When Nova saw that Andrew was upset, tears welled up in her eyes again. She stubbornly refused to eat.
"Aww, come on… I just said a few things, and you're already upset?"
Andrew let out a soft laugh, not thinking he had said anything wrong.
"I'm not angry at you," Nova murmured. "I'm angry at myself. They tried to force me to drop out of high school and get married! When I refused, they beat me, screamed at me. If it hadn't been for my uncle, I might still be stuck in that dark, miserable house."
She buried her face in her arms, her shoulders trembling from the weight of her sobs.
"What? What happened?"
Andrew's expression changed. He quickly stood up and wrapped her gently in his arms.
Nova had grown up in a small mountain-side county near Ashland. Though the region was relatively developed, even in the wealthiest places, there are homes filled with hardship.
Hers was one of them.
Her mother was a typical rural woman—uneducated, deeply traditional, and heavily biased toward sons. Nova had three younger brothers, so she was never the favored child. From the moment she was born, her mother had set her heart on having a son.
But fate had its own plans. Nova came first, and every pregnancy after that—if it was a girl—was terminated.
"To raise a son for support in old age" that was the belief. Sons were reliable; daughters were just water spilled on the ground. They'd be married off and gone. That cycle didn't end until her youngest brother, Felix, was finally born. By then, her mother had already undergone at least eight abortions, if not more.
Only her strong constitution had kept her alive. Anyone else wouldn't have made it through.
From the moment Felix was born, the household revolved around him. He was spoiled endlessly, given whatever he wanted. If Nova so much as expressed a different opinion, her mother would respond with stinging slaps.
And it wasn't like they were well off. Her mother's body had been worn down by years of childbirth and recovery, leaving her too frail for physical labor. The entire family depended on her father, Jacob.
And Jacob had one hobby—gambling. He always brushed it off as "just a bit of fun."
But as the saying goes, nine out of ten gamblers lose. While the neighbors were upgrading to brick homes, Nova's family still lived in a crumbling mud-brick shack.
When storms rolled in, rain poured outside and dripped steadily inside.
One of Nova's clearest childhood memories was staying up all night with her parents, using basins to scoop rainwater out of the house.
Children from struggling families mature quickly. Ignored and unloved, Nova became deeply sensitive.
The poverty, the burden of being unwanted, and her low status in the family forced her to grow up fast. From a young age, she helped her mother sell cheap goods at the market.
After school, she would rush to the street stall and help until late into the night.
Exhausted, her back aching, legs sore, she would clench her teeth and whisper to herself in the dark: I must study. I must get into college. I have to change this life.
It wasn't just determination, it was talent. Nova never ranked second in school.
This streak continued all the way through high school.
When she turned sixteen, her parents suddenly brought home a man she had never met.
They told her he was willing to pay a bride price of 15,000 dollar to marry her.
That moment shattered what little trust she had in them. She had never imagined her parents would be willing to sell her.
The man was nearly thirty, a bachelor from the village who had made money traveling the country reselling clothing.
By then, Nova had already grown into a graceful young woman—the kind of beauty you'd read about in novels, the top girl in school.
The man had seen many women in his travels, but none quite like her. Her refined features, calm demeanor, porcelain skin, and slender figure captivated him.
In his eyes, she was "factory sealed" untouched and pure. Combined with her beauty, he thought 15,000 dollar was a bargain.
In the end, Nova threatened to end her own life and ran away from home. Thankfully, her uncle took her in and helped her get back on her feet.
For the next three years of high school, she worked part-time to support herself while studying. She completely severed ties with her family.
When it came time for college entrance exams, she applied for a scholarship to Calver University in New York. Not long after, she crossed the ocean and never looked back.
After hearing her story, Andrew pulled her closer, heart aching.
"Come here. Let your big brother give you a hug."
"Pfft..."
Nova rolled her eyes at him in mock annoyance, but the heavy mood had clearly lifted.
"That's more like it. Why dwell on the past during such joyful times? That pain is behind you now. The future's all sunshine from here."
Andrew stood up and pulled open the heavy curtains covering the window.
The breathtaking New York skyline glittered before them. Nova got to her feet and stepped up beside him.
"I never thought I'd stand here, this high up… looking over the world's most beautiful city lights with someone I love."
"Well then, with a view like this and the perfect company—don't you think we should mark the moment properly?"
Andrew turned to her, eyes full of warmth.
Nova twisted slightly, pouting as she gave him a playful side-eye.
Perhaps it was the wine, but her cheeks were delicately flushed. Her expression was soft and sweet—somewhere between bashful and radiant.
Andrew felt his heart skip a beat. His pulse jumped from 80 to 102. If he'd been wearing a smartwatch, it might've warned him he was about to level up.
He gazed deep into her dreamy, mist-filled eyes.
"Miss, may I have this dance?"
Nova smiled gently, graceful and carefree. She extended her hand.
"Of course! But I'm not that good… I might step on your feet."
"No problem. We'll just take off our shoes then it won't hurt."
Andrew scooped her up and gently set her on the sofa, kneeling down to help her slip off her shoes.
"That tickles…"
Nova bit her lip softly, squirming as his fingers brushed against the sole of her foot.
"Milady… may I?"
He gave her a slight bow one hand behind his back, the other extended toward her.
In the center of the living room, on the soft velvet rug, Andrew held her delicate hand while his other arm wrapped around her slender waist. There was no music, but their eyes were locked and in that moment, it felt like the entire world had melted away, leaving just the two of them.
(End of Chapter)
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