The Shield of His Love

Chapter 1

"Captain Grant, that's Barton Fields over there. The family holding the funeral is the Barton family."

"I see." Christopher Grant, seated at the back of the Jeep, lifted his gaze. He got out of the car once it came to a stop. As he walked past the Barton residence, he overheard voices coming from inside.

"Rebecca, looks like you're heading to the city to live the good life, huh? Your father's gone, and somehow, you're the one benefiting from it—getting adopted by a prestigious family in Orkney." The woman's tone was laced with jealousy and bitterness.

"Poor Leroy got dumped by you! Tossing aside your fiancé just to climb the social ladder, you're really a cold-hearted person!"

Hearing Rebecca Barton's name, Christopher paused. His footsteps halted by the window. Not long after, he caught a soft cough from inside, followed by a calm, clear voice.

"Layla, this jealousy of yours is eating you alive, isn't it? Let me guess—you wish it was your father who died and that you're the one getting adopted?" Rebecca's words struck a nerve, exposing her cousin, Layla Barton's, unspoken thoughts.

"Y-You stop talking nonsense!" Layla snapped.

"Oh really? You look jealous to me. Let me tell you something, Layla. So what if I'm climbing the social ladder? I'm going to the city to live my best life while you're stuck here with nothing but envy!"

Though her voice was soft, Rebecca's words were sharp. Each word cut into Layla's pride like a blade.

"And another thing, do you think I can't find a decent match in the city? If you like Leroy that much, you can have him."

Leroy Smith was the man Rebecca married in her past life. He had beaten her, tormented her, and eventually left her trapped in the Smith residence, where she died an early, miserable death before even reaching 40.

Rebecca had been reborn. She didn't know why, but her new life began the year her father, Vaughn Barton, passed away.

This time, she swore she wouldn't squander the future Vaughn had sacrificed his life to secure. She closed her eyes, and the wailing of the mourners outside made her eyes red.

Layla crossed her arms and snapped back, "You're a shameless flirt! I bet you're already plotting to seduce the three sons of the Grant family and marry into wealth!"

Rebecca chuckled as she looked at Layla. Layla only had men in her head. But Rebecca knew how to strike where it hurt.

"Exactly," she said with a smirk. "I'm going to charm one of the Grant family's sons and become his wife. Too bad you'll never get a chance like that in your lifetime."

Layla was about to explode with rage while Christopher remained silent outside the window.

The driver behind him thought Rebecca sure had some lofty ambitions.

Christopher's expression darkened. He had come on his father, Duncan Grant's, orders to pick up the orphaned daughter of the Barton family. Adopting a daughter wasn't a big deal for the Grant family.

But he hadn't expected her to be so greedy, even scheming to latch onto the Grant family for wealth and power. He sneered as he strode toward the front door.

Funerals in rural areas were still simple affairs in this era. Vaughn had died in the line of duty, so the entire area had come together to arrange a proper sendoff.

When word spread that someone from the Grant family was here, Rebecca's uncle, Thomas Barton, quickly came out to greet them.

Christopher barely acknowledged him. He offered only a slight nod before making his way to Vaugh's coffin.

Vaughn had been Duncan's comrade-in-arms. His death carried its own complexities. Duncan had personally instructed Christopher to pay his respects.

Christopher bowed before the coffin. His demeanor shifted from earlier. He was no longer indifferent but solemn, and he carried an air of hostility that kept others at a distance.

A cold sweat broke out on Thomas' forehead. Christopher's presence was downright intimidating.

"Rebecca, come here! Someone from the Grant family is here to take you!" Marge Jensen's voice rang out. She was Thomas' wife.

Just then, someone came out of the house. She was dressed in black as she was in mourning. Her face was bare of makeup, and her hair was tied back in a simple ponytail with a few stray strands framing her cheeks.

At a glance, Rebecca saw the tall figure standing before the coffin. Even with his back turned, he radiated power and authority. His presence silenced the crowd around him.

