Ethan stood frozen in the memory room, his heart aching. The walls, covered floor-to-ceiling with photos of their shared past, were irrefutable proof: Lucas hadn't moved on. His heart clenched, and his eyes instantly filled with tears.
"Ahhh, Ethan! I guess these should definitely fit you!" Lucas called out, stepping back into the bedroom from the closet, holding a bundle of clothes.
Before Lucas could enter the memory room and see him there, Ethan quickly wiped his eyes, stepped back into the main bedroom, and assumed a casual stance, feigning total ignorance of the room.
Lucas entered. "Hmm, you've become so skinny. Look at you. I guess this will fit you a bit, but even if it doesn't, you don't have any other clothes! This is the last one."
Ethan, still affected by the room's revelation, confronted him. "What, am I going to be left to stay without any clothes?"
"Wow! That's an amazing idea!" Lucas's eyes gleamed mischievously. "I'll tell someone to bring Eli here. You can stay without clothes... with me!"
Ethan snatched the clothes from Lucas. "Where should I change my clothes?"
Lucas pointed to the dressing area. After Ethan disappeared, Lucas sat on the bed. His mind instantly went to the challenge he'd made with Eli. He quickly grabbed his Camera, opened it, and positioned it subtly on the nearby table.
Now it's perfect. Lucas smirked. I'm going to take some photos with my darling—photos that are close—to showcase my love. My dear son, I'm definitely going to be your dad very soon.
Ethan emerged, wearing Lucas's large T-shirt and sweatpants.
"Ohh," Lucas complemented, his eyes tracing Ethan's figure. "Even if it's a bit too big, you still look cute."
Ethan rolled his eyes and casually walked past Lucas toward the bed to retrieve his phone. As he walked, Lucas smoothly stuck his leg out. Ethan stumbled and fell directly onto Lucas on the bed. Lucas immediately secured his waist, holding him close.
Ethan didn't pull back initially, enjoying the closeness, but the reality of Eli and the danger soon hit him. He scrambled up.
"Ahhh, I might be late. I need to go pick up Eli from school now!" Ethan said quickly.
Lucas sighed, sitting up. "Ethan, can I ask you something?"
Ethan turned back, looking curious.
"Are you uncomfortable whenever I get close to you?" Lucas asked, his tone suddenly vulnerable. "I mean, I know I was wrong before, and I'm trying my best to get you to love me again. But whenever you hold back, I think you're uncomfortable with me."
Ethan stood up sassily. In his heart, he had already forgiven Lucas, but his pride—and the memory of his suffering—demanded a price.
"Hey, don't act like this. You're not too formal," Ethan said rudely. "I am never going to forgive you easily." He walked toward the door, then turned, a wicked smirk on his lips. "But... if you pursue me like this, maybe... maybe I'll forgive you out of pity."
Lucas was instantly surprised, then his own smirk returned. "I knew you wouldn't disappoint me." He strode straight to Ethan, grabbed his waist, and leaned in to kiss him.
Ethan covered Lucas's mouth with his hand. "Hey! When did I say I forgive you?"
"Oh, how many months do you need? Tell me!" Lucas said confidently. "I know you're a hardball. Even when I first proposed to you five years ago—I was only 18, and you were 23—you were tough to get. But yet, I succeeded in making you fall for me! Now you already love me. This isn't tough at all! Tell me how many days or months you need to forgive me?" Lucas asked.
"Days?" Ethan laughed heartily. "Count that as a year. Maybe five years, maybe twenty years, or maybe when you're old and your hair turns grey! I'm not going to forgive you easily. Even at that age, you should pursue me until I forgive you. That's the deal!"
"Ohhh, okay, okay!" Lucas accepted eagerly. "I'll definitely hunt you down. But can I ask you one thing?" Lucas gave him a mischievous, double-meaning look.
Ethan stared. "What about that?"
"That!" Lucas took Ethan's hand and placed it on his chest. "Baby, that! Can we do that? It's been years! After you, I never did that!" Lucas confessed without shame.
"Eww!" Ethan snatched his hand away. "You haven't changed a bit, just gotten old! And how should I believe that after me, you didn't do anything? Who knows? Maybe you went abroad and forgot about me, got into affairs, blah, blah! Who knows?" Ethan commanded, stepping back. "Until I trust you, you are not allowed to even touch me. Got it?"
Lucas nodded cutely, a triumphant look in his eyes—he had his challenge.
A short while later, Lucas had the driver take Ethan to the hospital back.
Meanwhile, Miss Rosy Sefan was sitting in her lavish office cabin, working intensely. Suddenly, her private line rang—an unknown number.
"Hello? Who is that?" Sefan demanded, her voice sharp and arrogant.
"Hello, Miss Sefan." A woman's voice replied, smooth and carrying a distinct, cool confidence.
Sefan froze, her eyes widening in genuine shock. "Vic... Victoria!" she surprisingly asked.
"Yes, correct, my dear sister-in-law," Victoria replied, her voice laced with a sassy, challenging attitude. "You finally found me... after all these years!"
After a while Ethan quickly retrieved his car from the hospital parking lot and drove straight to the school. He picked up Eli, and they walked toward the car together.
"Hii, Dr. Ethan Stan!"
Ethan turned to see who it was. Standing there, sleek and smiling with malicious intent, was Selena.