Sweetheart, Do You Still Love Me

CHAPTER 557 ARTHUR’S SOLILOQUY

My name was Arthur, and I was the third son of the Winthrop Family. I had always lived in my brother Callum's shadow ever since I was a child. I remembered from a long time ago that Callum was always able to get high grades without seeming to make any effort. However, no matter how hard I tried, I could not catch up to him. So, our parents, Theodore and Margot, were biased toward him. Sometimes I would envy why he could get such high grades until I saw him burning the midnight oil, and then I began to hate him again. He was so good at pretending. I never understood his efforts; I just felt that he was a hypocritical person.

My father had trained him to become the future heir of Winthrop Group ever since he was a child, and Edmund could assist him as the vice president. The rest of us were not even allowed to join the company. When I was a child, I also told my father that I wanted to join the company, even if it was just to help Callum. However, I was ruthlessly rejected by my father. He said that my interest was not really in business and that I should forget about this idea and do what I really wanted to do, but ever since I was little, I had always wanted to join Winthrop Group. How could my interest not be in business? I knew it was just an excuse to push me away. In fact, he never had my best interests in his heart.

Later on, Callum inherited the company as expected. Edmund became the vice president and Blake entered the entertainment industry. As for Max, he pursued further studies and could continue his racing hobby too. While everyone else had the freedom to pursue their preferred paths in life, I found myself studying medicine despite never having had a passion for it. Luckily, I had a natural talent for it and managed to learn a great deal in just a few years. I eventually returned to Damoria and opened a hospital.

Theodore also strongly supported me, but I knew he was just guilty for the choice he made back then. He felt guilty that he didn't let me do what I liked and forced me to study medicine. I would never believe him.

Later on, I met a girl named Emma Walker. She had a gentle demeanor and the unmistakable air of a wealthy upbringing, and I felt a strange sense of familiarity around her. As we spoke, I realized that she was the same girl who had stood up for me when I was being bullied as a chubby kid. I could never forget the cold look on her face as she drove away my tormentors and spoke wise words to me. To me, she was like an angel. However, my heart sank when I discovered that the girl whom I had secretly liked for so many years fell for Callum without any exception.

Callum, Callum... Everyone loved Callum. But I was not willing to give up. She was the girl I had been enamored with for so many years, so how could she have been swept away by Callum? It seemed that Callum had also become aware of my feelings for her. Despite his usual nonchalant demeanor toward things like dating and romance, he decided to pursue her. I couldn't help but wonder if he was doing it intentionally to spite me. My animosity toward him intensified as a result.

Later, Emma went abroad and broke up with Callum, and I naively thought that I still had a chance with her. Unfortunately, she never noticed me. Then, the Winthrop Family took in a girl from the countryside, and I initially thought she was a country bumpkin, but she turned out to be so beautiful. She had a personality that didn't fit the mold of someone from the countryside; she had a depth to her that even surpassed Emma's. She had an air of mystery about her, and there were multiple facets to her identity. Elspeth's unexpected arrival threw a wrench in many of Callum's plans, and I began to see her as someone I could potentially use to my advantage.

With a calculated plan in mind, I approached Elspeth and confessed my feelings for her, hoping to persuade her to join forces with me. I even offered to share some of my wealth with her if she agreed. However, to my surprise, she showed no interest in the money and ended up choosing Callum. Their alliance posed a major obstacle for me, and I found myself constantly running into roadblocks and making mistakes. It wasn't until later that I discovered a secret that shattered my world: the girl I had been pursuing all along was a fraud.

The true identity of the girl who had once seemed like an angel was actually someone I despised and even wanted to harm. When I learned this truth, I was initially filled with panic and it took me a long time to regain my composure. Eventually, I came to terms with the reality of the situation. However, my thoughts soon became erratic and uncontrollable. I found myself inexplicably drawn to her as if I had been in love with her all along. I began to do strange things for her, including having the desire to kidnap her and keep her to myself. Her every smile and expression were too beautiful, and I couldn't bear the thought of her smiling at other men.

Utilizing my medical expertise, I devised a plan to lure her away from Callum and take her abroad. To my surprise, she took the bait and we embarked on a journey that would become the most beautiful days of my life. We lived as an ordinary couple, and I would cook for her and bring her small gifts each day when I returned home. She obediently remained by my side throughout our time together. One breezy evening, as we sat in the garden talking, I could sense a look of appreciation in her eyes. Perhaps, in her eyes, I wasn't such a bad person after all. I thought that this idyllic time would last forever, but it was cut short by her mother's interference.