Ch. 1911..1920
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1911
Sebastian?
The raging anger within Lucius was instantly doused.
At the sight of Sebastian, the arrogance he displayed dissipated within seconds.
Report to both families? If it came to that, no one in Jadeborough would dare to marry Sigrun, let alone continue with the marriage contract. In fact, the Lightburn family's reputation would be utterly ruined!
Lucius no longer had the cheek to continue dwelling on the matter.
When he saw the ashen look on his former subordinate's face, Jonathan's heart softened as he recalled that he was the one who was first at fault.
As a result, he got to his feet.
"All right now, Old Mr. Lightburn. Since I, too, bear responsibility for the matter, why don’t we just cancel the marriage contract on the basis of the children's disagreement? In return, I'll arrange for your grandson to join the army as my apology. Isn't that what he always wanted?"
Lucius fell silent, as it was an attractive proposition indeed.
He was now provided with an opportunity to save face, while the Lightburn family was given the chance to achieve glory similar to that of Sigrun marrying into the
Jadeson family.
Just as expected, Lucius was satisfied with the arrangement and prepared to leave with his granddaughter.
No sooner had he made a move than Sigrun-who had seen her dreams collapse before her-went amok.
"No! It's not like that. I didn't do it out of jealousy, as the problem lies with the two of them. Susan, despite being Ian's aunt, is salivating all over him and sticks to his side like glue. It was she who behaved shamefully first. I did what I did just to protect myself!" Sigrun screamed as if she had gone raving mad.
Susan?
She had barely spoken when the minds of everyone present were blown. All of them stared at Sigrun in disbelief.
How is that possible? She is his aunt, while he's her nephew!
A grave expression descended upon Jonathan's face.
"What did you say? Let me warn you, I have forgiven you on the account of your grandfather. If you continue to spew venomous lies, I'll not show you any more mercy!" he roared with his eyes spitting fire.
Lucius, too, was enraged.
Reaching out to grab her, he dragged her back and got her to shut up.
"You fool, have you not embarrassed yourself enough? How dare you make such baseless accusations?"
"I'm not. It's the truth. In fact, Susan herself has admitted it to me. She told me the reason she acknowledged her family's heritage and changed the way she greets all of you is to enable her to marry into the Jadeson family. If you don't believe me, you can ask her about it!"
Sigrun continued to shriek. Vengeance had driven her into a rampage to drag everyone down with her.
As silence descended upon the room, Jonathan sat frozen as if his head had been hit by a sledgehammer, while his expression mirrored that of a raging inferno.
As someone who lived through the conservative era, titles, reputation, and decency were virtues that he valued highly.
Cognizant of the incendiary atmosphere, the enraged Sasha dashed forward and gave Sigrun-who was laughing hysterically in schadenfreude-a forceful slap.
Slap!
The crisp sound of the impact reverberated throughout the quiet living room.
Dazed from the strike, Sigrun held her face and gave Sasha a look of disbelief. "You..."
"This slap is to teach you-on behalf of your family- when to quit when you've already failed. Didn't your mom teach you any manners when she raised you?"
Slap!
Another strike was heard.
The fuming Sasha struck Sigrun another time in front of everyone in the living room.
"This one is to remind you to keep your nose out of the Jadeson family's business. Even the White House does not interfere in our family affairs, so who do you think you are? Let me tell you, if I hear another word out of your mouth. I'll make sure you disappear from the face of the earth!"
Straightening her collar, Sasha looked down at Sigrun and unleashed a tirade at her. At that moment, everyone was overwhelmed by the intimidating aura exuded by the lady of the Jadeson household.
The last time she had demonstrated such ruthlessness was when she eradicated the Jadesons of The Ataraxy.
Despite her usual warmth and congeniality, no one was to forget that she wasn't one to be trifled with. After all, she was the lady of the most powerful family in the nation, who was even feared by the White House.
As for Sigrun, she was at a loss for words after being hit.
Her hands trembled violently as she looked fearfully at
Sasha, whose flaring temper struck fear into everyone present.
"M-Mrs. Jadeson, Sigrun doesn't know any better. I know you're a magnanimous person, so please, forgive her this once."
Having regained his senses, Lucius hurried to Sigrun's side to plead for mercy. In fact, he was just this close to dropping to his knees.
Unfortunately for him, Sasha couldn't care less about his appeal.
As her fiery gaze swept across the living room, she could see the shock on everyone's faces as they stared at her. Only Sebastian, who was sitting on the couch with his legs crossed, wasn't surprised at all by her behavior.
She sneered, "Nonetheless, it doesn't matter anymore. Since you have bought up the matter, I will answer your question. You're right. The Jadesons and Limmers are preparing to enter a marriage alliance."
"Sasha..."
Jonathan sprang to his feet the instant he heard the revelation.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1912
"What are you babbling about? A marriage alliance between the Jadesons and Limmers? What Limmers? Sebastian, look at your wife. How can you allow her to make such delirious remarks?"
Jonathan threw Sebastian an anxious look.
However, what came as a surprise to everyone was how ridiculously calm he was. In fact, he looked like everything he heard was well within his expectations.
"No, she isn't. What's wrong with what she just said?"
Even though he turned his attention to Jonathan with a face void of emotions, his piercing gaze sent a chill down everyone's eyes.
Jonathan almost blew his top.
"How can there not be a problem? Susan is Colton's daughter. When she was living with the Jadesons, she was considered Ian's aunt. Now that they're going to get married, wouldn't it be incest?"
Overwhelmed by anger, Jonathan had lost any regard for his speech.
Crash!
In that instant, Sebastian, equally enraged, smashed the coffee cup he was holding onto the table.
