Ch. 1861..1870

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1861

"What did we do to him? What else? We sent him to the police station, of course. How dare he destroy the entire place and cause trouble for us, huh? He will pay the price for his rash actions!" the man huffed angrily.

The other staff in the bus station nodded furiously as well.

Susan was stunned.

It took her a few seconds before she regained her senses.

The police station? How could that be? Didn't I receive a text saying he has arrived safely? Why is he in the police station?

She shook her head, trying to make sense of the situation. No, that text must be fake. If someone had picked him up from the station, his dad would've sent me a text personally. I received the text from an unknown number. I didn't receive any text from Sebastian yesterday.

Comprehension dawned, and her mind went blank. Without hesitation, she ran onto a bus.

"Quick, take me to town!" she said.

"Miss, the bus runs according to the schedule. It's not your personal ride. You can't just ask us to leave as you like," the ticket seller reminded her.

Bursting into tears, Susan pleaded, "How much do I need to pay you? I'll pay for the ride. Please, ma'am. I really need to go to town. Someone's life is at stake. Please leave right now. I'll pay you any amount you want!"

She emptied her pockets and offered all the money she had to the ticket seller.

The ticket seller was dumbfounded.

In the end, the bus roared to life and drove all the way to town.

On the way there, Susan sent a text to Vivian.

Susan: Vivi, did Ian tell you anything?

Vivian: No. He didn't even contact me.

Susan: Did your dad tell you that he's going back?

Vivian: No. Oh, I think I heard Daddy calling Mommy yesterday. He said Ian's coming home soon, but Mommy told me later that he isn't coming back.

Susan: What?

Vivian: Yeah. Don't you know? Mommy didn't even seem disappointed. Aunt Susan, is Ian enjoying his time with you? So much so that he had no intention of coming home?

Vivian was still as tactless as usual. She had no idea what had happened.

After reading her replies, Susan pocketed her phone. Her heart was aching, for she knew it was all her fault. He's stubborn. I should've realized something was off yesterday when he took off. The calmer he looked, the worse he was doing. There was no way he'd go home obediently.

Susan arrived in town in record time and went straight to the police station.

"Officer, I need to find out if you've brought a young man

from Xendale here after he caused trouble at the bus station."

"Yes, the young man is here. Who are you?" The police officer at the police station replied in the affirmative as expected.

Susan's body shook slightly. She grabbed the edge of the table to steady herself before pleading, ‘Tm his aunt. Can I talk to him?" Her voice was trembling.

"You're his aunt?" the police officer repeated doubtfully.

After confirming her identity, Susan was allowed entry. More than ten minutes had passed since she entered the police station.

"He's eighteen. The law states that those who commit the act of vandalism will be detained for fifteen days. Tell him to be honest so we might reduce his sentence."

"Yes, of course," Susan responded hastily before rushing away.

Inside the cramped and dark holding cell, she saw a young man wearing a white shirt sitting on a chair.

He was staring at the ceiling blankly. The sight of the wounds on his handsome face caused her heart to constrict in anguish.

'Tm so sorry, Ian"

She stood outside the holding cell and broke down after saying that.

This is all my fault. Ian was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was adored by his family and never had to suffer. What have I done to him?

She blamed herself for being the reason he got arrested by the police. He's an innocent young man but ended up in this state because of me.

Susan wailed her heart out. "Ian, I'll bring you home right now."

With that said, she left to talk to the police.

When the police entered the holding cell, he asked, "Is she your aunt?"

"I don't know her," the young man answered indifferently.

Susan was rendered speechless.

Her face pale, she stared at him incredulously. Even her tears had dried up.

There was nothing more despairing than his hurtful words.

He used to rely on her so much and would listen to her obediently. Alas, he was claiming that he had no idea who she was right now.

Susan couldn't help but quiver slightly as realization struck her.

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1862

In the end, Susan managed to get Ian out. She used her identity as a Jadeson to get the police to release him.

When they both walked out of the police station, it was drizzling outside. Susan borrowed an umbrella from the police station so they wouldn't get drenched.

When she came near him, however, he strode into the rain without hesitation.

"Ian Hayes, stop right there!" she yelled.

The sight of his back reminded her of the scene yesterday when he walked away from her. Finally, she plucked up her courage to stop him from leaving.

She was afraid the past would repeat itself.

Fortunately, she managed to get him to stop in his tracks this time around.

Susan's eyes turned red instantly. She held the umbrella and ran toward him.

"Ian, I know I went overboard yesterday, but I didn't have a choice. You asked who called me yesterday, right? I'll tell you who it was. It was Mr. Glen, a neighbor of Timothy and me.

He has been our neighbor since we were kids," she explained hastily.

Finally, Ian lowered his gaze to spare her a look.

"He treated us well, so we never suspected him of anything. When my dad died, he told us his real identity. Many years ago, that man sent him to protect us. I was both shocked and disgusted, but there was nothing I could do about it.

Luckily, he didn't force us to do anything against our wishes. He kept an eye on us and protected us within his means. Back when Yasmin tried to harm me, it was Mr. Glen who helped me retaliate. That was why I accepted his presence silently."

