Chapter 6
Wasn’t it you who loved to complain about everything in front of me?
The latter half of the sentence hung unspoken as he waited for Lumina to lower her head and show submission.
He had already extended an olive branch, offering her a way out. Even her deliberate act of harming Tracie was something he was willing to overlook. Surely, no matter how stubborn Lumina was, this was the moment for her to admit her mistake.
If she would just lower her head, apologize to him, act a little coquettish and plead with him, he might consider shortening the delay for their wedding. Perhaps a year- long delay could be reduced to six months, or even three months. Maybe even less…
“All you need to
do is recognize your mistake, sincerely apologize to Tracie and I can forgive you,” he said, fully confident
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as he awaited Lumina’s response.
As he had expected, Lumina did apologize.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I apologize for the mistakes I’ve made in the past. As for the delay in the wedding, I will personally explain it to Grandma. If you wish, I can even take the initiative to propose breaking off the engagement.”
From beginning to end, her tone was calm
and sincere.
However, Floyd‘ s reaction was as if hist very voice trembled with anger. “What did you just say? Do you even realize what you‘ re saying?
“You‘ re saying this to provoke me just because I left you at Mount Gravenwood? Do you seriously think I’m so desperate that I have to marry you?”
The barrage of questions came at her like bullets, making Lumina‘ s head throb.
All of a sudden, Lumina felt a haze of
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amnesia wash over her. What had she ever seen in this arrogant, self–absorbed man?
The conversation ended with a resounding slam as Floyd stormed out, the door rattling in his wake.
News of Lumina’s hospitalization eventually reached Grandma Alice.
On the fourth day after she was rescued from Mount Gravenwood, the elderly woman arrived at the hospital in person.
The moment Lumina saw her
grandmother, she rushed into her embrace with joy, but then, inexplicably, tears of grievance began streaming down her face.
During the first few days on Mount Gravenwood, Lumina‘ s thoughts were consumed by wondering when Floyd would come to save her. She told herself she’d be obedient when he arrived, promising she’d never cling to him so stubbornly again.
As time dragged on, hope faded into
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despair.
In the mist–shrouded forests of the
mountain, the faces she saw most often. weren’t Floyd‘ s–they were those of her long–deceased parents and this kind- hearted Grandma Alice.
She vividly remembered when her parents passed away. It was Grandma Alice who had cradled her in her arms, soothing her over and over again.
When her terror–induced fevers burned through sleepless nights, it was Grandma Alice who stayed by her bedside, feeding her medicine while calling her name,
“Moony, my little Moony…”
The moment the elderly woman saw Lumina s pained expression, a storm of anger rose within her.
“My Moony is already so sick and you‘ re still giving her this kind of medicine?
“You incompetent fools! Are you trying to kill my Moony on purpose?”
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“Discharge her–right now! Immediately! I’m taking her to see the best doctors!”
Sean’s face turned pale and his knees. nearly buckled. He gripped the doorframe. tightly, struggling to keep a calm demeanor while motioning for someone to call Tracie.
“Madam, with all due respect, I’m the top surgeon in the city. My diagnosis is absolutely reliable,” he said, his voice shaking. “Lumina’s just overly dramatic. Let’s be honest–she‘ s putting on a show for your sympathy. There’s nothing. seriously wrong with her, so why make such a fuss?”
Though Grandma Alice had never involved herself in the family’s corporate empire, her decades at the helm of the Stuart
household had honed an air of unshakable
authority that few could challenge.
She slammed her intricately carved cane.
down onto Sean with such force that he
yelped in pain, retreating while clutching
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his head like a scolded child.
Without hesitation, Grandma Alice called in her staff, determined to have Lumina carried out of the hospital immediately.
Before they could leave. Tracie barged into the room.
“What s got you so upset, Madam? Did Lumina say something to you?”
Though she kept her head bowed respectfully, the icy glare she shot at
Lumina was venomous, filled with a dangerous intensity.