"What do you mean incest? Since when are they related by blood? Based on your logic, the fact that I, who have
been raised by Frederick who is of your age, am addressing you as Grandpa would be equally inappropriate."
"You..."
Jonathan was so angry that he was stumped for words.
In the end, Mark, hoping to de-escalate the situation, came over to persuade Jonathan, "Old Mr. Jadeson, let me help you back to your room. We'll talk about this later."
With that, he led Jonathan, who was still rolling his eyes in anger, away.
Only then did peace return to the living room.
Meanwhile, Lucius raised his head, thinking that Jonathan's violent reaction had given them a chance.
Much to his dismay, his vision was met by a frosty gaze that sent a shiver down his spine, leaving him speechless.
"Lucius, we have said everything there is to say. Hence, I trust that you're smart enough not to do anything to displease me."
The way Sebastian put things caused Lucius to tremble again.
What does he mean by anything that displeases him?
Obviously, Sebastian was warning them against pursuing the matter further and starting malicious rumors about it.
Nevertheless, Sasha wasn't worried about the second point. From her perspective, it wasn't a big deal as long as Ian and Susan weren't related by blood. After all, there were plenty of married couples in the world who were also relatives in name.
Since the law allowed it, she couldn't understand why the conservative elderly found it difficult to accept the fact.
When she arrived upstairs and saw that Sebastian was right behind her, she asked, "You don't look surprised at all. Have you known about the matter all along?"
Sebastian didn't reply.
It wasn't that he knew, but he did have a hunch about it, especially after his trip to Yeringham.
There, Ian was arrested by the police for destroying public property in a fit of rage. The event had served to intensify Sebastian's suspicions further.
Meanwhile, Sebastian brought a glass to the water dispenser and filled some water for himself.
"I just didn't expect him to be that daring."
"Daring?" Sasha knitted her brows.
"It isn't him being daring. Instead, it's because he lacks a sense of security. Unlike Matteo and Vivi who are more outgoing, he's more introverted and prefers to immerse himself in his own world, as there's where he feels most comfortable," Sasha analyzed patiently.
Sebastian nodded in agreement. "What happened after that? Since he's engrossed in his own world, how did Susan manage to enter it?"
"That's because she has been kind and attentive to him since they were kids. Don't you remember? During Christmas one year, the present he received from Grandpa was different from everyone else's because there wasn't enough to go around.
"Later on, Ian was upset the entire night because he was very sensitive. What's more, he knew his great-grandpa treated him differently from all the other children. As I was busy then, I didn't realize what was going on. It wasn't until Susan headed out to get him the same gift and told him that it was from his great-grandpa that he finally cheered up," Sasha related the past incident.
Even though it had occurred many years ago when Ian was only about seven or eight, she remembered the incident vividly. Susan, who was not even ten then, not only understood his feelings but also went out of her way to get him the same gift.
Consequently, it was hard not to be fond of someone like that.
Sebastian fell silent after Sasha finished.
/ can't deny the fact that it would do Ian a lot of good to have a girl that's caring and attentive by his side.
"In that case, what do you plan to do? Are you really going to announce the engagement with the Limmer family?"
In the end, that was his only question, as his role in his children's marriages was as an executor. The one who made the decisions was naturally his dear wife.
No sooner had he spoken than Sasha shook her head.
"Let's not be hasty for I plan to pay Sigrith a visit first. After all, Ian fell sick in Yartran because of her and even had to get a psychologist to wipe out his memories. Therefore, I would like to question her on what actually happened."
Sasha's tone suddenly turned frosty and even carried a tinge of anger.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1913
Although he did not say anything, Sebastian's expression turned grim in a split second.
That afternoon, Sasha left Oceanic Estate and drove to Golden Heights.
She did not know a grand party was taking place at Golden Heights at that moment. It was Sig nth’s birthday party and all the socialites of Jadeborough were there to celebrate with her.
"Didn't I tell you so, Mrs. Limmer? Everyone cares so much about you! We came over immediately when we heard it is your birthday!"
"That's right, Mrs. Limmer. That's what friends are for!"
Soon, all the ladies were crowding around her, showering her with expensive gifts and fawning over her.
Sigrith was overwhelmed by all the attention. She had moved to Golden Heights half a year ago, and her life had changed drastically during that few months. After being recognized as part of the Limmer family, she found herself thrown into the limelight. From a relatively unknown Mrs. Jadeson, she had become a wildly popular Mrs. Limmer, very much sought after within the high society circle.
The socialites behaved as if Sigrith was their best friend, so she felt obliged to invite the ladies into her home.
When Sasha arrived, what she saw was a beaming Sigrith being surrounded by a crowd of ladies, commanding all the attention of those around her.
What is she doing?
Sasha frowned puzzledly as she parked her car near the main entrance of Golden Heights. She grabbed her bag, alighted from her car, and headed straight into the hall.
"Sigrlth, what are you...?" she blurted out.
The hall suddenly fell into silence, and all the ladies turned toward the entrance upon hearing Sasha's voice. They were taken aback as they had not expected Sasha to be there. Immediately, the atmosphere in the room turned awkward.
"Oh?" A look of panic flashed in Sigrith's eyes as she hurried over to meet Sasha and said, "What brings you here, Sasha? You should have told me you are coming"
"I came to see you. What are you...?" Sasha asked, throwing a glance toward the room full of ladies.
Sigrith's expression betrayed her uneasiness, and she hesitantly replied, "It-t's my birthday today, and the ladies insisted on coming by to celebrate with me. I did not expect so many of them to turn up and am overwhelmed too!"
"Oh, it is your birthday? I am so sorry it slipped my mind!" Sasha felt bad and quickly apologize for it.
It was not easy managing a big family like the Jadesons. There were simply too many things to look into daily at Oceanic Estate, so she could not have possibly remembered everyone's birthday.
