When I was eighteen, I met my father Grayson Cameron’s student Bennett Brooks, and we had our first intimate encounter. We’ve been together for ten years. This marks my ninety-ninth time hoping to marry him. But just then, I overheard his conversation with a colleague. The colleague asked: “Bennett, that girl is already twenty-eight. Don’t you plan on taking responsibility for her?” Bennett replied coldly: “There’s a ten-year age gap between us. I’m just following Grayson’s wishes to look after her a bit more. I don’t have any other feelings for her.” Not long after, he got engaged to a girl around my age. This time, I won’t cause a scene. From several candidates, I drew lots and selected Aiden Hunter, a teacher at the academy, and quickly set a wedding date. On my wedding day, the usually composed Professor Bennett actually burst into the ceremony, begging me not to marry Aiden. ***** When I was eighteen, Grayson called his most promising student Bennett into the study at home to discuss something important. That day, Bennett wore a well-fitted shirt and gold-rimmed glasses, standing straight with an outstanding demeanor. I was hiding nearby, peeking, when Grayson called me into the study. With a serious expression, he said: “I have to leave for ten years. What worries me most is my daughter.” Grayson placed my hand in Bennett’s, tears welling in his eyes. He said: “She only has me as family. Could I ask you to take good care of her?” I looked back and forth between them in confusion, my heart racing with panic. I asked: “Dad, what are you talking about? Where are you going?” Grayson sighed. He said: “The country has assigned me to conduct research. I won’t be able to contact family or return home for ten years.” I stood there, my hands trembling uncontrollably. Bennett held my hand firmly, his voice gentle yet resolute. He said: “Don’t be afraid. Grayson has been good to me. From now on, you’ll be like my little sister. I’ll take good care of you.” The entire room fell silent, with only the sound of wind rustling through book pages. I suddenly remembered that when I was five, my mother Ayla Cameron had also left me for similar reasons. Later, due to a laboratory explosion, Ayla was severely injured and couldn’t be saved. All I saw in the end was a handful of her ashes and three letters—one she had written for each year. Ayla’s colleague told me her final words. She said: “I know the current experiments are dangerous. I only regret that my daughter has grown up without her mother’s company. But national affairs are more important. I can only say ‘I’m sorry’ to her.” Ayla never saw me again, and I never saw her one last time. Now, Grayson would be gone for ten years. In the tenth year of my relationship with Bennett, Grayson faced a similar situation. However, this time, there was hope that Grayson could be rescued. At twenty-eight, this marked my ninety-ninth time hoping to marry Bennett. When no one else was around, I gripped Bennett’s hand tightly. I said trembling: “Bennett, I want to marry you.” Bennett sat upright beside me, slowly pulling his hand away. His tone seemed unnatural: “Adeline, now isn’t the right time for us to get married.” Adeline Cameron is my name. I cried out anxiously: “But!” What Grayson wanted most now was for me to get married. So whenever this topic came up, I became anxious. Just then, someone passed by nearby. Bennett immediately withdrew the hand he was about to use to pat my head. He said: “Don’t worry. Grayson will be fine.” Bennett rejected me once again. Even after seeing more and more people in the hallway, he quietly distanced himself from me. My heart suddenly ached sharply, and tears began to fall. After ten years, I still wasn’t used to his coldness toward me in front of others. I gripped my skirt tightly, lowering my head in grievance. The kiss marks he’d left on my waist last night were still there. Perhaps seeing how heartbroken I was, Bennett, standing a step away from me, sent me a message: [Don’t worry. I will definitely marry you.]
