Arthur didn't press her and drove her back to Emerald Bay.

Neither of them spoke the entire way.

When they arrived downstairs, before Elena could exit the car, he suddenly said: "Elena, no matter who threatens you, you can tell me."

Her hand stiffened on the car door handle.

"I heard everything."

He turned to look at Elena, his voice hoarse. "Your phone leaked the sound; I heard Cassie’s voice."

Her blood froze instantly.

"What is she using to threaten you? Tell me."

Elena opened her mouth, but the tears fell first.

"Uncle, please don't ask. I don't want to drag you down."

Arthur was silent for a long time.

Then he reached out and wiped the tears from Elena’s face with his thumb.

"Elena, you are mine. There is no such thing as dragging me down."

"I don't care what she has in her hands; I will handle it."

"But you must promise me one thing—stop hiding from me. And you are forbidden from using other men as shields."

Elena bit her lip, unable to say a word.

The moonlight outside the window was cold, but his hand was very warm.

That night, Arthur didn't leave immediately.

He parked the car downstairs and sat with Elena in the community garden for a long time.

The early autumn night wind was a bit chilly; Arthur took off his coat and draped it over her shoulders.

The coat carried a faint scent of tobacco, mixed with the crisp, clean scent that always clung to him—it was so familiar it made Elena want to cry.

"What exactly did Cassie take to threaten you?" Arthur asked, his voice very soft, as if afraid of scaring her.

Elena kept her head down, her nails digging into her palms.

"A diary."

"What?"

"The diary I shredded." She took a deep breath. "She took photos of it."

Arthur was silent for a few seconds, then said: "The things written in there should not make you this afraid."

Elena didn't dare to look at him.

The content of those diaries—that she wanted to be with him, wanted him to belong to her alone, wanted to kiss him at the highest point of the Ferris wheel...

Every single entry was like a slap in the face to the title "Uncle."

What she feared was that the disdain and blame brought on by her love would fall entirely upon Arthur.

Arthur didn't continue.

He simply reached out, covered Elena’s clenched fist, pried her fingers open one by one, and held her hand.

He said: "Elena, that is not your fault."

Elena’s tears finally couldn't be held back: "How is it not my fault?"

"At that time, your mental age was only eight; you couldn't distinguish between dependency and love."

Arthur’s voice was hoarse: "Even if there is a fault, it is my fault—I did not teach you well; I was the one who let you depend only on me at that age."

She shook her head: "It’s not like that..."

"Then what is it like?"

Elena looked up, staring at him through blurred eyes.

In the moonlight, half of Arthur’s face was lit, half was dark, and his eyes held a certain intensity she had never seen before.

Elena knew he was forcing her to say it.

But how could she say that even at twelve, she knew very clearly that she loved Arthur.

Elena couldn't say it; she could not drag Arthur into the abyss.

"Uncle," she pulled her hand back and stood up, "it’s very late; I’m going up now."

Arthur did not stop her.

"I’ll come pick you up for work tomorrow."

"No need—"

"That wasn't a request." Arthur stood up and handed her his coat. "Wear it, and return it to me tomorrow."

Elena clutched his coat, practically fleeing back to her apartment.

Back home, she buried her face in that coat and cried until her body shook.

What should she do?

Her phone lit up—a message from Li Zeyan: [Miss Elena, even though we were interrupted today, I was very happy to meet you. Shall we go out again?]

Elena stared at the screen, and just as she was about to reply "I'm sorry," Arthur’s message popped up first.

[I’ll come find you for lunch tomorrow; you are not allowed to make plans with anyone else.]

Followed immediately by another: [Elena, I have something I want to tell you. Something very important.]

Chapter 19

Elena’s heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

What did he mean? What did he want to say?

She didn't sleep for the entire night.

The next day at work, she felt as if she were floating.

At twelve o'clock noon, Arthur appeared at the entrance of the Marketing Department right on time.

He was carrying an insulated bag, dressed in a sharp suit, and standing at the doorway, he looked like a magazine cover.

Her colleagues began whispering again.

"Why is Mr. Gu here again?"

"He really comes every single day. This is just too..."

Elena braced herself and walked over: "Uncle, let’s go downstairs to eat."

"We’ll eat right here."

Arthur walked straight to her workstation, pulled out a chair, sat down, and opened the insulated bag.

"I made you a bento."

Inside the bento box was teriyaki chicken leg rice, with blanched broccoli and cherry tomatoes as sides, arranged with great care.

She stared at the box of rice, her nose feeling sore.

"How do you know how to make bento?"

"I learned." Arthur handed her the chopsticks. "While I was waiting for you in Switzerland, I had nothing to do, so I watched videos and learned."

He said it so lightly.

It was as if all those long waits, lonely flights, and the days and nights spent looking at empty corridors through glass were not worth mentioning.

Elena picked up a piece of chicken meat and put it in her mouth. It was tender, fragrant, and slightly sweet.

It was so delicious it made her want to cry.

"Elena." Arthur suddenly spoke, his voice very low, low enough that only she could hear.

"Yes?"

"I thought about it all night, and I’ve made a decision."

Elena looked up at him.

His eyes were very serious—so serious that they frightened her.

"I don't want to..." He paused, as if he had used all his strength to say what followed.

"I don't want to just be your uncle anymore."

The whole world went quiet.

The chopsticks slipped from her hand, hit the table, and made a crisp sound.

"What did you say?" Elena’s voice trembled.

"I said," he grasped Elena’s hand, looking straight into her eyes, "Elena, I want to be your man."

At the workstation nearby, a female colleague’s water cup dropped.

In the office, everyone was looking at them.

Elena’s mind went blank, her cheeks burning as if they were on fire.

"Arthur, have you lost your mind—this is the company!"

"I know."

"Let go!"

"I won't."

His voice was hoarse and firm: "I let go for twelve years, but this time, I’m not letting go."

In the distance, the elevator door suddenly opened.

Cassie stepped out, wearing high heels.

Her appearance felt like a bucket of ice water poured over Elena’s head.

Cassie was wearing a Chanel suit, her makeup was exquisite, and she smiled with dignified grace as she walked toward them step by step.

The whispering in the office vanished instantly; everyone felt that unusual aura.

"Arthur, long time no see."

She stopped in front of Arthur, her gaze sweeping over Elena’s face with clear contempt.

Arthur let go of Elena’s hand and stood up, blocking her.

"What are you here for?"

"To talk to you about something." Cassie smiled slightly. "Won't you invite me to your office to sit for a while?"

"I have nothing to talk to you about."

"Is that so?" She took a photo out of her bag and handed it to Arthur. "What about this?"

Elena couldn't clearly see what was on the photo, but Arthur’s complexion changed in an instant.

His hand clenched the photo, his knuckles turning white.

"Cassie, you..."

"Don't get excited." Cassie patted him on the shoulder, her tone intimate as if she were coaxing a child.

"I just want to chat with you. We’re in a public place; surely you wouldn't make me embarrassed?"

Arthur was silent for a few seconds, then turned to look at Elena.

There was apology in those eyes, as well as a heaviness she couldn't interpret.

"Elena, you eat first. I’ll be back in a moment."

After he finished speaking, he followed Cassie toward the elevator.

Elena watched the elevator doors close, cutting off their figures behind two silver panels.

Chapter 20

The surrounding gazes pierced into Elena like needles.

"Cassie? Isn't that the one who was engaged to Mr. Gu?"

"Yeah, I heard the wedding was canceled on the day of. Turns out it was because of Elena?"

"A niece he raised for over a decade pushed his fiancée out of the way. Tsk, tsk, tsk..."