Chapter 4: Poisoned Inheritance

I woke up at dusk to find Jackson waiting at the steps, as if he’d been there a while. “Ma’am!” He was barely holding back his anger. “Are you playing me?”

I got up and straightened my clothes, calm. “What do you mean, Captain?”

“The land the late mayor granted is city property. Anyone who sells it gets thrown in jail. Your first condition is impossible!”

His eyes blazed with fury.

“Yes, I was playing you.” I said it straight.

“You!” He forgot to use my title.

“But weren’t you also playing me with the second condition?”

“But you started it!”

“I never lied to you.”

I walked up to him, meeting his gaze. “The time just isn’t right yet.”

He pressed for more, but I wouldn’t say another word.

“Are you trying to chase after me, is that why you set such terms?”

He changed tack, coldly. “Let me remind you, Ma’am, my heart belongs only to—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know—when you were injured at the church, Savannah nursed you back to health, and now you’ll only marry her. Fine, you don’t have to keep repeating it. You’ll get what you want, okay!”

I was a little angry.

“How do you know that?”

“None of your business.”

“Besides…” I pulled over the quiet man beside me. “Even without you, I live just fine. This is my companion, Scar.”

Jackson looked at Scar, then at me. Mocking, he said, “Ma’am, you really have… unique taste.”

“That’s none of your concern. What happens next is between me and Scar, right, Scar?”

But there was no answer.

“Scar?” I stiffened, urging him.

But his gaze was fixed on the woman approaching. I looked over. It was Savannah.

“Ma’am, I refuse.”

His hoarse voice hit me like a hammer. I couldn’t believe it. Clutching my chest, I staggered back and actually fell to the ground, completely losing my composure.

Scar tried to help me up, but I shoved him away. “Get out!”

“Fine, fine, fine! Wonderful!” I got up by myself, grabbed Jackson’s walking stick, and was about to strike him.

Suddenly, Savannah ran over and stood in front of Scar. I stopped short.

“Don’t be mad, Sis. If this guard doesn’t know his place, just give him to me.”

So saving me, caring for me, putting up with my temper—none of it meant he loved me. Scar’s eyes never left Savannah, filled with a devotion I’d never seen before.

Turns out, no one loves me. No one loves a cursed child like me.

My gaze swept over the stunned Jackson, the perfectly smiling Savannah… And the staffer I’d never really looked at before.

Fine. Fine. Fine.

I choked out, “If you like him, take him.”

“Why are you following me?” I looked back at Jackson. He shook his head, words caught in his throat.

“What’s with that look? Pity? That’s a first.”

I grabbed a bottle of whiskey and tore off the seal. “I’ve seen that look plenty. You’re just like the rest—mocking me behind my back.”

“I’m not!” He protested.

“Then drink this.”

I handed him the bottle. He hesitated, then, in a rush, gulped it down and started coughing. I burst out laughing.

Night fell, and porch lights lit up across the yards. We sat on the roof, drinking.

“Did you know? My mother died just like this—”

“Bang!” An empty whiskey bottle rolled down the roof.

“Just like that, gone,” I said. I hadn’t realized I was crying.

Jackson, tipsy, his cheeks flushed, stayed silent.

“I respect your family’s service. So when I heard you’d fallen into a coma, I thought, if Savannah won’t marry you, I will.”

“She deserves her happiness. Who wants to spend their life as a widow?”

“Marrying you isn’t a win, but it’s not a loss either.”

“Ma’am, always thinking about money.”

“If there’s no love, at least there’s money… What’s with that look?” I was wary.

“Pity often turns into love. Don’t fall for me.”

He looked at me quietly, as if seeing me for the first time, but didn’t say I was delusional.

...

“Mm.”

After a night of drinking, news swept the county. The town’s old enemy, after a string of defeats, finally sought peace. Their envoys arrived that day, bringing cattle, sheep, and gold. Dad, delighted, held a three-day party at city hall.

Thanks to my aunt’s efforts, I was allowed to stay at the estate until the celebration ended. At night, the grand hall was ablaze with lights. I sat with Savannah, across from the only son, Ben Ashford.

He looked pale—clearly from years of medicine. I knew it was my mother’s doing, though the family avoided talking about it.

Ben was kind to me. I nodded at him. He saw the wine in front of Savannah and quietly told the staff something. Soon, her wine was replaced with something warm. She took a sip and smiled at him gratefully. Ben doted on Savannah—everyone knew it.

