Chapter 187
Chapter 187
Eileen stared at Egbert in shock, never expecting him to say something like that.
Egbert glanced at her and seeing her stunned expression, he chuckled, raising an eyebrow, “Can I?”
Eileen quickly turned her head.
Looking out the window, she said, ‘Don’t try to trick me! I won’t fall for it!”
Egbert feigned confusion, “Tricked?” Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.
Eileen almost lost control and blushed again!
She exclaimed, “I want to get out of the car!”
Realizing he might have pushed the joke too far and scared her off, Egbert hastened to soothe her, “Okay, I’ll stop now.”
Seeing him shut up, Eileen finally relaxed a bit.
Meanwhile, she quietly upgraded her assessment of Egbert in her mind.
What a sly guy, his words were full of temptation!
She needed to stay alert at all times, or she might easily fall into his trap!
After self-hypnotizing deep in her heart, Eileen gradually calmed down.
The rest of the journey was spent in silence.
But boy, that was a long ride.
The car slowly moved from the city center to the suburbs.
Eileen had eaten too much for afternoon tea and accidentally spent the rest of the ride sleeping.
When she woke up again, the car was already parked outside a highway toll booth, waiting in line.
Looking at the cars ahead, Eileen asked groggily, “We’re not there yet?”
Egbert covered her with a blanket and whispered, “Almost there.”
Eileen mumbled, “Where the heck are you taking me? If you think you can ditch me somewhere and I won’t find my way back, you’re wrong. I can always find my way home…”
Egbert laughed, tapping her nose, “Are you a puppy?”
With her eyes closed, Eileen declared, “I’m a big tiger.”
And then, she fell asleep again.
Egbert kept driving.
When Eileen woke up again, it was already dark.
The car window was slightly open and the scent of peach blossoms, mixed with the fresh breeze, drifted in through the small gap.
Finally, Eileen opened her eyes.
She stretched lazily, pulling up the blanket, and looked out the window absentmindedly.
The familiar streets, the familiar peach blossoms.
For a moment, Eileen froze.
And then, she snapped to her senses!
She sat up straight, her face pressed against the window, her nose squished against the glass.
The scenery outside was too familiar to her.
Eileen turned her head and stammered at Egbert, “This is…”
Egbert just smiled, not answering her.
After a while, the car stopped in front
two-stor
villa.
Eileen looked at the familiar villa, completely stunned
Egbert got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and said to the girl inside, “Let’s go.”
But Eileen was too scared to get out of the car.,
Maybe it was the idea of returning home that made her nervous. She was now extremely scared.
Egbert noticed her unease. He reached out, took her hand, and gently led her out of the car.
Eileen got out of the car, still in disbelief!
Suddenly, she lifted Egbert’s band, gently stroking the back of it.
Egbert raised an eyebrow, watching her.
The next second, Eileen mustered all her strength and twisted the back of his hand!
His hand turning shades of blue and purple, she then asked innocently, “Did that hurt?”
Looking at his bruised hand, he repressed his anger and said, “What do you think?”
Eileen mumbled in a daze, “So I’m not dreaming?”
Egbert sighed helplessly.
Taking a deep breath, he ignored the throbbing pain, grabbed her hand, and led her straight to the front door.
Egbert was about to unlock the door when Eileen suddenly said, “Wait, let me catch my breath. I need to prepare myself!”
Egbert stopped and patiently waited for her.
Eileen saw a wooden sign hanging on the front door.
On the sign, in familiar handwriting, it read “Howard Manor”.
She covered her mouth in shock, saying to Egbert, “Is this really my home? My grandfather wrote this sign! But wasn’t
Egbert didn’t answer. He inserted the key and opened the front door.
my house sold?”
The moment the door opened, it felt like time had rewound.
Eileen suddenly found it hard to breathe!
Childhood memories, like scenes from an old movie, surfaced in her mind.
Egbert turned on the light.
The visual impact was even bigger.
The living room had an antique, clean interior, with vintage furniture everywhere.
Eileen audibly gasped.
It was exactly like her childhood home!
“Egbert!”
Eileen suddenly reached out her hand in panic, saying to Egbert, “Pinch me too, quickly, I can’t do it myself!”
Egbert took her hand and after a moment’s silence, brought it to his lips and kissed it gently.
Eileen stared at him in a daze.
Egbert looked into her eyes and said apologetically, “I’m sorry, I can’t do it either.”
Eileen fell silent.
Egbert led Eileen into the living room, saying, “The house was indeed sold ten years ago, but the new owner lived abroad most of the time, so everything here is pretty much the same.”
The Howard family’s house was not a regular house.
It was given as a benefit to Mr. Howard and Renata Howard, who made significant contributions to the country.
After their deaths, “Eileen Howard” was sent back to her biological mother, and the house was naturally repossessed.
Eileen knew early on that the house had been auctioned off.
But she never thought she would have the chance to return here one day.
Eileen looked at the fresh fruit on the table and the old fruit knife, asking, “Even if the new owner didn’t live here and the majority of the house is intact, what about these small items? Why are they still the same?”
Egbert quietly responded, “I restored them back to the way they were.”
Eileen looked at Egbert and asked, “Why would you do that?”
“Because tomorrow is your birthday, I wanted to give you a special gift.”
Egbert replied with a smile, “I thought my intentions were pretty clear.”
Eileen lowered her head.
She pondered for a moment, then lifted her head and said, “I finally believe now that you are actually pursuing me. I used to think that it was just a whim and you would give up after a few days.”
Looking into her eyes, Egbert promised solemnly, “I won’t give up.”,
Eileen nodded, “Yeah, I can see that. You’ve put in so much effort, so it would be really embarrassing if you couldn’t win me over, right? Giving up would be awkward, too.”
Egbert was a bit speechless.
After a moment, he massaged his temples and said sternly, “I’m giving you another chance. Say what you just said, again,”