In the quiet intimacy of the backyard, Francisco's words landed like a stone.
"He told me to marry you," he said, his voice calm and direct.
Lilith froze. A flush rose to her cheeks as the air shifted. She hadn't expected such blunt honesty. The light playfulness of the evening vanished in an instant.
"Really?" she stammered, her voice shaky with surprise and vulnerability.
Francisco didn't flinch. He casually wiped his lips with a tissue, then delivered another blow—this one colder, sharper.
"But I said no."
Lilith's eyes widened. She stared at him, stunned. The atmosphere, once filled with subtle tension, now bristled with emotional weight.
"What did you mean?" she asked, her voice barely steady.
Francisco didn't hesitate.
"I said no."
His words echoed, simple yet brutal. Lilith stood there, trying to absorb the shock. Her heart pounded. This wasn't just about her father's wish—it was about a hope she hadn't dared to name.
Tears welled in her eyes. She clutched his hand, desperate for answers, needing to understand.
"What?" Lilith arched her brows, still reeling from the rejection.
"Yes," Francisco said again, unwavering.
"What do you mean by it, Francisco?" Her voice cracked. Her eyes searched his face, clinging to any sign of softness or regret.
"Lilith," he began, his tone firm but still offering no comfort. "I said no to your father."
The words hit harder the second time.
Lilith stepped closer, her voice rising with emotion.
"But why?" she asked, standing now, her body trembling as she closed the space between them.
"Why, meaning?" Francisco asked, his tone firm and steady.
"Don't you like me, Francisco?"
Lilith's voice trembled. Her eyes searched his face, hoping for something—anything.
"Did I ever tell you I liked you?"
His words hit like a slap. Lilith froze. Her chest tightened with the weight of reality, and the confidence she once wore melted into silence.
As Francisco stood to leave, Lilith couldn't let him walk away—not like this. She grabbed his hand, her voice breaking.
"Am I not worth it? We've known each other since childhood."
Francisco paused. In a rare moment of softness, he touched her cheek. His thumb brushed her skin gently.
"Yes, we are. But I had never thought of being with you. You should know it."
"You are my friend."
"I don't want to ruin you."
The tenderness in his touch vanished with the honesty of his words. Lilith's eyes welled with tears. Her voice cracked as she whispered her deepest fear.
"But why… Am I ugly? Not attractive enough, Francisco?"
Francisco didn't soften. His tone was blunt, cold.
"You are beautiful, but you're not my type. And you know I don't like repeating my words."
Her heart splintered. Lilith clung to his arm, desperate, angry, hurting.
"So, Emily is your type? You keep Emily as your girlfriend?"
"Does she deserve you, Francisco? Am I not more beautiful than her?"
Francisco's face hardened. His brows drew together in irritation. He pulled his arm free and walked past her without a word.
Lilith stood still, trembling. Then, with a burst of pain, she shouted after him.
"My papa did a lot for you. Are you paying him in this way?"
Francisco stopped. He turned, his eyes sharp with conviction.
"I will repay him, but I won't allow any third person between us. And I am not obligated to answer you anything."
He turned again and left without looking back.
Lilith dropped to her knees, tears falling fast. The night she planned with care had unraveled into heartbreak.
Inside the mansion, silence wrapped around her like a cold blanket. She rushed to her father's room, flung the door open, and collapsed into his arms, sobbing.
Victor, frail but alert, held her close. Her tears soaked his shirt as she cried out, broken and raw.
"Papa, why does he always reject me?"
"Can't he see how much I love him?"
"Can't he feel it? Why is he so heartless?"
Victor, his breathing slow and heavy, stroked her back gently.
"Darling, maybe there is someone who can truly be for you."
"If you two get together, you won't handle him."
"He is a fire. He will burn you with his flame."
"You'll only get hurt by him. So whatever happens, it's good for you, dear."
Lilith clutched her father tighter. His words, though painful, held truth. His love wrapped around her like a shield from the storm.
Meanwhile, in the quiet of his car, Francisco stared out the window. His face gave nothing away.
No regret.
No sadness.
He had broken the heart of a friend who loved him... but his expression remained blank, unreadable, like stone.