2157年9月9日,早上七點半,商業中心B區,咆哮飯店685Please respect copyright.PENANAidFGGfNSzn
685Please respect copyright.PENANAOBgrBcfFts
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尼可拉斯腦子一片空白。685Please respect copyright.PENANAXZC5Tem6T7
685Please respect copyright.PENANAvwsaBHirwZ
葛蕾絲怎麼找到他的?685Please respect copyright.PENANA1nWfhzO7IR
685Please respect copyright.PENANAaHv1AGP6MX
685Please respect copyright.PENANAT9ujLY54Xn
他冷靜想……戒指,沒錯,尼可拉斯看著左手的神與畜戒指。這個東西內建定位系統,他竟然忘記這麼重要的……但他明明打過電話,葛蕾絲為什麼還要跑來?難不成……派翠克被發現了?685Please respect copyright.PENANAqUfYyzFxMG
685Please respect copyright.PENANAqWPr7gyZ1E
不,尼可拉斯強迫自己冷靜。葛蕾絲只是來確認自己的行蹤……媽媽最愛操心了,不是嗎?別想太多。尼可拉斯重整呼吸,變回平常的厭世表情,打開門。685Please respect copyright.PENANAiWLzpjTi9t
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「寶貝早安!」685Please respect copyright.PENANAflGxXTMWWL
685Please respect copyright.PENANAetotrphlH9
葛蕾絲和平常一樣有精神。尼可拉斯裝出不耐煩的表情,「我說我需要休息。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAGw5KZ8NTbf
685Please respect copyright.PENANAMZuYCqFvsN
「哎,你出去得太突然,媽媽很擔心嘛!」685Please respect copyright.PENANAPpOBecMb2U
685Please respect copyright.PENANA37Xj5GUxBg
葛蕾絲不請自入。尼可拉斯手心冒汗,祈禱派翠克不要突然出來,否則一切完蛋。685Please respect copyright.PENANAXKWsL7BiuU
685Please respect copyright.PENANAIdhjdMEoMp
「看到定位時,我嚇了一跳,你哪來的錢住咆哮飯店?」葛蕾絲環視一圈,玩著客廳的擺飾。685Please respect copyright.PENANA0ISR9HZta4
685Please respect copyright.PENANAStAMrF2vuI
「原本是希波克拉底的醫生在住,我把他弄暈了。」尼可拉斯一半實話,「達米安.帕潘德里歐。媽對這名字有印象嗎?」685Please respect copyright.PENANATS5b29ahQI
685Please respect copyright.PENANA8WkrVlnNyz
「當然,他以前常來請教你爸。」葛蕾絲想起來,「寶貝,你和你爸發生什麼事?吵架了嗎?」685Please respect copyright.PENANAcVUUEfR9Y1
685Please respect copyright.PENANAebFdeJNCIr
尼可拉斯覺得很煩,最近話題老是扯到爸爸,「對。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAU6sZGR1pUJ
685Please respect copyright.PENANAfmpKpQImHF
「為什麼?」葛蕾絲走到面前,抬頭看他。685Please respect copyright.PENANADBltwsPhNM
685Please respect copyright.PENANALuzvabRM7D
「妳死了,他一滴眼淚都沒掉。」685Please respect copyright.PENANA2kZrFn9Ena
685Please respect copyright.PENANAZX7zxLgDyb
葛蕾絲不意外,這讓尼可拉斯更生氣。685Please respect copyright.PENANAwg1f79FjSM
685Please respect copyright.PENANAmy8FNE2Lfm
「媽,我知道妳很愛他。」尼可拉斯直接說:「但我覺得他不是。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAwiKRYjIJiE
685Please respect copyright.PENANAty0GJEZ8O7
「尼可,別誤會你爸,他只是在你看不到的地方掉淚。」葛蕾絲露出複雜的笑容,「而且,他知道我會回來。」685Please respect copyright.PENANA5pBA8JSICU
685Please respect copyright.PENANAKatRQAKxHk
