Ch. 1871..1880
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1871
"Woah, Aunt Susan, you're amazing. That means well get to eat both Kurt's and your cooking in the future!"
"What's the matter? Are you losing interest in my food after eating my cooking for so long?" a certain someone grumbled.
The girl quickly consoled, "Of course not. How can I possibly do that? My Kurt's cooking is the tastiest of all. Come on, let's go wash up now.
She was getting more and more shameless in flaunting her relationship.
Even Susan's face was red as she watched them.
Soon, Ian and Sigrun came out as well. Sigrun was equally delighted to see the scrumptious meal.
"Oh my god, Ms. Susan, you're amazing! You've actually made so much delicious food!"
"It's nothing. They're just normal homecooked dishes." Susan quickly shook her head humbly.
However, just as she said that, the girl named Sigrun began studying the breakfast spread.
"I think Ian will like the sandwich and milk. I'll get some condensed milk for you."
With that said, she went to the refrigerator for the condensed milk.
When Susan noticed that, she took out the pot of oatmeal she had prepared earlier from the kitchen and put it in front of Ian.
"He doesn't eat that. He prefers oatmeal. Come, Ian, eat up. These are your favorites. I've even made a plate full of steamed buns for you."
Susan then smiled as she served the dishes.
Sigrun, who was In front of the refrigerator, froze. Then, she turned to look at the two of them.
Even Ian frowned when he saw the food. He then asked, "These are my favorites?"
Susan replied, "Yes, you loved the oatmeal I made most when we were at the University of Pollerton. You'd even have a few bowls of it every time I make it."
Ian fell silent, and so did Sigrun.
Even Kurt and Vivian, who had just come out of the room upstairs, lowered their heads and looked at the trio.
In the end, Ian scooped up a spoonful and ate it. However, everyone noticed that he stopped after a few bites. Instead, he took the milk and sandwich that Sigrun had prepared for him.
The living room turned quiet.
"Ms. Susan, could it be that you've remembered it wrongly? We've been staying here with Ian for half a year, and he has never asked me to prepare these for breakfast. He prefers milk and sandwiches," Sigrun questioned.
Susan did not speak.
She only looked at the young man, who was digging into his breakfast as if nothing was happening around him, in a daze. All of a sudden, a thought entered her mind, and the feelings of remorse and sorrow nearly suffocated her.
That's right. He never had anything he liked nor disliked. He ate anything I made for him as long as I'm the one who made it. He has never been picky, and he always polished everything off his plate. That's why I thought he liked it. The truth is that Ian has always been considerate of me. He's actually a picky eater.
Susan retreated to the kitchen. For a long, long time, she never re-emerged.
"Ian, what are you doing? Aunt Susan prepared all these for you early in the morning. How can you be so mean? Even if you don't like them, you should've eaten them!"
Vivian, who had seen the moment, furiously began lecturing her brother once she went down the stairs.
However, Sigrun did not agree with her.
"But Vivian, how is he supposed to eat it if he doesn't like It?"
"But..."
"All right, keep it. I'll eat it later."
Right as the girls were arguing, Ian, who was sitting at the side, interrupted them. After frowning and asking them to keep the oatmeal, he went back to his room.
Vivian instantly and merrily brought the oatmeal back to the kitchen.
"Aunt Susan, you don't need to be sad anymore. I've taught Ian a lesson, and he says he'll be eating it for lunch."
As Susan looked at the young woman who was still defending her, she felt even worse-she realized she could not forgive herself anymore.
What have I done?
That morning, when Susan went to the supermarket, she made a call to Oceanic Estate.
"Mrs. Hayes, it's me, Susan. I'd like to ask what Ian usually likes to eat. What about Vivian? I was thinking of cooking something for them. They said it's been a long time since they've eaten homecooked food as they've been ordering takeout all along."
"Oh, I see. Sure, I'll tell you right away.”
Sasha was exceptionally delighted when she heard that.
Immediately, Sasha went to compile a document a few pages long about the food her children liked before sending It to Susan.
"Darling, look at how sensible and thoughtful Susan is. The first thing she thinks about upon reaching their place is what she can cook for them."
Sebastian was in the middle of reading the newspaper in his hands when he heard her words. He then crossed his legs and muttered, "Is that so?"
Sasha replied, "Yes, yes. She was even asking me for a list of food they like."
Sebastian then asked, "Did the daughter from the Lightburn family not ask you for a copy?"
The Lightburn family?
The moment Sebastian asked that, Sasha froze.
Right, I've forgotten about that. Sigrun is the girl that Grandpa wants as Ian's significant other. After all, her grandfather used to be his comrade.
Sasha had also heard that the young woman seemed like a nice person who had been getting along with Ian.
"She didn't ask me for it, but I heard from Vivian that she apparently takes rather good care of Ian."
"I see. What are you planning to do, then?" Sebastian suddenly asked.
For families like theirs, once the boys reached adulthood and had a suitable partner, they would quickly make their relationship official. Furthermore, Ian was already nineteen. Jonathan had been thinking about making his relationship official for a long time.
Sasha had nothing to disagree to after hearing Sebastian's explanation.
"If both parties are fine with that—if Ian agrees to it as well-let's make it official."
Sebastian did not reply to that.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1872
Two days later, the semester started again.
As it was Susan's first time around, Vivian wanted to accompany her to the campus to report in. However, Kurt analyzed the situation and thought that it was not appropriate for her to keep Susan company.
"Susan's in accounting, and it has nothing to do with your design. It's best for Ian to keep her company instead. Ian's in finance, and they're in the same school."
"Oh, you're right!"
Vivian found sense in Kurt's words.
Instantly, she ran to her brother's room.
"Ian, accompany Aunt Susan to campus today. Her major is similar to yours, and her classes are also physically closer to yours. Kurt said you're the better choice to bring her around."
Ian was in the middle of packing his laptop and his books when Vivian ran in. When he heard her voice, he lifted his head to look at her.
However, before he could say anything, Sigrun walked over from the room next door.
