The Bride Who Said No: Escaping the Shadows of Yesterday

Kieran watched the couple who owned the small diner, both well into their fifties, tirelessly working from dawn till dusk without a moment's rest. It suddenly made him think of Freya. Would he and Freya end up like this if they went through with marriage decades down the line?

Just then, the lady behind the counter handed Kieran a bag of sandwiches, her smile warm as she said, "Hope your girlfriend gets better soon!"

Kieran offered a faint smile in return before paying them a generous tip that left the couple speechless. When they stepped out to thank him, Kieran was already in a cab back to the hospital. Freya had just finished her soup in the hospital room.

Kieran turned on the light, noticing the empty soup bowl on the table. He casually placed the bag of sandwiches on the small table.

Seeing the pile of sandwiches, Freya frowned, "All this?"

"I wasn't sure what you'd fancy, so I got a couple of each kind."

Kieran kept himself busy cleaning up the table, moving quickly and efficiently.

Freya, however, mentioned, "You took your time getting back. I'm already full."

Kieran didn't

frown deepened. "You're not

your injury, I'll let it slide." After cleaning up, Kieran settled on a nearby couch and

of Kieran, Freya opened a sandwich and

couch, Kieran casually asked, "When was the last time you

her tone turning

it when your dad

of your concern.

Freya vividly remembered being all alone

Johanna

she

connected to the Dawson family all had their ulterior motives, leaving her feeling like a frightened

set her eyes on Freya as