Chapter 14

Gabriella almost wanted to laugh. Blake was truly overestimating the Sadberry family. In reality, they had been on a steady decline for years. Over a decade ago, they had even been on the brink of bankruptcy. It was only through a strategic marriage alliance arranged by her aunt that the family had managed to climb back from the edge. That was also when the Sadberry family realized Blake had feelings for Gabriella. They saw it as another golden opportunity—a chance to secure a powerful connection. But instead of encouraging the match, they forbade Gabriella from showing Blake too much affection. Back then, she couldn't understand this as she was still just a little girl. "But why? Blake said he wants to marry me when we grow up, and I want that too," she had protested. Her family had only given her a look of disappointment, as if she were too naive to understand the ways of the world. "Men are fickle," they told her. "If you give them what they want too easily, they'll get bored.