"The Faculty of Finance isn't the same as accounting. They're two different fields, and the classrooms are pretty far apart. Why don't I bring her there instead? I'm in business management, and my classes are closer to Ms. Susan's."
It was truly a sudden turn of events.
Vivian, who was standing by the doorway, was taken aback by it.
To everyone's surprise, Susan, who had packed up her things upstairs, suddenly came downstairs with her bag. When she heard the voices in Ian's room, she, too, came over.
"It's fine if it's a little far. Ian knows my situation better. I think it'll be better for him to lead me there. Ian, will you mind?"
When her bright eyes looked into the room, even Kurt could not help but turn to look at her a little longer.
It seemed like something about her had changed.
In the end, Ian agreed to it. Sigrun was disappointed about it, but she did not dwell much on the matter.
To her, Susan was just their aunt.
Soon, the few of them reached the campus.
"Ian, I'll head over with Kurt first. Let's get in touch once we're done with our classes."
"Okay."
Ian nodded.
In the blink of an eye, Vivian and Kurt were gone; the only ones left at the campus entrance were Susan and the other two. Susan, naturally, had no other plans, but after Sigrun watched Vivian and Kurt leave, she headed straight to the bicycle zone by the entrance.
"Ian, let's ride over."
"Sure," Ian agreed.
Susan guessed it was their routine.
A second later, she came to a decision.
"Huh? Ms. Susan, why aren't you getting a bike?"
"Oh, I don't know how to ride one..." Susan gave them an apologetic look as she stood rooted in place awkwardly.
Sigrun never thought that Susan would be unable to ride a bicycle. Once she registered what Susan had said, she immediately offered, "You don't know how to ride a bike? Why don't you... Why don't you ride on mine as a passenger?"
Susan fell silent.
However, she did not reject the offer. After Sigrun got onto her bicycle, Susan moved to take a seat behind her as well.
Nevertheless...
"Ah!"
Thump!
Both cried out at the same time. If not for Ian supporting them in time, they would have fallen to the ground.
It was inevitable. The bicycle was designed differently from the models back home. The designs of the wheels and the handle were meant for a solo rider. Even if someone wanted to take a passenger, they would have to be extremely skilled in balancing the bicycle.
Susan had noticed this at first glance, which was why she had taken up Sigrun's offer.
After finally getting on Ian's bicycle, Susan glanced at the lonely young woman on the other bicycle and guiltily looked away.
However, she did not regret her decision.
Susan had to try walking back into the young man's world again. Regardless of what the results were in the end, she was going to try her best.
Not long after, Ian brought her to her faculty.
Those who knew Ian noticed the unfamiliar face and curiously asked, "Ian, is she your new friend?"
Pursing his lips, Ian nodded and replied, "Yes, she's my aunt."
Susan blinked, a little shocked.
Even after finishing up her enrolment procedures, she was still feeling disappointed. There was no trace of joy or anticipation in her despite having transferred to a new university.
Ian turned around to glance at her for a beat before saying, "Don't worry. The culture here is fine. The people here won't put you in a difficult spot and are friendly."
"Is that so?"
It was only then Susan seemed to brighten up a little.
"In that case... Ian, can I come and find you more often? I... I just came here, and I'm not too fluent in French. Vivian and Kurt are too far from me. I..."
"Sure," came the young man's swift response.
Upon hearing that, Susan finally smiled. When her wide smile reached her bright eyes, Ian found himself lost in a trance for a moment.
It was a pure and sweet smile.
The joy on her face when he said yes was as if she had gotten everything in the world. The eyes that reflected no one but him made his heart ache.
Ian left.
That day, he kept staring out of the windowsomething he rarely did. It was as though he was waiting for something.
When Sigrun came to look for him, she spotted him staring right at her.
"Ian?" the young woman happily called out.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1873
During the six months she had spent by his side, she had never seen him distracted in class. Even when she arrived, he would ignore her as long as he was doing homework or in the midst of lessons.
Sigrun approached him in delight.
"Ian, here, I bought you a drink." She took out a bottle of mineral water from one of his favorite brands.
"Mmm-hmm, just leave it there."
Before she knew it, Ian retracted his gaze as the distant look he usually had returned. It felt as if the gaze he threw Sigrun earlier was nothing but an illusion, causing her to feel disappointed.
Nonetheless, she quickly regained her composure as if nothing had happened. Taking out her notebook, she planned to do her homework while keeping him company.
"Ian?"
Suddenly, someone shouted outside the classroom.
Startled by the voice, Sigrun looked up and noticed that Ian had gotten to his feet and hurried outside.
"What's wrong?"
"Ian, t-the teacher wants to evaluate me, saying that I'm a transfer student. Only with the evaluation test results can they decide which grade to place me in. After taking a look, I realize it's mostly in... French."
Filled with dismay, Susan had arrived with her backpack while clutching the test paper. She hung her head so low in embarrassment that it seemed to be buried in her chest.
She had started out confident due to her being a top student at the University of Pollerton.
Unfortunately, her ignorance of many French professional terms disheartened her, let alone the accounting knowledge required of her.
After skimming through it, Ian led her into the classroom.
"Sit here."
"Oh, okay."
As she took her seat, Susan gave Sigrun an apologetic look.
A few minutes later, both of them went through the test paper together. Observing them by the side, Sigrun suddenly realized the usually aloof Ian was especially gentle and patient when it came to explaining Susan's test to her.
"Do you understand now?”
"Mmm-hmm, I got it. What about this?"
"Let me take a look."
They spent half an hour of recess working on the paper.
By the time Susan left, her mood had brightened up. As she put her test paper away and put on her backpack, she smiled vibrantly at Ian.
"Ian, thank you so much. Let me buy you lunch."
"Hmm?"
"To thank you, of course. Also, Sigrun, do join US. Both of you can decide where to eat. Once I'm done, I'll come and see you. Anyway, I'm going back to class now."
With that, she ran off with her backpack bouncing on her back.
Sigrun sat and watched Susan's silhouette disappear before returning her attention to Ian.
"Ian, are you going?"
