Chapter 5

“My goodness, Margaret. That was ten years ago.”

Celia blushed and waved her hand, but Margaret wasn’t deterred.

“So what? There’s nothing to lose, so let’s at least try contacting him!”

And, feeling proud to have thought of him, she clapped her hands.

“Daniel Wilcox…”

Celia murmured the name of the man she knew well but always consciously kept her distance from.

He was the man who, ten years ago, had suggested they run away together for love.

***

The meeting with Daniel Wilcox happened quickly. As soon as Margaret contacted him, he replied that he would come.

“See? He still has feelings for you. Otherwise, why would a busy lawyer show up so fast?”

A week later, Margaret fussed as they sat in a luxury tea house on 33rd Street.

“Is this really okay…”

Celia worried she was being a bother, but she was also hopeful.

‘Even if it’s a bit awkward, it can’t be helped. This is my last chance to find a lawyer.’

Celia waited for Daniel, feeling like she was grasping at straws. Now that all of New Adams society had turned its back on her, if even an old friend rejected her, it would truly be over.

Soon, Daniel appeared wearing a gentleman’s hat.

“It’s been a while, everyone.”

Walking between the skyscrapers of New Adams City, he was a handsome man. His well-groomed beard and sideburns gave him a much more mature air than ten years ago.

“Celia. I heard what happened. It must be tough.”

But when he took off his hat, his light brown eyes still shone warmly.

Before Celia could speak, Margaret quickly interjected.

“It’s not just tough, Daniel. Celia is about to be thrown out to the Old World. Uncle Scott is forcing her to marry for the third time!”

“My word, is that true?”

Daniel’s face filled with sympathy. Celia felt a strange embarrassment at receiving such a sympathetic gaze from the man who once adored her.

‘But now isn’t the time for pride.’

Celia swallowed and spoke earnestly.

“So, Daniel, I want to ask for your help.”

“My help? How can I help?”

Daniel’s eyes sparkled at her request. Sensing hope, Celia answered energetically.

“I’m preparing for a lawsuit.”

“A lawsuit?”

Daniel’s expression immediately soured. Celia flinched but gathered her courage to explain her plan.

But as he listened silently, Daniel’s face grew darker.

“You want to reclaim the hotel and become independent. Not marriage… So you came to me because I’m a lawyer…”

After mumbling for a while, Daniel gave a faint smile.

“Alright, Celia. That’s going to be a tough road.”

Celia noticed the detached tone in his voice.

“I’ll see if I can find someone to defend you. I’ll contact you if I find someone suitable.”

That meant he had no intention of taking the case himself.

“…Thank you for listening.”

Celia managed a difficult smile. Daniel’s impeccably polite smile returned. Margaret sighed deeply at the sight, realizing just how naive it had been to rely on “old friendship” as a reason to ask for legal help.

Yes, no matter what, Celia was about to throw herself against the Evans family—the very center of New World society.

***

‘What will happen if I can’t find a lawyer?’

Celia was troubled all the way home.

‘I won’t even be able to file a lawsuit, and I won’t get Evans Hotel back. Then I’ll have to marry some strange man just as Father tells me…’

Just thinking about it made her shudder.

‘I have to become independent, no matter what. From Father, and from the Lancaster family.’

Resolutely, Celia tiptoed upstairs to the second floor. Since she’d broken the house arrest and sneaked out, she didn’t want to get caught.

“My Lady! Where have you been?”

But just as she was about to enter her room, a loud voice called out to her.

“I went out on errands and couldn’t find you anywhere, My Lady.”

“Shh, Betty!”

Celia hurriedly pulled Betty into the room.

“So, did you deliver your thanks to Mr. Ryan?”

Betty had run errands today. She was to return Blake’s handkerchief and umbrella, along with a thank-you card.

“Yes. I was going to give them to the secretary, but they guided me right to the president’s office.”

“To the president’s office?”

“Oh, he’s not only handsome, but so kind! He served tea and chocolates, and even gifted me a bottle of wine.”

“My goodness, Betty. Why did you accept that?”

Celia pressed her forehead and groaned. The maid who went to repay a favor ended up owing even more. It was simply frustrating.

“He turned out to be from Fifth Avenue. He told me news about Patty and Matt, and we chatted endlessly about the days living on Fifth Avenue.”

“You chatted… with Mr. Ryan?”

Celia tilted her head.

She’d heard rumors that he was extremely cold and calculating, yet he served tea and shared memories with a maid running errands. Maybe he was a warmer person than he seemed.

“And he even gave me a ride here. Said he was on his way to Miguel Santines.”

“Miguel Santines?”

This time, Celia frowned. She remembered the sneering face of the man blowing cigar smoke in the carriage.

“Yes. My Lady, have you ever ridden in a car? I thought I’d die from fright. That heap of metal moved with a hiss and a roar—I was terrified it might explode at any moment.”

Betty, oblivious to Celia’s mood, continued cheerfully.

“And on the way, he handed me this. Said it would be helpful to you.”

“What is it?”

Celia’s eyes widened as she took what Betty handed her.

It was a business card for a law office.

***

Celia stared at the business card Betty had brought for a long time.

Grenville Law Office.

It was a law firm specializing in divorce and inheritance, located on Fifth Avenue.

‘Fifth Avenue…’

New Adams’ Fifth Avenue was notorious as a lawless zone, filled with immigrants and the poor, with drug dealers and prostitutes everywhere.

‘Would someone from Fifth Avenue really try to defend me?’

Celia rubbed her aching temples.

‘Should I send a request there now…’

The reason she hadn’t written to Grenville Law Office wasn’t because it was on Fifth Avenue. It was because she didn’t want to owe Blake Ryan any more.

‘How did that man know I was preparing for a lawsuit?’

She was suspicious.

‘And why is he trying to help someone he’s never even met?’

She was doubtful.

Celia knew well—no one offers kindness for no reason. That goes for old money, new money, immigrants, or drug dealers.

‘Whatever it is, he must want something, so he’s being kind.’

Why would he approach a penniless widow?

It couldn’t be for money. He was the kind of man people said needed a train just to carry all his cash.

‘Maybe he wants to build ties with the Lancaster family.’

If so, he’d chosen the wrong target. Helping Celia, now the family’s disgrace, would only make him hated.

‘Anyway, I must not get involved with Blake Ryan any further.’

She was already called the woman who killed her husband. If she got close to an orphaned, newly rich man, filthy scandals would surely spread.

In the end, Celia turned the business card over and put it in her desk drawer.

The future looked bleak.

***

“I’ve chosen your marriage partner.”

But Celia’s father, Scott Lancaster, made his announcement like a thunderbolt.

“Already?”

Celia’s eyes widened.

“It’s not even three months since Charles died. And you want me to marry again?”

Even when she married Charles, people criticized her for remarrying too quickly. She thought she’d at least have a year to endure, but now her father was already bringing up a third marriage.

“Yes. The governor’s reelection is coming soon, after all.”

Celia bit her lip hard.

Her father’s mind was filled only with reelection, reelection, nothing but reelection. He wanted to get rid of his scandal-making daughter as soon as possible, so she wouldn’t hinder his campaign.

Celia asked cynically,

“Who is it? Some old man from the Old World?”

But the answer was even more shocking.

“That’s right. The Duke of Norfolk from the Old World.”

“The Duke of Norfolk? That pervert?”