Chapter 7

The once vacant, drooling boy now had clear eyes.

I froze. Julian instinctively reached out to steady me.

Where I couldn’t see them, Leo stared intently at Julian’s hand on me, his eyes filled with displeasure.

Julian reciprocated the look.

Adopted father and son, reuniting with no warmth, only overt hostility.

Finally, Leo spoke, his voice low and hoarse:

“I want to talk to my wife alone.”

He deliberately emphasized the word “wife.”

Julian frowned, his face darkening as he turned to leave.

I sat beside Leo, a rare hint of apology in my voice:

“I’m sorry about your accident, but it wasn’t my doing.”

“If you insist on blaming me, I won’t take responsibility.”

The man on the hospital bed laughed, a sorrowful sound:

“Sera, I know everything now.”

“Is there no place for me in your heart, not even a tiny bit?”

I frowned, turning my face away, my meaning painfully clear.

He clutched the bedsheet tightly, staring at me, the corners of his eyes reddening:

“You like Julian, but he’s old, fifteen years older than you!”

“What can he give you? Only I can give you everything you want!”

I frowned, surprised that Leo, who had been incapacitated for a year, was now so perceptive.

I bit my lower lip, my tone resolute:

“What’s past is past. I don’t like anyone right now.”

“Are you really that heartless?” He grabbed my hand, his voice growing firmer.

I yanked my hand away. “Yes, I am that heartless. It’s not too late for you to see it now. I was always a bad person.”

I turned to leave, but Leo grabbed me from behind, his voice trembling:

“Whether you’re good or bad, I like you. Don’t leave me again, okay?”

My heart fluttered, but I still broke free and hurried out.

Leo insisted on moving from his original room to the bed next to mine.

Even late into the night, he kept murmuring, but it was just the same old clichéd words.

“You can rely on me to declare war on both of them. Grandfather Sterling really likes me, his grandson.”

“Shut up. If you say one more word, I’m divorcing you.”

I slept through the night, but my steps were still a bit shaky as I walked.

I saw Julian smoking in the corridor, so I turned around. I’d barely taken two steps when he grabbed me.

“He’s awake. He doesn’t need your care. I’ve scheduled your divorce registration.”

I had my back to him, scoffing.

“What’s wrong, Dad? Neither of us really wants a divorce.”

“Dad, Leo said he’s going to declare war on you to get revenge for me.”

I spoke with deliberate malice, finding a strange comfort in it.

“Don’t call me that.”

Julian’s voice was displeased, barely suppressing a simmering rage.

I turned my head and saw a fleeting look of pain on his face, which I found utterly ironic.

He had used such disgusting methods to torment me, never imagining the boomerang would one day strike himself.

I glanced over Julian’s shoulder, spotting Celeste being escorted by others not far behind him, and a playful glint flickered in my eyes.

The next second, I took Julian’s hand, ignoring his startled gaze.

I leaned in, brushing a barely-there kiss on his cheek.

Then, I whispered softly in his ear:

“I hear you and Celeste aren’t officially married yet, but my marriage has already been ruined by you.”

“Your peaceful life will have to pay a price, too, won’t it?”

Instantly, Julian’s forehead veins throbbed, his voice hoarse:

“What do you want?”

A sudden gasp erupted from behind Julian—it was Celeste’s voice.

My hands clenched Julian’s lapels, stopping him from turning around.

He stumbled, and I rose onto my tiptoes.

Our lips met.