Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
the man explained, his eyes filled with anguish.
The man who was rumored to have died in the car accident was actually alive! Looking at the slightly pained expression on his face, Elspeth asked,
“What about Mrs. Blue?””She passed away in that car accident.”She immediately knew that she had reopened an old wound by accident. Sighing heavily, she looked guilty as she apologized,
“I’m sorry for probing.””It’s alright. It’s been decades now. I have gotten over it.”
The look on Yoel Blue’s face turned gentle in an instant.”Since you are alive, why haven’t you gone and seen him, Mr. Blue?”He opened his mouth and must have been at a loss for words as he only slowly began after a long minute,
“It is because of my selfishness. After I recovered back then, I learned that the Winthrop Family had adopted him. And because he was but a young boy, and I wished for him to live a good life as a Winthrop, I went incognito and left Damoria.”I have been keeping myself updated about him all these years. I only hurried back recently after I heard about Arthur’s falling out with the Winthrops.”Elspeth was filled with anger the moment Arthur’s name came up, but still, she tried her best to calm down.
“Mr. Blue, Arthur has gotten especially twisted these years. With how ambitious and aggressive he is, he might not listen to you.”Yoel’s sad and helpless eyes were staring blankly ahead. He seemed to have lost the light in his eyes.”It’s all my fault. I’m sorry. I single-handedly made Arthur who he is today. If only I hadn’t been greedy for a better life for him, he wouldn’t have…””Please talk things out with him if you do meet. You are his birth parent after all. I have a feeling he will listen to you.”Elspeth suddenly felt hopeful that the man in front of her was someone who would be able to save Arthur.”Let’s do it this way,”
she added.
“I will take you to him after I save my patient with your herbs. Don’t worry. Every problem will be solved then.”She smiled and took out a card which she passed to Yoel.
“I know that you said you’re not taking money from me, but rules are rules; I will pay you according to the market price. There are 1.5 million on this card. There should be change left excluding the price for these herbs.”Yoel’s eyes went wide.
“I can’t accept this…””Please don’t say that, Mr. Blue. 1.5 million is nothing if you can talk Arthur into cleaning up his act.”No word could better describe Elspeth than
“generous”. 1.5 million wasn’t much for her anyway. This would be her doing a favor at a tiny cost.After she exchanged contact with Yoel, she went back to the residence with
Callum.She then quickly stored the herbs before she left for Jordan’s.Jordan was trying to coax Angie into eating when Elspeth arrived.This was the first time she had seen that troubled look on Jordan’s face. Seeing this, she turned to smilingly lock eyes with Callum.Jordan must have heard her laughter when he whipped his head in their direction. The sight of them walking over immediately made him look uncomfortable.”Ah, NK Group’s president! Still busy after work? I see you’re coaxing your girlfriend into eating.”Not only did Elspeth’s relationship with Jordan not take a turn for the worse after the kidnapping incident, but they even became comrades.Jordan scoffed and mocked her in return.
“You’re always skipping work to stick to your boyfriend as well, president of Azure Corporation.””Enough with the nonsense.”
Elspeth rolled her eyes and cut to the chase.
“I’m ready to treat Angie’s sickness. Are you ready, Angie?”
As soon as Angie heard that, she quickly huddled over and cheered,
“Yes! I’m ready. Put the oatmeal away, Jordan.”Jordan looked somewhat glum.
“Of all the times you could have come, you just had to come right when it’s time to eat. You being here has made her lose her appetite even more.”Upon hearing that, Elspeth put on a straight face.
“Be good, Angie. Eat your oatmeal, or I won’t treat you.””But I can’t take another bite! Jordan takes care of me like he is raising a pig. Who even feeds a lady two big bowls of oatmeal the way he does?!”
Angie frowned.Jordan naturally had his reasoning.
“You are different from other ladies. You have a weaker constitution. If you don’t eat well, you will become as thin as a piece of paper.””But look at Elspeth! She’s super pretty because she’s skinny!”Angie pointed to Elspeth who was not far away. She was well-proportioned and tall, and she looked especially fresh and extravagant even in casual clothes.”She’s unhealthy.”Elspeth’s eyes must have rolled to the back of her head when she heard that.
