Chapter 4: Shadows Over Silver Hollow

Caroline’s little maid, Jenny, suddenly seemed to remember something.

Jenny was always hovering at the edge, but that day she stepped forward, wringing her hands, eyes wide with hope.

She knelt before us and said that if the mayor’s daughter was engaged, she couldn’t be sent away for a political marriage.

Her words hung in the air, heavy with possibility. It was the first real hope we’d had all day.

It was a good idea, but where could we find someone to be engaged to Caroline on such short notice?

We looked at each other, the question unspoken. Who would risk their future for her?

This person couldn’t be of low status, or he wouldn’t be removed from the marriage list.

Only someone with a name—someone the mayor couldn’t ignore—would do. The list was short.

But among the prominent families, there was no suitable young man who fancied Caroline—who would risk angering the mayor for her?

It was a dangerous game, and most people in Silver Hollow played it safe. No one would step forward.

At that moment, Caroline looked at Lila and me, her eyes full of pleading.

She was silent, but her gaze said everything. She was asking for a miracle.

Her voice trembled: “Lila, can you ask Ethan to help me? Once my father assigns someone else for the alliance, my engagement to Ethan can be canceled.”

The words hit me like a slap. She knew what she was asking, and so did I. I looked at Lila, searching her face for an answer.

Caroline clearly knew that Lila and I were already promised to each other, yet she still made such a request.

It felt like betrayal, wrapped in desperation. I could see the pain in Lila’s eyes, torn between loyalty and love.

I refused immediately.

My voice was firm, but inside, I was shaking. I couldn’t do it—not even for Caroline.

Caroline’s tears wouldn’t stop, streaming down her face.

She didn’t plead again, just cried quietly, her shoulders shaking. The guilt gnawed at me, but I stood my ground.

Lila felt sorry for her, but she was also troubled, not knowing what to do.

She reached for Caroline’s hand, squeezing it gently. "We’ll find another way," she whispered, but her voice was uncertain.

That day, we all parted unhappily, each with our own worries.

We walked home in silence, the weight of what had happened pressing down on us. The air felt heavy, like a storm was coming.

I walked Lila home to the Caldwell house and spoke plainly about how I felt.

We stood on the porch, the porch light flickering above us. I told her I couldn’t bear the thought of being tied to anyone but her, even for a day.

I didn’t want to be engaged to anyone else, even if it was just for show.

My voice was low, but I meant every word. I wanted her to know she was my only choice.

Lila looked at me, a hint of joy in her eyes; I knew she was unwilling as well.

She smiled, just a little, and it felt like a promise. Whatever happened, we’d face it together.

But none of us expected that, at this critical moment, a flood would strike the outskirts of Silver Hollow.

It came without warning—rains that lasted for days, rivers overflowing, people scrambling to save what they could. The whole town was in chaos.

The mayor ordered me and the mayor’s son, Harrison, to handle disaster relief.

It was an honor, but also a burden. We packed our bags that night, not knowing when—or if—we’d return.

We didn’t know when we would be able to return home.

I promised myself I’d write every week, that I’d be back before Lila knew it. But deep down, I was afraid.

Since my father was Harrison’s mentor, I had always been closer to him than most.

He treated me like a brother, and I trusted him with my life. We’d grown up together, always competing but never really rivals.

Harrison was amiable, mature, and steady. We believed he would make a good mayor one day.

He had a way of making people feel heard, of smoothing over even the worst arguments. People respected him, and for good reason.

But he was soft-hearted and easily manipulated by those around him.

That was his weakness—he always saw the best in people, even when they didn’t deserve it. It made him vulnerable.

On the day we left, Lila came to see me off, her eyes red from crying.

She clung to my hand, refusing to let go until the last possible second. I promised her I’d come back, that nothing could keep us apart.

I knew she couldn’t bear to part with me.

She whispered that she’d wait for me, no matter how long it took. I believed her.

I promised her that when I returned to Silver Hollow, I would go to her house and formally propose.

It was a vow, spoken quietly but with all my heart. I wanted her to know that she was my future.

She only needed to wait for me in town.

I squeezed her hand one last time, memorizing the feel of her fingers intertwined with mine. Then I left, carrying her promise with me.

Harrison and I arrived in the flood zone and found that the disaster had destroyed the harvest, and people were thin and sickly.

The devastation was worse than we’d feared—houses washed away, children barefoot and hungry. We rolled up our sleeves and got to work.

We threw ourselves into flood control and gathering supplies.

We worked day and night, barely sleeping. The townsfolk looked to us for hope, and we did everything we could to give it to them.

Thankfully, the relief went smoothly in the end.

The waters receded, and slowly, life began to return. People rebuilt, crops were replanted, and hope flickered back to life.

By the time we finished, three months had passed.

It felt like a lifetime. The world had changed, and so had we.

During that time, we could only communicate with Silver Hollow at first; later, none of my letters received any reply.