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Desperate for answers,I hounded Luke.
He refused to meet up,but when I mentioned all my old buddies that I could introduce him to—Tom,Jake,Mike—he relented and became a goldmine of intel.
"So,at the pit,why were you and Emma crying?"
Under a tree, both of us with a cigarette in hand and squatting side by side,I asked quietly.
"Her eight-year-old golden retriever died.We were burying it."
"Oh."
I nodded,and went silent.
After a long pause,with imaginary crows flying overhead,Luke turned.
"Heard you're Emma's ex, ‘dead'for three years.How'd you came back from the dead?Or did you really just got rich,ghosted,and ignored her?"
I glanced at my prosthetic,speechless.
Luke rambled on.
"Honestly,Emma had a miserable life those three years.You know how her parents pressured her?She swore you didn't ditch her,waited,even gave up 30% of the company’s shares—and that’s worth billions!"
"She was practically homeless,handing out flyers of you,sleepless,worried sick.Got deathly ill,kept waiting.Then one day she heard you got rich and actually ditched her."
"She didn't believe it.When her parents tried to force her again into marriage,she nearly slit her wrists..."
Luke counted Emma's struggles,each word caused pain in my heart.
I was wrong.I caused her immense disappointment and pain,I was the reason of all her hopes and suffering.
I didn't want her to cry,yet I brought her storms.Luke,angrier,slapped my head:
"Ethan,you dog!The biggest scumbag ever!How'd I fall for your looks?So,do you still love my aunt?Can't you see she's still head-over-heels,waiting?"
The slap,plus Emma's echoing story,sparked fearless courage.
Maybe...she wouldn't mind my flaws?
Maybe...I could work hard and give her a happy future?
I stood,fists clenched,teeth gritted,opening my phone to arrange a meeting with Emma.
Time to clear everything.
Then Dad called.
He rarely does—what's up?
Heart racing,I answered.
"Son,I'm doomed,waaah!"
"Abigail's drunken story?It wasn't you—it was me!"
"Her true love died eighteen years ago from kidney failure.When she saw me,looking just like him,she launched her relentless chase..."
"Waaah,women are all the same, they love everyone.I finally decided to be with her,and guess what, she runs me off..."
"Gotta go,son.I'm heartbroken,packing to bolt.Take care—see you again if fate allow uss!"
Beep beep—Dad hung up.
Me:...
Speechless,I was about to call Emma when Abigail rang.
"Hey,Ethan,know where your dad went?"
"Ugh,my fault.I've been reading too much novels lately.Drunk,I must've mixed up plots and blabbed nonsense..."
"Why's he so petty?Big man,small heart.I finally won him,and he bolted?"
"So,Ethan,know where he is?"
"Nah,he'd be too sly to tell you.Bye."
Me:...
Steadying myself to call Emma,her call came first.
I fumbled,nearly dropping the phone—
Trembling,I answered:"Hello?"
Emma's icy voice hit:
"EthanI ,forgot to mention—I'm getting married.My fiancé's the second son of the Grant family,a rising star,with billions of dollars and businesses worldwide.His grandpa's a global pharma legend,mom's an international dancer,dad's a top politician,and his brother...So,wanna come to our wedding?"
"Dress sharp,how's that?"
