Filed to story: Sweetheart Do You Still Love Me
“What’s wrong? Are you mad at me? I didn’t mean to-“”I’m not mad at you, Miss Lynwood. I don’t think we’re that close.”
Callum covered his mouth and started coughing violently.Elspeth couldn’t believe it. She looked at Sonny, her eyes filled with confusion.Sonny looked baffled as well.
“Maybe it’s a side effect. He probably lost his memories.”I don’t think so.
“But he just called me Miss Lynwood. He still remembers me.”
This wasn’t what Elspeth expected. She would rather Callum yell at her than just forget her entirely. She turned her attention to Callum again, still in disbelief.
“Do you know who I am, Callum?”Callum nodded.
“Yes.””Do you remember our relationship, then?”
Elspeth didn’t think he would forget her. He didn’t forget anything, including her name. There’s no way he would forget the bond we share.Callum hesitated for a moment, then he answered,
“Yes.”Surprise filled Elspeth’s eyes.
“Really? So, you do remem-“However, her surprise was replaced by despondency immediately. Callum seemed to have lost all feelings for her. He wasn’t even fazed, even though he knew they shared a great past. He didn’t love her anymore.Sonny clicked his tongue.
“Okay, so he didn’t lose his memory. He just lost his love for you. Odd. Didn’t think my pill had that kind of effect.”Not the time for jokes, old man. She stared at Callum silently.
“Do you still love me?”
she asked coolly, her voice tinged with disappointment.Callum was in a state of confusion as well. He knew this woman was his fianc?e, and he could still remember everything that had happened in their relationship, but he just felt nothing for her.
“No,”
he answered honestly.Elspeth knew this was not his fault. He didn’t mean to forget about her, but still, the answer pained her. Elspeth took a deep breath and forced a smile.
“I don’t mind. As long as you still want to be with me, we can solve everything else with time.”
I’ll work my hardest to make him remember our love. As long as he wants to.Callum spoke indifferently, not unlike a robot.
“Of course.”
He felt nothing for her, but she was the woman he chose, and he wouldn’t abandon her just like that.Elspeth noticed the offhand attitude, and it saddened her.Margot was worried, but Elias flew into a rage.
“He’s already forgotten all about your relationship, so why do you still want to be with him? To suffer?”
Elspeth bit her lip.
“I think he’s going to remember me eventually.”
His love for me is real. I wouldn’t lose him forever.Elias sneered, his gaze fixed on Callum. For some reason, he wasn’t his usual sunshine self and he hissed like a snake,
“You know you’ll only suffer if you stay with him. He doesn’t love you. Even if he remains with you, all he’ll give is the bare minimum. Ask him.”Callum really wanted to call this guy Edmund, but he held it back. They might look the same, but their personalities were vastly different, and the way they carried themselves differed as well. At first, Callum was mad that Elias was berating him, but he couldn’t get mad at someone who looked just like his brother.
“I’ll do my best to work with you,”
he said coolly.He’ll… do his best… to work with me? All the color was drained from Elspeth’s face. She looked even worse than Callum was.
“I see. You should rest now.”
She turned around and left.Elias shot Callum an icy look.
“She came all the way here to save your worthless life. You let her down, and I’m coming after you, Callum.”
Then, Elias chased after Elspeth.Elspeth ran all the way to the garden. She took a deep breath, the sense of helplessness grasping her heart, and she felt like crying. The sun was glaring down at her mercilessly as if judging her for her incompetence. In the end, Elspeth couldn’t hold it in anymore and burst into tears.When Elias caught up to her, she was crouched on the ground, all curled up and shivering. It made his heart hurt, and he approached her.
“Don’t cry.”
He bent over and patted her shoulder.
“It’s not worth it.”Elspeth sniffled. Adamantly, she said,
“I’m not crying. The sun’s too scorching hot. It was hurting my eyes.”Elias knew it was a lie, but he didn’t expose it. He didn’t want to remind her of that awful encounter, so he pulled her up and said with a light chuckle,
“Alright, stop crying. You don’t like the sun, so we’ll get some shade. If you’d like, you can date me. I’m tons better than Callum. He’s as cold as the tundra. You should come to me. I’m warm and fuzzy.”He thinks really highly of himself, huh? Feeling a little comforted, Elspeth smiled.
“Alright, stop messing around. I know you’re trying to cheer me up, but there’s no need for that.”Elias patted her.
“You’re going to take me to Edmund, aren’t you? You don’t have to think about the guy anymore. He’s not worth it.”
Elias was starting to nag.Elspeth burst into laughter, and she agreed.Edmund took over the company in Callum’s absence. When Elspeth and Elias arrived at the company, Edmund was working. He was in a suit, and a grim look filled his eyes. Obviously, he was not in a good mood. When he saw Elspeth, he smiled and was about to say hi, but then he saw the man beside her. The look on his face turned into one of horror. He looks just like me! I can’t believe this. Am I seeing my doppelganger? He froze for a moment, then he asked,
“You are…””Hello, Edmund. I’m Elias. Elias Cole.”
I don’t know any Elias. So, he’s a different person. Feeling better, Edmund said,
“You look just like me.”Elias wasn’t as horrified when he saw Edmund, though he was surprised.
“Perhaps we’re twins?””Impossible. I am a Winthrop. There’s no way we are twins.”
