Watching Stephen Collins storm back to his room with his phone in hand, I looked down and touched my stomach, feeling a chill of dread.
Paranoid?
I wish I had been paranoid earlier and noticed something was off, so I could have left in time. Now, with the baby nine months along and about to be born, I start to regret it.
In the past, he was so obedient and doting that I trusted him completely. I became foolish and slow, ignoring all the signs.
Who is this woman?
A week ago, Stephen suddenly claimed my belly was too big and started sleeping in the guest room.
When I first got pregnant, he treated me like I was made of glass. No matter how busy he was with work, he always came home on time.
He cooked for me, customized a pregnancy diet, and took care of me like a queen.
He even washed my feet and trimmed my nails before bed, holding me gently through the night.
Once, when he caught a cold, he wore a mask just to stay by my side, refusing to leave me alone in a room.
Such a sudden change, no matter how much I trusted him or how slow I was, I couldn't help but notice.
He couldn't keep up the act any longer, could he?
That night, I stayed up until 3 a.m. and used the spare key to open the guest room door.
Stephen was sound asleep, and I found his phone.
Out of trust, we never touched each other's phones. But Stephen used to never guard against me—bank card passwords, phone passwords, they were all my birthday.
I took the phone to the living room and entered my birthday. It was incorrect, but I wasn't surprised.
Unlocking a phone is no big deal for me. After living for five hundred years, you have to learn something to pass the time. Although I'm a bit lazy, I'm proficient in at least a hundred trades.
I stared at his chat history with his mistress, and my heart shattered completely.
"I've been with her for almost ten years, and I'm tired of it."
"Since she got pregnant, she's let herself go. It's hard to even talk to her."
"Lily, after she gives birth, I'll divorce her."
"Of course, it's you, especially you in bed. I love it."
…
His words were like knives, each one cutting deeper.
Not only did he betray me, but he also wanted to take my child.
From Stephen's phone to his laptop, I uncovered almost everything.
His affair was with the company's CFO, Lily Wood.
Lily was Stephen's college classmate, and I personally hired her.
Not only is she beautiful, but she also has impressive qualifications and high emotional intelligence. As an employer, who wouldn't like an employee like that?
I never thought I was bringing a wolf into the fold.
Moreover, she was in charge of the company's finances, and her interactions with Stephen at the office were minimal. Who would have thought they would become entangled?
However, the truth was even more disgusting than I imagined.
Lily had liked Stephen since college, but at that time, Stephen was pursuing me, and she was heartlessly rejected.
After Stephen and I got married, Lily slowly started to reconnect with him.
At first, Lily was the one making the moves, and Stephen treated her coldly. It wasn't until Lily joined our company and used work as an excuse to frequently approach Stephen that he began to take the bait.
One day, Stephen took Lily to a villa he had secretly purchased.
I recalled that day clearly. Stephen had proposed a high-level meeting to buy land for real estate development, and I, along with others, voted against it.
He was very upset, but I had explained my reasons clearly and even booked a restaurant to apologize over dinner.
We had agreed before marriage that work conflicts should never spill into our personal lives.
However, he texted me saying it was okay and that he understood, yet he turned to another woman for comfort.
So, it turns out he didn't just start seeing someone recently; he had already found someone before I got pregnant, back when I still believed he loved me deeply.
He played the part of the perfect lover, the perfect husband, while secretly getting involved with another woman.
If he hadn't grown completely tired of me recently, I probably would never have found out, right?
Why didn't he just keep pretending? Why?
Besides that, he and Lily were planning to oust me, take over my company, and leave me with nothing after the divorce.
What a traitor lying next to me!
I always thought I knew Stephen well, but now it seems I never really knew him at all.
He could spend three years pursuing me, risk his life to save me, yet choose to betray me over a minor disagreement.
Even after living for five hundred years, men remain a mystery to me.
I stared at the ceiling illuminated by the moonlight, sleepless all night, my tears soaking the pillow.
The little one in my belly seemed to protest too, kicking and punching me.
