Cristofer fell silent and didn’t answer her. Seeing his reaction, Estelle had her suspicions confirmed. “When did you get to know him?” she asked.
“I got to know him after my parents’ accident. At that time, you left me and went abroad while I lost everything and was helpless. It was Uncle Nelson who helped me and provided the initial capital to start Hans International Corporation.”
“Do you also know that there’s a young man around him who he values and cares for deeply? This young man is about the same age and height as you. And Mr. Lopez raised him…” Estelle added.
“The young man you’re talking about, he looks like me, doesn’t he?” Cristofer interrupted her mid-sentence and asked. He forced a smile, his voice low, as he continued, “I finally understand why you mistook me for Mr. Mysterious before.”
“…”
“That’s because Mr. Mysterious is my brother. We look identical. And after I smoked, my voice sounded like him, didn’t it?”
“….”
“The top of Mount Cloud and the Malus Halliana tree at the back of the mountain hold cherished memories between Mr. Mysterious and you. When I mentioned that I had never been to Mount Cloud, but the scenery there matched what I dreamt of, you began to suspect that Mr. Mysterious and I had a telepathic connection, and you consulted Dr. Stewart about it, didn’t you?”
“….”
“It’s absurd that my love rival is actually my twin brother, and I lost to him,” Cristofer expressed, his voice filled with frustration. “I believed that if I made myself more like him, you would change your feelings for me and be with me forever. I was completely mistaken. Nothing can alter the fact that you no longer love me. No matter how much I resemble him, even if we’re identical, you won’t love me.”
“Mr. Hans, Estelle, the guests are waiting downstairs! It’s time to cut the cake!” Luke’s voice suddenly came from outside the room.
Gently knocking on the door, Yvonne said in a childlike voice, “Dad, Mom, the cake is huge! It smells amazing!”
“Yeah, the cake looks really, really good!” Christina chimed in. The children’s voices interrupted the conversation between Cristofer and Estelle.
Cristofer now knew the truth, and his heart sank, while Estelle felt embarrassed and was in a bad mood because Cristofer had revealed her secret.
They had been playing the role of an affectionate couple in public, but this unexpected incident left them in an uncomfortable situation, and for a moment, they didn’t know how to interact with each other.
After a few moments of silence, Cristofer took a deep breath and reached out to hold her hand. He said, “Today is Grandpa’s birthday. Let’s make sure he has a happy day, okay? After the party, I’ll take you to meet Uncle Nelson.”
Estelle suddenly looked up at him upon hearing this.
“I haven’t spent much time with Uncle Nelson in recent years, but I’m certain that Mr. Mysterious doesn’t live with him. And I’ve never heard of anyone who looks like me being around him. If you have any doubts, you can ask him when you meet him.”
“…”
“Come on, let’s go cut the cake,” Cristofer said, adjusting his mood and wearing a charming smile. “The kids are waiting for us. They want to see us happy together. Let’s not disappoint them.”
With her lips pressed into a thin line, Estelle nodded and gently linked her arm through his, saying, “Alright, let’s go.”
Not receiving a response from her parents, Yvonne turned to Luke and asked, “Grandpa Luke, are Mom and Dad sleeping?”
“I don’t think so. They…” Before Luke could finish his sentence, the room’s door swung open. “Oh, here they come!”
Cristofer and Estelle then emerged from the room, walking closely together, with Rebecca following behind. Cristofer, tall and handsome, and Estelle, beautiful and elegant, looked like a perfect couple.
“Uncle Luke, where is Yohan?” Cristofer asked in a gentle tone.
“Yohan is downstairs with Old Mr. Hans. Old Mr. Hans introduced him to everyone and mentioned that Yohan is the future heir of the Hans family. He’s trying to set the path for Yohan’s future from now on,” Luke explained.
Hearing this, Estelle felt a bit concerned and said, “But Yohan is still young. It seems too early to plan his future like that.”
“It’s not too early at all! Yohan is almost nine years old. When Mr. Hans was nine, he was already known in our city’s upper class as the heir to the Hans family.”
Estelle, however, believed that involving a child in adult social engagements was inappropriate. “I want him to enjoy a happy and carefree childhood. It might be better to start planning for his future when he’s fifteen or sixteen.”
“Fifteen or sixteen?” Luke couldn’t help but chuckle. “By then, he might be spending most of his time with his girlfriend, just like his Dad used to do.” He glanced at Cristofer as he spoke.
Hearing those words, Estelle couldn’t help but smile, remembering that when Cristofer was about fifteen years old, he indeed spent most of his free time with her.
Meanwhile, the children were having their own conversation. Christina tugged at Yvonne’s sleeve and said, “Yvonne, Dad and Mom are so good-looking.”
Yvonne took Christina’s hand and said gently, “You’re good-looking too. Mom and Dad’s children are all good-looking.”
“Really? I’m their child, but why do you and Yohan look like them, and I don’t…” Christina said with a hint of sadness.
“When I was your age, I didn’t look like them either. But as I grew up, I started to resemble them more and more. You’ll also look like them when you get older!” Yvonne assured her.
Hearing Yvonne’s reassuring words, Christina’s mood brightened, and her eyes sparkled with happiness.
Cristofer then extended his arms toward the children and asked, “Who wants to go downstairs in my arms?”
“Dad, can’t you carry both of us?” Christina whispered.
“I’m afraid I can’t do that. I’ll hold one of you in one arm and your Mom’s hand with the other,” Cristofer explained.
“Okay,” Christina replied and walked over to Estelle. “Then I’ll let Mom carry me. I’m small and lighter, so it’s easier for her to hold me.”
Cristofer smiled, bent down, and lifted Yvonne into his arms. Yvonne was excited and exclaimed, “I’m so high up!”
Estelle noticed Cristofer’s injured hand and gently reminded him, “Your hand is still hurt.”
“Don’t worry, I’m fine,” Cristofer reassured her.
Seeing Cristofer holding Yvonne securely, Estelle let go of his arm and used both hands to pick up Christina. Yvonne reminded her father, “Dad, you said you would hold Mom’s hand. Don’t forget!”