Chapter 28
After Marc finished speaking, he took out a business card from his pocket. "Pleased to meet you."
Aaron didn't move. His thoughts were still immersed in the words 'brother' that Marc had just said. If it was true, then this might be the most outrageous and absurd misunderstanding he had since he grew up.
His face was a little stunned. He paused, yet still looked down at the card calmly.
The business card was in English, and he quickly scanned through the information.
The owner of an investment firm on Wall Street.
After his parents divorced, Marc and his mother changed their surnames to Walter. So whether was it on the business card or in the environment he was in, his name was Marc Walter.
For a long time, Aaron didn't speak. He has been immersed in the business firm for many years, so he has been able to conceal all his emotions and anger.
But beneath his seemingly calm surface, countless emotions were surging.
Elder brother? Her real brother? How could that be? But...why was it impossible?
After a long time, Aaron seemed to recover from this shock and turned around to ask Yolanda. "Is it true?"
Yolanda opened her lips, not knowing how to answer this question. If she acknowledged it, it meant that she has recovered her memory. If she didn't, what reason should she use to leave here?
Marc was very aware of Yolanda's dilemma and helped her answer this question. "You don't need to ask her, she has lost her memory, and it's normal for her not to remember me."
Aaron smiled, "Then how can I believe you? You can say who you want to be."
Marc took out his mobile phone and then showed him some photos. "If you don't mind, here are the photos of Yura and me when we were young, and the family of four with my parents. The photos that she went to college, graduated, and her daily life can be traced from me."
After a pause, he added. "If it's not enough, I don't mind doing a DNA test with her to prove it."
When Aaron saw the first photo, he already knew that Marc was not lying. It was probably a photo of Yolanda when she was five or six years old, where Marc was standing beside her, hugging her gently. The two were laughing happily.
In the photo, Marc has a small mole under his eyes, and the man standing in front of him also has the same one in the same position.
Aaron felt that something in his mind had collapsed.
"My sister came here to enjoy herself two months ago, but suddenly there was no news of her. My family and I searched for a long time before I heard from a friend that he had seen her in the Capital."
"I'm very grateful to you for taking care of her over the past two months. Now, it's also time for me to take her back to Ustrana."
After that, Marc gave Yolanda a look. "Is there anything for you to clean up?"
Yolanda glanced at Marc. Unknowingly, she felt uncomfortable deep in her heart.
She knew that Marc was afraid that she would be hesitant, so he purposely came to help her finish it off.
Even though she made preparations yesterday, when it came to this moment, Yolanda still felt so difficult.
Although he did cut the knot, the person who was the 'knot' being cut off was not happy.
Seeing that Yolanda didn't move, Marc added inexplicably, "Dad misses you very much."
Yolanda was speechless. Wen Yu: "..." This was already the last ultimatum from her real brother. If she didn't obey, Elbert would know all this.
Yolanda closed her eyes. Forget it, let's go. No matter whether early or late, she still needs to leave.
She has nothing to pack, everything in this house belongs to Aaron, and she was not qualified to take it away.
Yolanda walked up to Aaron with her handbag. "Brother, then... I'm leaving."
Aaron glanced up at her. Although there were countless reasons for him wanting to hold her back, a single word 'real brother' from Marc was enough to destroy all his fantasies.
Just like that phone. The secret that he tried so hard to hide in the dark ended up ruthlessly backfiring him.
Yolanda once said that she returned here two months ago, and she had also written that she came here to meet her long-distance boyfriend on her Twitter Moments.
Everything matched up. In the end, she needs to return to her own world after all.
Aaron Jensen arrogantly controls the fate of countless people, but at this moment, he deeply felt the powerlessness that even he could do nothing.
He got up and left without looking at Yolanda. After walking a few steps, he stopped, turned his back to them, and said lightly, "If you want to go, hurry up."
Yolanda went silent.
They were all men, how could Marc not sense Aaron pretending to be indifferent at this moment? Thus, he also responded calmly, "Thank you, Mr. Jensen, for returning my sister to me."
This was gratitude, but also a hint. Marc was hinting to him that Yolanda was his sister, she didn't belong here nor him.