Christopher turned slowly and locked his gaze on Rebecca.

Chapter 2

When Rebecca saw Christopher's face, she paused. After being taken to the Grant family in Orkney in her previous life, her interactions with him had been limited. After all, his status was far too elevated, and he rarely returned to the Grant residence.

It wasn't until after she was driven out of the Grant family in disgrace that she heard the news that Christopher had supposedly died at the border. The family, devastated by his loss, nearly fell apart. Shortly after, the family was reported for misconduct. In the end, the family met their downfall, leaving behind nothing but ruins.

At that time, Rebecca was struggling to survive herself and paid little attention to the family that had thrown her out. Now, she realized that if she hadn't been blinded by greed and hadn't acted so foolishly, the Grant family might never have mistreated her.

Her feelings were complicated. But now that she had another shot at life, she was determined not to repeat the same mistakes. This time, she wanted to leave a good impression on the Grant family.

With that thought, she took the initiative to greet Christopher, saying, "Thank you for coming to pay your respects to my father." Her voice was soft and pleasant, but having overheard her greedy remarks earlier, Christopher merely raised an eyebrow. He had to mask his disgust.

He didn't even bother to nod at her, and his coldness was unyielding. Rebecca faltered for only a moment before regaining her composure.

Despite Layla's mocking gaze, she remained calm. His indifference didn't bother her. She only wanted to leave a positive impression. She wasn't desperate to curry favor.

"Becky, what are you standing there for? Go pay your last respects to your father," Marge barked as she shoved her.

Rebecca steadied herself. She looked at the photo of Vaughn on the coffin. He had been her only family since birth. Her mother, Jessie Harp, had abandoned them. After joining the army, Vaughn entrusted her care to Thomas.

Every month, he gave Thomas his entire salary and bonuses. He pleaded with Thomas and his family to take care of her. In her memories, she only saw Vaughn once every few years.

When she hit rock bottom in her previous life, she resented him. She thought that if he were alive, she wouldn't have been left to fend for herself and be bullied.

But in this life, she had come to understand. Vaughn had loved her deeply. Even in his final moments, he had entrusted his superiors with her care. It was she who had failed to appreciate his sacrifices.

With this realization, Rebecca stepped forward and solemnly bowed. As she closed her eyes, tears slipped down her cheek. They were tears of regret, remorse, and newfound determination.

Rebecca was determined to live a good life. Her thin frame and the loose black mourning clothes made her appear even frailer. From Christopher's point, he could see her pale neck and the tears trailing down her face.

It surprised him. For someone so greedy and opportunistic, she still seemed to harbor genuine feelings for her father. He had assumed she would be relieved at Vaughn's death as she was eager to embrace her new life in a wealthy family.

When Rebecca finished her bow, she turned to face her family. A faint trace of tears marked her cheek, but she didn't seem to care.

Christopher's gaze swept briefly over the tear streaks on her face before he said coldly, "Let's go."

He turned to leave, but before he could step away, her soft yet resolute voice called out, "Wait."

The crowd stared at her in confusion. Shouldn't she be eager to follow the Grant family and escape poverty? But instead, she approached Thomas and Marge. She said seriously, "Thank you for taking care of me all these years."

Thomas and Marge froze, their expressions showing their awkwardness. After all, they hadn't really taken care of her at all.

Layla snorted from the side and muttered, "What an act."

Her gaze flickered briefly to Christopher. If only she were the one being taken in.

Christopher's expression remained indifferent as he watched Rebecca. Based on the way she had spoken earlier, she didn't strike him as someone who would show gratitude. It had to be an act.

Annoyed, he was about to ask if she intended to come along or not when she said again, "Aunt Marge, could I have my father's pension?"

"Pension?" Their faces stiffened as they forced awkward smiles. "What pension?"

Rebecca stared at them innocently. "The bereavement money can be considered your compensation for arranging my father's funeral. But the pension was meant to support me. I can't go to the Grant family empty-handed and expect to live off them. That would be inappropriate."