尼可拉斯不懂葛蕾絲的意思、正要追問,葛蕾絲卻走向房門,尼可拉斯擋到她面前,「不要過去!」685Please respect copyright.PENANAYmx5BIfmVC
685Please respect copyright.PENANAd9A6oftRaa
葛蕾絲挑眉,尼可拉斯的反應讓她懷疑,「為什麼?」685Please respect copyright.PENANAhWQueh01NG
685Please respect copyright.PENANADryrGEuJuy
「因為……」685Please respect copyright.PENANApQ8TMDaAt4
685Please respect copyright.PENANATKizsPkxuu
尼可拉斯想不到該撒什麼謊。身為里奧的妹妹,葛蕾絲見過的場面不比哥哥少,在某些方面的直覺也很準。她直覺尼可拉斯有事瞞著自己,臉上的笑容瞬間消失。685Please respect copyright.PENANAGXGsdMLaMN
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「……。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAbNuLXY2mX9
685Please respect copyright.PENANAnce6pf2JIo
葛蕾絲的臉好像矇上一層陰影。她伸手要抓門把,尼可拉斯提前抓住她的手腕,這個舉動觸怒了葛蕾絲。685Please respect copyright.PENANASgp1LGc5tC
685Please respect copyright.PENANA4OL7GqrVK7
「寶貝。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAgeXSpq8fEx
685Please respect copyright.PENANA36SqXbxXVK
葛蕾絲沒有轉頭,只有眼珠轉到尼可拉斯的方向,問:「裡面有什麼?」685Please respect copyright.PENANAsrPkx6azPM
685Please respect copyright.PENANAF3DMmg0J8O
「……。」685Please respect copyright.PENANA05qJzCS5EH
685Please respect copyright.PENANAIrkImMA3FP
「不能給我看的東西?」葛蕾絲又叫一次:「寶貝?」685Please respect copyright.PENANAJFSI0c2mZ3
685Please respect copyright.PENANAwafVOs2V5J
尼可拉斯的心臟快爆了。他什麼也沒想,隨便亂說:「沒有一個兒子希望一夜情後的房間,被媽媽看到。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAyHECyxspvw
685Please respect copyright.PENANATsuZaTyG8P
這是尼可拉斯臨時想到的謊,沒想到非常有用,葛蕾絲恐怖的表情瞬間消失。685Please respect copyright.PENANAMTTD4rmyxe
685Please respect copyright.PENANA2mWoBxXUx7
「噢。」葛蕾絲恍然大悟,「裡面……很亂嗎?」685Please respect copyright.PENANAwFJHpTCwZ3
685Please respect copyright.PENANAt3tvuaITWJ
「對,我還沒整理。」明明不是真的,尼可拉斯卻尷尬得要死,想找面牆撞死自己。685Please respect copyright.PENANAtC51pkJFWL
685Please respect copyright.PENANAjYfrLJ2sw4
葛蕾絲瞄向房門,「對方還在裡面?」685Please respect copyright.PENANAUksyHNGHQ9
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尼可拉斯點頭。685Please respect copyright.PENANAZFmrdqmlO6
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「啊哈……啊哈哈哈!抱歉抱歉!」685Please respect copyright.PENANAoCWmsp7IBQ
685Please respect copyright.PENANAEeRniEsYvV
葛蕾絲立刻把手收回,退開三公尺。685Please respect copyright.PENANAuRck8lUpIw
685Please respect copyright.PENANAqWGNlOk9E3
「我沒想到是這種情況……也對,我老停留在死掉前的記憶、以為你還是小孩,你早在我不知道的時候長大了,哈哈哈。」685Please respect copyright.PENANALhKwY1Gh3I
685Please respect copyright.PENANA4NuibARe1B
