Re:life with Karmic Gacha (Modern Family)-Chapter 384: Late Night Talk.

[Edward POV]

"You actually made it," I said, turning to Haley, who tilted her chin up smugly as I scrolled through the pictures on her phone of the finished wedding dress and the bridesmaids’ gowns.

"Hmm~ It was really tough. I might have to charge more," Haley joked.

But I nodded seriously and said, "Okay." Pulling out my phone, I commanded, "Oracle. Transfer twice the agreed tailor fee to Haley."

Everyone was mingling and enjoying dinner together. The rehearsal was in full swing, and to be honest, I didn’t have much to do. Phil, Pepper and Renaldo were handling everything.

The bride and groom gave thanks to everyone who helped with the wedding, the best man and maid of honor gave speeches, and the wedding planner walked everyone through tomorrow’s ceremony to make sure it would go smoothly.

"Wait—Edward! I was joking—"

*Ding.*

Haley froze at the sound. Her eyes widened as she stared at her phone.

"Ten thousand?! You sent me ten thousand?!" she cried, disbelief written all over her face.

"Hmm? Only ten?" I tilted my head and leaned in to peek at her screen.

"Haley... that’s a hundred," I pointed out gently.

She went rigid again before snapping, "WHAT?!"

"Why are you so surprised? That’s the average rate for a prominent fashion designer in Hollywood. Some even charge more," I said nonchalantly, as though her outrage was baffling.

"You—" Haley inhaled sharply, then sighed in resignation. "I can’t give this back, can I?"

I grinned. "Nope."

At the table next to us, my grandparents, Jay and Gloria, were enjoying their meals. free𝑤ebnovel.com

"The beef here is immaculate. Better than wagyu," Jay remarked as he sliced his steak. He didn’t care at all about the wedding. But he was enjoying his time in Wisconsin so much he wanted to extend his holidays here.

"That’s from Edward’s cow. His new breed," Grandpa added proudly. "We slaughtered one this week."

Grandma Jules was watching Haley and me thoughtfully. Gloria leaned in and whispered, "Ay. It’s a shame they couldn’t make it work, huh?"

"It is. Haley’s such a nice kid," Grandpa Jules said with a sigh. "But now that Edward’s grown a bit, maybe it’s for the best."

Gloria looked confused, her face fell, "¿Qué?"

"No, I mean height-wise," Grandma Jules clarified. "They don’t look that great standing next to each other anymore. Edward needs to be with someone taller."

Vanessa, walking by just then, overheard the comment. Her face stiffened. She was the same height as Haley.

At my table, Taylor, Abby, Haley, Jenna, Enid, Vanessa, Selena, and Tara were seated around me, giggling at every joke I cracked.

Jacob and Finneas watched from a distance.

Finneas muttered, "Some people die of thirst while others drown."

"You’re the only one who’s thirsty. I get plenty every day," Jacob smirked as Elsa approached, carrying her plate. Jacob reached for a bite, and Elsa slapped his hand away.

"Go get it yourself!" she scolded.

The rehearsal ended without a hitch. Later, Haley, Frankie, and most of the girls returned to my cabin so Haley could have Frankie try on the dress again in case last-minute adjustments were needed.

Max and Caroline approached me, looking sheepish.

"Edward. I have to confess something," Max said, taking a seat beside me.

"Hmm? Are you the one who shot the dress?" I asked incredulously.

"What—NO!" Max said quickly. "It’s about something else."

"The cake," Caroline said meekly.

"What about it? You’re baking it tomorrow, right?" I asked, puzzled. "Can’t you not make it in time?"

Max chuckled nervously. "It’s not about the time."

"We’re out of ingredients," Caroline finished.

"What?! How?" I asked in shock. "I’ve prepared enough to make it to the wedding."

"Yeah, but you didn’t account for your grandma and Max’s continuous giving tendencies. They even gave gift baskets to all the ranches nearby, and also every friend of your grandparents." Caroline tattled.

Max shook her head, shirking responsibility, "NO! It’s not me! It’s your grandma. Definitely your grandma. I was just helping her."

I sighed and glanced at my unapologetic grandmother. I guessed it’s my own fault. I didn’t tell her about the flour.

"I’ll arrange for someone to fly the flour to the ranch tonight." I said to Max.

"We still have to go to the store and get more ingredients. Fruits, eggs, baking powder, condoms." Max added.

"Condoms? Why do you need... that!?" Caroline rebuked Max.

Max waved at a farmer’s son at the rehearsal and said, "You’re right. I should do it raw with him."

"No–" Caroline was baffled.

"Alright. Let’s go," I agreed, interjecting the conversation. "I’ll help you with the cake too.

"Is it help, or is it supervision?" Max grinned.

"Both. And you’re not going to jump on that farmer’s son. He’s already married."

"Aww shucks!"

