Chapter 963

“To put it simply, when I’m with him, my heartbeat isn’t the same. I know what that means. But our relationship is what it is. Even if there’s no blood relation, it’s still not possible,” Lena admitted, finally revealing her feelings. Her ties and concerns all revolved around Aaron’s identity.

“What if he could handle everything? Including your parents and grandparents?” Keira pressed further.

Lena gave a bitter smile. “And could he stop others from gossiping?”

“Are you living for others? Who doesn’t talk about others, and who hasn’t been talked about behind their back?” Keira tried to reason with her.

“Rea, humans are social creatures. It’s impossible not to care what others think,” Lena sighed, blowing at her bangs and sending them flying upward.

At that moment, Nina ran over, her face brimming with joy. “I found a drawing on a leaf!”

She held up a leaf and pointed to it. “Doesn’t this look like a turtle lying down?”

She wasn’t wrong—it really did look like a turtle. Lena didn’t hold back her praise. “Nina, you’re so observant! That’s amazing.”

“Pretty Sister, this is for you. I’m going to find another leaf with a drawing for you,” Nina said as she dashed off again.

Watching her run off, Lena sighed. “She’s so happy at this age. I wish I could go back to being a child and never grow up.”

Aaron came out of the house then and walked over. “Lil’ Lena, I need to talk to you.”

Lena froze, glancing at him and then at me. She understood everything immediately. After a brief pause, she followed Aaron out. At the doorway, Nina saw them and ran over, but she didn’t pay attention to Lena. Instead, she looked up at Aaron and said, “Mister, wait for me to grow up. When I grow up, I want to be your girlfriend.”

Both Lena and Keira were stunned by her words. Lena cleared her throat awkwardly. “By the time you grow up, he’ll be an old man.”

“Even if he becomes an old man, he’ll be a handsome old man. I will still like him.”

This little girl was truly unbeatable.

Aaron chuckled and rubbed Nina’s head. “Then grow up quickly.”

Hearing this, Lena shot him a look and rolled her eyes. As they walked out, she couldn’t help but complain, “Are you really going to marry her when she grows up? Don’t make promises you can’t keep. What if she takes it seriously?”

“Lena,” Aaron called her by her full name, something he rarely did. He always called her Twinkle or Lil’ Lena, two names only he used.

“You’re not even as brave as a little girl,” Aaron said, standing in the biting cold wind, his expression colder than the air around him. Lena knew he had overheard her earlier conversation.

“Uncle, I’m not brave. But I can’t disregard everyone else just because of my selfish feelings. I can’t be that selfish,” she said, indirectly accusing him of being selfish.

Aaron’s jawline tightened, the sharp contours revealing his restrained emotions. “I’ll ask you one more time—do you really not want to be with me?”

Lena held his gaze for a few seconds before lowering her head. “Uncle, stop pushing me. Can’t we just go back to how things were?”

A strong gust of wind swept past, lifting her loose hair. A strand brushed against Aaron’s cheek, teasing and lingering as if it were entwining itself around his heart. Lena raised her hand to tidy her hair, but Aaron’s deep voice interrupted her.

“Fine. From now on, I won’t bother you anymore. We’ll go back to how things were.”

Lena froze, her hand still clutching her hair. Slowly, she lifted her head, but Aaron had already turned around. His tall figure disappeared into the darkness, swallowed by the icy wind. It felt as if he had taken Lena’s heart with him, leaving it trapped in a sea of freezing despair.