She paused to take a deep breath before adding, "However, I forgot that he worked for that man. Yesterday, he called me out of nowhere to inform me to stay away from you. If I insist on staying with you, you and your father will be mocked by everyone. The Jadeson family will also become the laughingstock of the country. What else can I do? I can't let you get hurt nor can I stand idly by and watch as your dad's reputation is torn into shreds. Other than pushing you away, what else can I do?"

Her last question was soft as though she had exerted all her energy and strength.

That's right. What else can I do?

My hands are tied.

Susan had always been a brave and decisive young lady.

Now that she had reached a dead end, instead of making up excuses to lie to him and risk bringing harm to both sides, she chose to reveal the truth boldly.

It was an admirable decision.

Ian was understandably shocked.

He had no idea that this was the truth.

My father's reputation, destroyed?

That had never crossed his mind. He didn't even stop to consider what others would think about their relationship. After all, it was his own business. Others had no right to interfere in his affairs.

Falling silent, Ian stared into the far distance. His face was ashen beneath the umbrella.

"Let’s go back. We'll talk more back at home," Susan mumbled, her gaze downcast.

She said nothing else. All she wanted to do was to head back with him after she spotted his injuries.

However, Ian didn't move at all.

He stood there for a long while as though he was a statue. Finally, he parted his lips and rasped, "I'll figure something out."

"Huh?"

"Wait for me, and don't listen to that man. I'll be back after dealing with the matter."

After saying that, he strode away. Despite the drizzle, he walked ahead without any hesitation. It didn't take long for him to be completely drenched.

Shortly after, his figure disappeared from sight.

Susan froze.

A long while later, she felt her heart bursting into a million pieces.

At once, she squatted down and bawled her eyes out.

No one knew what she was going through right then. She had always thought she would have to face everything alone after her father's death.

That day, she realized there was someone who was willing to protect her no matter what.

Ian...

Back in Avenport, Sebastian was hearing the story of the clay pot when he heard about Ian's return.

"I asked Maurice, and he told me his grandfather gave him the map."

"Grandfather?" Sebastian asked.

"Yes, I found his grandfather who told me that it was Maurice's father who delivered the map to him suddenly. Maurice's father got the map after visiting someone in prison," Karl reported.

This was a complicated story.

To make it short, when Alfred was locked up, his brother went to visit him, and he gave the map to his brother in secret. That would mean that the map originally belonged to Alfred.

I can't believe the map is his!

Suddenly, Sebastian recalled how Alfred reminded him to be careful of those behind his back when he paid the man a visit back then.

It seemed that Alfred found out about Eddie's military supply storehouse. Knowing that he had been used, he leaked the information to Sebastian deliberately.

Alas, Sebastian was too busy to pay attention to the matter.

"What about the clay pot? Is it related to him?"

"Maurice's grandfather said Alfred didn't relay any message regarding the clay pot. However, he did mention that Alfred s brother complained about Alfred marrying a loose woman instead of the daughter of the Durant family," Karl added.

Loose woman? Does that mean Alfred's family knew about Elizabeth's actions all the while? Interesting.

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1863

Sebastian returned to Frontier Bay and saw Ian sitting in the living room.

He thought Ian would be doing well in just half a month's time after his escapejudging from what the other children had secretly informed him.

However, Ian now looked nothing like what he had expected.

"What happened to you? How did you end up like this? Did you get into a fight?" Sebastian asked bewilderedly.

He stood before Ian and saw that not only were his clothes dirty, but there were also various bruises on his face.

Sebastian grew furious. He had always thought Ian was the most obedient of his three children because he had raised Ian himself.

Ian had always followed the rules and behaved wisely since he was little. He would never get into a fight.

Therefore, Sebastian wondered what had happened to Ian.

"Yesterday, your Aunt Susan sent me a message saying you are coming home. But you sent me another message later saying that you won't be returning. What is going on?"

Ian sat silently on the couch for a few minutes before turning to Sebastian and said, "Daddy, why did you keep Eddie's descendants as a part of the Jadeson family? Aren't you worried that the people will criticize you if the matter is exposed?"

"What do you mean?" Sebastian narrowed his eyes.

Why is Ian suddenly asking such a strange question? Did something happen to him? Did the remnants of Eddie’s followers find him and speak to him?

Sebastian was an intelligent man. He went through every possibility in his head within a few seconds.

"Why should I be worried? Your Aunt Susan and her brother have nothing to do with Eddie other than being his blood relations. They were never involved in any matters related to him."

"Then... does that mean you won't take it to heart if someone threatens you with this matter?"

Sebastian's words were like a cardiac stimulant, reviving Ian's depressed heart.

Sebastian continued to observe Ian.

He had raised Ian, so he could see that something was wrong with him.

He did not answer Ian's question but called Wendy, the housemaid, to prepare a bath for Ian and get him to rest before calling Karl over.

"I want you to investigate what happened to Ian in Yeringham yesterday."

"Mr. Hayes, do you mean..." Karl instantly sensed that something was wrong upon hearing Sebastian's instruction.

"He's been asking me about Susan and Eddie's relationship since he came back. I want you to investigate what Susan is hiding. When I was at the university, I found it strange that a girl like her could keep escaping from being in danger from Eddie's men."

Sebastian's expression turned solemn, and his tone suddenly grew cold as he spoke.

Karl understood what Sebastian meant and immediately began an investigation.

By evening that day, Sebastian received a message from Karl when he was having dinner with Ian in the dining room.

