Break her heart

In the intimate confines of the backyard, Francisco's words hung heavy in the air as he locked his gaze onto Lilith. 

"He told me to marry you," he admitted, his tone devoid of evasion.

Lilith, caught off guard, felt a sudden rush of heat in her cheeks. 

The straightforward revelation left her momentarily speechless, her lips pressed together in a futile attempt to conceal her emotions. The playfulness that had characterized their interaction took a sharp turn into unfamiliar territory.

"Really?"

 Lilith stammered, her voice betraying a mixture of surprise and vulnerability.

Francisco, seemingly indifferent to the weight of his admission, calmly wiped his lips with a tissue. Without hesitation, he uttered a revelation that shattered the delicate facade of their dance. 

"But I said no."

Lilith, eyes widened, stared at him in disbelief. The room, once charged with a subtle tension. 

"What did you mean?"

 Lilith questioned, her voice trembling with a mix of confusion and disbelief.

Francisco, poised and composed, clarified without mincing words. 

"I said no."

The gravity of his words reverberated through the air, leaving Lilith at a loss for words. The unexpected revelation clashed with the expectations she had harbored. Her father's desire, once a secret hope she dared not voice, had been met with an unequivocal rejection from Francisco.

Lilith, eyes welling with tears, couldn't fathom the reasons behind Francisco's refusal. In a desperate attempt to understand, she held onto his hand, seeking an explanation that would unravel the complexities of the moment.

"What?" Lilith arched her brows, still struggling to process the rejection.

"Yes," Francisco affirmed, his gaze steady.

"What do you mean by it, Francisco?"

 Her eyes, now teary, searched his face for answers. The revelation left her grappling with a sea of emotions — confusion, hurt, and an underlying fear that threatened to engulf the fragile bond they had delicately navigated throughout the evening.

"Lilith," Francisco began, his tone steady but offering no immediate clarity. 

"I said no to your father."

As Lilith confronted Francisco with questions, seeking answers to the unexpected rejection, his tone grew stern, a stark departure from the ambiance of their romantic dinner.

"But why?"

 Lilith questioned, rising from her seat to close the distance between them.

"Why, meaning?"

 Francisco countered, his demeanor unyielding.

"Don't you like me, Francisco?" 

Lilith's vulnerability seeped into her words, her eyes searching his for a glimmer of understanding.

"Did I ever tell you I liked you?"

 Francisco's retort hung in the air, leaving Lilith with a bitter realization. The sudden shift in dynamics left her speechless, grappling with an unexpected reality.

Lilith, on the verge of expressing her sentiments, hesitated mid-sentence. The revelation cut deep, and the pain of unrequited feelings lingered in the tense atmosphere.

As Francisco made a move to leave, Lilith, unable to bear the weight of the moment, reached out and held his hand. 

Her voice, now laced with heartbreak, asked, "Am I not worth it? We have known each other since our childhood."

Francisco, in a surprising gesture, touched Lilith's soft cheek, his thumb tracing a gentle path. 

"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 words hung in the air, casting a shadow over the vulnerability that had been exposed. Lilith, her teary eyes revealing a mix of hurt and confusion, asked a question that cut to the core of her insecurities.

 "But why… Am I ugly, not attractive enough, Francisco?"

Francisco's words cut through the tension-laden air, his tone void of any tenderness. "You are beautiful, but you are not my type, and you know I don't like repeating my words," he declared, his detachment evident.

Lilith, grappling with the sting of rejection, tightened her grip on his arm and demanded answers.

"So, Emily, is your taste? You keep Emily as your girlfriend?"

"Does she deserve you, Francisco? Am I not more beautiful than her?"

Francisco, visibly irritated, arched his brows, his patience wearing thin. He freed his arm from Lilith's grasp and continued walking, ignoring her desperate inquiries.

Lilith, pressed to the brink of despair, pressed her lips together, realizing that her carefully laid plans had crumbled in an instant. The romantic evening had transformed into a battleground of emotions.

In a moment of anguish, Lilith closed her eyes and shouted, "My papa did a lot for you. Are you paying him in this way?"

The words hung in the air, a desperate plea for understanding and acknowledgment of the sacrifices her father had made. Francisco, halting in his tracks, turned back to face Lilith. His response, finally breaking the silence, was laced with determination.

 "I will repay him, but I won't allow any third person between us. And I am not obligated to answer you anything."

With that declaration, Francisco turned away and left the backyard, leaving Lilith on her knees, tears streaming down her face.

The mansion, once a stage for seduction and grandeur, now bore witness to the aftermath of shattered emotions. Lilith, tears staining her cheeks.

Opening Victor's door, she rushed into the room and clung to him, seeking refuge from the unrelenting pain.

Victor, recognizing the depth of his daughter's sorrow, embraced her tightly. As Lilith wept, she poured out her heart, questioning the unrequited love that seemed to pierce her very soul.

"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 breath heavy with a sense of helplessness, gently patted Lilith's back and offered consoling words. 

"Darling, maybe there is someone who can truly be for you."

"If you guys get together, you will not handle him."

"He is a fire, he will burn you with his flame."

 "You only get hurt by him. So whatever happens, it's good for you, dear."

Lilith pressed her lips as she clung to her father, absorbing the bittersweet truth. 

Victor's wisdom, though painful, sought to shield his daughter from a potentially tumultuous future. 

Lilith, soft-hearted and naive, found comfort in the embrace of her father, grappling with the reality of Francisco's rejection.

On the other hand, within the confines of the car, Francisco stared out through the window, his expression devoid of emotion. He had broken the heart of his childhood friend, a friend who had harbored unspoken feelings for him. Yet, Francisco appeared untouched by regret or sadness, his emotions veiled in a stoic facade.