The Price of Agelessness

In my family, there is a secret passed down through generationswomen, upon turning sixty, can begin to grow young again.

To complete the transformation, a balance must be restored through intimate union with eighty-one men.

Until recently, a charming doctor came into my life, and for the first time, I thought of giving up eternal youth.

But then a chilling discovery shattered that dream: he started showing a troubling interest in my five-year-old sister.

Hell never knowthat little girl is actually my great-great-grandmother.

My name is Annabelle.

In our family, when the women turn sixty, they begin to reverse age until they become infants again. It's a cycle, an endless loop of eternal youth. But there's a catch: each woman must sleep with eighty-one young, handsome men.

I don't know the science behind it. All I know is that my great-great-grandmother, Eleanor, has told me this story since I was a little girl. Eleanor is 125 years old now, but she looks like a five-year-old child.

I just turned twenty and haven't even finished college, but Eleanor is constantly urging me to start finding men while I'm young.

"A woman sleeping with a man is as natural as breathing," she'd say. "Once you're past fifty, your hormones drop, and it won't be as much fun."

I know she means well. But I just don't want that life.

Because I've recently fallen in love.

The man I love is Dr. George Miller. He's a brilliant young surgeon.

Three months ago, late one night, my roommate had an emergency appendectomy. I accompanied her to the ER. George was on duty that night. When he walked out of the operating room afterward and removed his mask, I was stunned.

Sharp brows, sparkling eyes, a strong nose, a defined jawline. And he even had two dimples. In that moment, I could hear my heart pounding like a drum.

He looked a little tired after an all-nighter, but his eyes held a warmth like winter snow melting. "The surgery was a success. The patient will be out soon."

Watching him smile, I couldn't help but ask, "Dr. Miller, can I have your contact information?"

George politely declined.

But that didn't stop me from pursuing him. After all, I'd already found out he was single. So, under the guise of delivering thank-you cards, pens, and homemade lunchboxes, I was at his office every other day.

Soon, his colleagues all knew a patient's family member was chasing him. One time, when I went to deliver coffee, I overheard them discussing me.

Someone asked, "Dr. Miller, Ms. Grant is so beautiful and clearly devoted to you. Why don't you accept her?"

I wanted to know too why George remained unmoved. After all, I have fair skin, striking features, and a stunning figure. Men have been pursuing me since I was a child.

After a few seconds, I heard George say, "My focus is entirely on my work right now. I don't want to string her along."

After hearing that, my affection for him deepened even further. So that's it. He was even better than I imagined.

Eleanor scoffed at my praise. "Never trust a man, especially a handsome one. If he genuinely cared, why wouldn't he just tell you to give up directly? Don't argue with me. I've slept with more men than you've crossed bridges."

Eleanor's words made me a little uncomfortable, but I couldn't really talk back to my elder. I had planned to introduce her to George sometime, but I didn't expect them to meet the very next day.

That afternoon, Eleanor was sunbathing in the park. A little boy, finding her adorable, wanted to play with her. During their playful tussle, both got a little bruised and were brought to the hospital. George happened to be the doctor on call.

Our family has plenty of money. After understanding what happened, I immediately paid a substantial sum for the boy's medical expenses. As I was about to take Eleanor home, George suddenly approached.

He smiled, asking, "You have a little sister? You never mentioned her." He added, "I'm just getting off work. It's on my way; I can drive you both home."

I wondered if it was my imagination, but George seemed different today. As far as I knew, he lived near the hospital, so it wasn't on his way at all. And compared to his previous polite distance, he was noticeably warmer today. Could he finally be starting to like me?

After pondering it all evening, just before bed, I gathered my courage and sent him a message:

"Dr. Miller, would you consider being my boyfriend?"

A few seconds later, he replied. "Yes."

And just like that, George and I started dating.

Even though Eleanor, with all her experience, said she couldn't quite read George and felt he was a bit inscrutable, I thought she was overthinking. To me, George was the perfect boyfriend. Despite his busy work schedule, he dedicated all his free time to our dates.

