Caleb refused to accept that Evelyn was trying to protect him.

"So what if I like Seraphina? Just because she didn't want my second brother doesn't mean she couldn't want me!"

Life on the farm since coming to the countryside had been so miserable that Caleb would have welcomed being reincarnated as a rock. He didn't care if Evelyn meant well—his existence had become a living hell.

Dominic bristled at the implication. If Seraphina hadn't wanted him, what chance did Caleb have?

But Caleb brimmed with confidence. He was certain Seraphina treated him differently—with special tenderness. When he was happy, Seraphina was there, sharing his joy. When he was upset, she comforted and encouraged him. Now that he was suffering through life on the farm, she was still there, enduring it all alongside him.

Evelyn cut straight to the point. "Seraphina, which one of these Ward fools have you set your sights on? Or have you decided none of them are worth your time?"

Dominic's face flushed with embarrassment. "Evelyn, what are you saying?" This was hardly the place.

Caleb snapped, "You're the fool! Your whole family are fools!"

Dominic's expression darkened. He rapped Caleb sharply on the head, sending him jumping and yelping. "If you can't speak properly, keep your mouth shut!"

Seraphina seethed. "I'm nothing like you. Don't lump me in with your kind."

Evelyn's tone was calm, almost detached. "What kind am I? And what kind are you?"

Seraphina's breath came short and fast. "You have no shame! Talking about these things in public!"

Evelyn laughed derisively. "I dared to ask. Do you dare to answer?"

Caleb looked at Seraphina expectantly, hoping she'd finally admit the truth—that there was something between them.

Dominic's gaze was more complicated. She'd rejected him outright back then. Why hadn't she done the same with Caleb?

Seraphina's face burned crimson. She spun toward Caleb. "Caleb! Are you really going to let her lead you around by the nose?"

Evelyn stoked the flames. "Caleb, you great fool. She's never liked you. What would she want with a snot-nosed kid like you?"

Caleb's face reddened with indignation. He turned to Seraphina, voice rising. "Seraphina! Tell her! Who do you like? Do you like me?"

Seraphina wanted to strangle him. Good heavens, where did he get this confidence?

"Caleb! Look at where we are!" Seraphina's reminder was sharp, urgent.

Evelyn poured oil on the fire. "We're all educated young people here. The current policy encourages freedom in love and marriage! If you like someone, say so. If you don't, say that. What's stopping you? Unless you're keeping your options open?"

Seraphina's carefully concealed intentions laid bare, she exploded. "Evelyn! You're despicable!"

Evelyn's cold smile cut like a blade. "I may not think much of the Ward brothers, letting themselves be played for fools. But I think even less of a woman who plays with people's feelings."

Dominic felt vaguely defended by his sister and vaguely insulted all at once.

Caleb's internal monologue continued: You're the fool! Your whole family are fools!

Humiliation threatened to consume Seraphina. She turned to Dominic, her wide eyes brimming with wounded innocence.

But Evelyn cut him off before he could speak. "Second fool of the Ward family! Shut it!"

Dominic's face burned. How dare she speak to him like that?

Evelyn's voice dripped with sarcasm. "Don't you want the fourth fool to see clearly? Or do you want him to end up like you? Trapped in this mess? Her little echo for the rest of his life?"

Caleb exploded. "Evelyn! Are you done? Who's the fourth fool? If I'm the fourth fool, you're the third fool!"

Dominic: ...

Their youngest brother's intelligence was truly something to behold.

Dominic changed his mind. "Seraphina, just tell him."

Seraphina's face crumpled. How could he side with Evelyn?

"Second brother..." Her voice was plaintive.

Evelyn's smile was knowing. "Seems like you do like Caleb. Why else would it be so hard to say? Like they say, a wife three years older brings gold to your door. He doesn't mind—think of it as silver."

More than half the onlookers could see what Evelyn was doing. She was baiting Seraphina.

And Seraphina, caught in the moment, her emotions running high, had little rationality left.

"I do not! I've always thought of him as a little brother!"

Evelyn laughed, her gaze flicking to Caleb's stunned face.

Caleb faltered, looking at Seraphina with wounded eyes. "Just a little brother?"

Rage and shame warred within Seraphina, but she knew she had to make the distinction clear.

"I've watched you grow up. To me, you're like family."

Caleb looked from Evelyn to Seraphina. "But I already have a sister."

Seraphina softened her expression. "What's wrong with having one more? We grew up together. To me, Marcus is an older brother, Dominic is my second brother, and you're my little brother. That's all."

Caleb's face fell. That was definitely not what he wanted to hear.

Dominic tried to put an end to the farce. "Alright, now that it's clear, let's move on."

Evelyn's smile was sharp.

Seraphina's heart stuttered. She dreaded what might come next—Evelyn turning that same relentless questioning on her about Julian.

"Since we've got that settled," Evelyn's voice was ice, "Julian. Where's the package Adriel sent for me?"

Julian had somewhat recovered. He searched Evelyn's face for any trace of feeling toward him.

Evelyn's patience snapped. "Julian! Have you no shame?"

Julian started, his mouth bitter. He looked at Seraphina, signaling her to produce the package.

Seraphina was livid. She'd been ambushed, humiliated, mocked—and now she was supposed to hand over the goods? Never.

"Julian, Adriel sent that package to you. He gave it to me. If you want to give it to Evelyn now, that hardly seems appropriate."

Julian frowned. "I'll get you another one. Somehow."

Seraphina shook her head stubbornly. "But Julian, I really love this one."

For once, she wasn't lying. The winter supplies Adriel had put together were far superior to anything they could have scrounged up themselves. The army coat alone was enough to make her covet it fiercely.

The ones sold in stores were all cheap imitations—cotton padding, shoddy construction. But this one was genuine military issue, lined with real wool, windproof and warm.

Unless you had someone in the service, you couldn't buy something like this, no matter how much money you had.