Up on the hospital rooftop, he gulped down the fresh air, but no matter how much he breathed, it couldn’t fill the emptiness gnawing at his heart. It felt like a gaping hole threatening to swallow him whole—he simply couldn’t calm down.

Scenes of his grandfather’s brutal murder played endlessly in his mind. He wanted to break free, but forgetting was impossible.

"Ah!" His cry echoed powerlessly into the wind, head bowed as the cold gusts tossed his hair into disarray.

When Lauren Shaw drove past the hospital, a vague uneasiness crept into her heart. She’d originally planned to swing by her shop, but, as if guided by fate, she turned into the hospital parking lot without thinking.

She pulled out her phone, suddenly desperate to see Yancy Shaw, and dialed his number.

The phone rang for ages, but there was no answer.

Yancy Shaw’s phone went off again and again, but it was as if he couldn’t hear it at all. His mind was caught in that moment of his grandfather’s death—his deepest inner demon.

"Grandpa, I finally know who did this to you." Alone on the rooftop, he squatted on the cold ground, choking back sobs. At last, his emotions were released.

–

Meanwhile, Lauren Shaw grew more anxious as the call went unanswered.

She went to his office to look for him. The nurse told her that he didn’t have any surgeries scheduled at this hour, but didn’t know where he’d gone.

Yancy Shaw never ignored her calls without reason. Did something happen? Worried, she searched the hospital until she bumped into Zhao Jiang.

"Miss Li?" Zhao Jiang called out to her.

Lauren Shaw turned and managed a small smile. "Officer Zhao."

"Are you looking for someone?" Zhao Jiang was a natural helper, especially when it came to beautiful women.

"I’m searching for my husband," Lauren Shaw answered honestly. She started to walk away, but Zhao Jiang stopped her.

"You mean Dr. Shen?"

Lauren Shaw immediately brightened. "Yes! You saw him?"

"I saw him heading for the elevator."

Lauren Shaw thanked him and hurried off toward the elevators.

She’d never felt this way before, but today, for some reason, she sensed that something was wrong with Yancy Shaw, as if she could feel what he was going through.

Driven by instinct, she went directly to the rooftop—it was like she had a sixth sense telling her he would be there.

Sure enough, when she got to the rooftop and saw him crouched alone, her heart wrenched in sympathy. A wave of heartache rushed over her.

Yancy Shaw’s hands were clenched tight. The pain he’d carried all these years was impossible to let go of—many nights, he’d wake from dreams of his grandfather, eyes unclosed even in death.

Now that he finally knew who the real killer was, visions of his grandfather’s tragic end crowded his mind, filling him with guilt.

Lauren Shaw didn’t know what had happened to him, but seeing him like this, she felt at a loss.

She walked over softly and placed her hand gently on his back.

Yancy Shaw tensed, suddenly looking up. When he realized it was Lauren Shaw, his bloodshot eyes finally found their anchor. He calmed instantly. "Sheng Sheng, why are you here?"

Lauren Shaw cupped his icy face in her hands; he’d been on the rooftop so long that his skin was numb with cold.

"You wouldn’t answer my calls. I got worried, so I came to the hospital to find you."

She gently wiped the tears from his cheeks. This was her first time seeing Yancy Shaw like this—no matter how strong someone seems, everyone has a fragile side, even someone like him.

Yancy Shaw stood up and slipped her hands into his pockets to warm them. The sorrow on his face quickly faded, replaced by a faint smile. "It’s cold up here. Let’s go back to the office."

His voice was hoarse and nasal, but the moment he saw Lauren Shaw, it was as if she’d filled the emptiness in his heart. He felt instantly lighter.

There was always a kind of magic about Lauren Shaw—a power to set his mind at ease.

Lauren Shaw didn’t reply. She just wrapped her arms around his waist, burrowing her face into his chest. "Honey, do you feel a little better now?"

Holding her tightly, Yancy Shaw brushed his chin through her hair, his words gentle. "Much better. Baby, did I scare you just now?"

When he first looked up, something about his eyes seemed utterly unfamiliar—a look she’d never seen before. Still, she knew he’d never hurt her.

Breathing in his scent, she shook her head. "No. No matter what you’re going through, you’re still my husband. I know you’d never hurt me."

Her trust in him was unconditional.

Yancy Shaw cupped her face and tipped her chin up, then lowered his lips to hers.

His kiss was hot—lingering, tender, and filled with longing. He took his time letting her go.

"Ahem." Someone’s cough shattered their cozy moment. "Young couples these days are really something—trying to save even the cost of a hotel room, huh?"

Lauren Shaw flushed and buried her face farther in Yancy Shaw’s embrace.

Yancy Shaw glanced up and realized it was just the cleaning lady. She’d come up to tidy the rooftop, only to find the lovebirds mid-embrace. Only when he looked up did she realize it was Dr. Shen from the hospital.

"Oh! Dr. Shen," the cleaning lady smiled knowingly.

Yancy Shaw simply nodded to her.

"Sorry to bother you two. Don’t mind me—carry on, carry on!"

With a chuckle, she picked up her mop and moved away.

Everyone at the hospital knew Dr. Shen—he was practically a celebrity. No one dared offend him. After all, if a family member ever needed emergency treatment, they’d want Dr. Shen’s help.

Lauren Shaw peeked out from his arms to be sure the cleaning lady had gone, then looked up at him. When she saw his face calm as ever—like nothing had happened—she couldn’t help but think, Not so long ago, this man was all over me, kissing me breathless…

Shameless man, acting all proper now!

Noticing the blush on her cheeks and the sheen left on her lips, Yancy Shaw chuckled, then gently wiped the edge of her mouth. "Sorry—I kissed off your lipstick."

As if that’s something to apologize for! She shot him a look, feigning annoyance. "You’re the worst."

Back in Yancy Shaw’s office, Lu Chaoran was waiting by the door. As they approached, he fixed Lauren Shaw with a meaningful stare.

Lauren Shaw saw him watching and narrowed her eyes defiantly in return.

Despite being a police officer, Lu Chaoran’s roguish handsomeness shone through—his uniform did little to hide that bad-boy vibe.

Yancy Shaw’s face darkened. "Keep staring, and I’ll gouge your eyes out."

Lu Chaoran raised his eyebrows and looked away. "You’d go to prison for life for gouging out a cop’s eyes, you know."

"If you’ve got something to say, spit it out," Yancy Shaw shot back, pulling out a chair. Lu Chaoran slid in like he owned the place.

Yancy Shaw then pushed the chair back, his tone cold. "It wasn’t for you."

Lu Chaoran: "..."

So much for hospitality, huh?