Caroline breathed in relief. The road was dark, and the nearest store was a 90-minute drive. They were relieved not to go alone.

As we walked to the car, I passed Claire, Mitch and Cam while having a conversation with Max, "Now that we’re going, should we do cream pie too? It’s been a while since you tasted mine."

"I LOVE your cream pie," Max grinned. "Caroline, you have to try it at least once. I love digging in with my finger while it’s still warm."

"I would love to taste his cream pie. We should share it," Caroline added.

Claire, Cam, and Mitch gasped audibly.

I glanced back, confused, and saw their scandalized expressions. I shrugged and headed to the car.

[Claire’s commentary:]

"So it’s an actual cream-filled pie... My heart almost dropped there for a second. ...Maybe it did."

[Cam and Mitch:]

Cam said, "Can they use more vague words?"

Mitch, squinting, replied, "How else would he describe it? It’s literally the dessert’s name. The innuendo part is society’s fault."

Cam thought about it and then nodded.

...

[General POV]

After Edward left the ranch, Aunt Camila quietly slipped away from the rehearsal venue, a dark glint in her eyes. She clutched the paintball gun tightly, wiping down the fingerprints before tossing it into the depths of a nearby ravine.

"Sorry, Edward. I can’t let you find this," she whispered to herself.

But she was not alone. There was a witness around who saw what she did.

Hidden in the shadows, a black-furred puma watched her every move. A moon-shaped white mark glowed faintly on her forehead. Silently, with feline grace, Ace padded down into the ravine, picked up the discarded gun in her jaws, and trotted off toward the ranch.

Beside her, a tiny ball of fluff with stubby legs—Vader—scampered after her, playfully nudging at Ace’s side as if asking, "Whatcha got there?"

Ace snorted, clearly unimpressed, but didn’t push Vader away.

...

Inside the cabin, the atmosphere was full of giggles and warmth.

Frankie stood in front of the mirror, glowing in the light as she wore the shoulderless wedding gown. Pearls decorated the neckline, and the hourglass silhouette showed off her elegant figure with breathtaking grace.

"Aww, Frankie, you look so pretty!" Claire said, eyes misting as she admired her.

Desire gave a playful grin. "Honestly? Your boobs are way bigger than I thought. Why do you always hide them?"

"Sometimes she lets them out," Claire teased. "Especially when she’s with her fiancé."

Frankie ran her fingers down the fabric, smiling softly. "I feel weird. This looks nice... but am I too old to wear something like this?"

The girls all shook their heads in unison.

"Not at all, Frankie. You look stunning," Haley said with absolute sincerity.

"Yeah," Sal chimed in. "Once Ted sees it, he’ll wanna rip it off and have his way with you on the altar."

Everyone turned and stared at her.

"What?" Sal shrugged. "It happened to me once. In Vegas."

Claire placed a gentle hand on Frankie’s shoulder, pride gleaming in her eyes. "It’s time for you to finally be happy."

Frankie’s smile twitched... then wavered.

Claire turned to wipe her tears, but behind her, Frankie’s breathing hitched. Her face paled. She clutched her stomach, gasping.

"Frankie?!" Jenna gasped, immediately rushing forward.

"Is it the dress?" Enid asked, eyes wide with concern.

"I—can’t... breathe..." Frankie collapsed to her knees, trembling.

"It’s the dress!" Haley realized, panic in her voice. "It’s too tight—get it off her!"

Without a second thought, Haley ripped scissors from her kit and began cutting through the seams. Pearls scattered onto the floor as the fabric tore open. Only when the bodice loosened did Frankie begin to gasp in full breaths again.

...

Moments later, Ted arrived at the cabin, his face pale with worry. "What happened?!"

Claire looked up from where she had just covered Frankie with a blanket. "She spiked a fever. We’re calling 911 now."

"Wait—call Anna first," Ted said quickly, remembering she had a medical license.

Sage, begrudgingly summoned, stepped in moments later and checked on Frankie.

"She’s fine. No hospital needed," she said coolly.

Frankie’s hands trembled. "What about the baby?"

Sage softened. "She’s okay too. Just rest. That’s what both of you need."

She handed over some medicine and promptly kicked everyone out of the room, barring them from bothering Frankie any further.

...

[Edward POV]

"Should we get some melon?" I asked, pushing the cart through the fruit section.

Max squinted. "Only the ones bigger than mine."

"Guess we’re going home empty-handed then," I teased, putting the melon back.

My phone buzzed. Jin was calling.

I listened silently, sighing. "I’ll be back soon."

"What’s wrong?" Max asked, seeing my face darken.

"Frankie’s sick. Dress is ruined. Haley’s crying. I need to get back. Now."

We didn’t waste another second. We paid, packed, and raced home.

Jin waited by the driveway.

