Estelle fell into a moment of silence, unsure of how to respond.
Cristofer continued, “I understand I shouldn’t judge him, and I have no right to. But if I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t give up the woman I love for some so-called ‘bright future.'”
Estelle was taken aback for a moment before offering a wry smile. “Yes, people can do anything for the ones they love. You, too, were willing to do anything for Gretchen back then.”
Cristofer sighed and admitted, “Estelle, I’ve explained this to you before. I was in a terrible mental state at that time, battling manic depression, and I couldn’t control myself…”
Estelle interrupted him, saying, “Let’s not dwell on the past. I can handle my relationship with Mr. Mysterious on my own. Don’t worry about it. You should take care of your wound. I bit you quite hard because I was afraid Jimmy might notice it’s a knife wound. It looks worse now than before.” She pointed to the wound on Cristofer’s neck as she spoke.
Seeing Estelle change the subject, Cristofer understood that she didn’t want to discuss Mr. Mysterious with him. “Alright, I’ll attend to it later,” he said with a nod and ended the topic.
Feeling somewhat awkward, Estelle gestured towards the hall and said, “I’m going to find Rebecca and have a chat with her.”
“Sure.” Before Cristofer could say more, Estelle had already walked away.
A man’s voice suddenly came from behind Cristofer, observing, “She doesn’t seem accustomed to wearing high heels.”
Hearing the familiar voice, Cristofer turned around to find an unexpected guest. “Why are you here?” he asked with a hint of coldness.
“Why can’t I come here? Today is Old Mr. Hans’ birthday. Uncle Nelson asked me to bring his gift for Old Mr. Hans,” Geoffrey replied with an evil smile, then shifted his gaze to Cristofer’s neck. “Tut-tut. The knife wound looks even worse after Miss Hudson bit it.”
Cristofer frowned and responded, “It’s none of your business.” Despite having no prior issues with Geoffrey, Cristofer couldn’t help but feel repelled every time he saw him.
Geoffrey didn’t seem bothered by Cristofer’s words. Instead, he wore a wider smile and continued, “No need to get upset. I simply wanted to remind you that Uncle Nelson doesn’t know you’re the one who saved Miss Hudson or about what happened at the party today.”
Giving Geoffrey a sharp look, Cristofer questioned, “Are you planning to tell Uncle Nelson?”
Geoffrey shook his head, saying, “I’m not one to gossip.”
Cristofer was highly skeptical of Geoffrey’s intentions. He accused, “Mr. Field, don’t assume I don’t see through your motives. If I lose Uncle Nelson’s trust, you’ll be the sole beneficiary of his properties, won’t you? You’ve been eyeing his wealth for a while now, haven’t you?”
Geoffrey chuckled, seemingly unperturbed. “Cristofer, you’re quite charming when you confront me like this.”
With a stern expression, Cristofer couldn’t tolerate Geoffrey’s games any longer. He declared, “Today is my grandfather’s birthday, and I won’t allow anyone to ruin his celebration. Mr. Field, I strongly advise you to abandon your sinister plans. If you decide to tell Uncle Nelson about the incident, and he instructs me to transfer the properties I manage to you, I will comply without hesitation.”
Geoffrey let out a sigh and remarked, “Oh, Cristofer, I’m not as wicked as you think. While I do aim to inherit Uncle Nelson’s wealth, it doesn’t mean we have to be enemies. We could establish a mutually beneficial partnership.”
Cristofer had no time for such discussions and responded firmly, “I don’t have the time for cooperation with you. I need to attend to the other guests. Excuse me.” He swiftly walked away, leaving Geoffrey behind.
Geoffrey made an effort to catch up with Cristofer, using his walking stick to support himself. He lowered his voice and continued, “Remember our last conversation? I can help you reunite with Estelle, but we’ll need to make a deal.”
Cristofer scoffed at Geoffrey’s proposal, retorting, “Mr. Field, did your leg injury affect your brain as well? Who do you think you are to negotiate with me like this?”
Geoffrey responded calmly, “It seems Uncle Nelson chose you as his heir for a reason. You have his fiery temperament. He used to say similar things to me.”
Cristofer was growing impatient and firmly stated, “I don’t have time for this nonsense. If you have no other reason to be here, you can leave now.”
Geoffrey remained composed and said, “Don’t be hasty, Mr. Hans. Let’s discuss business. You want to know the identity of Mr. Mysterious, correct? To demonstrate my sincerity in working together, I can reveal his identity to you right now.”
“Go ahead, tell me,” Cristofer urged.
“Did Miss Hudson ever mention that you resemble Mr. Mysterious?” Geoffrey asked.
Cristofer replied casually, “Yes, she has. What’s your point?”
Geoffrey dropped the bombshell, “Mr. Mysterious is your brother.”
Cristofer couldn’t help but sneer, “Mr. Field, I’m the only heir of the Hans family, and that’s common knowledge in Hadale.”
“No, you’re not alone,” Geoffrey said. “You have a twin brother who they thought didn’t survive when he was born.”
Cristofer looked puzzled. “Who told you that?” ‘Not many people know about my twin, just my family. How did Geoffrey find out?’ he wondered.
Geoffrey replied, “He told me himself.”
Cristofer was shocked. “He’s still alive?!”
“Yes, he’s alive, and he’s quite mysterious,” Geoffrey said. Seeing Cristofer on the verge of breaking down, he chuckled and continued, “When Miss Hudson needed help, he came to her rescue. Later, she fell in love with him. But she’s a principled woman. When she didn’t know his true identity, she told him she’d be with him as long as he wasn’t with you.”
“…”
“Mr. Hans, do you understand what this means? Miss Hudson doesn’t love you anymore, deep down in her heart.”
Cristofer froze and turned pale when he heard this.
Seeing his reaction, Geoffrey chuckled and said confidently, “Are you surprised and hurt, Mr. Hans? Let’s not forget that you caused Miss Hudson pain and suffering in the past. It’s no wonder she said those words. I hate to be blunt, but she’s only with you now because of your grandfather’s wishes, not out of love. Given the circumstances, winning her back won’t be easy for you. Fortunately, I can assist you.”
Cristofer fell silent, his emotions swirling. After a few seconds, he sneered and locked eyes with Geoffrey, saying, “It’s quite fascinating, isn’t it? It feels like everyone wants something from me. Jimmy wants the gemstones, and you want to take control of all the properties Uncle Nelson left me.”