Kart: Mr. Hayes, I have finished investigating. Someone saw Mr. Ian and Susan arguing at a market in Xendale. Mr. Ian was angry, and Susan kept crying. He walked away after that.

Sebastian: Where did he go?

Karl: He didn't go far but went to a bus station and wrecked it. The police arrested him and brought him to the police station.

Karl had to gather his courage to break this shocking news to Sebastian.

He found it hard to believe that Ian had been arrested and brought to the police station. As far as he could remember, Ian was the most obedient of Sebastian's three children. Yet, Ian managed to get himself into serious trouble.

It was more severe than what Matteo had done.

Sebastian did not reply to Karl's message but glanced at Ian, who was sitting opposite him.

Ian noticed Sebastian's gaze and did not know what to say.

He felt the surrounding air suddenly turn chilly and began to eat slowly.

Thankfully, the oppressing aura from Sebastian did not persist. Soon, Sebastian's phone vibrated again. His expression calmed down tremendously as he saw the message.

Karl: I have found out what happened. It was a person called Kilian Glen who called Susan. I don't know what they talked about, but I discovered that he's Susan's neighbor.

Sebastian: Her neighbor?

Karl: Yes. I have also finished investigating your suspicion about what happened to Susan at the university. She had spoken to Kilian on the phone a few times then.

It was no wonder that Karl was the leader of SteelFort. He could find all this information within a short time.

Sebastian suddenly had on a cold look again.

He could be tolerant and magnanimous to others.

However, he could not tolerate anyone who messed around right under his nose. He had told Susan that she was free to choose her path, but he would not hesitate to retaliate if she chose the wrong path.

"Daddy, I... I have something to tell you," Ian piped up.

Sebastian looked at him in astonishment. "What's the matter?"

"I... fought with Susan yesterday. She suddenly received a call and chased me away. It was around the time she sent you the message."

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1864

"Later, I questioned her and discovered that a man called Mr. Glen had been contacting her since her father passed away. He kept reminding her that she was a Limmer. He also called her when I was in Yeringham and said he noticed that I was always staying with her. Susan was worried about my safety and so she chased me away." Ian finally told Sebastian what had happened.

Of course, he hid some things from Sebastian, such as his true reason for staying in Yeringham.

Sebastian did not reply but kept staring at Ian with a strange expression.

He chose to be frank now. Does this mean he found out that I am investigating him? This little imp still has some wit left in him.

"I understand and will investigate this matter. Is this why you came home looking depressed? You were worried about your Aunt Susan?"

Ian panicked slightly and quickly looked away. He looked down at his plate and picked up some spaghetti with his fork.

Luckily for Ian, although Sebastian was observant, he did not suspect that Ian was hiding a big secret from him.

Looking at Ian, who was silent and whose head was hung low, he simply assumed that Ian was worried about Susan.

He thought it was the concern of a nephew for his aunt.

Thus, Sebastian instructed his men to carry out an investigation.

After dinner, Ian returned to his bedroom and shut the door. He could not calm down for a long time as he sat at his desk, looking at a page on his phone screen.

An hour later, he finally saw activities on that page.

Karl: Mr. Hayes, I have found Kilian, but he denied that he is Eddie’s follower.

Sebastian: What does he mean?

Karl: He said Elizabeth sent him to watch Colton. He also revealed that Elizabeth had abducted Susan and her brother when they were born.

These words popped up on the page.

Ian stared at them unwaveringly and even forgot to breathe for a moment.

It was as Ian had expected. Shortly after Karl sent the message to Sebastian, a furious emoji came from Sebastian's phone.

Sebastian: What is the meaning of this? What do you mean by abduction?

Karl: The doctor carried the babies away soon after birth to administer the vaccination. However, the babies never returned.

After Karl explained that, the rest were easy to guess. It meant that Susan and her brother were not Colton's children. Elizabeth had likely switched them a long time ago.

Sebastian was furious, and that was the end of the messages between Karl and Sebastian.

After that, the page on Sebastian's phone did not show any more activity.

Ian closed the page and got up from his desk. His palm was covered with cold sweat, and his legs were trembling slightly.

I'm sorry, Daddy...

The following day, Ian woke up and went downstairs. As expected, he found Sebastian sitting in the living room with a grim expression.

"Morning, Daddy."

"Mm, how are you feeling now? Can you go to the company today?" Sebastian glanced over his shoulder.

He was not in a good mood.

He still found it hard to believe the news he had received last night. If what Karl said is true, I need to find where Colton's real children are. Could they have become Elizabeth's pawn too?

Ian nodded obediently. "Yes, Daddy. Are you going somewhere?"

Sebastian grunted and replied, "Karl found something last night, so I need to leave to confirm whether it is true. I need you to watch the company for me and inform Karl if there is anything. Also, your Uncle Solomon has returned."

"Okay."

And so, Sebastian left Avenport and took a flight to Jadeborough.

Ian watched Sebastian leave. Once the helicopter flew out of sight, he stood at the door and tapped on his phone screen.

Very quickly, he transferred a sum of money from his account.

That day, Ian worked hard at the company. He responsibly dealt with every document sent to him, shocking the employees.

Has Mr. Ian stopped being rebellious?

At noon, while he was having lunch in the top floor president's office, the phone screen beside him lit up with a notification. It turned out that Susan had given in and sent him a message.