As I handed him the groceries, something shifted in the corner of my eye. I turned—Ace walked toward me in the moonlight, the discarded gun in her mouth as I held my hand to pick it up.

On top of her back, Vader looked exhausted, her paws hanging lazily on either side of Ace’s spine.

"You can’t keep chasing Ace, Vader. You’ve got the legs of a corgi," I said, plucking the gun from Ace’s jaws. Vader meowed in protest.

"Who threw this away?" I asked her. The panther gave a grumble.

I pressed my hand against the crescent moon on her forehead, and in a flash, her memories poured into mine. I saw it. A blurry vision of my aunt hurling the gun into the ravine.

The crescent moon—my beast mark—glowed faintly. Ace had been transformed into a magical guardian, my shield for the entire ranch. She would never let anyone hurt my grandparents or my assets here.

"Good girl," I said, patting her head. "I’ll get you a fat cow bone later tonight."

"Meow?!" Vader piped up indignantly, as if asking, ’What about me?!’

"You didn’t do anything!" I said mockingly.

The kitten stared at me in betrayal, then pouted and ran off. Ace sighed and trailed after her.

I would deal with Vader later. Right now, Frankie needed me more.

*Knock knock knock.*

"Come in," Sage called out.

Inside, Dad sat beside Frankie, his face etched with worry. She was propped up on three pillows, looking pale but conscious.

I gave them both a soft smile. "Sage, Dad... Can I talk to Frankie alone for a minute?"

Dad blinked. "What?"

Frankie reached for his hand, squeezing gently. "Ted... I think he wants to talk privately."

Hesitating, Dad nodded and stood. Sage was already leaving, but I caught her wrist.

"Don’t sleep yet. I might need you."

Sage rolled her eyes but stayed close by.

Once they left, I took Dad’s seat beside Frankie. Her gaze met mine instantly.

"So, you figured it out, huh?" she asked, voice small.

I nodded. "Yeah. The one who shot the wedding dress... was you."

She didn’t deny it. Her eyes welled, but her face remained calm. "When did you know?"

"This morning. Jackie’s painting. But I ruled her out. Your dad wouldn’t do something that messy either. That only left you."

The family had a strict rule. Jackie was taught from her early age that she shouldn’t go out alone. The reason Jackie could see the stain on the wedding dress was because she was following Frankie that night.

Frankie snuck out of her cabin after she thought everyone was asleep. And then, she shot the wedding dress through the window to ruin it.

The silence stretched between us.

"Aren’t you going to ask me why?" she whispered.

I shrugged. "I get it. Marrying a dork like my dad can’t be easy."

"It’s not—Ted wasn’t the reason!" Frankie protested, voice cracking.

"So, he’s not the reason you’re trying to sabotage this wedding? So is it me?"

Frankie widened her eyes and immediately said, "No! It’s not you. It’s me!"

I chuckled softly. "I know you love him. But if something’s weighing on you... you can postpone the wedding, Frankie."

She lowered her gaze. I took her hand in mine.

"Do you want to marry my dad?" I asked gently.

She nodded.

"Then why are you hesitant?" I asked again, eyes steady.

Frankie hesitated. Her mouth trembled. I said nothing. I just waited.

"...Alana," she finally whispered. Her sister’s name.

Her hands clenched the blanket. "My family’s... quirky."

I almost laughed, but bit it back. ’Bat-shit crazy’ would’ve been more accurate.

"Alana was the best of us. Kind, smart, balanced. She turned her quirks into strength. She was engaged. She had everything going for her..."

Frankie’s voice began to crack. "She asked me to be her maid of honor. I didn’t reply. I was mad at my parents and ignored all her calls."

Her breath hitched.

"She drove three hours to see me. To talk to me face-to-face... to convince me..."

Her voice grew thin. "She never made it. She got into an accident..."

Tears poured down her cheeks.

"I killed her, Edward," she whispered. "I ignored her calls. When she needed me most."

At the time of the crash, Alana had been calling Frankie. And ever since, Frankie had wondered—what if she had picked up? What if it was a call for help? What if she could have saved her?

After the accident, Frankie started pulling away from everyone. And it never really stopped.

I reached over and pulled her into a hug. She shook in my arms, unraveling under the weight of years of guilt.

"You didn’t kill her, Frankie," I murmured. "You’re not responsible for what happened."

But the words couldn’t pierce the shell. She sobbed harder, her body trembling, as if years of buried pain had finally found the cracks and were spilling out uncontrollably.

All of it—the wedding dress sabotage, the panic attacks, the quiet hesitations—stemmed from this one moment in her past.

I held her tighter, refusing to let go. Not until her sobs began to soften and her breath returned to something steady.

Frankie gave a broken chuckle, wiping her tears with a tissue. "That must’ve looked pathetic. A grown woman crying like a baby."

"No," I said quickly. "Not at all." Then, more firmly: "Frankie, you can’t keep punishing yourself for being alive."

