Chapter 23: A Reality Check
After returning to his own place, Eric sat down at his dining table. Laid out right in front of him was a sleek black card, the 100% discount voucher, alongside an envelope containing a set of keys, an access card, and a purchase receipt. Eric stared at the two items on the table, blinking a few times in disbelief. He pinched his own cheek until it actually hurt and left a red mark.
"This is definitely not a dream," Eric thought to himself.
He reached out and tapped the 100% discount card with his finger. Suddenly, a small holographic display flared open directly above the card, showing its description.
[Mercedes-Benz 100% Discount Card: A voucher that can be redeemed for any Mercedes-Benz model at any official dealership. To use, simply visit a showroom, choose your vehicle, and pay using this card. Note: This card will disappear after a single use.]
A massive grin spread across Eric’s face. He lifted his finger off the card and placed it onto the envelope, which bore the Tropical Summer logo, a palm tree on an island with a rising sun overhead.
[A complete set of keys and an access card for a fully furnished penthouse unit located in Tower A, 25th floor, Unit 2, along with a full-payment receipt under the host’s name. To use: Bring the receipt to the management office to collect the deed, utility installation records, and service documents. Note: Ensure the name on the receipt matches your identification.]
Eric quickly tore open the envelope to check the receipt. Sure enough, the name printed on it was Eric Reed, not Eric Watts. He folded the receipt back up and leaned back in his chair.
"This means I can’t even head over there until I officially change my name and get a new ID. Man, the suspense is killer and dealing with the paperwork is going to be a total hassle, but I’m still incredibly lucky to score something like this. I’m so hyped right now, there’s no way I’m sleeping tonight, haha," Eric thought to himself, grinning from ear to ear.
Eric then glanced at the guitar resting on the chair across from him. He stood up, picked it up, and immediately started strumming a bright, upbeat melody to channel his pure excitement. His face looked completely different from when he first arrived in the city—exhausted and drained. Now, he looked vibrant, lighthearted, and completely carefree.
Not a single thought crossed his mind about how his family back in his hometown was doing. But out of nowhere, "achooo," Eric sneezed suddenly. He immediately wiped his nose with a tissue.
"Huh... why did I just sneeze? Is someone talking about me behind my back?" Eric thought to himself.
***
Meanwhile, at that exact same moment in an apartment back in Eric’s hometown, inside a bedroom,
"Akh... aah... aaah... ukh,"
A naked Jason groaned as he hit his climax, his body drenched in sweat and his breathing ragged. He collapsed onto the bed and turned to his side. He looked over at Vivian, who was lying next to him, sweaty and panting, staring blankly up at the ceiling. Jason rolled over and took her hand.
"Babe, are you still thinking about Eric?" Jason asked, his expression turning serious.
"No... who would even waste their time thinking about him? Don’t get any weird ideas, babe," Vivian replied breathlessly, her eyes remaining fixed on the ceiling without looking at Jason at all.
But Jason could tell she was completely checked out. Her face looked incredibly somber, even as she lay there panting like a goldfish. Feeling ignored, Jason pulled Vivian close and wrapped his arms around her.
"Dad already went to a lawyer to sue Melissa and Blake. Don’t worry, we’re definitely going to track Eric down," Jason promised.
"Yeah... I know. But... when he comes back, we need to be completely honest with him. We need to tell him that we’d already been seeing each other behind his back for a year before Melissa framed him. I just want to clear the air... for my own peace of mind. I don’t want to keep hurting him," Vivian said.
"I get it, babe, I really do. Why don’t you stay over at my place tonight? It’s getting late anyway," Jason suggested.
"Alright, that’s fine. It’s a long holiday weekend anyway," Vivian replied, hugging him back.
Jason’s hand slid down, resting his palm against Vivian’s stomach, and she immediately placed her hand over his.
"Tomorrow we’ll go see an ob-gyn. I’m definitely going to take full responsibility, and as soon as you graduate, we’re getting married," Jason said.