The story of the past few months could be ended. In the future, everyone would go their separate ways, and there would be no more ties.
Marc gently took Yolanda's hand and walked out the door. Step by step, like a spring being pulled by unknown length, Yolanda has been forcibly pulled away from Aaron, and their distance was getting further and further.
In the end, there was no turning back.
Back in Aaron's house-
The door was gently closed, and the house has gone quiet all of a sudden. After witnessing the sudden parting with her own eyes, even Ms. Twelve, who has always been very characterful, was in a daze for quite a long time.
She looked at the door, and then at the Young Master who had not moved for a long time. "Why don't you try to ask her to stay?
Ask her to stay? How could he do so? And in what position could he do so?
Others didn't even know that Aaron has once despicably let her stay. And now, perhaps it was just punishment from God for his selfishness.
Aaron didn't speak anymore and went upstairs alone.
On the other side, Yolanda followed Marc back to the Piran Hotel.
Marc has booked another room for her and said, "I've booked a flight back to Darlington tomorrow afternoon. Let's go back to meet Dad first, and then you and I will return to Ustrana. Whether you want to relax or develop there, it's all up to you. Anyway, start a new life as soon as possible."
Marc continued talking for a long time without getting a response. He turned around and looked over.
Yolanda sat on the bed in a daze and didn't seem to be listening to him at all.
Marc knew that her mind was still unstable, so he comforted her, "It's good to end like this. He won't know everything that you lied to him, and you can retreat from it. It's the best ending for both of you."
Lowering her head, Yolanda hummed after a long time, then pressed the screen of her mobile phone. Since she left the Jensen House, Aaron has not sent a message to her.
Did he not feel reluctant for her to leave?
Yolanda herself also didn't know why she had such expectations. She felt a little sad when she thought of the last thing she saw at the Jensen House was his back. They didn't even properly bid farewell. Yolanda sighed softly, "What is the flight schedule for tomorrow?"
Marc replied, "Four o'clock in the afternoon."
Yolanda stood up and walked back and forth in the room several times, but she could not calm herself down.
She stopped and looked at Marc. "I seem to have forgotten something in the Jensen House. Can I go back to get it?"
"What is it?"
"My perfume."
"When we go back, I'll buy you any brand of perfume you want, so there's no need to go back there."
Yolanda bit her lip and remembered something. "There is also a pair of cufflinks, which I was going to give James before, I-"
"Yura," Marc interrupted her and sighed. "It's over, okay?"
"..."
"Don't think about going back anymore, I've already been a bad guy to help you out. Shouldn't we look to the future?"
Marc could see clearly what was in Yolanda's mind. After all, living together for so long with Aaron Jensen, that man was definitely charming enough to make his sister have different feelings for him.
Even though he likes her. But what if he found out that from the beginning, Yolanda approached him just to take advantage of him?
Marc didn't want Yolanda to suffer any harm.
He touched Yolanda's head and gently hugged her. "I'll make up for everything you've missed out in the past ten years."
Yolanda just leaned in Marc's arms, but it was very strange- her heart was calm, without a single trace of fluttering. It was a completely different feeling from when she was accidentally hugged by Aaron into his arms.
Out of the blue, Yolanda stood up, looked at Marc, and tried to recur the situation at the time. She patted the bed. "Brother, sit here."
Marc had no idea what was she planning, but he still sat next to her. "What are you doing?"
Yolanda picked up her mobile phone and took a selfie as she did at the hot pot restaurant that day. "Hug me when I snap the photo."
Although Marc didn't know what Yolanda was doing, he still did it. The moment the siblings took the photo together, he naturally held his sister in his arms. It was exactly the same as the situation that day, with Yolanda leaning over. But her heart was clear and unwavering, there were no fluttery feelings at all.
The difference in her feeling made her stunned for a long time. It was like she had realized something, but she was not so sure of it.
Marc took the phone away. "Let me see how it goes."
He took it and turned on the screen, but what he saw on the screen saver was a group photo of Yolanda and Aaron leaning against each other, with intimate love stickers on it.
