Chapter 613
“Mr. Hamilton, it's time to get to class.”
Jefferson heard the words muted by the fog of sleep and opened his eyes to see Ringo, who seemed to have aged
backward a few years since they last met, standing by his bed.
“Ringo?” Jefferson braced himself up and stared at him. “Why do you look younger?”
A bewildered look crossed Ringo's face. “Did I look old before?”
“Well, you certainly didn't look young...” Jefferson trailed off and glanced around in surprise as he realized he was in
his childhood bedroom at the Terblanc residence.
Didn't I die?
Am I dreaming now?
Jefferson got out of bed and washed up. He sucked in a breath when he nicked his skin with a razor, registering for
the first time that he could still feel pain in his dreams.
Ringo handed him a pair of diamond-shaped cufflinks as the latter emerged from the bathroom.
Jefferson fastened them neatly on his sleeves and caught a glimpse of a calendar on the table. Upon a closer look,
he realized the date was five years ago!
He pointed at it and said with a quiver in his voice, “Today is the eighteenth!”
“Yes, what's the matter, Mr. Hamilton?” Ringo caught the strange expression on his face and asked, “Do you not
want to go to school?”
“Today's the eighteenth...” Jefferson muttered. His gaze shot to Ringo, and he mumbled an apology before
punching Ringo in the midriff.
He didn't pull his punch, and Ringo staggered back two steps, clutching his stomach. His usual cold expression was
replaced with one of indignance. “Mr. Hamilton, I get it. Today is the eighteenth, but why did you have to hit me?”
Everything was unbelievably real, including his tingling fingers, and Jefferson was elated. “This isn't a dream. It's the
eighteenth today—Belle's first day at school!”
He snatched the jacket out of Ringo's hands and hurried out of the bedroom.
Ringo was hot on his heels as soon as he recovered and bumped into Boniel in the living room.
Boniel noticed Jefferson's bizarre behavior and called out to Ringo, “What's up with Jefferson? He was rambling
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtabout Belle while rushing out. Who exactly is Belle?”
“It should be Mr. Hamilton's classmate. I'll send him to school now, Old Mr. Terblanc.” His legs were a blur as he
moved as fast as he could and disappeared shortly after, leaving Boniel at a loss for words.
Jefferson spent the entire car ride fretting over his appearance and even asked Ringo as he opened the car door if
he looked okay today.
Ringo answered him patiently for the tenth time, “You look dashing, Mr. Hamilton.”
Jefferson yelled at him to stop the car as they drove past a florist and shoved the door open.
Ringo saw him returning a minute later with a bouquet of green roses, cradling them in his arms like a baby.
Ringo thought to himself, I have been by Mr. Hamilton's side every day, yet why don't I know anyone named
“Belle?”
As the car slid to a stop at the south entrance of Norham University, Jefferson got out and waited with the bouquet
in hand instead of entering, his blue eyes scanning around as if waiting for someone.
Ringo didn't dare interrupt and stood to the side observing him.
They stood around for nearly half an hour, and he wondered if Jefferson had been duped by a girl. A taxi pulled up
by the entrance as soon as Ringo opened his mouth to speak.
A figure emerged from the car and proceeded to the trunk to retrieve a suitcase before thanking the taxi driver.
Ringo knew it was a new student at first glance, but Jefferson's expression shifted, his eyes never leaving the girl,
his breathing quickening.
He looked at the girl, then at Jefferson again.
She lugged the suitcase in their direction and flashed a friendly smile at both of them standing at the entryway.
Her eyes were dark as black onyx, twinkling like stars in the night sky. She was tall, slender, and beautiful.
Jefferson stood rooted to the ground for three whole minutes after being reunited with the girl he loved, his mind
drawing a blank.
He was jolted out of his reverie when she almost entered the campus and scrambled to her. “Belle!”
He shouldered his way in front of her and pinned her with an intense stare.
His aggressive demeanor startled the girl a few steps back. She assumed he was a representative sent by the
school to greet her, seeing that he spoke Chanaean and addressed her by name.
“Hello, I'm Isabelle Griffith from Chanaea.” She smiled. “I was nervous on the way here and afraid that I wouldn't
find my dorm. I didn't know the school would assign you to welcome me. Thank you.”
