American Hunting: Starting with Solitary Life in the Wilderness

Chapter 260 I told you two not to eat anymore!

“Yes, relief,” Emily said with certainty.

"Is our current structure—one legal wife and one unofficial partner—truly perfect?"

"No, legally it's unfair to me. And emotionally, isn't it also a continuous burden for you?"

"Scooter's plan, while formally changing our ownership from simultaneous to sequential, also made me, under American law, a wife."

“At the same time,” she looked at Lin Yu’an, “it also gave you the opportunity to fulfill a complete and legally binding marriage commitment to both of us.”

“It formally separated us, but on a commitment level, it brought the three of us to an unprecedented level of equality.”

Emily came over, sat on the edge of the bed, and took Arya's hand.

She looked into Arya's eyes and said sincerely, "Darling, I don't care about that piece of paper. Our happiness doesn't need to be defined by a legal document."

"But our future needs the smartest and safest structure to protect it, and even to protect our children from criticism."

"Avoid criticism..."

Those last four words, like a bolt of lightning, instantly pierced the softest and most painful part of Arya's heart!
Her body trembled almost imperceptibly.

A childhood memory that she had deliberately kept hidden for a long time and was unwilling to touch again surged into her heart like a tidal wave.

She recalled that when she was in elementary school, she was ostracized by her classmates because her family belonged to a branch of the Mormon Church that had long since deviated from the mainstream and adhered to old doctrines.

Those children, in the most innocent yet cruel language, whispered behind her back, calling her the child of the devil, a soulless bastard.

Although her four older brothers would always stand up for her and beat up classmates who criticized her, it still couldn't heal the scars of her childhood.

She remembered that in high school, in order to no longer be treated as an outsider, she hid her family's secrets.

She learned to lie, to pretend, and to silently lower her head in all discussions about family.

That loneliness and fear, like a poisonous thorn, took deep root in her youth.

Even in college, when she went to the University of Texas, she never fully told anyone about that shadowy past except for her boyfriend, Lin Yu-an.

She didn't want... she absolutely didn't want her Olivia, her Ethan, to experience even a fraction of the pain in the future!
Arya couldn't imagine what her children would say about their family when they grew up and started school.

She couldn't bear the thought that her children would be labeled as part of a cult or freaks, ostracized, and bullied because of their family's unique structure!
Scout's public relations strategy, however, was like a ray of light piercing the darkness, illuminating a viable path for her that could minimize all these future risks.

"A great man, who took care of both his ex-wife and his current wife who bore him children..."

This story may be considered gossip, or it may spark controversy.

But it will never be labeled a cult! It can provide children with the most respectable and solid explanation when facing the curiosity and questioning of the outside world.

Lin Yu watched all of this quietly.

From the sudden change in Arya's eyes, he understood the turmoil in her heart and instantly realized the unspoken pain she had endured in the past.

An overwhelming feeling of pity and love welled up in his heart, and he could only hold her even tighter.

Arya remained silent for a long time.

Finally, she slowly raised her head. All the complexity and hesitation in her pale green eyes had disappeared, replaced by a firmness.

She looked at Lin Yu'an, then at Emily, and nodded solemnly.

“I agree,” she said softly, her voice trembling with a hint of relief. “For Olivia and Ethan, I agree.”

“And,” Arya forced a smile through her tears, “I require that I be the bridesmaid at my next wedding.”

Emily smiled and grasped Arya's hand tightly in return: "Of course, my chief bridesmaid."

After saying that, Emily leaned down and kissed Arya hard on the cheek. The force of the kiss seemed to say, "Don't be afraid, I'm here with you."

Emily's kiss instantly dispelled the gloom in Arya's heart. She smiled through her tears and gently punched Emily's shoulder.

Then, Emily sat up straight, her expression becoming extremely solemn. She looked at Arya and then at Lin Yu'an, and said something that caught both of them completely off guard.

“Darling, once my marriage with Lin has lasted long enough, like a few months or a year, enough to prove our commitment to the outside world, we will also get a divorce.”

"Then, Lin will marry you again and make you his legal wife again."

“Emily!” Arya said, somewhat surprised, “But…”

“There are no buts, darling,” Emily interrupted her with a smile that carried a sense of ease and sincerity.

“That place was meant for you. You were the first to be with him through the darkest years.” Her gaze shifted to Lin Yu’an, her eyes softening and deepening: “I have always been a staunch non-marriage advocate. That piece of paper has never meant anything to me.”