"..." This photo further proved Marc's guess was right. He glanced at Yolanda and said tentatively, "This phone is too cheap. I'll buy a new one for you when we get back to Darlington."
After saying this, he threw the phone. "Don't miss everything here, just throw it all away."
But when the phone fell into the trash can, Yolanda ran forward and picked it up. "I won't throw it away."
She wiped the dust on the phone. "Uncle Happer bought this for me. At that time, I was here alone, and I didn't know anyone. Uncle Happer cared about me like a father."
Speaking of this, Yolanda could not help but feel sad. She was really reluctant. She went bankrupt, had a car accident, and got cheated. But God let her meet so many kind people.
"I'll go with you, but don't force me to forget them so quickly."
Marc was at a loss for words, so he could only shake his head silently and return back to his room.
On the first night Yolanda left, although Aaron wanted to get used to the home without her, he could not accept this reality so quickly, no matter rationally, or emotionally.
He invited Bruce out for a drink.
Usually, he would go with a bunch of people to the clubhouse. But today, they just went to a quiet bar.
There was no expensive wine or noisy environment, only folk singers singing emotional songs on stage. The atmosphere was quiet and peaceful.
"Didn't your 'little tail' tag along?" Bruce asked as soon as he sat down.
Aaron drank the homemade cocktail in the bar, "She left."
"?" Bruce paused for a while. "Where has she gone to?
"Her home."
Only then did Bruce notice the rare emotionless aura from Aaron. Although he often had a cold face in the past, at least one could feel his indifference and impatience.
But not now. His expression was completely emotionless. Bruce realized that something was wrong. "Did she regain her memory?"
"No." Aaron swallowed the red wine in one gulp. "Her brother came over and took her away."
"..." He didn't know if the intensity of this cocktail had soothed his current mood, so Aaron went back to the waiter and asked for another drink.
"What's the name of this wine?"
The waiter replied, "Yesterday's Delusion."
"..." Yesterday's Delusion, what a good name. You guys really know how to name it.
Even drinking wine here could get sarcasm, Aaron smiled and shook his head.
Unexpectedly, Bruce gave him another hit. "She just left like that? No way, she'd been living with you for a few months, didn't she feel reluctant to leave at all?"
This was a good question. Aaron himself also wanted to know why.
When Yolanda left, it was as if she had made preparations for a long time. She could not wait to leave and didn't even look back at all.
Don't mention her being reluctant, she didn't even send a message back since she left.
He laughed at himself. "I've been raising her up for nothing more than two months."
Bruce was silent for a moment but still felt that Yolanda was not such a person. "Perhaps you've done something that deters her from staying."
Compared with Yolanda being heartless, Bruce was more suspicious if Aaron, the 'beast', had done something to scare her away.
Aaron was stunned for two seconds. "Me?"
Bruce showed no mercy to him. "Yes, you. Since you're no good, you should reflect on yourself first."
After being reminded by Bruce, Aaron suddenly remembered what he did to Yolanda last night.
There were panic, consternation, and uneasiness in her eyes at that time. She looked like a deer desperately trying to escape after being attacked by a wild beast.
So, was it his impulsiveness that scared her away?
Aaron rubbed his brows helplessly. "How do I know that her brother is here today?"
His answer seemed to admit Bruce's guess, and he immediately became interested. "So what did you do to her?"
Aaron and Bruce have been friends for more than ten years. Growing up together almost since they were young, they kept no secrets from each other. Therefore, after hesitating for a few seconds, Aaron told Bruce that he could not control himself to kiss Yolanda.
Bruce was silent for a while and said, "Fortunately, her brother came."
"..."
"But," Bruce paused for a few seconds and then added, "I've done this before, so I can understand."
Aaron initially thought that he was lamenting them, being the good brothers who shared the same fate. But who knew that Bruce took a sip of wine slowly, suddenly turned around again, and continued, "But I coaxed her back."
Aaron was speechless.
You can fuck off now. Did I call you here to show off?
Bruce was just joking. Seeing him didn't look well, he comforted him seriously. "He's just her brother, not her boyfriend. If you can't let her go, just chase her back. Do you still need me to teach you about this?"
