To the One Who's Only Cold to Me - Chapter 123

The man whispered poison into Cliff’s ear once again. Consumed by the venom of doubt and jealousy, Cliff turned his suspicions into certainty, even when he saw Marissa standing beside Graham with his own eyes.

A secret meeting, just the two of them. Must be so nice. Damn them!

Blood trickled from his lower lip, and soon a harsh grinding sound came from his clenched teeth. The man who had been whispering like a snake watched Cliff’s eyes burn with jealousy, then smirked and quickly disappeared.

Cliff didn’t even notice the man vanish. He trembled uncontrollably, then finally straightened up, unable to hold back any longer. His bloodshot eyes turned toward the bushes. And then—

“You filthy bastards!”

Thud.

“Cliff!”

“Argh!”

Cliff’s fist slammed into Graham’s cheek.

“I knew this would happen!”

“I told you it wouldn’t end with just one time! And again, now?!”

Marissa glared at her husband’s swollen cheek and shouted nervously. Graham winced in pain, then lowered his gaze and muttered in a small voice.

“You’re right. It didn’t end with just once.”

“Are you talking like it’s someone else’s problem?”

Marissa shouted again, unable to stand how quickly he backed down. Graham kept his mouth shut and bowed his head.

“This can’t go on.”

Marissa rubbed her forehead and shook her head as she glared at him. She couldn’t keep doing this. She couldn’t keep helping the ever-growing debt of the Lloyd family. She couldn’t keep meeting Daphne, who always cried and clung to her husband.

“Don’t meet Daphne ever again.”

Marissa made her decision and gave her command coldly, but Graham lifted his head and tried to object.

“But Marissa, the situation right now is!”

“Graham!”

Marissa cut him off and stepped in close. Her unblinking stare looked anxious and desperate, making Graham’s eyes widen.

“I feel sorry for the Marquis, too. It hurts my heart. I feel guilty like it’s partly my fault.”

“But this isn’t right. How long are we going to live like this out of guilt? Graham, do you know how much money we’ve already spent? If this keeps going, even the Parden family will be in danger.”

“And do you even know what people are saying out there? Dirty rumors about you and Daphne are spreading getting worse, out of control!”

“That’s not true. Marissa, you know it’s not—”

“True or not, it doesn’t matter anymore!”

Marissa shouted and grabbed Graham by the collar. Then she let out all the feelings she’d been holding in.

“I haven’t said it before… but I’m uncomfortable, too. Even if I trust you, I still don’t like seeing you with Daphne.”

She knew her husband had no other intentions. But even so, she couldn’t stay emotionally unaffected by Daphne always crying and clinging to him. The same went for the rumors in high society. Even knowing they were malicious lies, just hearing them made her nerves snap.

“Even I sometimes see you two and think you look affectionate. That’s why the rumors spread. Do you understand?”

The memories of her husband and Daphne together, ones she thought were forgotten, came rushing back—and it was unbearable. After finishing her words, Marissa broke down and began to cry. Graham, who had been wearing a frustrated expression, was startled by her tears and immediately pulled her into a hug.

“Alright.”

“I won’t see Daphne again. I’ll stop helping the Lloyd family. So please, Marissa…”

Hearing that Marissa saw him and Daphne that way hurt more than anything others had said. Because of that, Graham pushed all thoughts aside and promised to do as his wife asked.

“Please don’t cry. Okay? I’ll do as you say.”

As promised, Graham no longer met with Daphne. Only Marissa saw her from time to time, but not as much as before. As a result, the Lloyd family began to decline quietly and steadily.

“Ian’s birthday is soon. Can’t we go give him a present?”

Walking through the palace corridor, Graham recalled what Aisha had said that morning. Ian and Sophia—those two children were what worried him most about the Lloyd family.

He sighed deeply as he walked. Then he saw a familiar figure coming from the opposite direction. Realizing it was Cliff, Graham hesitated, then decided to avoid him. He still believed Cliff hadn’t forgiven him.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Unexpectedly, Cliff recognized Graham and called out to him. Surprised, Graham looked at him. Cliff crossed his arms and smirked at the frozen Graham, then nodded for him to follow. Graham hesitated, thinking he might get hit again but remembered they were in the royal palace, so he decided to at least defend himself.

“You look good.”

Cliff mocked him once they reached a secluded part of the royal garden. Graham, unable to meet his friend’s eyes, kept his head down—until he noticed Cliff’s hand and froze. At first glance it was hard to tell, but his hand was unnaturally pale and slightly trembling, even though it wasn’t clenched. Something was wrong.

Graham looked up and stared at Cliff. Seeing his face, he knew something was seriously wrong.

“Where’s Daphne? I heard she met your wife yesterday. She didn’t come home last night.”

Still unaware of Graham’s worried gaze, Cliff suddenly asked. Graham, watching the unstable look in his friend’s eyes, answered carefully.

“I don’t know.”

“You expect me to believe that?”

It was the truth, but Cliff sneered. He had completely lost all trust in Graham. Graham thought of insisting again but feared it would only make things worse.

“Forget it. Why bother finding that filthy woman? Disgusting!”

When Graham stayed silent, Cliff spit on the ground and spoke with a twisted grin. Graham’s eyes widened at Cliff’s dirty words about Daphne.

“Cliff, get a grip and watch your mouth.”

“How sweet.”

“I should’ve figured you two out sooner. Damn it.”

“No need to hide it anymore. I don’t care. Whether you roll around with that filthy woman from a low background or not… Oh, wait. Have you already done it in bed?”

“You—!”

Graham shouted as Cliff laughed nastily. Gambling and alcohol may have ruined him, but something even worse was at play.

“Cliff, what the hell are you doing to yourself?!”

Knowing what it probably was, Graham grabbed Cliff by the collar in despair. Up close, Cliff’s dull blue eyes confirmed Graham’s fear.

“Let go of me, you bastard.”

Smack.

Cliff, who had been laughing creepily, suddenly stopped and shoved Graham hard. But his thin, weakened body had no strength. Barely breaking free, he gasped and said,

“Don’t give me that look now. You’ve got no right!”

Graham couldn’t say anything. More than shock or anger, guilt swallowed him whole—guilt that he had let his friend reach this point.

“Those eyes… Tch.”

Cliff spat again, this time with dark red blood mixed in. Seeing the familiar color, Cliff seemed unfazed as he caught his breath and looked slightly away.

“Renée… no, Daphne. I’ll let it go your relationship with my wife. But in return…”

“You need to pay me. Give me as much money as you’ve got.”

“What?”

Even considering Cliff’s condition, it was unbelievable. Graham’s eyes widened in disbelief. Cliff frowned, hurt by Graham’s reaction, then blurted out nonsense as the effects of his addiction surged.

“Why are you so surprised? You sleep with another man’s wife you should pay for that. Honestly, if money solves it, that’s cheap, isn’t it?”

“You bastard!”

Thud.

The first time Graham was too shocked to react. The second time, he didn’t hesitate. He punched Cliff, who fell easily. Graham got on top of him and raised his fist again.

“You’re really… truly hopeless.”

He didn’t pity his friend he felt disgust. His voice was tight with pain, disappointment, and anger. To see his friend ruined by forbidden substances, saying such things… The man under him wasn’t the Cliff he knew. Graham glared at him through falling tears.

“I’m not sorry for you anymore. You’re insane where do you get off saying things like that?”

“If you’re going to keep living like this, just die! Stop hurting others and just die already!”

Cliff flinched at his words, then went blank. After a moment, when Graham seemed to calm slightly, Cliff tilted his head and asked in a chillingly emotionless voice:

“So? Are you going to give me the money?”

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