Jefferson tried to curb his emotions and handed her the bouquet of green roses. “Do you like it?”
“They're beautiful!” Her eyes brightened as she saw the delicate flowers and reached out to accept them. “Thank
you.”
“I'm Jefferson Hamilton.” He took a step closer, his fervent gaze still trained on her. “I won't let you go this time.”
His fingertips brushed against her cheek.
She stiffened at his sudden touch. “What are you talking—”
He cradled her face and leaned forward to capture her lips in a kiss.
Ringo was puzzled and still chewing over Jefferson's words when Jefferson kissed the girl. He gaped, dumbfounded.
I thought Mr. Hamilton was very reserved. W-Why would he forcibly kiss a girl in public?
Jefferson only pulled back a minute later.
Her lips were soft and pliant, and they felt real. Jefferson felt himself come alive after the kiss, his heart pounding
wildly.
He smiled. “Belle, I—”
She raised her hand and delivered a vicious slap to his face, retreating a few steps.
She pressed her fingertips to her lips and glared at him, her face flushing in anger. “I know that a kiss isn't a form of
greeting here, so why did you do it without my permission?”
She was flustered and didn't know how to tell him off, so she threw the green roses at his chest before running into
campus with her suitcase in tow.
Jefferson was still reeling from the slap and remembered that his actions had been inappropriate for their first
meeting. He held the flowers to himself and gave chase. “I'm sorry, Belle. I can explain...”
Ringo watched as they ran into school in tandem and wondered in bewilderment if he should follow them.
Forget it. Mr. Hamilton is going after his girl. I wouldn't be of much help if I pursued them.
When Jefferson awoke the next morning, he realized he was still at the Terblanc residence and was certain it wasn't
a dream. He composed himself and thought about how to apologize to Isabelle and woo her once more.
Jefferson, who would always skip classes, started religiously attending them again and tried looking for
opportunities to cross paths with Isabelle to explain the kiss that day.
Isabelle eventually knew him as the second heir of the Terblanc family and noticed he was always well-mannered,
unlike the rake she met for the first time, and forgave him.
He knew all about her hobbies like the back of his hand and would attend classes with her, openly stared at her, and
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmgifted her with limited-edition books.
He got close to her without crossing a line.
Jefferson confessed to Isabelle after spending three months together, which went unrequited, but he wasn't in a
hurry.
Other men wouldn't stand a chance with him by her side anyway.
Perhaps Isabelle was touched by his affection for her shining plainly in his eyes, so after six months together, she
agreed to date him, and Jefferson took her back to meet his father.
That night, Jefferson handed a document to Arnaud, who had just returned. “I met a girl and wish to marry her and
spend the rest of my life with her. She wants to travel the world, so I can't stay here.”
Arnaud leafed through the papers and met his gaze, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” Jefferson gave him a hug. “You're extraordinary. Dad sees it too and loves you for it.”
Arnaud hesitated before returning the hug.
Jefferson adamantly told Boniel that he would leave with Isabelle after the wedding and that he didn't wish to inherit
the Terblanc Group. Boniel was silent for a long time before finally nodding.
Jefferson felt a sense of sureness wash over him after he took care of important matters.
When they celebrated their one-year anniversary at a restaurant, he got down on one knee and pulled out a ring,
proposing to Isabelle.
Her hand flew to her mouth, and she said yes after a long moment of nerve-racking deliberation.
Six months after the proposal, Jefferson took Isabelle to pick a wedding dress and venue. He also took the
opportunity to invite her family.
Three months later, their wedding ceremony took place on a tiny island Jefferson named Suger.
Jefferson watched as the woman he loved walked down the aisle toward him in the most gorgeous dress.
So close, we're so close!
He reached out and held onto her hand tightly, never wanting to let go again.
They both recited their vows before the priest and slid their wedding bands on each other's fingers.
Jefferson unveiled the bride and gazed at her. “I will love you as you deserve and will never let you go in this life.”
Isabelle burst out laughing. “Does that mean you didn't love me in the past life?”
He smiled without replying and went in to nip her lips for a quick kiss. “I love you.”
His world would never be dark again, for there was a ray of light.