Now, Celine’s eyes were red, like she was about to cry, and Argus looked at her like the whole world could burn and he wouldn’t care.
“I’m not marrying Dahlia,” he said firmly, “She’s not the one I want.”
Not the one.
The words landed, but I didn’t react.
He grabbed Celine’s hand, tight, almost desperate, his eyes carrying that same reckless madness I had seen before. “The person I love is Celine. It’s always been her. I won’t marry anyone else in this life.”
The room felt colder.
“I can announce Dahlia as my fiancée if that’s what you want,” he added, “but I won’t marry her.”
Then, without warning, he dropped to his knees.
The sound echoed.
Celine followed immediately, kneeling beside him, her voice trembling but stubborn. “Grandpa… please. Let us be together. I’m begging you.”
Grandpa looked like he couldn’t breathe for a second, his chest rising and falling too fast.
“Get out!" he said finally, his voice shaking with rage. “Both of you. Go to the prayer hall and kneel. Don’t come out until I say so.”
And just like that, in front of everyone, they stood up, still holding hands, and walked away together.
Like nothing else mattered.
Like I didn’t exist.
I watched everything without expression.
Was I supposed to cry?
Or laugh?
I didn’t even know anymore.
Slowly, I took out a small wooden box from my bag. Inside was a family heirloom… an expensive sapphire pendant Grandpa had once given me.
He froze when he saw it. “Dahlia… what are you doing?”
I stepped back and bowed deeply.
“Grandpa, thank you,” I said softly. “For taking care of me these past five years. I won’t forget it. But… I can’t stay by his side anymore.”
He frowned, trying to say something, trying to stop me. But I had already decided. I placed the pendant down and turned to leave. No hesitation. No looking back.
As I passed by the prayer room, I heard something. Heavy breathing. Low voices.
My steps slowed for just a second.
Through the small gap in the door… I saw them.
Too close. Too intimate. Like the whole world didn’t exist outside that room. Like they were proving something to everyone, even to the people who came before them.
My chest tightened. Then I looked away.
What was the point of staying?
I walked out of the Montgomery house without stopping.
I went to the Montgomery Group that morning and resigned as Argus’s secretary. Just like that. No hesitation, no second thoughts.