Chapter 3: I Should Marry You

After trying on the dress, Dolores emerged from the changing room and cast another glance towards the closed door of the room where the man and woman had been conversing.

"You look stunning in that dress. It complements your personality," the salesperson complimented Dolores.

The salesperson had a keen sense of judgment and fashion; she could effortlessly select outfits that suited her customers. The long, pale blue dress Dolores wore enhanced her already fair complexion. The ribbon around her waist accentuated her slender figure. Despite being underweight, it added to her delicate charm.

Satisfied with the dress choice, Randolph proceeded to pay for it. Only then did he realize that the dress cost nearly five thousand dollars. However, considering it was for the Nelson family, he gritted his teeth and made the payment. He turned to Dolores and spoke to her in a cold tone.

"Let's go."

Dolores had experienced his cruelty for many years, both as a child and after he abandoned her. Yet, his indifference still unsettled her and caused her heartache. She lowered her head and followed him to the car.

During the uncomfortable and silent ride, the car eventually came to a stop at the main entrance of the Flores mansion. The chauffeur opened the door for Randolph, and Dolores followed closely behind.

Standing in front of the mansion, Dolores stood still for a few moments, lost in her thoughts. While she and her mother struggled to make ends meet due to her brother's condition, her father lived happily in an elegant mansion, enjoying his life with another woman. Dolores couldn't help but clench her fists.

"Why are you still standing there?" Randolph sensed that Dolores wasn't following him and turned to find her in a dazed state at the entrance. Dolores hurriedly joined him. Learning from the maids that the Nelson family had not yet arrived, Randolph instructed Dolores to wait in the living room.

A Seidel piano, imported from Germany, was placed near the French window in the living room. It was a luxurious instrument, purchased by Dolores' mother for her fifth birthday. Dolores had loved the piano since she was a baby and had started learning to play when she was only four and a half years old. After Randolph sent them away, Dolores hadn't had another chance to play. She couldn't resist reaching out and touching it, feeling a mix of familiarity and excitement. She pressed a key lightly, and a melodious sound filled the room. However, her fingers felt stiff after not playing for so long.

"Who allowed you to touch my piano?" a clear, angry voice called out from behind.

Her piano? Dolores turned and saw Annabelle Flores standing there, her fists clenched. Dolores recalled that Annabelle was a year younger than her and had recently turned seventeen. She had inherited her mother's, Beulah Shawn's, striking looks, although her contorted expression at the moment made her appear rather fierce.

"My piano?" Dolores retorted.

Beulah and Annabelle had destroyed her mother's marriage and squandered the money that should have been theirs. And now, even Dolores' piano belonged to them? Dolores slowly clenched her fists, reminding herself not to act impulsively. She had to wait and reclaim what was rightfully hers and her mother's. She had to endure it! She was no longer the little girl who could only cry after being abandoned by her father eight years ago; she had grown up.

"You're... Dolores Flores?" Annabelle suddenly remembered that today was the day the Nelson family was arriving and that her father had brought Dolores and her mother back.

Annabelle still remembered Dolores' pitiful expression when Randolph sent them away. Dolores had knelt on the ground, clutching Randolph's leg, begging him not to send her away.

"I bet you're thrilled that you guilted your father into bringing you back," Annabelle sneered, crossing her arms and looking at Dolores with disdain. "But don't get too excited. The only reason Dad brought you back was so you could marry the son of the Nelson family instead of me. Rumor has it that the son—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Annabelle covered her mouth and smirked, relishing Dolores' misfortune of having to marry a disabled man. Marriage was a significant life event, and being forced to marry such a man would supposedly ruin the rest of her life.

Dolores frowned, but before she could respond, a maid entered the room.

"The Nelson family has arrived."

Randolph personally welcomed them at the door and ushered them into the living room. Dolores turned and saw a man in a wheelchair being wheeled in. He possessed distinct facial features and a charming demeanor. Despite his disability, no one displayed any contempt towards him.

