Otherwise, why would Gerald choose to marry her at a time when her reputation was in ruins? Why would he insist on marrying her despite Lucy's desperate resistance and emotional pressure? Back then, Catherine had never been granted such "privilege"—Lucy had barely applied any pressure before Gerald compromised and went to Catherine to break off their engagement.
As for that earlier broken engagement, Lucca believed it had merely been a moment of weakness on Gerald's part—an uncontrollable lapse after seeing Catherine return home. In her mind, the person Gerald truly loved had always been herself.
To be able to obtain marriage at the most difficult point in her life made Lucca feel that all the disgrace she had endured was worth it. After all, if she had been so infamous and Gerald still chose to marry her, didn't that only prove how deeply he loved her?
