Chapter 200
Chapter 200
Chapter 200 Perfect Masterpiece
In these seven years, Erin didn’t slack off. She had now become a famous online comic artist. The comic she drew was still ongoing and hadn’t come to a conclusion yet.
Three years ago, she even managed to write two movie scripts, both of which were bought by film and media companies.
Due to the need to keep her identity a secret. Roman had been representing her in signing contracts with film companies and comic. websites. He would receive the remuneration for her work on her behalf and then transfer it to her.
Although Holly and Simon got engaged back then, they agreed to part ways on peaceful terms the night before their scheduled wedding registration. Holly still couldn’t cure Simon’s peculiar condition, which made her feel disappointed and defeated. Moreover, Simon also confessed to Holly that he’d never loved her. He said that breaking up was the best choice for both of them. Simon explained that a marriage without love would only result in mutual loneliness for both parties in the loveless union.
After the breakup, Holly invested all her energy and time into entrepreneurship, starting a fashion magazine. On the other hand, Simon worked incessantly by accepting one case after another, becoming a total workaholic.
As for Chandler, he immigrated to Shornland with Asa four years ago. Erin received the news about them through Roman all the while. Chandler and Asa were doing well. However, two years ago, Chandler remarried.
The person he married was his good friend, Alana. Chandler entered into this marriage only for the sake of his son Asa and also for Alana. As Asa grew up, he became very dependent on Alana, who treated him like her own son. One day, Asa told Chandler that he wanted Alana
to be his mother.
On top of that, Alana’s dire situation back then also worried Chandler. The man she loved, Saber, had died in an accident. Saber sacrificed himself three years ago to save three drowning teenagers. Saber’s death impacted Alana greatly; she was unable to come to terms with the death of her most beloved. Over time, she developed depression. She’d told Chandler that she wanted to end her own life and be with Saber at several different time periods. Chandler became extremely worried about her mental state.
When he saw how sunny and happy Alana was when she was with Asa, coupled with Asa’s wish to have a mother, Chandler worked up the courage to talk to Alana about what he had in mind. His purpose was simple–to make Asa happy and to take better care of Alana.
And so, this marriage, devoid of love but held together by a deep bond of friendship, was successfully solemnized. When Erin learned about this, she didn’t speak for a whole week. She didn’t cry either. She just quietly stayed in the hospital room.
At that time, Paulo thought she might once again be unable to cope. But unexpectedly, one week later, Erin returned to normal as if
nothing had happened.
Seven years may seem neither long nor short, but time gradually passed amidst everyone living out their lives.
Today, Erin was about to leave the Garden of Eden. She was packing her luggage, intending to visit her mother, Cherry. After she left, she
would not come back to the Garden of Eden anymore.
She was genuinely tired of this place, even to the point of hating it. Except for Roman, she was cut off from all contact with her family and friends. This seclusion wasn’t by her choice; it was a helpless situation that she had to put up with.
While she was here, it seemed like she had the freedom to contact anyone she wanted. However, the fact that she was disfigured and horrifically scarred prevented her from taking that step no matter what. The countless times she had to hold herself back resulted in a
mental pain that only she herself knew.
If any of her friends and family who loved her dearly had to witness the long and arduous process of her rehabilitation, it would no doubt be a form of torment to them too. This kind of mental torment wouldn’t kill a person, but it was enough to constantly challenge and slowly undo one’s sanity.
Erin chose to bear this burden alone. She wasn’t being noble by doing that; she just felt that it was for the best for everyone. No matter if it was right or wrong, seven years had passed, and she was no longer the person she used to be.
All the ups and downs she’d experienced in the Garden of Eden made her feel like she’d lived an entire lifetime there–a life of solitude, strength, and independence.
Erin placed the white laptop that Paulo had given her, as well as the drawing tablet that was given to her by Roman, into her laptop bag. These two items held significant meaning to her.
indefinitely. Even if they broke down one day and could no longer be used, she wouldn’t throw them away.
