Chapter 174

Indeed, a fallen leader was still superior to an ordinary person. Andrew still had some connections in Emerald City. Shelmaine wondered if Andrew would have really forced her into the marriage if the kidnapping hadn't happened. In that case, no one would've been able to help her. That region was very xenophobic, and everything was heavily influenced by connections and traditions. About ten or 20 years ago, a member of a prominent family committed a crime and hid in the family's ancestral home. The police were powerless because the family was protecting the criminal, preventing the authorities from entering and capturing him. Their culture cited that outsiders, even the police, were not permitted to enter one's ancestral grounds. Ultimately, the case remained unresolved. If Andrew had really forced Shelmaine into the marriage, it would have been like being sold off to a remote mountain village—there would be no escape. This made Shelmaine feel a sense of gratitude toward Demi. Th