Since she knew it was a birthday celebration, she felt obliged to present a gift to the birthday girl.
Sasha immediately removed the elegant green bracelet from her wrist and presented it to Sigrith, saying, "I'm really sorry I did not know it's your birthday, Sigrith. I did not get ready a present for you. This is a bracelet Sebastian bought for me at an auction some years back.
I hope you don't mind and will accept this as our birthday gift to you."
All the ladies in the room gasped at that generous gesture.
The emerald stones on that bracelet were richly colored and had near-perfect transparency, obviously of top quality. Moreover, Sasha mentioned that Sebastian bought it at an auction. That could only mean it was a highly-priced, premium designer piece.
The ladies could imagine the value of that bracelet and were very envious of Sigrith. However, soon they all felt a tinge of embarrassment, as the gifts they brought for Sigrith paled in comparison and definitely looked inferior when placed next to Sasha's gift.
Sigrith was stunned to be presented with such an expensive gift and refused to take it. She only accepted it after much insistence from Sasha.
With Sasha's presence, the ladies became more cautious and restrained. They had to think twice before they speak or stuck to safe and casual conversation topics.
"Are you going to join US at the bannière club, Mrs. Limmer?" Helma asked.
"Oh, Mrs. Croll, that goes without saying. It is our regular activity, so Mrs. Limmer will definitely join US. Isn't that so, Mrs. Limmer?"
The ladies looked toward Sigrith expectantly for a reply, putting her in an awkward spot.
Since she moved to Golden Heights, she had been attending many social activities and was constantly hanging out with the socialites. She had even stopped helping out at Sabrina's bar.
Sasha sat at the table together with the ladies but she did not join in their conversations, as their conversations did not interest her. She slowly sampled the food on the table and quietly kept to herself instead.
Her ears pricked up only when they started talking about Sigrith's children.
"Mrs. Limmer, your daughter is already in her third year in college, isn't she? I heard she was chosen to go overseas on an exchange program. What an impressive achievement! What are her plans after graduation?" one of the ladies asked.
"She...she has not made any plans yet," Sigrith hesitantly replied.
That lady enthusiastically suggested, "What about pursuing a career as an auditor? I heard your daughter is taking a degree in accountancy, so audit would be a good choice for her."
Before Sigrith could reply, another lady interjected and said, "What are you thinking? Mrs. Limmer told US previously that Susan will most likely take up a job overseas. She is acquainted with the wife of the foreign minister in that country. Moreover, she has a handsome boyfriend who is from a prominent family there. I heard he is a high-ranking officer too."
"Oh, really?" All the ladies present were wowed by that news, and instantly, the room was filled with excited chatters.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1914
Some of the ladies were envious of Susan's good fortunes, but many were secretly letting out sighs of disappointment. Those ladies who were disappointed had wanted to introduce their sons to Susan and harbored hopes of becoming in-laws with the Limmers.
Sasha could not hold in her annoyance anymore. She slammed down her cutlery and angrily asked, "Sigrith, did Susan tell you that?"
Sasha's outburst shocked everyone into silence, and when Sigrith turned around and saw how grim-looking Sasha was, she was startled too. "Sasha, I...” she stammered, ashen-faced.
"Sigrith, you should not be speaking untruths. Recently, I made a trip to Yartran to visit Ian as I was worried about his condition. I discovered none of what you just said happened. It is true that Susan paid a visit to Mdm. Bennett, but it was because of Mr. Louis Limmer. She had no further interactions with Mdm. Bennett after that visit. As for the boyfriend that you were talking about, I think it is another lie. Susan has never told me about such a friend."
Sasha bluntly exposed Sigrith’s lies in front of all her friends. She could not understand why Sigrith had turned into such a big liar, going about spreading rumors and boasting shamelessly.
She wondered if Sigrith did that to break Ian and Susan up, or if she had become vain and wanted to boast about her daughter's achievements to elevate her own social standing.
Sigrith's face turned red with embarrassment as the socialites began to throw her mocking looks of contempt while gossiping among themselves.
Within a few minutes, all the ladies left, and only Sasha and Sigrith were left glaring at each other in the empty hall.
A furious and humiliated Sigrith stared coldly at Sasha and hissed, "What is that for, Sasha? Why did you shame me like that in front of all the ladies? Are you trying to make me leave Jadeborough?"
Sasha was speechless, stunned that that was Sigrith's main grouse. She returned a stern stare and said, "I want to ask you the same question. What do you think you are doing? Why did you knowingly spread such lies? Also, what are you trying to achieve by pushing my son into such a predicament?"
Sigrith was cowed by Sasha's stern questioning. She muttered feebly, "l-l have no idea what you are talking about..."
"You have no idea? Do you want me to refresh your memory? Sigrith, the Jadesons have treated you well all these years. Did Sebastian and I not do everything we could for you and your family? Why are you doing that to my son? If you have any objections to his relationship with Susan, you can come to me with your complaints. Why do you resort to hurting my son?"
Sasha was getting agitated and trembling with anger. The thought that her son nearly lost his memory and shut himself off from the world terrified her.
Sigrith was stumped for words, guilty. She could not think of anything to say to fend off those accusations.
"I want the truth from you, Sigrith. What did you say to Ian, and why did you kneel before him?" Sasha demanded.
"1-1..."
"Tell me!" Sasha roared, and her anger caused all the helpers in the room to cower in fear.
Sigrith trembled fearfully for a while before she finally managed to find her voice. "I... I thought their relationship was a bad idea. They are technically aunt and nephew, so it will not work out."
