True Fated Marriage (Grace and Heinz)
Chapter 1488

Ernest continued without saying a word. It seemed like he agreed with his brother's words, but he didn't think there was any problem with his own character.

Gary resented Ernest's easygoing behavior. "Look at you being so laid-back, how will you be able to catch a good opportunity? Will you have time to regret your actions when someone else gets to her first?" Ernest shrugged his shoulders and objected, "If she becomes someone else's girlfriend, then it just means she's not destined to be mine. Fate just isn't by our side."

There was a deeper meaning behind his words.

How could someone as smart as Gary not understand?

Looking at his younger brother, he suddenly understood just how rational Ernest was.

He felt bad for Ernest ever since he got together with Celeste.

Before he went abroad, no matter what, he would have a scheme ready for Ernest with him pulling at the strings.

This was one of the darker sides to him. He had to admit, he did use a few tactics to win her over first.

It was also precisely because of what he had done that he hoped Ernest would be able to find his own happiness.

He couldn't help but feel worried for his brother's laid-back nature, but what Ernest implied was that he wasn't in a rush to date.

Gary nodded and said as if he had come to a realization, "Since you're not in a hurry, I assume you know what you're doing. But I still hope you'll make your move before it's too late, else you might regret it." Ernest maintained his relaxed demeanor. He turned on his cell phone and looked at his friends' group chat.

There were more messages and replies from Leah and her friends. After reading the messages, he became silent. Perhaps Leah was destined to be someone else's girlfriend after all.

He squinted and closed the group chat. He decided not to look at his cell phone. He raised his head to look at his brother and said lightly, "Gary, we're only 20, there's still a long road ahead of us. I don't want everything to be set in stone because I don't know what's going to happen in the future."

"I don't know if I'm able to support her and remain stable at this point of my life."

"Getting together too soon brings up the possibility of whether I can make her happy."

"If we started dating too quickly with such distance between us, would she feel insecure? Would she feel concerned?"

"If she doesn't get butterflies when she's with me, what's the point of her being by my side?"

Gary was stunned. He had a wake up call after hearing what Ernest had said.

He frowned, feeling as if those words were somehow directed towards him.

However, the tacit understanding that the brothers had cultivated over many years told him that Ernest's words were not aimed at him.

He was right, if they're not going to be happy, is there a reason to stay together?

"You have a point." Gary nodded. "I have to admit, what you said makes sense."

"Gary, can you listen to what I have to say?" Ernest asked with a smile.

"Go ahead, you can tell me anything." Gary smiled back.

"I heard from Maria that you're returning to the US in three days. What are you going to do in the future? Are you going to travel back and forth between these two countries?" Ernest asked. Gary nodded. "That's for sure, I'm all prepared for it."

"Have you ever thought about having Celeste as an exchange student to study in the US?" asked Ernest.

"No, I haven't," Gary said in a deep voice. "Though I've already been thinking about that for quite some time."

"So you've thought about it, and it results in you separating from Celeste. She's going to be in England, you'll be in the US, but you'd rather travel here and there than to have Celeste follow you to America. Gary, what are you afraid of? Or should I say, do you not want her to be a part of your world?"

Gary was slightly startled and started laughing. However, there was a touch of fierceness in his smile. "You're overthinking it."

Ernest also smiled and said, "I would like to believe that I am, but when I walked through the door just now, I saw Celeste was obviously unhappy. I couldn't help but say something." Gary frowned.

"Gary, you're an expert in controlling other people, but have you ever asked Celeste if she likes or maybe even wants this?"

Upon hearing Ernest's questioning, Gary frowned once more. "Are you standing up for Celeste again?"

"Look, every time you're met with criticism, you get this attitude and you push everyone aside. I'm only bringing this up for you to reflect on it, otherwise you won't go far with Celeste." Ernest's tone was calm and he didn't seem anxious at all. Gary was taken aback at his rationality.

"Celeste is like a daughter to the Jones family, that makes her something like my sister. Aside from your relationship with her, even if she doesn't become my sister-in-law, she'll still be a sister figure to me, so I'm naturally going to care about her." Ernest spoke again, "This concern doesn't go beyond the bond of a brother and a sister."

"Ha." Gary laughed nonchalantly as if to mock him.

"You don't have to feel like I have any underlying thoughts. I've always known what I want." When Ernest looked into his brother's eyes, he said firmly, "If there's something I want, I will try my best to fight for it. And if I didn't, it's because I'm hesitant on if I truly want it."

Gary came to the realization that he didn't know much about his younger brother.

He looked at Ernest's calm face and said nothing further.

"I've been like this since I was sixteen, and it's the same now that I'm twenty." It was rare for Ernest to look straight at Gary. He said truthfully, "Do you know why I didn't want to confess to the girl I like?" Gary could only listen to him.

"Because I have to stay in England for at least three years. So what if I decide to date her? We can't physically be together, that's going to bring lots of uncertainties. Who can be sure of what will happen? There might be so many misunderstandings because of our time differences and location. Just because you like someone doesn't mean you're guaranteed to be with them." Ernest continued, "Instead, you should give the both of yourselves the vast sky for a chance of something more."

This was the first time Gary had heard such words coming from Ernest.

At that moment, Ernest was a remarkable man.

"But if nothing is sure, it'll be really hard for her, and I won't be able to bear it," said Ernest. "The moment everything is settled, I'll definitely make her mine and won't let anyone take her away." After speaking, Ernest stood up with a smile and said, "That's all I wanted to say. I'm a smart man, I know what I mean. I'll go upstairs to get you your things, mom prepared them for you."

Only after a long time had passed did Gary finally understand the true meaning of what Ernest had said.

Unfortunately, during that time, he had completely lost Celeste.

When the four of them had a meal together that day, Gary and Celeste both stayed in London.

That night, they slept in their respective rooms.

For the next two days, they didn't talk with each other and made it clear to each other.

Gary was about to leave. On the night before he left, he brought Celeste back to Oxford.

The two of them were still distant. Gary looked at Celeste and asked, "Should we talk?" Celeste said, "Okay."

She raised her head to look at Gary. This was the first time in the past three days where they had faced each other.

They hadn't looked each other in the eyes for a while.

Celeste's gaze made Gary frown. His heart ached a little.

He said, "I run a company."

Celeste was surprised. That wasn't what she expected.

"I have to deal with issues every day. I'm not in the US right now, so the only thing in my mind was to deal with everything quickly so I could spend time with you."

She was stunned and recalled the times he played some games or scrolled through the news.

She looked at him lightly and said, "I just wanted you to tell me not you were up to and not dismiss me by saying that I wouldn't understand."

As she spoke, for some unknown reason, her eyelashes were moist and her eyes went foggy.

She lowered her eyes. "You didn't let me translate the manuscript Flynt gave me, so I gave up on it. I didn't want a life where you dismiss me, I wanted a life of my own. I gave up on whatever you thought wasn't worth it."

Gary's heart tightened as he looked at her, lowering her head.

"Sometimes I think about whether we're compatible enough to be together. I like you, but you're not that happy with me," Celeste said softly. "If I bring you weariness instead of joy, and you don't tell me anything, what motivation is there for me to continue persevering?"