Frank quietly said: “I know you, Helen. You avoid looking into my eyes when you lie.”
“Don’t act like you know me. You don’t—and I’ll be very clear.” Helen smiled. “I’m different now. A person should be realistic and give up on pointless ambition. What’s life for a woman, if not to find a man she could depend on and serve? Why deal with all the problems in a corner and shareholders instead of being a housewife? It’s an easy life and good for everyone.”
“Is that what you really think?” Frank asked, looking searchingly into Helen’s eyes.
“It is.” Helen met his gaze without flinching this time. “It doesn’t matter what you think or how highly you think of yourself—I’m not leaving with you, so just give up. It’s getting late and I’m tired… It’s time you leave.”
With those words, Helen quietly returned tinside Lane Manor, and Gina immediately leapt up to chase off Frank again. “What are you spacing out for?! Helen told you to leave, you delusional fool! Who do you think you are?!”
Frank simply craned his neck and shouted into Lane Manor again, “Get over yourself, Helen. Don’t think you’ve saved me! I’m telling you right now—I’ll never thank you. No, I’d hate you for it! Call me names, insult me all you like… I’ll never let you marry Chaz Graves, you hear me?!”
“Get out!!!” Gina shrieked madly just then, picking up a brick and smashing it on Frank’s head. “I-If you stray out of line, I’ll kill you!”
“Hahaha!” Frank laughed heartily, oblivious to Gina’s insults even as he bled from his head and drove away from Lane Manor.
At the same time, Helen returned to her room, pressing her back against the door once she closed it and dropping to the floor with a thud.
She could hear Frank’s bright laughter and was left folding her arms before her chest just to stop herself from crying.
How could Frank be so crazy? Was she really worth it?
She had seen how her own family had abused Frank for three years. He did not seem to care, even vowing that he would save her.
She really did not know what to do now—how would she face him during the wedding, and who would she be to him then?
–
In his car, Frank picked up his phone and dialed a number.
“Isn’t it quite late, Mr. Lawrence? How can I help?” Hans asked from the other end.
Frank grinned. “Bring your men to Graves Mansion in two days. We’re crashing a wedding!”
“Yes, sir,” Hans replied immediately, without asking questions or showing hesitation.
Now that Frank knew the truth, he would not stand by and watch as Helen fell into the fire pit.
No, he would make everyone understand that if they upset him, even the Lionhearts would kneel before him!
–
Time flew.
As the day of the arranged marriage between the Lanes and the Graves arrived, all of Southstream was left shocked by the return of the Nortstream Lanes and the glamorous wedding of the Graves’ heir.