雖然在笑,葛蕾絲卻有點心酸,覺得自己錯過尼可拉斯好多,加上她的丈夫不會照顧人,尼可拉斯從被迫獨立到習慣孤獨,過程流過許多眼淚,沒有一個母親希望孩子這樣長大。大家說十七歲的尼可拉斯成熟,葛蕾絲不覺得是稱讚,反而像在責備她為人母親、十分失職。685Please respect copyright.PENANAFPLsQHSRqz
685Please respect copyright.PENANA6D3HlHjJ6B
「他什麼時候醒來?」葛蕾絲收起心情,用平常的口氣問尼可拉斯。685Please respect copyright.PENANASURnal5Fru
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「八點。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAlY7YFG1SgA
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已經五十五分了,葛蕾絲決定閃人,畢竟她的外表實在不像媽媽,怕引起不必要的誤會。685Please respect copyright.PENANAqnVG8Hp2N2
685Please respect copyright.PENANAy7lCSjqOXU
「對了,」葛蕾絲想到什麼,邊穿鞋邊問:「他是男生嗎?」685Please respect copyright.PENANA9PGzP5AnON
685Please respect copyright.PENANA7gdNoGGH6y
尼可拉斯挑眉,簡直尷尬癌末期,「不然呢?」685Please respect copyright.PENANAhkODmSl7yT
685Please respect copyright.PENANAkmrfttOXDT
「確認一下嘛,嘿嘿。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAZlgpy3aDDQ
685Please respect copyright.PENANAEVWCxs9uvo
穿完鞋,叮嚀「飯要好好吃」之類的話後,葛蕾絲便離開。尼可拉斯聽腳步聲、巡視走廊三圈,確定葛蕾絲不在後才放下心,整個人癱軟在沙發上。685Please respect copyright.PENANAb19MyDBESx
685Please respect copyright.PENANA3rHBr57kYC
太可怕了。尼可拉斯心想。他第一次看到媽媽露出那種表情。要是讓葛蕾絲看到派翠克,她會做出什麼事?直接殺了他嗎?685Please respect copyright.PENANA8wi0L8Midu
685Please respect copyright.PENANAc1IvWZ9k7P
尼可拉斯以為葛蕾絲很溫柔,直到剛剛。人們容易被她開朗的個性迷惑,卻忘記她是里奧的妹妹、流著懷特的血脈。里奧為了高宇維不擇手段,葛蕾絲何嘗不是如此?685Please respect copyright.PENANAnwPHcRZeBy
685Please respect copyright.PENANAitIKZGfqzR
葛蕾絲復活,和尼可拉斯的關係混雜了神與畜、高宇維、艾莉絲體系,母子倆的身分已不如從前單純。儘管他不願意,尼可拉斯得重新評估媽媽與自己的立場,之後要小心行事。685Please respect copyright.PENANAUIGutOUhuT
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「尼可。」685Please respect copyright.PENANA5YuZ0q4ykG
685Please respect copyright.PENANAZmHlFBNCpN
思考到一半,派翠克突然從房間走出來。他穿著一件開襟的寬鬆襯衫,頭髮沒綁,任憑那一綹一綹藍色披散在胸前,畫面好看到尼可拉斯以為是夢。685Please respect copyright.PENANAvvSAHFyZiA
685Please respect copyright.PENANAH5FqqbPuQ2
「快去換衣服。」尼可拉斯假裝什麼也沒發生,一本正經說:「差不多要出發了。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAJ56gCbtBPi
685Please respect copyright.PENANALDKJ3pOhwO
派翠克站在原地。尼可拉斯正要重複剛才的話,派翠克就說:「我全部看到了。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAk8sHoy2fsc
685Please respect copyright.PENANAwBolcSpuPj
「……!」685Please respect copyright.PENANA0KFxMMKTgR
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他說看,不是聽。685Please respect copyright.PENANA9EM3ddIBcu
685Please respect copyright.PENANA6KF38Vk6bT
「以免奇怪的人闖進來,我在客廳裝了監視器。」派翠克亮出手機,螢幕顯示監視鏡頭,「剛才那是里奧.懷特的妹妹,是嗎?」685Please respect copyright.PENANAvxsQUUzcqV