"I'm fine either way," Ian casually remarked. Sigrun was stumped.
Either way?
During the past half year, she had never seen him eat outside. He would either eat the food Vivian had sent over or head back to their apartment. There was not a single Instance of him eating at a place outside the school.
Suddenly, Sigrun was unsettled by a thought.
Meanwhile, after Susan slipped back into her classroom, she held onto her furiously beating heart, as if she was filled with excitement over doing something amazing.
Luckily, Ian didn't reject me and even explained the test to me.
As she carefully unrolled the test paper he had gone through with her, she felt as if she could catch his scent on it.
It was a faint mint smell that was especially pleasing to her.
When the school bell rang at noon, she dashed out of class excitedly to have lunch with Ian and Sigrun.
However, she arrived at the Faculty of Finance to find that both of them were not there. After checking with the other students, she learned that Ian had left a while ago.
"Ian? He has already left. Every noon, his girlfriend will meet him for lunch. She treats him very well and is particularly attentive," one of the students informed her.
The instant she heard those words, she felt as if someone had poured cold water on her brimming passion. Frozen in place, whatever enthusiasm she had earlier had now vanished.
Girlfriend? Is it Sigrun? That's right. I forgot to ask Kurt the other day about who she was. She introduced herself as the granddaughter of the Chief of Staff of the Army, but I forgot to ask her what she was doing there. With both siblings and Kurt together, they would have enough company. Thus, what's the point of her presence?
After receiving a call from her daughter, Sigrith replied, "Her? She's the fiancee that Jonathan has found for Ian. I heard that she is the best candidate they have after a long search and is probably related to one of his old comrades."
Fiancee?
Susan felt a buzzing in her head.
She couldn't believe her ears. In just half a year, the Jadesons have already decided on his engagement? In that case, does it mean that we no longer have a chance to be together?
Holding her phone, Susan felt as if she had fallen into a bottomless abyss.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1874
Inside Adalyn's restaurant, Vivian, who had just started eating, knitted her brows when she saw that there were only four of them.
"Where's Aunt Susan? Why isn't she here?"
"Hmm?"
Laying out the cutlery, Kurt looked at her. "Didn't you inform her?"
"I didn't. Isn't she supposed to be together with Ian? Ian, didn't you tell Aunt Susan about having lunch here?"
Vivian looked at Ian, who had taken his seat opposite her.
Instead of responding, the latter's gaze shifted in Sigrun's direction.
Evidently, she was the one who arranged everything.
At that moment, she began to shirk her responsibility.
"1-1 thought that you had informed her. Since you haven't, I'll give her a call right now."
She took out her phone at once.
Nevertheless, Vivian was already annoyed. This is just Aunt Susan's first day at school, and we have already made such a careless mistake. What will she think when she finds out about it? She will definitely feel sad about it.
Getting to her feet, Vivian decided to pick Susan up herself.
The moment she left, Kurt naturally went with her, leaving Ian and Sigrun at the dining table.
"Ian, I..."
"Didn't she ask you to make reservations for lunch? Why didn't you do it?" Ian questioned with an indifferent look in his eyes.
Sigrun was surprised that he had brought up the Incident in the morning. She had assumed that he didn't care for it, just like many other things in his life.
Upon realizing he had clearly remembered the matter, her face lost all color.
"Ian, l-l'm sorry. I just thought that you had no intention of eating out, so I decided not to make reservations. After that, I assumed Vivi would have told her when she invited US here."
Subsequently, Silence ensued.
At that moment, Ian got to his feet as a grim look flashed in his eyes.
In the end, after Vivian found Susan, she and Kurt brought the latter to have lunch in the school cafeteria together.
Even though the simple dining environment wasn't as luxurious as that of Adalyn's place, the despair that Susan felt earlier eased a little at the warm gesture.
"Aunt Susan, you should come straight to me next time. Ian can't be bothered with anything and lets Sigrun run his affairs, just like a kid who hasn't grown up- Mmm..."
Before she could finish, Kurt had stuffed a piece of steak into her mouth, rendering her speechless.
Damn it, doesn't he realize that I'm speaking to Aunt Susan?
Susan continued to eat quietly.
Kurt, too, didn't say a word. It wasn't until Vivian left to wash her hands that he swept his gaze toward Susan, who was feeling down in the dumps.
"Sigrun is someone Old Mr. Jadeson found for him. Over the past half year, she has been taking care of him"
"In that case, what about him?" Susan finally asked.
When she raised her head to look at Kurt, he could see the ashen color of her face.
Kurt cocked a brow. "Him? How would I know?"
Susan was stumped.
"Perhaps, she has grown on him like how you did when you took care of him back then. Or maybe, he's just used to being under her care. Anyway, how could I know what's going through his mind?"
Kurt's tone was indifferent to the extent of sounding a little cold as if to express his exasperation over the question.
If she really wants to reconcile the relationship, what does the engagement matter? Is she just going to back off because of it? If that's what she thinks, I would prefer Sigrun to be with Ian for the rest of his life. At the very least, he will be a lot happier with someone who doesn't shy away in the face of obstacles.
Susan stared blankly at him as she didn't know how to describe her feelings. The only thing she felt was a growing sense of isolation.
Only then did she realize the complex emotions she previously felt were nothing compared to her current feelings.
That's right. How can I give up just because of this? They aren't even married yet, are they? As long as they aren't, I still have hope. I will show him that I'm the one that belongs in his heart.
Wiping the tears off her eyes, Susan began to wolf down her food.
When she saw Ian again in the afternoon, she noticed the apologetic look in his eyes even though he didn't bring up the matter of lunch.
"Next time, just come to me if you need anything."
"All right."
Susan felt better at once.
Over the next few days, she would travel back and forth between the Faculty of Accounting and the Faculty of Finance. Just as he promised, Ian would drop whatever he was doing whenever she came to see him.
Consequently, Susan was happy with how things were.
Unfortunately, the same could not be said for Sigrun.
"Grandpa, ever since Susan came, she keeps staying by Ian's side. Even though she's his aunt, she gets in my way of spending time with him. Are you able to somehow transfer her away from the university?"
