Chapter 1814
Chapter 1814
"Quit crying." Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
Santiago was all smiles when he spoke. Standing by the door, everyone goggled at Raeleigh and Santiago as if they were some rare animals in the zoo.
Raeleigh held back her tears gradually, whereas Santiago pushed her away. After that, she sat on one side, fixing her eyes on him. Santiago moved and gave her a pinch on the face. "Does it hurt?"
"It hurts." Raeleigh's voice was gruff in the wake of constant sobbing.
Santiago loosened his grip. "And now?"
Raeleigh did not answer but just stared at Santiago, who cracked a smile and looked at the opposite side, "Please clear out. I want to be alone with Raeleigh for a while."
"She's your sister- in- law," Jepherson reminded. Santiago let out a laugh. "Haven't you two divorced?"
"She's still your sister-in-law even after divorce." There was a fierce look in Jepherson's eyes.
Santiago couldn't care less. He said, "I don't care. I want Raeleigh with me now, so get out. I'm going
to have a few words with her."
Jepherson stepped forward to Santiago. Raeleigh said, "You should leave first. Let me speak to Santiago."
Jepherson paused for a second. "Come again?"
"What do you don't..."
"It makes no difference. Get out, or I'll leave."
Santiago lifted the blanket and was about to get out of bed. Seeing this, Jenna grabbed Jepherson immediately.
"Santiago isn't serious. Let's go out."
Jenna dragged Jepherson out emphatically. Exiting the room and standing aside, he was seized with anger. Jenna persuaded him by saying, "Your brother has just come around. Maybe his brain is in a befuddled state. Since he has woken up, don't argue with him."
Jepherson gazed at Jenna. "Mom, I got it."
"You're always my good boy."
Jenna wiped off her tears, rejoicing that Santiago had finally regained his consciousness. She thought that he would never wake up again.
Hansen, on the other hand, was a little dazed as he stood at one side inarticulately.
They were holding out hope, but then the hope was dashed. Now that Santiago came to life out of the blue, he was at a loss of what to do.
Inside the room, Raeleigh's eyes were riveted on Santiago. "I thought you wouldn't wake up. I tested you so many times, but you didn't even respond. This time, I didn't test you, but you came around."
"Did you think your testing can determine my consciousness?" Santiago found it funny. He leaned against the headboard and stared at Raeleigh, having a pale complexion and a thin physique. Meanwhile, Raeleigh was at a loss. She leaned over all of a sudden and held him over the shoulders tightly.
"I almost left. I thought you wouldn't wake up."
Santiago lifted his hands to embrace her. "Only when a person has been close to the brink of death can they apprehend how important loving a person is. Unfortunately, I grasp it too late and now there's so much distance between you and me."
Santiago's face was just beside Raeleigh's. He said softly, "I'm sorry."
With that, he pecked her on the cheek. He tightened his arm around her body to embrace her tightly.
"Pardon me coming too late and being so powerless."
Raeleigh shook her head, weeping.
Santiago leaned against the headboard of the bed, raised his head and cuddled Raeleigh. "Nonetheless, I'm blessed with the chance to meet you again. Even if I have to suffer a lot for it, I'll accept it.
We are not destined to be together in this life. If there's another life for us, let's be a couple. I'll never let go."
Raeleigh withdrew her body slowly and focused her eyes on Santiago. "You know that I—"
Before Raeleigh could finish her words, Santiago placed a finger before her lips to hush her. "Remember, it isn't because you have no feelings for me, but because we're trapped in this stereotypical world. If the person standing in my way today isn't my brother, you would have become my woman."
Raeleigh's mind went blank for a short time before she nodded her head. Finally, she conceded it.
If it weren't for their relationship as brothers, Santiago wouldn't have made a concession.
Pinching Raeleigh's chin, Santiago said, "I have one more thing to do."
Raeleigh gazed at him. "What is it?"
"I can't tell you for the time being. I need to be nursed back to health for quite some time. Grandma should be at home, right?"
"Grandma?" "Yes."
"She's at home."
"I don't want to see her. Call Jacky right away and tell him to pick me up. I'm going to Waverly Village."
"How about your body?"
"I'm fine. Make the call now."
It was as though Santiago was giving an order. Raeleigh did as he asked in a snap.
Hanging up, Raeleigh looked at Santiago, who was on the bed. As far as she remembered, he had always behaved this way, but something was amiss.
He had a few strands of gray hair behind his head even though he was only in his early twenties.
Time was unstoppable and unknowingly, it had left a trace on him.
Raeleigh could not help shedding tears. She then lifted her hand to wipe them off. Santiago quirked his eyebrow while gazing at her. "Why are you crying when I'm awake?"
Raeleigh exhaled, walked to the front of Santiago, and sat down. "When I recall your past, I feel that you're the same as ever. But when you opened your eyes, it suddenly struck me that it might not be the truth. It's just like I've seen a future version of you, the one after ten years."
Raeleigh put her hand on Santiago's skinny face, pursing her lips with distress.
Santiago gripped her hand and pulled it to his lips, planting a kiss on it. "If this is the future version of me, it's also a kind of luck that you're able to see two versions of me at the same time."
Raeleigh did not reply as the corner of her mouth twitched. Santiago pulled her into a hug.
"With the way I treat you, I must have made his blood boil. He's indeed gone too far lately. However, if you don't experience the trials and tribulations of married life, it can't be considered a marriage. As a matter of fact, not many marriages are filled with exciting and adventurous events. What you need is a life of peace and tranquility."
Raeleigh said, "You must have heard a lot of his words in recent years."
"He wasn't talkative either. In order to help me wake up, he had even said that he could give you up so that I could have you. He must be brooding over this at the moment."
Raeleigh left slowly. "No wonder he seemed so triggered just now."
Santiago burst into a guffaw. "He's overconfident.
He thought I wouldn't cross the line, but I would."
"You are joking, aren't you?"
Santiago did not answer at once. He stared at Raeleigh briefly and extended his hand to pinch her face. "If it weren't for the child, I wouldn't have budged."
This sentence was the truth. Santiago meant it.
Raeleigh sat there, giving no response.
Santiago said, "Among all the women I've met, only this one catches my fancy. I love her decency, purity, rectitude, aloofness—"
Raeleigh shook her head. "Why bother?"
"My fate is doomed. When I was very young, my father took my brother and me to a fortune teller. When the fortuneteller saw me, he said that I would lead a wealthy life and that I would achieve something great in the future."
Raeleigh frowned. "What happened after that?"