Transmigration: Step Into The World of Books And Become The Strongest!-Chapter 44: Melting Vanessa’s Heart

"Ahem!" Arthur cleared his throat and put on a serious expression. "I’m sorry, Young Lady Vanessa. I wasn’t thinking about any woman—please don’t take it the wrong way."

His voice sounded sincere, and the anger and wild look in Vanessa’s eyes slowly began to fade.

Still, her suspicion didn’t disappear so easily. Narrowing her eyes slightly, she asked coldly, "If you weren’t thinking about another woman, then why did you look so absent-minded?"

Arthur chuckled softly and replied, "I was just daydreaming... thinking about how beautiful and captivating you are, Young Lady. For some reason, I’ve started to regret rejecting your confession back then."

"If I had accepted it, a woman as stunning as you would’ve been mine, wouldn’t she?"

A playful glint flashed in his eyes, instantly turning Vanessa’s cold expression bright red.

"You... You..." she stammered, rising to her feet and pointing at him with trembling hands.

His sweet yet shameless words nearly gave her a heart attack.

This wasn’t the Aron she knew!

There was no way that cold and heartless man could speak with such flirtatious charm.

Even in her wildest dreams, she had never imagined Aron saying something like that. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

’What’s really going on? Has Aron gone crazy? Or is he so badly injured that he’s developed a second personality?’

A storm of questions spun in her mind, leaving her dazed and confused.

Aside from those possibilities, she couldn’t think of any other explanation.

’Although it’s strange... isn’t this actually a good thing for me?’

Her heart pounded as the thought flashed across her mind.

Years had passed since she first confessed her feelings for Aron, yet her love hadn’t faded in the slightest. On the contrary, it had only grown stronger with time.

She knew full well that she shouldn’t feel this way. As the heiress of the Maple Leaf Trading House, she bore great responsibility.

Even so, she couldn’t stop herself. Her love for Aron had long since turned into an obsession.

Unfortunately, Aron wasn’t a man who was easily swayed. His cold and indifferent nature made it nearly impossible for him to fall in love with her.

But now...

Her gaze lingered on Aron’s face—handsome as ever, but now softened with warmth and affection.

*Badump!*

Her heart raced, and a faint tremble ran through her body.

’I must have him... No matter what, I won’t let him go!’ She vowed to herself, burning with determination.

Sensing the intensity in Vanessa’s stare, Arthur shuddered.

"Ahem! Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?" He asked, puzzled.

Snapping back to reality, Vanessa quickly composed herself. A soft smile curved on her lips.

"Nothing," she replied casually, settling herself on the sofa.

Crossing her legs, she added, "I’m just a little surprised by how much you’ve changed. It makes me wonder... did something happen that caused your personality to shift so drastically?"

Although she welcomed Aron’s change with joy, a part of her still wanted to test him—just in case something unexpected was at play. She needed to be ready for the worst.

Faced with her suspicious question, Arthur remained composed, not showing a hint of unease.

Knowing his behavior was far from how the real Aron acted, he had already prepared a convincing excuse.

With a calm expression, he smiled and said, "I’m sure you already know... I became a fugitive of the One-Eye Organization after killing their leader. Since then, I’ve been constantly on the run, moving from place to place to stay ahead of them."

He paused briefly, his face turning somber before continuing, "During that escape, I started to question everything. My life felt pointless—just a cycle of killing and completing missions over and over. It was empty. Meaningless."

Taking a deep breath, he looked up at the parlor ceiling, where rare crystal lamps glittered like stars.

"That’s why... I regret it. I regret neglecting the people who once cared about me. Now, all I want is to make things right—though I’m not even sure if I’ll get the chance."

What he said was, for the most part, just an excuse. But part of it reflected the genuine feelings of the real Aron.

As a former assassin, Aron had long kept his heart locked away. That was why he had rejected Vanessa’s love and lived like an emotionless puppet.

Only after standing at the edge of death did he finally begin to understand the emotions he had always ignored.

Unfortunately... that realization came too late, and regret hit him like a wave.

Vanessa was stunned by his words. Her lips parted, then closed again, as if she wanted to speak but didn’t know what to say.

She could feel the sincerity in his voice and see it in his eyes.

The cold look on her face slowly melted away, replaced by a softness rarely seen.

"Aron..." she whispered. Biting her lower lip, she stood and stepped closer. "Don’t worry. I’ll always be by your side. I won’t ever leave you."

Without hesitation, she pulled him into a hug, burying her face in Aron’s fragrant hair.

Arthur froze for a moment, surprised by the sudden embrace.

His face pressed against her soft chest, and his breathing grew slightly uneven.

But the warmth of her hug and the soothing scent of her body gradually eased the tension in his muscles.

Closing his eyes, he wrapped his arms around Vanessa’s waist and allowed himself to sink into her comforting embrace.

"Ahem." Lina cleared her throat gently as she watched the scene unfold.

She pretended not to see anything and quickly walked away, leaving the two of them alone.

A few minutes later, they slowly pulled away from the embrace and looked into each other’s eyes.

"Sorry! I... I didn’t mean it like that!"

Vanessa’s face flushed red as the memory of her bold move replayed in her mind.

Arthur looked just as flustered. It was the first time he had ever hugged a woman—especially someone as stunning as Vanessa.

Moreover, the softness of her huge chest and the sweet fragrance of her body made his thoughts momentarily drift.

Still, he quickly collected himself and smiled.

"It’s alright, Young Lady Vanessa. I’m not upset," he said gently. "In fact, I’m grateful. That hug... it calmed something inside me."

His soft words made the blush on Vanessa’s face ease, though it still lingered faintly.

"Hmph." She let out a short snort and sat back down, leaning casually into the sofa. Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. "Then tell me—why did you summon me to the capital and request an invitation to the Everhart family’s birthday party?"

Arthur let out a quiet chuckle. With Vanessa’s status and influence, there was no doubt she already knew about Celine’s upcoming birthday.

Yet here she was, pretending not to know and tossing the question his way—a test, clearly.

But rather than feeling pressured, Arthur saw this as a chance—a golden opportunity to leave a lasting impression.

"I asked you to come to the capital because there’s something important we need to talk about," he answered without hesitation.

"Something important?" Vanessa raised an eyebrow, her tone skeptical.

Arthur gave a subtle, knowing smile. "Of course. Something that concerns your future."