Geoffrey clenched his teeth at the mention of his leg, his eyes filled with bitterness. “It’s no wonder Uncle Nelson chose you as his heir. You two have similarities.”
Cristofer continued, “So, how did you harm my arm? I want you to recreate the injury.”
Geoffrey raised an eyebrow and smirked, “Are you absolutely certain about this request?”
“Yes.”
“Aren’t you concerned about the possibility of becoming disabled yourself? It took Uncle Nelson considerable effort to restore your arm to its current state. If your arm is seriously injured again, I fear you won’t be as fortunate as before,” Geoffrey cautioned.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m prepared to endure the consequences,” Cristofer declared resolutely.
Hearing this, Geoffrey chuckled and asked with keen interest, “Are you trying to trigger your secondary personality in this way?”
Cristofer remained expressionless, offering no response.
Seeing his silence, Geoffrey understood his intentions. Suddenly, he burst into laughter and declared, “Mr. Hans, you shouldn’t be asking me to do this because the one responsible for injuring your arm is not me but yourself.”
Geoffrey continued, “Back then, you were determined to sever ties with Uncle Nelson for Estelle’s sake…”
Before he could finish his sentence, Cristofer pieced together what had likely happened during that time and interrupted, “So, I injured my own arm as a way to settle a debt with him?”
Arching an eyebrow, Geoffrey responded, “You didn’t have much of a choice at the time.”
“… Are you suggesting that I didn’t do it willingly?” Cristofer asked.
“Uncle Nelson claimed that he had extended a helping hand when you were in need, so he expected you to repay your debt by injuring your own arm,” Geoffrey explained. Cristofer furrowed his brow with a pensive expression.
“Do you doubt my words?” Geoffrey asked with a chuckle.
“Uncle Nelson has always been supportive of me. Did he genuinely request that I harm myself?” Cristofer questioned.
“Mr. Hans, do you understand why I sometimes look down on you? It’s because you consistently allow your emotions to overshadow your rationale,” Geoffrey remarked condescendingly. “People die; even if your parents passed away, then what? Given that you’re still alive, you should concentrate on your career. Yet, what did you do? You were devastated by a personal tragedy and struggled to recover from the setback for an extended period. Your vulnerability allowed Uncle Nelson to get close to you. If I were in your shoes, I wouldn’t have asked for anyone’s help and would have managed a comeback independently.”
Shaking his head, Cristofer replied with a wry smile, “You’re unaware of the circumstances at that time. It wasn’t only my parents’ demise that pushed me to the brink; it was also…”
“I understand. Miss Hudson left you after the accident, disappearing without a trace. So what? Can’t you continue living without her?” Geoffrey asked.
“No,” Cristofer responded without hesitation.
Hearing this, Geoffrey was taken aback.
“I once believed that I could find another woman if she left me. However, I eventually realized that I couldn’t live without her. It was my resentment toward her after the car accident that drove me to make a comeback. If she hadn’t returned from abroad, I might have lost the will to live and abandoned my career, regardless of Uncle Nelson’s help,” Cristofer explained.
Geoffrey grew even more puzzled upon hearing this. He furrowed his brow and asked, “What’s so special about her? While she’s undeniably beautiful and skilled in jewelry design, countless women surpass her. Why are you so infatuated with her?”
“She…” Cristofer paused and sighed deeply. “If I knew why I loved her so profoundly, I wouldn’t have ended up like this, and there wouldn’t have been a Mr. Mysterious.”
Geoffrey let out a disdainful snort. “You have no idea how fortunate and talented you are. You can easily attain what I’ve always desired, yet you fail to appreciate it.”
“Do you despise me, then?” Cristofer inquired with a smile.
“I envy you,” Geoffrey admitted.
“Did Uncle Nelson believe that you broke my arm, so he broke your leg?” Cristofer asked.
“No,” Geoffrey responded, shifting the conversation. “That’s irrelevant now. What matters is that although our desires differ, we currently share a common objective. We both want you to sever ties with Uncle Nelson immediately.”
When Geoffrey was done talking, Cristofer abruptly got up.
“Where are you heading?” Geoffrey asked.
“How did I injure my arm?” Cristofer questioned.
“You hurt it with a golf club made of tungsten alloy. Why do you ask?”
“Come with me. I’m going to purchase a golf club.”
****
After purchasing the golf club, they headed to an alley.
“Have you made your decision? Breaking your arm has two outcomes. Either you regain your Mr. Mysterious memories, or you’re maimed with no memories,” Geoffrey explained.
Cristofer held the golf club, weighing his options. He didn’t answer Geoffrey’s question directly but asked, “Is this golf club heavier or lighter than the one I used to break my arm?”
Geoffrey shrugged. “I’m not sure about the weight, but this one is the heaviest golf club available. It’s probably not lighter than the one you used before.”
Cristofer nodded, determined. “You should stay clear. If blood splatters on you, Uncle Nelson might think you’re responsible and break your other leg.”
“Don’t worry. He broke my leg for a different reason, not because he thought I broke your arm,” Geoffrey explained.
“Then why did he break your leg?” Cristofer asked.
“Break your arm first, and you’ll find out once your memories return,” Geoffrey replied.
Cristofer agreed, placing his left arm on his car’s hood, finding the right position, raising the golf club in his right hand, and striking his arm.
Bang!
The loud noise from the impact startled Geoffrey. As he approached, he saw the car’s hood dented, covered in blood, and Cristofer’s arm horribly mangled. Cristofer stood there, his back to Geoffrey, unmoving, with blood slowly dripping from the golf club on the ground.
Geoffrey cautiously approached with his walking stick and asked, “… Have you remembered something?”
Cristofer, still in pain, closed his eyes tightly. His face turned pale, and his lips pressed into a thin line. Without a word, he raised the golf club again and struck his left arm harder than before.
Bang!
Geoffrey, hearing the loud impact, was frozen in shock. He asked, “Have you remembered anything now?”
Again, Cristofer struck his arm.
Bang!
This time, Geoffrey chose to remain silent. He observed Cristofer’s severely injured arm and remarked, “I never expected you’d be so ruthless to yourself for the sake of Miss Hudson.”
Cristofer finally turned to look at Geoffrey. His face was drenched in sweat, and he spoke weakly through the pain. “Is there anything else?”