Chapter 158: Julian Fletcher Actually Loves No One

Chapter 158: Chapter 158: Julian Fletcher Actually Loves No One

"Heh..."

I heard Asher’s cold laugh.

’I wanted him to run. Run, now.’

’Julian Fletcher is a bastard.’

"Cece isn’t leaving with you," Julian Fletcher said in a low voice, signaling the bodyguards to make their move.

"You didn’t think... I came alone, did you?" Asher was smiling, but his voice was cold. Its hoarseness gave it a terrifying, oppressive edge.

"Julian..."

Outside the door came Erin Whittaker’s trembling voice.

When I forced my eyes open, I saw a tall figure in a baseball cap pressing a knife to Erin Whittaker’s neck.

Asher hadn’t come alone.

I actually felt a sense of relief.

"Julian..." Erin Whittaker was pale with fright. The burned side of her face was still red and swollen, and her long hair had been cut short after being scorched in the fire.

"Sebastian Lancaster!" Julian Fletcher glared at Asher, his rage palpable.

Asher sneered, a frightening chill in his eyes. "Who’s more important? The woman who saved your life, or your own interests?"

Erin Whittaker was trembling all over. "Julian, save me!" she cried out.

Julian Fletcher clenched his fists and glanced back at Erin Whittaker.

Clearly, he couldn’t make a choice when faced with this debt of gratitude.

He knew that if Asher went crazy, he would definitely kill Erin Whittaker.

I propped myself up and shook my head hard. My thoughts were a bit muddled, but I was okay.

’I don’t know if it’s an unexpected blessing, but perhaps because Silvia Lynch’s body is a new vessel, it doesn’t seem to have fully integrated with my soul. As a result, the drugs didn’t have much of an effect on me.’

’But Victor Quinn is dangerous. His hypnotic therapy affects me, and it affects me a lot.’

’I need to stay away from him. It’s like he’s my kryptonite.’

Seeing me awake, Asher panicked for a moment, a flash of fear in his eyes.

’He was probably afraid I’d forgotten him again, just like before.’

Julian Fletcher also watched me nervously, a mix of joy and caution in his voice as he began, "Cece..."

’He hopes I’ve forgotten Asher and only remember him now.’

"Cece, come here." Julian Fletcher held out his hand to me, asking me to choose him.

I glanced at Julian Fletcher and got out of bed.

Asher started to reach for me, but he quickly pulled his hand back as if he’d been shocked.

’He wasn’t sure if I still remembered him. He wasn’t sure if he would scare me.’

I took the initiative and reached out, grabbing Asher’s fingers. My voice was a little hoarse. "Where did you go...?"

Asher’s body stiffened. The rims of his eyes turned red as he pulled me forcefully into his arms, holding me tight. "A few rats were hot on my tail. I’m sorry... I made you wait for me again."

I lowered my head, my forehead resting on Asher’s chest. The smell of blood again. I smelled it on him once more.

’He’s hurt again.’

’Those people deserve to die...’

’Everyone who hurt him deserves to die.’

’I want to kill them all.’

"Cece..." Julian Fletcher sounded flustered. He clearly didn’t want Asher to take me away.

’With Victor Quinn’s treatments, it wouldn’t be long before I forgot Asher again.’

’If I’m taken away now, all his plans will have been for nothing.’

"If you don’t let us go, Erin Whittaker will die." I looked at Julian Fletcher, forcing him to choose.

Erin Whittaker was still crying. "Julian, I’m scared."

Julian Fletcher clenched his fists in frustration, the veins bulging. I could see he was hesitating.

"Cece... he’s a madman. He’ll only make your condition worse. Your parents said back then that you could never be with him, no matter what." Julian Fletcher spoke softly, as if coaxing me. "Cece, I’m begging you, please come back to me, okay?"

I didn’t answer his question. Instead, I looked up at Asher. "Asher, I want some mango sago."

Asher shook his head. "You can’t."

"Why...?" I asked quietly.

"You’re allergic," Asher said softly, holding me in his arms.

