The Merchant's Daughter and the Baron's Son Chapter 1

In our past life, Julian and I were husband and wife.

He never hid the fact that another woman held his heart, only occasionally offering me looks of pity.

Everyone said I loved him desperately, enduring rumors and gossip to manage his household and secure his legacy.

No one knew I was just doing it out of spite.

On my deathbed, he sat beside me and sighed, "You've worked hard in this life, Autumn. If there is a next life, I will share a little love with you."

I died too quickly, the words "I don't want it" stuck in my throat.

When I opened my eyes again, I saw floating text scrolling before me:

[The male lead is reborn. Seeing how dedicated the female lead was in her past life, he'll still give her a position as a secondary wife.] [It's a pity. The main couple loves each other so much, but they can't be together properly because of the supporting female character.] [Whatever, let's just pity the supporting female. She loves the male lead so much, she'd die without him.]

Before I could recover from the shock of rebirth, I heard my parents' angry shouts from the front hall.

It was Julian.

He had come... to make me his concubine.

* * *

"Heartless! My Autumn won't marry at all before she becomes your concubine!"

I heard my mother's cursing from afar.

"When your family was poor, you pestered our Autumn every day, saying you'd marry no one but her, eating and drinking at our house. Now that you've been recognized by your rich father, you want our Autumn to be your concubine? Keep dreaming!"

My mother's words were blunt. Usually, my father would have stopped her, but this time he just glared at Julian, looking ready to punch him.

The neighbors all knew Julian and I were childhood sweethearts. His behavior was shameful, and many pointed fingers at him.

Julian was clearly embarrassed.

But he regained his composure the moment he saw me rushing over.

His face returned to confident arrogance.

"Uncle, Auntie, why deny this marriage so quickly? Why not ask Autumn? I'm sure as long as she can be with me, she'd be willing even as a concubine."

The floating text scrolled faster:

[See how gentle the male lead is? If he wasn't afraid the supporting female would kill herself if he abandoned her, he wouldn't even be here.] [Exactly. The supporting female's family can't see the reality. Look at the male lead's status, then look at theirs. He's going to inherit a title. Liking a merchant's daughter is already a huge blessing for her.] [Yeah, he could have just walked away. He only stayed because he was afraid she'd die for love.]

Yes, in the past, my love for Julian was his biggest asset to trample on me.

But that love died in my previous life. I stopped loving Julian a long time ago.

But he didn't know. He thought I still adored him.

To him, I would die without him. That's why he looked at me so arrogantly, speaking as if bestowing charity: "Autumn, although you'll enter as a concubine, once my marriage with Sarah is settled, she will elevate you to secondary wife. Don't worry, with Sarah's character and generosity, she won't let you suffer any grievances."

He claimed I wouldn't suffer, yet he humiliated me in front of everyone.

Seeing my silence, the text scrolled furiously:

[No way, the male lead said all that and she's still putting on airs? Is she waiting for him to beg?] [Does she really think this will get her the position of main wife? Naive and laughable.]