The Confession

Volume: Two

Title: Chapter 64: The Confession

“True love can overcome anything…”

Unbeknownst to anyone, the music had ceased.

Anna Campbell’s voice, so melodious and enchanting, echoed through the narrow dining room. It was like a clear spring flowing over smooth pebbles, causing Ewan Campbell to momentarily lose himself in a daze.

“Can true love overcome everything?”

Ann chewed on the words, then offered a captivating smile that could disarm anyone.

“What a coincidence. I believe the same.”

“So, whether it’s space, time, or anything else, nothing can divide my love, nor can it stop me from finding the one I love, can it?”

She raised her hand, slowly reaching towards Ewan.

As that slender, pale hand drew closer, Ewan’s heart leaped into his throat.

Given Ann’s acute senses, a mere touch would instantly override the perfume he had deliberately sprayed around himself, revealing his true identity.

But.

Just as it was about to make contact with Ewan.

That hand was caught by another, equally slender and pale.

“Didn’t I say it already? This is my boyfriend. You can’t just touch him casually.”

Anna Campbell’s smile was equally stunning and captivating, not yielding an inch to Ann’s beauty.

She heavily emphasized the words ‘my boyfriend,’ as if asserting a claim of ownership.

Ann’s smile vanished instantly.

Her eyes narrowed, and she leaned across the dining table, her body curving as she met Anna Campbell’s gaze across the space.

At this moment, as their two delicate, boneless hands touched, Ewan felt as though he witnessed an apocalyptic scene: dark clouds pressing down, lightning flashing, and thunder roaring.

It was as if two supreme beings were locked in battle at the edge of the cosmos, grinding even the Grand Dao into dust, while Ewan, a mere lamb, cowered and trembled by the side.

And Sally Friend, too, appeared utterly terrified, her face pale since the confrontation began, unable to utter a single word.

“I merely wished to confirm something. Why be so tense?” Ann said.

“Oh, if it were someone you cherished, being harassed and touched by another woman, would you be so generous?” Anna Campbell retorted.

“…”

“…”

Silence descended between them once more.

Yet, this silence was even more suffocating.

Ewan was drenched in cold sweat. He felt as if all the metal in the entire restaurant had begun to hum softly, and the knife and fork in his hands trembled uncontrollably. They seemed poised to transform into lethal weapons under the immense power of the divine beings.

Anna Campbell’s other hand was hidden within her sleeve, a faint ripple of magic already emerging.

What… what should I do? It seems these two could start fighting at any moment.

Should I flee, or should I intervene?

If I intervene… whose side should I take?

Ewan swallowed hard, his gaze darting between Ann and Anna Campbell’s faces. He finally felt the familiar predicament of being asked whether he’d save his girlfriend or his mother if they fell into a river.

It seemed no matter whose side he chose… he was doomed to die.

I can’t let them fight!

Ewan finally realized this, but just as he was about to throw caution to the wind, even risking exposure to stop them, Ann suddenly straightened up.

“It seems I was mistaken.”

Under Ewan’s slightly astonished gaze, the scene of lightning and thunder instantly vanished, as if sunlight had broken through the clouds.

The humming metal fell silent once more.

Ann’s gaze swept deeply over Anna Campbell’s face, as if to commit her to memory. Then, with a slight, apologetic nod, she said, “My apologies for the disturbance.”

“It’s nothing.”

Anna Campbell also withdrew her hand from her sleeve, offering a calm smile.

“It’s understandable.”

“Then, goodbye.”

“Goodbye.”

They nodded to each other, like strangers who had met by chance and were now parting.

It was as if the fierce confrontation just moments ago had merely been an illusion.

Then, Ann turned and walked out of the restaurant.

She didn’t look back.

From start to finish, she didn’t cast another glance at Ewan.

Ewan’s eyes widened at this.

She left?

Ann just left like that?

Ewan waited for a few minutes, then cautiously peeked outside the restaurant.

The quiet street was empty.

Ann had indeed left.

The battlefield of love was over!

I’m alive!

A surge of immense joy swelled within Ewan’s chest.

Praise God.

Praise Buddha.

Praise the Jade Emperor.

Praise Nyarlathotep.

I finally survived—

“That person just now, was she the girl you mentioned before, the one who likes you?”

Anna Campbell’s seemingly casual words fell upon his ears.

His euphoria froze instantly.

Ewan stiffly turned his head.

His senior, Anna Campbell, had returned to her original seat at some point, sipping red wine in small, delicate mouthfuls.

The wine had brought a slight blush to her charming face, giving her a unique, alluring grace.

But Ewan couldn’t bring himself to appreciate it.

In a daze, he felt as though he had been pushed onto the guillotine once more, with a stern executioner loudly reading out his crimes.

Scoundrel, off with his head!

“Yes, yes, I suppose so.”

At this point, it was impossible to lie any further.

“Then—”

Anna Campbell’s tone shifted as she continued, “Do you like her too, junior?”

