Chapter 319

Lina Sweeney, once obsessed with idols—loving one today and another tomorrow—had been a devoted fan. She'd attended concerts, autograph sessions, and fan meetings, spending considerable money to do so. This, however, was all before Grace's incident. Afterward, she focused her energy on helping her best friend, becoming less interested in celebrity life.

The videos of these events represented cherished memories of her youth. But now, they were gone!

“What happened to my idols’ event videos?” Lina exclaimed, turning to Hadwin Stephenson, who was driving.

“I deleted them,” Hadwin replied bluntly.

“You… deleted them?” Lina gasped. Had he not returned her phone, she would have accepted their loss.

“Yes,” Hadwin continued, “even a professional repair shop couldn't restore them.”

Lina felt a surge of anger. “Those are memories of my youth!”

Hadwin sneered. He pulled the car over, unbuckled his seatbelt, and leaned toward her. “You know what I was thinking when I saw those videos?”

“What?” His proximity quickened her pulse. Time seemed to have treated him well; two years older than Lina, he looked like a recent graduate—youthful and tender. Dismissing these thoughts, Lina stared at him. “You can’t just delete people’s videos!”

He breathed on her face. “I was thinking I wasn't the only one you said those things to. You seem to say them to a lot of men.”

Lina was speechless. She realized he was right. Expressing love for idols—a common fan behavior—was indeed what she had done, even if her affections were typically short-lived, lasting only a few months or a year.

Hadwin gently played with her hair. “All right. From now on, you mustn’t say that to any other man. You can only say that to me.”

Lina attempted to argue, but his gaze hardened.

“Don’t test my patience, Lina. We’re dating. Are you going to tell other men you like or love them? What are you going to do with me as your boyfriend?” His voice, colder than his affectionate gesture, sent a chill down her spine.

Lina stiffened. She nearly forgot he wasn't the charming young man he once was. He was Hadwin Stephenson, the current patriarch of the Stephenson family.