“Now who are you calling unhealthy?”
she huffed.Callum leaned in toward her and whispered in her ear,
“I think so too.”She reacted by pinching him.
“What did you say?”
She gritted her teeth and grinned.Even though he was in pain, Callum didn’t let it show.
“Alright, alright. You’re not skinny.”She finally let go of him after hearing a satisfactory answer.Angie thought that she wouldn’t have to eat the oatmeal after Elspeth came, but now that two people were forcing her to eat, she could only force herself to finish it bitterly.She then took a short rest after taking her medicine.Soon, Elspeth brought her to a room upstairs to begin her treatment. No one knew what the two of them were doing in the room, but after 30 minutes, the door creaked open, and
Elspeth was the first one to come out.Jordan, who was a little emotional, stared at Elspeth’s face.
“How is she?”
he asked in an expectant voice.Unlike him, Elspeth let out a helpless expression.
“I’m sorry. I…”His face immediately fell.
“You what?!””I said…”
A cunning grin appeared on her lips.
“It went really well. She’s alright now.”The man beamed as soon as he heard that. Elspeth couldn’t help thinking how he probably wouldn’t get as happy even if the company made a profit of 5 billion now.”However, she is still resting now. You will need to feed her more energy and blood-nourishing food in the future. As for how you can get her to actually eat something, I’ll leave it to you to find a way.”With a smirk, she dumped the hard part on him.Callum could tell that she was deliberately playing tricks on Jordan.”Got it.”
Jordan’s head was a mess at the mere thought of him needing to feed Angie. But she was the rose he had painstakingly grown after all. He would have to continue coaxing her as best he could.”We’re off, then. Don’t text for no reason, and don’t text me even if there’s something you need me for. I’m a busy woman.”Elspeth pulled Callum along to leave right after she said that.”Don’t worry. I don’t ever want to see you unless the situation calls for it.”
Jordan knew how petty Elspeth was. He knew that she made it sound bad just to make things difficult for him.Elspeth inwardly cheered as she brought Callum away after she saw the indignation on Jordan’s face.It was about time they headed back to Damoria.After Elspeth gave Yoel a call to tell him to leave this place with them, the three of them proceeded to get on a flight back to Damoria. It was a beautiful morning.
When they arrived in Damoria, Elspeth first found a place for Yoel to settle down before she went back to the Winthrop Residence with Callum. She was quiet the whole journey back home. Callum, who knew what she was thinking, casually brought up,
“If you have a question, ask away.””I want to know what is going to happen between you and Emma.”She had been a lot busier these days. Having to handle Michael and the problem with Jordan and Angie, Elspeth hadn’t found a chance to ask Callum about this.”Merry meet, merry part. Since the issue has been resolved, she and I will naturally go our separate ways. We no longer have anything to do with each other.”Elspeth was extremely satisfied with his answer.”So?””So,”
he solemnly explained,
“I’m going to publicly refute the rumors first. Firstly, Emma and I were never really together, and she was the one who was making things up. Secondly, it is you who are, legally, my fianc?e.””Considering how proactive you are in handling this, Mr. Winthrop, I’ll stop picking on you.”That put a small smile on his face as he murmured,
“Thank you, Mrs. Winthrop.””What?!”
She immediately turned as red as a tomato when she heard the way he addressed her.
“Who are you calling Mrs. Winthrop?!””It is only a matter of time before you are mine. Nothing wrong with calling you Mrs. Winthrop a little earlier. Isn’t that right, Mrs. Winthrop?”Callum’s voice was deep and magnetic, and he sounded particularly alluring when he called her ‘Mrs. Winthrop’. It was like music to her ears.It was a good thing that she wasn’t someone who had a weakness for pleasant voices. Otherwise, she would have been defeated by Callum’s voice alone.She didn’t say anything in reply and only glared at him before she turned to the other side.After they arrived at the Winthrop Residence, Callum, being the gentleman that he was, opened the car door for her and walked into the house holding her hand.However, they were immediately greeted by the sight of a wailing woman as soon as they stepped into the building.Emma was shedding tears in front of Theodore and Margot. When she saw that Callum had come home, she subconsciously rushed over and blurted,
“Callum! Callum, you’re back! I saw the news about Elspeth running away from her wedding. Did you go to her?”She suddenly froze the moment she noticed Elspeth standing beside Callum.