"Rebecca! Don't forget who raised you all these years! Do you know how much it costs to feed and clothe you? My parents didn't even ask for anything in return!"

Rebecca tilted her head and replied, "But my father sent 80 dollars to Uncle Thomas every month. Surely, that was enough to cover my expenses."

The crowd gasped. That amount wasn't just enough to raise a child—it could support an entire family.

The Barton family's faces turned sour. They hadn't expected Rebecca to bring up the pension and allowance in front of everyone. The pension alone was a hefty 500 dollars, which they had planned to pocket.

Before they could respond, Rebecca sighed. Her voice was tinged with faux resignation. "Fine, I won't ask for it anymore. Let's just say the 500 dollars is my way of repaying you for raising me."

She lifted her hand to wipe away her tears. As her oversized sleeve fell back, it revealed her thin arm marked by frostbite.

Chapter 3

The crowd gasped.

"Hey, Thomas, that's just plain wrong. That's 80 dollars a month and nearly a grand a year. Now, you're holding on to the measly 500 dollars pension?"

"Exactly! You can't send Rebecca away penniless, can you?"

"Some guardians they were! Turns out they're just a family of despicable cheapskates."

The sudden scolding left the Barton family speechless, but they were unable to defend themselves. They could only watch helplessly as Rebecca's teary-eyes expression drew sympathy from the crowd.

Thomas awkwardly cleared his throat. "Who said we wouldn't give it? I just… forgot. That's all."

Marge pinched him sharply. Was he really going to hand it over? She certainly didn't want to part with that sum of money.

But what could he do? With all eyes on him, he couldn't outright pocket the money meant for Rebecca's survival.

"Becky, here. Take the money. I'll even add another hundred dollars. When you get to the Grant family, make sure you behave yourself." He pulled out the cash and handed it over to Rebecca.

Rebecca took the money without hesitation. In her past life, she had been so lost and distracted that she had completely forgotten about this. The money then ended up in her relatives' pockets. Not this time, though. Not a single penny would slip through her fingers.

With the cash in hand, she turned to Christopher. "I'm ready. Let's go."

Christopher said nothing but fixed his eyes on her. He recalled the pitiful performance she had just put on. Her tears and helplessness might have fooled the others but not him.

He despised cunning, manipulative women. Rebecca might look frail and delicate, but her sharp tongue and knack for acting made her anything but innocent. Though he agreed the pension was rightfully hers, she could have claimed it with integrity, not by staging a spectacle.

Without a word, Christopher turned on his heel and headed for the car.

The chauffeur asked amiably, "Ms. Barton, where's your luggage? I'll load it for you."

"Luggage?" Rebecca shook her head. "I don't have any."

It was laughable, really. All those years living with the Barton family and she didn't even own a single piece of clothing that wasn't a hand-me-down from Layla.

"Let's go." She walked past them without a glance. Just as in her past life, she left Barton Fields behind. But this time, she vowed her life would be different. This time, she would live well.

Seated in the Jeep, she couldn't help but steal a glance at the man beside her. The back seat was spacious, yet Christopher's long legs took up much of the space. His cold demeanor and stern expression made the air around him feel suffocating.

In her past life, he was also the one who came to pick her up. Back then, she had been too timid to even look at him properly. He dropped her off at the Grant residence and left without a word.

After some thought, she decided to offer a genuine thank-you. She turned to him and said earnestly, "Thank you for coming all this way to get me."

Christopher thought she was trying to cozy up to him and flirt with him. He glanced at her, his expression as frosty as ever. Seeing her calm and obedient demeanor, he couldn't resist a sharp jab. "Ms. Barton, you're truly impressive."

"What?"

"Your father just died, yet you've adjusted so quickly. It's…admirable." The sarcasm was clear.

Rebecca's lips curved into a faint smile. "My father always said that dying on the battlefield is the highest honor and ultimate destination for a soldier. He chose his own path. I respect and admire him for that. Even though I didn't see him often, he's always been with me—in my heart." Her voice was calm.