"But I love it so much..." I murmured.

I’m the one who loves mango sago, but I just so happen to be allergic to mangoes. So every time I bought some in secret, Asher would always cover for me, claiming that he was the one who loved it. He’d only let me have a little, and then he’d eat the rest.

He said he loved mango sago.

But it was actually Cecilia Caldwell who loved it.

He was just ’forced’ to love it.

"Then just have a little," Asher coaxed softly, about to lead me away.

Julian Fletcher stood frozen, wanting to explain.

"Cece..."

"I remember telling you that ’Cecilia Caldwell’ is allergic to mangoes." I could forgive him for not knowing before, but for him to still not remember now... ’It seems you can see the difference between love and non-love in the details.’

"Cece, it’s not like that. I just thought, your body now is Silvia Lynch’s..." Julian Fletcher tried to explain that Silvia Lynch wasn’t allergic to mangoes.

’But in reality, he still subconsciously doubted my identity as ’Cecilia Caldwell’.’

’And yet, he was paranoid and stubborn, determined to turn ’Silvia Lynch’ into Cecilia Caldwell.’

’To make me his doll, his perfect substitute.’

"Julian Fletcher... you’re as selfish as ever. You don’t love anyone; you only love yourself," I said, looking at him scornfully and tightening my grip on Asher’s hand. "Has no one ever told you that love can disappear? Especially a love that was gained through deception..."

’Even though he went to such great lengths to trick me into it, he refused to cherish it properly.’

Julian Fletcher’s hands fell limply to his sides. He wanted to say that he loved Cecilia Caldwell.

But his throat seemed to hurt too much to speak.

He had put in so much effort to make Cecilia Caldwell love him, to become the one she loved.

But in the end, the only person he moved was himself.

"If you don’t want Erin Whittaker to die, then let us go," I said again, my grip on Asher’s hand remaining firm.

’I won’t let go again.’

’I feel like I owe him too much.’

Perhaps because I was in front of him, much of Asher’s ferocity subsided. His gaze was gentle as he looked at me.

"Cece... he’s a bad man," he started to say, aggrieved. "He’s always trying to steal you away."

I tightened my hold on his hand.

Julian Fletcher’s eyes darkened. He had no intention of letting us go.

I knew he was stalling for time. Master Lancaster’s men must be on their way.

"Julian... save me!" The person threatening Erin Whittaker cut her neck with the knife, and she cried, begging Julian Fletcher for help.

I looked into Julian Fletcher’s eyes. He was gambling.

I reached out, snatched the knife from a bodyguard’s hand, and pressed it to my own neck.

’What if ’Cecilia Caldwell’ dies, then?’

"Cece..." Asher panicked, looking at me helplessly.

Julian Fletcher was clearly panicked as well. "Cece..."

"Let us go," I said, my eyes dark as I stared at him.

Julian Fletcher gave in. He stepped away from the door, and the bodyguards cleared a path.

I took Asher’s hand again and led him away.

"Asher, let’s go home."

’I’ll get you out of here.’

Asher watched my back, looked down at my hand holding his, and smiled.

"Cece, let’s go home."

"Cecilia Caldwell, he can’t protect you!" Julian Fletcher shouted after me from the doorway. "The disappearance of memories isn’t something that can be artificially chosen, but you can choose it yourself... Only memories you desperately want to forget are sealed away in your mind. You don’t love him. You’re the one who wants to forget him!"

My steps faltered for a second, but I didn’t turn back.

Asher’s gaze on me was filled with panic. He was afraid.

’What memory could it be? What could make me want so desperately to forget Asher, to forget everything related to that orphanage?’

"Cece... don’t listen to him." The corners of Asher’s eyes were red, as if he were pleading with me not to abandon him.

"I don’t care what memories I’ve forgotten. Right now, I just want to go home with you." I held his hand, trying to lead him away.

Unfortunately, Master Lancaster’s car had already pulled up outside the Fletcher family’s home, and a group of people were getting out.