"All right. I'll have it done right away."
Sympathizing with his granddaughter, Lucius Lightburn readily agreed to the request.
However, the moment he ended the call, his wife reminded him, "Susan is one of Louis Limmer's descendants and is someone of importance. Are you sure you want to mess with her?"
"What are you afraid of? Even if she's a member of the Limmer family, it's only in name as she doesn't hold any meaningful power. Besides, I'm not messing around with her. Can't I find her a better school than the one she's in now?"
Lucius didn't think much of the matter.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1875
It was a Thursday when Susan found out that she had failed the evaluation test.
The moment she received the news, she was so desperate that she rushed to see the teachers in school instead of informing Vivian and the others.
"Ms. Ericsson, can I check which part of my test I failed? Can you explain it to mê'?"
"Oh, it’s you. It was terrible. Whatever you have learned is too different from what we teach here. Susan, I would suggest that you go to a different school. In fact, ГІІ refer you to Flinders."
The moment the teacher saw her, she actually suggested that Susan transfer someplace else.
How can I do that? I painstakingly fought for a place in my school back home to come here as an exchange student. If I don’t get to study here, what’s the whole point of all this?
Filled with desperation, Susan pleaded with the teacher, "Ms. Ericsson, I don’t want to go to another school. Why don’t you tell me what my mistakes are so that I can work on them and retake the test?"
Despite her pleas, the teacher was unmoved. In the end, she gave Susan a card for Flinders before dismissing her.
Susan's heart sank in despair.
What am I going to do?
She walked out of the school office with a listless expression.
"Oh? Ms. Susan, what's wrong? Why do you look so glum?"
The moment she came out, she ran into Sigrun.
Suddenly, she felt as if the latter was her last hope. "Ms. Lightburn, the teacher just told me that I have failed my test and wants me to go to Flinders University instead. What should I do?"
"Huh?"
A concerned expression descended on Sigrun's face when she heard the news.
"That's unacceptable as you're unfamiliar with the school. Why don't I talk to the teacher for you? After all, I know her better than you do."
"Okay."
Susan was extremely grateful.
Unfortunately, Sigrun’s meeting with the teacher was futile, as the latter refused to budge from her decision not to accept Susan.
"I'm sorry. I strongly feel that a student must go to a school that is compatible with them. This is also for her own good."
"But-"
"Enough. I have classes to teach. That's all for today."
After outright rejecting both of them, the teacher picked up her books and left for her classes.
With that, the glimmer of hope Susan held just a moment ago dissipated just as quickly as it came.
Sigrun was equally speechless.
After a while, she tried to persuade Susan, "Erm... why don't you go to that university instead? It's not that far from here. If you take a bus, it will be a two- hour ride."
Two hours? How is that not far?
Susan would never accept such an arrangement.
After returning to the apartment, she lingered in her room for a while before turning on her laptop and looking up local accounting information and test paper questions.
She hoped to work hard and sit for the test again.
As a result, she stayed home that weekend to study in her room. When Vivian and the rest asked her about it, she only told them that she was revising her lessons and nothing else, for she didn't want them to worry.
In fact, she didn't even dare imagine how Ian might react once he found out about it.
Would he be happy? Or would he help me? I can't take that risk. No matter what, I must seize this opportunity to stay by his side.
After studying hard for a few days, she went back to school on Monday to see the teacher again.
"Ms. Ericsson, excuse me, but I would like to appeal for another opportunity to take the test. If I fail again, you can rest assured that I'll go back to my own school."
Just to get the teacher's agreement, Susan was willing to make a bold promise.
After staring at her briefly, the teacher finally agreed due to what Susan had said.
Susan was ecstatic over the response.
Subsequently, she took the test paper and gave it another shot. This time, she utilized all the knowledge that she had crammed into her head over the last few days.
When she was done, she handed in the paper confidently.
Unfortunately, she was shocked to learn that she had failed again.
"You can return to your country now as your results do not meet our school's standards." The teacher handed her the results heartlessly.
Susan was stunned.
This is impossible. Considering how much effort I had put in, how can I still fail? Even if I have not studied here before, accountancy is a universal concept. How can it vary so much in different places?
At that moment, Susan began to suspect that the teacher had something against her.
"Ms. Ericsson, are you sure that the problem lies with my test paper?"
"Of course," the teacher answered with conviction.
In response to her answer, Susan took back her test paper without another word.
"All right. In that case, I'll let someone else check it. If the mistakes are mine, I'll keep my promise." With that, she left with the paper, causing the teacher to panic.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1876
She had assumed that Susan was a pushover and never imagined that the latter would want to get the paper checked by a third party.
The teacher commented behind her, "It's useless even if you bring it to someone else since every school has different admission standards. Furthermore, you're just an exchange student, and the school doesn't need a reason for rejecting you."
The words caused the already aggrieved Susan to turn around and stare blankly at the teacher.
Filled with disbelief, she felt a burning sensation in her eyes that made her look particularly pitiful.
Nevertheless, the teacher left without another word.
Instead of explaining further, all she left Susan was the cold silhouette of her back.
After that, Susan slumped onto the bench behind her.
There was indeed a difference between an exchange student and a regular student. No matter how exceptional an exchange student was, they would have to return to their school of origin.
In contrast to an exchange student, all the achievements of a regular student would be attributed to the university, enhancing the school's reputation.
Therefore, Susan didn't suspect anything was amiss with the teacher's draconian stance.
Left without a choice, she resigned herself to attending Flinders University since she couldn't enroll in Atlantius. A distance of two hours was certainly better than returning to her home country where she would not be able to see Ian.
Finally, she arrived at Flinders.
"Hello, I come from Atlantius. Ms. Ericsson told me that I can enroll myself here."
She handed over her academic documents.
After checking her credentials, the school staff didn't make things difficult. Instead, they handed her a form to fill out.
"Once you have filled out this form, you can report to your teacher in class. Ms. Ericsson has already made the necessary arrangements."
"All right."
