The man turned around, his large hand gripping her chin, as he looked down at her.
"Walter Schmidt..." A surge of joy filled Minnie Sutton's heart as she smiled with her red lips, waiting for the man to speak. However, after a long while, he remained silent.
A moment later, however, he released her chin and then turned to walk forward.
Minnie's face turned pale. Without considering the consequences, she charged forward and hugged the man's waist from behind, crying louder than before.
"Walter, I love you, I really love you!" she cried out, tears soaking a large patch of his shirt at the back, "…She no longer loves you; she's fallen in love with another man. Why won't you give me a chance!? We're about to get married; the one who will spend her life with you is me, Minnie Sutton!... Walter, let me be your woman!..."
Her impassioned words finally provoked a reaction from Walter; his back stiffened, and he curled his lips in a self-mockery smile.
