The Sweet Rival (Mango Shen and Nathaniel Ye)
Chapter 1242

Aria was completely stunned. Before she could say anything, she saw Michael turned his head around. The ferocity in his eyes made her tremble or even escape from her spot. At that moment, Michael held Aria tightly in his arms. How could such a grown up man shed tears in front of her?

"Is that you, Valentina? It's you, right? I know you won't be so wicked and leave me alone in this apathy world. Don't go, Valentina. Please don't leave me alone, okay?" Aria had seen Michael's cruelty and merciless, but little did she expect to see him crying at that moment.

She couldn't believe that he had cried!

She wondered how affectionate he was that caused him to be overshadowed by her sister's death even after nine years?

If Maverick treated her simply like how Michael treated her sister, she would be willing to do anything for him. Unfortunately, that man didn't cherish her at all.

Aria was also on the verge of tears.

She gently patted Michael's shoulder and gave a sigh.

She'd rather not utter anything at that time as Michael would only feel upset regardless what she said. In contrast, she just let him vent his emotion through the wonderful dream. Michael was crying like a baby.

He was no longer the person who wished to hug that figure but could only embrace the air in his dream.

Valentina in front of him was real and warmblooded whom could be touched.

He could only assumed it as real at the moment regardless of its genuineness or any reason.

"I really miss you, Valentina. Do you know that? Without you, the world is cold to me, how could you leave me alone in this chilly world? You said that you would accompany me to watch the setting sun and go home with me. You also mentioned that it's okay if my parents don't care about me, and you needed me. Well, where have you been all these years? Valentina, you are the only sunshine in my life. I will always remember the girl who saved me from the plight. You are my saviour who led me to join the army and to a road I never thought of before, yet little did I expect that you would leave me forever because of this path.

If I've known it earlier, I would lock you up and would never allow you to join the army for a lifetime."

"Valentina, have you ever thought about me when you sacrificed yourself? I bet you've thought about it, didn't you? Why would you still do so whereby you knew that I would collapse by your death? Valentina, you've considered too many people. You worshiped your love, your loyalty, and your faith more than me. I should hate you, but I can't, I miss you so badly. Can you take away my deep-rooted love together with you? Can you?"

As Michael confronted her, Aria's tears kept flowing down her cheeks.

She had discovered everything that happened between Michael and her older sister, Valentina.

Michael told her before.

Michael was once a rebellious child, he ran away from home after quarreling with his parents.

He was somehow a stubborn person and mingled around the society when he left his home without a penny. However, he was once injured in a fight and almost got himself killed.

Looking at so much blood flowing out of his body, Michael thought he would be dead.

He was merely sixteen years old, was his short life going to end in that way?

"Are you alright?"

He would never forget the girl who saved him from the plight that day.

He once thought that she was an angel.

She was indeed good looking and gentle, she helped him to get up without being afraid of the blood on his body and his discomfitured condition.

Her white dress was stained by the blood on his body, but she didn't care at all.

She told Michael to live well and make good use of his body to commit more meaningful things in life.

On that day, Michael knew that the girl became his life saviour.

She inquired about his age and where he was staying, and even spent her money to send Michael to the clinic for treatment.

It was the first time Michael had wanted to protect a girl, and wished to stay forever with the angelic girl who saved him from the plight.

Because of her, he had chosen to go home. Returning to his home which was fraught with danger, and a place where he needed to strive hard and struggle to live all the time.

His siblings were constantly plotting against him for the inheritance of their family.

Michael had a narrow escape with bruises and all sort of wounds, but he always appeared before Valentina by wearing the most beautiful smile on his face.

He had transferred to Valentina's school. In order to be alongside with her, he had persistently spared all his efforts to study. However, he would always be ranked second while the first place would always belong to Valentina.

Subsequently, Valentina indicated that she would like to join the army and asked if he wanted to follow along.

Joining the army?

At that time, Michael didn't thought about it at all, he even thought that he would never take that path. However, looking at Valentina's blazing eyes, he nodded and agreed.

They preserved their college status and joined the army.

Michael didn't inform any of his family members and simply disappeared.

He knew that all his endeavor over the years would be in vain once he left his family. His siblings who were on the prowl would take the opportunity to take over the prestige and influence which he had built up over those years. However, he didn't care at all.

All he wanted was just Valentina.

Both of them had spent some wonderful moments at that time.

They were not allowed to date in the military region, thus they fought their way to a higher position. Regardless of the times that he had sustained injuries from his mission, he would first check on Valentina to ensure that she was safe and sound, only then he would be able to smile.