Afterward, Bennett quietly slipped a spaghetti package into my hand. He said, “You should eat something. The surgery will take a while longer.” Bennett thought I was just throwing a tantrum. Like before, he habitually offered me something small to cheer me up. This method always worked. But deep down, I knew Bennett would never marry me. Just two days ago, when I went to visit Bennett, I overheard his conversation with a colleague outside his office. His colleague asked, “Bennett, that girl is already twenty-eight. Don’t you plan to take responsibility for her?” Bennett replied indifferently, “To me, she’s my sister. We’re ten years apart, and there won’t be any feelings beyond sibling affection.” I clenched my trembling hands tightly, then carefully and quickly fled. That night at midnight, Bennett felt intimate desire for me. Holding onto the thought of “one last time,” I complied. I cried, but he only thought it was because I was in pain. Bennett doesn’t understand me, just like now—he still doesn’t understand me. I sat alone all night. Finally, at dawn, I received the good news that Grayson’s emergency surgery was successful. However, he still needed to be observed for some time. After Bennett and I settled Grayson in properly, we discovered a stranger had come to the hospital room. “Bennett!” A very pretty girl with bright eyes poked her head in. Upon seeing her, Bennett immediately panicked and let go of my hand. Before I could react, the girl opened the door and threw herself into his arms. She said, “Your mom asked us to come home for lunch. I didn’t expect to run into you here.” This girl had actually met Bennett’s parents. Bennett and I had been together for ten years, yet I didn’t even know what his parents looked like. The girl continued, “Your mom said she wants to discuss our engagement with us.” Looking at this girl who was about my age, I was stunned. I asked, “What?” The girl showed a surprised expression, looked me up and down several times, then tightly linked arms with Bennett. Then she smiled and said, “You must be the sister Bennett talks about, right? I’m Emma Roberts. In a month, Bennett and I will be engaged. Didn’t he tell you?” For a long while, I couldn’t find words to speak. I just stared at Bennett, hoping he could give me an explanation. But Emma stepped forward and took my hand. She continued, “Although I’m still a year younger than you, since you’re Bennett’s sister, that makes you my sister too. If you need anything in the future, just let me know.” Despite having the same age gap with Bennett, she could openly be with him and get engaged, while I could only be called “sister.” Bennett turned his head away, saying nothing. I coldly pulled my hand away from Emma’s. I said, “That won’t be necessary. My father only has one daughter—no sons. So I don’t have a brother. Please leave and stop disturbing my father’s rest.” After saying this, I turned and sat beside Grayson, ignoring them completely. Bennett still wanted to say something to me, but Emma pulled him back. Emma said, “Your father does need rest. We won’t disturb you anymore. Goodbye.” Her tone was affectionate, as if she didn’t mind my attitude at all. But I still remembered the look she gave me—one of scrutiny and smugness. At that moment, I really wanted to confront Bennett. But after they left, looking at Grayson who still hadn’t opened his eyes, my heart gradually calmed down. I had been entangled with Bennett for ten years. I didn’t want to continue this entanglement anymore. Ayla was gone. Grayson’s greatest wish was to see me marry a good man and not spend my life alone. I decided to make my choice by drawing lots. I wrote the names of the five candidates Grayson had previously selected for me on pieces of paper, then crumpled them into balls. After shaking my hands, one paper ball fell out. Seeing the name on the paper ball, I was stunned.
The name on the paper was actually Aiden. Among the five men Grayson had chosen for me, Aiden was the one I understood least. He was Bennett’s colleague at the same school, and he was notorious for being careless and half-hearted about his work as a teacher. Before turning eighteen, Aiden was constantly getting into fights, skipping classes, and dating around. As an adult, he spent money recklessly and nearly beat someone to death. Thanks to his prominent family background, he was able to settle that matter privately. To help him get his life together, Aiden’s family spent a fortune to arrange for him to become a teacher at the academy. However, he lacked real talent or knowledge. Students who actually wanted to learn refused to attend his classes, and many openly criticized him. The other four candidates were completely different. Some were self-made entrepreneurs who were honest and decent, while others were humble, polite, and had stable jobs. Not only did they have great personalities, but they were also quite handsome. However, when standing next to Aiden, their good looks paled in comparison. But Aiden’s family was the only one that owed Grayson a favor. Besides, his parents were good people. Even if I really did marry Aiden, I wouldn’t suffer too much. With this thought, I felt relieved and headed to Aiden’s house with gifts. When I explained my purpose and mentioned Grayson’s serious illness, Aiden’s mother, Cora Hunter, was both sad and happy. She asked, “Are you really willing to marry Aiden? He’s such a troublemaker. Did he do something bad to you?” I felt helpless and shook my head repeatedly. I said, “No. I’m doing this willingly.” As I handed over the gifts, Cora became so emotional