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.

an errant child who'd just been reprimanded

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?"

not. Since you're willing to crack a joke with me, it means

stated, "Now, it's time

in this mess." Edmund eyed her coolly, but his gaze slowly hardened. "I had feelings

I'm part of the Winthrop Family now. This counts as a family matter of mine as

situation must be

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 the things he

glasses and an attempt to absolve him, huh? Edmund,

a different angle and brought up the

abrupt change in topic. He looked

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

out and say what was the truth, but the insinuation was

for a few moments before he figured

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

unaware of all this. She couldn't help

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

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.

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

hides his relationship from his fans, and whenever the paparazzi take photos of him on a date, Callum pays

of the Winthrop Family now. This counts

invitation to train in Wohler, Callum paid to get him a slot,

…

to Elspeth as she listed out the things Callum had done for his brothers.

was largely the same, he was

things to