If he had known that rising through the military rank and entering a special force would cost Valentina's life, he would rather her be ignorant and incompetent and simply committed a two-year duty instead. Unfortunately, he couldn't predict the future.

Valentina was no longer there before he could realize it.

The girl who saved him from the plight would never appear in his life ever again.

How could he not be upset and stand the fact that those heinous people had taken away the only sunshine and warmth in his life?

Even if he had to sacrifice his life, he would tear those men into pieces.

As he was never a kindhearted person without

malice.

Michael was crying his heart out.

He did not cry when Valentina died.

When Valentina was buried and he could not enter the mausoleum, nor did he cry.

Even over the past few years, when he woke up from shock in his dreams, he did not shed a single tear.

However at that moment, Michael seemed to be completely broken down and was crying uncontrollably.

Who had said that a man wouldn't simply cry?

Not until his heart was broken.

Michael was living his own story, though he clearly knew that the woman in front of him would not be Valentina. Perhaps she looked too alike with her, or perhaps...

All those things didn't matter to him.

At that moment, he was hugging a warm figure, and not a wisp of cold air.

As if his girl who had pulled him out of the muddy place had returned, she truly appeared before him, she touched his head and said gently, "I'm sorry, Michael. I'm late, I'm really sorry." Michael had wished both of them to be together wherever he went and nothing would keep them apart.

Aria was also sobbing.

Her sister was indeed blissful, wasn't she?

Although her life was short, it was considered perfect for her to own a man who loved her so much.

Michael who was in front of her should be her brother-in-law, but they had some sort of intimacy.

Aria told herself that he loved her sister. It was merely an accident, a punishment, or perhaps a game without emotional connection.

However, Aria's heart was still aching.

After all, it was her first man who had intimacy with her.

Seeing that he was feeling miserable for her sister, Aria didn't feel good at all. However, she could only hold Michael tightly in her arms.

Both Nathaniel and Mango stood outside the door and couldn't help sighing while watching over the scene.

Mango was about to enter the room but she was stopped by Nathaniel.

"Just let Michael vent his grief for a while."

"Well, it's Aria, Nathan. Are you going to let Aria be a substitute for Valentina in the future?" Mango was a woman, so she naturally understood how another woman felt. Though she didn't know if Aria had yet to be tempted by Michael, they couldn't and had no right to send her as a substitute to Michael.

Nathaniel laughed upon looking at his agitated wife.

Mango was always enthusiastic and impartial at all times.

He rubbed Mango's head and told her softly, "Do you really think that Michael don't know that the person in front of him isn't Valentina? Over the years, he was aware of the fact more than anyone did. It's just that he's simply breaking down after he had forburned his feelings over the past nine years. Once he's done letting off steam, he'll settle the situation properly. After all, Michael has always been abstained during the past nine years, he didn't flirt with any other woman besides Aria." "What can this prove? It can only be said that Michael has took Aria as a doppelganger from the very beginning, hasn't he?"

"That's not right."

Nathaniel grabbed Mango's hand and walked out of the intensive care room, only then did he show the photos from his mobile to Mango.

It could be seen that those women in the photos somehow resembled Valentina.

"These women are..."

"Michael's family had arranged some blind dates for him, and they even tried to lure him to go home by using these women. Unfortunately, Michael didn't get tempted by any of them. Some even offered to sleep with him but they were directly thrown out by Michael, except for Aria."

Mango was confused by Nathaniel's remarks.

What did that indicate?

Nathaniel said with a smile again, "In fact, to seek justice for Zeck, directly killing Aria is the best solution. Plus, it can also deter Maverick who was behind Aria. Unfortunately, Michael has chosen the way." "What are you trying to say?"

Mango frowned slightly as she couldn't predict the meaning behind Nathaniel's words.

Nathaniel looked at the direction of Michael's ward and whispered, "Right before you sent someone to enquire about Aria's lineage, Michael has already asked someone to investigate her background. Otherwise, why do you think the details would revert to you in such a short period? It takes time to do the paternity test."

Mango immediately froze.

"Do you mean that Michael knew that Aria is Valentina's sister?"

Nathaniel nodded.

"Why did he still do that to Aria? He's simply..."

"He intends to give up his obsession with Valentina, but he can't let go of her family. Therefore, the best and only way for him is to become the son-in-law of the Brass family." Nathaniel's words instantly stunned Mango.