that tears streamed down her face. She immediately removed the gold chain from her neck and put it around mine. She said, “Sweet child, I don’t have anything else nice to give you right now. Please make do with this for now.” My cheeks instantly turned red. I said, “Cora, don’t you need to ask Aiden what he thinks?” “No need!” Cora said with a smile. She continued, “Whether he’s willing or not, I’ve always hoped you could be my daughter. Just think of it as marrying me instead.” I laughed. Over the years, Cora had indeed been very kind to me. I knew she genuinely liked me. We quickly settled on a preliminary wedding timeline. We’d get engaged in a month, then hold the wedding ceremony six months later. Cora said she would inform Aiden about this. After arranging everything, I prepared to return to the hospital room to continue watching over Grayson. When I got back, I discovered he was already awake. The moment he saw me, Grayson smiled and said, “My dear daughter.” My eyes immediately welled up with tears. I ran over and threw myself into his arms, calling out, “Dad!” After ten whole years, I had finally seen him again. Grayson gently stroked my head with his hand. I could feel that his movements were much slower than before. Ten years had passed so quickly, and he had aged considerably. We talked for a long time. Afterward, Grayson asked me, “You’re twenty-eight now. Do you have a boy you like? I’m old and sick. What will happen if no one takes care of you?” I nodded and said directly, “I do have a boy I like, Dad. And he’s actually one of the candidates you selected for me before.” “Are you telling the truth?” Two voices spoke simultaneously. One filled with surprise, the other trembling with disbelief. I turned to look and saw Bennett, who had just opened the door to come in, staring at me intently with a panicked expression. After a while longer, disappointment flickered in Bennett’s eyes. He shook his head, as if trying to stop me from continuing. His expression was like someone watching a child about to get into trouble. But I wasn’t a child anymore. As for my relationship with him, if it wasn’t necessary, I would bury these feelings forever in my heart and let them slowly fade away. I pulled out the gold chain from around my neck to show Grayson. “Look,” I said, “I even received a gift from his mother.” Bennett, who had just relaxed, froze in place, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. He studied my expression carefully. After a moment, he finally regained his composure. Bennett probably thought I was deceiving Grayson. Grayson asked me with a smile, “If that’s the case, whose son is he? How come you’ve never mentioned him to me before?” My face instantly turned red. Then I lowered my head and said, “Anyway, you’ll definitely like him. He and I have been together for a while now. Our relationship is stable, which is why I finally dared to tell you.” Bennett’s face immediately darkened. But Grayson laughed. “Well,” he said, “my child has grown up and has little secrets now. You actually waited until you were about to get engaged to tell me.” Then Grayson turned to Bennett, who had just walked in, and teased him. “Bennett, you’re here too? Look at your sister. She’s been hiding her relationship from me, only willing to tell me when she’s ready to get engaged. But that’s okay. I trust your judgment. As long as you approve of him, he must be a good man.” Grayson gently patted my hand to show his encouragement. Bennett stood to the side, only able to force a happy expression. “Yes,” he said. “The person she chose must be good.” Since Grayson had always insisted we call each other brother and sister, he naturally didn’t know the true nature of my relationship with Bennett. But after hearing “sister” several times in a row, Bennett was reaching his breaking point. While I went outside to get Grayson’s medicine, Bennett grabbed my hand and quickly pulled me toward the empty stairwell. This was the first time he had ever held my hand in front of everyone. After all these years, Bennett had always been composed in his actions. But this time, he roughly pressed me against the wall. He questioned me in an icy tone: “Your father just recovered, and you have to lie to him now? What’s the point of forcing me like this? What are you going to do when you can’t produce an engagement party?” I looked up at him calmly. “What does this have to do with you?” I asked. Bennett frowned. He looked at me and sighed softly. “How does this have nothing to do with me?” he said. “Besides knowing me, do you know any other men? You even lied to your father about having a candidate. Where is this candidate?” I looked at Bennett quietly. He was still the same as before, scolding a misbehaving child from the position of an elder. I suddenly realized how quickly ten years had passed, and Bennett was already 38 years old. His youthful, handsome appearance from years ago was long gone, and his face now showed the marks of middle age. In that instant, I seemed unable to find the excitement I once felt when I was with him. Perhaps it was because I had felt insecure for these ten years. We constantly argued and gave each other the cold shoulder. My desire to get married had been extinguished by him time and time again. No matter how intense my love had been initially, it would slowly disappear. Watching Bennett’s mouth as he kept talking, I said calmly, “But I never said I wanted to get engaged to you. What are you so anxious about?” Bennett’s expression changed instantly, and he froze in place.
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