Susan was surprised by how smoothly everything was going, especially since they were telling her to go to class right after she arrived.
Isn't this a bit too fast?
Nevertheless, she was still one who prioritized her studies. Once she heard that she could go to class, she complied obediently as it was three o'clock in the afternoon then.
By the time class was finished and she came out of school, it was almost five.
Thus, she hurried to the bus stop, hoping to rush back to Atlantius.
Buzz!
When she got on the bus, her phone vibrated in her bag.
Could it be a call from them?
She quickly brought it out but was dismayed that its battery had run out. Given that she had rushed out earlier and didn't expect to change schools, she had forgotten to bring a power bank.
Therefore, Susan could only hope that her bus would travel faster.
Unknown to her, Vivian and the others had gathered at Atlantius after finishing their classes. Upon hearing what happened to Susan, Vivian was nearly out of her mind with anxiety.
"Sigrun, why didn't you tell us about something that important? What If something happens to her? She's all alone in an unfamiliar place!"
Vivian glared furiously at Sigrun.
Shocked by the backlash, Sigrun felt that she didn't deserve it.
"I assumed that she would tell all of you. Just that day, I talked to the teacher on her behalf, but the teacher insisted that she had failed the evaluation test. Since what she has learned is different from what's being taught here, the teacher referred her to another school."
"You-"
"That's enough. Let's stop assigning blame. What matters now is to look for her. I'll go back and get the car."
With a gloomy expression, Kurt pulled Vivian to his side before they quickly left the school to get their car, which was the Lamborghini that Sebastian had gifted to Kurt back then.
After watching them leave, Sigrun heaved a sigh of relief.
"Are you going to tell me that you're not aware of the rules regarding an exchange student? Or the fact that you have no idea what accounting is after studying in the Faculty of Business Administration for half a year?"
A cold gaze swept in her direction.
As he gave her an earnest but indifferent stare, Sigrun could feel the hostility he emitted while standing under the shade of a tree.
In that instant, Sigrun's face lost all color.
He actually saw through all that? In that case... He...
Despite her panicky attempts to explain, Ian wasn't willing to give her the opportunity to do so. Turning around, he rode home with his canvas bag on his back.
At seven in the evening, Kurt and Vivian finally brought Susan home.
"Oh? Dinner has been served? Sigrun, did you cook?"
When the three of them came home to a table of scrumptious dishes, the famished Vivian jumped in joy.
However, there was no sign of Sigrun. Instead, a towering figure in a casual beige outfit emerged from the bedroom. Wearing a pair of sandals, he had stuck both his hands in his pocket.
His entire being exuded a languid yet casual vibe.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1877
"Ian? D-Don't tell me that you prepared these?"
Vivian's eyes widened in shock when she saw him.
Ian's expression froze.
"Do I look like I know how to cook?"
"Hehehe... Nope," Vivian admitted before sticking her tongue out.
It was only then that Ian looked away and explained that he had ordered someone to deliver the food instead.
As for Sigrun...
"After her mistake, I asked her to stay in school and reflect upon her actions for a few days."
Once everyone sat down and began eating, Ian slowly explained why Sigrun wasn't having dinner with them.
At his words, Vivian and Susan looked up in surprise.
Mistake? What did she do?
Only Kurt didn't react as he continued to enjoy his dinner. It was as if he had known about it all along.
Once dinner was over, Susan cleared the table before returning to her room.
Exhausted from the long day she had had, she wanted to rest early because she was worried she couldn't wake up in time to make the long trip to school.
Knock! Knock!
"Come in."
Susan, who was rummaging through her wardrobe, went to open the door.
"Ian?"
She had not expected the one knocking on the door to be the person she missed dearly.
Ian nodded indifferently as he was never one to show much emotion. All along, he always wore a frosty expression on his face.
Nevertheless, in the past, he would smile when in front of her and would talk to her in a gentle tone.
"I just want to tell you that you don't have to go to Flinders tomorrow."
"Huh?"
Susan was pleasantly surprised.
"Really?"
"Yes. That teacher is unfamiliar with the rules for exchange students. Therefore, I went to see another teacher. Now that everything is cleared up, you can continue studying at Atlantius tomorrow," Ian explained at the door.
Susan was filled with joy after hearing the news. Overwhelmed by emotions, she stretched out her hands and hugged Ian around his arms.
"Ian, you're wonderful! This way, I'll never have to leave your side again!"
Lost in her ecstasy, she accidentally let out a Freudian slip.
As the air between them suddenly froze, Susan, who had regained her senses, didn't dare move a muscle, as if she had been struck by lightning. Even Ian seemed paralyzed in his position.
Amidst the air of awkwardness, Susan felt the urge to run somewhere and hide.
In truth, that was exactly what she did. As if she had been jolted by electricity, she let go of Ian and fled into her room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Bang!
No explanation was forthcoming at all.
After staring blankly at the door for a while, Ian turned around stiffly and returned to his room. Once inside, he realized that his heart was pounding furiously.
What's going on? She's my aunt!
The next day, everyone had woken up.
Vivian was boisterous as usual. It wasn't until Kurt dragged her into the bathroom to get her to wash up did she come down for breakfast wearing her backpack.
Immediately, she could sense that something was different.
"Kurt, did you notice that something feels strange this morning?"
"What's strange?"
After leading her out, Kurt heard her ask as he stuffed her freezing cold hands into the pockets of his down jacket.
Holding a carton of milk in her hand, Vivian mumbled while drinking, "In the sense that Susan and Ian didn't say a word at all."
Kurt grunted and replied, "It’s good manners not to speak during a meal."
"But, both of them avoided looking at each other, as if they had done something wrong. Didn’t you notice it?”
"No." Kurt was annoyed.
In the end, he took out her favorite sweet and stuffed it into her mouth to stop her from sticking her nose into the business of others.
"Mmph!"
"Finish it quick as you won't be allowed to eat that in school. By the way, Susan will be coming back to our school. Therefore, remember to call the restaurant to make a booking for lunch."
"Okay!"
Vivian's eyes lit up in delight.
