"Just now, Lucas mentioned that when your Uncle Morgan was in college, he saw a photo on his phone. It was said to be of a girl he had a secret crush on."
Mr. Morgan, who rarely talked, initiated this rare gossip topic.
He took a sip of tea and seemed to be in a good mood.
"A girl Uncle Morgan had a crush on?"
Chloe was surprised, this was indeed news.
"Yes, just now Lily was talking about college days, and it suddenly reminded me of my college days. Not much came to mind except for something about my brother."
Lucas answered simply, curling his lips into a mischievous smile.
The recent unpleasant encounters with Lily had strained the feelings between Chloe and Lucas. He was trying hard to maintain a previous attitude.
Afraid that Chloe might completely resent him.
But Lucas didn’t know...
Chloe couldn’t bring herself to stop loving him, let alone hate him.
If she could really hate, if she could really let go, Chloe would have heaved a sigh of relief for herself.
Not having to love so tragically, so painfully...
"In college, I accidentally saw my brother’s phone and found a photo of a little girl’s back. I teased him, asking if he secretly liked some little girl and took her picture sneakily. Who knew... he actually nodded."
Matthew Morgan was already thirty, and normally having had one or two women would be considered few.
Especially for someone like Matthew Morgan, his status meant that whether it was business partners wanting to please him or other girls seeking upward mobility, he lacked no woman around him!
Elder Morgan, although retired, was still in the loop about matters inside the circle.
Matthew Morgan’s austere celibacy made Elder Morgan worry if he had orientation issues.
Now, hearing that he actually had a secret crush, was a big relief.
Being sure he was passionate in love and not having orientation issues, how could Elder Morgan not be happy?
After all, he held conservative beliefs, wouldn’t mind others’ same-sex relationships, but couldn’t accept his own son’s orientation issues.
"So, Mr. Morgan has been living alone all these years because of the girl in the photo?" Lily chimed in appropriately.
Lucas had already grabbed a small plate, peeled the orange, and broke it into segments, placing them in the plate.
He nodded, "It seems so. I asked him a bit before, and his attitude... it seemed girl might be the only one in his heart for life. He doesn’t seek to be with her, just to remember her."
The last sentence Lucas said softly.
He couldn’t forget that moment when Matthew looked ahead and softly whispered, "As long as she’s happy, I’m okay with it."
At that moment, Lucas realized that his brother, despite appearing indifferent and cold, had a fiery sincerity inside, loving someone wholeheartedly, with no regrets or hesitations.
Your love or not, the choice is yours.
But my love for you, and for how long, is my choice!
Lucas looked down, not saying much about it, and continued with the oranges.
After finishing with the oranges, he took a tissue to wipe his hands, and casually pushed the plate toward Chloe.
A habitual action, not raising much concern from the Morgan parents.
Chloe was known for her laziness, especially with fruits, finding those with peels troublesome. So the Morgan brothers, seeing fruit, would consciously prepare it for her and set it before her.
Even Chloe herself didn’t think much of it.
But beside them, Lily felt uneasy, her eyes flickering with emotions, before quickly hiding them.
"Speaking of which, that back looks a lot like you, Chloe."