She turned away and gazed out the window. It was clear that Christopher disliked her, so why bother trying to win him over? She had wanted to get along, but if he insisted on being hostile, so be it.

Christopher, however, found himself studying her. From the side, he could see her cheeks were slightly puffed, a sign she was annoyed.

Chapter 4

The phrase 'highest honor and ultimate destination' lingered in Christopher's mind. He mulled over it for a moment. Deep down, he believed the same. One day, he too, might dedicate his life to the battlefield.

The Jeep rumbled down the bumpy road and headed toward the town. Suddenly, a man sprinted out from the street and flagged down the vehicle.

"Becky!" The man's voice was full of emotion. Rebecca froze when she saw that it was Leroy. The moment she recognized him, her hands clenched into fists, and hatred flickered in her eyes.

Leroy was the one who caused her death. Memories of her final moments flooded back. He had forced her to sign over her inheritance and stood by coldly as her body writhed in pain. Torment overtook her until she breathed her last in the Smith residence. Her death went unavenged.

"Becky, don't leave me! You promised we'd get married. How could you leave for the city without me?" Leroy chased after the vehicle while banging on the windows desperately.

Christopher's impression of Rebecca wavered once again. He glanced at Leroy and recalled her bold remark earlier about finding a better partner. Annoyance flared within him.

"Stop the car." His expression was dark.

The chauffeur reluctantly stopped. Realizing Christopher was about to get out, Rebecca abruptly reached out to stop him. Her expression was resolute. "I'll handle this myself."

He glanced at her delicate hand gripping his arm. The frostbitten redness of her fingers was stark against her pale skin. She got out of the car and looked at Leroy coldly.

Leroy tried to grab her hand, and his tone was pleading. "Becky, don't leave. Let's get married! I'll take care of you, I swear!"

Rebecca held back the urge to slap him. She took a deep breath and pulled her hand away. She firmly declared, "Leroy, it's over."

Disbelief clouded Leroy's face as he shook his head frantically. "I don't believe it. You're not the kind of person to leave me for wealth and status. You can't be like what Layla said—chasing after power!"

Rebecca's expression turned cold. "Stop pretending to care. Haven't you been wavering between me and Layla all this time? You're drawn to my face but can't resist her charms."

Leroy froze. Even though the doors muffled her voice, the chauffeur and Christopher both stiffened at her words inside the car. They could guess what she said from her lips and her tone.

"Don't think I'm not aware. I saw you sneaking around with her, kissing her. I should've ended things with you ages ago. You're the kind of trash who deserves to be dumped!" Rebecca spoke without mercy, as if she were venting all the grievances and anger from her past life.

Now that this was her second chance at life, there were many things she no longer wanted to tolerate. In her past life, she had been foolish enough to think that getting married to Leroy would allow her to escape the Barton family.

"Rebecca, you—" Leroy's face turned beet red with rage.

"Enough. I'm heading to the city to start fresh and live a good life. Don't bother me again." She pointed toward the Jeep. "See that? The people inside are armed. They won't hesitate to take you down if you keep pestering me."

She mimicked the sound of a gunshot. Without waiting for his response, she turned and got back into the car. Settling in, she smiled at the chauffeur. "We can go now."

"Ms. Barton, all resolved?" The chauffeur stole a glance at the dumbfounded man outside, then back at her serene expression.

She nodded. "Yes, we parted amicably. Everything ended peacefully."

The chauffeur doubted her words. Didn't she threaten to shoot Leroy? He laughed awkwardly and started the engine.

Christopher sat in silence. In such a short span, he had seen Rebecca display several vastly different sides of herself.

She was calculative and flattering when dealing with Layla. In the village, she was adept at playing the victim. When speaking of Vaughn, she seemed genuine and upright. Just now, she had been domineering and ruthless, and now, she sat beside him looking all soft.

He glanced at her, only to meet her calm smile.

