Chapter 264


    Chapter 264 I Hope You Don’t Regret This


    In the stillness of the night, the wind outside rustled the tree branches and caused the heavy curtains to


    billow.


    The weather in April wasn’t too cold. As the wind blew into the ward, a bitter scent of herbs filled the air.


    Upon waking, Vera didn’t want to face Eric. She turned her head to look out the window at the fluttering


    curtains. “If you don’t want me anymore, why are you still at the hospital? You should go. I don’t need


    you


    to take care of me.”


    Eric picked up the medicine from the bedside table. It was a thick ck liquid that emitted an


    unpleasant smell. “Alright,” he said, setting down the bowl of medicine. He stood up and nced at his


    wristwatch. “It’s twelve now. I’ll give you ten minutes to calm down. Think it over, and I’lle back in.”


    “Eric!” Vera anxiously called out to him.


    Eric halted in his tracks.


    “Are you calm now?”


    Vera bit her lip and nodded, “Yes.”


    Eric sat down by the bed, tucking her in with the quilt. “Drink it while it’s hot. After the drip, I’ll take you


    home. There’s no rush to go to school tomorrow. I’ve already taken leave for you.”


    Vera grasped his hands with both of hers, interlocking their fingers. Her face was pale as she pleaded,


    “Eric, can we just pretend that nothing happened earlier? I’m still your girlfriend. Can we please not


    break up? You may not like me now, but who knows, you might in the future. I know you’re into


    someone like Eileen. I can change for you and be the type you like. As long as you don’t break up


    with me, I’m willing to do anything.”


    Loving someone was the ultimate form of humility.


    Throughout their lives, they had experienced so much together. Vera had quietly resolved to be


    his wife in the future, a decision that would never change.


    Despite her pleas, her voice was filled with restraint.


    “Vera, your life isn’t limited to just one choice. What if, in the next three years of university, you meet


    someone even better than me?”


    Tears welled up in Vera’s eyes as she shook her head. “There’s no one better than you out there.”


    Eric heaved a deep sigh. “Nothing in this world is absolute, Vera. Can I promise you one thing? From


    now until you graduate from university, if you haven’t found someone else you like and I’m not married


    with children in three years, then I will marry you, okay?”


    Vera hesitated. “But… what if you change your mind?”


    “I would never lie to you.” Noticing theck of protest, Eric continued, “I just want to give you a chance


    to think things through thoroughly. Marriage is a lifelongmitment, and I might not be as good a


    person as you imagine, Vera. You also know that I still have important things to do in the Swan family.”


    Vera’s face suddenly changed slightly, as she hadn’t forgotten why Chandler had died.


    1/3


    Everything that Eric did was rted to Eileen.


    It was all for her. She identally fell into the pool during the banquet and… and nearly drowned. All of


    this had something to do with Chandler. Later on, Eric avenged her by killing Chandler. Everything she


    did was also for his goal within the Swan family.


    Eric carried many secrets with him, and what those secrets were… Vera never knew.


    “I… I know… but Eric, can you promise me something? Until I fall in love with someone else, could you


    please not be with anyone else? If the time limit is three years, I’m willing to wait for three years and


    then marry you, Eric.”


    Eric’s mouth curved into an inscrutable smile. “Alright.”


    “Don’t lie to me.”


    “I won’t.”


    Eric was incredibly patient when it came to her.


    After feeding her the herb to replenish her vitality, Eric spent nearly half an hourforting her before


    finally stepping out of the ward.


    As it was quitete, he decided to stay in the hospital overnight and return home the next day.


    Eric stepped outside for a smoke. On the quiet, dimly lit balcony, he shielded the wind with his hand


    and lit a cigarette with a metallic lighter. Holding the cigarette between his fingers, he took a puff and


    exhaled a cloud of smoke.


    Halfway through his cigarette, Zachary walked over with a report in his hand. “If we dy any longer,


    the hypnosis performed on her eight years ago will soon lose its effect. Her emotional outburst this time


    is a reflection of her inner self. If she isn’t strong enough inside and you don’t keep a close eye on her,


    she might repeat the same actions again.”


    The nicotine in the smoke instantly eased the knots in his heart. Even though smoking could be


    addictive. it didn’t really affect Eric.


    He knew what it felt like to be addicted to drugs. Without it, he felt as if countless maggots were


    crawling all over his body, gnawing at his marrow. When he got it, it felt as if he had suddenly reached


    the peak of ecstasy. Nevertheless, he also knew how hard it was to quit, as the pain was worse than


    death. He had endured it alone in the pitch-ck darkness.


    Tve protected her enough over the years. She’s an adult now. It’s not right for me to make all the


    decisions for her.”


    Eric seemed to have gathered a great deal of courage to say those words.


    Zachary lit up the report with his lighter, watching as the mes gradually consumed the paper.


    Even the brightest light would be swallowed by the darkness emanating from those two individuals.


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    I hope you won’t regret this decision for the second time.”


    The first time was when Eric said he wasn’t interested in Eileen


    Nheless, people like Eric seemed naturally suited to survive in the twisted darkness.


    2.3


    In fact, the darkness within him was as powerful as a ck hole in the gxy, where even light itself


    was devoured by him.


    Just like his rtionship with Eileen, it was destined to remain in the shadows for eternity.


    If… if he’s the one who falls in love first…


    Based on Zachary’s understanding of Eric, the secret would forever remain a secret, deeply buried and


    hidden away.


    Zachary was also very curious. What would it be like for someone like him to fall deeply in love?


    That night, Vera had a terrifying nightmare.


    She had a dream about herself as a ten-year-old, standing alone on a pitch-ck street. At that


    moment, a light drizzle was falling from the sky.


    She clutched a small red umbre in her hand, tears streaming down her face as she called out, “Eric,


    where are you… I’m scared. Can youe back soon, please?”


    Later on, in the dimly lit alley, three intoxicated middle-aged men were vomiting next to the electrical


    pole.


    Vera gathered her courage and approached them. “Excuse me, have you seen my brother? It seems


    like he’s lost. Could you please help me call the police to find him?”


    “Aw, such a sweet little girl. Whose child is she? Come here and let me give you a hug…”


    In the dark alley, the man’s sinisterughter filled the air, Clothes were torn apart, and one by one, lewd


    and repulsive gazes were directed towards her…


    And then, a desperate cry pierced through the silence…


    “Stop…”


    “Ah–”


    The cries continued, one after another. By the time someone noticed, there were bloodstains


    everywhere. On the side of the street, a red umbrey abandoned…