Love's Perfect Match

"I'd like to mend our relationship, as well as your relationship with Callum."

"There's nothing worth mending," Edmund retorted stiffly.

"I know you're still affected by the fact that I ran away from the altar. Even though you act as if you're completely fine about it, I know it made you upset. I just never found the time to talk to you about it."

Edmund was a little flustered at the mention of this incident. His hostility dissipated and was replaced by evasiveness. It was as if he wanted to avoid this topic.

"Actually, I—"

"Actually, I know that you begrudge the way things played out, so I want to give you a proper apology. I'm truly sorry for hurting you. I'm sorry that I couldn't return your feelings. I'm sure you'll meet someone else who's better than me, but the woman earlier is certainly not her."

While listening to Elspeth, Edmund's feelings were complicated.

It went without saying that he had indeed been affected by the whole situation.

When she ran away from the altar, he didn't pursue the matter. Instead, he scrounged up an excuse on her behalf and protected her reputation.

That was because he knew that she was never in love with him. Even if he did marry her, he couldn't change that.

Thus, he hoped she would find happiness, even if he weren't the one for her.

His expression became a little awkward when Elspeth mentioned the woman. "Stop talking about her."

"But this isn't like you."

At the end of the day, Elspeth never truly detested Edmund. She could accept his sharp tongue as him simply being a blunt and straightforward person, but she was caught off guard by what she saw today.

To numb oneself was also a form of reckless abandon.

that he seemed like an errant child

laughter, but for the sake of avoiding an outburst from him, she cleared her throat and refuted, "I'm not. We're the same age, so why would

"Fine. Are you done?"

to crack a joke with me, it means you've

stated, "Now, it's time to

not engaging in any form of conflict with him. Don't get yourself involved in this mess." Edmund eyed her coolly, but his

of the Winthrop Family now. This counts as

must be resolved. You misunderstand

in ridicule. "What misunderstanding? I know you love him, so you see him through rose-tinted glasses, but that's no excuse for you to try and absolve him of all

absolve him, huh? Edmund, you're running the Cole Family's business,

from a different

the abrupt change in topic. He looked a little

were able to stand firm and allow the business to grow so rapidly because of your unparalleled excellence? Or perhaps

didn't come right out and say what was the

few moments before he figured

out in secret, you'd probably still be having a hard time surviving in the Cole Family right

expression, she could tell that he had been completely unaware of all this.

thought that something like this had been happening in secret. He turned red at the thought

willingly did all those things for you. You don't need to feel like you owe him anything, either." Elspeth stared at the man with flashing eyes. "But I don't want to

the words she used and asked, "What do you mean 'all

fans, and whenever the paparazzi take photos of him on a date, Callum

cocked her eyebrows. "You know I'm Callum's wife, right? I'm part of the Winthrop Family now.

"As for Max's invitation to train in Wohler, Callum

…

things Callum had

expression was largely the same, he

things to