Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
“Don’t worry. I’ll settle everything for you as soon as possible, but you’re staying with me until then. My son never comes back. You’re the only one I have.”
Irving got annoyed just thinking about his son.”Thank you, Mr. Irving.”
It wasn’t a hassle dealing with the government, but Elspeth lost all her stuff, so reissuing an ID would take time.”Oh, I almost forgot.”
Elias smacked his head.
“Elspeth, you mentioned one of the Winthrop brothers resembled me. What’s his name?”Elspeth looked at him. She didn’t think she should tell him the answer right now, but since he was asking, she couldn’t hide it from him.
“Edmund,”
she answered.A hint of curiosity appeared in Irving’s eyes.
“So, you saw someone who looks like my son?””It’s more than that. They look exactly the same.”Exactly the same… Wait a minute… Driven by excitement, Irving stood up.
“Exactly the same, you say?”Elspeth nodded.
“But he has a little mole at the corner of his eye.”A mole at the corner of his eye… His wife gave birth to a set of twins, but one of the babies was dying, so they had to put him in the incubator. Eventually, a doctor told them the baby couldn’t make it. It was tragic, but the couple accepted the news. Yet no, he was told of the news that someone out there looked just like his son. Unable to contain his overflowing emotions, Irving raised his voice and said,
“Where is he? Is he still within the nation? In the Winthrop Residence? Can I see him if I fly back right now?”Elias had never seen his father act that way. He was fierce, kind, and jolly, but never had he seen his father’s eyes shine with so much passion.
“Calm down, Dad. Calm down. Let Elspeth speak.”Elspeth said,
“Uncle Irving, we don’t know if Edmund is your son. This is just speculation, but it is a fact that he does look like Elias.”
I don’t want Uncle Irving to be happy for nothing.Irving ignored what she said.
“No, I’m sure he’s my son. The doctor told me he had a mole at the corner of his eye. The right eye, right?”Elspeth nodded. She too was shocked. The mole was indeed at the corner of Edmund’s right eye. Can it be? Can Edmund be Uncle Irving’s son? Wonder how he’ll take the news. The confirmation excited Irving even more. He wanted to settle all governmental procedures for Elspeth and fly back to see Edmund right away, but before that, Elspeth would have to stay put. Moreover, Elias’ grandfather’s birthday party was just around the corner. Irving busied himself with the birthday affairs, so Elspeth’s matters were set aside, but since the birthday arrangements were going fast, Elspeth didn’t panic.It was afternoon. Elias came to Elspeth’s room and knocked on the door. Elspeth was trying to establish contact with the Winthrops through her laptop, but Callum’s phone couldn’t be reached, and she didn’t remember anyone else’s number.Callum never changes his number, so I should’ve been able to reach him. All of a sudden, a horrifying thought occurred to her. Wait. What if Callum jumped into the sea after me? No. No. He’s hurt. He’d die if he jumped into the sea. Worry filled her heart, and she didn’t hear Elias’ knocking even though he had done it three times.Eventually, Elias came in, and in his hands was a big box.Elspeth snapped out of it and looked at his box. Curious, she asked,
“What’s in there?””The dress Dad prepared for you. You’re joining the party tonight.”Elspeth frowned.
“I’m not part of your family. I don’t think I should go.””Why not? You’re my dad’s goddaughter.”Elspeth would’ve attended the party, but she was in no mood for that. Callum might be dead, and all she cared about now was looking for him.Elias blinked, and he smiled.
“You seem upset. Thinking about your fianc??”As if he was her sliver of hope, Elspeth looked at him with anticipation in her eyes.
“Do you know something?”Elias nodded.
“I thought you might want to know if he was fine, so my men have been looking into it. Callum did jump into the sea, but a fisherman saved him and took him to the hospital. He’s out of the woods now.”Elspeth was worried when she heard that he jumped into the sea, but then Elias said he was out of the woods, so she relaxed and her frown disappeared.”Don’t worry about him. We’re going back in a couple of days. You should worry about the makeup you’re going to wear for the party.”