I'm sorry, baby. Let me be willful for one night. Tomorrow, I promise I won't cry anymore.
The next day, I stood in front of the mirror, looking at a face that should have remained youthful but had become sallow and haggard due to pregnancy.
Having not worn makeup for a long time, I applied a simple light makeup before heading out.
When I arrived at the company, Stephen was in a meeting, so I went directly to his office and instructed the secretary not to notify him, to avoid disturbing the meeting.
This company was originally mine, and being Stephen's wife, no one suspected me of anything.
I easily logged into Stephen's computer and reviewed all the company's confidential documents.
Even after seeing everything, I was still shocked.
If this company was my only asset, I would probably be furious enough to vomit blood right now.
Recently, Stephen had coaxed me into signing many documents. Due to trust and severe pregnancy symptoms, I didn't bother to read them carefully.
Now, Stephen is the legal representative of the company, and all my shares have been transferred to him.
What's more terrifying is that he opened several shell companies in my name and incurred significant debts, with the creditors all being someone named Easton.
This person is most likely associated with Lily. Once we divorce, all the assets I receive will be used to pay off the debts.
Stephen, you are truly ruthless!
Back then, Stephen was just a poor college student. If I hadn't funded our startup, he would have been just another ordinary worker by now.
As I was thinking, Stephen hurriedly pushed open the office door.
"What are you doing here?"
"Can't I be here?"
Stephen's eyes fell on the computer screen.
"You touched my computer?"
"Yes, I suddenly wanted to check the company's recent status, but it seems you've changed the password?"
Stephen helped me up from the chair. "You're about to give birth. Stop causing trouble, okay?"
I gazed at him seriously. At that moment, I realized how unfamiliar he had become. This was not the Stephen I knew.
Where did the old Stephen go? I desperately wanted to find him again.
"Honey, do you have some misunderstanding?" I said, wrapping my arms around his waist and speaking in a coquettish tone. "I actually came today to transfer the company and all my shares to you."
Stephen's furrowed brows relaxed, and he looked at me incredulously. "What did you say?"
"When we started this venture capital company, it was to help you start your own business. Now that you can handle things on your own, I can step down gracefully."
"Have you forgotten what I was like before we met? I just want to relax and enjoy life.
After the baby is born, I'll focus on raising the child and become a beautiful full-time
housewife. How does that sound?"
Everything I said was true. When we started this company, it was to help Stephen grow and achieve his dreams.
Money is not an issue for me.
Stephen stared at me for a long time before tightly embracing me.
"Honey, are you really willing to do this?"
"Of course, these things have never been important to me. You are what matters most."
"Honey, let's have another meeting later and I'll officially announce this to the entire company, okay?"
"Sure, I'll arrange it."
Stephen looked very moved, even with tears in his eyes.
I didn't realize how important the company was to him.
"Honey, I've been so busy with work lately that I've been neglecting you. I promise I'll make it up to you."
Getting everything aboveboard is much better than using dirty tricks. Stephen is just that hypocritical; now he can cover up all his past misdeeds without facing any risks.
At that moment, someone knocked on the door—it was Lily.
When I turned to look at her, I saw the hidden jealousy in her eyes.
"Miss Lewis, you're here too? I have some matters to discuss with Mr. Collins. Could you let me borrow him for a few minutes?"
I still held onto Stephen, not letting go, and said calmly, "You should call me Mrs. Collins. I definitely can't lend you my husband, but you can talk about whatever you need to now."
I turned to Stephen, "Honey, is there something I shouldn't hear?"
Stephen affectionately rubbed my head. "Don't overthink it. There's nothing in the company that you can't know about."
Lily's smile stiffened as she placed a document on the table. "This is last month's financial report. Please take a look."
"I'll review it later. You can leave now!" Stephen dismissed her coldly, his expression flawless.
At that moment, I deeply realized how adept he was at deceiving me.
This was no longer the boy I once knew; he had become a man with a strong heart and great ambition.
Lily was taken aback but tried to maintain her smile. "Then I won't disturb you and Mrs. Collins."