I tried to seduce him several times, and he clearly reacted, but he always stopped at the last moment. He said, "We've just started dating. It's too soon. I want to be responsible for you." The more he resisted, the more eager I became.

Soon, Valentine's Day, February 14th, arrived. George and I had planned to go to a secluded hot spring resort. For the occasion, I had bought several sexy swimsuits, ready for a romantic night with him.

At ten in the morning, George was promptly downstairs. As soon as we met, he handed me a large bouquet of roses and a designer gift box. "Happy Valentine's Day, Annabelle."

"Thank you." I took them, about to get into the car, when George looked behind me. "Where's your sister? Why didn't you bring her?"

Our family is large and matriarchal. My grandmother is 93, but she looks to be in her early thirties. My mother is 50, and she still needs to sleep with a few more men to complete her cycle. To experience different men, they began a global quest for romance two years ago. I had told George they were traveling abroad, so he knew it was just Eleanor and me at home.

I said, "Eleanor's at home. Don't worry, she can take care of herself." George frowned. Doctors are truly kind and cautious. He said seriously, "Let's take her with us. She's only five; it's not safe for her to be alone."

Despite Eleanor not wanting to be a third wheel, George insisted, and so the three of us headed out. We went to a newly opened private hot spring resort. It was a bit pricey, but the ambiance was lovely. I'd heard that young doctors like George didn't earn much, so I was surprised he seemed so well-off.

George booked a family suite with two rooms, each with its own private pool. It worked out perfectly: George and I shared one pool, and Eleanor had her own.

While soaking, George's V-line shimmered in the water, constantly tempting me and leaving me parched. I wanted to experience the fun of the water, but George said it wasn't hygienic.

We finally endured until after dinner, and Eleanor went to bed early. I used the excuse of taking a shower to change into the sexy nightgown I had prepared. Black lace with minimal fabric highlighted my skin, making it seem as white as snow, and outlined my curves in a way that was utterly captivating. Eleanor had said no man could resist this outfit.

Sure enough, George couldn't either.

We tumbled onto the bed. After passionate kisses, his breathing grew more rapid, and finally, he couldn't hold back any longer.

Everything flowed naturally. It was utterly blissful. No wonder Eleanor kept urging me to find a man. At the peak of my happiness, I couldn't help but kiss George's lips. Amidst our intertwined mouths, I whispered my love. "George, I love you, forever."

In that second, I decided to give up eternal life. I didn't want to sleep with any other man. In this life, I only wanted George. We made love again and again. In the early hours, exhausted, I fell into a deep sleep in his arms.

I don't know how long I slept, but I was woken by the heat of the air conditioning. I turned on the light, wanting a drink, but found no one beside me. Strange, where had George gone in the middle of the night?

Just then, I noticed Eleanor's room light was on. I got up, quietly opened the door, and then I saw a sight I would never forget.

At two in the morning, Eleanor was sound asleep. Tiny as she was, she lay in the hotel's spacious bed, breathing evenly, her cheeks flushed. She seemed to be in a pleasant dream.

But horrifyingly, her blanket had been pulled back, and her clothes were scattered nearby. And my boyfriend, George Miller C the man I had, just hours before, decided to spend my life with C was standing at my great-great-grandmother's bedside.

He was filming with his phone and on a video call with someone.

"Name: Eleanor Grant."

"Gender: Female."

"Age: 5 years, 8 months."

"Height and weight are standard."

"Good nutrition."

"No prior medical history."

"Mr. Morris, what else would you like to know?"

Who was he video calling? Why did they want to see Eleanor? Amidst my confusion, an excited male voice came from the phone.

"Young George, as expected of Professor Thorne's star student, you're always reliable. This one isn't bad; she's barely acceptable. Arrange a meeting for us tomorrow. If I'm satisfied, you can name your price."

Hearing this, George slowly curved his lips. "Good, I'll make sure you're satisfied."

