Three Heirs Rejected Me Sight Unseen

I was the sickly villainess in someone else's romance.

The third time an heir rejected me, floating comments appeared in front of my eyes. [She's awfully confident for a woman none of the male leads would touch.] [Exactly.

So what if she's beautiful? She's still nothing but a foil for our bright, bubbly heroine.] [She looks like one strong breeze could knock her over.

No way she could handle those energetic male leads.] My family promptly transferred my match to my younger sister. The arrangement went through without a hitch.

Then I attended her engagement gala.

The man at her side saw me, and his bored expression froze. “You're the one who's sick?” His eyes swept over my face. “You don't look anything like I expected.” Chapter 1 [Arranged marriages aren't exactly fashionable anymore, Miss Bellamy.] [I heard you just got back to Manhattan.

Are you really that desperate to find a husband?] [Sorry, but I'm not interested in some sick girl who smells like herbal medicine.] I blinked, then opened my Instagram profile.

There was exactly one post: a picture of a bowl filled with almostblack herbal tonic. The caption read, So bitter.

I returned to our messages and patiently recorded a voice note. “My parents told me our families had arranged a match. If you don't want it, please tell both families yourself.

My parents care a great deal about this arrangement.” He replied with a voice message of his own.

His voice was deep and lazy, with an edge of impatience. “You think you're worth that much of my time?” “You said your parents care about this match, Miss Bellamy?” “Sounds like your parents care about a lot of things.” The casual contempt in his voice made me lower my eyes.

This was the third time a man had rejected me. I kept my tone mild. “I respect your decision, but my parents are pressuring me too…” A cough caught me before I could finish.

The halffinished voice message sent itself. [?] [Are you pretending to be fragile now?] [I know you're sick, but do you have to make your voice sound like that?

You're giving me chills.] I pressed my lips together and stopped replying. Once someone decided I was guilty, they could always invent the crime.

The floating comments immediately began mocking me too. [See, villainess?

The male lead won't even bother with you.] [Still, that soft voice is kind of hot.] [It probably works even better with her face.] [You people are desperate.] Then a message from Mom appeared. [How are things going with the Whitmore boy?

He seems like a good match. Ask him to meet you.] I gritted my teeth and started an audio call. To my surprise, he answered.

But the moment I suggested meeting, he cut me off. “There's no point.” He took a drink. His breathing was still slightly heavy, as though he'd just finished a workout.

Then he gave a derisive laugh. “We aren't compatible.” Before I could answer, he went on in the same careless tone. “Want to know why?” “You look like you'd pass out from the slightest exertion.” “Imagine what that would do to the mood.” I understood perfectly.

He hadn't merely rejected the match. He had chosen to humiliate me with my own body. I texted Mom. [He refused to meet me. Let's forget it.] She didn't answer.

The next morning, I went downstairs. Chapter 2 My sister was in the kitchen talking to Nora, our housekeeper.

Her phone lay on the table, the private group chat still open onscreen.

I hadn't meant to invade her privacy, but then I saw my name. [Your sister has already been rejected three times?

That's humiliating.] [I heard Mara gets out of breath just walking across a room. Is that true?] [What does she look like?

She's been recovering overseas since we were kids, so none of us have met her. Is she prettier than you?] Tessa had replied. [My sister has been sick since she was little.

That isn't her fault. And yes, she's beautiful.] [Oh? How beautiful? Got a picture?] [Didn't the Whitmore heir agree once they swapped Mara out for you?] [Makes sense.

Our sweet little Tessa is impossible not to like.] Tessa responded with an embarrassed reaction image.

At dinner that night, our parents announced her engagement and the date of the gala. I quietly ate my food. Tessa barely reacted.

At the engagement gala, countless eyes followed me across the ballroom. I was the only person who noticed how distracted my sister looked.

A second later, I understood why. [I'm so excited! The heroine is about to run away!] [The male lead only agreed because she's pretty.

Once she runs, he'll finally get interested in her for real.] [But she won't get far.

He'll catch her halfway through the escape and drag her back to have his way with her.] I turned toward Tessa in her white mermaid gown. “Are you planning to run?” I asked softly.

Her pupils widened. She blinked several times, then grinned. “Of course you figured it out.

You really are my sister.” I paused. “Why?” “I don't like Evan Whitmore.” Disappointment flashed through her eyes. “And I'm already in love with someone else.

His family isn't wealthy enough for Mom and Dad.” More comments floated past. [Her first love is just another piece of the pushandpull between our leads.] [When he catches her, he'll punish her for running and make her call her first love while he does it!] [So exciting.] So her wishes didn't matter at all.

