Chapter 8 – The Invitation and the Reckoning

1. The Invitation Arrives

Some time later, Ian Crawford sent another invitation.
As before, it was flawless—he wanted to personally show her around his ducal estate.

“Three one‑on‑one outings with the future Duke… I must look like a fiancée.”

Instead of twisting the original plot, their relationship was progressing too faithfully.

The real problem? It was no longer simply about marriage.

“Would you dare swear, on your family’s life, that you heard absolutely nothing?”
“Even if the Countess’s life depended on it, would you still say that?”

That question haunted Diana’s sleep—her nightmares grew more ferocious with each passing night.

Whenever her parents prepared to leave, she insisted they only go to safe places. Even the carriage driver looked at her oddly.

“This can’t go on. I need a final solution.”

2. The Morning of the Appointment

On the morning of the appointment, as Diana prepared to leave with her parasol, Helena approached slowly.

“Diana, you’re leaving now?”

“Yes. I’m just stepping out.”

“Good. I’ll wait for you before dinner—but don’t worry if I’m later than expected.”

Helena adjusted her daughter’s bonnet string in silence.

“Mother…”

“Hmm?”

“If I told you I wouldn’t marry him—even if I died—what would you do?”

Diana expected a shocked reaction. Instead, her mother smiled calmly.

“If that happened, I’d keep trying to persuade you.”

She spoke gently, eyes soft.

“Diana, your life exists amid many relationships—and the deepest, most precious one is family.”

“…”

“So when you say you’d abandon that… I can’t simply let you.”

Her mother kept speaking with tender clarity.

“Sweet child, I believe you always choose wisely.”

Diana’s eyes stung with tears.

“I’m sorry you need to carry this burden. If only our family was a great noble house… you wouldn’t have to worry.”

Helena looked fragile as she confessed.

“If only we had siblings, it might have been easier…”

“No, Mother—I’m still very happy, you know.”

Diana understood: parents had obligations too. They’d argued over this before, but never truly clashed.

Helena patted her shoulder.

“Go safely. Take care.”

“Thank you. I’ll return soon, I promise.”

Her mother’s final words fortified her resolve. She stepped toward the carriage’s door—and pushed past doubt.

3. Memories of Another Life

On the way to Crawford House, Diana reflected on her past:
In another life, she was Park Hee‑soo—twenty‑five years old.

Her parents raised her and her siblings with love despite hardship. But when their restaurant failed, reality hit hard.

She learned that birth order sometimes defines your worth, and as the eldest girl, she was the family’s burden.

She dropped out of college, took low-paying jobs, collected debt, slammed through disappointment—always with forced gratitude.

She saw other families posting happy moments on social media and envied them. She longed for a family where love was enough, not debt.

Her world collapsed when her younger brother racked up debts in cryptocurrency. She lashed out, unreachable, bitter words exchanged.
Her father eventually slapped her—and she left home.

She lived off amusement park shifts, realized life wouldn’t get easier—and that broken families destroy young hearts.

Sometimes she’d watch kids with proud parents and wish: I wish that had been me.

Then, unexpectedly, she died—and awoke as Diana Wellington.

A beloved only daughter in a wealthy house, loved without conditions.

Her new life was all she’d ever wanted—until her past self’s memories awoke.

Her parents became the safe harbor she’d dreamed—and yet, now threatened her.

They adored her, but the first time they truly clashed was over her marriage.

They wanted her to marry and build the same warm family she’d lost—but who was she now?

She repeated to herself:

“I’m one of them now. That past life is only history.”
But values change in time. Though she lived as Diana, she wasn’t the same girl anymore.

4. At Crawford Estate

Crawford House was more like a castle than a mansion.
It took fifteen minutes of brisk walking from the gate to reach the front door.

There were rose-filled gardens on one side, knights training on another, countless arched windows, and a dark-blue roof supported by stone pediments.

When Diana stepped out of her carriage, an elderly butler approached.

“Welcome to Crawford House, Miss Diana Wellington. I am your butler, Hermann.”

“Thank you. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

He led her inside.

The interior was vast: diamond‑pattern tiles, a sweeping central staircase with forty steps, spotless marble banisters and statues; sea‑blue carpets lined the hallways.

Above it all were frescoed ceilings—mythic creation scenes painted with such vivid realism they stood out even more than the tapestries or suits of armor below.

Then, Ian appeared at the top of the hallway.

“Welcome, Miss Diana. Was your journey comfortable?”

He’d seen it all as ordinary since childhood. A master of every detail.
It dawned on Diana why her parents saw opportunity in him.

5. First Impressions of the Man

He might someday rule this estate. The setting was dazzling enough to be overwhelming.

But he himself looked bored—like death might be preferable.

She looked at him in silence, mind boiling with conflicted realization:

This place, this man, wasn’t a fairy-tale scene—he was a living, breathing person.

And people were difficult.