Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
“Am I that intolerable, Callum?”He kept quiet, an implicit agreement.Soon, tears streamed down Emma’s cheeks.
“I could take all the words she can throw at me, Callum, but I cannot leave you with misunderstandings about me. The two of us had been together for so long. You know me-“”You are someone who will abandon love for a better future,”
he interrupted. The air around him was colder than ice as he slowly walked over to Elspeth. Then, his lips spread wide in a doting smile without hinting at his previously icy demeanor.
“Are you tired?”
After all, she had rushed back.Emma was dissatisfied with how little care Callum showed for her. Nevertheless, there was nothing she could do. Her only option was to grit her teeth and swallow down all the agony she felt. That was her only way to win him back.”I wasn’t, but after talking to that lying witch, I’m exhausted.”
Elspeth stuck out her tongue. She looked so cute and playful, a much better behavior in his eyes than Emma’s sly manner.”Come, let’s get some food.”Not once did he glance at Emma’s face.”Where are you going?”
Emma asked with eyes full of hope.
“Arthur had said he wanted to meet up one day. Why don’t we-“
She did not want to give them even a second to be alone together. Elspeth turned to look at her and laughed.
“Callum, the witch wants to dine with us. Should we bring her along?””I don’t like the taste of a witch’s brew,”
Callum calmly replied as he draped her shoulders with his suit jacket. He then wrapped his arm around her waist before leading her out of the room.When Emma saw how close the two were, she wished she could tear into Elspeth’s pretty little face so that she could never seduce him again. At that moment, her phone started ringing. When she saw the caller ID flashing on her screen, the hatred in her eyes receded as she smirked….Meanwhile, at the restaurant.Elspeth let her smile fade away.
“Callum, Emma mentioned Arthur wanting to meet up with her. Since when did he pay so much attention to a woman? Say… does he like her?””Before I got together with Emma, Arthur would frequently look for excuses to invite Emma out. One time, Arthur returned from their outing with a dark expression. Since then, he never invited her out when it was merely the two of them.”Callum silently thought about it. It was undeniable. Based on what he remembered, Arthur likely loved Emma. Perhaps Arthur was reticent about his emotions or lacked the courage to be forthright about them.”Come to think of it, Arthur’s grievances and resentment all appeared overnight,”
he said.Elspeth was about to ask more questions about the past when a familiar laugh rang behind her.
“Well, if it isn’t, dear Callum and Elspeth.”Arthur had sharp eyes. When he saw Elspeth, he immediately walked over with Emma in tow.When Elspeth saw the two of them chatter side by side, she thought they were perfect for each other if one ignored Emma’s love for Callum.”It has been a long time since we last met. Why don’t we sit together?”
Arthur’s words were polite, but he immediately sat down without waiting for a response.Emma was also going to sit down when Elspeth questioned,
“Did we say yes? Why are you sitting already?”
She did not think Arthur was here to play nice with them. However, she stole his ginkgo the last they met, so he might be plotting to get back at her.To her surprise, he completely ignored her and smiled at someone behind Emma.
“You’re here too? Come sit with us!”She followed his gaze to find the other three sons of the Winthrops standing there. What is going on? Why are they all here?The awkward air lingering around Emma vanished as she grinned and said,
“The Winthrops were so nice to me when I was still with Callum. I wanted to meet up with everyone now that I’ve returned. At least I want to share a meal or something.”Max was an impulsive man. The sight of Arthur’s fake smile had him instantly blurting out in a mocking tone,
“Why is Arthur, that traitor, here too?”Edmund was only present because Emma was friendly to him before. Seeing Arthur, he plastered on a smile as he harshly spat out,
“Not everyone here is a Winthrop, though.”Emma knew what had happened before, so she explained,
“Arthur is not as bad as you thought. I didn’t invite everyone so we could catch up, but I also wanted to ease the tension between you guys-“Her act of being the saintly mediator disgusted Elspeth, though. She could not resist snapping,
“How would an outsider know about the Winthrops’ Family business?”Emma’s mouth gaped and closed before sadly lowering her head.
“I’m only trying to be nice. Anyway, you’re an outsider too, Elspeth.”Callum’s face darkened when he heard that.
“She is my fianc?e,”
he retorted.
“You cannot be compared to her.”
As soon as Callum finished speaking, everyone fell silent. As for Emma, her heart was throbbing in pain as she cried.
“Even if you don’t like me anymore, Callum,”
she said as tears rolled down her cheeks.
“We were once in love. Why are you being so cruel to me?”Elspeth could not contain her sarcasm in response to Emma’s dishonest behavior.