As Lily turned to leave, I called out, "Wait a moment."
I smiled at Stephen, "Honey, I'm still the general manager, right?"
Stephen nodded, "Of course."
"Before I resign, I want to fire her." I pointed at Lily.
She immediately looked at me in disbelief and demanded, "Fire me? On what grounds?"
I took out a USB drive. "This contains evidence of your embezzlement.
If I hadn't discovered it and you hadn't returned the funds, I would have reported you to the police already.
Considering you're my husband's college friend, I've given you the greatest leniency by not reporting it."
Stephen quickly took the USB drive from my hand, unable to hide his fear. "Honey, what's on this…"
Lily's arrogance completely vanished, replaced by anxiety and fear as she looked at Stephen.
"Evidence enough to send her to jail. Fire her!"
After seeing the contents, Stephen was even more shocked. He couldn't figure out how I got the evidence. They thought they had covered their tracks perfectly, but he had no choice but to fire Lily.
Later, Stephen asked me how I found the evidence. I told him I had suspected Lily for a while and had someone secretly investigate the finance department's computer.
Stephen didn't doubt it because the embezzlement was solely Lily's doing. Without a deeper investigation, it wouldn't lead back to him.
But the truth is, with the evidence from Stephen's phone and computer, I could easily send both of them to jail.
However, that wouldn't make Stephen feel even a fraction of my pain.
Sure enough, that night Stephen planned to go out, undoubtedly to console Lily.
Just before he left, I pretended to fall in the bathroom, calling out to him from the floor.
Stephen panicked as soon as he saw me. He still wanted this baby, I knew that.
He rushed me to the hospital. When the doctor asked about my symptoms, I purposely said my belly hurt badly and showed the bloodstains I had prepared on my underwear.
After various tests, the doctor couldn't find the cause of the bleeding, and the fetal heartbeat was stable.
But Stephen, worried since the baby was due soon, applied for an early hospital stay for delivery.
Throughout the night, Stephen's phone kept ringing, but he didn't answer any calls because I kept him occupied. Finally, he impatiently hung up on Lily.
For the next week, Stephen stayed mostly at the hospital with me, handling company matters remotely.
During this time, I almost started to believe that the old Stephen had returned.
But reason told me his change was solely for the sake of the baby and my transfer of the company to him, a slight return of his conscience.
One afternoon, Stephen took a call and returned to the company.
Shortly after he left, Lily showed up, as I had expected.
If my guess was right, Stephen had decided to break things off with her, pushing Lily to her limit.
"Amanda Lewis, Stephen truly loves me."
Is this the moment of truth?
I pretended to be confused, "What are you talking about?"
Lily looked arrogant.
"You foolish woman, you still don't know, do you? I've been with Stephen for a long time. Every night, he sneaks out to see me."
"He's been tired of you for a long time. He's only being nice to you now because of the baby in your belly. If it weren't for the baby, he would have divorced you immediately."
However, my face showed none of the sadness, collapse, or sorrow she expected. I simply looked at her calmly, "Are you done? If you are, please leave. I don't believe a word you say."
Lily, probably stunned by what she perceived as my stupidity, took out her phone and sent me pictures of them in bed together.
"The evidence is on your phone. You can see for yourself."
I didn't look and firmly told her with a smile, "I trust my husband."
Lily was utterly shocked, as if her punch, thrown with all her might, had landed on soft cotton.
This was exactly the effect I wanted!
Why should I let her gloat?
Lily, driven mad with rage, lunged at me and fiercely grabbed my throat.
In the ensuing struggle, Lily viciously kicked me in the stomach. The intense pain shot through me.
At that moment, Stephen burst through the door and violently shoved Lily to the ground.
Stephen anxiously checked on me, and despite the pain subsiding, I clutched my stomach and told him, "Honey, she kicked my stomach. She wants to kill our baby."
Lily was completely stunned. The next second, she clung to Stephen's leg. "Stephen, she insulted me first. I just lost control of my emotions."