Without saying another word, she spread her arms wide and hopped onto Kurt's back. Filled with bliss, she enjoyed the precious moment both of them shared together.
Meanwhile, Susan, too, was in a particularly good mood that morning.
When she woke up and saw Ian, she was indeed embarrassed at first.
After breakfast was finished, they headed to school on Ian's bike. Sitting behind him, she felt a warm sensation in her heart when both of them were bathed by the golden rays of the morning sun.
"Ian, when we arrive at school, will you go over with me?"
"Yeah."
Ian readily agreed without needing her to explain further.
With the morning breeze blowing across her face, Susan's smile widened when she recalled the time they were at the University of Pollerton. Back then, he didn't know how to ride a bike yet, so she had to take him around.
But now, their roles were reversed.
Can I bring him back to me? He is mine after all.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead chapter 1877
"Ian? D-Don't tell me that you prepared these?"
Vivian's eyes widened in shock when she saw him.
Ian's expression froze.
"Do I look like I know how to cook?"
"Hehehe... Nope," Vivian admitted before sticking her tongue out.
It was only then that Ian looked away and explained that he had ordered someone to deliver the food instead.
As for Sigrun...
"After her mistake, I asked her to stay in school and reflect upon her actions for a few days."
Once everyone sat down and began eating, Ian slowly explained why Sigrun wasn't having dinner with them.
At his words, Vivian and Susan looked up in surprise.
Mistake? What did she do?
Only Kurt didn't react as he continued to enjoy his dinner. It was as if he had known about it all along.
Once dinner was over, Susan cleared the table before returning to her room.
Exhausted from the long day she had had, she wanted to rest early because she was worried she couldn't wake up in time to make the long trip to school.
Knock! Knock!
"Come in."
Susan, who was rummaging through her wardrobe, went to open the door.
"Ian?"
She had not expected the one knocking on the door to be the person she missed dearly.
Ian nodded indifferently as he was never one to show much emotion. All along, he always wore a frosty expression on his face.
Nevertheless, in the past, he would smile when in front of her and would talk to her in a gentle tone.
"I just want to tell you that you don't have to go to Flinders tomorrow."
"Huh?"
Susan was pleasantly surprised.
"Really?"
"Yes. That teacher is unfamiliar with the rules for exchange students. Therefore, I went to see another teacher. Now that everything is cleared up, you can continue studying at Atlantius tomorrow," Ian explained at the door.
Susan was filled with joy after hearing the news. Overwhelmed by emotions, she stretched out her hands and hugged Ian around his arms.
"Ian, you're wonderful! This way, I'll never have to leave your side again!"
Lost in her ecstasy, she accidentally let out a Freudian slip.
As the air between them suddenly froze, Susan, who had regained her senses, didn't dare move a muscle, as if she had been struck by lightning. Even Ian seemed paralyzed in his position.
Amidst the air of awkwardness, Susan felt the urge to run somewhere and hide.
In truth, that was exactly what she did. As if she had been jolted by electricity, she let go of Ian and fled into her room, slamming the door shut behind her.
Bang!
No explanation was forthcoming at all.
After staring blankly at the door for a while, Ian turned around stiffly and returned to his room. Once inside, he realized that his heart was pounding furiously.
What's going on? She's my aunt!
The next day, everyone had woken up.
Vivian was boisterous as usual. It wasn't until Kurt dragged her into the bathroom to get her to wash up did she come down for breakfast wearing her backpack.
Immediately, she could sense that something was different.
"Kurt, did you notice that something feels strange this morning?"
"What's strange?"
After leading her out, Kurt heard her ask as he stuffed her freezing cold hands into the pockets of his down jacket.
Holding a carton of milk in her hand, Vivian mumbled while drinking, "In the sense that Susan and Ian didn't say a word at all."
Kurt grunted and replied, "It’s good manners not to speak during a meal."
"But, both of them avoided looking at each other, as if they had done something wrong. Didn’t you notice it?”
"No." Kurt was annoyed.
In the end, he took out her favorite sweet and stuffed it into her mouth to stop her from sticking her nose into the business of others.
"Mmph!"
"Finish it quick as you won't be allowed to eat that in school. By the way, Susan will be coming back to our school. Therefore, remember to call the restaurant to make a booking for lunch."
"Okay!"
Vivian's eyes lit up in delight.
Without saying another word, she spread her arms wide and hopped onto Kurt's back. Filled with bliss, she enjoyed the precious moment both of them shared together.
Meanwhile, Susan, too, was in a particularly good mood that morning.
When she woke up and saw Ian, she was indeed embarrassed at first.
After breakfast was finished, they headed to school on Ian's bike. Sitting behind him, she felt a warm sensation in her heart when both of them were bathed by the golden rays of the morning sun.
"Ian, when we arrive at school, will you go over with me?"
"Yeah."
Ian readily agreed without needing her to explain further.
With the morning breeze blowing across her face, Susan's smile widened when she recalled the time they were at the University of Pollerton. Back then, he didn't know how to ride a bike yet, so she had to take him around.
But now, their roles were reversed.
Can I bring him back to me? He is mine after all.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead chapter 1878
Under Ian's guidance, Susan successfully returned to the Faculty of Accounting. Besides that, she noticed the teacher that had caused her trouble was no longer around.
Consequently, she was delighted by the turn of events.
After she was done with her morning class, she received a call from Vivian at noon.
"Aunt Susan, let's go for lunch. We'll be waiting for you at the school entrance."
"Okay," Susan readily agreed.
Just when she left her classroom to seek out Ian at the Faculty of Finance, she saw Sigrun and Ian walking out of the faculty building side by side.
"Ian, let's meet up with Susan before going over to the restaurant for lunch."
"Yeah," Ian agreed. It was evident that he very much approved of the arrangement.
The moment Susan saw both of them together, she stopped in her tracks.
Sigrun?
Suddenly, she felt like someone had poured cold water over her, dousing the happiness she had felt a moment ago and causing her mood to spiral into sorrow.
