Chapter 5 I Must Marry Her

That night, Phillip had come to know about Francesca leaving early in the morning with her luggage. He sat in his study, glaring at his grandson with a mixture of anger and disappointment. “How dare you! How did the Zeller family end up with a scoundrel like you? You actually drove your own wife out of the house. Have you ever thought about how she would survive on her own out there?” Colton frowned, feeling a wave of discontent surge within him upon hearing his grandfather's baseless accusations. Doubts began to creep in, making him question who the true grandchild of the family really was. Colton sneered, “Who dares to drive her away? Everyone knows that Francesca has your support in the Zeller family.” Phillip's fury was instantly ignited by Colton, and he hurled the cup that was within his reach at him. Colton dodged effortlessly, and the cup shattered into pieces on the ground. He looked at the scattered fragments on the ground, and his eyes darkened. Does Grandpa truly not understand what Elsa means to me? “You think I don't know what you're thinking?” Phillip's voice pulled him back to reality. “Then you should know very well what Elsa means to me!” Colton stood his ground, fighting for his own happiness. At the very least, he hoped that his grandfather could come to accept Elsa during his lifetime. “You know, Elsa saved my life back then.” Colton took a deep breath, speaking calmly about something Phillip was already aware of. Twenty years ago, Colton and a young girl had been kidnapped together. The two of them had clung to each other for dear life in that terrifying, dimly lit room, offering each other solace. It had been the young girl who had softly sung lullabies in the darkness to comfort him, assuring his younger self that someone would surely come to rescue them, and that they must strive to stay alive. The young girl's optimism and self-confidence had made him increasingly strong. When the optimistic and strong girl had found a way to escape, she had given him the chance to do so, firmly believing that he would surely return with adults to rescue her. However, when he returned with help, the young girl had vanished without a trace, and even the kidnapper had disappeared. The only thing he could recall was the distinct birthmark on the young girl's arm. Yet, as the years passed, his memory of that birthmark had become increasingly hazy. After being coerced into marrying Francesca, he stumbled upon Elsa, who was singing at a bar. With the help of a somewhat hazy memory, he concluded that Elsa, with her distinctive birthmark, was the same little girl from years ago. The time when they had relied on each other was the only redemption during those dark years. It was only natural for Colton to draw closer to her, and he had used his resources to boost her fame. However, because of Francesca, he couldn't give her a proper title. The thought of Francesca made Colton's face darken once again. “You fool, how many years have passed since then? You can't even remember what that girl looks like!” Phillip gritted his teeth as he glared at Colton, baffled as to why his usually clever grandson could be so foolish concerning this matter. “Why are you so certain that Elsa is the same little girl from years ago? Just because of a birthmark on her arm? That seems rather arbitrary to me. How did the Zeller family produce such a fool like you? A little investigation into your past would reveal what happened back then.” “Grandpa!” Colton looked at the old man with a firm gaze, not a shred of doubt in his heart. “It was me who unexpectedly ran into Elsa, and it was also me who secretly approached her. Elsa knows nothing,” he stated firmly, not backing down at all. He didn't care that Phillip had sought him out because of Francesca's situation. “I must marry her.”