Chapter 5

Christopher made a call to Duncan at the guest house. "Yeah, I've got her. She'll be in Orkney in two days. Don't worry. She's doing fine."

Duncan was worried that Rebecca might be bullied. But the truth was, ever since Christopher went to Barton Fields, she was the one bullying others.

"Got it." Christopher hung up. He was clearly annoyed. One was enough trouble, but Duncan decided to adopt two.

The other child was Ruby Lynch, the daughter of Peter Lynch. Peter was Vaughn's comrade as well. He was left with a permanently injured leg when Vaughn died and no longer had the ability to support Ruby.

Upon learning that Vaughn had entrusted Rebecca to the Grant family, Peter also decided to entrust Ruby as well. Fortunately, he survived, though he was left permanently disabled.

Peter thought that since he had survived, Ruby wouldn't need to be adopted. But the Grant family had already given their word, and despite his survival, his disability rendered him incapable of supporting his family. Thus, the arrangement stood.

Ruby was to be sent to the Grant family in Orkney as well. After all, the family could afford it.

Ruby was escorted to the guest house. There, Rebecca's and Ruby's eyes met.

Rebecca blinked in surprise. In her previous life, Ruby didn't arrive at the Grant family at the same time as her. Ruby had come months later, citing the need to care for Peter. But the timeline had shifted in this life.

Ruby was here, neatly dressed and exuding a gentle, composed demeanor. She greeted with a polite smile, "Hello, Christopher. I'm Ruby."

Rebecca's thoughts churned. Both she and Ruby were being adopted by the Grant family, but the circumstances surrounding their adoptions were starkly different. Rebecca, as a complete orphan, had drawn more sympathy from Duncan. Ruby, on the other hand, was taken in as an act of duty—a promise to honor a comrade's sacrifice.

Both were heading to the same family, and both were wards of the Grant family. By logic, Rebecca should've had the upper hand. But life had unfolded in the opposite direction.

In her past life, she had been foolish, petty, and consumed by jealousy. She was constantly at odds with Ruby. Time and again, she plotted against her, trying to bring her down. Her schemes ultimately culminated in an ill-conceived attempt to manipulate both Ruby and Christopher's younger brother, John.

Heartbroken and deeply disappointed, Duncan had no choice but to cast her out of the family.

It was during her downfall that Leroy found her in Orkney. He offered to care for her and promised that she'd be happy, but looking back now, it felt like a joke.

Why had she felt the need to scheme against Ruby? Even now, she couldn't figure it out. It baffled her how she had managed to squander such a promising position, sabotaging herself with actions that seemed almost deliberately foolish.

The more malicious she became, the more innocent and pitiable Ruby seemed in contrast. As a result, she was cast out of the Grant family while Ruby was taken care of and given an education. Ruby eventually graduated from university and was left with a generous amount of money to marry into an excellent family. Their fates were strikingly different.

Rebecca scrutinized Ruby, and suspicion grew within her. On the other hand, Christopher was oblivious to Ruby's subtleties and was entirely focused on Rebecca's peculiar gaze. Was she already plotting against Ruby?

Given her cunning nature, there was no doubt she would be on guard—even hostile—toward Ruby. His temples throbbed as frustration set in. He felt an urge to pull Rebecca aside for a proper lecture.

"You must be Rebecca, right? Hi, I'm Ruby. Let's look out for each other from now on."

After greeting Christopher, Ruby turned her attention to Rebecca. Her expression remained warm and friendly, though a fleeting shadow crossed her eyes—a subtle hint of something darker that she quickly masked.

"Hello, I'm Rebecca." After all, it was hard to argue with a friendly face. There would be plenty of time to deal with things later.

Christopher, however, knew Rebecaa's true nature too well. The idea that she could peacefully coexist with Ruby seemed far-fetched to him. Taking no chances, he made sure to assign their rooms as far apart as possible.