Stephen kicked her away fiercely, "You crazy woman!"
Lily cried hysterically.
"Stephen, I did all this for you. How can you just throw me away like this?"
"I love you, Stephen. Please don't leave me."
After comforting me, Stephen dragged Lily out.
I picked up my phone and closed the call page with Stephen. I had called him when Lily entered and placed the phone facedown on the table, so he heard every word of her provocation clearly.
Half an hour later, Stephen returned looking disheveled, with three bleeding scratches on his face.
I handed him the phone with the pictures Lily had sent me, "Honey, is what she said true?"
Stephen, with red eyes, squatted at my feet, "Honey, she has been pestering me all this time. I swear, you've always been the one I love most."
I looked at him in disappointment, "You slept with her? Why?"
Stephen said, "It was only once. I was drunk, and then she kept pestering me. Honey, can you forgive me?"
I couldn't believe that even now, Stephen was still lying to me.
The boy I loved for ten years turned out to be this kind of person.
"Stephen, haven't I treated you well?"
"Honey, I'm really sorry. I know I was wrong. I'll make it up to you in the future. Can you forgive me?"
In my original plan, I was supposed to continue pretending to forgive him generously, but I just couldn't do it anymore.
Looking at this man, the memories of the past stabbed my heart like a knife.
It was so painful, so unbearable.
"Stephen, can you leave? I don't want to see you right now."
"Honey, don't be like this!" Stephen knelt on the ground, holding my hand and crying.
"It's my fault. Don't hurt the baby because of me."
"Dirty!" I pried his hand off, "Stephen, you are so dirty."
He looked at me in pain, "Honey, I'm sorry."
Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain in my stomach, and my pants were soaked with a clear fluid. "It hurts."
When Stephen realized something was wrong, he turned pale and immediately scrambled to find a doctor.
The intense contractions and overwhelming fear made me lose consciousness.
As I was being pushed into the operating room, Stephen shouted to the doctor,
"Doctor, in any situation, save the mother, save the mother!"
But Stephen's words didn't move me at all. If he truly loved me, why did he betray me?
Just before the anesthesia took effect, I grabbed the doctor's hand, "Remember, save the baby. I don't matter."
The doctor reassured me, "Don't worry, both you and the baby will be fine."
But the reality was, neither I nor the baby survived.
"Amniotic fluid embolism, both the baby and the mother are gone. I'm sorry for your loss."
Stephen knelt on the ground, his head hanging low, tears dripping onto the floor. Then
he started to cry hysterically, banging his head against the white wall until it was stained with blood.
The doctors and nurses quickly rushed to restrain him, eventually giving him a sedative to calm him down.
My soul floated outside, watching his pain, but it no longer moved me.
Because my baby was dead.
My soul followed my body to the morgue.
He looked so much like Stephen—the eyes, the nose, exactly the same.
Why didn't he look like me?
I could still live, but he could only sleep forever.
I failed to protect you, my baby.
Before being cremated, my body had already healed, and I returned to it, coming back to life.
The doctor I had contacted in advance came, and he looked at me helplessly. "I'm sorry, I couldn't save your child."
My original plan was for the baby and me to fake our deaths together, but fate had other plans.
With his help, I left the hospital.
The doctor handed the ashes to Stephen, "These are your wife and child's ashes."
Stephen, looking ten years older, clutched the urn and wept bitterly.
He always craved power and money, didn't he? Now that he had it all, I wondered if he could live a contented and guilt-free life.
As for Lily, she was hit by a car and killed the next day. The news called it a traffic accident, but I suspected it was too coincidental and probably had something to do with Stephen.
Afterward, I flew to England and started a new life with a new identity.
I no longer cared about Stephen and Lily's fate and didn't seek further revenge. I just wanted to let go of all the love and hate and start over, not wanting to waste another thought on them.
After all, their lives were only a century at most, while I was immortal. How could I continue to let such trivial emotions affect my long life?
Besides, I had billions waiting for me to spend!
Unconsciously, thirty years passed.
