Chapter 333: A Shattered Dream
After they returned to the bedroom, maybe because Evelia seemed deep in thought, Armand didn’t say anything. He stayed quiet the whole time, until he got drowsy while leaning against the bed, accidentally tipped over, and suddenly woke up again. That’s when he finally looked at Evelia beside him.
But with just one glance, Armand saw that Evelia was still thinking about something. She looked so focused that Armand didn’t want to disturb her. So, he quietly watched her… until he wobbled again and almost fell off the bed.
“Mr. Armand, you should really lie down properly.”
Evelia steadied him and gently pulled him back onto the bed. Armand looked at Evelia with a dazed expression. He felt like it wasn’t even time to sleep yet, but his head was heavy and foggy.
This clearly wasn’t normal, something was wrong with his body.
But… what exactly was wrong?
Armand had no memory of being poisoned, and that left a big question mark in his mind. He didn’t know what had happened to him or what the future would be like.
This day felt like a beautiful dream. When he saw what his “future” might look like, having someone like Evelia as his wife, he was truly happy.
This version of Armand came from a time when his hope was at its weakest. Back then, every breath he took was just so he could survive long enough to get revenge. He didn’t believe he had a future. After everything was over, he figured he would simply drift through life, maybe even lose the desire to keep living.
Back then, Armand was like a walking shell. The only difference between him and someone like Evelia was that his “revenge” was his own choice, not something ordered by others.
But today, he suddenly saw a glimpse of hope. He saw that there were other people around him.
That old butler, Lug, was very kind to him. When they returned to the main house, Lug had worried about his health and kept everything in the estate perfectly managed.
He even had good friends now. Evelia told him that Carle had become someone he could talk to about anything. He had a wife, a friend, and a daughter. All of whom had a good relationship with him.
And Evelia, his “future self” had a wife like her. Maybe it was because he already loved her deep inside, but he was extremely satisfied with her. He even felt like she was the only person he ever wanted to marry.
And that child, Rachel, the little girl. Even though he didn’t know what she might be hiding, he believed she wasn’t doing anything to hurt him.
Armand really liked this kind of atmosphere.
Just like how Evelia once longed for a family, he now felt the same. And now it felt like his dream had come true. He had this kind of life.
If life could just stay like this forever, wouldn’t that be wonderful?
Even someone like Armand, who had such a cold personality, had a small desire deep down for happiness.
Or maybe everyone is like that, everyone in this world is chasing after happiness.
But he still didn’t know what was wrong with his body.
He was still like a child, imagining what his future would be like… but he didn’t know that his so-called “future” only had a few days left.
Armand leaned against the bed, swaying a little. He was really sleepy, but he didn’t want to fall asleep.
He had a strange feeling, like if he fell asleep, he wouldn’t be able to see anything anymore.
He longed for something beautiful, but reality only hit back with cruelty.
He kept imagining what his “future” could be like… but the truth wasn’t that good. Even his very existence came from confusion caused by the poison in his body.
“Eve…”
His voice was barely a whisper, like a sleep-talking murmur, as his consciousness slowly faded.
Calling out Evelia's name had almost become an instinct engraved into Armand's soul. Even without his memories, whenever he said her name, it still carried a deep, lingering affection.
"I'm here, Mr. Armand."
Evelia opened her mouth, as if wanting to ask something.
But when she saw the confused look in Armand’s eyes, she decided not to ask anymore. Instead, she just responded to his call and quietly came to his side.
"Now... I’m a bit curious," he murmured, his voice getting quieter and quieter. He tried to keep his eyes open, but the urge to close them was much stronger than the strength to stay awake.
At first, he didn’t really care.
No matter what the future held, he couldn’t control it anyway. He even knew that he was just a piece of memory. Judging from Evelia’s attitude, he didn’t even know how many times he had lost his memory already.
So, maybe it was like a dying man’s last bit of curiosity. Even as his memories were starting to blur into a mess, Armand still asked:
"What am I like in the future?"
“You are a gentle and strong person... Mr. Armand.”
“Strong, huh…”
That word made Armand let out a faint chuckle.
“Yes, you are a strong person,” Evelia repeated.
—So I should also try to be a little stronger.
Evelia held Armand in her arms and gently answered his question.
To her, each time he woke up felt like the previous version of Armand had disappeared.
Because Armand never remembered anything from before. Each time, it was like his mind had been reset.
She wasn’t some kind of robot with a set script. So every time she spoke to him, it was different. Every time they met, the situation was different. Every answer she gave was different. Every memory they made together was different.
But he forgot all of it.
Again and again, he would wake up. Again and again, he would forget. Again and again, like a never-ending loop, she watched the feelings they built together turn into ashes that no one could see.
Just like now, as she looked at Armand, drowsy and fading, she knew this Armand was about to disappear too.
Even though Armand had said that one day his condition would get better, that his memory would return, it seemed like the memories from this broken time could only fade away along with his slow and steady breathing.
Evelia held the half-conscious Armand in her arms, like telling a bedtime story. She talked about the things they had been through, how others spoke about him, and the promises they had made for springtime.
“Mr. Armand, if you’re tired… you can rest for now,” she whispered.
She held his hand. Her words were gently urging him to "let go," but her hands only held on tighter and tighter, unwilling to let him leave.
“You think… I’ll forget you again?” Armand said one last thing. “I don’t want to…”
Before Evelia could answer, before Armand could even finish his sentence, his voice slowly faded until it stopped completely.
It was another winter night, who knows how long it had been, and once again, Mr. Armand had fallen asleep, just like always.
Evelia held Armand’s hand and gently rubbed his fingertips.
“Mr. Armand… have a good rest for now. And when you wake up, if it’s possible I’d like to ask you something too.”