King of the Wilderness-Chapter 181 - 144: Chaotic Scene? There’s No Such Thing.
Aliya, who is extremely intelligent and sensitive, can capture that lingering undercurrent from deep within Emily’s gaze.
When Emily’s eyes inadvertently sweep across Lin Yu’an, who is chatting and laughing loudly with the men in the distance, her gaze becomes exceedingly complex—a mix of gratitude, awe, and an indescribable fear.
Plus a hint of pathological dependency in her eyes that she might not even be aware of, especially when Lin Yu’an’s gaze occasionally meets hers, she would instinctively avoid it like a startled fawn and then couldn’t help but peek over.
As a girl who grew up in a large, complex Mormon family, Aliya has seen all kinds of social nuances.
She immediately understands that there must be some kind of relationship between the beautiful woman in front of her and her husband.
But she did not reveal anything, continuing to wear a gentle and fitting smile, happily chatting with Emily, as if she hadn’t discovered anything.
The party ended amidst laughter and cheer.
Once the slightly tipsy guests left with piles of tomatoes and cucumbers, Bo, having drunk too much, retired early to the guest room prepared for him to sleep.
In the spacious wooden cabin, only Lin Yu’an and Aliya remained, along with the two children sleeping peacefully in their cribs.
Lin Yu’an tidied up the wine bottles and dinnerware in the living room while Aliya sat silently by the warm fireplace, staring at the dancing flames, her thoughts unknown.
"Are you tired?" Lin Yu’an walked over and gently embraced her from behind.
Aliya shook her head, leaned into his arms, and remained silent for a long time before speaking in a very gentle and understanding tone: "Lin, that Dr. Emily we met today is a wonderful woman, isn’t she? She loves children."
Lin Yu’an’s body stiffened for a moment; he knew that the inevitable had finally arrived.
He did not try to argue or conceal, understanding his wife well enough to know that any lie would be futile in the face of her intuition.
He was silent for a moment, pulled Aliya’s hand, and had her sit beside him on the carpet.
Then, he revealed everything that had happened before—completely and calmly.
Using the simplest, most direct language, he started narrating everything that happened that afternoon.
The story started with Emily’s Subaru being sabotaged, how he discovered the clues, and eventually followed her to her cabin out of concern.
He described the thrilling shootout and fight that occurred in the living room, how he leaped from the second floor and subdued the assailant.
When he mentioned accidentally killing the incapacitated biker with a heavy punch, his voice unconsciously lowered.
He didn’t shy away from the cold killing intent that arose in that moment, nor how he forced Emily to take a shot too, binding them both to the same fate.
Finally, he mentioned the hard drive storing the private keys to three hundred Bitcoins and, thereafter, the "dirty pact" formed in the bathroom based on desire and interest between him and her.
He peeled everything off like an onion—the good, the bad, the bright, the dark—layer by layer in front of Aliya.
He spoke very calmly, adding no emotion or pretext, merely stating a series of events that had unfolded.
Yet the handshake with Aliya revealed his inner tension and unease.
When he finished speaking, a prolonged silence enveloped the living room, broken only by the "crackle" of the burning wood in the fireplace.
However, Aliya’s reaction completely exceeded Lin Yu’an’s expectations.
No hysterical accusations, no tearful questioning, not even amazement at the tremendous wealth.
She merely reached out her soft hand, gently and tenderly stroking Lin Yu’an’s brow, which was furrowed from long-term contemplation and vigilance.
"You must be terrified, aren’t you?" Her voice was light yet like a warm current, instantly flooding Lin Yu’an’s icy heart.
"Carrying such a huge secret alone must be exhausting."
Her first response was not to his "infidelity" or "cruelty", but concern for his psychological state.
Aliya looked at him, her pale green eyes seeming to see through everything: "Lin, I can tell that since you came to Alaska alone, there’s been something suppressing you."
"You’re so different from when you were at university; you’re always very alert, very tense, as if ready to fight at any moment."
"I know there’s a huge secret in your heart that makes you tired, that makes you unable to truly relax. I don’t know what it is, and if you don’t wish to speak about it, I will never pry."
She gently rested her head on Lin Yu’an’s shoulder.
"I just want to tell you, don’t put so much pressure on yourself; no matter what happens, I’m here. You can share all the weight with me, I’m your wife, and can be your eternal listener."
These words immediately struck the softest and most fragile part of Lin Yu’an’s heart.
His greatest source of pressure was the unspeakable secret of "rebirth", his fear that it might all just be a dream.
But he never imagined that his outward tension and pressure, which was so out of place in this world, had long been seen through by the beloved woman beside him.
After Aliya’s tender reassurance, Lin Yu’an’s tense nerves finally relaxed a bit.
He reversed his grip and tightly embraced Aliya, burying his face deeply in her hair, feeling that unconditional trust and love.
He spoke softly: "Aliya, I promise you, I only love you and the children! Emily... she was just an accident, an accident to solve a problem."
Aliya, however, shook her head in his embrace: "Dear, don’t think that way; I think Emily is good."
"From her willingness to stay in such a remote place as a veterinarian, and Honey’s fondness for her, it’s clear her heart is kind. She was just forced into a whirlwind she couldn’t control, like you, fighting to survive."
She lifted her head from his embrace, looking at him, her eyes sparkling with an understanding and inclusivity transcending worldly norms arising from her unique upbringing, and proposed a suggestion that surprised him.
"I want to have a deep conversation with her."
"Dear, you tied her together for control and security. But true security relies not on chains, but on understanding and acceptance."
"I want to see her, I want to show her how the women of the McKinley family treat their family."
Lin Yu’an looked at the unmistakable determination in his wife’s gaze, and finally, he nodded solemnly: "Alright."
The confession by the fireplace finally brought Lin Yu’an’s months-long tension a moment of peace.
He knew he possessed the most unique and strongest support in the world.
The next morning, while Bo took Lin Yu’an to inspect the modified F-150 and discuss the upcoming firewood supply plan, Aliya picked up the satellite phone and personally dialed Emily’s number.
"Hi Emily, it’s me, Aliya." Her voice remained gentle, yet carried an undeniable aura of the mistress of the house.
"The apple pie you brought to the party yesterday was very delicious; Lin and Bo both liked it. I’ve baked some blueberry muffins today with our Montana specialty, and I wonder if I have the honor to invite you over for an afternoon tea?"
On the other end of the phone, Emily’s heart nearly skipped a beat when she received the call.
Her mind flashed with countless possibilities—showdown? warning?
She almost instinctively wanted to find an excuse to refuse, but Aliya’s polite yet slightly forceful tone made her realize that this afternoon tea was unavoidable.
Emily composed herself, thinking she’s older than her, how could she be controlled by a young girl!
"Of course, Aliya, my pleasure." Emily finally agreed.
——
(Thank you to all my good brothers for sending me the three 6000 monthly tickets.)