Out of boredom, I applied to be an art teacher at a top university. Painting was not only interesting but also a great way to pass the time—an entire day could go by in the blink of an eye.
After finishing an art class today, I was about to leave with a plaster head when a male student ran over, "Miss Lewis, do you have a boyfriend?"
It wasn't the first time a student had hit on me, but rarely so directly.
I looked up and was struck by his handsome and slightly heroic face.
I've seen many handsome men, but this was the first time someone perfectly matched my aesthetic. Even Stephen had never made me feel this way.
I hesitated for a moment, then snapped back to reality. "What's your name?"
With a touch of arrogance, he replied, "My name is Eric."
Even so, I still rejected him, "I don't like younger guys."
There probably wasn't anyone older than me in this world.
Eric, undeterred, chased after me, showing no embarrassment from the rejection and instead laughing boldly.
"I'm more mature than you think. I will definitely win you over."
"…" So confident!
After that, Eric appeared in every class I taught. Whether it was drawing plaster, apples, or vases, he always painted me on his canvas.
He followed me around like a shadow, appearing everywhere I went.
One day, I was sitting outside a café, petting the owner's kitten and lighting a cigarette, lost in thought as I watched the sunset.
Eric's unruly face appeared before me again. "Arielle, we meet again."
I glared at him, "Call me 'teacher,' show some respect."
"I won't. I'm about to graduate, so don't think of me as your student." Eric's expression turned serious. "I checked, and you're only twenty-five, just a few months older than me. Plus, I'm mentally mature—older than you in spirit."
"Kid, don't be so childish." I could be your ancestor.
Eric looked hurt, "Why don't you like me? You don't even have a boyfriend!"
I exhaled a puff of smoke and asked him solemnly, "What's the end of love?"
He thought for a moment, "Buried in the ground."
"…" This kid doesn't follow the script.
I said, "Marriage, having children, growing tired of each other, and splitting up."
Eric laughed, "Were you hurt by a man before?"
I stubbed out my cigarette, hiding my unease. "Don't guess about a fairy's affairs."
"Fine." Eric shrugged and looked at me expectantly. "Then how about not getting married, not having children, just being happy together?"
"That makes you even worse than most men!"
I finished my last sip of coffee, grabbed my bag, and prepared to leave.
"That's not what I meant."
Eric caught up with me, and as we walked through the maple forest, he suddenly pulled me to a stop and pinned me against a tree.
"Rogue, what are you trying to do?"
"Sorry, I just want you to hear me out."
"Talk if you want, but let go of me."
"Okay, I'll let go, but don't walk away."
"Alright."
He let go of me and sighed, "What I mean is, if you want to get married, we can get married. If you don't, that's fine too. If you want to have kids, we can have kids. If not, that's okay as well."
"I just want to be with you."
I looked at him without saying a word, so he repeated, "I really, really want to. This is the first time I've been so persistent with a girl."
Eric was somewhat of a legend at the school, with many female students pursuing him. He usually carried himself with a certain arrogance, but now he looked a bit pitiful and cute.
"Say something. I've been chasing you for so long. What do you mean?"
"The longest anyone has ever chased me is three years, and in the end, he turned out to be a jerk. How long can you hold on?"
Eric threw his arms around me, "Never giving up!"
"Hmph!" I pushed him away, "Get lost!"
…
The sunlight was warm and gentle, and life was peaceful.
Five years passed in the blink of an eye. We were still in that little forest, under the same maple tree. Eric was still that young, handsome boy, and I was still the beautiful art teacher.
Eric cupped my face as we kissed passionately.
Maybe it was because I hadn't been with a man in so long, or maybe Eric was just too charming?
Four years and three months ago, Eric got into graduate school and applied to stay at the university. One afternoon, I was painting in my studio.
My assistant came in, "Arielle, the model is here."
The door closed, and when I looked up, it was Eric.
The brazen boy said, "Arielle, my physique should meet your requirements."
I teased him on purpose, "Alright, strip."
He really did!
