Everyone was slack-jawed with amazement.
Just a kiss?
Was it really necessary to chase after Leopold for 15 years just because of a peck on the lips?
This woman was really something!
"Explain, my foot! My BFF told me a kiss is as good as hitting the hay, and you even held me close, swearing you'd marry me when we grew up! Are you even a man? Can't remember your promises?" Griffin fumed, her anger mounting by the second.
That was her first kiss.
And she had held onto it for 23 years, waiting for Leopold to step up and take responsibility.
But this guy!
He was flat-out denying it!
Leopold was hopping mad, "Which of your BFFs said that? Bring her here. I'll give her a piece of my mind! Responsible for a kiss? If that's the case, considering the number of women I've kissed, should I marry them all?"
"Ptooey! Have I lost my mind? Why did I say 'the number of women I've kissed'? I've only ever kissed Griffin!" He thought.
And it was that very kiss that had sparked a decade and a half of pursuit, leaving him so terrified that he dared not even think of romance.
"You dared to kiss someone else?" Griffin's face turned a shade of jealous green.
Leopold opened his mouth to explain, but Griffin turned her back, clinging to Vivienne's legs and wailing, "Vivienne, look at this scoundrel! Not only does he refuse to take responsibility for me, but he's also messing around with other women. My life is so miserable, truly unbearable."
Vivienne rubbed her temples as Griffin's ranting gave her a headache.
She grabbed Leopold, swiftly healed his previously dislocated arm amid his cries of surprise, and then shoved him toward Griffin.
get hitched!" Vivienne said dismissively, her eyes
verge of tears. "Vivienne, it
sharpened, "So you think you don't have to
been
had ever
dictionary, a kiss
slept together, the responsibility would be
nodded vigorously. "Exactly, you've got to take
is so reasonable! A real problem solver!" She
was at a loss
wronged! If only I had known it would come to this, I would have never kissed her!" He
time, and Griffin was a cute seven-year-old, like a porcelain doll, and he
kiss, he had earnestly promised, "Don't worry,
then he remembered that this whole situation was Percival's doing. Thus, there was
because of something that happened when we were kids, can we?" After speaking, Leopold turned to Griffin. "Shall we step outside to talk? I promise I won't run
pondered for a moment,
with hostility. If they could have a
Griffin had no objections, neither did Vivienne. She
gaze darkened as she turned to Leopold. "Don't make
ran down Leopold's spine at her icy tone. He
he hurriedly whisked Griffin
watched them leave, then settled back in her chair. "Let's continue
"Sure."
room was still recovering from Griffin's
lifting. "Mr. Wolf, that was quite the
"Breaking ties with me is
not know what to
a twinge of sympathy
minutes later, Leopold returned
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
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!