Free Web NovelChapter 35: Chapter 35: Attack Power Off the Charts
"Sonia, I was mistaken about my feelings for you. My affection for you is just that of a friend—it has nothing to do with romantic love. The one I love isn’t you."
On the day of the breakup, that was what Ethan Lockwood had said to the villainess.
The villainess was already on the verge of a breakdown after discovering she was a fake daughter, and she never expected her beloved boyfriend to say something like this to her at such a time.
Unable to accept it, she started screaming and crying in the middle of the mall, clutching Ethan Lockwood’s clothes in a death grip. "You don’t love me? We’ve been together for almost a year, and only now you realize you don’t love me? What were you doing all this time?"
Ethan Lockwood lowered his gaze, his face a mask of apology. "Sonia, this is my first relationship, too. I couldn’t tell what love really was. I thought I loved you, and I thought what we had was love. But reality has shown me that isn’t the case. My beloved is not you."
"If not me, then who?" the villainess shrieked, her voice raw from crying, her tear-streaked face flushed crimson. "Ethan Lockwood, tell me! If you don’t love me, then who do you love? Who is it that made you feel what love is?"
Ethan Lockwood pressed his lips together, a conflicted expression on his face. "...It’s Cecilia. The one I love is Cecilia."
"’Cecilia...’" Hearing the name, the first person the villainess thought of was Cecilia Quincy. But she thought it couldn’t possibly be that melodramatic, so she comforted herself by thinking it must be a coincidence.
Ethan Lockwood continued, "Cecilia and I have known each other for a long time. She’s an exceptionally gentle and outstanding girl. I’ve always admired her. But back then, I thought it was only admiration, so I regrettably let several years pass by."
"Now that we’ve unexpectedly met again, I finally understand that she’s the one I’ve always loved."
As he said this, Ethan Lockwood’s handsome eyes were filled with a shy, sweet bliss, as if the mere mention of "Cecilia" was enough to make him happy.
His expression was a dagger to the villainess’s heart. Though her eyes were brimming with tears, she couldn’t help but laugh. "You’ve always loved her? Ethan Lockwood, if you love her, then why did you come after me?"
Ethan Lockwood said, "Because you look a lot like Cecilia. The reason I first noticed you was because you resembled her."
"..." The villainess was completely stunned.
Those words were no different from a red-hot dagger, plunging swift and deep into her heart. The pain was so intense she could barely breathe, making even a simple question feel difficult.
"You came after me just because I look like her? Ethan Lockwood, how could you be so cruel? If you had told me from the start that you just saw me as a substitute, I never would have broken up with Jasper Linden! For you, I almost cheated on him!"
"Don’t say that." Ethan Lockwood disliked such talk; he had always been protective of his reputation. "Sonia, you made that choice yourself. I never forced you. All I said at the time was that if you were single, I’d have a chance to be your boyfriend. I never told you to immediately break up with Jasper Linden and get with me."
"If you regret it now, that’s something you have to bear on your own."
"..." Whatever little sanity the villainess had left was completely shattered by his words.
Having laid all his cards on the table, Ethan Lockwood felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He repeated the word "breakup," left the villainess standing there alone, and turned to find his "true love."
The villainess, unwilling to give up, followed him, only to find she had underestimated just how insane this world could be.
Ethan Lockwood’s true love was indeed Cecilia Quincy.
Cecilia Quincy had returned home and stolen not only the villainess’s family and their affection but also her fiancé.
She had nothing left, which meant she had nothing left to fear.
The villainess’s descent into villainy truly began that day.
Back when she was reading the novel in the hospital, Sonia Quincy had thought Ethan Lockwood was a truly disgusting man. It was bad enough that he was selfish and hypocritical, but he also pinned the blame for his own infidelity on the villainess, turning her into a mere substitute for his real love.
Sonia Quincy couldn’t stand for it, so she posted a long, scathing review in the novel’s latest Chapter comments, denouncing Ethan Lockwood’s vile behavior. Unexpectedly, she was hounded by Ethan Lockwood’s die-hard fans for three days and three nights, who cursed her out so badly she didn’t know who her own mother was. Defeated, she gave up, deleted her comment, and fled.
Now, seeing a living, breathing Ethan Lockwood in person, that long-forgotten feeling of disgust involuntarily surged up, and her expression soured.
"What a coincidence, running into you two here," Ethan Lockwood said, feigning surprise with an enthusiastic tone.
Felix Preston smiled and replied, "I brought Sonia here for a prenatal check-up."
"Oh..." Ethan Lockwood nodded, pretending as if he had just remembered. "I completely forgot Sonia was pregnant. How is everything? Is the baby doing all right?"
Felix Preston said, "The baby is doing great, and Sonia is too. Thank you for your concern, Mr. Lockwood."
Ethan Lockwood smiled gently. "We’ve known each other for a while, so of course I’m concerned... By the way, when is the baby’s due date?"
As he asked this question, Ethan Lockwood’s gaze was fixed on Sonia Quincy.
Felix Preston had been about to answer, but seeing this, he suddenly closed his mouth and glanced at Sonia Quincy beside him.
Sonia Quincy put on a fake smile and, instead of answering, retorted, "Why do you ask, Mr. Lockwood?"
Ethan Lockwood replied, "We’re all friends, isn’t it normal to ask? Cecilia and I were just talking about it the other day, saying we have to prepare a generous gift for the baby when it’s born."
"There’s no need." Sonia Quincy’s rejection was blunt. "The birth of our child is a joyous occasion for the Preston Family, and we don’t plan on involving outsiders. You and Cecilia should keep your money and spend it on yourselves, Mr. Lockwood. No need to waste it on our child."
"You..." Ethan Lockwood hadn’t expected Sonia Quincy to say that, and the smile on his face immediately stiffened. "Sonia, what kind of thing is that to say? Do you think Cecilia and I are outsiders?"
"What else would you be?" Sonia Quincy shot back. "If you and Cecilia Quincy aren’t outsiders, does that make Felix Preston and I the outsiders? Am I supposed to go through ten months of hard pregnancy only to dump my child at the Lockwood Family’s doorstep and have them call you two ’Mom’ and ’Dad’?"
"..."
Her words may have been crude, but her logic was sound. Still, they were extremely crude.
With several assistants standing by, Ethan Lockwood was so thoroughly rebuked he couldn’t hide his embarrassment.
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Felix Preston quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "I’m so sorry, Mr. Lockwood. Sonia’s temper hasn’t been the best since she got pregnant. When she’s around people she finds... disagreeable, she tends to lose her temper. Please don’t take it personally."
Ethan Lockwood: "..."
’It’s not like you let me off the hook either, is it?’
"We have more tests to get to, so we’ll be going now. Goodbye, Mr. Lockwood."
Without waiting for Ethan Lockwood’s response, Felix Preston supported Sonia Quincy as they turned and walked away.
Sonia Quincy scowled. "Where are we going? I haven’t even used the restroom yet."
"My apologies, my apologies," Felix Preston coaxed gently.
And so, the couple turned around again, walking right past a dark-faced Ethan Lockwood.
Sonia Quincy said, "I’m craving roasted chestnuts. Can you buy some for me later?"
Felix Preston replied, "Of course. I’ll get you a large bag."
"And you have to peel them for me."
"No problem..."
The two of them slowly walked away, murmuring affectionately to each other.
Ethan Lockwood was left standing in place, his eyes red with fury.