*Clang*.

Ewan felt as though he saw the cold, gleaming blade of the guillotine being sharply raised, ready to fall at any moment and cut the wicked scoundrel in two.

“I… I…”

Ewan wiped the sweat from his brow, stammering.

What should I do? How should I answer?

How could I respond to…

“Forget it.”

As he hesitated, Anna Campbell suddenly withdrew her question. “Asking such a thing is too impolite, after all. My apologies, junior, just pretend I’m drunk.”

Then, she murmured in a voice only she could hear, “It’s just a pity that girl is a bit too strong. I couldn’t collect her tears.”

“Eh?”

Ewan was momentarily stunned, unable to recover from the sudden shift in conversation.

Anna Campbell, however, continued to smile at him. “You owe me another favor, junior. You must fulfill what you promised me properly.”

“Ah… oh.”

Ewan nodded blankly.

At this moment, even though all crises had finally been resolved, Ewan found himself unable to feel happy.

He looked at Anna Campbell, who seemed utterly unconcerned by everything that had just transpired, and felt as though something was lodged in his chest, making it hard to breathe.

****

Fortunately, after Ann’s sudden intrusion, this awkward three-person candlelight “dinner” finally came to an end.

Sally Friend reluctantly began clearing the dishes. At Anna Campbell’s urging, Ewan rolled up his sleeves and started helping her. After all, as a guest, he couldn’t simply freeload from beginning to end.

However, his “help” merely consisted of rinsing plates with water. Sally Friend adamantly refused to let him do anything more complicated, and even the task of washing plates was something Ewan had to work hard to secure.

Silence filled the dishwashing area where only the two of them stood.

Amidst the rushing water, Ewan heard the sound of chopping vegetables from beyond the kitchen door and couldn’t help but initiate conversation. “Is your father still busy?”

“Dad needs to prepare ingredients for tomorrow, so he might be busy until quite late. But you don’t need to worry, Ewan, he’s already had lunch.”

“Chefs work very hard, don’t they?”

“They do.”

“…”

“…”

Silence fell once more.

Ever since the incident, Sally Friend had been dispirited, like a defeated rooster.

However, Ewan had no intention of offering comfort.

For, compared to cold indifference, a gentle kindness that might reignite her hope would be far more cruel.

Thinking this, Ewan sighed, resolving to wash the dishes with greater care.

But as he washed, he suddenly felt a hand grasp the corner of his clothes.

Turning around, he saw Sally Friend.

She was looking down, seemingly hesitant about something.

Yet, from her knuckles, which were clenched until they turned white, Ewan could sense her resolve slowly solidifying.

No way…

Ewan suddenly had a bad feeling.

But he didn’t have time to say anything.

—”Ewan, I like you.”

There was no preamble.

No build-up of emotion.

No atmospheric setting.

It was so sudden.

In the casual setting of the dishwashing room, Sally Friend confessed her feelings to him.

“Why?”

Ewan’s mind went blank for a moment, and he couldn’t help but ask, “Sally, we… we’ve only just met, haven’t we?”

No, it wasn’t exactly ‘just met.’ If you counted from the time she first misunderstood him, it had been over a month.

However, his actual face-to-face meetings and conversations with Sally Friend, including this one, amounted to only four times.

Sally Friend’s sudden declaration of affection made him wonder if she had an ulterior motive.

“Is it… not allowed?”

Sally Friend looked up, gazing at Ewan.

Large teardrops streamed from her eyes, already smearing the lenses of her black-framed glasses.

“I know I’m not as pretty as Anna Campbell or that woman from earlier. I also know that you and I aren’t particularly close. I didn’t even have the courage to help you just now. But, is it wrong for me to like you, Ewan?”

“Of course, it’s not…”

At this moment, seeing Sally Friend in tears, Ewan was suddenly overcome with intense self-loathing.

What was wrong with him? How could he doubt Sally Friend’s sincere heart?

If this was all an act, she could already be competing for an Oscar!

“But—

I’m sorry.”

Ewan set down the plate in his hand and lowered his head, refusing her earnestly. “Sally, you’re a good girl. You deserve to find someone much better than me.”

“But I only like you, Ewan.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Is that so…?”

Sally Friend stumbled back a step, her small face paling.

But just as Ewan sighed, preparing to offer a few more words of comfort, she suddenly took several steps forward, grabbed Ewan’s hand, and spoke with an expectant look.

“Ewan, can’t you reconsider?”

Reconsider?

What was there to reconsider?

Things like love couldn’t be changed just by thinking…

Eh?

At this moment, looking at Sally Friend’s tear-filled eyes and her pitiable, pleading expression, Ewan suddenly hesitated.

That’s right.

Look how cute, how gentle, how thoughtful Sally Friend is.

And she can make delicious pastries and food.

She’s practically the perfect partner. Why was I so quick to refuse? Reconsidering it wouldn’t be so bad, would it?