A Heart Misfired

I pulled my gaze back and looked down at the wrinkles on my sleeve.

A perfectly good dress, ruined by him.

Just like everything between us over the years. He ruined that, too.

"Mrs. Roberts, make a new one overnight. Don't let it delay the engagement banquet."

…

A day passed, and Tracy still did not come home.

By evening, I already hung up the new dress. A maid brought in dinner.

I barely took a few bites when Edward walked in, his face icy.

"Tracy hasn't come back all day, and you're not even looking for her?"

My expression stayed calm.

"In the entire capital, who doesn't know that Miss Tracy stayed at your residence last night?

"Mr. Shaw, you had a luxury suite prepared for her. You sent her all kinds of expensive cosmetics and jewelry. Boxes of pearls and gemstones, one after another."

Edward let out a low scoff.

"Tracy's young. It's normal for her to act a little bold."

"However, she still cares about you. As her sister, you should be more generous. Take the initiative and apologize to her."

I set down my utensils and looked up at him.

"Apologize for what?"

"You still don't understand what you did wrong?" Edward slammed his fist onto the table.

"You secretly arranged a marriage for her. Isn't it because I used to favor her? However, she's young, and she's your sister. Why would you hold a grudge against a child?

"I've already calmed her down. After tomorrow's family banquet, you can apologize to her. Just say a few soft words. She's simple. She'll forgive you."

He made it sound so easy. I let out a small laugh.

"Sounds like tomorrow, Mr. Shaw, you'll miss again."

Edward frowned. "I'm talking to you about Tracy. Why are you bringing up the shooting?"

As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes landed on the dress hanging behind me.

"It's still here? Didn't I say there wouldn't be an engagement until I hit your handkerchief?

"The handkerchief; Why haven't you sent it to the shooting grounds yet?"

He strode over, reaching out as if to take it down.

Only then did I remember. I was so busy with the engagement that I forgot to throw the handkerchief away.

"Don't touch it."

Edward's fingers paused, then he withdrew his hand.

"Right. Every year, you hang it up yourself. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to do it."

A faint smile curled on his lips as he turned and walked out, hands clasped behind his back.

"Tomorrow, I'll bring Tracy with me to the shooting. She's been crying over this marriage. I should find a way to cheer her up."

"Jasmine, you should prepare yourself. This time, I probably still won't hit your handkerchief.

"However, don't worry. Next year, I definitely will. And when that happens, I'll marry you in grand style."

The door opened. His figure disappeared into the moonlight, swallowed by the night.

I lowered my head and took another sip of soup, then casually told the maid, "Burn the handkerchief.

"It's useless to keep it anyway."

On the day of the family banquet, the house was packed with guests.

The bullets were set. Rows of handkerchiefs hung tied with red silk.

Edward stood with a gun in his hand. Beside him was Tracy, dressed in bright red.

Her cheeks flushed shyly.

"Edward, I'm a little scared of the gunshots. What should I do?"

Edward pulled her into his arms and smiled. "I'm here. What are you afraid of?"

However, the moment he finished speaking, he froze. He pointed toward the center of the front row.

"Over there! Why is one handkerchief missing?"

A servant answered, "Mr. Shaw, that's Miss Jasmine's spot. Other young ladies wouldn't dare hang theirs there."

Edward's expression relaxed slightly.

However, the time already came. If they were late, no more handkerchiefs could be added.

He looked around the crowd impatiently, but could not find that plain, quiet figure.

"Where is Jasmine? Why hasn't she hung her handkerchief yet?"

At that moment, a servant from the Lewis family hurried over, looking apologetic.

"Mr. Shaw, today the Lewis family is celebrating an engagement, so-"

"How dare you!"

Tracy's eyes instantly turned red. Edward cut in sharply,

"Miss Tracy is right here. What engagement are you talking about?"

The servant looked up, confused.

"What does that have to do with Miss Tracy? The one getting engaged."

He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Miss Jasmine."