Chapter 377
The night breeze was cool.
Sebastian Evans offered the blue rose to Sophia Sullivan.
Its petals shimmered with an ethereal blue glow under the moonlight.
"Natural blue roses don't exist in nature," he said, his voice low. "They symbolize impossible hope."
Sophia accepted the bouquet.
The moment her fingertips brushed the petals, she paused.
"Is this... natural?" She looked up at Sebastian. "Not dyed?"
The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"How was this done?"
"A recent paper in ACS Synthetic Biology," Sebastian replied calmly. "The first author is Ankanahalli Nangavva from the T University School of Pharmacy."
He began explaining the genetic transformation process in detail.
But he stumbled at a key point.
Sophia couldn't help but laugh.
"Are you reciting the paper from memory?"
The tips of Sebastian's ears turned pink.
"It's not my field. Memorizing it verbatim was a bit challenging."
Sophia smoothly continued, "Agrobacterium is injected into white rose petals. Gene transfer is completed under acetosyringone induction, expressing the gene that synthesizes the blue enzyme."
Surprise flickered in Sebastian's eyes.
"You've read this paper?"
"The clues you provided were enough to deduce the outcome."
"Impressive," he praised sincerely.
"These must be very expensive?"
"For you, it's worth it."
Sophia thanked him softly and prepared to leave.
"Sophia." Sebastian stopped her.
His gaze was fixed intently on the blue rose.
"A flower that was once impossible now exists, right here in your hands." His voice was gentle. "That is a miracle."
Sophia's fingers trembled slightly.
"If a blue rose that doesn't exist in nature can be cultivated," he said slowly, "can feelings be cultivated too?"
Sophia's heart raced.
Sebastian took a deep breath.
His eyes were tender yet resolute.
"Nothing is absolute," he said, each word deliberate. "People who once vowed to grow old together part ways. Those who don't love now might find love in the future."
"Just like you used to dislike me, but now we can interact calmly." He took a step forward. "So in the future... could we go a step further?"
Sophia averted her gaze.
Her mind was in turmoil.
What was he trying to do?
"Sophia, you understand, don't you?" Sebastian saw through her evasion.
Sophia opened her mouth to speak.
Before any words came out, the night sky suddenly lit up.
Brilliant fireworks exploded overhead.
Multicolored lights illuminated their figures.
Sparkling points of light fell like stardust.
Sophia met Sebastian's deeply affectionate eyes.
Her heartbeat spiraled out of control.
She wanted to flee.
Sebastian remembered the night he took her home.
Watching her walk away beside Alexander Laurent.
He couldn't wait any longer.
Six years had passed.
A year spent carefully maintaining a friendship.
He didn't want to wait anymore.
He had prepared for this confession for so long.
He wanted to stand rightfully by her side.
To hold her openly.
To kiss her.
He was certain he wanted her.
The fireworks ended.
The smell of gunpowder hung in the air.
Sebastian watched her intently.
"Sophia Sullivan, I lo—"
A phone ringtone cut sharply through the silence.
The atmosphere froze instantly.
Sebastian frowned and pulled out his phone.
His movements stilled when he saw "Grandma" on the screen.
She rarely called.
The last late-night call was when she had trouble breathing and collapsed.
He answered immediately.
"Sorry, I need to take this."
Sophia let out a breath of relief.
Her tense nerves relaxed.
She hoped this call would interrupt whatever was about to happen.
"Grandma, what's wrong?"
Sobs and ragged breathing came from the other end.
Sebastian's heart sank.
"What happened? Are you unwell? Is Grandpa there? Where's the caregiver?"
He was met with choked sobs.
The crying grew louder, escalating into wails.
"Sebastian... Sebastian..."
Sebastian was frantic with worry.
"Don't get upset! I'll call an ambulance right now!"
"No... it's not that..." the old woman repeated. "Found... we really found her this time... Heaven has shown mercy..."
Sebastian was confused.
"Found what?"
"Florence, let me talk." Isaac Atlante's voice came through.
The old man's voice trembled, barely containing his excitement.
Sebastian felt slightly relieved.
His grandfather's presence meant his grandmother was physically okay.
But what could cause such a loss of composure?
"Sebastian."
"Grandpa, I'm listening."
Isaac struggled to steady his emotions.
"We found your aunt! Thirty years... a full thirty years... we finally found her!"
Sebastian was stunned.
Then, overwhelming joy surged through him.
"Really? Are you sure?"
"Yes! Your grandmother and I are both certain it's her! She's in the neighboring city right now!"