Night deepened, and the performances continued. The envoy stood to flatter Dad, making him laugh heartily. Then the envoy said, “Mayor, my boss has a request. I wonder if—”

Dad, drunk and groggy, waved his hand. “Speak! Whatever I can do, I will!”

The envoy bowed. “The boss admires American culture and wishes to… marry one of your daughters.”

Dad, drunk, mumbled, “Hm? What… treasure…”

But everyone else understood. The mayor only had two daughters. The eldest was already married, so…

I looked at Savannah. Her face had gone white. The air was tense. Marcus stood up abruptly. Jackson followed. Ben gripped his fork tightly. Dad burped, the sound echoing in the hall. He sobered up, his face changing.

He mumbled, “We’ll discuss it later. I’m tired. Everyone, leave.”

Across the hall, I saw Marcus’s suspicious gaze settle on me. Savannah didn’t eat all day. I tried to comfort her, but it was useless. I had to leave.

At the estate gates, I ran into Marcus. I nodded, about to walk past him. He grabbed my arm. “You knew all along?”

“Knew what?” I replied.

“About the marriage alliance…” He stared deep into my eyes, as if trying to see through me.

“You’re joking, Marcus. How could I know? I’m just an unloved daughter.”

His suspicion faded a little. “Sorry to bother you, Autumn.”

But I wasn’t about to let him go so easily. “Marcus,” I ground my hatred into every word, letting it seep out like poison.

He stopped, turning back, no emotion in his eyes.

“You said you liked vintage fountain pens, so I spent a fortune to get one. You liked Hudson’s paintings—he’s notoriously difficult, but I begged for three months to get you that painting. You liked Savannah, so I married in her place… Marcus, how have I wronged you?”

“But when you see me, all you ask are these ridiculous questions.”

“Do I have to lay my heart bare, bleeding, for you to believe me? Fine.”

I pulled out a brooch and pressed it to my chest.

“Autumn, you’re crazy!”

“Maybe. But if you’re crazy for a poem and fall for Savannah, what does that make you—a fool?”

He gripped my hand, hard, along with the cold silver brooch. The glint from the pin reflected in his dark eyes—utterly emotionless.

A snowy mountain before an avalanche. Curtains fluttering before a storm. Like those long, delicate lashes. How deep does this place go?

“Ben is the future mayor. My life’s dream is to become city manager—second only to the mayor.”

“Savannah is his beloved sister. You are not.”

“I’ll only say this once, Autumn Ashford. You know what I mean. Stop pretending.”

Born ambitious. I dropped the act, letting out a cold laugh.

A master manipulator like him wasn’t as easy to fool as a straightforward captain like Jackson.

“And Savannah? Were your feelings for her fake too?”

He quickly dropped his suspicious look and laughed. “I thought you understood, Autumn. After eighteen years in this family, are you still that naïve? Sincerity? It means nothing.”

“Yes.” I laughed with him. “If I had a doting older brother, would you turn your affection to me? Would my sincerity be worth something then?”

“Everything has a price. If you love money, you know this.”

Turning genuine feelings into weapons, using them to get what he wanted—that was Marcus’s way, and he succeeded. He won Savannah’s heart, and Ben thought he’d gained a powerful ally.

But I refused to use my heart like that. I couldn’t. So I hesitated, kept my options open. Pretended to love the scholar, but really wanted to win him over. Admired the captain’s loyalty, but secretly tried to ensnare him—even lied to him. Never gave my whole heart.

In the end, I think I fell for him.

“Fine. Then standing before you now is not the Autumn who chased after you, but the eldest Ashford daughter. Marcus, if I really had a brother who cherished me, would you be willing—”

I didn’t finish.

“I would.” He paused, sensing something mysterious, and smiled with delight. “My… Autumn.”

“Good. That’s enough.”

I knew Savannah wouldn’t want to go. Ben wouldn’t let her. But Dad had no reason to refuse. Marrying off a daughter for thirty years of peace—a great achievement. Especially for a mediocre mayor with nothing to show for his tenure.

He tried to lead a rescue team in his second year, but after an accident, he never spoke of it again. His wife—my mother—showed remarkable intelligence and strategy. Under her command, we quickly won a decisive victory. Dad adored her, and they had me. But she never bore him a son.

He had little to show for his tenure, but if he could secure peace with the old enemy, it would outshine his predecessors. Sacrificing a daughter was a small price.

Marcus knelt outside the study all day, but Dad refused to let him marry Savannah. That’s just how he was—even if Savannah was his favorite daughter. I knew someone would make a move soon.