Susan: Ian... How are you doing over there?

Ian: Good.

He did not say anything else. However, his expression lightened with a slight smile as he sent the reply.

Susan's anxious heart finally calmed down after she received his message.

Susan: Really? Then... have you told your father about this? Did he say anything?

That was what she wanted to know the most.

Only the heavens knew she could not sleep the whole night after Ian left.

Ian read her message and denied it immediately.

Ian: No. I am now trying to resolve the issue concerning your identity.

Susan: My identity?

Ian: Yes. You are no longer Eddie's granddaughter after today. Who do you wish to be? You can tell me now, and I will make it happen.

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1865

Ian casually told Susan his plan. He respected her decision and allowed her to choose her new identity.

In actuality, Ian had begun planning this during his journey home yesterday.

One could not deny that he inherited Sebastian's intellect. From when Sebastian instructed Karl to begin an investigation to Sebastian’s reaction after finding out about Kilian, Ian could accurately predict Sebastian's every move.

Ian carried out his plan well and deliberately arranged for Karl to find and capture Kilian.

Furthermore, he also provided Killian with what he should say.

The reason Ian did all this was to give Susan a brand new identity and allow her to free herself from the Jadeson family. Then she would not have to worry about the matter anymore.

Ian waited for Susan's response with anticipation.

Unexpectedly, Susan called right after he messaged her.

"Hello? Are you saying you will give me a fake identity to leave the Jadeson family?" Susan said.

"Yes." Ian did not deny it. "You said you were worried about my daddy and the Jadeson family's reputation because of your identity as a Limmer. Since I have resolved this, you don't have to worry anymore."

Susan's hope gradually shattered as she listened to Ian. Her eyes were filled with despair. "Ian, do you understand what I

truly worry about?"

"What is it?"

"I am worried about what the world would think, whether your parents would accept our relationship, and what every member of the Jadeson family would think. Have you considered how much of a blow we would cause them if we revealed our relationship one day?" Susan asked softly on the phone.

That was her true concern. She did not dare to imagine how people would react if they found out about her feelings for Ian. She was Eddie's granddaughter and Ian's aunt. It was improper for her to have such desires.

Ian remained silent.

He took his phone and sat beside the coffee table. He was confused at first. But after he heard what Susan said, his gaze turned dim and cold. "Are you asking me to tell my parents about this?"

That sent Susan into a panic. "N-No! That's not what I meant!"

Disappointment rose from Ian's heart, and he lost the determination in his gaze. Even his affection for her gradually dissipated.

"Susan, you are much weaker than I thought. Since you are that scared, fine, I will do as you wish. From now on, you are still my aunt, and I am still your nephew!" Ian snapped.

With that, he did not give Susan a chance to reply and hung up immediately.

Susan sat stunned like a statue.

It took a long time before she finally recovered her senses. She felt as if someone had dug out something from her chest. She staggered and slumped to the floor.

Yes, he is smart and saw that I am afraid and cowardly. I am not as brave as him. So what if the world criticizes and looks down on us? At the very least, Ian dares to fight for what he wants and take action. What about me? Other than shrinking back and worrying, I did nothing!

Since then, Ian did not contact her anymore. A few days later, someone exposed the matter concerning Kilian. It turned out a person had paid him and instructed him to fabricate lies about Susan's background.

In the end, she was still Eddie's granddaughter.

After receiving the news, Susan remained in Yeringham and did not speak for the whole day.

In August, when there was still half a month before the new semester, Ian completed the paperwork to drop out of the University of Pollerton. He, Vivian, and Kurt would travel to Yartran together and attend classes in Atlantius.

Ironically, soon after they left, the truth about Susan's background finally came to light.

"Susan, I have good news for you. Both of you are not Eddie’s descendants. Your father is not Elizabeth's son. She killed

her own son a long time ago." Susan's mother, Sigrith Halford, broke out in tears of joy on the phone.

Susan was dumbstruck after hearing the news.

It turned out she was not Eddie's granddaughter.

"Ian's father found out the truth. He said Elizabeth had given birth to a child many years ago. At that time, Eddie promised her that he would make her the First Lady after he recovered his position. However, Eddie broke his promise and married her to Alfred. Thus, her heart grew twisted with hatred. She killed her child, placed it in a clay pot, and buried it before Eddie's tomb so that he could never find rest in the afterlife."

Sigrith frankly told Susan what had happened in Jadeborough recently.

However, there was something more shocking than this.

It turned out that after Elizabeth killed her baby, her family had feared Eddie would seek revenge, so they had rushed to the countryside and adopted a child of a similar age.

The child he adopted was born to a woman from the Limmer family.

Juliet Limmer was the mother. One could find her name in the Limmer family's family record in Golden Heights. She was Louis and Eddie's blood-related aunt. After getting married in Xenhall, she became Felicity and Janice's aunt.

From this, one could tell how evil Elizabeth was.

Sigrith wiped her tears and continued, "Ian's father also said that during the years of war, Juliet had helped to raise her younger brother, Lucien's children. If you are okay with it, you can go for a paternity test and see whose blood is flowing in you and your brother."

Susan's mind went blank. She had never expected such an unbelievable matter to happen to her.

She was still a Limmer.

However, within the span of a month, she suddenly became the descendant of a national hero from the descendant of the most publicly hated man.

