Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph
Chapter 172 The Real Distance

[Silly girl, Happy Valentine's Day!]

Even though it was from an unknown number, I instantly thought of Faris.

Only he would call me that.

I read it and then deleted the message right away.

I went back to scrolling through Facebook and saw a message from Seagull: [Emily, Happy Valentine's Day!]

I shifted a bit, resting my head on the armrest of the sofa, adjusted my position, and replied: [Sorry I missed this last night. Happy Valentine's Day to you too! How do you guys celebrate Valentine's Day abroad? Is it lively?] Seagull: [Valentine's Day abroad isn't as lively as it is back home.]

I texted: [Oh, will you come back for the next Valentine's Day?]

Seagull replied: [Actually, the real distance isn't physical but emotional.]

His words felt a bit melancholic, like he was still hung up on that impossible relationship.

I messaged: [Come back. I've always wanted to treat you to a meal. I want to thank you in person, and I hope there will be such an opportunity.]

He sent a smiling emoji and texted: [No need. As long as you're doing well, that's the best thanks.]

Seagull's words always had a way of warming my heart.

I replied: [Seagull, thank you!] along with an emoji of being moved to tears.

Seagull then added: [Actually, I've always been thinking about a question. A seagull can land when it's tired of flying, but a fish can't jump ashore when it's tired of swimming. So, they are destined never to intersect, don't you think?] I didn't quite get what he meant.

After thinking for a bit, I sent: [Although they can't be on the same land, they are under the same blue sky. The seagull can look down and see the fish, and the fish always looks up to and admires the seagull.]

This time, Seagull only replied with a smile.

"Who are you chatting with, smiling so happily?" Ethan's voice suddenly broke my concentration.

I looked up, and Ethan was already in front of me.

I was so engrossed in the conversation that I didn't even hear him come in.

I put my phone away and calmly said, "A friend."

Luckily, Ethan didn't ask any more questions.

After that, I went to the bathroom to freshen up.

He had several new sets of toiletries in the bathroom, probably for his business trips.

After freshening up, I simply tied up my hair and left with Ethan without any makeup.

Downstairs, the security guard on patrol saw us, and his eyes widened.

I guess the security guard had just started his shift this morning. The company was pretty generous, giving everyone three days off around Valentine's Day, so the place was empty. He probably didn't expect to see us coming out the morning after Valentine's Day.

Once he realized it, he straightened up and greeted us politely. "Good morning!"

I smiled back. "Good morning!"

Ethan also chimed in, "Good morning!"

I wasn't sure how Ethan usually acted around the employees, but judging by the young security guard's startled expression, Ethan was probably pretty strict.

But today, Ethan seemed different, like he was in a good mood.

I thought I'd be happy all day too, but that didn't last long.

When we drove back home, I saw Faye sitting at the entrance of the villa.

I had no idea how long she'd been there. She was bundled up, her neck tucked in, and she was shivering.

When she saw our car pull in, she stood up and looked at Ethan with longing eyes.

"Ethan!" She called out.

We got out of the car, and Ethan closed the door, frowning as he looked at her. "Why are you sitting here?"

Faye sniffed her red nose and said pitifully, "All my friends had someone to be with on Valentine's Day. I was the only one alone. I felt so pitiful. I wanted to spend it with you guys so I wouldn't be so lonely. But you weren't here, and you didn't answer your phone. I thought you might be out having fun and didn't know when you'd be back, so I had to wait here."

I had to give her full marks for this sympathy-seeking act.

I looked at her and asked, "Where's your key? Don't you have one? You could've waited inside."

Faye, being the actress she is, didn't panic at all and said even more pitifully, "I lost the key, and I don't know when I lost it."

After saying that, Faye sneezed several times in a row.

If it were anyone else, I would've brought them inside, given them a thick coat, and made ginger soup. But with Faye, I didn't want to show any sympathy.

After risking my life to save her and still being misunderstood as setting her up, I was completely disappointed in her.

She was like an ungrateful wolf; no matter how I treated her, she'd always find a chance to bite back.

"You caught a cold. I'll have Dennis take you to the hospital," Ethan said, pulling out his phone to make a call.

Faye urgently grabbed his arm. "No, no need, Ethan. Do you really not want to see me that much? It's just a cold. I'll be fine after some rest. Please don't make me leave, okay?"

