Chapter 1913 Heart To Heart
Evan, Nicole, Joy, and Maya returned to Imperial Garden in high spirits only to realize that Nina had not returned. “Is Nina home?” Nicole asked the butler. “It’s awfully late.”
“She hasn’t come home yet. Perhaps she has an appointment?” Maya took out her phone. “Let me call her, Mom.”
At that moment, Nina’s heart was thumping wildly from the story she had just heard. The ringing of the phone served to give her a respite from the grief that overwhelmed her. Upon realizing that it was Maya who was calling, she answered the phone promptly.
“Nina, are you on a date? We’re worried for you for being out so late.” Nina merely grunted.
“Who are you out with?” Maya asked, intrigued. “A guy or a girl?”
Nina glanced at the seat across from her. “It’s a guy.”
“A guy! Who is it? Is it Stephen? Is he back?”
“Yes, he is.”
“I’ll let you guys catch up then. See you back home.”
Maya hung up and relayed the information to her parents. Evan assured Nicole that their daughter would be safe in Stephen’s care.
Nicole nodded and followed her husband up the stairs after wishing Maya good night.
“Isn’t Stephen away on a mission to investigate Chris’ death?” Maya muttered to herself. “Has he found something?” I will ask Nina about it when she comes home.
Back at the restaurant, Nina remained as still as a statue after ending the call with Maya.
Stephen ordered a glass of milk from a passing waiter. “You haven’t had anything to eat all day,” he coaxed gently. “Have some milk, at least.”
Nina’s eyelids trembled as she gazed at the glass of milk in front of her. Reaching out to touch the warm glass, she found herself mildly surprised that it did nothing to soothe the frigid ball of pain and sorrow in her stomach.
“Cheer up. Chris would hate to see you mope like that.”
Nina took a deep breath. “Was it worth it?” she demanded suddenly.
Stephen fell silent before answering, “From where we stand, of course his death wasn’t worth it. However, it must have been so for him as he chose to give it up to protect someone he loved. Perhaps he was driven into a corner and thought that he had no other choice.”
“But he…” Nina hesitated and let her voice trail off. Her gaze was vacant with grief as she clutched the glass of milk to stop her hands from shaking.
“But he should have considered your feelings, as somebody else he loved,” Stephen finished her sentence for her.
Nina gazed at him without a word. That is exactly what I was thinking. If Chris really was thinking of me, he must have known that the heart he had entrusted to Stephen in exchange for protecting me was his final gift to me from beyond the grave.
“Nina, I’m sure he has had his fair share of impossible choices. We should feel sorry for him and respect the choices that he’d made. Before he died, he gave me this heart in the hopes that you will go on living your life with happiness. Don’t let him down or this heart of mine will never know peace.”
Nina took a large sip of milk in the ensuing silence before nodding shakily.
“It’s late,” Stephen said by way of changing the subject. “I’d better get you home before your parents start to worry.”
“Thank you.”
On the way home, Nina sat in the passenger seat and watched Stephen as he drove. Occasionally, Chris’ face would appear in her mind’s eye.
If Chris were still alive, he would be willing to do anything in the world for me the way Stephen is doing right now. He was even willing to leave his heart for someone who can protect me when he couldn’t. He chose duty over love. Despite being an illegitimate child, he had opted to be a dutiful son to his single mother. He must have felt obligated to save his mother’s life through whatever means necessary. It’s just tragic that the price to pay for that duty is his life.
The car sped across the highway under the inky sky. The colors outside the window flew past Nina like a kaleidoscopic stream of colors. Wanting nothing more than to allow herself to be washed into the river of colors, she felt the pain of the complex medley of emotions that tugged her heart from every possible direction.