Upon recognizing his face, Dolores realized he was the man who had been flirting with the woman at the boutique. Could he be the eldest son of the Nelson family? Dolores had clearly seen him standing up without any assistance in the changing room while embracing the woman. Something didn't add up.

While Dolores was still trying to make sense of why Matthew was pretending to be disabled, Randolph called her over.

"Dolores, come here. This is the eldest son of the Nelson family," Randolph introduced, bowing respectfully. A maid brought over a chair to elevate Randolph's height to match Matthew's. "Mr. Nelson, this is Lola."

Randolph felt a sense of pity for this dignified man who possessed such charming looks, now disabled.

Matthew's eyes shifted towards Dolores, assessing her young age. Observing her thin frame, most likely due to malnutrition, he furrowed his brow. This marriage had been arranged by his late mother. As a dutiful son, he couldn't bring himself to break the promise. That was why he had spread the rumor that he couldn't be cured of his condition, pretending to be paralyzed after being bitten by a venomous snake during his time abroad, hoping the Flores family would reconsider. But they hadn't.

Matthew fell into silence, his expression turning somber. Randolph thought Matthew was dissatisfied with Dolores and hurriedly explained, "She's still young, having just turned eighteen. Given the chance, she'll blossom into a beauty."

Matthew sneered inwardly. He couldn't judge whether Dolores was beautiful or not, but he did sense something peculiar about Randolph's behavior and his eagerness to marry his daughter to him, even disregarding his "crippled" state.

With a cold gaze, Matthew raised an eyebrow. "I was injured during a business trip abroad, and I'm afraid I can no longer walk. I won't be able to fulfill the duties of a husband—"

"I don't mind," Dolores instantly replied.

Randolph had promised her that if she agreed to this marriage, he would return her mother's dowry. Even if it meant marrying Matthew and divorcing him the next day, Dolores would consent to it. After some contemplation, Dolores had deciphered Matthew's true intentions. He could walk, yet he chose to confine himself to a wheelchair, likely because of the woman Dolores had seen him with. He didn't want to honor his mother's promise and desired for the Flores family to call off the arrangement. But he hadn't anticipated that Randolph was willing to sacrifice his unloved daughter to fulfill that promise.

Matthew narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her. A shiver ran down Dolores' spine, and bitterness coated her tongue. Why would she want to marry him? If she refused this marriage, she would likely be sent away once again, with no chance of reclaiming her mother's fortune or her beloved piano.

Dolores lifted the corner of her lips, forcing a smile. Only she knew the bitterness concealed behind that smile. "We're destined to marry each other since childhood. Therefore, no matter what happens to you, we are already married. There's a reason 'in sickness and in health' is included in wedding vows."

Matthew's eyes grew darker, and Dolores had to suppress the urge to recoil. Matthew had to admit that Dolores had a way with words.

Unaware of any underlying tension, Randolph cautiously inquired, "So, regarding the wedding date—"

In a split second, Matthew's expression shifted back to calm and composed. "According to the arrangement, the date has already been decided by both families. How can we break that promise?"

Dolores lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes. He was just as unhappy about this arrangement as she was, perhaps even more so. His compliance was solely based on the principle that a promise must be upheld.

"That's wonderful," Randolph exclaimed, pleased to hear the news. Establishing a connection with the Nelson family through their insignificant daughter was undoubtedly a favorable outcome. Despite the wealth of the Flores family, it paled in comparison to the Nelsons'.

Randolph stood up and bowed deeply to Matthew. "I've asked my chef to prepare dinner. Please join us for a meal before you leave."

Matthew frowned, disgusted by Randolph's pursuit of wealth and power.

"No, thank you. I still have some matters to attend to," he declined, waiting for Abbott Baron to push him outside in the wheelchair.

As he passed by Dolores, he raised his hand, signaling Abbott to halt, and lifted his gaze. "Is Miss Flores available afterward?"