Ethan patiently tried to reason with her. "Listen! Don't forget you're an artist now. Opportunities can come at any time. Do you really want to lose a chance because you're sick?" Those words seemed to hit home for Faye, and she visibly wavered.

After Ethan finished calling Dennis, he checked the time and said, "We have to go somewhere later. Do you want to wait inside or outside?"

Ethan's tone wasn't harsh, but it left no room for argument.

Faye lowered her head sadly and said softly, "I'll wait here then."

"Alright," Ethan said and walked inside..

As I walked past Faye, her previously obedient demeanor was gone, replaced by a look of hatred and unwillingness.

To be honest, I was used to her two-faced behavior.

I ignored her and went straight into the villa.

By the time we changed clothes and came back down, Faye was gone.

In the car, seeing the direction Ethan was driving, I already knew where he was going-it was the same direction I wanted to go.

The car stopped at the foot of the hill. We bought a few bouquets of flowers and went up the hill.

Around mid-February, many people visit the cemetery, and this year was no different.

We first went to Ethan's mother's grave, and he didn't forget to place a bouquet at Jason's mother's grave as well.

Then we visited my mother's and father's graves.

Standing in front of my father's grave, Ethan kept staring at the tombstone, lost in thought.

I asked, "What's wrong?"

He slowly looked at me and said softly, "It must've been really tough for you after your dad passed, huh?"

My heart felt a tug, a bit painful.

I looked up and smiled bitterly. "But I got through it."

He held my hand, looked at my dad's tombstone, and said sincerely, "Father-in-law, my name is Ethan, your son-in-law. Please rest assured and leave Emily to me. I will take good care of her."

Those words were so warm, just like his hand holding mine at that moment.

I figured maybe heaven felt sorry for me and sent Ethan to be by my side.

A few days later, Aurora called me over and gave me a surprise gift.

It was a small box containing dozens of USB drives. Aurora said she had put all the relevant knowledge, as well as her years of hard work and experience, into these USB drives. She mentioned that although I wasn't the most talented, I was the most diligent and hardworking, and she hoped I would continue to pursue my dreams.

Holding this box, I couldn't describe the excitement I felt.

To me, it was like a treasure trove.

A week later, Bella asked me to accompany her to the hospital.

I thought something was wrong with her and rushed over in a hurry.

After meeting up with her, she told me about her breast concerns. She was too embarrassed to tell Zachary, so she asked me to come with her.

Bella said, "Emily, do you think I might have breast cancer?"

"Don't talk nonsense! Of course not," I said.

Bella laughed at my reaction. "Even if I did, I'd accept it. Sometimes you just have to accept your fate."

After describing her symptoms to the doctor, the doctor asked her to do a urine test and a blood test. Holding her test results, I grabbed her hand and said excitedly, "Bella, you're pregnant." Bella was stunned. "No way?"

I nodded confidently. "Bella, I was a nurse. These test results clearly show you're pregnant." Later, she handed the test results to the doctor, who confirmed the same.

Coming out of the doctor's office, we sat on the chairs in the hallway.

Bella, still in disbelief, exclaimed, "My period was late this month, and now I'm pregnant?"

I couldn't get pregnant myself, so hearing that Bella was pregnant made me happy too.

I said, "Zachary already treats you well. If he knows you're carrying his child, he'll definitely spoil you even more."

Bella smiled at me. "It's not that dramatic."

I remembered the necklace Ethan gave me that day and quickly took it out of my bag.

"Bella, this is for you." I handed her the box.

She opened it and glanced inside. "Why are you giving me something out of the blue?"

I said excitedly, "Consider it a gift for the baby. Look, I have one too. These necklaces are a pair."

I pulled out the necklace I was wearing.

Bella smiled at me. "This is nice. Help me put it on."

After helping Bella put on the necklace, she tucked it into her clothes and said, "I'll wear it all the time, even in the shower."

I nodded with a smile.

After a while, we left together. At the hospital entrance, I saw Linda rushing in. I asked Bella to go ahead and tell Zachary the good news right away.

I figured Richard was still there and wondered about Abby. I asked a nurse and found Richard's room.

Hearing the conversation inside, I stopped.