Edmund lost his composure. His smile was wiped away and replaced by disbelief.”I didn’t believe it at first either, but then I talked to Elspeth and your mother, and it planted doubt in my heart. If we can’t be sure of the truth, we might have to do a DNA test. Once the results are out, we’ll know if we’re twins or if this is just a beautiful misunderstanding.”Elias made a good point. Even Elspeth nodded.Edmund frowned. He mused over his options and agreed to the suggestion after some hesitation. Just then, he noticed the tear stains on Elspeth’s cheeks, and he asked,
“What happened? I’ve never seen you cry. Did someone hurt you?”
he joked, though there was real worry in his voice.”It’s nothing.”
Elspeth didn’t want to answer the question.However, Elias didn’t want to let it go.
“Nothing? Callum forgot all about your love. Your relationship. If you weren’t so sure that he had forgotten about your love, I would’ve thought he was actually acting all this time! Why, he looked like he was going to break up with you.”Edmund didn’t expect that. He was going to ask if Callum was awake, but not only did he get the answer to that question, but he also found out about something else. Yet this wasn’t a bad thing for Edmund. If Callum had lost his love for Elspeth, then… I can court her again. The feelings he had locked up were bursting forth again.Edmund smiled.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s boring talking about him. So what if he has forgotten about you? You still have a lot of men to choose from.”Stop teasing me. Elspeth shot him a murderous look.
“Stop it. Let’s do the DNA test now. Once the results are out, you can see Callum.”Edmund would love to go, but he couldn’t.
“I have a meeting to attend regarding the company’s future development plans. The whole company has been in chaos since Callum fell into a coma and missed the BOD meetings. I’m going mad with work. I have to deal with the tenured guys and calm the workers down at the same time.”Huh. That does take up a lot of time. Elspeth cocked her eyebrow.
“So, they’re making a scene again?”Fury glinted in Edmund’s eyes.
“I think someone’s fanning the flames. They’re trying to sow discord among us.”
He didn’t say who it was, but everyone knew.”It’s not like the company has fallen. I can’t believe Arthur would go so far.”
Elspeth’s eyes glowed with fury, and she sneered.
“I’m joining the shareholder meeting this time. I own a quarter of the total shares of the company. I have the right to call the shots, don’t I?””You do, but if they try to come after you…”Elspeth stood up as her smile disappeared.
“I’m going to smoke the mole out. Just because Callum isn’t here doesn’t mean they own the place.”
While they were on the way to the conference room, Edmund explained the share distribution of the company. Callum held the most shares at thirty percent ownership, Elspeth was the second at twenty- five percent ownership, and the remaining shares were distributed among the shareholders.Elspeth nodded.
“I’ll deal with this. You and Elias go for the DNA test. Don’t worry, I’ll handle the matter.”Edmund was worried, but he nodded and left in the end.When Elspeth reached the conference room, she took a deep breath. Then, she entered the room. Within it, a few people sat. All of them looked hostile. When Elspeth stepped in, the shareholders looked at her, and they scoffed.”A girl? Is there no one else from the Winthrops to hold the meeting?””That’s Elspeth, isn’t she? She’s Callum’s fianc?e. Pity she’s going to be a widow before she’s even married.””Let’s hear what she has to say.”Elspeth shot them a withering look. Shudders were sent down their spines, and they shut up. None of them said another word. Elspeth took the main seat and crossed her arms, a smile curling her lips.
“Sorry I have to take Callum’s place, but I’m also a shareholder as well, and I own twenty-five percent of the company. Since Callum isn’t here, that makes me the biggest shareholder. And Callum is only unconscious, not dead. Watch your tongue. We’re all educated here. We know better than to spread rumors like uneducated swines.”Did she just call us uneducated swines? The shareholders’ faces turned red. They were sure that Elspeth had heard them gossiping just now, but it didn’t matter. Callum was still unconscious, and that was the truth. They said nothing wrong.One of the female shareholders sneered.
“I know you’re worried about your fianc?, Miss Lynwood. You’re trying to keep us silent until he comes back, but our company can’t run without a leader. It’s been half a month since he fell into a coma. Who knows when he’s coming back, or if he’s even coming back?”They want to elect a new leader? They’re greedier than I thought. Elspeth looked at the shareholder in confusion.
“And how do you know Callum can’t survive?”She kept the fact that Callum had awoken a secret. Let’s see how many traitors there are among these people.”Haven’t you paid him a visit? You don’t care how serious his condition is? I have a friend who works at the same hospital Mr. Winthrop is in. He said Mr. Winthrop might not survive the month.”Elspeth smiled.
“I know, but what are you trying to do now?
Usurp the leader?”A middle-aged man waved his hand.
“Usurp is a strong word, Miss Lynwood. We’re trying to elect a new leader to manage the company. We can’t go without a leader, can we?””It has only been ten days since he fell into a coma, and already you’re electing a new president. So, who do you have in mind?”
Elspeth spied the man in the corner sitting up straighter.The woman who was arguing with Elspeth earlier quickly huddled closer to the man, smiling sycophantically.
“Why, Mr. Horus, of course. He holds the most shares, and he has been working hard for the company. He’s perfect as the new leader.”The shareholders around him nodded as well.Xavier smiled.
