Chapter 143: Finale: I Love You, Travis Cooper
Vince didn’t speak for a long time. The phone said again, “However, Ms. Jenkins… I mean, Lady Johnson provided it to us more than a month ago. There was a little accident in the middle, so the test result has been delayed. Maybe she is not paying much attention to this result now.”
“Where did she get it? Someone used to…”
“Indeed. Several groups of people tried to find Mr. Cooper’s fingerprints, hair, or blood. They didn’t succeed, but Ms. Jenkins… I mean, Lady Johnson succeeded. She wanted to know if you’re still alive. Sir, won’t you ask who I am?”
“You have helped me a lot of times. You are capable of providing things even the most expensive credit bureaus can’t find, right?”
The phone was silent for a long time. Later, the voice of the man became a bit strange, like suppressing something. “You won’t need me anymore. I think this is the last thing I can do for you. Anyway, I hope that you have an opportunity of choice. Good luck, sir, goodbye.”
Before the man hung up, Vince whispered, “Thank you, Ryan.” His voice was stiff when he called Ryan.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
A heavy sound of sobbing came from the other side of the phone. Ryan whispered in an unearthly low voice, “Bye, Mr. Cooper. May with your new identity you’ll have your happiness.”
Vince stood alone by the river to watch the sunset. His shadow became very long in the afterglow of the sunset. The driver in the distance lingered for a long time and then carefully walked over, “Mr. Johnson, Madame asked if you would go home to eat at night.”
“Why didn’t she call me?”
“Your mobile phone is out of power.”
This meal was made by Arianna herself. It was a very simple four-in-one soup plus millet porridge. The kitchen was tortured as if it had just held a banquet.
Arianna said, “You can take stomach medicine before eating.”
Vince tasted every dish, “Nice.”
“Thank you.”
Vince asked Arianna, “What day is today? How can you become so nice suddenly?”
“I am waiting for something. I need to talk to you later; eat first.”
She saw Vince eating so slowly, and she said helplessly, “I have tried my best. It took me half an afternoon. If you really don’t like it, I will make you an instant noodles. My technique of making instant noodles is not bad.”
Vince ate every dish Arianna cooked, and he washed the plates himself. Their middle-aged housekeeper was a little nervous and worried about whether she was too derelict. After dinner, Vince returned to the study to read a document and saw Arianna sitting on the swing seat in the yard and swaying outside the window.
He was moody. When the housekeeper sent him tea, he mistakenly used it as a pen holder and threw a pen in. The housekeeper smiled slyly, “Madame is in a good mood today; there should be something.”
“What?”
“Madame went to the hospital today. Are you worried about your wife, sir?”
At nine o’clock in the evening, Arianna and Vince met in the study. They each had their own free space, and they usually got together after 9 pm.
“I will show you something.” Arianna handed him a big, open envelope.
“Yes? There is something for you here.” His voice was a little hoarse, and he handed her an envelope with her name on it.
Arianna saw the words on the envelope, and her face turned pale, “How do you get it?”
“It was sent to me accidentally; probably the courier wanted me to transfer it to you.”
Her face was a little paler, and Arianna said, “Do you know what it is?”
“Yeah. And I can swear to you, this is the correct one.” He slowly pushed the envelope to Arianna.
The relaxed atmosphere suddenly became heavy and tense. Their breath and heartbeat were clearly audible, and no one was looking at each other’s eyes.
They stood for a long time. Arianna finally picked up the envelope slowly, tearing the seal slowly. The seal was very firm, and her movements were so slow, as if she could never open it. For Vince, it was like torture in hell. He handed her a paper-knife, his hands shaking.
Arianna didn’t pick up the knife. She slowly walked over to Vince, reached out, and searched for his body. She only knew that he had a small habit these days. He quit smoking because of the condition of his throat, but one of his pockets was always equipped with a lighter. And he would play the lighter whenever he was bored.
She slowly searched in his trouser pockets. She finally found the lighter. Arianna turned on the lighter and put the envelope that she failed to open onto the flame, watching it burn into ash bit by bit.
The two looked at each other with complicated expressions.
“Aren’t you going to know the truth?” His voice trembled.
“It was in the past. Whatever had happened before, would it be best for us to let go of them?”
Vince was silent. And he gently nodded, saying, “I am happy to hear that you forgive me.” He suddenly remembered something, “I heard you went to the hospital today. Are you okay?”
“Why don’t you look at the thing I gave you?”
Vince watched her face, trying to read more, but he failed. He slowly said, “I’m not sure if this envelope you’re holding needs to be destroyed too.”
“Fine by me. They almost lost it. I waited for a long time before they sent it back to me. Didn’t I just say a while ago we should move forward?” With a little anger on her face, she turned away.
Vince didn’t stop her. He took out a piece of tissue and wiped the sweat on his hands. Then he opened the unsealed envelope she handed him. There was only one colored ultrasound photo and one test sheet indicating she was pregnant.
The next second, he was excited. He rushed out of the study and almost knocked down the housekeeper.
When Vince found Arianna, she was standing on a chair to fetch the vase full of large calla lilies from the tall cabinet. He cautiously said, “You don’t move, yes, just stand there. Let me help you.” When she had a snake behind her before, he was not as nervous and cautious as he is now.
He took the vase in her hands, put it on the table, and gently hugged her down, “You do this dangerous action again, and my blood pressure will rise.”
Arianna swung her arms around his neck, “Congratulations, Mr. Johnson! Or should I call you Mr. Cooper?” Her smile was shallow but sunshine-like.
“I preferred to be Vince to start anew. Congratulations, Mrs. Johnson.” Vince held her tighter.
She just smiled at him and suddenly pushed him, “You’re really good at manipulating people.”
He pulled her back into his arms, “Grandma had several schemes under her sleeves to make me return home. He even sent Vince to persuade me, but that accident happened to the two of us. I don’t want to recall that day.”
Arianna leaned her head on his chest; she could feel his calm breathing. She then whispered. “I love you, Travis Cooper.”
Travis planted a warm kiss on her forehead. “I love you more, honey.”
Author’s Note: Thank you, everyone, for reading this novel till the end, and with a heavy heart, I proudly announce that the finale has come, and we need to bid our farewell to the main characters of this novel. I hope to see you again in my next book. May you find your real love, joy, and happiness!
Sending you my warm hug,
Anna Shannel Lin
*****END OF THE STORY******