“Opportunities can only be created and fought for by oneself.”
Caitlin never expects others to give her things. She believes everything, every condition, should be earned through her own effort and struggle. After all, no one gets free handouts from the sky.
Sebastian chuckled lightly, “Well said, I agree with you. From now on, I will find ways to create and seize every opportunity.”
“You can sit down. Let’s have an open and honest talk.”
Caitlin hoped he could give her some space. When he was too close, it was hard for her to think clearly.
“Alright!” Sebastian pulled back and sat down on the chair in front of her, his posture showing that he was ready to listen. “Go ahead, what do you want to talk about?”
“I want to share some of my thoughts with you.”
“Sure, go ahead!” Sebastian was eager to understand her true feelings.
Caitlin looked at the ginger tea in her cup, then slowly spoke, “You probably know about my past. I’ve been disappointed by men, so I never thought about getting married in this lifetime. Getting a marriage certificate with you was my mistake.”
If it weren’t for Beatrice secretly arranging things, she would never have registered her marriage with anyone.
“I understand, but I want to say, those men are just part of the picture, not the whole. At least, I’m different from them. If we get married, you’ll see that I will be a good man.”
Sebastian had investigated Caitlin’s past and was well aware of her previous relationship with Scott. Scott had heartlessly let her down. He also learned about her mother’s illness, how her father had not only failed to help but later married Megan. Such a father and a boyfriend like Scott had left Caitlin completely disillusioned with love, leaving scars that would never heal.
“I know who you are, I understand you well.”
Sebastian’s persistent feelings for “Camellia” made Caitlin believe that he would be a loyal man. But that still wasn’t a reason for her to get married.
Caitlin stared into his eyes and asked, “Tell me, why does a woman have to get married?”
“A woman needs a man. A family gives a woman a sense of security. Marriage is a promise between two people, and it’s a mutual responsibility,” Sebastian explained, sharing his view on marriage.
“What you say might be true for most people, but I think a woman can live well being single. What can a man give me?”
“Love? I don’t believe that kind of fleeting love can last forever.
“Money? I have my own hands, and I can earn whatever I want.
“Houses, cars? I can buy whatever I need.
“I can do the housework, cook, and I can even have children by myself.
“What a man can do, I can do too. What a man can’t do, I can do. So tell me, why do I need a man? Am I supposed to bring trouble into my life?”
Hearing her long speech, Sebastian understood and felt some pity. Her heart had been hurt, and she still couldn’t believe in men or love. This was likely the main reason she rejected him.
“But life is long. You can’t be alone forever, can you?”
“For my future, I just want to live with my sons. So, I never planned on getting married. Besides, there’s still so much for me to do.”
Caitlin came back to the country with thoughts of revenge. The Lewis Family hadn’t fallen yet, her mother and brother were still missing, and her daughter hadn’t been found. How could she think about personal relationships?
Sebastian could clearly sense that she was indirectly rejecting him.
“Are you just brushing me off? You have another man in your heart, don’t you? The one who called you, saying he missed you… You even have a son with him, right?”
Sebastian spoke with a hint of jealousy, and just the thought of that man made him want to hit someone.
“To be honest, he’s just my senior. There is a man in my heart, but it’s not him, and it’s not you either.”
There was a pure spot in Caitlin’s heart where a young boy had lived for many years.
She remembered when she was eight years old, at the Yunhai Resort swimming pool. She had accidentally drowned, and a boy in a white shirt had jumped into the pool to save her, even performing CPR on her.
In her dazed state, she had seen the boy’s clean, angelic face in the bright white light. But she never found out who that boy was.
As she grew up, she mistakenly thought that boy was Scott, which was why she agreed to date him. But later, she realized that Scott wasn’t the one.
“Who is he?”
There was actually a third man?
The man who lived in her heart?
Sebastian’s face darkened, almost as if ink would drip from it. He wanted to tear her heart open to clean it out.
“That’s my private matter.”
Caitlin didn’t want to fully expose her inner world, but seeing how dedicated he was to his feelings, she softened a little.
“Sebastian, you’ve helped me, and I will remember your kindness. As a token of thanks, I’ll tell you that, other than you, I haven’t been with any other men, nor have I had any children with anyone else.”
“Really?”
Sebastian stood up excitedly, his eyes full of surprise and joy.
His “Camellia” was still his! She hadn’t been with any other man, nor had she had children with anyone else!
This news was like a shot of adrenaline to Sebastian. From feeling hopeless, he now had renewed determination. After all, he and Camellia had been legally married, and she had given him two sons. That was something no other man could easily surpass.
“Believe it or not! I admit, there are many men around me, but to win my heart isn’t an easy task!”
Because of the past hurt, she had hidden her heart deeply, unwilling to give any man a chance to hurt her again. It was a natural form of self-protection.
“I believe!”
Sebastian trusted her words unconditionally. He knew how deep her heart was hidden.
But in his heart, he felt a small sense of victory. Because she was so selective and guarded her heart, that was why he still had a chance to win her back.
“I respect your views on marriage. If you don’t want to get married, I won’t force you to remarry me. But, you can refuse me, but you can’t stop me from pursuing you. That’s a right I have!”
Caitlin sighed helplessly, “You’re the most stubborn man I’ve ever met!”
“Thanks for the compliment!”
“Do you have no shame? Was that a compliment?” Caitlin replied, not in the mood to deal with him.
“How can it not be? You’re the most unique woman when it comes to giving compliments.”
Sebastian gazed at her with affectionate eyes, and just as Caitlin looked at him, their gazes met. For a moment, everything around them seemed to fall silent.
The storm outside raged on, but inside, they were able to talk peacefully, almost like friends. It felt surprisingly rare.
After finishing the ginger tea, Caitlin stood up to leave, but Sebastian followed her, curiously asking, “By the way, can you reveal who the man who lives in your heart really is?”
He had to figure this out!
Knowing each other well was key to victory!