685Please respect copyright.PENANApM5nKEDVg4
尼可拉斯正要解釋,派翠克卻打斷他,說:685Please respect copyright.PENANArkIYPCudl3
685Please respect copyright.PENANAbKJma2o4UM
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「我想,你不只是希波克拉底的醫生,也是神與畜吧?」685Please respect copyright.PENANAy4kvGKRY5b
685Please respect copyright.PENANA0pHVF0VokP
「畢竟你是葛蕾絲.懷特與凱薩.克里斯托多羅普洛斯(Caesar Christodoulopoulos)的兒子。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAkj7ezZZg19
685Please respect copyright.PENANAw2kKzHbgLs
685Please respect copyright.PENANAfVZBxRkp4m
「……!?」685Please respect copyright.PENANAZWWF2u5YJc
685Please respect copyright.PENANAluk1ywyZ2m
為什麼派翠克知道父親的名字?尼可拉斯不明白,最壞的情形正在發生,派翠克發現他是神與畜了。685Please respect copyright.PENANAemNFZUvyP6
685Please respect copyright.PENANAV5Eefs0ge6
「所以,」尼可拉斯沒在怕,直接問:「你要殺我,用你的毒?」685Please respect copyright.PENANAANZ8dMyrie
685Please respect copyright.PENANActLANtuGgK
派翠克搖頭,「你是神與畜,卻沒有讓葛蕾絲.懷特開門,證明你是站在我這邊的。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAIzi5vkLrnZ
685Please respect copyright.PENANAa96PxmMhW9
派翠克的心情很平靜,確實,尼可拉斯也沒感覺到敵意。685Please respect copyright.PENANAlCTDCZU3lS
685Please respect copyright.PENANAoXmJrNTed1
「剛才的對話讓我確定,高宇維什麼都沒告訴你。」派翠克說:「這出乎我預料,沒想到高宇維連自己人都不相信。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAReyVSq6XLR
685Please respect copyright.PENANApoFrsHB29k
這話戳中尼可拉斯內心。對於高宇維、神與畜、自己的天賦,他腦中有太多疑問,派翠克又能替他解答,尼可拉斯索性問了:「你聽過『共鳴』嗎?」685Please respect copyright.PENANAVFbpF50WYH
685Please respect copyright.PENANAMfjyVSG3Tl
派翠克點頭。尼可拉斯直言:「我向來不主動親近人,也不把外人的事當自己的事,但我的潛意識非常相信你,也非常想保護你,你應該是我的共鳴對象──儘管這一切十分荒謬。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAwW6JrDuKQc
685Please respect copyright.PENANAdD5lnzCKu5
尼可拉斯的理性與感覺在打架。他不相信科學無法解釋的事物,卻無法否認它們造成的影響。他反問派翠克:「你也是這樣嗎?」685Please respect copyright.PENANA6TPRtpg1B9
685Please respect copyright.PENANAv6WTsmd6Jt
「嗯。」派翠克表示:「我也相信你。」685Please respect copyright.PENANA87c8pLLp6H
685Please respect copyright.PENANA9oi1add5im
「那,我們之間就不需要隱瞞。」尼可拉斯說:「你已經知道我的真實身分,也依然願意相信我;同理,你被宇維少爺追殺的原因,我也希望你坦白,這樣我才能說服自己,去相信這個『共鳴』。」685Please respect copyright.PENANA2qBZiAKZW9
685Please respect copyright.PENANAmbMJdH8gTd
尼可拉斯第一次這麼心平氣和地說話,他對派翠克的耐心,真是前所未見。685Please respect copyright.PENANAv4PDuQQhUS
685Please respect copyright.PENANA3qRTfgS3Mh
派翠克被尼可拉斯說服了。他的腦袋沒有尼可拉斯複雜,既定的事實已經擺在面前、他就是相信尼可拉斯,不會去思考為什麼,相信就是相信。685Please respect copyright.PENANAqW5N3E9SA8
685Please respect copyright.PENANACmq8506zOg
「接著。」685Please respect copyright.PENANASQO0mt4bnP