She was aware that Sigrun was his official girlfriend and was recognized by both families. Moreover, she had already reminded herself not to feel discouraged over it.
However, the moment she saw them together, she didn't know how to handle the pain and sadness she felt.
She stood there blankly until both of them finally noticed her.
"Ms. Susan, I'm surprised to see you here!"
Sigrun was delighted to see her. Ignoring Ian, she rushed to Susan's side without any hesitation.
"Ms. Susan, we were just heading over to your faculty to find you. Now that you're here, we can head out together. Vivian and Kurt are already waiting for US at the school entrance."
She hugged Susan's arm in a familiar manner.
Even though the latter felt uneasy about it, she kept it to herself. Finally, she threw Ian a glance before the three of them headed to the school entrance.
It was early spring in Atlantius. The ice had already melted away while the trees on both sides of the campus were starting to bud, setting the stage for a gorgeous spring scene.
Just like that, Susan was led to the school entrance with Sigrun hanging off her arm.
"Wow, you guys are finally here! Get in quick. I'm famished." Vivian, who had been waiting for a while, hurried them into the car.
Naturally, Sigrun pulled Susan over to her side.
Just when she arrived in front of the car, she suddenly glanced at it and suggested, "Ms. Susan, get in. You can see the scenery outside by taking the window seat."
Since it seemed like a well-intentioned arrangement, Susan complied.
The moment she got in, Sigrun followed and sat by her side.
As a result, Ian had no choice but to sit next to Sigrun by the other window.
Meanwhile, Kurt didn't say a word after glancing in the rearview mirror.
"Kurt, let's go. I'm hungry."
Vivian was even more oblivious of the situation.
After getting into the front passenger seat, she urged him to drive, her stomach rumbling in the background.
The drive to Adalyn's house wasn't that far. Nonetheless, their car drove over a hump on the way there.
Thump!
Even though the impact was slight, Sigrun's entire body fell into Ian's arms.
Both Susan and Kurt were rendered speechless.
"Ah, I'm sorry, Ian. I happened to have lost my balance. Are you all right?" Sigrun quickly sat upright as she explained apologetically.
Furrowing his brows, Ian shook his head calmly. "I'm fine."
Sigrun smiled in delight.
After that, she took out her phone from her pocket and seized upon the opportunity to suggest, "Ian, I wasn't able to beat the game I was playing yesterday. Can you teach me how to do it? I died many times trying."
After handing her phone over, she leaned her head closer to him.
When Ian took the phone, a look of disappointment flashed past Susan's face before she turned to look elsewhere.
Ian is a germophobe with an unsociable character. Thus, it isn't easy for someone to get close to him. But now, he not only agreed to teach her how to play games but also doesn't mind holding her phone.
As Susan's anguish intensified, she felt her heart ache just from breathing while looking out the window. At the same time, the burning sensation in her eyes made the drive to Adalyn's home a tormenting one.
After everyone alighted from the car, she headed to the washroom where she lingered alone for a long time.
"Oh? Where's Aunt Susan? Where did she disappear to?"
"Let me find her. She might have lost her way."
Sigrun swiftly got to her feet to look for Susan.
"Ms. Susan, why are you here? What's wrong? Why do you look so pale? Are you sick?" she asked anxiously when she found Susan in the washroom looking unsettled.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead chapter 1879
Obviously, Susan wasn't going to tell her the real reason.
She cooked up a random excuse by saying that she was carsick before coming out of the washroom.
Unexpectedly, Sigrun leaned into her ear and whispered, "By the way, Ms. Susan, since my birthday is next week, there's something I would like to seek your opinion on."
Go on.
"I have a friend who encouraged me to ask Ian how he is going to celebrate my birthday for me. Do you think I should do that?"
Sigrun stared at Susan earnestly and asked a question that was equivalent to twisting a knife in her heart.
At that moment, Susan's ears were ringing.
For the first time in her life, she felt the urge to flee. In fact, it would be best if there was a place for her to hide and not hear such a sound ever again.
Why would she ask him that? Can it be that he has celebrated her birthday with her before? No, they have only known each other for half a year. Hence, the timeline doesn't match. But the fact that she would say such a thing only means that they are close to each other.
Finally, Susan heard herself ask, "Has he celebrated a special occasion with you before?"
Sigrun nodded. "He has. During Christmas last year, he went to the amusement park with me. We even had a blast riding the carousel together."
A vibrant smile emerged on her face as if she was visualizing what happened that day.
In the meantime, Susan's face lost all color.
Just when she felt as if she was about to be tormented to death, someone appeared behind them.
"What are both of you still doing here? The food is getting cold."
Upon seeing it was Kurt, Sigrun quickly ended the conversation and ran back to the dining room.
Susan slowly followed behind her.
Kurt asked, "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. I just feel a little dizzy. It's probably just the carsickness."
She made up an excuse to hide her true feelings.
Even though Kurt didn't expose her lie, he had a question for her when they were about to reach the dining room.
"What was up with you and Ian in the morning?"
Susan didn't know how to reply.
Turning abruptly to face him, Susan instantly forgot her troubles from a moment ago and blushed up to her ears.
"What makes you say that?"
"He wore mismatched socks today."
After a long pause, Kurt made a comment that blew Susan's mind.
When she hurried back to the dining room, Ian was sitting upright at the table. Trailing her gaze down to his feet, she noticed that the designs of his socks didn't match at all.
Consequently, she was dumbfounded for a long time as a warm sensation filled her heart.
Vivian invited, "Aunt Susan, what are you standing there for? Come over and have your lunch."
"Sure."
As a smile graced her face again, she made a conscious choice to sit by Ian's side.
Ian, who was in the middle of his meal, showed no objection at all.
However, Sigrun's expression turned grim.
"Ian, don't take so much mustard as you have a weak stomach. You should have this instead."
Susan served him a portion of cod.
After glancing at it, Ian didn't say anything as he began to dig in.
At last, Susan could enjoy her meal.
Half an hour later, everyone was done. Usually, their routine after the meal was to rest for a while before returning to school. Since this was Susan's first visit, Vivian took the initiative to show the former the room where she could rest.