"Yeah... thanks, babe. I’m really happy," Vivian replied, forcing a fake smile.
They held each other again, and Jason began kissing her neck. Vivian just stared blankly over his shoulder, completely numb as she let him touch and kiss her body.
"Eric... if only you hadn’t been so passive and boring... you’re the one I actually love, not your brother. Where are you... I miss you so much," Vivian thought to herself.
***
The next morning at nine o’clock, Eric stood once again in front of the Stone and Friends law firm building, a backpack holding all his legal documents slung over his shoulders. He turned his head to the side.
"Why exactly did you tag along?" Eric asked, looking at the person beside him.
"What’s the big deal? I had nothing to do, woke up way too early, and Mom was nagging so much at home it was driving me crazy. I won’t get in your way, I promise," replied the person next to him. It was Emma, wearing a white t-shirt, denim shorts, and a small women’s backpack.
"Sigh... fine, whatever. But please wait out front. I need to have a serious conversation with Mr. Stone," Eric said firmly.
"Aye, aye, captain," Emma replied, winking and flashing a thumb-up with a deeply sweet smile.
The two of them walked inside together. Eric stole a glance at Emma beside him, still half-unable to believe that he was currently walking around with the daughter of a once-highly famous movie star. When they stepped out of the elevator and reached the top floor, Katie, the secretary, instantly stood up.
Her eyes went completely wide the moment she saw Eric. She actually took off her glasses, rubbed her eyes, and slipped them back on to get a better look at him.
"Are you... the same Eric who came in two days ago?" Katie asked, pointing a finger at him.
"Yes, that’s right, Ms. Katie," Eric answered.
"Huh... you look completely different... is it just because you came in looking so disheveled the first time?" Katie analyzed, her eyebrows knitting together in the center.
"Uh... maybe. I came straight from the train station that day, haha," Eric replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Alright then, head on in. Mr. Stone’s already waiting for you inside," Katie said with a smile.
"Great, thank you, Ms. Katie," Eric said, smiling back.
Eric turned to Emma and told her, "Give me a few minutes." Emma nodded, and Eric walked straight into the office. Once the door clicked shut, Katie shifted her attention to Emma, who was standing there relaxed, scanning the room with a cheerful expression. Katie pulled over a chair and offered it to her.
"Please, have a seat," Katie said.
"Thank you, ma’am," Emma replied brightly.
As Emma sat down, Katie returned to her desk, staring at the girl who was now looking around the room cheerfully while tapping her feet against the floor. Katie’s eyebrows furrowed.
"This girl is stunning, but her face looks incredibly familiar. I wonder whose kid she is?" Katie asked herself, burying her curiosity for the moment.
Meanwhile, inside the office, Richard carefully reviewed the paperwork Eric had handed over. He then placed the file down on his desk, removed his glasses, and looked straight at Eric.
"Alright, I’ll file the petition. From there, I’ll handle the process of publishing your intent to change your name in the local newspaper. You’ll only need to show up when it’s time for the court hearing. The whole legal process should take about one to two months, and then getting your new ID, social security card, and passport will take another two to four weeks, okay?" Richard explained.
"Um... that works for me, sir. But since it has to be published in the paper, is there any chance my family back in my old hometown will see it?" Eric asked.
"It’s a local newspaper, so no, they won’t. Why do you ask?" Richard inquired.
"No reason, that’s actually perfect, sir," Eric replied, letting out a breath of relief.
Richard studied the transformed face of the young man sitting across from him. He seemed to be analyzing more than just Eric’s improved appearance, he was trying to see if the boy in front of him was harboring some heavy burden that was too difficult to put into words. Noticing Richard’s intense gaze locked onto him, Eric quickly looked for a distraction.
"Um, Mr. Stone, what was my dad actually like as a person?" Eric asked.
"Hmm... I didn’t actually know your father all that well," Richard replied briefly with a polite smile.
"Oh... I see," Eric murmured, still clearly feeling the weight of Richard’s sharp, calculating gaze.
