Chapter 7
Chapter 7
I collapsed onto the floor, overwhelmed.
By the time Frank returned, I still hadn’t recovered.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, helping me up.
I had changed back into my clothes, feeling utterly drained.
“Maybe… we shouldn’t get married,” I said weakly.
his hand tremble for a moment.
He looked at me, his expression unreadable.
We sat in silence for what felt like three minutes before he smiled faintly.
“Whatever you want.”
“Sir, should we still keep the wedding dress she chose?” the clerk asked.
Frank rarely spoke this little.
“Not for now,” I replied.
“Understood.”
Packing up my belongings, I felt completely sapped of energy.
Frank asked the same question three times before I finally heard him.
“Why?”
I looked up at him, exhausted.
The moment our eyes met, I noticed the redness at the corners of his eyes.
I didn’t reply.
Frank lowered his head, his bitter smile accompanied by the sound of his tears hitting the floor.
It tore at my heart.
For three days, I didn’t see Frank.
The guilt grew heavier.
I packed my things and went back to my hometown, but the house was empty.
Sitting in the quiet yard, I cried uncontrollably.
Late that night, the gate creaked open.
“Eason Graylen, if you’ve touched my father-”
I looked up and froze.
“Dad?”
“Sweetheart? Why are you back so suddenly?”
I rushed over to him, inspecting him anxiously.
Photos Lies and Fire
4.4%
Chapter 7
“Dad, are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
I hugged him tightly, crying harder.
He seemed to remember something,
“Someone did come by a few days ago, but another group chased them off. Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
“That man’s name… it was something like Graylen.”
I choked back a sob. “Eason?”
maybe. The other group also had the name Graylen. I forgot.”
Supporting my father, I led him back into the house.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart. Everything’s fine. Really, everything’s fine.”
Hearing those words, I broke down again.
On the third day, I took the earliest bus back to the city.
I couldn’t reach Frank no matter how many times I called.
“Frank! Frank Graylen!”
I stood outside the Graylen Corporation headquarters, shouting his name.
Employees stared at me curiously but said nothing.
I couldn’t get inside.
“Frank Graylen!”
I yelled until my throat felt like it would tear.
Finally, persistence paid off. Frank appeared, rushing toward me.
“Why are you here?”
“If my assistant hadn’t told me, would you have shouted all day?”
“…Yes.”
He flicked my forehead lightly.
“What do you want?”
“The wedding… do you still want to go through with it?”
Frank stared at me, surprised, then feigned nonchalance.
“Didn’t you call it off? Changing your mind again?”
“My father… it was you, wasn’t it?”
“Who else?”
I, drenched in sweat, lunged to hug him, but he stepped back in disgust.
Grabbing my shirt, he dragged me into the building.
After downing two glasses of iced tea, I finally felt alive again.
14.8%
Chapter 7
“So, you went to my house that day?”
“The moment I heard, I went. When I came back, I heard something heartbreaking,”
Frank focused on making tea, not even sparing me a glance,
“I… it wasn’t because of that. It was… Eason, he-”
“I saw the surveillance footage.”
Carefully, I raised my head, giving him a sheepish smile.
“So, is the wedding still on? You left that day without telling me either.”
situation was urgent. Was yours?”
Frank poured the tea with deliberate slowness.
“Give me one good reason why I should marry you.”
“I’m not that easy to convince.”
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