"Is that so?" Sasha gave her a wry smile before adding, "Aunt and nephew huh? Is that the reason? If you have their best interest at heart, you should have discussed this with Sebastian and me, and not confront Ian directly. He is only nineteen, still young and innocent. How do you expect a young boy like to handle that?"
Seeing Sigrith could not defend herself, Sasha stared intently at her and blurted out, "You did that because you were worried about Ian's condition, didn't you?"
Sigrith looked up in fear, her eyes popped wide open in shock. "No, no! That's not what it is. Don't get the wrong idea, Sasha!" She shook her head profusely and hurriedly denied Sasha's question.
"Wrong idea?" Sasha could not help but give her a mocking laugh.
"Let's do some analysis and see if I really got the wrong idea. Ian and his siblings were only seven when they were brought to the Jadesons. Sebastian and I had to spend all our energy and attention fighting against Eddie and his scheming plots. We had no choice but to leave the three kids in the care of the other family members, which included you," Sasha said.
"I remember Matteo and Vivian received praises constantly from all of you. Everyone in the family complimented them for being obedient and sensible. On the other hand, no one has ever praised Ian. Why is that so? Because he is aloof and keeps to himself. He has a quick temper, will flare up, and start throwing things around whenever he gets upset, right?" She looked coldly at Sigrith and asked.
Sigrith silently looked down and avoided her gaze.
Unable to get a response from Sigrith, Sasha continued, "After knowing how Duncan met his sad end, Ian locked himself in his room for three whole days, refusing to come out. By then, everyone in the Jadeson family would have realized he is a special needs kid."
"No, no..." Sigrith denied.
"No? Then, why would Susan pay special attention to Ian? Sigrith, you are good at covering up, but you have forgotten that what you said to your kids will be reflected in their behavior." Sasha reminded Sigrith of that obvious fact.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1915
"No, no..." Sigrith denied.
"No? Then, why would Susan pay special attention to Ian? Sigrith, you are good at covering up, but you have forgotten that what you said to your kids will be reflected in their behavior." Sasha reminded Sigrith of that obvious fact.
Indeed. If Sigrith had not given special instructions to her two kids, Susan, a mere ten-year-old kid at that time, would not have given special attention to Ian.
She was a kind and sensible girl, but she was too young and innocent to know how to be mindful of someone or something. She was definitely advised by an adult to do so.
Sasha could imagine Sigrith telling Susan and Timothy about the special kid from Oceanic Estate, and all the unusual things that Ian did. Being an intelligent girl, Susan remembered every word her mother told her.
What Sigrith had not expected was that her warning to her kids about Ian led to a completely different outcome. Instead of staying away from Ian, the kind-hearted Susan ended up becoming more caring and protective of him.
Sigrith lost the last trace of color on her face, worried as she realized Sasha had seen through her excuses.
She was astonished Sasha was so smart and had figured out everything after making just a single trip to visit Ian.
Deep in her heart, Sigrith never thought she had done anything wrong. Sebastian was a good example of how horrifying Ian could turn out to be in the future.
She would never forget the bloody scene at The Ataraxy when Sebastian killed everyone there.
Yes, what have I done wrong? No mother would want her daughter to marry a mentally unstable guy! What is wrong with a mother being protective other daughter?
With that justification in mind, Sigrith calmed down and was no longer afraid to face Sasha. She tidied her hair, sat down, and made her argument.
"Yes, you are right. I did look Ian up and pleaded for him to leave Susan. But I don't think I did anything wrong, Sasha. You are a good example. You married Sebastian and suffered so much all those years! How can I allow my daughter to walk down the same path as you? Do you really think I did wrong?"
"What?" Sasha was devastated to hearthat. She had not expected Sigrith to justify her actions in that manner!
She leapt to her feet, burning with rage.
"That is ridiculous, Sigrith! Sebastian was pushed to the corner by the Jadesons, and had no choice but to react in that manner. What has that got to do with Ian?” she howled.
"I have made some research into it. Mental problems can be hereditary. Ian has always been special since he was young. His reaction to Duncan's incident was a telltale
sign. Don't you agree that he could end up like his father?" Sigrith rebutted.
Sasha was so furious she almost fainted. She pointed her finger accusingly at Sigrith but could not find the words to express her anger and deep disappointment.
Sigrith was a living proof of the ugly human nature.
In the end, Sasha stumbled out of Golden Heights, went straight into her car, and wailed.
She had not shed a tear for a long time, but Sigrith's words devastated her. It was extremely painful to know that her precious son was being seen as a freak by those around him.
Sasha was reduced to a zombie by the immense sorrow in her. When Sebastian found her, she was seated in a cafe in town, staring blankly at the people passing by. There was nothing but deep sadness in her swollen and reddened eyes
When Sebastian saw her in that sorry state, his heart ached for her. He already knew about the matter and was just as furious as she was. However, at that moment, looking at his despondent wife, he felt the pain more than the fury.
He went over and sat down next to her. Wrapping her in his arms, he consoled her. "It's going to be okay. Don't be sad. Her opinion does not matter. Susan is already a grown-up, so we only need to ask her for her stand on the matter."
His words brought tears to her eyes again.
"Ian is really a good boy. He is fine, and he does not..." All her suppressed sorrow erupted and she broke down in his comforting embrace.
Indeed, no mother could bear hearing her child being called a freak.
Sebastian brought her home, and later in the evening, he made a call to Susan.
Susan had just finished school when she got the call.
When she saw on the screen of her phone that the caller was Sebastian, she instantly became nervous. She had always been in awe of him. In his presence, she would constantly worry about speaking or behaving inappropriately and earning his disapproval.
"Uncle..." She nervously picked up the call and greeted Sebastian.
Sebastian's tone, on the other hand, was gentle.
