Falling for a Lie: My Stepbrother's Hidden Revenge

Chapter 277

Eric’s words hung in the air, unfinished, as he noticed Eder’s brows knit together, a flicker of melancholy crossing

his usually unreadable eyes.

“I have imposed strict confidentiality on everyone about the virus coursing through me. Let's keep it that way.

Especially from Sylvia!” Eder commanded, his voice echoing with a dull finality.

“Understood.” Eric paused, looking apprehensive. “But Boss, even if we can suppress this secret now, Miss

Lancelot will have to grapple with your sudden demise five months from now. It’s going to inflict unimaginable

pain on her.”

“I'm aware, Givetto ponder over it.” Eder averted his gaze, his expression etched with exhaustion. His

eyelashes fluttered, hinting at an internal battle he struggled to contain.

Eric recognized his pain. This was perhaps Eder’s most challenging moment, a crossroads of heartache and duty.

Late into the night, Eric exited the room, leaving Eder to his solitude in the sterile confines of the lab ward.

The night unfolded in quiet serenity. The trees outside the window shivered under the whispering wind, and soon,

a soft rain began to drizzle.

Eder turned towards the window, watching as raindrops slid down the glass. His once commanding and prideful

visage was now shrouded in melancholy, his expression a kaleidoscope of thoughts.

His reverie was interrupted by the beep of his phone, signaling a new message. Unlocking his phone, Eder’s eyes

landed on a message from Sylvia.

“Eder, are you managing to get srest on the border?” the message read.

“I've heard about the strong ultraviolet rays there. Are you going to return with a tan? Haha! Should I start

calling you ‘Bronzed Eder“?” another ping announced the arrival of her subsequent message.

Sylvia's playful banter brought a smile to his lips, a rare moment of levity in the otherwise clinical surroundings.

His mind's eye painted an image of Sylvia's face, lively and teasing as she penned those words. A sudden,

overwhelming longing overtook him the desire to hold her close and never let go.

After stime, another message from Sylvia illuminated the screen.

“Have you fallen asleep? Or is it difficult to reply from there?”

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“No, wait. Is there a signal issue? Then | won't intrude. Goodnight!” swiftly followed another message

Sylvia's chat window remained silent after that message, and Eder’s lips curled into a bitter smile. His fingers

danced lightly over the lines of text Sylvia had sent, tracing their path on the smooth screen.

A tear broke free, silently tracing a path down his cheek, nestling into the short hair at his temple, disappearing

as if it had never existed.

Out of nowhere, an acute, gnawing pain pierced through his chest, the intensity making his body tremble

uncontrollably. He doubled over on the bed, beads of sweat rolling off the tip of his nose, and the veins stood out

on his hand as he battled over the pain.

Each breath was combat against torment, the pain searing through him with ruthless constancy.

The relentless throbbing escalated in severity, forcing a pained groan from his lips. With a trembling hand, he

reached out for the alarm on the bedside table. In his weakened state, before he could press the alarm, he

tumbled off the bed.

The thud jolted Dr. B, who was resting in an adjacent room. Rushing over, he pushed the door was met with a

sight that made his heart drop.

open and

“Eder! Good heavens! | warned you about keeping your emotions in check to avoid agitation and extreme

emotions. Heart angina is lethal when it flares up!” Murmuring under his breath, he quickly located the

prescribed pills and popped them into Eder’s mouth.

With the medication needing tto take effect, all Dr. B could do was assist Eder back onto the bed and tuck

him under the blanket. He stayed by his side for several hours, only exhaling a sigh of relief when exhaustion

finally lulled Eder to sleep.

The snight, sleep eluded Sylvia as well.

Staring at the ceiling, her thoughts wandered to the last tEder was on a mission and narrowly escaped a

bullet to his heart, bleeding profusely. Now, he was at the border, notorious for its tumultuous environment and

hostile inhabitants.

With Eder not responding to her messages, she was left in the dark about his well-being and the current state of

affairs. While caught in her worries, sleep stealthily claimed her.

The restless night left her weary-eyed the next morning as she went to work.

She was entirely oblivious to the fact that the man she had been ceaselessly worrying about had returned that

very evening.

Upon hearing of his return, she sprinted upstairs, her skirt billowing around her as she rushed to the bedroom

door and thrust it open.

There he was, Eder, lounging on the bed, engrossed in a book. His refined fingers Sylviafully turned the pages,

an effortless aura of aristocracy emanating from him. His extraordinarily handsface could leave one

breathless, even in such a casual posture.

Alerted by the sudden disturbance, Eder lifted his gaze towards the door, his eyes softening as he took in her

presence. His voice, gentle, reached her ears, “Sylvia.”

Sylvia's face broke into a wide grin as she hopped onto the bed, straddling him. Her hands cupped his face as

she looked at him closely. “I didn’t expect you to go to the border and cback without getting a tan. | want to

taste this honey-colored skin!” She playfully pecked his cold, thin lips, her actions reminiscent of a child who had

just received a coveted piece of candy.

“Why didn’t you tellyou were back? | wouldn't have known you were hif | hadn't seen Eric standing at

the door by chance. Were you planning to surprise me?”

A faint smile crossed Eder’s face, skillfully concealing the weariness in his eyes. “Yes, a surprise.”

Despite his attempt to hide it, Sylvia could sense a melancholic undertone in his voice. “Did things not go well at

the border? You seem a bit down.”

Eder responded with a slight smile and opened his arms to her.

Understanding his gesture, Sylvia moved to his side, resting her head on his shoulder. Her cold hand slipped

inside his robe, lightly touching his warm waist.

The cool touch sent a shiver down Eder’s spine, but he remained still, a tender smile on his face as he indulged

her playful antics.

“A long-serving senior employee at the Grant Group dedicated his life to the company. He and his wife share a

deep bond...” He began narrating the story in his magnetic voice, maintaining a seemingly unperturbed

expression.

Sylvia silently wrapped her arms around his waist as he spoke more than usual, listening attentively to

his words.

“Recently, he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. He only has a few months left to live but hasn't dared to tell

his family, particularly his wife. He asked for my advice, but matters of life and death are challenging.”

As she listened, Sylvia's mood turned somber. She sighed, “Their bond is so strong, but his wife will be

heartbroken when she finds out. The one left behind in such a scenasuffers the most.”

Eder’s back stiffened slightly, his long eyelashes fluttering as he strove to mask his sorrow. “Yes, the one left

behind is in the most pain.”

Sylvia had been shattered six months ago when she thought he had died. To lose something precious all

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over again would be unimaginably painful. Would she break down if she had to endure such a loss again?

Sylvia failed to notice Eder’s low mood, lost in her memories of the incident six months ago. The mere thought

made her uncomfortable, her eyes welling up unconsciously. Her slender arms tightened their grip around Eder’s

waist.

“Fortunately, | had a health checkup yesterday and am in perfect health. You must promise to be careful on your

missions. We have a long future ahead of us,” she said, her smile radiant.

Eder’s throat bobbed as his hand clutched the covers tightly. She did indeed have a long future ahead, but his

was ticking away. His pale lips moved several times before he could gather the courage to ask the question he

had always dreaded.

“Sylvia, do you... still, love me?” His head dipped, his black eyes intense as they locked with Sylvia's.

He was terrified of this question. Scared that her answer would shatter his heart. Scared that all his desperate

struggles would be rendered meaningless.

But now...

He found himself hoping that Sylvia would confess she no longer loved him.