Chapter 4 A Substitute (Part Two)

Ralph couldn't hide his excitement upon hearing news of Moira. "Let's go first. I'm not really hungry." His eyes were bright with enthusiasm and single-minded purpose that he failed to notice the disappointment in Celia's own.

She had spent the whole morning making the food, but he didn't even look at it.

The two of them rushed to the said bar in the suburbs.

Before Hans went downstairs, he had already asked the cook to prepare delicious food. This might be the woman's favorite food because in the past, Lois used to like it the most.

As soon as he sat down on the sofa, Judd Chen came in and said, "Sir, here is the information that you asked for."

"Let me have a look."

It showed, "Moira Lin, 21 years old, resident of A City, grew up in an orphanage, adopted by her current parents, a junior in the Finance Department of C University..."

Hans put down the files on the table. He was quite satisfied with Judd Chen's efficiency-the man had been working for him for ten years, and he could always find the information that he wanted without fail.

"Judd, as usual, I can always rely on you. You can leave now."

Hearing the order, Judd Chen wisely walked out. Having worked for Hans for so many years, he had become familiar with investigating people's backgrounds. As for what his boss said, it meant that he was very satisfied with his work. After all, Hans had never been lavish or free with praise.

As soon as Judd Chen left, Moira came out of the bathroom wrapped in a bath towel. She didn't expect to see Hans. Her shoulders were exposed, as were her fair arms and slender legs. At the moment when she saw Hans, several emotions filled her: surprise, horror as she looked down at how much of her body was exposed, and dismay as she rushed back into the bathroom with a small scream. Hans narrowed his eyes. It was such a shame that the woman was painfully shy-her body was incredible. It was difficult not to think about it.

Moira gasped for air. Just now, it was so embarrassing for him to see her in such a state. Before she could think about it carefully, she lost her balance on the slippery floor the moment she closed the door. She was about to crash on the floor when a sturdy pair of arms slid around her. Given how her center of gravity had collapsed, she helplessly fell into Hans' arms.

"Lois, do you want to throw yourself at me? If you want to do this, you know that you can just tell me directly. You are already my fiancee."

Moira blushed immediately. "No, no... I meant no such thing! The floor is so slippery that I..." 'Does this man really think of me that way? I don't think I'm like that, ' she thought. She hurriedly pushed him out through the bathroom door and locked the door with finality.

Hans smiled listlessly. This girl was just like Lois, even with the same intense shyness. If Lois were still alive, would she have been able to enjoy the joy of being with him in the way he was thinking about right now? The name Lois had become the most beautiful name in his life, and the beauty that he couldn't give up had become his most painful nightmare. There were too many things that she had left behind. Hans remembered how she had stayed in the United States for three months because she had to visit her mother. That was the longest time he had been separated from her. Hans was in agony at that moment when they parted at the airport. In those three months, he had a hard time dealing with his everyday life. He remembered looking forward to the day of her return. Each night, he suffered from insomnia. Then, Lois gave him a big surprise by suddenly coming back one week earlier than expected.

On that day, the afternoon sun was shining brightly. When Hans walked out of the company lobby, the first thing he saw was Lois, standing at the gate with a naughty look on her face and smiling at him warmly. Her hair was gently fluttering in the breeze. Stunned, he just stared at her wordlessly, until she said in a naughty voice, "Hans, you silly man. Have I been gone for that long that you've already forgotten what I looked like?" While Hans stood in a daze because of excitement, Lois ran over to him and gave him a big hug. His surprise gave way into a massive outburst of love. She only left after coaxing him to sleep. Later, he had learned that she hadn't slept for two days, but she still patiently coaxed him to sleep.

'What is love? Is it when you have me in your heart and I have you in mine, like we are the only ones in each other's eyes?' However, after he gave his heart to Lois, she left and took his heart with her. From then on, he thought that he would never have the courage to open up again.

It was so difficult-nearly impossible-to forget someone. Hans believed that he would never be able to forget Lois.

At that time, he swore to himself that he would never let Lois get out of his sight again, but now they belonged to two different worlds. When he first saw Moira, he was filled with hope again. He started to treat her as a substitute for Lois, even to the point of deceiving himself. Could this also make up for the vacancy in his heart?