"Susan, I heard from Sasha about you and Ian. I wish to know how you feel about the matter and what your plans are." He went straight to the point and did not beat around the bush.
"Huh?" Susan was stunned and at a loss for words.
She always thought no one knew about her relationship with Ian, so it was a big shock when she realized that the elders had found out.
It was even more shocking when Sebastian asked her about her plans.
Traditionally, a couple would want to get their blessings from the family before planning for a marriage, so she did not think she could make a decision all by herself.
"Un-uncle Sebastian, I think you can go ahead and discuss this matter with my mom..." Susan was blushing, too shy to give him a straight answer.
To her horror, Sebastian's tone turned solemn, and he told her the devastating news. "Your mom disapproves of your relationship. She thinks Ian will inherit my mental problem. That is the reason why I am calling you to find out about your stand."
What!
Susan stood rooted to the ground, thunderstruck by the terrible news, It took her a while to recover from the shock, and she was so infuriated that she blurted out, "Is she crazy?"
After that, she hung up abruptly in anger, forgetting that it was her most respected Uncle Sebastian on the other end of the line.
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After booking her air ticket, Susan went back to her apartment to pack her luggage. She was in the hall, getting ready to leave for the airport when someone suddenly opened the door to her apartment.
"Ian! Why are you back?" she exclaimed in surprise, looking at the young man standing in her doorway, panting breathlessly.
He was supposed to be having his meal at Lady Adalyn's restaurant, so she did not expect him to turn up so unexpectedly.
Susan was standing in the middle of the hall, and she had her luggage next to her. Ian's eyes were fixed on the luggage while he silently stood in front of her.
She could sense a weird vibe coming off him as he questioned, "Where are you going?"
"1-1 have to head home to attend to something," she hesitantly replied. She did not dare look him in the eyes as she was worried he would ask about the purpose of her trip home.
Unfortunately, that made Ian even more suspicious and mad.
"Is that so? Are you not moving to one of those prestigious schools that the kids from the prominent families are attending?" he asked angrily.
"Huh?" Susan looked up puzzledly.
Prominent families? What prominent families? And what is that about a prestigious school?
She had no idea what he was talking about, but being the smart and sensitive girl that she was, she could tell that he was furious. "I am really going home, Ian," she assured him.
Without any warning, Ian ran over, snatched the luggage from her hand, and hurled it to the other end of the hall.
Thump!
The luggage fell to the ground in a loud thud and frightened the life out of Susan.
"What are you doing, Ian? You-"
Thud!
Another loud banging sound, but that time, Susan was the victim instead of the luggage bag.
Suddenly, Ian pushed her against the wall and, making use of his big, tall build, trapped her there.
Susan was stunned.
She cowered like a terrified little prey and looked fearfully at the scary youth in front of her,
"I am asking you one more time. Where are you going?" His tone was harsh, and his bloodshot eyes were staring menacingly at Susan, giving her the creeps.
Susan swallowed hard and tried to back off from the intimidating Ian. She timidly looked up at him and said, "I...I am really going home. I am going to see my mom."
That took Ian by surprise, but before he could utter a word, she continued, "Ian, I have a question for you. Do you... do you like me?"
It was an unexpected turn of events. When pushed to the point of desperation, Susan actually mustered up the courage to ask that question.
Ian felt like he was hit by a thunderbolt. His mind turned blank as he looked down at Susan from his domineering position.
He could not believe his ears, that she actually asked if he liked her.
"If... if you like me, please promise me that you will wait for me to come back. Don't run away again, and don't leave me. Shall we be together when I come back?" Susan was blushing as she made that proposal, and the tears that were brimming in her eyes rolled down her cheeks.
Ian was dumbfounded. It took him a long time to recover from the daze, and when he did, he slowly reached out his hand and gently wiped the tears from her eye.
"Sure..." he said, as he gazed dreamily at her.
He voice was hoarse, but he spoke clearly and affirmatively.
Susan broke into a big smile, and those eyes of hers that were staring into his were dancing with joy. Before she knew it, she had tiptoed, reached toward him, and gently planted a kiss on his lips.
To both Susan and Ian, time stood still at that moment, and it felt as if the whole world froze in time.
For more than a minute, the young couple froze in place. Their lips were locked together, but their minds were blank.
They could only feel each other's soft lips and warm breaths. Everything else did not exist anymore.
That was what a beautiful and unforgettable first love was all about. Nothing could be more blissful than knowing that the person you love actually loved you too.
Ian could not recall when and how Susan left the apartment.
When he finally snapped out of his daze, he was standing alone in the empty hall. After a while, he slowly reached out and touched his own lips, and a satisfied smile appeared on his blushing face.
However, he was soon filled with remorse. As a man, he felt he should have been the one taking the initiative and regretted not having done so.
Susan made a mad escape to the airport, her heart still pounding wildly as she boarded the plane. Her face was flushed from embarrassment and her head giddy with delight.
She was still in disbelief that she made such a bold move earlier, so much so that she wished the ground would open up and swallow her. Even recollection of that incident made her blush.
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She had to admit that she was really happy.
It seemed like the matter she had been concerned about for a long time was finally settled. She was thrilled, and she could feel a sense of joy she had never felt before.
The plane soared through the air.
By the time she got back to the country, it was already late at night. As she did not inform anyone about her arrival, Susan hailed a cab to get home.
"Mister, to Golden Heights, thank you."
"Golden Heights?"
The cab driver turned to glance at her through the rearview mirror.
"Miss, you're going to Golden Heights? Are you someone from the Limmer family?"
"What?"
Susan snapped her head upward to look at him. "Mister, how do you know about the Limmer family? You're..."