I left the hall and ran into Ben. He coughed. “Where are you going, Sis?”

I smiled. “It’s stuffy inside. Just taking a walk.”

He didn’t suspect a thing. Today was the last day of the party, and everyone knew the mayor would agree to the envoy’s request tonight. Savannah didn’t attend—everyone tactfully ignored it.

Once Ben was out of sight, I hurried to a guest house.

“Autumn, you’re drunk…”

“Marcus, help me…”

“I can’t…”

“If we… Dad will have to let us marry…”

“I don’t want to be sent away. Please…”

“I…”

“Please, Marcus…”

I smirked. There was only one guard at the door—Scar. I walked past him and pushed open the door. Moans and heat spilled out. Unexpectedly, Scar didn’t stop me.

Savannah, drugged, clung to Marcus, her clothes half off, barely conscious. Marcus’s clothes were a mess, but his face was amused. When he saw me, he smiled. “Autumn, you’re here?”

“Yes. When does this show end?”

“That depends on your sincerity, Autumn. When will you lay your cards on the table?”

Savannah, delirious, didn’t know what we were saying, just whimpered and writhed. “So hot, help me… someone…”

“Finish your act. Now, you can go.”

Marcus let go of Savannah and asked with a smile, “Which unlucky guard do you want, Autumn?”

I snorted. “The worst one. The ugliest.”

At my words, a drugged, ugly guard was thrown in—fat and coarse-faced.

“Autumn, how ruthless.”

He feigned a sigh.

“An eye for an eye.”

I gave a fake smile back.

“This is just the beginning.”

I returned to the party just as Ben, worried, told Dad Savannah wouldn’t eat and begged him to check on her.

“I’ll go too.”

Dad glanced at me, then nodded.

The three of us, with some family friends, headed to Savannah’s room. Ben stepped forward. “Savannah, Dad’s here… you… who are you!”

His face changed dramatically. I saw Dad frown and hurry to push open the door. Everything inside was laid bare. Savannah was in bed with an ugly man.

“!”

Someone gasped, and Dad collapsed. Chaos. Beloved Savannah, so shameless! Ben killed the guard and a group of staffers, but couldn’t touch Savannah. The scandal exploded across the estate.

While Ben managed the aftermath, I went to Dad’s study. No one dared stop me. I dismissed the doctors—only Dad and I remained.

I picked up the medicine and tried to help him drink. He watched me warily. “I’m just worried about your health, Dad. But before you drink, let’s test it.”

I kept my expression neutral. I pulled out a silver needle. After a moment, it came out black.

“!”

He slapped the bottle away, staring at the shards. “Who tried to poison me? Who sent this medicine?”

“Sir, it was… Ben…”

“What!” I shoved the doctor aside, shouting. “Check his pulse!”

The doctor trembled, then cried out. “It’s too late! The mayor has little time left!”

“Why wasn’t this discovered before?”

“This poison lies dormant, only triggered by a catalyst…”

“If he takes the last dose…”

Dad’s eyes were bloodshot. “What then!”

“He’ll die instantly.”

My face fell. I pointed at the spilled medicine. “So this is—”

The physician licked the dregs. “Yes, sir, it’s this!”

He collapsed.

“Good! My good son, so eager! I’ll cut him out of my will!”

Then he realized—he had no other son. He let go of the blank document, slumping down.

I knelt and knocked my head three times, blood welling up. “Autumn, what are you doing!” Dad was shocked.

“Dad,” I choked, “Mom never cheated with a guard! I found this in her jewelry box—please look!”

It was a picture, written in blood, a blessing chart. “She was writing this before she died. She said she wanted to finish it for you—how could she have betrayed you? Dad, she was wronged!”

Dad took it, trembling, and wept. “Why didn’t you say so before?”

“I… didn’t dare.”

“Who did it!”

I shook my head, lips sealed.

“It was Linda, wasn’t it!” Linda—my aunt, the mayor’s wife.

My face changed. I bowed deeply, shoulders shaking. I wasn’t crying. I just couldn’t hide the hatred on my face.

Dad, you always put on a show. You knew Mom couldn’t have done it, but still… He kept saying “good”—as if the world had just changed before his eyes. Ha. You killed Mom, my… Dad.

“All these years, only one son—her doing too?”

“I saw Savannah push Mrs. Harris, causing her to give birth early. That child only cried three times before dying in your arms.”

Dad’s face twisted at the mention of Mrs. Harris. “She died days after, but your son didn’t.”

“He was a boy. I could only send him far away.”

“Where is he now!”