It sounds like something straight out of a drama. However, isn't all this a little too late...

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1866

Susan arrived in Jadeborough.

On the day she arrived, Jonathan came to meet her personally and brought her to Oceanic Estate.

"Susan, we are certain that you and your brother are descendants of Mr. Louis Limmer. Your brother has met with the representative in Xenhall and completed the paternity test. I brought you here because I would like to know what your plans are from now on," Jonathan said solemnly after bringing Susan to Oceanic Estate.

Jonathan was the head of the Jadeson family. He usually would not discuss vital matters with a younger generation like Susan.

However, he revered Louis. Many years ago, Louis had led them into a battle that led to the founding of this land. He would always admire Louis and Judith as the most esteemed leaders.

Susan pursed her lips.

Although she had mentally prepared for this, she still could not help but feel flustered now that she had to face it.

"Grandpa Jonathan, what do you mean?"

"The White House has also found out about this matter. They are excited that the esteemed Mr. Louis Limmer has descendants. They wish to arrange for a residence for you and Timothy and get both of you to restore your surnames to Limmer."

It was something unavoidable. Everyone would pay attention once Louis' name was mentioned. As Louis' descendants,

Susan and Timothy would receive the glory and treatment they deserved.

However, all Jadesons, including Susan's mother, thought that Susan would refuse.

After all, Susan was humble and intelligent. She knew that the fame and attention she would receive after becoming a Limmer might be detrimental to her.

Everyone in the Oceanic Estate expected her to remain as one of the Jadeson family.

Even Sebastian and Sasha believed Susan would choose to do so.

Yet little did they expect her to agree to the proposal from the White House. "Sure, let them do that."

"Huh?" Jonathan was stunned by her choice.

After ten minutes, the news of her decision spread throughout Oceanic Estate. Everyone looked at Susan differently when she stepped out.

There was no ill intention among them.

However, they could not help but feel disappointed and worried that Susan would lose herself in the complicated world of politics and power.

"Susan, I heard you have chosen to take the Limmer surname." Sasha also came to Oceanic Estate. As Susan left, she walked her out.

To her surprise, Susan avoided her gaze and did not dare to look at her.

"Yes." Susan nodded, gripping the hem of her clothes.

Sasha was a little disappointed to see Susan behaving this way. However, seeing that Susan was nervous, Sasha reached out and patted Susan's head.

"It's all right. You are free to choose. However, you must remember not to lose your principles wherever you are and take good care of Timothy, okay?"

"I understand." Susan nodded and kept Sasha's advice to her heart.

Then Sasha instructed a driver to send Susan back.

Susan was about to leave, but she suddenly paused and turned around to look at the woman sending her off. She gathered her courage and asked, "Oh, if l-l become a Limmer, can I address you differently?"

Sasha was stunned. "You wish to address me differently? What do you mean?"

Susan replied, "I am around Vivian's age, so it feels a little disrespectful to keep calling you Sasha. Now that I am a Limmer, can I call you Mrs. Hayes? Kurt also calls you this."

Everyone in the living room exchanged glances for a few seconds, including Sasha.

She wants to call me Mrs. Hayes? Based on our age difference, it makes sense. However, she's been calling me Sasha for over twenty years. It feels strange that she wants to call me something else.

"Um... Sure," Sasha agreed in the end.

She saw a smile on Susan's face, and the latter seemed delighted as she left.

Sasha was rendered speechless.

What is happening?

Sasha went to the third floor and found Sebastian reading. She told him what had happened with Susan, causing him to stop turning the pages.

Susan wants to change how she calls Sasha?

In September, Susan and her family moved into the Limmer family's official residence at Golden Heights. She and Timothy had both taken Limmer as their surnames.

After they changed their surnames, someone from the White House came to them and offered to send them overseas for their studies.

"Overseas?" Timothy was excited.

However, Susan seemed indifferent to the offer.

"Sir, I prefer to stay at my current university. It is a reputable university in our country and is as good as any university overseas. I hope to finish my studies here. I'm sure that grandfather of mine will agree with me when he finds out."

The secretary from the White House was stunned to hear a young woman in her early twenties making such a speech.

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1867

It was all about genetics.

After being exploited by Elizabeth all these years, Colton nevertheless stayed true to himself and never became her pawn. It was the same for the pair of siblings, who would never turn out to be people who covet power.

The two siblings still went to the University of Pollerton.

After half a year, with her own efforts, Susan managed to secure herself the opportunity to attend to University of Pollerton, and several other universities in Yartran as a foreign exchange student. Without hesitation, she chose Atlantius.

"Susan, you're going there? Are you..."

Poppy took a peek at Susan's registration form. She was overjoyed yet worry for her best friend at the same time.

She was happy because she knew what Susan went through, and the reason behind her decision.

But at the same time, she was worried for Susan. Poppy feared for the worst, given that there was no news about Ian for the past six months.

Nonetheless, she could tell from Susan's eyes that she had made up her mind.

"Don't worry about it. I've already made the necessary preparations."

Then, Susan submitted her form.

Another six months passed and it was already the end of the year. This time, when Susan and Timothy went back for their break, they noticed that the other young adults did not return to Oceanic Estate for Christmas.

"Kurt and Vivi are not coming back this time because Vivi is invited to a fashion week."