The cab driver chuckled. "Of course, I know about the Limmer family. I'm sure the Jadeborough people all know what place is Golden Heights. However, something happened at Golden Heights today. I heard that the Limmer family's widow had a conflict with the Jadesons."
"What? A conflict?"
Susan's face went pale.
What kind of conflict? What did my mom do this time?
Susan was panicking to the point cold sweat was beaded on her forehead. She instantly asked, "What kind of conflict? Mister, can you tell me more about it?"
The cab driver answered, "I heard this from someone else. Apparently, the Limmer family's widow was celebrating her birthday with a party today, and Mrs. Jadeson attended it too. However, they ended up fighting because of her daughter's matter, and Mrs. Jadeson left angrily. The widow of the Limmer family couldn't take the pressure, and she actually tried to kill herself at Golden Heights this afternoon."
"What?"
What is she thinking about? Trying to kill herself?
Susan's heart sank to the bottom, and she shook from the fury she felt.
She then took out her phone and made a call to someone despite how late it already was.
"Hello?"
The moment she heard the voice of the woman on the other end, she hastily choked out, "M-Mrs. Hayes, it's Susan. I'd like to ask what... happened to my mom. I heard from the cab driver that she tried to kill herself. What's going on?"
Susan knew how terrible the Limmer family's relationship with the Jadeson family would become if that were true. In that case, what hope could she still have to be together with that young man?
Fortunately, the woman on the other end of the call quickly consoled her upon hearing her anxious voice, "Susan, don't panic. Your mom's fine. We had a talk in the afternoon, and she was worried that I would blame her, so she was trapped with stubborn thoughts.
"Mrs. Hayes..."
The moment Susan heard that, she could no longer stop her tears from rolling down her cheeks.
About forty minutes later, Susan arrived at the hospital downtown.
The moment she got out of the cab, she rushed straight into the building.
"Hello, can I ask if a patient named Sigrith Halford is here?
"Sigrith Halford?"
The nurse on shift furrowed her brows.
Just as she was about to check the records, a tall man stepped out of the elevator. When that man saw Susan, his eyes lit up.
"Susan, why are you here?"
"Timothy?"
Susan was surprised.
The siblings then went to the inpatient section, and on their way there, Susan learned about the incident from Timothy.
"I'm telling you. This matter happened because Ian's mom is a little too mean. All Mom did was mention that you found a boyfriend during the birthday party. She refuted her in front of so many people, so don't you think that Mom would be embarrassed?" Timothy growled.
A boyfriend?
Susan immediately stopped in her tracks and turned to look at her brother. "Who told her that I have a boyfriend? When did I have a boyfriend?"
Instinctively, she realized that might be the root of the problem.
She knew that Ian must not be the boyfriend her mother was talking about, for the two of them had yet to say anything to their family. Even they themselves did not make their relationship official until not long ago before she boarded the plane.
Indeed, just as those words were out of her mouth, her brother gave her a strange look.
"Isn't he that officer from an aristocratic family? Weren't you the one who told Mom this? Why else would she
have told those rich ladies?"
"I didn't!" Susan fumed, her face turning red from anger.
An officer from an aristocratic family? So it's Vincent. When have I said that he's my boyfriend? I have never mentioned him during our calls.
The more Susan thought about it, the more she felt that something was amiss. However, before she could reach the ward, she heard the discussion at the nurses' station.
"Say, Mrs. Jadeson made the Limmer family's widow kill herself. What are the Jadesons going to do with this matter? They're not going to dismiss the matter just like this, right?"
"What's odd about that? The Jadesons are powerful. It's nothing new if they just ignore it."
The person sighed.
Susan had just heard a few sentences from them, but they were all criticisms of the Jadesons.
Susan's expression turned grimmer. She then ignored the talking people and went straight into the ward.
Creak.
When the door opened, Susan was greeted with the sight of the patient inside eating an apple. Although the woman's face was a little pale, it was clear that she seemed fine.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1918
"What are you doing?"
Susan walked over to the bed.
Sigrith panicked when Susan entered. She turned in shock to look at her daughter, who had returned out of the blue, and was at a loss for words for a moment.
"You-"
"Tell me. What are you trying to do? Kill yourself? Why are you trying to kill yourself? Did you think that you were in the right? When have I ever told you that I've found a boyfriend? Moreover, you said that my boyfriend's an officer from an aristocratic family."
Susan was not going to beat around the bush with Sigrith at all.
The moment she reached the bed, she began questioning her mother in a stern tone without hesitation.
When Timothy heard her, he berated Susan in a tone tinged with anger, "Susan Limmer, what are you doing? Instead of expressing concern for her, you're chiding her! You're her daughter, not her mother!"
When Sigrith realized that her son was siding with her, confidence began growing in her.
"That's right. I'm your mother. Not only are you not helping me out, but you're even berating me the moment you get here. Do you even have a heart?"
"A heart?" Surprisingly, Susan calmed down at the peak of her anger.
"You know what it's like to have a heart? To have a heart, you must first be morally right, but is that what you're doing right now? What have you done instead? Don't you know the people are saying that the Jadesons are bullies? Is this what you want to see?"
Sigrith did not answer her.
"Or could it be that you've done this on purpose? What are you trying to do? Do you think that you get to twist words now that your husband's surname is Limmer and you've moved into Golden Heights? Do you think that everything you say is right? Do you think that the Jadesons can't do anything to you anymore?" Susan roared furiously.
Susan could guess that her mother had done it deliberately. However, she could not wrap her mind around what her mother had in mind. Does she think that she's powerful enough to go up against the Jadesons now? She's even trying to turn the public against the Jadesons!
Susan was about to go mad from the wrath she felt.
Nevertheless, Sigrith still did not think that she had done anything wrong. After her brief moment of anger, she retorted, "Cease the nonsense. I only did that because I felt ashamed."
