IMDD CHAPTER 282 (Patreon)
Content
A silence fell between them as Gage considered her words. Eva watched him, waiting patiently for his response.
Finally, he spoke. "I don’t think I have one," he admitted. "Whenever I come here, I use random human names when you ask me. And sometimes, I just remain nameless since I’m fine with you simply calling me ‘devil’."
Eva blinked, speechless.
"Are you... sure?" she asked gently. "What if you just... forgot about it? Your real name, I mean?"
Gage let out a sigh, smiling in contemplation. “I want to say that I never forget, but the fact that I forgot you and everyone else has made me question that. And now, this…” He shook his head gently, a thoughtful frown creasing his brow. “I never paid much attention to names, especially my own. I’ve always been addressed by titles. But I really wonder now… what if you’re right? What if there's a name I've forgotten?"
Whatever he saw in her reaction made him reach out and caressed her face so gently. “Sorry… I can't even provide an answer to a simple question,” he apologized softly.
Eva quickly shook her head. “What seems simple to me might be complicated for you, Gage. It’s okay. I'll think of another question to ask you tomorrow. It’s getting late now.” She yawned.
“Mn…” Gage nodded in agreement, a thoughtful look still lingering in his eyes. “I’ll try to think on this further.” He embraced her tighter. “Are you going to work tomorrow?”
“Yes. I’ve already missed a few days, so I really need to return. I’ll leave our little princess in your care, okay?”
“Leave her to me, darling,” Gage replied, holding her even closer.
With a gentle touch, Eva ruffled his hair. Her eyelids now so heavy.
The quiet of the night enveloped them, and when Eva drifted into a deep slumber, Gage carefully extricated himself from her embrace, taking care not to disturb her rest. He sat beside her for a while once he was done wiping her, silently watching her sleep with a tender gaze.
When he noticed the light from his phone, Gage rose from the bed quietly.
He leaned over, planting the softest kiss on Eva's forehead, before grabbing his robe and left the bedroom.
As he passed by Gaia's bedroom, Gage paused, his hand hovering over the door handle. He stood there, seemingly wrestling with a decision, before ultimately choosing to continue on his way without entering.
Making his way to the living room, Gage then headed towards the open garden.
Dressed in a robe over his sweatpants, he stood outside, feeling the cool night air gently stirring his robe.
The quiet of the garden surrounded him until another figure emerged from the shadows, his silhouette distinctly masculine.
As he stepped into the light, it became clear that the newcomer was no other than Calix De Luca.
Gage, with a nonchalant air, leaned back against a pillar, casually observing Calix as he approached. Dressed sharply in a dark suit, Calix leaned against the pillar beside Gage, mirroring his relaxed posture.
"So your memories have finally returned," Calix remarked casually, breaking the silence between them.
He extended a cigarette towards Gage. And when Gage accepted it, Calix lit it for him. Just as Gage was about to place the cigarette between his lips, he hesitated.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he discarded the cigarette, crushing it underfoot.
“I don’t think your daughter will be disappointed in you just because you smoke,” Calix said.
“I don’t want to be a bad example,” Gage simply replied.
An ever so slight smile just tugged at the corners of Calix’s mouth before he lifted his gaze to the sky, exhaling a stream of white smoke into the cool night air.
The two men then stood in silence, the previous tension between them back at the bar and at the hospital was completely gone, leaving them in a state of peaceful coexistence under the dark sky. They were like a pair of perfect statues, each seemingly lost in their own world, with Gage contemplative and Calix seemingly empty of any particular concern.
This relaxing silence stretched between them was comfortable and familiar. It was as if they had shared moments like this countless times before.
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