Ben watched the other man carefully as he spoke. He wasn't sure what the angle really was here, because he didn't believe that this was actually much of an ongoing distraction for the man's family. If it was... well, that was telling, then. Up until Melody had started writing letters to her ex fiancee, his existence wasn't much of a thorn in Ben's side. The circumstances of their elopement, yes — this particular person and what he did or didn't think about Ben and Melody, no. Was this man honestly still so caught up on Melody's elopement that he couldn't move on without closure?

"I'm sorry if you've gotten the impression that we have any ongoing feud," Ben said stiffly. "I don't believe I have ever treated you with animosity as, prior to today, I had never had a conversation with you. Given our difference in social circles, I did not expect to, so holding a grudge would have been difficult."

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