Elias’ Crimes and Punishments of Romance
Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Chapter 25 Elias Erected a Tombstone for His Son

“Mom….” Tears welled up in Amanda’s eyes when she saw her mother’s tombstone.

At that, she looked up to force her tears back. She didn’t want to shed any tears in front of Elias. Shedidn’t want him to see her vulnerable side.

“Cry if you want, Elias murmured when he saw her holding her tears back. “It’s just you and me here.

“But you’re here!” she retorted before asking, “Why in the world have you brought me here?”

Elias did not say anything. He only walked over to the adjacent grave and stood there, his tall,handsome figure shrouded in loneliness.

Baffled, Amanda followed him and when she saw the words engraved on the tombstone, she wasdumbfounded.

Here lies the beloved son of Elias Winters’

The corner of Amanda’s lips twitched in response. This… He… What blasphemy is this?! How canElias curse my son?!

“W-What is the meaning of this? Why erect a tombstone? Is it even necessary?”

Despite being a lawyer, Amanda was at a loss for words and her thoughts were scattered. She wasn’tsure how to feel anymore.

I can’t possibly tell Elias that our son is still alive and that he’d only be cursing the little one by erectinga tombstone in his name, can I?!

“This is proof that my child existed,” Elias muttered as he fixed his profound gaze on the emptytombstone, rendering Amanda speechless.

You’ve got to be kidding me! She, on the other hand, didn’t like this idea. After all, the little brat wasalive and kicking at home. You… This… He…

Amanda cleared her throat and attempted to dissuade Elias as she looked at his handsome sideprofile. “Um… Hear me out, alright? I was only a little over a month into my pregnancy back then. Thefetus wasn’t even fully developed yet. If anything, it was only the size of a blueberry at most. Ittechnically couldn’t even be considered a fetus, so you don’t have to do this. You’ll have other childrenin the future.

“So what?! It won’t be the same! They won’t be this little one, no matter how many other children. Ihave! You’re his mother. How can you be so heartless? How can you not stand seeing a tombstoneerected for him?! Elias hit the roof, suddenly thinking that the woman before him was rather ruthless.Why haven’t I noticed it before?

Amanda, on the other hand, was stumped by Elias’ accusation. Me? Heartless? Who was it who

refused to believe we had a child together and led me to nearly give up on Aiden?! But the key now usthat Aiden is alive and kicking, and an adorable little munchkin at that! How rude of Elias to erect atombstone in Aiden’s name!

“What does this have to do with me being heartless or not? Why did you have to erect this tombstone?Aren’t you just upsetting people? Does it not make you upset when this constantly reminds you of thechild you gave up?” Amanda nearly blurted out the fact that Arden was still alive. Thank goodness….

“Being upset is good. It’ll remind me to never make this mistake ever again,” Elias commented withgreat remorse as he continued to latch his gaze on the empty tombstone.

Why did I refuse to believe Amanda was really pregnant? Why didn’t I question it? Even for onesecond…

Amanda fell silent at that. It seemed that there was no way around this unless she told him the childwas still alive.

Whatever. If having Elias live under the illusion that the child was lost four years ago means that I cankeep Aiden by my side forever, so be it. It will be good for everyone too. Ring! Ring!

Just then, her phone rang, and she found it was a call from Howard.

“Grandpa!” Amanda greeted, drawing Elias’ attention. With that, he fixed his gaze on her.

Suddenly, she turned shocked and repeated with incredulity. “You want to set me up on a blind date?Please tell me this is a joke, Grandpa. W-What are you doing? I told you I already have someone I like.He’s away on a business trip… No, I’m not lying to you, I swear…”

Amanda felt beyond exasperated. First, Elias set up a tombstone for their ‘dead’ son and now, Howardwanted to set her up with some man!

What is with all this hullabaloo?! I swear these two Winterses are sent by the heavens to torture me!

Out of the blue. Elias snatched her phone and caterwauled furiously to the phone. “What kind ofmischief are you up to again. Grandpa? Who said you could set Amanda up with other men?!”

“Why are you with Amanda?” Howard asked with displeasure when he heard Elias voice coming fromthe other end of the line. “Last time I checked, you two have divorced. What are you doing. badgeringher?!”

“Are you out of your mind? What are you thinking, setting Amanda up with other men?” Never had Eliasthought his grandfather would come around overnight when the elder still wouldn’t give up keeping him

and Amanda together just the day before.

Set Amanda up with another guy? What is this old man up to?!

Suddenly, a bodyguard’s voice came from the other end of the line. “Old Mr. Winters? Old Mr. Winters,are you okay? Wake up!”

At that, the bodyguard said directly to the phone, “Mr. Elias, Old Mr. Winters has fainted. Please

come over!”

“Passed out? Send me the address!” Anxiety overcame Elias at once. Howard wasn’t always in thebest shape and he would suffer from high blood pressure now and then.

Amanda, too, became anxious when she heard Howard had fainted. “What are you standing here for?Go to your grandfather!” she stated as she retrieved her phone.

With that, the two left the graveyard in two shakes, leaving the empty tombstone behind, looking oh-so-ridiculous….

Meanwhile, a certain child having fun in kindergarten sneezed several times in a row.

On the other side of the town, in Bamboo Hall, Howard gave his bodyguard a thumbs latter ended thecall. “Good acting

up

after the

Lo and behold, the elder was doing just fine. It was just a plot tricking the two into coming over.

However, the bodyguard felt somewhat worried. “Will this really work, Old Mr. Winters? What if the twoseparate for good because of this?”

Howard, on the other hand, was confident. “Don’t worry. This is called going against the tide. I’vefigured it out. The more I force them together, the more they resist me. It’s time to try a differentapproach.”

“But Mr. Elias’ temper.”

“I figured it out last time. That rascal still cares about Amanda and is very jealous. Hmph! Let him worry,or he’ll really think no one else other than him would want Amanda.” Howard smiled smugly with hishands behind his back.

Things will be easy as long as that rascal still has feelings for Amanda. I’d like to see him remain calmwhen his competition really shows up.

Sometime later, Elias and Amanda arrived at the private room Howard had booked.

“Grandpa!” Amanda shouted once she entered, thinking the elder had passed out. To her surprise,Howard was sipping his tea leisurely.

Elias, on the other hand, blew a fuse and couldn’t help storming, “Do you think this is funny? How canyou be at this again?!”

“How is this not funny? Will you two come obediently if I don’t fake it?” Howard retorted with the teacupin his hand.