"Although an accident dramatically tied the fates of the three of us together, I really love my life now and I'm very grateful to you for inviting me into this family."

“So,” she said, taking Arya’s hand again, “I’m just temporarily holding onto the title of Lin Yu’an’s wife for you.”

“I use it to announce my existence to the world and to protect our children. But in the end, it must be returned to its rightful owner.”

Looking at her sincere and carefree best friend, Arya suddenly burst out laughing, her smile as bright as a rainbow after the rain.

She wiped away her tears and, in a tone that was half-joking and half-serious, proposed a solution that was both shocking and ultimately aimed at equality:

"Then... how about we take turns?"

“Yes, we can go to the city hall to renew our certificates every few years. When we’re in a good mood, you’re Mrs. Lin; a few years later, when we’re in a good mood again, it’s my turn.”

"We treat it as a game that belongs only to the three of us, the most unique game in the world."

Arya was taken aback for a moment when she made the suggestion, then laughed even harder.

Emily was taken aback at first, then burst into a clear laugh.

"Great idea!" she exclaimed, clapping her hands in delight. "I love this game! We could even have a family election! Let's see who has contributed the most to the family in those years!"

Looking at the two women in front of him, laughing so hard they were doubled over, as if they were discussing an election plan, Lin Yu-an was initially immersed in a great deal of emotion.

But soon, he was also infected by this joyful and absurd atmosphere, and eventually couldn't help but laugh out loud!

“Haha…hahahahahahaha!”

A massive crisis that could have caused upheaval in any family vanished completely amidst the laughter and merriment of these three madmen.

Lin Yu'an smiled and smiled, looking at the two women in front of him whom he was willing to protect with his life, his heart filled with endless gratitude and love.

"Wow--!"

At this solemn yet heartwarming moment, almost simultaneously, loud and penetrating cries came from the two cribs side by side next to each other.

The three people, who were just immersed in the complex emotions of the adult world, were instantly pulled back to reality, like soldiers who had heard the highest command.

"Oh, our little baby is awake." Aria immediately released Lin Yu'an and skillfully rolled out of bed.

She quickly walked to Olivia's bedside, gently picked up the little one, and softly coaxed, "Don't cry, don't cry, Mommy's here. Are you hungry?"

“Ethan’s awake too. These two little guys always seem to have a telepathic connection.” Emily followed closely behind, picking up Ethan, who was also waving his little fists.

Aria looked at Lin Yu'an and Emily with a hint of resentment and said, "I told you two not to eat anymore, and now there's none left! Go and make some milk powder, two servings, 180 ml each, 45 degrees."

Emily hugged Ethan, pretending not to hear, but a smile was playing on her lips. Lin Yu'an smiled awkwardly and quickly stood up: "Yes, ma'am!"

The three people who were just discussing multi-million dollar contracts, Hollywood public relations strategies, and unconventional marriage models have now completely taken on the roles of parents.

In the room, only the baby's cries, the mother's gentle humming, and Lin Yu'an's hurried footsteps as she ran to the living room to make formula remained.

A few minutes later, Lin Yu'an returned with two warmed baby bottles. In the bedroom, Alia and Emily each held a child and sat side by side on the edge of the bed.

Their postures were almost identical, cradling the children's heads in the crook of their arms and gazing at them tenderly.

Lin Yu'an handed the bottles to them one by one. Aria took one, skillfully tested the temperature, and then put it into Olivia's little mouth. Emily also fed Ethan in the same way.

The two little ones immediately stopped crying and began to suckle contentedly.

The bedroom fell silent instantly, leaving only this subtle and soothing sound.

Lin Yu'an didn't speak, but leaned against the door frame, quietly watching the scene before him.

Outside the window is a frigid wilderness of minus forty degrees Celsius, while inside is a warm light.

The two women he loved deeply were nursing their child. Their profiles appeared incredibly soft under the lamplight, their faces devoid of the seriousness they had displayed during their earlier discussion, replaced only by the pure tenderness and serenity of motherhood.

At this moment, CAA, Arc'teryx, millions of dollars, the rules of Hollywood... everything becomes distant and unreal.

This scene before him was the entire meaning of his life. It was the starting point of all his struggles, and also the end point he would forever protect!

Emily seemed to sense his gaze, looked up, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, winked at him playfully, and mouthed silently, "What are you looking at? Come over and help me burp."

Lin Yu'an smiled. Now, it was time for her father.

(End of this chapter)