At the Flower Ceremony, He Chose Her Novel – At the Rose Selection Gala in Port Victoria, I stood in a stiff line with a dozen other debutantes, waiting to be chosen. As the illegitimate daughter of the Sterling casino empire, I knew exactly what was at stake. If I didn’t receive a flower tonight, I would be shipped off to Westbridge tomorrow for a cold-blooded political marriage.
The man who had promised to stand by me—my childhood friend—changed his mind at the last second. With a relaxed smile, Adrian Hawthorne handed the flower to the scholarship student standing beside him. He leaned close to my ear and whispered, “Let Emily have her moment tonight. The poor girl’s never had anything to celebrate in her life. Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, no one’s forcing you into a marriage.” Ignoring the silent plea in my eyes, he offered his arm to Emily Carter instead.“Emily is graceful, poised, and carries herself with real dignity.
She deserves this orchid.” That single phrase—real dignity—branded me as the evening’s biggest joke. The next day, I left for Westbridge alone.And that was when Adrian panicked and bought out every flight leaving Port Victoria. … Now Emily’s hand rested elegantly on Adrian’s arm. Under the bright lights, the two of them looked every bit like a couple.My chest twisted painfully, but I forced myself to remain calm. And yet he didn’t notice my anxiety at all.
When the crowd finally began to disperse, I stood there empty-handed. No flower.Which meant my fate—marriage to some stranger in Westbridge—had essentially been sealed.Adrian spotted me standing alone and walked over, a glass of wine in his hand.“These people are unbelievable,” he said lightly. “I told them to leave at least one flower for you. They actually dared to ignore me.” I looked at the boy who had grown up beside me and let out a quiet sigh.“Do you even know what tonight’s gala meant?” The Rose Selection Gala wasn’t just a party. It was a matchmaking ritual among elite families. Offering a flower was a formal declaration of intent. And as the Sterling bastard, there was only one man who would ever give me that flower. Adrian.
The matriarch had sent me here tonight for one reason—to crush my hope and force me into that Westbridge arrangement. And I had already made a promise to Adrian. I only needed three years. After that, he could love whoever he wanted. Yesterday, he had sworn he would protect me. But tonight, at the most crucial moment, he chose someone else. A bond built over more than a decade collapsed in a single night. Guilt flickered across Adrian’s face. He dismissed Emily and turned back to me. “You’re used to events like this,” he said gently. “But Emily’s just a scholarship student. This is the only night in her life she’ll ever stand in a room like this.
Just consider it a favor—for me.” He bent slightly, studying my expression like a boy trying to coax a smile. “You can ask anything you want of me any other day. Why does it have to be tonight?” When I still didn’t respond, he cleared his throat awkwardly. “Today’s her graduation celebration. It also means she won’t be accepting my financial support anymore. So I promised her one unforgettable memory.” Unforgettable. For me, too. Unfortunately, in a very different way. “Adrian, do you even understand what tonight’s gala—” Before I could finish, Emily suddenly returned to our side. “Charlotte… did I ruin something for you?” she said softly. “Please don’t blame Adrian.
I was the one who begged him…” Adrian frowned at the sight of Emily shrinking nervously beside him. “Alright, that’s enough.” He waved a dismissive hand. “Charlotte, it’s just a flower. I’ll make it up to you.” He casually plucked a crimson rose from a vase carried by a passing attendant and placed it in my hand. “You suit a rose far better anyway. Is an orchid really worth all this fuss? This doesn’t look like the easygoing Charlotte I know.” The rose was still wet .
Its thorns had been cut off, its stem snapped short, leaving only a small, broken piece. It resembled me rather well. An orchid symbolized purity and refinement—the qualities expected of a future Hawthorne matriarch. But this blazing red rose?It felt more like a mockery. The whispers around us grew louder. People weren’t even bothering to hide their gossip anymore. “An illegitimate daughter acting like a lovesick puppy, dreaming about marrying into the Hawthorne family. Didn’t you hear him? Real dignity. Even a scholarship girl outranks her.” Adrian swept the room with a cold glance, and the girl immediately fell silent—though not before shooting me a venomous look. Emily lowered her eyes and spoke again, sounding apologetic. “I’m sorry, Charlotte. You’re used to being admired. I just… wanted one night where I could feel special.
I never imagined…” “Admired?” I laughed quietly. “I’m an illegitimate daughter. Do you know how the Sterling family actually treats me, Adrian?” Emily’s hand trembled. The mini cheesecake she was holding slipped from her fingers and dropped onto the toe of her shoe.