Chapter 8 

Gralin was relentless. 

He found my office and waited for me every day, 

“Isata, did you have breakfast?” 

“Isata, long day at work? Let me give you a ride.” 

“Isata, I miss you. I can’t live without you. Please, give me another chance.” 

He repeated the same lines every day, never giving up. 

Had he forgotten? 

Just last month, he’d called my father “disgusting” for “hitting” his precious Harlynn. 

Harlynn had shown up early that morning, needing to accompany Gralin to a product 

launch. 

I’d been in the kitchen, preparing breakfast, when I heard a man sobbing. 

It was Dad. 

I rushed into the living room, spatula still in hand. 

Dad was wiping away tears. “Don’t call me ugly!” 

It was almost comical, a grown man crying like a child. 

Harlynn was standing over him, smirking. “You’re ugly! And disgusting!” 

“Harlynn, are you insane? He has the mind of a three–year–old! Leave him alone!” 

She grabbed a carton of milk and poured it over Dad’s head. 

He wailed, and she laughed. “It’s funny! What’s the big deal?” 

14:26 

Fake Wedding, True Pain 

58.59 

Chapter 8 

I snapped. I swung the spatula, hitting her hard. 

She screamed, then sank to the floor, sobbing. “Isata, he did it to himself! Why are you hitting me? It hurts!” 

Gralin walked in. “What’s going on here?” 

“Your secretary poured milk on my father and insulted him! I didn’t do anything until she 

started it!” 

He glared at me. “Shut up, Isata! Harlynn would never do that! If you ever touch her again, you and your father are out of here! Honestly, what a burden! What man would want you?” 

His words had been a punch to the gut. 

Gralin had changed. 

And now, here he was, begging for another chance. 

His attempts at affection were pathetic. 

“Gralin, you disgust me. Just… stay away from me.” 

He never bothered me again. 

14:26