George's POV:
As my mother stormed off, I ran after her after giving Helen an apologetic look.I knew my mother
loathed Helen with all her guts and looked down upon her.But fortunately, she had managed to restrain
herself today.If she knew that Helen and I were already married, she would have gone through the roof.
Recently, she hired some private eyes to secretly investigate Helen's family background, but I stopped
them from doing so.I knew it wouldn't solve the problem, but I would try my best to stall it.I didn't want
Helen to get hurt.I decided to take this opportunity to talk to my mother.
When we arrived at the garage, Velma opportunistically drove away in her own car, leaving my mother
and me alone.I was having a tough time trying to control my temper.I pleaded, "Mom, I know that you
are prejudiced against Helen for reasons I feel are unjustified.But apart from that, I want you to know
that Helen is a kind, loving, caring person.If only you knew her the way I do! But I'm not asking you to
become bosom buddies with her.All I'm asking is that you please not hurt her, okay?"
In the past few years, I had always been counting on myself.I had a poor concept of family unity since
my parents were always too busy to make time for me.
Before going abroad to study, I rarely saw them.иσνєℓєвσσк.¢σмI therefore did not have a close
relationship with them.
The only person I cared about was my grandfather.
Besides, I was pretty self-centered.
After I met Helen, she taught me how to open my heart and how to love unselfishly.
As a member of the Affleck family, I didn't have much sense of belonging except for social
engagements bearing the Affleck surname.
But now, I was willing to be more frank with my parents for Helen's sake.
However, my mother didn't think so.
"I've never done anything to hurt her.It's you who have regarded me as an imaginary enemy.No matter
what good intentions I have, you just think I have an ulterior motive, because that's what you want to
believe."Indeed, she hadn't done anything to hurt Helen before.
I softened my tone and sincerely apologized, "Then I'm really sorry.I apologize for doubting you.I just
hope that you won't reject Helen or make her feel out of place.I'll tell you again.Helen is the only person
I love.I won't give her up for anything in the world.Please do bear this in mind."
She grunted and said nothing.I observed her expression from the corner of my eye while driving.
"Mom, can I tell you something I've never told you before?"
"Suit yourself."
"When I was a child, you and Dad were always too busy running the company to pay any attention to
me.I rarely saw either of you.Even when you were at home, you were always surrounded by groups of
people.We hardly ever spent quality time together as a family.As time went by, I felt you drifting further
and further away from me.I spent most of my time with the nanny.As time went by and you got even
busier, I saw less and less of you.But at least I had friends at that time.That made up somewhat for
your absence in my life.Later you took me to Philly.There too, your busy life meant that I rarely ever
saw you.There were no familiar people around me and I began to feel isolated and forlorn.I had never
felt so lonely in my life.That's when I met Helen.When I first met her, she was playing Castle in the Sky
on the stage.A real beautiful song.It was love at first sight for me."
I calmly narrated the past.This was the first time that I had shared my story with my mother.
"George, I didn't know any of this.I'm so sorry we weren't there for you..."
After my mother listened to my narration, her eyes turned red, and she looked at me sympathetically.
"Mom, I'm not blaming you nor am I asking you to accept Helen at once.I'm just telling you how
important she is to me.She is the light of my life.иσνєℓєвσσк.¢σмShe's my redemption.She is the magic
balm that has erased all my pain and regrets of the past.Mom, Helen completes me.I'm nothing without
her."
Every word I said to her was from the depths of my heart.
Without Helen, I couldn't imagine what would become of me.
My mother was moved, but she still said frankly, "George, I know I can't stop you.I'm no longer insisting
that you marry a girl from a rich family like ours.Although, ideally, that is what I would like.Let's reach a
compromise.Even if you marry a poor girl, she should hail from a family with a simple and clean family
background.A family with good moral values and no complicated issues that will taint the Affleck
name."
I fell silent.I knew the royal history of the Affleck family.
That was why I knew clearly that the matter of Helen's father’s suicide and her mother's illness were a
gap that we could never cross.