Elias handed her the box and put his hands in his pockets before he left.Staring at the empty room and the box on the table, Elspeth felt conflicted. Yet, she had no choice but to go along. She opened the box and saw a white lace dress inside along with a pearl necklace and diamond earrings. I’m not a high school student, you know. Elspeth’s lips twitched, but she gritted her teeth and changed into the dress anyway.Elias was waiting right outside the room. When Elspeth opened the door, he turned around to have a quick look, but then he couldn’t move his gaze away anymore. Elspeth looked beautiful in white, and her pearl necklace lent her an air of grace. Her simple makeup made her look innocent enough to make anyone’s heart skip a beat. He thought she was a fairy.
Elspeth felt embarrassed that she was being stared at. She had taken a look in the mirror earlier. The dress didn’t match her style, but she thought it was cute.Elias cleared his throat.
“Time to go.”Elspeth nodded and followed him.They went to the villa where Philip resided. The Coles moved abroad back in the sixties. Aside from Irving and Elias, barely anyone from the Cole Family would go back home. The moment Elspeth and Elias showed up, the crowd was shocked.”Who is that woman? She’s with Philip’s most beloved grandson.””I can’t believe she gets to date someone who was on Sunholde’s famous science magazine’s cover page at such a young age.””He’s a genius. The finest of this generation.””And he’s never been embroiled in any scandals before. Every family is trying to marry their daughter to him.””I’d like to date him, but he doesn’t care about anyone.”Everyone was wondering who this woman was, and how did she hook up with Elias. Then Elspeth got out of the car and faced everyone bravely. She held Elias’ arm and entered the hall, the air around her filled with elegance.Everyone kept quiet. They watched in awe as the perfect couple made their way to the venue.Elspeth wondered what they were talking about. She turned around, and the moment she did, one of the guests felt excited.
“She was looking at me. Oh my god, I’m blessed. Look at her eyes! They’re beautiful.”Elspeth stole the hearts of many men the moment she appeared, but that was a story for another day. Not only were the guests surprised at the appearance of a woman hitherto unknown to them, Philip too was interested in the commotion.The moment Elspeth entered the hall, a woman in business professional attire approached her.
“Miss Lynwood, Master Philip wishes to speak with you.”
There was a hint of guile gleaming in her eyes, and she sounded firm about her request.She’s working for Uncle Irving’s father as well. And so, Elspeth went with her.Philip wasn’t as weak as she imagined. He was thin, but he looked energetic. The moment he saw Elspeth, his eyes gleamed.
“You look just like her.”
Elspeth was about to ask whom she resembled when then Philip added,
“You look just like your mother.”Mother?
“You know my mother, Uncle Philip?”Philip’s eyes glistened.
“Know her? Why, we have history.”Then, he told Elspeth of her mother’s past. She came to Sunholde once when she was young, and she was a guest at the Cole household.
“Your mother was a great woman. I was going to have her marry my son, but she said she had someone she loved. I couldn’t force her to stay, so I let her leave. Ah, but fate does love to pull a twist. I adored your mother, and now my son adores you.”The light of reminiscence filled Philip’s eyes. He looked at Elspeth and extended his hand. Elspeth quickly held his hand as well. The old man asked,
“So, are you interested in marrying Elias?”
She looks and acts just like her mother. No, even more regal, I daresay. I’d love it if she could marry Elias.Elspeth choked on herself. Why is everyone asking me to marry Elias? Do I look like his girlfriend? She shot Elias a weird look, but Elias blushed and looked away. Don’t just blush. Explain yourself.Elspeth smiled awkwardly.
“No, Mr. Philip. We’re just friends, and I have a fianc?.”Philip’s face darkened as he shot Elias a glare.
“You’re useless.”
Then, he turned to smile at Elspeth.
