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.

do it again." Yet, after answering her, Edmund realized that he seemed like an errant child who'd just been reprimanded by a parent, and his expression soured. "Why are you treating me like

out in 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 I treat you like

"Fine. Are you done?"

Since you're willing to crack a joke with me, it means you've more or less made peace with

stated, "Now, it's time

up? It's good enough that I'm not engaging in any form of conflict with him. Don't get yourself involved in this mess." Edmund eyed her coolly, but his gaze slowly

the Winthrop

this situation must be

see him through rose-tinted glasses, but that's

an attempt to absolve him, huh? Edmund, you're running

situation from a different angle and brought

startled by the abrupt change in topic. He

and allow the business to grow so rapidly because of your unparalleled excellence? Or perhaps because Master Philip favors you a

say what was the truth, but the insinuation

to pause in thought for a few moments before he figured out

you'd probably still be having a hard time surviving in the Cole Family right now. You certainly won't have the time to investigate the cause of Max's

of all

secret. He turned red at the thought of what

by this. Callum's your brother and he 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 see you harboring misunderstandings about him when he has done so much for all of you in secret. I don't want him to be so unfortunate as to have such

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

paparazzi take

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

for Max's invitation to train in Wohler, Callum paid to get him

…

as she listed out the things Callum had done for his brothers. His eyes

largely the same,

mentioned these things to any