Sweetheart, Do You Still Love Me

Elspeth rubbed her red neck and coughed lightly.

"Slevin, I know you've never been able to accept your identity."

Slevin abruptly looked up and sneered at her. "You don't know anything. You have no idea. Ever since my mother passed away when I was around four or five years old, I was left alone. Simone, that woman, felt guilty for not saving my mother and gave me a substantial amount of money. However, at the same time, she warned me not to set foot in Damoria ever again. Although I had millions in my bank account at the time, I was still just a young child. When some of my relatives on my mother's side found out about the money, they all clamored to adopt me. However, I knew they only wanted the money in my hands."

He continued, "Later on, I lived with my uncle, but do you know what kind of life I had? My uncle was an alcoholic with a volatile temper, and he didn't have the heart to beat his own son. As such, every time he got drunk, he would come and beat me instead."

Slevin chuckled and rolled up his sleeve, revealing a scar about four inches long on his arm. "This scar was from when he raised a kitchen knife and cut my arm. Blood flowed profusely, and I was unconscious in a pool of blood. Back then, he probably realized I might be in actual danger, so he took me to a small clinic overnight to get it bandaged. However, the wound wasn't properly treated and became infected. My arm was almost ruined."

Elspeth listened, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She never imagined that he had experienced such hardships during his childhood.

"Then, I gradually learned that this so-called uncle only adopted me for the sake of my money. No matter how much he beat me, I wouldn't tell him the password to that bank card. One day, he finally kicked me out of the house, but there's always a way out. At that time, a couple adopted me, saying I was handsome and that they wanted me to be their son. I thought it was my stroke of luck, but it turned out to be another abyss."

Elspeth looked at his pained expression, knowing that something unspeakable must have happened.

"The husband had a pedophilic disorder. At first, I only knew that someone was touching me while I slept at night. Later on, I discovered that it was him sneaking into my room every night, doing disgusting things to me."

As Slevin spoke, he took a deep breath. After all, recalling the past always caused pain in his chest.

Elspeth couldn't bear to listen any longer and tried to console him, saying, "If you think that these are too—"

"It's fine. I've long since let it go," Slevin interrupted.

Suddenly, he seemed to remember something. A gentle smile appeared on his face.

"By the way, do you know how that couple died?"

Died?

"One night, while they were asleep, I quietly set a fire and took the opportunity to escape. That's how they ended up burning to death. Do you know how old I was? I was only twelve."

Elspeth, witnessing his madness, couldn't help but sigh at the tragic nature of fate.

"After that, as you've seen, I slowly transformed my money into power, accumulating my own influence until no one dared bully me. It was only after becoming stronger that I realized others wouldn't dare underestimate me as long as I have real skills and hold real power."

Slevin raised his hand and gently touched her face. "I admit, maybe I have a slight fondness for you, or maybe it doesn't matter. In my eyes, you are a person with great strength, and that's why I want to have you. I enjoy that feeling, but I'm also afraid that one day you'll destroy everything I have now. Thus, I must keep you close to me. If I can't do that, then I'll destroy everything you have."

Elspeth forcefully slapped away his hand and took a step back.

"Slevin, do you realize that you've become nothing more than a madman?"

"I'm well aware that I'm no longer a normal person. What's the point of asking me whether I like you or not? Emotions are utterly useless."

Elspeth looked at him, recalling the sentence he had just uttered, and it seemed to confirm her thoughts.

"So, where is Mr. Schwartz?"

Slevin glanced at her with an intrigued look, giving up all pretenses.

"It's quite obvious. He's dead."

Even though Elspeth had already guessed the outcome, hearing the truth still caused her eyes to well up with tears.

"How did he die?"

Slevin rubbed his temples, seeming somewhat annoyed.

"The accident in your laboratory was caused by me. I intended to make both of you unconscious, then take you away. However, one of my subordinates miscalculated the number of explosives. The laboratory collapsed too quickly, and there was no time to save two people. He was trapped inside, so I could only bring you out."

"Slevin, you're a complete b*stard!"

Knowing that the person in front of her was responsible for Sonny's death, Elspeth wanted nothing more than to tear him to pieces.

Sonny was such a kind and unassuming person, and he had no conflicts or grudges with anyone. He was an outstanding traditional medicine doctor who could have brought benefit to so many people, but he was killed by Slevin.