To those spectators, even her resistance was just flirting with the male lead. “Will you help me?” Tessa looped her arm through mine and gave me her sweetest look.

The engagement gala glittered with champagne and old money. A tall man in a tailored suit crossed the ballroom toward us. Tessa gave him an awkward nod.

He returned it with lazy indifference. They did not look remotely like two people about to become engaged. Then his gaze landed on me. The boredom on his face tightened.

His dark eyes fixed on mine.

Tessa introduced us. “This is my sister, Mara.” For a long moment, Evan said nothing. “You're the sick girl?” His eyes narrowed, his tone impossible to read. “You look like that?” Tessa rolled her eyes. “I'm gorgeous.

Why would my sister be ugly?” Before he could answer, another guest approached with a glass raised toward me.

Derek Quinn wore a smile that promised trouble. “My first time meeting the older Bellamy daughter. Let me toast you.” Chapter 3 “I'm sorry.

I don't drink.” “This is your sister's engagement gala.

Don't you sincerely wish her well?” Derek pressed. “Or are you bitter because she stole your match?” Tessa frowned. “What exactly are you implying?” I picked up the glass and took one swallow.

Then I looked at him without expression. “Satisfied?” The liquor was strong. One mouthful burned color into my cheeks and made my eyes water. I coughed several times.

Derek went still, his gaze locked on my face. Tessa quickly pulled me aside. “You didn't have to humor him.

Spoiled idiots like Derek only pick on people too polite to fight back.” I glanced over my shoulder.

He had returned to his friends, but every few seconds he looked my way with an unreadable expression.

Even Evan, lounging nearby, was staring at the tears caught at the corners of my eyes. He pulled out a napkin and offered it to me. I ignored him.

He tipped his chin toward my mouth. “You have wine on your lips.” I still didn't take it. Tessa finally snatched the napkin from him and wiped my mouth herself.

Ten minutes before the ceremony, Tessa and I stood in the bridal suite.

She stripped off her mermaid gown and changed into ordinary clothes. “The Hawthornes and Prescotts were supposed to send people tonight too, but apparently something came up.

They sent gifts instead.” She glanced at me. “Probably for the best. I was worried you'd feel awkward.” I understood immediately.

Those were the other two families whose heirs had rejected me before Evan. Tessa hesitated. “I'm leaving now, Mara.

I probably won't be back for a while.” She carefully climbed through the terrace window, and I helped steady her.

The instant she was outside, she closed it behind her. “It's cold out here. Don't get sick. If Mom and Dad ask, tell them you don't know anything.

Keep yourself out of it.” I watched from the window as she climbed into a waiting black sedan.

The floating comments multiplied so quickly that their fury was almost impressive. [Get out of the way, you evil villainess!] [She helped the heroine escape?

What am I supposed to watch now? Where's the dark romance?] [She did this so she could marry Evan instead. What a snake.] I stared at the last comment. What?

With a sigh, I returned to the ballroom. The ceremony was supposed to begin, but neither half of the happy couple appeared.

Then someone announced that Tessa Bellamy had run away, and the ballroom erupted. Mom spun on me. “I had the stylists watching her because I knew she might try this.

You said you could stay with her.

Where is she?” “I went to the restroom,” I said gently. “When I came back, she was gone.” “You did this on purpose, didn't you?” Her voice sharpened. She lifted one hand to slap me.

Before it landed, I swayed and covered my mouth as a cough tore through me. Mom hesitated. Dad let out a heavy breath. “Blaming Mara won't bring Tessa back.

If that girl meant to run, did you honestly expect Mara to overpower her?” At that moment, the missing groom finally arrived. Evan casually loosened the top button of his shirt.

Chapter 4 “So what happens now?” His smile never reached his eyes. “My fiancée disappeared.” His parents looked equally grim.

The Whitmores and Bellamys had spent a fortune on the gala. The money meant nothing to either family.

The real damage was having the disaster repeated to board members, donors, and every oldmoney family in Manhattan.

After a long, ugly silence, Evan spoke. “Under the circumstances, I suppose I could accept the older Bellamy daughter.” His mother lowered her voice. “She's in poor health.” Evan looked me over, amusement touching his mouth. “True.

But she seems well behaved, and she looks…” His gaze lingered. “Acceptable.” I remembered what I had overheard in the restroom earlier. “I can't believe Mara Bellamy looks like that.” “She's sweeter than her sister too.

