The CEO's Seductive Doll-Chapter 153: Alternative

"I want to sleep..." Freiheit yawned, stretching his right arm up while his left carried his backpack as they went out of the ship.

"You just woke up," Evan pointed out, following behind his brother. "Eternity, I can carry my own bag."

"Won’t it hurt your back?" Eternity frowned, successfully pulling the traveler’s bag off of Evan.

He sighed heavily, crossing his now empty arms. "I’m not that frail, Eternity."

"Yes, you are," Freiheit chimed in.

"Freiheit!" Evan said indignantly. "You’re supposed to be on my side!"

His brother just shrugged as they left the port and headed to the airport taxi waiting area.

"There are taxis here..." Evan mumbled, looking around with confused eyes as they arrived at the taxi bay. "I thought this place would be... more tropical."

Eternity pouted. "My homeland isn’t as backward as you think it is."

"That’s not what I was trying to say!" Evan defended himself, glancing around at the modern amenities.

But he was outnumbered.

"That’s exactly what you’re saying," Freiheit commented as he hailed a taxi.

Eternity smiled brightly, feeling relieved that Freiheit was treating her like he used to. Just as she was about to ask him if they were finally okay, he spoke.

"The taxi is here, come on."

Just like what he said, a taxi pulled up.

It was an old taxi, with its paint fading, but it looked reliable enough to drive them to their destination. The driver, a middle-aged man with a friendly smile, helped load their bags into the trunk.

"Welcome to Manika," he greeted them with a thick accent, closing the trunk of the car with a loud thud. "Where to?"

"The Belle Hotel," Freiheit answered, slipping inside the vehicle to ride shotgun, while Evan and Eternity occupied the backseat. He then gazed at the two behind him. "This was the hotel I stayed at when I first went here."

***

Throughout their taxi ride, Evan was carefully observing their surroundings.

It wasn’t the tropical paradise that he thought Manika was.

They had tall buildings, though not as grand as that can be found in Evan’s home country, but they were still respectable looking buildings. Though occasionally, there were structures that looked like what Evan imagined Manika to have.

’But I think they did it merely for aesthetics rather than preserving their cultural architecture.’ Evan thought.

After a half hour, they arrived at their destination safe and sound.

They got out of the taxi, and Freiheit paid for the ride. They took their luggage out of the taxi and went inside the hotel.

The lobby was simple, with polished wooden floors and a chandelier that gave the hotel a sense of class, even though Evan had a feeling this wasn’t the best hotel in the area.

He was shaking his head, and turned his attention to his brother, bemused. "I’m surprised you have the money to pay for our ride."

Freiheit chuckled as he rang the bell on the counter. "I’m the son of a billionaire, Evanescence. I could buy that taxi—no, their whole taxi franchise—if I wanted to."

"Now you’re just boasting," his brother frowned.

He gave Evan a knowing glance. "I know."

Before Evan could say anything more, the receptionist arrived and welcomed them in English, although her accent was quite evident. Freiheit spoke to her about their room reservations, and she quickly handed over the keys.

The bellman appeared and took their luggage from them. Freiheit gave them a grateful nod before he addressed Eternity.

"Let’s leave our baggage to the bellman, then we’ll go to the Maestra as soon as you’re ready."

Evan knitted his eyebrows together. "Why does it seem like you’re excluding me?"

"Because we are excluding you," Freiheit confirmed in a no-nonsense tone. "The Maestra can be found in a hut in one of the mountains here. I don’t think you’re capable of hiking with us."

"I can!" Evan insisted furiously. "What’s the point of me going here if you’re just going to leave me in the hotel?"

"I can carry Evan in case his knees give up on him," Eternity offered.

"My knees won’t give up on me!" Evan argued, sounding greatly offended by Eternity’s suggestion.

Freiheit could only frown at him.

"If it isn’t Eternity that will kill you, it’s your stubbornness."

"Don’t say that," Evan glared at him. "I came here because I’m looking for an alternative. I won’t find it, and you won’t even give me the opportunity to look for it!"

"We could just ask the Maestra for you," Eternity suggested. "So you don’t need to hike with us."

Evan shook his head. "I need to find out for myself, Eternity."

"You just reminded me how stubborn you are growing up." Freiheit felt a headache building on and moaned, massaging his temples. "I thought you grew out of it, but it seems not."

"Freiheit," Evan said in a pleading voice. "Let me go with you."

Freiheit gave him a hardened look, but soon he let out a sigh of defeat.

"Fine, but I have a condition."

He raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Tell me immediately when you get tired," Freiheit said. "Once you feel unwell, Eternity will carry you until we reach the Maestra’s hut."

"But--"

"No buts," Freiheit said in a strict tone, a tone his brother rarely heard from him. "If you won’t agree with my terms, we’re leaving you here."

"Fine!" Evan said, sounding like a petulant child. "Fine, I’ll do it."

Freiheit smiled at him appreciatively before shifting his gaze to the doll.

"Eternity, you might not," He shook his head as he corrected himself. "There’s a high chance that you won’t be returning with us down the mountains. I hope you’ve come to terms with that." He paused, adding as an afterthought. "I guess I’ll do the honors of carrying Evan when that happens."

"I know," she said, almost sounding arrogant. There wasn’t a hint of fear on Eternity’s face. Instead, her eyes were gleaming with determination.

Suddenly, Evan grabbed her hand and gave it a soft squeeze. For a moment, Eternity’s determination faltered. But she gazed at his face and forced a smile.

"We’ll look for an alternative," Evan assured her. "You’ll come back with us, safe and sound."