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    49 A Lie

    Aldrich’s POV:

    When did the estrangement between my father and me start, and why did it deepen? I had no recollection of it at all.

    However, to break through the barrier, one only needed true love and to take the initiative to take that step.

    I believed love was like this too, right?

    [I’m sorry, Selma. I sensed that you were acting strangely, but I still wanted to use that little self-righteous trick to cover up the past. I’ve never been in love, so I admit I shamelessly ran away when a small obstacle appeared in our relationship. I was afraid you would leave me if I didn’t handle it well.

    [You should be angry with me. I deserve this.

    [If I take the initiative to break the ice, will you forgive me?

    [To be honest, I’m not sure. I’m afraid that the nightmare from that night will come true.

    [But I’ve already learned enough lessons from my father. It is useless to escape. It’ll only push you further and further away.

    [Baby, don’t give up on me. I’m begging you. I’m trying my best to make up for my stupid mistake.]

    The sports car sped away, and my heart was like an arrow as I headed straight for the palace in the setting sun.

    Selma Payne’s POV:

    Aldrich and I were giving each other cold shoulders.

    I didn’t know how it happened. Maybe it was a text message that couldn’t be read or a call that no one picked up. In short, I cut off all contact with Aldrich.

    Without any reason.

    Tracy’s diagnosis only provided me with a small amount of comfort. I knew that this wasn’t due to the abnormal hormones or the self-adjustment of my physiological system. Our conflict had long been showing signs. If we couldn’t solve this fundamental problem, it would only be a matter of time before it erupted.

    Concealment.

    Deception.

    My relationship with Aldrich was built on a lie. I hid my identity from him, and we hid it from the people closest to us.

    I understood why there would always be a few rookie spies in spy movies who couldn’t help but reveal their identities to their friends and family – the taste of lying didn’t feel good.

    The three days of rest passed quickly. During this period, I was troubled by my stagnant love life and Dorothy’s prophecy. As a result, I was absent-minded in everything I did. It was to the point that my mother had worriedly summoned Tracy over several times to examine me.

    Tracy was an excellent doctor, but I was not a good patient. I couldn’t honestly announce my condition, so naturally, I couldn’t receive effective treatment.

    On Monday evening, I heard from Kara that Aldrich had returned to the army. My father asked him to stay for a while and asked if I wanted to see my instructor.

    Of course, I wanted to! I hadn’t seen him for three days, and I’d been thinking about him like crazy.

    But when I thought about our awkward ‘cold war’, I couldn’t muster up the courage.

    What if Aldrich was angry? If it weren’t for my fickleness, there wouldn’t have been any conflict.

    “I’m a little tired. Let’s talk about it tomorrow,” I said uninterestedly. “I’m sure Sir Aldrich is also returning to the camp to rest? I’d better not disturb him.”

    Kara looked at me in surprise. She must have noticed a conflict between Aldrich and me with her attentiveness.

    “I think Sir Aldrich looks quite energetic,” Kara said. “He even proposed to His Majesty to continue tonight’s training.”

    “Did Father agree?” I was a little nervous. I wasn’t sure if I wanted my father to agree or not.

    “His Majesty said that everything is up to you. You’ve been in low spirits, so you don’t have to force yourself.”

    I felt dejected. Perhaps when one struggled, they would hope someone would decide everything for them.

    I hesitated for a long time until the sky turned dark, then I gathered my courage and decided to see Aldrich.

    It was funny, but this was a lesson I learned from Benson. Sometimes, I thought that if I had not fantasized about Benson’s attitude, if I had asked him about his thoughts earlier instead of letting myself sink deeper and deeper into the fantasy, wouldn’t everything have ended differently?

    I didn’t learn much in the past, but the most useful one was this: Don’t give the conflict a chance to escalate.

    I’d hesitated for too long, and now was the time to erase my cowardice.

    Just as Aldrich was about to leave, I stopped him at the palace gate.

    However, before I could speak, he suddenly pulled me and ran to the training ground with a few people.

    “Wait, Aldrich, I have something to say to you!” I wanted to break free from his grasp, but he was too strong.

    Aldrich silently led me as we ran. Gradually, I gave up struggling and prepared for the worst.

    If he asked to break up with me, I would never agree. We hadn’t reached the end of the line yet, and I wouldn’t make a decision I’d regret for the rest of my life just because of a moment of rashness.

    Finally, we stopped in the middle of the training ground.

    The moment we looked at each other, I didn’t know what to say. I was like a nervous interviewee who had prepared a stomach full of drafts but forgot everything when I saw the interviewer.

    “I’m sorry, Selma.” Aldrich was the first to break the silence.

    I didn’t expect him to apologize to me at all. Why? He didn’t do anything wrong, so his apology was unreasonable.

    “Don’t say that.” I shook my head. “I should be the one apologizing, Aldrich.

    “I don’t know what I was thinking. I ignored your text messages for no reason, hung up on your call, and even thought of breaking up for a moment.”