"That's right. As for Mr. Ian, rumor has it that Uncle Solomon arranged for him to work at Wall Street in Moranta to get some experience"

"Matteo will not be coming back as well."

Sigrith sighed at the thought.

Matteo must be sending Nat to meet her father. Brandon is finally getting better, and he's longing to see his daughter. Nat, too, is missing her father, so Matteo was tasked to send her over.

Susan stood there and listened attentively.

She was feeling rather disappointed, for she believed that the young man she was waiting for was not going to Moranta to gain experience, but instead, was just trying to avoid coming home.

Susan never imagined herself going through such torment on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Every day, she would be counting down the days and hoping time could pass by quicker.

Once school reopened, I would be able to travel to Yartran.

Fortunately, she had her best friend by her side through such tough times.

Poppy: You're going to visit him soon. Do you have the gift ready?

Susan: What... what gift are you talking about?

Poppy: What do you mean what gift? You need to get him something that he likes. Do you even need me to teach you this?

Of course Susan knew.

However, the only meaningful thing that she could do for him was merely to cook for him. Other aspects of his life were well taken care of by his mother. He basically had everything that he needed and wanted, except for food. Hence, she always cooked for him when they were staying in the apartment.

In the end, Susan did not get anything for him. Frustrated, she hugged the puppy that she got from Yeringham.

It was the same puppy that Ian had bought from the market that day.

After what seemed like an eternity, the day that Susan longed for finally came. With her luggage in hand, she left the house in a hurry early in the morning. Sigrith, who witnessed her fumbling, couldn't help but feel annoyed.

"What's wrong with her? She was never this excited to go to school before. So why is she acting all jumpy now? She didn't even attend the few dinner parties that I arranged for her."

"What dinner party?"

Coincidently, a few sisters-in-law from the Jadesons were here to visit. Upon hearing what Sigrith said, they were intrigued.

Sigrith immediately explained, "She's going to graduate from university soon. Quite a few madams from influential families are arranging for Susan to work for them. I was just about to tell her that."

"I don't think it's that simple. I bet they're all trying to get her to become their daughter-in-law instead."

The ulterior purpose was evident.

But it was to be expected. After all, Susan was a hot-shot in Jadeborough ever since she showed up. Many from the elite families were eyeing for her to be their daughter-in-law.

Sigrith's sisters-in-law were happy for her because it meant that Susan could marry into a good family. Their lives could see a change for the better soon enough.

In Pollerton.

After completing the registration process, Susan rushed to the airport.

Upon knowing that Susan was coming to Yartran, Vivian swiftly made the necessary preparations to welcome her.

Vivian texted her: Aunt Susan, you have nothing to worry about. Kurt and I are already here at the airport. You'll see us when you arrive.

Susan: Okay.

Susan initially wanted to correct the way in which Vivan addressed her. But in the end, she decided not to as she didn't want others to find out what was in her mind.

With a rapidly beating heart, Susan boarded the plane.

After a few hours, she arrived in Yartran.

The moment she exited the plane and entered the airport, she immediately noticed Vivian, who was dressed in a blue jacket and a furry hat, waving vigorously at her. Standing behind Vivian was a handsome young man.

"Aunt Susan, I'm here! Look here!"

She joyfully called out to Susan. Despite her age, Vivan still had a baby face, and her smile was innocent and bright.

As she stared at Vivian, Susan was slightly dazed by the young woman's happy-go-lucky attitude.

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1868

Susan had heard about what happened between the two of them, and it was undeniable that they had been through a lot.

However, the moment she saw Vivian's smile, she knew then that Vivian must be living a happy life. Susan was even more confident in her intuition when she saw Kurt standing behind Vivian, always protecting her. They were basically inseparable.

Susan was well aware that he must be protecting Vivian with his own life.

"Aunt Susan, why did you choose to undergo your student exchange program here? You know, when I first found out that you were coming, I was so happy, and I still am!”

Vivian, who finally got to meet Susan, immediately popped the question.

For a moment, Susan didn't know how to answer to that.

"I... I'm not sure where I want to go. Since I've never been abroad before, I figured I might as well come to a place where there's someone I know."

"Well, you've made the right choice! This is definitely where you belong!"

Vivian was giving Susan a thumbs up for what she thought to be the "right choice."

Kurt, who stood at a side, pursed his lips. Nonetheless, he remained silent.

After helping out with Susan's luggage, Vivian noticed that Susan had brought along a dog. The next second, Vivian's eyes widened in bafflement.

"Aunt Susan, you brought a dog!"

"Um... yeah. I've been taking care of the dog for quite some time. Since I'm starting school soon, my mom said that she wanted to give the dog away. That's why I brought it here."

Susan was fumbling to come up with an excuse.

Luckily, Vivian was quite a naive person. She didn't bother much about what Susan was saying, but instead, all her attention was channeled to the dog. Even before Susan could finish her sentence, Vivian squatted down and wanted to carry the dog in her arms.

"Be careful!”

Kurt saw it and immediately pulled her hand. He was afraid that Vivian would get hurt.

Susan quickly explained, "Don’t worry, the dog won't bite. I bought it in Yeringham. It's really obedient and gentle."

"Okay."

Vivian's eyes glistened with excitement.

She could tell that the dog's intelligence was remarkable, and it had a protective nature.

Together with the dog, the group left the airport.

