, prompted by the woman who wished me ill. I felt a surge of anger, but I quickly suppressed it. Arguing would be pointless. It would only make me look hysterical and give Jasmine more ammunition.

"As you wish," I said, my voice quiet. I lowered my head, hiding the resentment in my eyes. I had to endure this. For now.

The carriage ride was silent and tense. I sat on one side, Shen Huaiyu on the other. He stared out the window, his jaw tight, making it clear he would rather be anywhere else. I focused on the promise of seeing my mother, the one person in the world whose love was unconditional.

As we neared my family's small home, I had a sudden, chilling premonition. A flash of a memory from my past life. A fire. A scream. I shook my head, trying to clear it. It was just a bad dream, a remnant of a life that was no longer real. But the feeling of dread lingered, a cold knot in my stomach.

When the carriage stopped, I didn't wait for him. I pushed the door open and hurried towards the house. I had to see my mother. I had to make sure she was safe. My past was a nightmare, and I was terrified it was about to repeat itself.