I…
Now, Eric is a biology professor at Cambridge University, and we are a couple everyone envies.
"My family has been urging me to get married recently. I couldn't hold back and told them I have a girlfriend."
I frowned, "What are you planning?"
"Nothing. If you don't want to get married, I won't force you. I'm already very satisfied with our current situation."
"But if you're willing to meet my family, that would be even better."
I originally wanted to refuse, but then I thought that after being together for so long, it was only fair to take on some responsibility.
If his family didn't approve, then we would break up!
At the end of the year, we bought plane tickets, and Eric took me to a large villa in the city.
Eric's carefree personality was largely due to his family's wealth. He never had to worry about dreams or ambitions, only interests, which is why we clicked so well.
However, when his father came down the stairs, I froze completely.
I didn't know whether to marvel at how small the world was or to be stunned by this cruel joke!
Eric was Stephen's son.
At that moment, my heart turned cold.
Stephen, who was just over fifty, was now completely gray-haired and wrinkled, looking like an old man.
He trembled as he walked toward me with a cane, his sunken eyes turning red and moist with excitement, barely able to speak clearly, "Amanda… Amanda, you're alive, but why haven't you aged at all?"
Eric was taken aback, "You know my dad?"
I stepped back a few paces and said coldly, "Mr. Collins, you must be mistaken. My name is Arielle."
"How is that possible? You look exactly like Amanda."
Eric said, "Dad, her name is Arielle. You must be mistaken. She's always lived abroad and has never been here."
Stephen, probably finding it hard to believe, thought that if I were alive, I would be over fifty, not still looking like a young girl.
Stephen took out an old wedding photo of us and showed it to Eric and me.
Eric had never seen the photo before. Stephen told him that Amanda was his mother and died in childbirth. He had erased all traces of her to avoid upsetting Eric.
"My father deeply loved my mother and never remarried all these years."
Eric believed Stephen's words completely, but only I knew that Stephen was lying.
The baby had turned to ashes and couldn't possibly be Eric.
Dinner that night was filled with tension and awkwardness.
That first night at the Collins' house, I waited until Stephen fell asleep, then packed
my bags and tried to leave quietly.
It didn't matter whose son Eric was; I couldn't stay with him. It felt like incest, and I feared divine retribution.
However, just as I sneaked out, I ran straight into Stephen in the yard.
Under the moonlight, Stephen, leaning on his cane, blocked my path. "Amanda, are you really not my Amanda?"
The hurt Stephen caused me was long forgotten. My life is so wonderful now, how could I possibly dwell on one mistake?
"Mr. Collins, I'm your son's girlfriend, yet you insist on mistaking me for your wife. Don't you think that's a bit too absurd?"
Stephen looked at me with a face full of pain.
"I know you must be Amanda. There might be two people in the world who look exactly alike, but not with the same expressions, tone, and behavior."
"And you hate cilantro. You didn't eat it during dinner just now."
Stephen asked in disbelief, "Why haven't you changed at all in over thirty years?"
I looked at him calmly, "Stephen, what difference does it make whether I am Amanda or not?"
"Amanda, ever since I thought you were gone, I've regretted it every minute, feeling nothing but pain. I never thought, truly never thought, that I'd see you again in this life."
Stephen slowly walked towards me, trying to touch my face, but I took a step back in disgust.
"But I forgot about you a long time ago, Stephen."
"After I found out about your betrayal, being with Lily, and your plan to take over the company, all I felt for you was hatred."
"Stephen, you're just a stain in my life."
"Amanda!" Stephen knelt at my feet, "Are you saying you'll never forgive me, even until I die?"
"Sorry, you betrayed me, and you never worthy of forgiveness."
I pulled my suitcase around him.
Stephen grabbed hold of my suitcase.
"You're leaving Eric too? He loves you deeply."
Is he out of his mind? Eric is his son, and he even told Eric that I’m his biological mother.
I couldn't be bothered with him anymore, so I coldly pushed him away and walked out with my suitcase.