He hung up the phone and then took dozens more photos of Eleanor. After that, he unhurriedly restored everything to its original state. Once finished, he quietly returned to our room and lay down beside me as if nothing had happened.

My body was rigid. Immersed in profound shock, I remained awake for a long time.

The next day, February 15th, was the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, just before the Lunar New Year holiday. On the way back, traffic was terrible. George glanced at the road conditions and then discussed with me, "It'll probably take a while to get home. I have a friend who lives nearby; why don't we stop by for dinner?"

Here it comes! It seemed he was eager to take us to meet the man from last night. I glanced at Eleanor beside me, and we quickly exchanged a knowing look. "Sure, sounds good. I'm hungry anyway."

The car exited the highway and, after about fifteen minutes, soon pulled up to a luxurious villa. I recognized this area. One of my great-aunts used to live here. She told me that only business and political elites resided here, all immensely wealthy and influential.

As soon as the car stopped, before we even got out, the host came out to greet us. Mr. Morris appeared to be in his late forties or early fifties. He wore a finely tailored suit, and his hair was impeccably combed. Though not as young and handsome as George, he possessed a distinct charm of a mature man.

"Welcome, Dr. Miller, your presence truly graces my humble abode." As he spoke to George, his gaze was fixed on Eleanor. "This must be Eleanor, right? Come, quickly, Uncle will take you inside. Don't catch a cold." He enthusiastically took Eleanor's hand and led her inside.

George gently cleared his throat and quietly explained to me, "Don't mind him. My friend is older and particularly fond of children."

I nodded, chuckling, "I understand. Our Eleanor, she's a charmer wherever she goes."

The dinner was very pleasant. Outside, the cold wind howled, and the weather was freezing. Inside the living room, the fireplace burned brightly, making it warm like spring. Mr. Morris's chef was truly excellent; Eleanor and I ate until we were stuffed. After the meal, the servants brought out delicious desserts.

Eleanor and I sat on the sofa, eating, and soon felt our eyelids growing heavy. Before long, both of us were sound asleep. Beside us, Mr. Morris and George, who had been drinking tea and chatting, seemed to pause simultaneously. They both put down their glasses and walked over. Their gazes fell on Eleanor, scrutinizing her from a superior position, like gods looking at a pitiful ant.

"Well? Are you satisfied?"

"Beautiful, intelligent, vibrantsimply perfect!"

"She's the one! How soon can we arrange it? I can't wait."

"Let's wait until after the New Year. Things are a bit tight right now."

Perhaps fearing we might suddenly wake, George and Mr. Morris kept their conversation brief. I lay with my eyes closed, a suspicion forming in my mind, but I needed to confirm it.

It was almost eleven at night when we arrived home. Before getting out of the car, I asked George, "Are you free the day after tomorrow for New Year's? Come to my place for dinner." Fearing he might refuse, I quickly added, "Oh, I also have another sister named Daisy, Eleanor's twin. She and my mom will be back the day after tomorrow. I want them to meet you."

Hearing this, George paused. As expected of a medical genius, he quickly asked suspiciously, "Why so sudden? You never mentioned her before."

It was a complete fabrication, so of course, he'd never heard of it. Eleanor had no twin sister. But what did it matter? Our family had plenty of reverse-aging little ancestors; I could just grab one to play the part.

So, I pretended to cling to his arm and pleaded playfully, "Oh, we just never got around to talking about it before. After last night, I've decided you're the one for me for life. I don't care, you absolutely have to come, otherwise, if my mom doesn't agree, we can't be together."

"Alright," George chuckled, lovingly stroking my head. "As you wish. You're impossible."

Seeing him agree, I happily kissed him. "Oh, and invite Mr. Morris too. It'd be nice to thank him for treating Eleanor and me to dinner."

"This... isn't suitable, is it?" George frowned. "He's an outsider, after all."

"What's unsuitable? It's New Year's, the more people, the merrier. Our family is the most hospitable. I promise, we'll make sure you have an unforgettable New Year."