Quinn told her to drink, and she actually did. Did you see her afterward?

All that pale skin with just a little color…” “It was hard to look away.” “If I were Evan, I'd regret rejecting her.” The floating comments flooded my vision. [The villainess got exactly what she wanted.

Unbelievable.] [So what if she's pretty? She's still a flower with no scent.] [If she marries the male lead, what happens to the heroine?] [And what about the other two male leads?

She helped the heroine escape. How are all the chasing and darkromance plots supposed to happen now?] I disliked those comments enough to enjoy ruining their plans.

But not this much. “No.” I shook my head. Dad's voice turned stern. “This match was originally between you and Evan.

Moving it back to you only restores the original arrangement.” “He doesn't like me. Why make both of us miserable?” Evan lifted his eyes to mine.

His gaze moved slowly from my eyes to my lips, then down to my collarbone. There was something intimate and dangerous in it. Cold sweat gathered along my back.

He smiled with maddening patience. “We can always fall in love after the wedding, Miss Bellamy.” When I realized they genuinely meant to push me into this match, the blood drained from my face.

I closed my eyes and fainted. I woke beneath the white ceiling of a private hospital room. Mom helped me sit up.

Blame colored her very first words. “You were willing to meet Evan before.

Why are you refusing him now?” If Evan had been polite and decent, I would not have objected to an introduction. But he had looked down on me when he rejected me.

Now he had abruptly changed his mind and acted as though marrying me would be some grand sacrifice. The thought made my skin crawl. Mom patted my hand with a sigh. “Tessa ran first.

Our family embarrassed the Whitmores. Evan is willing to switch the match back, and the two of you were the original pairing.

No one can say the arrangement makes no sense.” “I don't like him,” I said softly. “He's arrogant, rude, and cruel.” Mom gave me a helpless smile. “All these children were raised with the world at their feet.

Tessa has a temper too.” I pressed my lips together and made my next words as alarming as possible. “Every time I see him, my chest hurts. I can't breathe.

I feel sick to my stomach.” I met her eyes. “If my life matters less to you than this match, do whatever you want.” Chapter 5 Mom stared at me.

She clearly hadn't expected the problem to sound so serious. After a long pause, she said, “Think about it some more.” Once she left, my privateduty aide stayed with me.

Later, she pushed my wheelchair through the hospital's courtyard garden so I could get some air.

That was when I heard a man's low voice nearby. “Yes, I'm at the hospital.” “My family heard she was beautiful and insisted I visit.

They think one look might change my mind.” “It won't.

We already agreed to end the match.” His voice was calm and controlled, the voice of a man accustomed to being obeyed. “I'll ask a nurse to take the gifts to her room.” “No, I won't see her.

What do they expect—a face so beautiful I'll fall in love on sight?” He gave a quiet scoff. “Love is the most useless thing in the world.

Love based on looks is even worse.” I nodded in silent agreement. I didn't dislike Nathan Hawthorne the way I disliked Evan.

A few months earlier, when we had discussed ending our match over the phone, Nathan had been perfectly civil. He had clearly said he did not intend to marry.

Our families had only agreed years ago to arrange an introduction once we were adults. Whether we married was still our decision, and the old promise had no legal force.

I understood his position. Nathan was twentyeight and already ran Hawthorne Holdings. He had a ruthless reputation and worked constantly.

His family was desperate to see him married. They could pressure him, but they couldn't force him. When I returned to my room, a nurse soon delivered his gifts.

A fruit basket and several boxes of expensive supplements. My aide looked at me. “Keep them,” I said. Then Tessa sent me a screenshot.

The private group chat was discussing her broken engagement to Evan, but the conversation had eventually turned to me. [There's something different about Tessa Bellamy's sister.] [A fragile beauty has her own appeal, right, Evan?] Evan was in the chat. [Didn't you say sick girls weren't your type?

How did you end up getting rejected at your own engagement gala?] The sender was clearly enjoying himself. Evan replied with one line. [She can refuse.

Her family will make her agree.] The arrogance was breathtaking. Tessa added a furious message of her own. [Someone sent me this.

That man is awful.] I smiled and began typing a reply. A knock sounded at the door.

My aide started toward it, but a cool, composed voice came from the hall. “Is Miss Bellamy here?” I froze. For some reason, Nathan Hawthorne had come back.

He had already sent his gifts up with a nurse. Why had he returned in person? My aide walked to the door and reached for the handle.

I coughed at exactly the right moment, stopping her