After leaving the Collins' house, I headed straight for the airport.
As I stood at the boarding gate, my phone rang persistently—it was Eric calling.
I didn't have the courage to answer his call, nor did I know how to explain everything to him.
He was innocent, but all of this was just too absurd.
Leaving was perhaps the best, and the only, solution.
So I broke my phone card in half and inserted the new one I had prepared, then walked briskly towards the security checkpoint.
I didn't return to Cambridge University; instead, I went to a very remote island city, taking on a new identity.
Having eternal life naturally comes with the need to embrace solitude—I had long been accustomed to it.
But this time, it was more painful than ever before.
When Stephen betrayed me, I almost forgot the pain within a year, though I still felt a dull ache when I thought of the unborn child.
But during those years on the island, I often felt a loneliness that nothing could shake off, as if life had suddenly lost its meaning, its direction.
Games bored me, beautiful scenery no longer excited me, and even food no longer brought me joy. The only thing that could help me sleep peacefully at night was a small glass of liquor at midnight.
So I opened a small bar, named "Endless."
I didn’t put much effort into running it, but business was decent.
Tonight, a few regulars came in, and we started drinking and playing Truth or Dare.
I lost. "Dare."
They egged me on, "Go find a handsome guy and ask him if he's up for a night."
That was too bold for me, so I refused.
"Just say it, and then we'll explain to him."
Not wanting these youngsters to think I couldn't handle it, I downed a glass of liquor and began scanning the room for a target.
A young girl pointed in a direction and said, "Sis, that one looks good. I caught a glimpse when I went to the bathroom earlier—absolutely top-notch, no regrets even if it turns serious!"
I was a bit tipsy, and the dim lighting in the bar made it even harder to see clearly.
But from the back, his figure looked decent. Since it was just a joke, and they'd explain afterward, I didn't mind.
So I walked over to him casually.
"Hey, handsome, up for a night?"
The guy turned around, looked me up and down, and grabbed my hand. "Arielle."
Although I was drunk, I hadn't completely lost my senses. When I saw him, I was so shocked that I quickly turned to leave.
But Eric tightly wrapped his arms around my waist. "If you leave again, I'll go crazy!"
The bar's staff and that group of friends thought I was being harassed and rushed over to help, some even ready to beat Eric up.
I feared the situation would escalate, and I was even more afraid of Eric getting hurt, so I had no choice but to stop everyone.
"We know each other."
After that, I brought Eric back to my place.
I poured him a glass of water, "Drink it, stay the night, and leave tomorrow."
Eric replied, "Just like that? Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to find you?"
How did he manage to find me? It's been over ten years, hasn't it? Why is he so persistent?
"How did you find me?"
"That's not important!" Eric grabbed my wrist and pushed me down onto the sofa. "I
know everything about you and my father."
I pretended to look at him indifferently.
"If you know, then why are you still clinging to me?"
Eric's eyes were bloodshot.
"Did you ever love me? Or was I just a plaything to pass your endless years?"
"That doesn't matter. You're Stephen's son; we can never be together."
"What if I'm not?"
"There's no 'what if.'"
"I'm just someone Stephen adopted from an orphanage, Arielle. He adopted me, and he's been dead for years. Can't we be together?"
Adopted? That bastard Stephen—he really never told the truth!
"Are you really adopted?"
"Heh—what more do you need to doubt? I'll send you the paternity test results in a bit."
I stared at him, not knowing what to say. But… how has Eric not aged at all in over ten years?
Instinctively, I reached out to touch his face, "What's with your face? Did you get cosmetic surgery?"
Eric rolled his eyes at me, "Then why haven't you aged at all, even after Stephen's death?"
I replied, "I'm immortal…"
Eric said, "So am I."
Me: !!!
Eric leaned in closer, with that same rebellious look, "I've been searching for you for fourteen years. Don't you think you owe me an apology for disappearing without a word?"
The tears I had been holding back finally fell, "Eric… I…"
"Alright, I forgive you."
He kissed away my tears, then gently kissed my lips.