Right then, Paulo entered her room and walked up to her at a leisurely pace. He held a trendy and new white smartphone in his hand.
“Erin, use this phone for now. You haven’t used a phone in seven years. Will you be able to get used to using one?” Paulo sat down across
from her.
Erin looked up at him, her gaze serene and calm. “A phone is just a tool. We only need it when we want to contact somebody; otherwise. it’s just a decorative piece.”
Paulo’s white hair shone with a healthy luster, and his aesthetically pleasing and kind of feminine appearance became even more captivating over the past seven years. He resembled a male lox spirit, capable of seducing women with just a glance. However, Erin had long grown accustomed to his beauty and had even grown tired of it. Her familiarity with him surpassed that of any other man, except for
Roman.
Time was like a carving knife. It could carve certain relationships into a splendid work of art that was more profound and deep, or chisel away at some others to make them into pieces so blurry that one couldn’t tell heads or tails of them.
When everyone else had become a distant memory, Roman and Paulo became her closest friends. They were as indispensable to her as if they were her own hands.
Erin took the phone from Paulo’s hand without much thought and casually placed it into a vibrant red Hermès bag.
After putting the phone in the bag, she glanced at it and smiled. “Paulo, do you men think that women only like red? This is my first time using a red bag. It’s really conspicuous-”
“Don’t blame me for that, Erin. It was you who said to get you whatever I saw fit. Don’t women love wearing red lipstick and nail polish? Going by that logic, shouldn’t you also like red bags?”
Paulo felt a bit wronged. Erin herself said to get her any bag, and frankly, he’d spent a long time choosing one for her. He almost wanted to buy all the bags in the store. His secretary, Jenny, reminded him that doing that might startle Erin, so he refrained from doing so. Otherwise, he would have gone ahead and just bought every bag the store offered.
Erin listened to Paulo’s explanation, pursed her lips, and didn’t comment. She was used to it by now. Paulo, who had never been in a relationship and didn’t understand a woman’s needs and preferences, was the epitome of a clueless straight man.
Paulo looked at the special mask on Erin’s face and said, “Have you gotten used to wearing the mask? You could have taken it off a month ago. Yet, you insist on wearing it. I’ve told you many times that your final surgery was incredibly successful so you don’t need to rely on
the mask anymore.”
Hearing his words, Erin slowly closed her suitcase. She sat in silence for a while, and Paulo sat beside her, not saying a word as he quietly
kept her company.
Ten minutes later, a hint of uncertainty flashed in Erin’s eyes. She sighed with resignation. “Actually, I’m afraid to look at my own face. Even though you keep telling me how perfect my face is, it’s still not my old face. What if What if I can’t adapt to how I look now?”
Paulo interlocked his fingers and rested his hands on his knees. He leaned forward slightly, his gaze focused and serious as he looked at her. “Erin, you’ve endured a total of twenty plastic surgeries, and
now you’re telling me that you can’t adapt to a face that I’ve crafted to perfection. What on earth can I say to that?”
Erin placed one hand on top of his naturally, smiling innocently. “Alright, I promise you I’ll try my best to adapt to this face and not let your hard work go to waste. I’ll do my best to love how I look now.”
A trace of joy flickered in Paulo’s beautiful eyes. He enveloped Erin’s small hand in his and smiled contentedly. “That’s my girl! Do you Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
want me to take off your mask?”
Erin glanced at him and said, “Sure, I think you deserve this moment more than anyone else.”
Paulo looked at her indulgently and let go of her hand. He immediately stood up, preparing to remove the mask from her face.
With a slightly nervous expression, Erin closed her eyes and sat still, Paulo reached out his hands towards her face..
Ten seconds later, the technologically advanced restoration mask on Erin’s face was removed, and Paulo placed it on a nearby table.
He crossed his arms and stared at her with a look of awe, smiling with pride. “I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again–your face is the most