685Please respect copyright.PENANA5jwpBSc7gp
下一秒,派翠克把手機扔給尼可拉斯。手機顯示一張照片,一名黑色長髮、戴著眼鏡、長著雀斑、臉頰圓潤的女人對著鏡頭靦腆地笑,看起來乖乖的,沒什麼令人印象深刻的地方,很不起眼。685Please respect copyright.PENANAe8Dwhn4ZeB
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「上面的人是我。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAoFrDgQGpzv
685Please respect copyright.PENANAjUfTb01F0x
685Please respect copyright.PENANA5Kj4uXGlwJ
派翠克的話讓尼可拉斯嚇一大跳。685Please respect copyright.PENANAp3CPT7fhvX
685Please respect copyright.PENANAn8jbP1TiTr
「我以前的名字是派翠西亞(Patricia)。」派翠克坐到尼可拉斯旁邊,「是雷蒙一家,最不起眼的孩子。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAEnzPzSNpo1
685Please respect copyright.PENANAHOUOtJyWsR
尼可拉斯無法相信,現在的派翠克和以前的派翠西亞,兩者的差異無法用變性、整容之類的手術形容,根本是「變了個人」。685Please respect copyright.PENANAhUfMUdDTom
685Please respect copyright.PENANAIbhGbOHWo3
為什麼會這樣?尼可拉斯看著派翠克那張與紅鶴一模一樣的臉,回想之前的對話,「莫非……!」685Please respect copyright.PENANA4IJDOBXmaf
685Please respect copyright.PENANA08XfgvQMww
「沒錯,就是白絃姊。」685Please respect copyright.PENANALQVQ4biC3m
685Please respect copyright.PENANARFNFbAhBAY
派翠克摸著自己的臉。雖然帶來不少麻煩,但派翠克很喜歡這張臉,他對自己現在的外表很滿意。685Please respect copyright.PENANAWhUxJvZYlo
685Please respect copyright.PENANAzkzRRZ4PfA
「我跟她說我要變成男孩──一個非常漂亮的男孩。白絃姊對『漂亮男孩』的印象,似乎只有她弟弟紅鶴,就把我變成這個樣子了。」685Please respect copyright.PENANATbwnKVmdnP
685Please respect copyright.PENANAGlXpVFl40l
派翠克微笑,「另外,我以前是普通人,『蜜液』──公爵夫人的水果塔,也是白絃姊給我的。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAq7zKeP57wq
685Please respect copyright.PENANAjBIHZqaheS
尼可拉斯愣住。派翠克剛剛的動詞是什麼?「給」?685Please respect copyright.PENANAOdsStBtjGD
685Please respect copyright.PENANAYTt8cfamVk
「我不明白。」尼可拉斯扶著額頭,「獅鷲的水果塔是改變人的長相?你的水果塔又是她給的,什麼意思?」685Please respect copyright.PENANAFHKN5gqgXJ
685Please respect copyright.PENANAtt95eYWd5r
「字面上的意思。」派翠克說:「她同時幫我改頭換面,又給了我水果塔。」685Please respect copyright.PENANApCyUcybPHF
685Please respect copyright.PENANAbUENeZM6yg
「這不可能!」尼可拉斯大喊:「如果真是那樣,獅鷲簡直是神啊!」685Please respect copyright.PENANAvQV6xouLuP
685Please respect copyright.PENANAikmB14fTwY
「沒錯,她是神。」685Please respect copyright.PENANAbygKlGm4P3
685Please respect copyright.PENANAI72WVbR3vY
尼可拉斯傻住。派翠克絕對沒有說謊,因為他親眼看過。685Please respect copyright.PENANAhS69XppyBB
685Please respect copyright.PENANAnKSlvowYPe
685Please respect copyright.PENANAoDYF0NNsOP
「『白絃是艾莉絲體系的神。』」685Please respect copyright.PENANARvDYWVIWfa
685Please respect copyright.PENANAreDPEoNAnf
「這就是,高宇維在隱瞞的真相。」