“That’s alright. As long as you’re not married, then Elias still has a chance. Even if you are married, there’s still a chance of divorce, am I right?”Elspeth froze. What is with this family? They change moods so fast, and they keep saying things I don’t understand. This is a bit unacceptable.”Grandpa loves talking nonsense. Just ignore him.”
Elias took a deep breath and smiled.
“I’m engaged as well.”Philip sighed.
“Don’t talk about her. She refuses to marry you. She said she has someone she loves, and she’s going to cancel the marriage soon enough.”
Philip looked upset just mentioning the marriage’s cancellation.”Let her. I don’t love her, and she doesn’t love me.”Philip nodded, and he stopped the conversation. The party was already beginning so he had to address his guests. Elspeth and Elias went to a corner to have a chat.
“I’ve been snooping around. You’re famous, so what’s up with your fianc?e? Why isn’t she interested in you?”
Elspeth took a sip of her tea and smirked.”How should I know? She probably likes someone better than me.”
Elias didn’t care about the woman at all, though he did feel miffed.
“I wasn’t the one who proposed the marriage, but now I have to cancel it myself. It rubs me the wrong way.””Eh. She probably doesn’t like you either, so that’s why she’s canceling the whole thing. Oh, you’re a researcher, aren’t you? What are you researching?”
I thought he was a basketball player, but he’s a researcher, huh? Didn’t expect that.”IR&D. I’m doing my research at NTU.”NTU was a famous educational institution in the world. It was Sunholde’s most research-oriented university. He’s a brilliant man. Oh, I have an idea.
“Do you want to work with me? I provide the funds, and you provide the brains. Let’s do a project.””Oh, I don’t need money.”
He didn’t do research for money. The Coles had more money than he could ever need.”Your family’s money and your money are two different things.”
Elspeth kept winking at him.Elias stared at her smirk, and he thought he should take her up on her offer.All of a sudden, they heard someone sneer.
“I can’t believe some lowly wench is already seducing my fianc?. I haven’t even canceled the marriage yet.”
Elspeth didn’t like being called a wench. She turned around, trying to see who the woman was, and then she shot that woman a glare.
“You.”
Ginna. She’s here. I’ve been looking all over for her.”What?”
Ginna froze. Elspeth? Why is she here? And why is she with Elias?Elias noticed the tension in the air, and he smirked.
“You girls know each other?”Elspeth nodded with a mysterious smile.
“Know her? We have history.””Well, you girls go ahead then. I need to do something, so excuse me.”
Elias refused to see this woman. She was the one who wanted to cancel the marriage, yet now she was acting like they were engaged. It was disgusting. He left, and now only the ladies were left.”Hooking up with another man behind Callum’s back. Wonder what he’s going to think if he finds out.”A smug smile curled Ginna’s lips. Her sister asked her to topple Elspeth and she had been agonizing over the plan, but now the perfect plan just walked up to her.”Don’t give me that smug look.”
Elspeth took a sip of her tea and looked at the bulging belly Ginna was trying to hide.
“Wonder what your fianc?’s going to think when he finds out you’re two months pregnant.”
No use hiding it. I can tell.”What?”
Ginna was shocked. How did she know? She gritted her teeth, her face pale.
“Who told you that? What else do you know?””Doesn’t matter what I know. Point is if the Coles find out the real reason you want to cancel the marriage is that you f*cked another man behind Elias’ back and got knocked up…”The color drained from Ginna’s face.She didn’t tell anyone about her pregnancy, not even her family. If they were to find out, or even worse, if the Coles were to find out, then she was done for. The Coles would come after her, and her family would disown her.
“Stop your lies!”I can’t believe she’s still trying to deny it. Elspeth pursed her lips.
“If you think I’m lying, why don’t you get a checkup at the hospital and tell me the results then?””So what if you know I’m pregnant? Do you think the Coles will listen to you? Nobody can force me to get a checkup if I refuse to.”A frown furrowed Elspeth’s forehead. How annoying.
“I didn’t start this fight. You did.”Ginna looked around. When she was sure that nobody was paying attention to them, she whispered,
