Frederick Fairfax pinched her chin. "Are you sick?"

"I'm not."

Frederick Fairfax didn't want to be a nervous wreck; Olivia Young's talk about dying or her comments about growing up in a single-parent family made him uneasy.

"Tomorrow, let's get checked together."

"If that'll put your mind at ease, sure, let's go."

She really wasn't sick.

She was just fine.

Olivia Young gently nuzzled the crook of his thumb. "Cheche, right now I've got you, Yana, my parents are healthy, and my brother's doing well. I have nothing to be upset about."

"Mm."

Frederick Fairfax's gaze was deep as he quietly studied her.

There was something unspeakable in the air.

It just felt... strange.

That night, Frederick Fairfax had a nightmare.

He dreamt that after Olivia Young returned to the country, they never crossed paths. He saw her heartbroken over Grace Gordon, standing alone in the rain and crying.

He wanted to hug her, comfort her, tell her not to cry—that her husband wasn't Grace Gordon.

But in the dream, Olivia Young told him she didn't like him, that she only liked Grace Gordon. Their childhood bond was in her blood and bones.

She couldn't let go of her feelings for Grace Gordon.

She loved only Grace Gordon.

Frederick Fairfax woke up with a start.

The bedroom was peaceful and still. In the darkness, he couldn't see Olivia Young's face. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, her warm, soft body pressing close, the faint, soothing scent of her drawing near.

It was just a dream.

Lily had long since stopped liking Grace Gordon.

They even had a daughter together.

If Olivia Young ever left him, he'd take their daughter and camp out at her family's place every single day.

Wives couldn't just abandon their husband and child.

"Lily~"

"Lily~"

"Baby."

"You love me most, right?"

Frederick Fairfax whispered, quietly taking Olivia Young's hand in his. "Actually, I noticed you back when we were in school."

Olivia Young used to be bright and beautiful, sparkling wherever she went—the most dazzling star in any room.

But she was someone else's childhood sweetheart.

Frederick Fairfax wasn't the type to steal another's love.

But things were different now.

Olivia Young no longer liked Grace Gordon.

Half the night, Frederick Fairfax lay there talking to himself, shaken by the dream. The next morning, he acted as though nothing had happened.

The two of them really did go for their medical checkup.

They had their checkup in the morning, then went off to work in the afternoon.

Not long after Olivia Young arrived at the law firm, Diana Ning poked her head into the office. "Someone's here to see you—a total hottie!"

"I'm not interested in handsome guys."

"Yeah, that's obvious."

Diana Ning laughed as she headed out.

Olivia Young walked into the consultation room. Just from the person’s back, she instantly recognized Grace Gordon.

"Is Gu Corporation's legal department short-handed? Mr. Gordon actually needs to come consult at a law office?"

Olivia Young pulled out a chair and sat down. "My consultation fees are steep—1,500 a minute. You sure you want to go through with this, Mr. Gordon?"

Grace Gordon turned around, exhaustion written all over his face. "Let’s begin."

"Alright."

Olivia Young glanced at the clock. "So, what does Mr. Gordon wish to ask?"

"Where did she go?"

"You could easily find out! Why come to me—your people really that useless?" Olivia Young clicked her tongue twice. "Time to hire new ones."

"Olivia Young, I'm here to consult you."

"This isn’t a legal question."

The corners of Grace Gordon’s mouth twitched up. "The moment you walked in, it was clear I wasn’t here about the law."

Fair enough!

Olivia Young's gaze was calm. "Are you looking for her because you like her, or is it guilt? She’s living just fine. Your family would never approve of you marrying her. If you can't guarantee her happiness, don’t bother her again. Actually, it’s not just you—John Cook is the same. Neither of you deserve someone that good."

Grace Gordon circled the desk, idly trailing his fingers along the smooth surface, getting closer with every step.

There's no rule against getting up close. Who knows, maybe he’s hard of hearing.

Stopping beside her, he leaned in. "Lily, if I'd sent her away the moment you returned, would we have had a chance?"

"Grace Gordon, did you forget? When I came back, I was already over four months pregnant. Even if Uncle and Auntie Gu were fond of me, they’d never let me marry you carrying another man’s child. Get a grip!" To Olivia Young, he sounded downright delusional now.

Not quite right in the head.

"I don't care! I can treat her as my own daughter. I love you!"

"Lily, lately I haven’t slept well. Night after night I dream—sometimes I’m marrying Annabelle Winters, sometimes it’s our engagement. Sometimes I hurt you. Most of the time, you and Frederick Fairfax are together, laughing at me—the loser."

"Lily, I can’t sleep at all. My mind’s a mess. Tell me, what should I do?"

Olivia Young slapped him, hard.

Smack.

A resounding sound, leaving a bright handprint on Grace Gordon’s pale cheek.

"You awake now?" Olivia Young gave him a cold look, secretly flexing her palm.

She’d hit him too hard.

Ouch, that hurt.

She’d never hit Frederick Fairfax this hard.

"We... can't go back."

Olivia Young gave a slight nod.

Grace Gordon covered his face. "You’re the one who fell out of love first."

Olivia Young sighed. "Grace Gordon, after Annabelle Winters showed up, your heart started to drift. Even if I did fall out of love first, it was because I didn’t want to be stuck in a love triangle. I chose to get out quick. I don’t think I did anything wrong. People are selfish. I’d never debase myself, begging a man for love. I have my pride."

"It’s not that—I just can’t describe it. It’s like I’m not myself!"

"Mm."

"Do you believe me?"

"I do believe you. I’ve said it many times—we just weren't fated to be." Olivia Young pointed at the clock on her phone, the seconds ticking by. "Anything else you want to ask, Mr. Gordon?"

"Lily, my heart aches so much..."

She’d known that pain once, too.

When she couldn’t return to China, and later discovered she was meant to be the hateful supporting character, she grieved for a long time.

Back then, she still liked Grace Gordon.

They may not have seen each other for five years, but they’d always kept in touch.

But after that, she’d lost her nerve.

Love just isn’t worth dying for.

She and Annabelle Winters had both veered off script, and apparently, so had Grace Gordon.

Tall and broad-shouldered, Grace Gordon suddenly collapsed, dropping to his knees before her.

Clutching his chest, his gaze was full of desperate longing. "Lily, I can’t let you go."

"Then die!"

Olivia Young grabbed her phone. "You’ve got ten minutes, Mr. Gordon. Don’t forget to pay before you leave."

A man who drops to his knees at the drop of a hat is no good.

Unless...

Well, some things are different between a husband and wife.

Olivia Young kept a straight face as she returned to her office. Diana Ning followed her in, holding out a glass of orange juice.

"So—what just happened in there?"

Olivia Young took a sip of juice. "Mr. Gordon just needed a little advice, that's all."

"Gu’s is such a big company, and their legal team is all elites. Personally, I think Mr. Gordon was here for something else entirely," Diana Ning arched a brow. "Changed his ways, has he?"

"He’s just wallowing for a bit. Guys—none of them are loyal forever. They always change when someone new comes along."

Olivia Young’s tone was calm. "Anyway, don’t forget to collect the fee. Ten minutes."

"Got it!"

Diana Ning dashed out, hollering, "Mr. Gordon, please scan the code to pay your fee!"