When Vivian and Ian came to Atlantius, Sebastian bought an apartment for them since there would be three of them there.

"Aunt Susan, it's perfect! We have five rooms here, and with you joining US, we're officially fully occupied!”

Vivian smiled in delight as she started introducing the apartment to Susan.

There are five rooms, but the apartment will be fully occupied if I move in?

While staring at the spacious and beautifully renovated apartment, Susan was baffled by Vivian's statement.

However, she felt out of place to ask further, given that it was not her apartment.

She then moved her luggage into her room and started unpacking her stuff. When she was done, Kurt also finished cooking. Just then, a click was heard and someone came in through the door.

Vivian looked up and exclaimed, "Ian, you're back?"

The moment Susan heard what Vivian said, her heart started pounding rapidly and she had a sudden spike in anxiety.

She held something in her hand and made to come out of her room.

However, before she could leave her room, she heard Vivan saying, "Sigrun, where have you guys been today? You have been gone for so long! Kurt and I brought Aunt Susan back from the airport already."

Susan halted in her tracks.

"I'm so sorry, Vivi. I went out with Ian to buy some materials since school is starting tomorrow. Ian needed to buy a whole lot of things."

The woman's voice was gentle and soft, and it was the sweetest sound to anyone's ear.

Susan was stunned.

She gradually walked out of her room and took a peek. In the living room stood the young man who she did not see for over half a year. However, there was someone else beside him.

It was a gorgeous woman with thick, silky hair, and she was dressed in a brown dress.

"Sigrun, you're really the best! As expected of the person sent by Great-grandpa, you're really doing a good job at taking care of Ian."

"Vivi..." The woman named Sigrun was evidently embarrassed by her words.

She was seated opposite Ian. After giving him a shy glance, she smiled shyly and her cheeks started turning bright red.

Meanwhile, Susan started to turn paler by the second.

Still holding on to the object in her hand, she felt like someone had dumped cold water over her head. The chills penetrated her bones, and it was as though she was disconnected from her surroundings.

Am I... too late?

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1869

Vivian rushed toward Susan excitedly once Susan came out of her room. "Aunt Susan, have you packed everything? Come and have dinner. Ian and Sigrun are back."

Apparently, Vivian had no idea about the secret between them.

The living room plunged into silence when Ian looked up at Susan.

At the same time, Sigrun also shot a curious glance at Susan.

Almost instantly, Susan's face turned pale.

At long last, she was face to face with Ian. However, the look he gave her was calm and cold, with not a hint of happiness or anger in it. Despite not having met for half a year, Susan didn't expect to receive such an indifferent response.

The next moment, Susan was impressed once she shifted her gaze toward Sigrun.

She's so beautiful!

Sigrun had a well-defined oval-shaped face, fair and porcelain skin, and enchanting eyes. One couldn't help but feel mesmerized upon seeing her.

As Susan was rooted to the floor, Vivian caringly asked, "Aunt Susan, why are your hands so cold? Should I turn the heat up on the heater?"

Vivian instantly felt that Susan's hands were icy when she touched them.

However, Susan was stunned and couldn't utter a word. In the end, Kurt came up to them and instructed, "Vivi, please take Susan to the dining room. I'll turn up the temperature of the heater."

"Okay."

With that, Vivian brought Susan to the dining room, still not realizing that something was off.

A short while later, the five of them were seated at the dining table, with Susan arranged to sit at the head of it.

Sigrun grabbed her cup of drink and introduced herself, "Nice to meet you, Ms. Susan. I'm Sigrun Lightburn, granddaughter of the Chief of staff of the Army. Vivian has always mentioned you to me. After meeting you today, I have to agree that you are indeed a graceful and gentle woman."

Dumbfounded, Susan instinctively looked over to Ian beside her. It was as if she wished to ask for his help.

Susan was only two to three years older than Sigrun.

After Sigrun complimented her like she was talking to an elder, Susan couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable.

As Susan stared at Ian, he probably sensed her gaze and finally turned around.

The next moment, Ian said composedly, "You don’t have to be so formal since we're a family. Anyway, let's enjoy the meal."

Susan widened her eyes in shock upon listening to it.

Why is he acting this way? It's almost like he doesn't know me!

No, that's not true. He knows who I am but can't remember the things that happened between US. What's wrong with him?

Susan was utterly stunned.

Meanwhile, Sigrun heeded Ian's advice and began eating.

For the rest of the meal, Sigrun didn't serve Susan food or drink but focused on enjoying her meal with Ian.

Of course, Vivian and Kurt were also digging into the different dishes with relish.

Susan was the only one who wasn't in the mood to have dinner. Gripping her fork and spoon tightly, she was seemingly in a trance.

After dinner, Sigrun helped Kurt clean the table while Vivian fed the dog that Susan had brought over.

Susan saw that Ian had entered the second bedroom, which also happened to be his. A moment later, she mustered her courage and headed toward his room.

Susan saw that Ian was sitting before the computer when she arrived at his door. She called out cautiously, "Ian..."

Ian looked up once he heard Susan's voice.

"Yes?"

Susan's heart skipped a beat, for she saw Ian's cold expression when he glanced at her.

It was as if Susan was no different from Matteo and everyone else in the Oceanic Estate.

"... Nothing. I just wanted to check in on you. How are you after you've been here? Have you gotten used to everything after staying here for half a year?" Suppressing the excruciating pain, Susan forced a smile and asked Ian.

