Lucy Sullivan stood at the door, looking at Samuel Smithson's gloomy face, feeling a little hesitant.
It was only then that she realized Samuel had never said he liked her, nor had he ever mentioned wanting to marry her.
She thought people in this era were conservative in their thinking. Since they had slept together, she assumed they must become husband and wife; otherwise, the villagers' gossip would be enough to drown her.
Moreover, even though they had not been together for very long, Samuel wasn't good with words, but he was gentle and careful when facing her. That's why Lucy took it for granted that Samuel wanted to marry her.
Lucy felt that Samuel must have wanted to clarify things with her long ago. Like the other villagers, he must have thought she was too forward, not a good woman. But he couldn't say it because she was a girl.
And now, seeing her moving her luggage in, he must think even less of her, which was why he angrily told her to get out.
Thinking about this, Lucy's tears fell.
Realistically, she couldn't say how much she liked Samuel; even though he was her type, the time they had spent together was not long.
But Lucy relied on Samuel.
Having traveled to this strange world, she didn't know anyone, and all the other people had strong hostility towards her. Only Samuel had given her warmth, just a bit of comfort to her restless heart. But now, even that was gone.
A great panic instantly enveloped Lucy.
She wiped the tears streaming down her face, her voice choked with emotion, "I'm sorry, I thought, I thought you were willing to marry me. I was wrong. I'm sorry. I'll leave with my things right away; please don't be angry."
The young girl's stuttering voice was quiet, but Samuel listened carefully. She had said she moved to his house to marry him; she wanted to marry him!
Now it was Samuel's turn to be dumbfounded.
Everyone in North Gorge Village knew that Lucy liked Albert Hudson, and Samuel had just seen them arguing on the road. Now she said she wanted to marry him. Did she know that once married, she couldn't change her mind? Although divorce was possible, it was looked down upon in this era.
While Samuel was still lost in his thoughts, Lucy had already left the Smithson Family's front door with her luggage. She walked unsteadily, tears still falling.
Lucy didn't understand why she couldn't stop crying. If something like this happened in her real life, she'd dismiss the man as blind and turn to drinking and having fun.
But now all she felt was helpless, her heart heavy with dark clouds, suffocating her.
Perhaps it was because there was no fun to be had in this time, or because she had nowhere to turn, no home to return to.
She squatted down under a large pagoda tree not far from the Smithson's front door, luggage in hand, unsure where to go.
Not long ago, back in the dormitory, she had boldly proclaimed her intention to marry Samuel. Now that he had kicked her out, even if Lucy had a big heart, she couldn't go back to face the ridicule. But where else could she go?
Lucy felt that in this strange place, besides Samuel, she had no sense of belonging.
Samuel finally came to his senses after a long time, but the person at the door was already gone.
Thinking of the luggage in her hands and her tear-streaked face just now, Samuel couldn't bear it any longer and finally got up to chase after her.
He didn't go far when he saw Lucy squatting under the tree, her head buried in her knees, and her shoulders shaking, obviously still crying.
Later, when Samuel recalled that moment, he described Lucy as a homeless puppy, pitifully weak. He wondered how he could have been so cruel, how he could have made such a beautiful, delicate girl cry.
"Don't cry; let's go home," Samuel walked to the tree and stood beside Lucy, softening his tone, "I was wrong just now. I actually… I'm actually willing to marry you."
Hearing his words, Lucy slowly raised her head, her tear-stained face and red, watery eyes gazed at him, "Are you really serious?"