Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)

Chapter 2125

“Almost nine already.”

Estelle frowned in mild annoyance. “I was planning to get an early start over to my parents' place. My nephew, Henson, has his finals coming up and I wanted to help him cram a bit, fill in the gaps, you know?”

She looked up at Jonathan, her lips curving into a smile, “Some tutor I am, right? Only reason my sister-in-law hasn’t complained is because she’s too polite to say anything.”

Jonathan gently pinched her cheek, “She lobbied hard to get you to help out. If there’s any complaining to be done, she’s just going to have to bite her tongue.”

“And to think, she’s doing all this for your sake,” Estelle huffed playfully.

“How about I make it up to her by tutoring Henson myself?”

Estelle imagined the serious scene of uncle and nephew studying together and couldn’t help but laugh.

Scooping her up in his arms, Jonathan declared, “Let’s not go back today. You’ve been running around non-stop because of Evelyn's situation. Today, we forget everything else and head back to Villa del Sol to have a weekend that’s just for us.”

Estelle replied, “And I’m not just visiting my mentor for Evelyn’s sake. With Grandpa in J City, I want to spend as much time with him as I can.” Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Speaking of Evelyn, Jonathan’s expression turned somber, “You bought a whole bunch of stuff for Evelyn yesterday? We haven’t even confirmed if she’s Old Mr. Quintin’s granddaughter. Don’t you think it’s a bit premature to shower her with gifts?”

Estelle met his gaze, “You think Evelyn will get greedy at the sight of money? She doesn’t seem like that kind of person. Back at Citadel, where patrons threw around cash like it was nothing, Evelyn never lost herself.”

“But people change,” Jonathan’s eyes darkened, “I know you see a bit of yourself in her - how she was separated from her biological parents at a young age, and how her adoptive parents neglected her after having their own children. Now that she has found her kin, you want to make up for lost time and shower her with affection. I get it. But my fear is that all this kindness could end up fostering greed in Evelyn, especially if she finds out she’s not really related and still refuses to give up the luxury.”

Estelle pondered his words, “You’re right. Perhaps I’ve empathized with Evelyn without realizing it. I think that finding her family means she deserves their love and care. Old Mr. Quintin probably feels the same way. Evelyn was orphaned, alone, and Old Mr. Quintin even considered taking her in as a goddaughter if she wasn’t his flesh and blood.”

“I heard from Old Mr. Jarvis that there have been mistaken identities before. Old Mr. Quintin would help those girls find their biological parents, and if he couldn’t, he’d provide financial support from the shadows. He told Old Mr. Jarvis he does this in hopes that someone would do the same for Nora if she ever faced hardship.”

“After more than two decades, Old Mr. Quintin probably realizes Nora isn’t coming back. But Evelyn’s arrival gave him new hope - not just to find Nora, but also to give Vivian some closure. So I understand his eagerness, even if it might seem rushed.”

Jonathan said, “I understand that you and Old Mr. Quintin want to treat her well. But you and Evelyn are different. You could resist temptation, but she might not have the strength to handle such a drastic change in her life.”

This was why he had wanted to wait until after the DNA test to introduce Evelyn to Old Mr. Quintin.

Evelyn didn’t wait, going to meet Old Mr. Quintin on her own, leaving them with no way to back out. Deep down, Jonathan had his reservations about her.

The human heart was the most unpredictable thing.

Sometimes, even those who live together day and night couldn't fully understand each other, let alone Estelle and Evelyn, who hadn’t known each other for long.

Estelle Charlieled, “Jonathan, you give me too much credit. I didn’t resist temptation either.”

“Oh?” Jonathan arched an eyebrow.

“I couldn’t resist the temptation of a handsome face. I married into your life and waited three years, even when you paid me no mind.”

Jonathan was taken aback, then laughed, his fingers tracing her chin, “Did you feel slighted?”

Estelle’s eyes twinkled, “I mean to say, everyone needs hope and something to aspire to.”

After a mission gone wrong and the loss of her teammates forced her to leave the organization, she felt as if life had crumbled to ash. It was Jonathan who reignited her desire for life and the future.

The longing for something beautiful and the effort to achieve it isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Jonathan said, “I’m flattered to be your aspiration.”

Ignoring his playful vanity, Estelle continued, “Evelyn suffered at the hands of her adoptive parents. She yearns for family, for affection, which is why she was so eager. She’s a girl from a humble background facing a sudden twist of fate; of course, she needs time to adapt. Even if she turns out not to be Vivian’s biological daughter, Old Mr. Quintin won’t shortchange her. Sometimes, I think whether or not Evelyn is truly related to Old Mr. Quintin isn’t that important anymore.”

What mattered was that both Evelyn and Old Mr. Quintin were finding what they were looking for.