Hearing Justin’s words, Cristofer smiled and expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you, Justin.”
Their friendship spanned many years, and in that moment, Cristofer understood why Justin had chosen not to reveal the truth directly. He appreciated Justin’s kindness.
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Justin said, “It’s a relief to share this secret with you finally. Keeping such a significant secret inside me for so long was a torment. Cristofer, when you were Cristofer, you and Miss Hudson loved each other deeply. When you were Mr. Mysterious, your bond was just as strong. You two are meant to be together.”
“I feel the same way,” Cristofer agreed, a smile forming on his lips as he thought of Estelle. “No matter who I am, she belongs with me.”
Justin shared in Cristofer’s happiness and asked with a grin, “So, what’s your plan now? Will you tell her the truth?”
“No, not yet. I want to regain all my memories from when I was Mr. Mysterious before I reveal the truth to her.”
“How do you plan to recover your memories?” Justin asked, leaning closer.
“I have one method in mind, but it may be a painful process. Nevertheless, I’m willing to give it a try,” Cristofer explained.
“Alright, if you ever need my assistance, just let me know,” Justin offered.
A few minutes later, their conversation came to a close. Justin had numerous responsibilities, including taking care of Rebecca and managing company affairs, so he bid farewell to Cristofer and left.
As Justin drove away, he couldn’t help but think, ‘Cristofer, now that you know the truth, I hope you can recover your memories and reunite with Miss Hudson soon.’
After Justin’s departure, the owner of the diner approached to collect the cutlery and tidy up the table.
“Could I have the bill, please?” Cristofer requested.
“Here’s your bill, sir. It comes to seven dollars,” the diner owner replied with a friendly smile as he handed the bill to Cristofer.
Cristofer reached into his wallet but realized he had no smaller bills. He took out a one hundred dollar bill and offered it to the diner owner.
Upon seeing the large denomination, the diner owner looked somewhat embarrassed and said, “I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t provide change for this note.”
“No problem. Just bring me another serving of steamed creamy custard buns, and you can keep the change,” Cristofer generously replied.
The diner owner was delighted by the offer and asked, “Would you like me to bring the buns now?”
“My friend will be arriving shortly. Please serve the buns when he gets here. Thank you,” Cristofer requested.
The diner owner nodded in agreement and said, “Of course, sir.”
Half an hour later, the “friend” Cristofer had referred to arrived. He looked at Cristofer and asked, “Mr. Hans, have you thought about my proposal? Have you made a decision?”
Ignoring his question for the moment, Cristofer glanced out the window and noticed a taxi departing from the door. “Mr. Field, did you arrive here in a taxi?” he inquired.
Geoffrey, who had limped over and placed his cane to the side, took a seat opposite Cristofer. He responded, “I’m disabled, Mr. Hans. I can’t drive myself.”
“Mr. Field, you know I didn’t mean that,” Cristofer clarified.
Geoffrey understood the implication. With an awkward smile, he admitted, “You’re correct. Uncle Nelson confiscated my car and froze my bank account.”
“It’s not surprising,” Cristofer acknowledged. “You endured Uncle Nelson for many years. What finally made you unable to tolerate it and break ties with him?”
The diner owner brought over the steamed creamy custard buns as they talked. Geoffrey eagerly reached for one and took a bite, his hands rubbing together. While chewing, he explained, “I severed ties with him because the timing was perfect.”
“The timing for what?” Cristofer asked, his brow furrowed.
“The timing for realizing my desire,” Geoffrey elaborated. “I told you that I can help you win Estelle back as long as you agree to my proposal…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Cristofer interrupted him and said, “Uncle Nelson’s wealth is like a leash. He’s bound me with it, deprived me of my freedom, and made me toil for him.”
“I’m aware of that. You want freedom, while I want his assets. We can collaborate and achieve our respective goals. Doesn’t that sound appealing?” Geoffrey proposed.
Upon hearing Geoffrey’s words, Cristofer couldn’t help but chuckle and said, “It is indeed a good proposition. But, Mr. Field, I sense a lack of sincerity in your willingness to cooperate with me. The supposed truth you revealed earlier about Mr. Mysterious being my twin brother is, in fact, untrue.” Cristofer maintained an intense gaze on Geoffrey.
Geoffrey, who had paused his chewing, remained silent.
Cristofer pressed on, “I’ve come to realize that I am Mr. Mysterious. Is this the ‘ace’ you mentioned during my grandfather’s party?”
“You’ve regained your memory?” Geoffrey asked, appearing somewhat surprised.
“No,” Cristofer responded. “That’s precisely why I need your help. If you can help me recover my memories from when I was Mr. Mysterious, I will grant you whatever you want.”
Geoffrey, no longer in the mood to eat, turned his head, spat out the bun, and asked with a serious demeanor, “How did you come to know that you are Mr. Mysterious?”
Maintaining a smile, Cristofer responded calmly, “Estelle informed me that Uncle Nelson took in Mr. Mysterious as a child and raised him. While both you and I have known Uncle Nelson for many years, we’ve never heard of him adopting anyone. Furthermore, I discovered that the reason Uncle Nelson separated Mr. Mysterious from Estelle was because he intended him to be his heir. However, I am now the designated heir. Based on this information, it’s clear that Mr. Mysterious can only be me.”
Geoffrey erupted into laughter upon hearing Cristofer’s explanation. “Mr. Hans, it’s no wonder you’ve become a legend in the business world. You possess remarkable intelligence.”
“I didn’t invite you here to receive praise,” Cristofer remarked. “There aren’t many people who are aware of my identity as Mr. Mysterious. Since Nelson doesn’t want me to regain the past, my only option is to seek your help in recovering my memories.”
Geoffrey blinked and nodded, inquiring, “What do you want me to do to help you?”
Cristofer raised his left arm and questioned, “How did I injure my arm? When I emerged from a coma after the car accident, I found that you had become disabled. Both your leg and my arm suffered severe injuries during my time as Mr. Mysterious. I suspect that your disability is somehow linked to the injury to my arm. You must have taken some action that prompted Uncle Nelson to render you a cripple.”