My leg kept bouncing beneath the table. I have never been this anxious or stunned. I’m shaken to the bones right now, and I’m trying to think, but I can’t process anything.
What the heck?!
Ares went ahead and dropped a bomb. Bless our marriage? What marriage? I haven’t even agreed to marry him!
Oh God.
"Catherine..."
I flinched, my gaze flying to Gramps. Oh no. He said my na, and I don’t an just say it; the sternness reminded of when I sneaked off to a party. I tried to climb back through the window, but he caught , standing there with his arms folded, along with a hardened expression just like now.
Of course, right now he wasn’t standing, but his arms are folded, and that look plastered on his face is sharp, sharp enough to cut through my head.
Shit!
"G-Gramps—"
"Why didn’t you tell he found you..."
My mouth hung open. "I-I..."
Gramps sighed, looking out the window, and my expression softened.
"I-It’s just happened so fast, and I didn’t...I couldn’t..." My words paused as my eyes leveled to the table. "I couldn’t, Gramps, I couldn’t just turn him away... of course, he wouldn’t have just walked if I asked him to, but... You should see how good he is with Es. He’s amazing. I-I would have hated myself more if Es never got the chance to know him. Hell, I didn’t even need to do anything; she loves and adores him, and he does too."
"Are you saying he ca back only because of Es? I find it hard to believe after what just happened..."
"That is..."
His heavy sigh made shut my mouth, the silence next punctured my face, and I thought about saying sothing, but I didn’t know what to say exactly.
"I—"
"Do you want to be with him?"
A heavy feeling settled on , and I’m unable to handle his gaze piercing through my soul. I closed my eyes... knowing lying wasn’t gonna cut it because I can’t lie, but I was afraid that—!
"Do you still love him despite everything?"
My eyes stung. "Gramps—"
"You know what his family did to us, don’t you?"
Tears slid down my cheek. "He’s not them..." I murmured.
"He’s a King..."
"Es is, too, and that is nothing but the truth. She can’t run from it or stay halfway across the world to escape that..." I gulped. "Neither can I."
Gramps narrowed his eyes.
"I’m sorry. I’m sorry. No matter how much I say that it won’t be enough. You know I tried, you were with through that hell, through the nightmares... But when he ca back, he found , searching all this ti. I wanted to move on, but he never once thought about it. I tried Gramps, but I couldn’t... I can’t... I’m sorry."
"Pumpkin..."
"I’m sorry..." I quickly dried my tears with the back of my hand.
We stayed like that for a while, and I wondered what was going through his mind.
"You grew up too fast," he began with a sad smile. "And every day it kills that you did. At so point, I thought it would make it harder because you never got the childhood you deserved... but look at you now, a mother to a wonderful little girl and a woman who finally puts herself first."
"Gramps?" I voice, because suddenly he didn’t seem mad anymore or ready to flip the entire world.
"I kept sothing from you, too. You’re not the only one who has carried guilt all these years, a little but..." He placed a hand on his chest. "It weighs heavily right here because I wish I could have understood sooner, but my anger blinded ."
I blinked.
"I have a confession to make."
"A-A confession?"
"Every month in the last five years, Ares King ca here... to Rosevale."
A cold chill shot up my spine, and my eyes widened.
"And each ti he does... I would turn him away, but that didn’t stop the guy..." He pointed to the door. "He would stand over there like a damn ghost as if waiting to be let in, and I was furious. He wouldn’t say a word and just stand there. I would bark and threaten him with my rifle, but it didn’t do much. He’d always co back like he’s on a mission or sothing. God, one ti he ca for his monthly visit, and the rain would just beat on him."
Ares... did all that?
"And then I heard from you. Pumpkin, I was so angry, but a part of wanted to tell him, but each ti I saw him I just..." He shook his head. "Until months ago, before he went to Penrose... before he went to you. He ca to and told he’d found you. Do you believe what he said next?"
I couldn’t find my voice.
Gramps chuckled. "He asked for permission..."
"P-Permission?"
"I asked why he would do such a thing because, knowing the kind of man he is, he doesn’t need to ask anything of this old man, this nobody. And guess what else he told ...?"
At this point, I don’t have the faintest idea, nor had I breathed for the last second.
"He said he wants to do things right this ti. In his words. ’If I can win her back... then will you let in?’..." He sank his hand into his pocket, taking his ti to pull out sothing. "And then right at that door, he gave this..."
Gramps dropped a small black box on the table.
"I taunted him a bit, telling him there is no way in hell my granddaughter would forgive him, it’s pointless. That bastard looks in the eye and says: ’It doesn’t matter. I’ll get her back no matter what’..." Gramps chuckled, deeply amused. "... and then he adds... in the right way."
With shaky hands, I reached for the box and opened it... A ring... and not just any ring... the sa one I tossed at him years ago. He had kept it all this ti.
"That man is extraordinary. The least choice of partner, but... who am I to stop love? He showed what I have always wanted for my pumpkin..." He gave a sweet smile. "Soone worthy of you... who would cherish you..."
I broke into tears despite trying so hard not to, sobbing like a child. I clamped my hand over my mouth and nose to muffle the sound, my eyes squeezing shut.
"...Just like I do for Maggie." He finished. "You have that now, and I would be more angry if you don’t hold onto it, because that is sothing so rare. I get to see it before I hit the grave..."
"P-Please s-stop..." I stuttered between cries.
His smile broadened. "I don’t know the whole story as always... but whatever decision you make, Maggie and I will always stand by you. Your happiness is all we have ever wanted."
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