Reborn Heiress: Taking Back What Is Rightfully Hers!
Chapter 169: No Crying

Chapter 169: No Crying

But time had created an unbridgeable gap between them, and with it, two wounded hearts that could never go back to what they once were.

"Stop watching it, you don’t look too happy," Eric said as he gently took Ella’s hand and led her outside.

Ella figured the movie was nearing its end anyway, and with only a little time left, she didn’t feel the need to finish it.

"Is that really the ending?" Ella asked softly, sensing that Eric didn’t want her to stay and watch. She had a bad feeling about how it might conclude.

Could the ending... be even more tragic?

Eric raised an eyebrow, looking at her seriously. "Are you sure you want me to spoil it? It’s a very sad ending. Do you really want to hear it?"

Ella bit her lip slightly, her soft red lips making Eric feel an overwhelming urge to kiss her.

"Yes!" she insisted. What was there to be afraid of? She had already died once, what could be more tragic?

Life’s tragedies are unique, but the depth of their sorrow is always the same.

Eric led Ella out onto the deck, where the night breeze brushed past them as they took in the beautiful scenery along the riverbanks.

The yacht moved steadily, surrounded by floating lotus lanterns that danced across the rippling water, casting a mesmerizing display of light and shadow.

Everything was breathtakingly beautiful.

But Ella was more eager to hear the ending. "Come on, Eric! Don’t be so mean—just tell me!"

Eric lifted her chin gently, "Give me a kiss here, and I’ll tell you."

Ella pouted, "Eric, you’ve been planning this all along, haven’t you?" He had purposely dragged her out before the ending, just so she would have to kiss him first.

"Think of it as part of my plan."

Ella gritted her teeth, but in the end, she leaned in and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

With a mischievous smile, Eric began to tell her the ending.

"So, in the real ending, the male lead betrays the female lead to win the favor of a wealthy heiress. The female lead ends up taking her own life, and the male lead doesn’t even attend her funeral because he’s getting married to his new lover. He thinks attending the funeral would bring bad luck to his wedding. It’s said that every woman who sees this ending cries her eyes out and is in a bad mood for days, blaming men for being as heartless as the male lead."

Ella’s eyes widened in shock.

Hearing the ending wasn’t as impactful as watching it would have been, but a sense of sadness still crept into her heart.

No wonder Eric hadn’t wanted her to see it.

"If Richard’s movie could pass censorship, it would definitely win an award. A film that leaves such a lasting impression on its audience, capturing the essence of human nature, is unforgettable. It also reflects how some men become—once innocent and pure, but after being hardened by society, they become selfish, manipulative, and change their views on love, easily abandoning the old for the new. It’s a mindset many men fall into," Eric explained softly. "But I’m not like that."

Ella smiled faintly. Many men were like that, just like Brandon in her past life, who had ultimately betrayed and poisoned her for her shares in the company.

"True, the film exposes human nature... I’m glad you didn’t let me see the ending, or I might have gone crazy!" Ella chuckled, quickly brushing away the lingering sadness in her heart.

After all, a movie is just a movie—it’s not reality. She couldn’t let something fictional affect her emotions.

Now, she needed to focus on being strong and confident, not letting anything else sway her feelings.

"What, you’re not crying?" Eric looked at her in surprise. "Ella, is your heart made of iron? Don’t you have any tears?"

"Do I have to cry?" Ella asked.

"It’s not mandatory," Eric replied with a smile. "But Richard did say that every woman who watched the movie cried, and even a few of the guys couldn’t hold back their tears."

Eric didn’t want to admit it, but the first time he watched it, he had cried too. The movie’s initial innocence, passion, and beauty drew him in, and the brutal display of human nature at the end made him mourn the loss of that purity and love.

Ella pressed her lips together and pointed to her heart. "My heart... it hurts too, but this isn’t our story, right? And... my tears are inside, not outside."

Eric stared at her, as if seeing her for the first time.

Ella felt a twinge of panic. Did he think she was too cold-hearted? Was he... going to stop liking her because of it?

Noticing the worry in her eyes, Eric chuckled softly. "I’m actually relieved that you can calm down so quickly. Life isn’t a movie, and I need a woman who can keep her emotions in check."

"You look like you’re forcing that smile!" Ella pouted in displeasure.

Eric sighed lightly and kissed her on the forehead. "Ella, you really are something special... I hope you never fall in love with anyone else, and that you’ll only ever love me."

"If you stay with me forever, I’ll be by your side for life," Ella said firmly, locking eyes with him. They gazed at each other in silence before sharing a passionate kiss.

That intense kiss washed away the lingering sadness Ella felt from the movie, making her blood boil with excitement, like water reaching a rolling boil.

But suddenly, a sharp scream from a girl startled Ella, causing her to quickly push Eric away. She turned around to see Rachel standing not far off, looking panicked and embarrassed.

"I’m sorry... I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt!" Rachel stammered, her head lowered, looking both frightened and upset.

Ella frowned in annoyance, while Eric’s expression darkened as he coldly asked, "What are you doing here?"

"I... I just wanted to get some fresh air!" Rachel replied.

"Then why did you scream? Was it on purpose? Haven’t you seen people kiss before?" Eric’s voice dripped with disdain. Rachel’s innocent act was exactly the type of behavior he despised most in a woman.

Rachel waved her hands frantically, looking even more distressed, as if Ella had been the one to wrong her.

Ella let out a small laugh. "Rachel, you’re so pure—this must be your first time seeing something like this, right?"

Rachel quickly nodded. "Yes, I... it’s the first time. I’m sorry, I’ll leave you alone now!"

As Rachel hurriedly walked away, Ella pursed her lips and smiled. "So, what do you think? Rachel’s quite pretty, isn’t she?"

Eric turned his gaze from the river back to Ella, a teasing glint in his eye. "Yeah, she is."

"Then maybe... you should try flirting with her, see how she reacts?" Ella suggested playfully, lowering her voice.

"Sure, I’ll give it a shot!" Eric replied with a lazy smile, his mischievous grin making Ella’s heart race. "Eric, you’re not seriously going, are you?"

Eric took a step toward the cabin, and Ella felt a pang of frustration. It was just a joke—was he really going to take it seriously?

Eric stopped and raised an eyebrow mischievously. "Wasn’t that an order from my dear wife?"

"Hmph, don’t play dumb!" Ella muttered, turning her head away.

Eric chuckled and walked back to her side, wrapping his arm around her slim waist. "Don’t joke with me like that, or I might just take it seriously."