At that moment, Sigrun piped up again, "Ms. Susan, let me tidy up your room for you."
"It's fine. You should go ahead and get some rest. I'll get the butler to help me." That was the first time Susan rejected her. Subsequently, she turned around and went off to find the butler, leaving Sigrun there with an awkward expression on her face.
Nonetheless, that wasn't the last of it. Just when Sigrun was feeling groggy in her room, she suddenly saw a familiar figure walk out from one of the rooms along the corridor.
Ian?
Her sleepiness disappeared the moment she saw him.
She had made no mistake, for it was indeed Ian.
Holding his phone, he had come out after receiving a message. He proceeded to the garden to look for the girl who sent the message seeking his help.
"Ian, you're finally here! I-I'm sorry. S-Since this is my first time trying to fix this, I have no choice but to ask you for help."
In the garden, Susan was standing on the lawn where the grass shoots had just begun to sprout. Her face and hair were dripping with water as she held a broken tap in her hand.
Truthfully, she had not meant for this to happen. She had merely wanted to wash her hands before going to rest. Unexpectedly, she ended up breaking the tap by accident.
Susan watched as Ian approached her.
"Why are you washing your hands here?"
"Huh?"
Susan felt even more awkward when asked that.
"1-1 was too shy to use the bathroom. The room given to me looks like the master bedroom, so I assumed it likely belongs to Lady Adalyn. Hence, it isn't my place to use it as an outsider," Susan explained with her face red all over.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead chapter 1880
From the way she spoke, he could tell that she was a very refined girl.
Ian did not say anything. Instead, he took the broken tap from her hand.
Although it was broken, the tap could still be used. Once Ian removed the inner part, he tinkered with the tap using his long and slim fingers.
The very next moment, the tap had been fixed.
Susan was dumbfounded.
How can someone who doesn't know how to care for himself or interact with others be able to accomplish this? Unbelievable!
She was so stunned that her eyes were as wide as dinner plates.
Ian asked, “What's wrong?"
He looked displeased.
From the startled look on her face, Ian could see a hint of disbelief.
Does she think so lowly of me?
"N-Nothing. I just find you very amazing," explained Susan in a hurry. However, her eyes truly were sparkling when she was praising him.
All of a sudden, Ian felt uncomfortable.
Then again, even he would not admit to himself that he was actually pleased by her praise.
In the afternoon, everyone returned to the school. Susan needed to get accustomed to the school environment because she had just gotten there. Therefore, she worked hard and did not leave the classroom for the entire afternoon.
That afternoon, for some reason, quite a number of people in her faculty found out that she was the aunt of the twins who were in the Faculty of Finance and the Faculty of Design.
“Aunt? The age gap between them isn't that huge. How can she be their aunt?"
"That's how their country is. People have lots of children. By the time the oldest child has their own child, the age of that child is about the same as the youngest sibling."
"Hahaha!"
The entire faculty started gossiping about it.
By the time Susan knew about it, almost everyone was aware.
“Limmer, I heard that gorgeous boy in the Faculty of Finance is your nephew?"
“That's right, Limmer. Before this, I noticed that you were always looking for him. I thought you had a thing for him. It turns out that both of you are related. So, is your nephew's relationship with his girlfriend true?"
"That goes without saying. Even his aunt is already here. Tell me, Limmer. Are you here to keep an eye on them?"
Susan was speechless.
Several of them came up to her and asked about Ian and Sigrun.
Unknowingly, they spoke to Susan the same they would with their own aunts, in a tone full of respect.
Susan's face turned pale as she stared at them.
She wanted to give them an explanation, but she recalled the advice given by people from the White House before she left.
Now that her status was different from before, she could not divulge any information freely for the sake of her own safety, otherwise, no one could guarantee what might happen to her in a foreign country.
In the end, Susan made a run for it.
“Ms. Susan, what's wrong with you? Why are you sweating? Did something happen?"
Just then, Sigrun appeared out of nowhere as Susan ran out of the Faculty of Accounting building.
Susan stopped in her tracks.
When she saw Sigrun, a thought flashed across her mind.
It had been quite some time since she last had any suspicion about people around her. Since the matter with Yasmin and Maurice had been resolved and she had been accepted back into the Limmer family, she did not think she would be in danger again.
After that, she had grown complacent and not bothered to overthink things.
Susan stared at the other female.
“Are you the one behind this?"
"What are you talking about?"
In that instant, Sigrun's face changed.
"What did I do? Ms. Susan, what are you talking about?"
"I have always found it strange that you would appear in front of me every single time something happens to me. It's as if you are expecting it," said Susan as she stared at Sigrun coldly.
That's right. She really does appear every time something happens to me. It's too much of a coincidence. The incident where I failed the test was particularly suspicious.
Come to think of it, it felt as if Sigrun had been leading her in that direction. The entire incident seemed to have happened so naturally, but when she recalled what had happened, she found that everything had been done deliberately.
"1-1 don't know what you are talking about. Ms.
Susan, it's just a coincidence that I showed up in front of you. You shouldn't accuse me for no reason. If you don't like it, I will leave now."
The moment Sigrun realized that the situation was not in her favor, she wanted to get away.
When Susan saw that, she did not stop her either.
However, before Sigrun turned around to leave, Susan added, “I hope this will be the last time. If it happens again, I won't let you off."
Sigrun was dumbfounded.
“Also, since you have started this, then let me inform you officially. That's right. I came here because of Ian. He's mine!"
She had openly staked her claim on Ian!
That declaration truly stunned Sigrun.
She paused in her steps and turned around swiftly. Disbelief was written all over her face.
"What rubbish are you talking about? He's your nephew!"
"No, he isn't. His family name is Hayes. Mine is Limmer. We aren't related."
"But, he has been addressing you as Aunt Susan for over ten years! Everyone is aware of it. How can you be so shameless and end up desiring your own nephew?"
Sigrun blew her top and started scolding Susan while pointing an angry finger at the latter.
In an instant, Susan turned pale.