Helen's family background was a real mess.
The information my mother had sent the private eyes to investigate about was now stored in my
email.If I could, I would have hidden those secrets for a lifetime to protect Helen from being hurt by the
Affleck family.It was at that moment that I finally understood why Helen's mother insisted on staying in
the hospital and asked Helen not to contact her ever again.
She just wanted to protect Helen.
My mother melted a little, but she still insisted, "George, you are an adult.It's normal for you to fall in
love, and I won't object at all.But when it comes to your marriage, you must treat it with caution and
seek the counsel and permission of your family.I insist that you at least respect that tradition of our
family."
Instead of replying to her words, I just emphasized, "Mom, promise me that no matter what happens in
the future, you won't bother or hurt Helen ever, okay?"
The honor of the family was what my mother valued the most, and Helen was the one I cared for the
most.
On this point, neither of us would give in.
"George, whatever I do is for your own good.I'm your mother.I'll never hurt you."
After I dropped my mother off at the airport, my heart became as heavy as a rock.I drove all the way
back at top speed.I wanted nothing more than to hold Helen in my arms at that moment.
When I got home, I didn't find Helen in the living room or the bedroom.
In the end, I found her in the study.I drove back in a hurry because I was worried that Helen would
overthink matters and would be upset.But I didn't expect that she was not affected at all.
Instead, she was working in the study with the laptop in her hands.Hearing the door open, Helen turned
her head to look at me and gestured to me not to speak.I sat down beside her and looked at her
quietly.
She was not busy with work but was on a video call with Cece.Cece said she wanted to start a
business in New York.She had heard that Helen was overseeing the Leeson Holdings project.If the
acquisition was successful, she hoped that Helen would help her get the advertising work of this
project.
Hearing that Cece was coming to New York made Helen very happy.
Although she didn't say anything, I sensed that she was quite sad when Lucy left.
With Cece coming over, Helen would have some female company.I listened to their discussion quietly.
Meanwhile, I reached out to hold Helen's hand and lowered my head to play with her fingers.
Helen tried to pull her hand back but I didn't let her.
She darted a sharp glare at me and then chatted with Cece, "The project of Leeson Holdings is about
to enter the negotiation stage.It hasn't been officially announced, so I can't introduce the person in
charge to you yet.When the acquisition is confirmed, I will definitely help you with it."
"Okay.Once I round up my work in Philly, I'll pack up all my things and come to New York to meet you."
"Certainly."
After hanging up the phone, Helen touched my face with her delicate fingers and asked worriedly,
"What happened? Did your mother give you the third degree?"
"No." I shook my head and held her in my arms.
Then I lowered my head and kissed her full on the lips.
"Did my mother's words hurt you?"
My mother pitched up out of the blue today.
All she said clearly showed that she was dissatisfied with Helen.
Helen was the apple of my eye.
How could she criticize the love of my life like that? Moreover, my mother of all people! Helen wrapped
her arms around my neck and kissed me tenderly for a long time.
Then she said to me, "It's enough that I have your love.No one can hurt me with you by my side."
All of a sudden, tears welled up in my eyes.I didn't know that I was capable of feeling so much of
intense love for someone in this planet.
My love for Helen was so strong, I felt it enter my bones and pass through some etheric level of mine.
Helen's love had transformed me.I held her tightly and kissed her continuously on the forehead.
She then changed the topic and talked about Cece.
"Just now, Cece said that she wants to start a business in New York.Why do you think she suddenly
wants to come here?"
"Why?"
"Of course it's because of Kendal.In fact, she has always been in love with him, but she could never
express her feelings."
I was distracted and started to seriously think about the possibility of Kendal being together with Cece.
"I think Kendal has given up on her completely this time.In the past he could not live without seeing her
for a few days.But it's been quite some time since they broke up.Has he gone to see Cece? Not once."
"You are right."
Helen nodded in agreement and was lost in thought.
"Then you'd better not tell Kendal about this for now.Cece probably doesn't want him to know that she
is coming to New York."
"Okay."
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