Estelle thought what he said was ridiculous, and she almost wanted to laugh.
“Cristofer, what do you take me for in your heart?” Estelle took a deep breath and asked. “Do you regard me as a pet that you can abandon at any time or someone who must be at your mercy?”
Cristofer shook his head and tried to hold her hand. “Estelle, I didn’t...”
“Don’t touch me!” Estelle pushed him away and said. “Mr. Hans, Yohan and Yvonne are my children and have nothing to do with you. After you remarry, you will also have your own child. Besides, I remember that you promised me that you wouldn’t appear in front of me again. Have you forgotten that?”
With his head lowered Cristofer stood still with a pained expression and gritted his teeth. “I can’t do it, Estelle. I miss you every day.”
“...”
“Leave Justin and come back to me, Estelle. I will make up for what I’ve done for you. I’ll be good to Yohan and Yvonne–”
Estelle interrupted him and asked, “Cristofer, do you remember my favourite dress?”
Cristofer didn’t know why she suddenly asked such a question but still nodded and answered her, “The one your father bought for you before?”
“Yes,” Estelle said. “That’s my birthday gift from him on my eighteenth birthday. The dress is light blue, which is my favourite colour. I like the dress very much, but I lost it, and I couldn’t find it anymore.”
“Yes. I remember that you cried for many days after it was lost. I bought you many light blue dresses to make you happy, but you were still very sad and said you only wanted the one your father gave you, “Cristofer said.
Thinking of the past, Estelle smiled bitterly and said, “That dress is really very beautiful. Whenever I think of it, I will find it a pity that I lost it. Back then, I cried so sadly for the dress. But my tears were useless because I couldn’t find the dress anymore. However, as time passed by, I stopped being sad about it anymore.”
“Estelle, what on earth do you want to say?” Cristofer asked.
“I want to say that it’s a sad thing to lose what we love. But time will help us get over it and move on. You are like the dress that I used to love very much. I felt sad and painful because of you in the past. But as time passes by, all these feelings have gone. Without you, I can still live a good life. Cristofer, I don’t need you anymore. Do you understand?”
Hearing this, Cristofer said anxiously, “But what if the dress shows up in front of you again? Won’t you be happy? You said that you liked it very much.”
“But I don’t need it anymore,” Estelle said with a big smile. “When I was eighteen years old, I liked the dress, and its cute style fit me. But now, I’m twenty-six years old, and I’m the mother of two children. Even if the dress comes back to me, I won’t wear it anymore because it doesn’t fit me.”
“...”
“Cristofer, there’s no need for the dress to appear in front of me again, no matter how much I loved it before.”
“...”
Estelle sniffed and said, “Don’t you still understand what I mean? Cristofer, your regret is meaningless to me.”
Gazing at her, Cristofer sighed and said with a bitter smile, “So... the person you need now is Mr. Mysterious, right?”
Estelle nodded and said firmly, “Yes. When I was in the most difficult time, Mr. Mysterious helped me. Cristofer, you would never know how desperate I was at that time. Without Mr. Mysterious, I would have been dead.”
“Mr. Mysterious... is Justin?” Cristofer asked in a hoarse voice.
“I don’t know,” Estelle said, shaking her head. “Justin is like Mr. Mysterious in all aspects.”
“Does he love you?”
“He...”
“Do you know that Justin has a beloved woman that he still can’t get over?” Cristofer said. “You haven’t known Justin for a long time and may not know about his past. Justin loved that woman very much, but they broke up. And that woman has been married. He just took you as a substitute for that woman. And...”
“I know that,” Estelle interrupted him and said with a nod. “I know everything about him. Mr. Mysterious never hides anything from me. On the first day we met each other, he told me that he still couldn’t forget about his beloved woman. And I know that I’m just a substitute.”
Hearing this, Cristofer said in a hurry, “Estelle, you were so proud before. Why would you be willing to be a substitute for another woman?”
‘Yes, I used to be very proud. Since I was born, I have been spoiled by my parents. And after I met you, you doted on me. I lived in love and affection every day, and I was like a proud princess.’
‘But later, I lost everything, and my life became a hopeless mess. I would have been dead if it weren’t for Mr. Mysterious.’
“I’m just willing to.”
“What?”
“I said I’m willing to be the substitute,” Estelle said and chuckled. “It’s not bad to be a substitute.”
Cristofer then asked, “What did he do for you? Tell me. I can do it too.”
Estelle looked up at him and said, “Every time I needed help, he came to me and helped me. Can you do that?”
“I can!”
“You can’t,” Estelle said firmly, “Yesterday, York and Melody broke into my ward and questioned me if I asked you to disinvest from his company. York almost beat me. Where were you then?”
“I...”
“I’m just a weak cancer patient, and Yvonne was with me then. In that situation, if Justin hadn’t come in time, the consequence would be too ghastly to contemplate,” Estelle said and sighed heavily. “Cristofer, admit it. You can’t do anything for me.”
Just then, Rebecca returned happily with the thermos bottle in her hand.
“Estelle, I just saw something very funny—” Before she could finish her words, she saw Cristofer and was stunned.
The next second, she put down the bottle at once, stood in front of Estelle to protect her, and thundered, “Cristofer? Why are you here?”
Seeing her wary look, Cristofer said helplessly, “Rebecca, I’m just talking with Estelle. The matter between us has nothing to do with you. You can leave now.”
“Bah! I won’t leave! The last time Estelle and I ate outside, I left the restaurant first after dinner. Then you took Estelle away forcibly, and you almost killed her! I won’t let her stay with you alone!” Rebecca said bluntly.
She looked back at Howard and wanted to ask him to drive Cristofer out but surprisingly saw him sitting aside and covering his red and swollen face.
“Cristofer, did you beat Howard? Do you have any grudge against him? Why did you beat him?” she asked furiously.
Cristofer stared at Howard coldly and said with a sneer, “He actually dares to covet Estelle. I just punched him to teach him a lesson.”
“Cristofer, are you crazy?! Howard is my boyfriend! He has nothing to do with Estelle!” Rebecca said snappishly.
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