She let out a breath, heavy with exhaustion. "I know, Edward. Logically, I know I’m not to blame. But... I can’t escape it. Maybe... maybe the aisle just isn’t for me. Ted and I can still get married. Quietly. At the courthouse. No dress. No ceremony. No stage."

"It just... hurts too much."

I nodded slowly. "You’re right. The guilt won’t vanish. You’ll always carry it in some form. Because you never got to say goodbye. You never got to apologize or hear her forgive you."

Frankie nodded, her voice hollow. "Yeah. It always creeps in whenever I’m close to being happy."

Then, attempting to make light, she gave a tired smile. "Got a fix for that, genius? I’m open to suggestions."

"Actually... I might."

She blinked. "What?"

"I said, I might have one."

Frankie raised an eyebrow, skepticism rising. "If you’re about to hypnotize me or pull some mentalist crap, I swear—"

"No. Fair that you thought of that, though." I stood from the chair abruptly.

"Frankie, be honest with me. Do you think there’s something... strange about me?"

Frankie tilted her head, confused. "A lot of times, yeah."

"Well," I shrugged. "That’s because I have a gift."

"Edward, if you tell me you see dead people, I swear I’m walking out of this room."

I smirked. "Not quite. But I do have a very unusual ability."

Even admitting that felt weird—like stepping off a ledge into the unknown.

"Okay..." Frankie said slowly, "So what is it?"

"I can help you talk to your sister again."

A clap of thunder cracked outside. I turned toward the window, blinking. "Is it gonna rain? That wasn’t in the forecast..."

Frankie just stared at me, frozen. "Edward... what are you saying?"

She fell silent as a glowing magic circle shimmered in the air above my palm.

"Hologram?" she asked weakly, grasping for logic.

"Not exactly." I held her gaze. "Frankie, I won’t go into how this works. It’ll mess with your brain. But I can give you a chance to talk to Alana. Just once. In a dream."

Frankie looked dazed. Her mind was trying to protect itself from the implications, but hope flickered in her eyes.

"I... I can see her?" she whispered.

"Only once. It takes a lot out of me, and it breaks some... laws..."

Frankie’s lips trembled. I noticed it and smiled, "You can ask. It’s your wedding day. The bride can be a little selfish."

Frankie sobbed, "Can Jackie see her too? She misses her more than me."

"She can," I said softly. "But that’s the limit. One chance."

Frankie stared at me, speechless for a long moment. Then, quietly, "You’re trusting me with something huge, aren’t you?"

"Yeah. It’s kind of freaking me out, to be honest."

She smiled, tears glimmering again. I smiled and said, "You’re family now. Even if you don’t marry my dad, you’re already family to me."

Frankie’s chest tightened. "Same here."

Frankie’s expression shifted—calmer, more resolved. "I’ll owe you forever, Edward."

I nodded. "Just lie down. You need to be asleep for this to work."

She nodded and rested her head on the pillows. Five minutes passed. Then she sat up again, wide-eyed. "Okay, I think I’m too excited to sleep."

I sighed and activated my Sharingan. I couldn’t waste anymore time. "Sorry," I said, and put her to sleep instantly.

Once she was under, I pressed the spirit sigil on her forehead.

"Ed!" my dad called as I left the room.

"She’s asleep. Go stay with her," I said.

He nodded and slipped inside. My body felt hot, like fire running beneath my skin. I sprinted to Jackie’s room next and placed a second mark.

The sky had turned overcast. The temperature dropped.

Sage appeared in the hallway, her arms crossed. "What the hell are you doing, Edward?"

I winced. "Trying to help my family."

"You idiot," she muttered. "But fine. A noble one. The backlash will be bad. Two marks at once? I’ll help stabilize you."

"Thanks," I said gratefully. "Don’t bring me back to my room though—the girls are still there. Take me to yours."

The night passed in silence. No one knew that in the dream world, the three sisters were finally reunited.

As I lay on the bed in Sage’s room, breathing shallowly, she murmured lazily, "Think there’s still gonna be a wedding tomorrow?"

I chuckled, weakly. "Depends on how the conversation with Alana goes. If she’s still mad, it’s game over."

I didn’t sleep. I couldn’t. The backlash burned through me all night like coals under the skin.

But I didn’t regret it.

As the rooster crowed and the first light of dawn filtered through the blinds, the spell’s weight lifted. The reunion was over. And the verdict?

"Alana said I’m an idiot." Frankie said as I visited her. "She never blamed me." She said with teary eyes.

I smiled and asked, "So?"

"The wedding’s back on." Frankie said after thinking about it for a while. Claire, Desiree, and the other girls who were waiting outside the room celebrated, cheering and clapping loudly, which startled Frankie.

Follow current novℯls on f(r)eewebnov𝒆l