Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 253 Conflict

Emily couldn't fight off her sleepiness and headed upstairs to crash first. We kept the drinks flowing for a good while after that. From what I remember, Jason had always been the straight-laced type.

Back when we were in the band, Jason was all about the music. He never got mixed up in the bad stuff like fighting or gambling. Then he went abroad for school, so it was pretty rare for him to invite someone out for drinks like this. Jason and I clinked glasses again. He knocked his drink back in one go, set the glass down, and leaned back in his chair.

He was not much of a drinker; his face turned red after just a few drinks, and even his neck started to change color.

It was in this tipsy state that Jason started to open up to me.

Jason said, "Ethan, you know I grew up in the same neighborhood as Emily. I liked her even back then. You might think I was too young to understand what liking someone meant, but those feelings were pure. I just liked her. And I've liked her ever since."

He gave a bitter smile, like he found himself a bit ridiculous.

Then he tilted his head slightly, staring blankly at a spot as if lost in memories.

"Emily was always small and thin, but her eyes were big, her eyelashes long, and her voice sweet. Back then, I couldn't tell what kind of feelings I had for her. I just instinctively wanted to protect her. I would miss her when I couldn't see her. If I hadn't moved away, if I hadn't studied abroad, if her family hadn't gone through that major upheaval, I think I would have proposed to her at the right time. But there are no ifs," Jason added.

Jason gave a wry smile, biting his lip, unable to hide a trace of sadness in his expression.

I didn't interrupt him; I just picked up the bottle and refilled our glasses.

What Jason was saying was something we both understood without ever discussing it openly.

Jason said, "All my life, I've been too cautious, too afraid to do many things. Ever since Emily's family had that incident, I didn't even dare to go back and see her because I was so afraid she would see a trace of pity in my eyes. When someone is at their lowest, the last thing they want is a look of pity from others."

Jason continued, "Your relationship was the biggest surprise for me when I returned. Maybe at first, I felt a bit unwilling, but when I saw the way she looked at you, I knew I never had a chance. Ethan, she loves you. Be good to her. If you let her down, I'll take her away from you."

I laughed. Jason hiccuped, looking at me a bit dazed.

Jason asked in confusion, "Why are you laughing? Do you think I don't dare?"

I shook my head, raised my glass to clink with his, and after taking a swig, I said, "Don't worry, I'll treat her right for life."

That night, we polished off all the booze. Jason was completely hammered, and I was about seventy or eighty percent there.

The next day, I headed out on a business trip as planned. Even though Jason had spilled his guts to me the night before, I still believed he was a stand-up guy.

During those days on the trip, I really missed Emily. She was on my mind constantly.

I was falling deeper

I felt like having Emily

illness, I had Emily by my side. She gave me

The soup she made was a culinary delight because it had a

have a drinking habit; I only wanted to get drunk

could go back eight years, when Fiona

went back eight years, I would still choose Fiona?

to her, so I

seen Faye's text message. It was much later, when

the night, I found Emily wasn't in bed. I went out, walked to

in through the open door,

I could clearly hear the

to the room,

"Jason, is

We're chatting,"

a while, I heard them coming

for some reason, I felt a bit uneasy. I held her tightly

the more selfish he became. It

next day, Jason suggested moving out. I got what

days later, Jason moved

when Oliver and Bella were both injured, Emily often went to the hospital. That day, I called her after work, and she said she was at the hospital. When I went to pick her up, she wasn't there. Bella

me, and this was the first

Melville family, so I knew at the time

Emily asked about it, I didn't dare

I felt a

Emily's father back then. His appearance made me uneasy, and I worried that

arrival was the beginning of the rift

For all these years,

didn't call me before she came, so I

think Faye would affect my relationship with Emily. However,

even better than I had been to

taller and was now a young woman, but in my eyes,

was Emily who suggested that Faye stay with us, and I agreed. After all, I wasn't comfortable with Faye staying in

the conflicts would start from

was a bit two-faced and sometimes played little tricks. I wasn't unaware of this. But I didn't think it was a big deal. Faye had grown up in a