Chapter 101 Have You Really Liked Me for a Long Time?
Regina stared at her phone screen with a dazed and confused look, even after the screen went dark.
She saw her own astonished face reflected on the screen. After a long time, she shook off her reverie and returned to her senses, pulling a helpless smile.
She couldn't fully believe it, but in just a few months, she seemed to have experienced a lot with Douglas. Those experiences made it hard for her to disbelieve completely.
She kept silently repeating Nicole's text in her mind. 'Do you know he's liked you for many years?'
As Regina repeated the words in her brain, it felt like she had tasted a lime; her throat felt a bit sour and a bit astringent.
That sourness spread through her entire body, especially to her heart.
She sneaked a glance at Douglas, who was on the balcony talking on the phone with his back to her. She tapped on her phone screen, repeatedly deleting and retyping. Two minutes later, she finally pressed send.
She asked Nicole: [Many years? How many years?]
Nicole replied: [Actually, I'm not sure when he started liking you. Maybe he liked you from the first time he saw you? Do you believe in love at first sight?]
According to Nicole, the first meeting probably referred to that Dubbing Club event she barely remembered.
Regina had heard Nicole mention it before.
At that time, Nicole was a freshman, and Regina was a sophomore.
Nicole had dragged Douglas, who had come to visit her at school, to a Dubbing Club event.
Back then, the Dubbing Club wasn't well-known.
They handed out thousands of tickets, but only a few dozen people showed up.
[Anyway, Douglas marrying you is definitely not a spur-of-the-moment decision. He's not someone who settles. He only marries someone he truly loves. He really, really loves you. Everything he's done is because he loves you so much! So, Regina, please don't be mad at him, okay?]
Regina subtly slowed her breathing, her mind exploding like fireworks.
At that moment, Douglas finished his call and walked towards her.
Regina instinctively exited her chat with Nicole.
Douglas noticed her putting away her phone.
He didn't say anything. Even if he had suspicions, he just glanced at her and then casually looked away.
"The weather's nice this afternoon. Do you want to go for a walk?" he suggested.
Regina nodded.
They first went to a cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture built over 800 years ago.
Later, they took a cruise to enjoy the night view on the river.
Regina used to be the opposite of Miranda. Miranda was the type to take pictures of a pretty flower she saw on the street while out for a meal, whereas Regina had very few personal photos on her phone.
But today, she had a "photographer" by her side.
Douglas would occasionally take pictures of her with his phone. Many of them were candid shots, but none of them were bad; each one was stunning.
He selected nine photos and made a post.
The caption was very sweet: Feeling happy again.
If Charles saw this, he'd probably say Douglas was all about romance again.
As Douglas was immersed in his photos, flipping through them one by one, Regina walked up to him and said she wanted to take a picture of him.
He agreed without hesitation.
Regina didn't bother finding the perfect angle or composition. After all, Douglas had the looks and physique that made any shot look good.
She stared at the flawless photo, then at Douglas, who stood before her. She couldn't help thinking that his perfection made him unapproachable.
Thinking of what Nicole had said earlier, Regina couldn't help but zone out again. 'Has he really liked me for many years? Why would someone like him like me for so many years?'
She felt unworthy of his long-time affection and thought he was wasting his time on her.
"Are you hiding something from me?" Even if it was wishful thinking, she wanted an answer. "Have you really liked me for a long time?"
Douglas didn't expect her to bring this up suddenly.
Since she mentioned it, he didn't feel like hiding it anymore.
"It's not that I'm hiding something from you; it's that you've forgotten some things," Douglas said earnestly.
'So, he was part of the memories I had lost!' When Regina realized this, her world seemed to shake and crumble.
She opened her mouth but felt like her throat was being choked, unable to say a word.
He spoke slowly, "Actually, at first, I thought if you couldn't remember, so be it. But now that you know, I won't deny it."
Regina's eyes were reddened by the night wind as she stared at him.
"I know you're curious about what you've forgotten." He gently tucked a strand of hair blown onto her face behind her ear. "But to you, it's not something important. Over the years, I didn't leave a significant mark on your life. We didn't have any dramatic moments. I was just a passerby in your life."
Regina's voice was hoarse. "But Nicole said you've liked me for many years."
"Yes." His smile was inscrutable. "But you didn't like me."
'You couldn't see me. It was just a one-sided story,' he thought inwardly.
He really didn't think there was much to say.
Regina was completely shocked by his nonchalant words.
Douglas remained indifferent, but when he saw her clenched hand at her side, his brow furrowed deeply.
When she was emotional, she had a habit of clenching her hands, sometimes breaking her own nails.
He held her hand, interlocking their fingers to prevent her from hurting herself.
It was already very late. Regina absentmindedly followed Douglas back to the hotel.
The whole day felt like a roller coaster ride.
She had thought that night at the Seasons Hotel was the official start of their relationship, but now she was told their beginning could be traced back many years.
Regina felt a heavy weight in her chest, her thoughts a jumbled mess.
When they got back, Regina went to the closet to find clothes, planning to take a shower to calm down. She accidentally found a box of condoms Douglas had casually left in the closet.
She grabbed it, her hand momentarily stiff.