Indeed, there was no need for Bruce to teach, but-
"She lives in Ustrana," Aaron muttered, "And she came back to see her boyfriend before."
"..." Knowing that his brother's fate was hopeless, Bruce changed the topic without a trace. "This singer on stage sings well, listen, you can consider making a contract with him for development."
Aaron tilted his head slightly. On the stage, a man held the microphone and sang affectionately. "I should not be in the car, but under the car."
"Look how sweet you are..."
"He must really love you, he is better than me."
"Break up takes one minute only..."
Aaron decided that he would never step into this bar again.
The night seemed to go by very quickly. The next day, Yolanda woke up and opened her eyes, but the crystal lamp she was accustomed to had become an unfamiliar white ceiling lamp.
It took a moment for her to realize that she was sleeping on the hotel bed. She had already left the Jensen House, the house where someone would wake her up every day, cook for her, and nag that she wanted to raise her to be white and tender.
She closed her eyes, trying to keep herself from thinking about it all.
She began to fantasize about her life after going to Ustrana, where she could continue her schooling, or work in her brother's company, and meet more people, different people around the world.
But no matter how beautiful she imagined the future, she could not fill the depression and emptiness in her heart.
She still could not forget and let go.
Two o'clock in the afternoon, at the airport. After getting the boarding pass and security check, Yolanda started bidding farewell to the city step by step.
In the VIP lounge, she sat quietly, waiting for the flight. She looked at the plane ticket in her hand, and the time seemed to go back to a few months ago when she set out to the Capital to get cufflinks for James.
At that time, she had no idea that her fate would be turned upside down one day later.
Now Marc seemed to have brought her back on the right track in her life, but was this really the correct choice?
Could she really pretend nothing has happened for the things that had happened?
Yolanda didn't know what was she expecting. After so long, Aaron still hadn't sent her a word.
Perhaps he was angry or disappointed with her. After all, she left so determinedly.
Outside the window, the plane took off and landed. Some people came here with joy, while some people left with hope. Everyone's fate was different. Yolanda didn't know if she chose to leave at this moment, and would she have regrets in the future.
Because by this moment, she was already very sure-
That during this separation, she missed the home where she lived for a few months and missed everyone in that home, especially that man.
Her thoughts could not be transferred or forgotten with anything, it was circling her heart every inch, and would only entangle her more and more tightly.
Yolanda opened her WhatsApp, took a photo of the plane taking off, and sent it to her WhatsApp Moments.
She wanted to type something more, but what she typed out were all hypocritical words. In the end, she didn't write a word at all and just posted the photo.
It was already obvious, that she was at the airport.
I'm leaving... Are you really not holding me back?
Her WhatsApp Moment was only visible to Aaron.
Yolanda waited for the man's reply after sending it. But one minute, two minutes, five minutes, half an hour... there was no reply at all.
Yolanda was a little depressed. What's the matter with this man? Was it hard for him to tell her 'have a safe journey'?
Such a cheapskate he is.
But after debating in her heart for a long time, Yolanda could only regulate her emotions by herself.
It didn't matter if he said it to her or not. Even if he said it, would it make everything better?
Could she leave happily after he said it?
Yolanda lowered her head and took a long time to call out to Marc, who was next to her. "Brother."
"Yes?"
"Have you ever done something in your life that you regret?"
Marc was stunned for a few seconds, his thoughts were pulled away by something else.
A few months ago, he met a woman on a business trip in Miami. On the debauchery night, a one-night stand occurred naturally.
Later, she wanted his business card when she left, but he kissed her kiss and replied, 'take care'.
The woman also smiled back at him, replying to him back with the same words.
After briefly crossing each other's lives for a few days, they parted their ways straightforwardly.
Marc thought that he only had the physical pleasure for her, but after he returned to New York- for countless nights, he realized that he had already fallen for her. It was love at the first sight.
"So what if we regret it?" He gently adjusted his glasses and sighed, "Life won't let us turn back and choose again."
With a beep, Yolanda's phone suddenly rang. She opened it in surprise and panic, thinking that it would be a message from Aaron, but it turned out to be James Hilton.
[Hello Yura darling, what are you busy with these days? Why are you ignoring me?]