“Callum, w-why did you bring Elspeth home?””What’s wrong with me bringing my girlfriend home?”His reply was calm, but the damage was so potent Emma swiftly turned as white as snow.”Callum, how can you bring Elspeth home when I am your girlfriend? W-What about what happened a few days ago? What was that all about?!”Getting annoyed from all the sobbing, Elspeth answered without missing a beat,
“Looks like luck’s not on your side.”Emma was like a puppy that had been kicked and she blew her top almost instantly.
“You have no right to say anything, Elspeth!”That elicited a laugh out of Elspeth.
“No right, you say? Surely you don’t mean to say that you do. I have no idea how you got involved with Grandfather, but the moment you tried to sabotage my relationship with Callum, I have every right to get you out of my sight.”Emma straightened her back when she heard Elspeth’s words.
“This is the Winthrop Residence. It’s not your house. Why would Mr. Winthrop kick me out of here when he likes me?”She then turned to look at Theodore.To her surprise, Theodore was looking at Elspeth with a guilty expression on his face. He didn’t seem to like Emma as much as he did before.”I’m sorry, Elspeth. I -“”It’s alright, Mr. Theodore,”
Elspeth cut him off with a smile.
“You were impatient because you wanted to save your wife. I understand.”
Theodore’s eyes were wet with warm tears. He couldn’t believe he almost lost such a wonderful daughter-in-law.”What is the meaning of this?”
Emma was still confused about what was happening.”You only knew that Grandfather promised you to get you Callum, but you didn’t know that he also kidnapped Mrs. Winthrop to force Callum to submit. Emma, you were the only one who thought you were loved. Everything has come to light now. It’s time you wake up from your daydream.”Emma looked at Callum in disbelief. Her heart broke when she saw the loving look in his eyes, which were trained on Elspeth.Theodore chimed in then,
“Emma, I know that you have feelings for Callum, but Elspeth and he have been promised to each other a long time ago. Even if you and Callum were in a relationship before, it’s all in the past. Please, it’s time to let him go.”Emma felt herself breaking down as soon as she heard that.
“I don’t believe this…”
She struggled to add,
“Mr. Winthrop, I’m the one you like the most, no? You wouldn’t have treated me so well before if you didn’t…””Emma, it’s fine to be stupid, but flattering yourself is a big no-no. Don’t you know why Mr. Winthrop was nice to you?”
Elspeth sneered and uttered words without a hint of mercy.Emma couldn’t stop her thoughts from running wild anymore and she burst into tears.”I like you so much, Callum. How could you do this to me…”Callum’s head felt like it would split open anytime now, but he grew even more annoyed hearing her crying.
“Stop crying and go home if there is nothing else. Don’t make a fool out of yourself here.”Make a fool out of myself? Emma lifted her head to look at his face, her eyes filled with disbelief.She didn’t think there would come a day when he would say such words to her. She was even more surprised by him humiliating her mercilessly in front of everyone.Now that the rose-colored glasses she had on were shattered, she gingerly peered at the man who felt like a stranger to her. He felt so unfamiliar it was detestable.She then carelessly shifted her gaze to Elspeth as though she was unwilling to spend even one second on her.”I know! You teamed up to lie to me, didn’t you? I was wondering why Callum was willing to be with me all of a sudden. This is all a scheme!”
She looked like a lunatic as she stood up, chortling.
“I know everything now. I won’t let you off the hook. I will never let this go!”She then dashed out of the house without a care.Elspeth only lifted her gaze then.
“To be honest,”
she commented,
“I’m worried about her mental state.”Callum hugged her shoulders.
“It’s alright. She only has herself to blame for everything. It has got nothing to do with us.”Even though it was true that everything was of Emma’s own doing, Elspeth couldn’t help thinking that the woman was rather pitiful.”I don’t think the last thing she said was a joke.”Elspeth looked to Callum with her eyebrows furrowed as a strong sense of danger hit her.When Callum heard that, he pulled her into his arms and held her tight.