Ian nodded and responded, "Not bad. How are you? How's everything?"

Susan replied, "I'm... doing well. I'll stop bothering you. Anyway, I bought a little gift for you and hope you'll like it."

With that, Susan walked toward Ian and took out a gift from her pocket.

It was a key chain that looked like a lotus-shaped dessert.

Ian stared at it in bewilderment after taking it from Susan.

"Well, you can leave it here. Thank you, Aunt Susan."

"You're welcome."

Susan couldn't help but dig her fingers into her palms when Ian addressed her as Aunt Susan. She swore she could smell the coppery scent of blood, and only then did she spin around to leave.

Coincidentally, she bumped into Sigrun as she left the room. Sigrun said, "Oh? Ms. Susan, are you here to see Ian?"

His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1870

staring at Susan's hands, Sigrun asked in surprise, "Ms. Susan, your hands..." "Vivi, can you go downstairs to buy a bottle of detergent? Sigrun can go with you." Suddenly, Kurt came out of the kitchen and asked Vivian to buy something for him.

Vivian agreed to it right away.

Then, she skipped happily toward Sigrun and grabbed her arm to leave the house.

Susan heaved a sigh of relief after they left.

Just as Susan wanted to return to her room, she heard Kurt's voice from the kitchen.

"There are some Band-Aids in the wine cabinet. You should treat your wounds."

Susan was a little taken aback, for Kurt could seemingly see her even though his back was facing her.

Moments later, Susan slowly came up to the wine cabinet. She opened the drawer and took out two pieces of Band-Aids.

After treating her wounds, Susan came to the kitchen and offered to lend Kurt a hand. "Kurt, let me help you."

Kurt neither agreed nor declined as he continued working.

As Susan was wiping the plates with a dry towel, she couldn't suppress her curiosity and asked, "Kurt, can you tell me... what has happened to him?"

"What do you mean?" Kurt, who was busy washing the dishes, asked Susan back calmly.

Susan turned around to gaze at Kurt. That question from him was the final straw on the camel's back, and she found she couldn't suppress her emotions any longer. In an instant, tears started to well up in her eyes.

Susan was smart enough to know that Kurt had helped her ease the situation by asking Sigrun to leave the house. As such, it was logical for Susan to believe that Kurt was aware of what had happened to Ian.

"Ian was sick. After returning from the company, he locked himself in his room, just like how he did for three days after Duncan died. However, this time, he locked himself in his room for a week."

Crash!

Once Kurt finished explaining, a plate fell from Susan's hands and shattered on the floor.

The next moment, Ian came out of his room because he heard the noise.

"What happened?"

Although her body trembled violently, Susan dared not turn around and merely stood still.

In the end, Kurt crouched down to pick up the shattered pieces of the plate.

"It's nothing serious. I accidentally broke a plate."

"I see. Don't wear Aunt Susan out. Since she has just arrived today, please let her get some rest. Why don't you hire a housemaid to do the dishes if you're busy?" Ian instructed Kurt before he left the kitchen.

From those words, one could tell that Ian still cared about Susan.

However, Ian didn't realize that his words were like piercingly sharp knives that plunged into Susan's heart.

The pain was excruciating, so much so that Susan's legs could barely support herself.

"Well... what happened next?" Susan asked after Ian left.

In the end, Kurt decided to tell Susan the truth. "Worrying that something would happen to Ian, I got a psychiatrist to check up on him. The psychiatrist advised US to erase his painful memories, given that he has a hereditary disease. When he was soberer, I asked if he wished to heed the psychiatrist's advice. He eventually agreed to it."

In other words, Ian lost part of his memories voluntarily. Since Susan had said that her relationship with Ian was over, he decided to give her what she asked for by erasing his memories that were related to her.

That night, Susan couldn't even remember how she got back to her room.

All she knew was that the sky was completely dark when she woke up.

The first night that Susan spent in a foreign country was surprisingly silent. Slowly, she stood up from the floor and walked toward the window.

Looking out, she saw her dog, which was tethered to a post downstairs.

While everyone in the apartment slept soundly, Susan went downstairs to hug her dog. Apparently, it also couldn't fall asleep because of the unfamiliar environment.

"Lotus, can you tell me what I should do next?" Woof!

Snuggling itself in Susan's arms, Lotus gently barked because it didn't know how to speak.

Meanwhile, Susan hugged Lotus tighter and rested her head against its back. Moments later, tears streamed down her face non-stop. She stayed in the backyard with Lotus for quite some time before returning to her room.

Upstairs, Kurt was also awake.

Given his years of training, Kurt would jolt awake at even the slightest noise. Besides, he had had to keep Vivian company earlier. She had asked him to watch a soap opera together and only fell asleep not long ago.

Before Kurt fell asleep, he thought Susan would give up on Ian soon.

After all, in Kurt's eyes, Susan wasn't brave enough to fight for what she wanted.

Surprisingly, after everyone woke up in the morning, a sumptuous breakfast was already served at the dining table.

At the same time, a petite figure was busy preparing food in the kitchen.

"Oh, are you guys awake already? Come and have breakfast! The food is ready."

Susan quickly asked everyone to freshen themselves up and come to the dining room.

At the sight of the delicious food on the table, Vivian was absolutely delighted.