Looking blankly at the scumbag's profile picture on WhatsApp, Yolanda's suppressed emotions suddenly flooded out.
She could feel a certain desire in her heart. And the more intense the desire she was, the more disappointed she felt when she received James Hilton's message.
The spring that was pulled to the extreme finally could not bear it and bounced back heavily. Every nerve of hers was pulled in pain.
James Hilton then texted her again.
[Why don't you post the photo of your brother in your Moments?]
[Yura darling, when will you take a video of Mr. Jensen's house to let me see? He has always been my idol.]
Though James Hilton said nicely to her, in fact, he was already suspicious of Yolanda.
There was almost nothing in Yolanda's Moment, hardly anything. She really didn't look like the sister of a big shot in the entertainment industry.
But it was such a disgusting WhatsApp message that finally opened up all the blocked exits in Yolanda's heart.
Yes, she still needs to pay James Hilton back.
Now that he had doubted her and wanted a video, she must go back.
Even though she knew that the gap was forcibly opened by herself, Yolanda felt relieved. She could even breathe smoothly.
Once this thought began to come out in her heart, it overwhelmed everything.
She could vividly remember every moment of being with Aaron in the past few months.
From his initial indifferent attitude, until being his acquaintance afterward.
Although he was mean to her, he also pampered her.
He was her only reliance during the period after her bankruptcy.
Yolanda used to think that their meeting was completely unexpected, but now she understood that from the moment she sent him a note, the gears of fate seemed to have tied them together.
Otherwise, why big Capital was, and it was his car that hit her by chance.
At this time, the broadcast started notifying the passengers about then boarding information.
"Indeed, life does not give us a chance to turn back and choose again," Yolanda murmured and stood up. "But at least, I don't want to regret it now."
At four o'clock in the afternoon, the flight from Capital to Darlington took off on time.
Yolanda stood at the airport gate with her only handbag and looked up at the sky. A plane flew away from overhead, passing through the white clouds, and slowly disappeared into the clouds.
Marc's serious words echoed in her ears- "You've made up your mind, everyone is responsible for the decisions they make."
Of course, Yolanda understood this fact. Compared to the bright future that could be seen, even if the road back was full of thorns, she still wanted to come back.
The moment when she tore up the ticket was perhaps the most unforgettable and profound decision in her life.
People were hurrying passing at the airport exit, but Yolanda felt very relaxed. She didn't take a taxi right away but walked slowly along the side of the road.
There was still no news on the phone. Aaron Jensen, this indifferent man, didn't send her a single blessing after all.
When she goes back later, she must give him a tongue-lashing. Just thinking about such a picture, she grinned unconsciously.
At the end of the airport driveway, Yolanda found a temporary taxi spot and waited for a taxi.
The taxi drove in front of her. When Yolanda opened the door and was about to sit in, suddenly, she caught a glimpse of a familiar black car parked across the road.
She paused for a moment and stood up again. She looked at the car opposite from a distance. The car window was open, and the man bent his arms on the edge of the window, staring lightly into the distance.
He didn't seem to have a specific direction, or any emotions, just looking away thoughtfully.
Yolanda didn't know when he came, how long he had been here, and how long he planned to stay. Everything around her seemed to suddenly come to a standstill. The whole world is just him and himself.
Yolanda felt so choked on her nose, but at the same time, she wanted to laugh.
Thinking of the first cold night they met, she stumbled around the nursing home in a remote-controlled wheelchair, and when she finally returned to the door boringly, she saw him sitting in the car just like now.
At that time, she boldly knocked on his window and said with a smile, "Brother, are you here?"
Then she was brought home, with the story that followed.
"Are you going to get in the car? People are queuing at the back!" The driver suddenly honked his horn, urging her.
Yolanda regained her senses, closed the car door, and apologized, "I'm sorry, I'm not going in."
She suppressed the joyful ups and downs in her heart and walked toward him slowly.
Fate seemed to be turning around again. They met again in this way.
She got closer and closer to him until she stopped.
She lightly knocked on the window. At this moment, even the wind became gentle itself.
"Are you waiting for me?"