The Bride Who Said No: Escaping the Shadows of Yesterday

Flavia could feel her face turning red as the secretary dared disrespect her. She had always been favored and the belle of every ball, and never before had she faced such indignity. Without hesitation, Flavia whipped out her smartphone and speed-dialed Audrey's number.

The housekeeper, who was manning the landline, picked up the phone. "Is Mrs. Sutton available? I need to speak with her," Flavia demanded, barely containing her frustration. Recognizing the urgency in Flavia's voice, the housekeeper didn't dare delay, quickly rousing Audrey from her afternoon rest.

"What's the matter?" Audrey's sounded with annoyance.

"It's Ms. Miller on the phone. It seems she's quite upset," the housekeeper informed Audrey before passing the phone over.

Mustering every ounce of patience, Audrey answered the call.

On the other end, Flavia was practically in tears, looking like the world had wronged her in the worst possible way. "Audrey! Does Mr. Sutton not fancy me? I might go home if he doesn't!"

"What happened? Calm down and tell me," Audrey sighed, her patience wearing thin with Flavia's sobbing.

Flavia quickly spilled her grievances. "I kindly brought some food for Mr. Sutton, but he ignored me! He didn't even arrange a proper lounge for me, and his secretary, Jarrett, acted as if I didn't exist. My family, the Millers, may not be high society, but we have our dignity. His treatment is utterly humiliating. Does he not care for me at all?"

Back home, Flavia was used to having her every whim catered to. A simple cry and her parents would rush to console her.

Hearing Flavia's complaints, Audrey couldn't help but rub her temples in frustration. She was expecting a crisis, not a high-school drama.

"Kieran's busy with his work. You should be understanding. I'll have a word with him later. Leave the food with Jarrett if you can't wait. You' have plenty of time to get along later it's not the end of the world."

Hearing Audrey's lack of support, Flavia was dumbfounded. 'Isn't Audrey known for her protective streak over Freya? Why is she so dismissive now?'

Before Flavia could protest, Audrey

had made up her mind. "If you feel aggrieved, I'll talk to your parents. Perhaps it's best if you and him call it quits. I'll find you a more suitable match later."

"Audrey, that's not what I meant..."

"It's settled then. I've got to go," Audrey interrupted, hanging up before Flavia could say another word.

Audrey had initially been impressed

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by the Miller family's modest but respectable background of a manageable small to medium enterprise. Little did she know that their daughter would be this senseless and ill-mannered over such trivial matters.

As Audrey stood up, the housekeeper approached. "Mrs. Sutton, Mrs. Dawson is here to see you."

"What does she want?" Audrey frowned, her disdain for Johanna not even slightly veiled. "Tell her I'm not available. Ask her to leave."

"But... she insists it's urgent and won't leave until she sees you," the housekeeper explained, having never encountered someone as persistent as Johanna.

Johanna sold her daughter one day, and God knows what the next. Audrey found Johanna's type particularly tiresome. Yet, Audrey reluctantly agreed to see her to avoid a scene in her house.