Chapter 6

Rebecca carried her belongings into the room assigned to her. Once inside, she took a moment to survey her surroundings. The Grant family certainly lived up to their reputation. Even the rooms arranged in the guesthouse were furnished to an exceptional standard.

For someone used to sleeping beside the pigsty or on the brick bed by the kitchen stove, Rebecca found the clean bed, writing desk, mirror, and sink almost luxurious. She pressed her lips together. She had lived like an utter fool in her past life. She squandered an incredible opportunity to change her life, only to be tortured to death by Leroy in the end.

She sighed in frustration at herself. It took a special kind of incompetence to live such a pitiful existence. But now that fate had given her a second chance, she was determined to live vibrantly and make the most of her second life.

She stepped in front of the mirror and looked at her reflection. It wasn't hard to understand why Layla had always been jealous and picked on her. Despite her rough life in the village, her face was delicate and fair. Her hands might have been chapped from frostbite and calloused from farm work, but her skin remained unblemished and radiant.

She recalled how Marge and Layla used to keep their doors locked, afraid she would sneak in and steal their beauty creams. But without any skincare products, her natural beauty shone through. She stood at about five foot five. Her figure was well-proportioned and undeniably attractive.

As she changed out of her mourning clothes and washed up, she heard the muffled conversations of people passing by outside her window. Occasionally, curious eyes peeked in.

"Where did this beauty come from? She's stunning! I'd love to get to know her!"

"Look at yourself. Do you really think someone like her would pay you any attention? She'll be some wealthy man's wife before you know it."

Rebecca ignored the chatter and focused on washing her face. But the men's conversation didn't end there.

As they passed Ruby's room, they saw her dressed in a plaid dress that accentuated her gentle demeanor. The three of them exchanged brief glances, but Ruby paid them little mind and quickly averted her gaze.

This was her first time meeting Christopher. With the experience she gained from her past life, she had no intention of repeating her mistakes. Christopher was her ultimate goal. Why waste over a decade when she could secure him in just a year or two?

Just as Ruby was walking to Christopher's room, she heard two men whisper to each other, "Damn, what's with this guest house tonight? So many women are around. But honestly, the real stunner was the one we saw earlier. You could see her figure even through the window. She has curves in all the right places."

"Yeah, this one's okay. Back where I'm from, we see plenty like her. The earlier one, though? She's on a whole other level. She could be a TV star or something."

Ruby's steps faltered, and a shadow crossed her face. Were they talking about Rebecca? Rebecca—a countryside nobody—being described as a stunner? And her, Ruby, dismissed as merely average?

Her hand tightened around her dress, and her lips pressed into a thin line. Sure, Rebecca might have some natural beauty, but what good was it with a brain as useless as hers?

Ruby sneered. Remembering Rebecca's past blunders, she found it laughable. This time, Ruby vowed to ensure that Rebecca's downfall would be even more spectacular and satisfying.

As she walked toward Christopher's room, the silent night was suddenly broken by the sound of footsteps on the stairs.

The hallway lights, triggered by motion sensors, flickered off once the two men walked past her. The corridor was immediately plunged into darkness. A cold sweat broke out on Ruby's palms as she froze.

What was that sound? To make matters worse, the sound of footsteps grew louder.

"We need to move quickly tonight. There's no one guarding the borders tonight. We'll knock someone out and get them out of the city without leaving a trace!"

"Yeah, I know. After this job, I'm calling it quits. I'm so tired of living in fear of being caught. I'm done with this life."

The voices sounded like a middle-aged couple. The man's voice was rough and raspy. Ruby could hear the sound of a rope swinging in his hand as the woman urged him impatiently.

They had been observing the guest house for a while. Tonight, it was packed with guests. With the surveillance cameras nearby broken, it was the perfect opportunity for them to strike.

As Ruby took a step back, the couple appeared suddenly in front of her. Her face went pale in an instant, and her heart raced in terror.

The man's face was covered in scars, and he spotted Ruby standing alone in the hallway. He grinned maliciously. "Well, what do we have here? A prey, walking right into our hands."