"That's right, Susan. Why must you say such harsh things? This is our mother you're talking about. Is she that bad?" Timothy chimed in.
Upon hearing them, Susan felt anger rush through her, and she barked out a laugh. Then, she fixed her gaze on her mother and coldly uttered, "I'm sure she knows better than me whether or not that's the case. Furthermore, you know best what happened between the two of you."
Sigrith fell silent.
After the moment of panicking, she dared not even look into her daughter's eyes anymore.
Truth be told, Sigrith was a little afraid of her daughter. Susan had been too smart since young. Nothing Sigrith did could escape Susan's eyes. However, Timothy was denser, unlike his sister.
Therefore, after her father's death and the fact that she had grown up, she became the one with the most say when it came to family matters.
In the end, Sigrith said nothing, for not long after, Sasha and Sebastian from the Jadeson family came.
When Sasha arrived and saw the arguing mother-and- daughter duo, she intervened and asked her to step out of the room for a chat. "Susan, don't blame your mother for this anymore. Come out for a moment. I'd like to talk to you about something."
It was then Susan left the room.
Once Susan stepped out of the room and before she could say anything, Susan's eyes reddened.
"All right, all right. Don't cry first. This isn't as serious as you think it is. We'll deal with this well, so don't worry;’ Sasha reassured.
Susan just kept wiping her tears away until she could calm down. Then, she raised her head to look at Sasha and Sebastian before choking out, "Thank you, Mrs.
Hayes."
In the end, she could only thank Sasha for her merciful nature.
After all, Susan genuinely did not know how else to express her apologetic feelings about the current situation.
When Sasha saw Susan's miserable expression, she reached out to pat her head dotingly. "There's no need for you to be so courteous with US, and don't be mad with your mother because of this. Your mother has done all these for you."
"For me?"
"Yes, for you. Susan, remember this, every mother wants to treat their children well. Sometimes, they might do the wrong things for the sake of their children. However, you have to remember not to resent her for her actions, for no matter what she did, she did it for you," Sasha solemnly said to Susan as she looked at the younger woman.
Susan froze.
As she stared at Sasha, who was also a mother, in a daze, she mulled about her mother. All of a sudden, she felt that the two women were two vastly different people.
Susan was not talking about status or identity; she was talking about their characters.
My mother should be ashamed of what she has done.
In the end, Susan watched the couple leave. By the time she returned to the ward, she had already recomposed herself.
However, that was not the case for Sigrith, who began defensive once she saw her daughter entering the room. Before Susan could say anything, Sigrith questioned, "What did she tell you? Did she tell you everything?"
"Huh?"
Susan drew her brows together.
Yet, when her mother saw that frown on her, she went mad.
"Yes, I admit that I did this so that you won't be with her son. I got on my knees and begged him, but what did I do wrong? Susan, you're my daughter! How can I possibly watch you marry a mentally ill man without doing anything?"
The ward fell silent after Sigrith's outburst.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1919
That was a question Susan contemplated in the past too.
Why did Ian erase his memories?
Back then, she felt that it was because she was not brave enough at that time. However, with the way the two interacted at Yeringham, and with how the young man had returned without a second thought when he heard that she felt bad about the comments from others, she wondered if he truly needed to forget about her.
Susan was suspicious about it.
However, by then, Ian had already forgotten all about her.
She had not dared to ask him about it, and nor did she dare to ask anyone about it. Susan had been afraid that she would not be able to stay by his side if she were to make him mad.
It was only now she finally knew that her suspicions had been right-something else was at play.
"Mom, do you know what you're doing? Do you know... what he had to go through because you kneeled before him? In the end, he had to get a psychologist to erase the terrible memory you gave him to carry on with his life!" Susan screamed as she fixed her bloodshot eyes on her mother.
The heartache and anger she felt were spilling out of her, but all she could do was bellow them in her mother's face.
Yes. Does she know how badly she had hurt him? Does she think that only her children deserve to be treated well while someone else's children don't?
"I... I...”
Sigrith never thought that the boy she had kneeled before and pleaded with had suffered that much. Instantly, she became distressed.
"Susan, I... I didn't think that much. I just wanted... I just wanted him to leave you!"
"But that doesn't mean you can do that!" Susan roared. "When Timothy had seizures as a kid and was laughed at by other kids, you were livid. Why didn't you think about what you felt back then, huh? Why don't you think about how his mother felt when you called him a freak? How can you be so selfish?"
Susan burst into tears.
As she stared at her mother, she let the disappointment and devastation wash over her.
How can she do that?
Finally, Timothy understood what was going on, and he whipped his head to the side to look at his mother in disbelief.
"Mom, did you really do that? Why did you say that Ian was mentally ill? Ian is fine. Why did you come to the conclusion that he's mentally ill?"
"I... I...*
"It's because she saw Ian's father kill the people from The Ataraxy back then!" Susan yelled, tears still streaming down her face.
"Her father has psychological issues, so she felt that Ian has them too. That was why she did that."
"Are you crazy? How can you think of that? Mr. Hayes went mad back then because his uncle, Charles, destroyed his family. Also, even though he has psychological issues, did you forget that he saved this world? What were you thinking? How can you do something like that?"
Even Timothy turned furious after hearing his sister's words.
Although he was not as smart as his sister, he grew up under his father's guidance. Therefore, he could still think critically about major matters.
By then, Sigrith was as pale as a sheet.
She never thought that her son would end up chiding her as well. Forced to a dead end, she could only insist that she was doing it for Susan.
"For me?"
Susan could no longer believe those words, for she realized that the religious and cowardly Sigrith back then would never muster enough courage to kneel before Ian
and beg him.
Yet, she had done it.