“You brought up your previous relationship with him while his current girlfriend was present. Three guesses as to why he was so vicious.”What else is there to say besides being disgusted?”I-“
Emma ducked her head down, hiding the intense fury burning in her eyes. While she would love to slap Elspeth right then and there, everyone was watching. She had to make everyone think Elspeth was the bully.However, to her surprise, Arthur decided to step up and calm everyone down.
“It’s all in the past, so let’s leave it be,”
he said with a smile.
“After all, Callum is dating Elspeth now, and Emma is happy for them.”Emma nodded with a look of gratitude on her face.”Dad’s birthday party is happening in a few days,”
he continued.
“I plan on returning to do my duties as his son.”Max’s hands clenched into fists as he retorted,
“Return? Arthur, how can you say that without embarrassment? I have yet to deal with you for how badly you angered dad last time. You have the nerve to offer yourself up!”Edmund shot Max a look as he coldly said,
“Why do you care about someone like that? His skin was thicker than a city’s defenses. Who knows what he actually thinks about all this?”Evidently, none of the Winthrops liked Arthur anymore.However, Arthur acted as though he heard nothing as his smile remained gentle and calm.
“Then, it’s settled. If that’s all, I have to go. See you the day after tomorrow.”
Afterward, he stood up and left.The other Winthrop men were only relaxed after he left the room.To regain her dignity, Emma passed a plate of food to Max.
“Don’t blank out. Here, I think you love this dish the most.””Thank you, sis,”
he replied without thinking.Emma’s smile brightened. She then shot Elspeth a smug look as if it were proof that she was the hostess.Soon, Edmund glared at Max.
“What did you say?”It was only then that Max noticed he had made a mistake.
“I’m sorry for misspeaking,”
he said, glancing awkwardly at Elspeth.Elspeth had to admit that Emma was successful in grossing her out.”Why, what a natural Miss Walker is at offering food to others. If memory serves me right, I am paying for the meal. If I don’t like someone, I can ask her to leave immediately.”
Elspeth narrowed her eyes as she said that in a mocking tone. It was clear to everyone who
“her”
was.If Emma could not hear the message, she would have lived under a rock for over twenty years.”Callum went to pay now, so I think it shouldn’t be you, Miss Lynwood.”Suddenly, Elspeth glanced at Callum, seated beside her, before asking him with a raised eyebrow,
“Do you have a problem with paying when I am the host of the meal?””Not at all,”
he calmly answered after wiping his mouth. Callum’s answer was a blatant show of protecting Elspeth.If Emma had stayed at the stable longer, she might die from anger and frustration. So, she rose to her feet and uttered,
“If you don’t like me, I’ll leave.””It’s good that you’re self-aware,”
Elspeth languidly said.
“Still, you’re a little slow at that.”
Emma had been prepared to take a step forward when she heard that. It caught her by surprise, almost making her trip and fall. She is so rude and disrespectful! Hence, Emma decided to let herself fall in Callum’s direction. While he no longer liked her, the situation was about morals. Therefore, no matter what, he would…Bam!Elspeth’s quick reflexes and extended foot saved Emma from hitting the ground on her face.”I know I’ve made it clear where you stand among us, but you don’t need to stand on ceremony. You are a celebrity. Your face cannot withstand such abuse.”No matter how angry and frustrated Emma was at Elspeth’s innocent act, she could do nothing about it. She was currently sprawled out across Elspeth’s foot in an inappropriate manner. With great effort, she crawled up from the floor and tidied up her hair while wishing she could bury herself in a hole somewhere. It was immensely humiliating to trip and fall in front of many people.”Excuse me.”Her departure was even more hurried than Arthur’s, giving the impression that she was fleeing in a panic.Max waited for her to leave before lowering his head in apology.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to call her that-“Elspeth waved the apology away.
“It’s fine. You’re still a kid.”Max rolled his eyes hard.
“I’m not a kid. I’m an adult, okay?””Where’s Yelena?”
she then asked, staring at him.It had been a long time since she last talked to Yelena. She wondered how Yelena was doing.”That cousin of hers isn’t actually her cousin, yet he’s constantly hovering around her door. Unable to deal with him any longer, she moved out and is currently staying in one of my mansions,”
Max replied.”You’re staying together?”
Elspeth was shocked.He blushed.
“I said she’s staying in my mansion, not that we were staying together!””She’s still young. Remember to respect her boundaries.”Everyone knew what she meant by that.Edmund patted
Max on the head as he said with a mysterious smile,
“I don’t even have a girlfriend yet, and you two are already living together. Amazing.”Max was not someone who could handle being teased, though. He burned bright red from his neck up to his ears.”Alright, we’ll stop. Bring Yelena to the Winthrop Residence tomorrow. I need to talk to her,”
Elspeth said.He nodded, and to avoid unnecessary awkwardness, he immediately kept quiet.”Well, it’s getting late, and we’re almost done with the meal. Let’s head back,”