Chapter 6 Finding Out The Truth

I felt as if I had plummeted into an ice cellar. All the blood in my body seemed to have frozen. For a moment, I even doubted if I had heard correctly. Sometimes I really would speculate if something was amiss between them, but it was denied time and again. Even though they had no blood relation, if it were to be spread out, one was the Son of the Lincoln family, and the other was the daughter Lincoln, they were, in name, siblings. Moreover, they each had their own spouses. Richard - a shining star - it was impossible that he would ever do something so absurd. Nevertheless, not too far away, Richard with reddened eyes, cornered Bianca against the wall, his mocking and icy voice ringing clear, "To divorce for me? You were the one who chose to marry someone else originally, where do you get the right to demand me now?!" "I..." Amid these series of interrogations, Bianca was at a loss for words, tears falling like beads off a broken string, her hands helplessly gripping the corner of Richard's clothes. "I was wrong, Richard, could you forgive me just this once, could you? Just this once. Also, I had no other choice back then..." "I am already married." "Does marriage stop people from getting divorced?" Bianca seemed rather stubborn, her face full of sadness, as if she would break apart if Richard were to give a negative response. I was surprised she dared to ask this so bluntly. There wasn't even a shred of shame from this interloper. Richard seemed to laugh out of anger, gritting his teeth, and saying, "Marriage might be a game to you, but not for me!" With that, he turned to leave. However, Bianca stubbornly clung to the hem of his clothes, refusing to let go. Actually, I knew the extent of Richard's strength and he could break free if he wanted to. I stood there, stupefied, watching this scene play out before me for a long time. In my heart, I was clearly hoping for something. Hoping that he would pull away. Hoping that he would clarify the boundaries. Our marriage still had a glimmer of hope left. And, indeed, he did what I hoped for. He left these words behind, "We're all adults, try to act like it and talk less nonsense." It seemed things should end at this point. I suddenly breathed a sigh of relief. There was no longer the interest to continue peeping into the situation. "Do you love her? Richard, look into my eyes and answer me, do you love her?!" Bianca is like a three-year-old child asking for candy, grabbing his arm relentlessly until he gets what he wants. My footsteps falter, my heart hanging in mid-air again. Without turning around, I hear Richard's voice of indiscernible emotion, "It's none of your business." "So, you don't love me anymore? That should concern me." Bianca asks. For a moment, I admired Bianca's relentless courage to keep asking. It was only later that I realized, this was not courage, but rather fearlessness borne from confidence. What gives her this confidence is preference. Something I have never had. Richard's tall and upright figure stiffens suddenly, a layer of frost covering his face. He doesn't answer, and Bianca doesn't let him go either. Like the lead characters in a melodrama. Every second of his silence is suffocating for me, even forgetting to breathe. "Madam, I found a coat you wore last spring, put it on quickly so you don't catch a cold." The servant comes out with the coat, raising her voice from a distance. Not far away, Richard looked over at me as soon as he lifted his eyes. I instinctively felt awkward as though I'd uncovered someone's secret, but immediately brought myself back. If anyone should give an explanation, it should be him. He broke away from Bianca and strode over to me, his voice significantly softer and more casual than just a moment ago. "Did you hear that?" he asked. "Mhm." I didn't bother to hide the fact. Instead of giving any explanation, he simply took a jacket from a servant and helped me with it. He placed an arm around my shoulder, turned and walked off, acting calm and composed, "It's windy out here, let's go inside." It was as if what I overheard was nothing more than a trivial conversation. "Richard." Bianca's stubborn voice rang out again and again, “Richard!" But he seemed to not hear it. During the subsequent period, he appeared distracted, frequently checking his phone. Finally, it reached nine o'clock, the time Grandpa Lincoln usually retired. "You're already someone with a family and career. Be mindful of your actions!" Grandfather Lincoln escorted us to the yard, sternly warning Richard, "Treat Sophia properly. Don't think you can bully her just because she has nobody in her maternal family!" Tears welled up in my eyes. Richard gently smiled and nodded, "Hmm, I won't bully her, nor will I let anyone bully her. You don't have to worry." "Naive child, if you have any problems, come to find your grandfather. Grandfather will stand up for you." Grandfather Lincoln patted my head amicably. I smiled, "Alright, I will visit you whenever I have time. You should go in and have a rest now." On the way back, I sat half-dozing in the passenger seat. I wasn't sure if I was starting to feel pregnancy exhaustion or something else, but recently I constantly felt like sleeping. However, I was unable to sleep at the moment. My body felt tired, but my mind was unnervingly alert. I initially wanted to wait until we reached home to let him explain. But it was too agonizing. I couldn't wait anymore and was reasonably asked, "What is the real relationship between you and Bianca?" Is it a simple first love? Or is it a past lover who still remains in your heart? Upon hearing this, Richard slowed down the car and calmly said, "We nearly had a relationship once." I wet my lips, as if my throat was blocked by a sponge full of water, and it took a while before I could make a sound. "Was it during your university days?" Memories that had been sealed away surged forth. To put it in context, Richard was my university senior, a prominent figure in the school. With the favored face of a god, the heir of the Lincoln Group, bestowed with impressive abilities, and endowed with a noble and aloof demeanor. No girl wouldn't fancy him. His backpack was filled with love letters from girls at a random pick. However, before I even had the chance to confess my feelings, I heard that he already had a girl he liked. So, it was Bianca, huh? "How did you know?" Richard looked at me in surprise. I glanced sideways at him, my voice filled with difficulty and bitterness. "Richard, haven't you forgotten, I also attend California University." "Oh, right." He was his usual self, nonchalant as ever. "Sorry, it's been too long." Has it been too long, or is it simply that he doesn't care, it doesn't matter to him? Just as I was about to say something, his cell phone started vibrating. He didn't even look at it and hung up directly. It rang again right away. Over and over again. As if it would keep on calling until the end of the world if he didn't answer. Richard once again hung up, his face cold and seeming annoyed. He explained to me, "She's spoiled by her mother Mary and my father." I chuckled and took his phone from him. After a series of operations to block and delete the number, I handed it back to him. "Now it's quiet."