Susan then calmed down, but she continued fixing her tearful eyes on her mother, who had turned into a stranger with a familiar face.
"If you want me to forgive you, then you'll have to apologize to Mr. and Mrs. Hayes. You have to apologize to Ian too."
•r I n
"Also, I'll be moving out of Golden Heights tomorrow.
We’ll be finding a new place."
Sigrith never thought her daughter would say that to her.
Thus, she turned anxious.
"Move out? Where are we going? That place belongs to the Limmer family!"
"It's the Limmer family's property, but we have no right to stay in there anymore. I don't want to ruin my grandpa's reputation. He has a good reputation, and nothing could make up for it if we were to ruin his reputation," Susan grimly uttered, her voice echoing in the ward.
Sigrith's already colorless face turned paler.
For a moment, she felt as if her husband was the one standing in front of her-the man who everyone thought was gentle and nice was standing in front of her.
He was standing there with his eyes wide in righteous fury.
Indeed, no one knew that Colton Limmer had two different sides to him-one for the outsiders, and one for the family.
Around others, he always played the part of a nice man. However, the moment he was home, everyone had to go by the rules, including Sigrith. She was never allowed to do anything immoral at all.
His Secret Lover Returning from the Dead Chapter 1920
In the end, Sigrith slumped down.
The next morning, Sebastian was stunned when he received a call from the White House, saying that the Limmers were moving out of Golden Heights.
"Why?"
"We are not sure. It's just that Mr. Louis Limmer's granddaughter came to US early in the morning and told us that she was going to return the house to the museum. She said that the people would be able to get to know her grandpa better and to learn how challenging it had been for the pioneers to create a peaceful era we live in now."
At that, the man in charge of the White House could not help but sigh wistfully.
It was true that a sensible child like her was a rare sight. She was big-hearted and could see the big picture. Most importantly, she was willing to give up the luxurious life she could have had. Her actions stunned even adults like them.
Even Sebastian was shocked for a moment.
Nevertheless, he was also relieved, for that meant he had not misjudged her character.
"I got it. Give them a villa, but keep it low profile. If she doesn't agree to it, tell her that they have different identities now, so the White House has the need to ensure their safety."
Sebastian was a smart man, and he could guess that Susan might turn down the offer of the villa. That was why he gave the man an excuse to convince Susan otherwise.
The man agreed to it.
That noon, Susan and Timothy packed up and brought their luggage to move to a neighborhood called Jasper Lake.
"Susan, this place is where the retired cadres of White House live. If your grandpa was alive, he would have lived with you here. Therefore, please don't turn US down anymore."
"I see. All right, then. Thank you," Susan finally agreed after taking a glance at the neighborhood that did not seem too extravagant.
Meanwhile, Timothy agreed to everything in his sister's plan.
However, once the siblings entered the house that was given to them, Susan told him, "Timothy, we'll still have to pay them a sum every month for this house. We can't stay here for free. Once we buy it, we'll be able to stay here without harboring the thought that we've taken advantage of others."
"Okay," Timothy easily agreed.
After all, they were young and capable, so they would be able to find a way to earn a living.
That night, the family of three moved in.
Once Susan unpacked, she went straight to Oceanic Estate to visit Sasha and Sebastian.
Of course, she was also there to visit Jonathan.
When Jonathan saw her, he was immediately struck with the thought of how Susan, who called him Grandpa Jonathan for twenty years, was about to call him Greatgrandpa and might even become his greatgranddaughter-in-law.
That thought made him uneasy.
"M-Mrs. Hayes, I'm here on behalf of my mother to apologize to you. My mom... My mom, she shouldn't have..?
"Oh, my, Susan, what are you holding? Is that for me to eat? Hurry up and show them to me! I haven't had my dinner yet."
Just as Susan was stammering and trying to tell Sasha about what her mother had done, Sasha abruptly ran over, interrupted her, and snatched the basket in Susan's hands.
At that, Susan was forced to focus on the basket.
"Yes, I brought them back from Atlantius. Mrs. Hayes, didn't you say that the turkey there was delicious? That's why I brought a few." Susan lowered her head and opened the basket.
Alas...
"Yes, yes, it's delicious! Come on, let's go to the kitchen to chop them up right now."
With that, Susan dragged Susan away.
Susan was confounded the entire time.
After the two entered the kitchen, Sasha took a glance outside and closed the door before finally whispering, "Grandpa doesn't know about Ian's incident yet, so don't tell him anything."
Susan went quiet.
She then raised her head to look at Sasha for while before her eyes suddenly reddened.
/S she... worried that Old Mr. Jadeson will detest me even more after finding out about the incident?
Susan could not find any words to describe what she felt. The only thing she knew was that her eyes felt hot. When she lowered her head, the hot tears escaped.
"Oh no. Don't cry. Why are you crying all of a sudden?" Sasha anxiously asked.
However, she soon saw the girl smiling after a bout of crying.
"You..."
"Mrs. Hayes, you're so kind to me. I'm so glad to meet someone as nice as you. I... I..." Susan was sobbing so much she could not even finish her sentence.
Seeing that, Sasha sighed.
She finally put down the turkey in her hand and reached out to wipe away Susan’s tears.
"You're a kind person too. Do you know how moved and happy I was when I first saw the way you defended Ian fearlessly? Honestly, out of the three children, I worry about Ian the most. He has been the most aloof among the three. At the same time, he was also sensitive and fragile. I was terrified that his other half will not be a good person for him," Sasha said with tears in her eyes.
She felt that the girl was not completely right in saying that she was lucky to meet her. In fact, the mother-and- son were lucky to have met a sensible and caring girl like her.
Susan had no idea that her presence was the light that had brightened up Ian's darkest moments in life.