He took off his coat and walked toward the sofa, about to sit down.
"Grandma Rivers."
"Stand there. Decided to finally come home, did you?"
"Did you call me back for something?" Xavier Foster stopped in his tracks, standing in place.
"Xavier Foster, you and Cecilia aren't even divorced yet, and you're just going to stand by while that woman walks all over her? Hm? Is that how a husband should behave?" Grandma Rivers didn’t hold back, her words brimming with anger. "Hmph. Not only Cecilia, but from what I see, she and her mother are both trying to climb over my head now."
Xavier Foster frowned. When he’d left the hospital this morning, Vivian Belle was still lying weakly in her hospital bed. He had given Vivian Belle a bank card, only to compensate her for Zoey Zhang biting her last time—how had she ended up running into Grandma Rivers?
"I’m sorry, Grandma Rivers. I’ll handle it."
Grandma Rivers was never this stern with him; something serious must have happened today.
"You’d better take care of it properly for me. If this happens again, don’t blame me for stepping in myself." Grandma Rivers folded her hands in front of her, her expression still dark.
After comforting Grandma Rivers for a while, he turned away. His face instantly grew cold.
Upstairs, Cecilia Ye sat staring out the window, lost in thought. Xavier Foster walked in and closed the window. "Don’t sit here in the draft. It’s cold outside."
Cecilia Ye didn’t reply. She simply gazed at the world beyond the glass.
She really didn’t like the time of sunset—it always felt as though everything was about to be swallowed by darkness, and a surge of sadness would well up inside her for no reason.
"Which mall did you all go to today?"
Cecilia Ye looked up at him. "The HIM shopping center."
Xavier Foster nodded and left for the study.
He made a phone call, and within minutes someone had sent him the surveillance footage from the store.
As Xavier Foster watched, his brow furrowed deeper and deeper. On the screen, Vivian Belle was clearly the aggressor, cornering Cecilia Ye and saying harsh words.
Fire began to burn in Xavier Foster’s chest. So this was how Vivian Belle treated Cecilia Ye. Even though he and Cecilia Ye weren’t divorced yet, Vivian Belle was acting as if he didn’t matter at all.
"Bzzz..."
His phone vibrated. It was a call from Vivian Belle—right on cue.
"Hello?"
"Ah Ye, will you come see me tonight? Mom’s gone home, and I’m a little scared being in the hospital by myself." Vivian Belle’s syrupy-sweet voice rang out. She clearly had no idea Xavier Foster had already seen what happened today.
"You were well enough to go shopping today—seems you’re almost recovered. If you’re scared, just go home to rest." Xavier Foster’s tone was icy. Vivian Belle caught his anger instantly.
"Ah Ye, it’s not like that, please let me explain."
She burst into tears, her voice full of grievance. "I only wanted to buy a few clothes with my mom, but I ran into Cecilia Ye and Grandma Rivers. I’m sorry, Ah Ye. I was just jealous."
"I’m jealous that Grandma Rivers and the others like Cecilia Ye so much. I always think, if only they liked me a little too, then you wouldn’t be caught in the middle like this."
"I’m sorry, it’s my fault for not holding back and saying those things. Ah Ye, I just love you too much, I’m so afraid of not being with you."
Her sobs came through the phone. Anyone would struggle to stay unmoved by a woman confessing her love with complete vulnerability.
But Xavier Foster’s scowl only deepened as he tapped his fingers on the table.
"Stop crying. Vivian Belle, you were definitely in the wrong. I won’t come see you these next few days, and you’d better not let this happen again." He held back from saying more—after all, he did owe her.
"Okay, Ah Ye, I won’t do it again. Please don’t be mad, I’ll change."
"Mn."
"Ah Ye, I regret so much. If I hadn’t gone abroad all those years ago, we could have been together by now."
"No need to bring up the past. I’ll handle it."
"Alright, you should rest early then, Ah Ye."
"Mn."
Xavier Foster hung up and pressed his fingers to the space between his brows.
Meanwhile, Vivian Belle sat on her hospital bed, dabbing at her tears. Hmph—so what if Cecilia Ye goes tattling? Xavier Foster still can’t bring himself to scold me.
She brushed her hand over the sinister scar on her abdomen, smiling with satisfaction. As long as this scar remained, Xavier Foster would never abandon her.
*
Xavier Foster sat for a long while in the unlit room, his face lit only by the blue glow of the computer screen.
It wasn’t until Cecilia Ye knocked on the door that he looked up and saw her standing in the doorway.
"Come down for dinner."
After saying this, Cecilia Ye turned to leave. Xavier Foster stood, caught up with her in two quick steps, and grabbed her hand.
"I’m sorry, Cecilia. I know it wasn’t you who said anything."
Cecilia Ye tried to pull her hand away, but he held fast. She looked up at him. "Don’t bother, Xavier Foster. I don’t need your apologies."
She’d grown used to Xavier Foster’s suspicions and blame—he always assumed she was the one at fault first. Honestly, she realized, he’d never truly trusted her.
Xavier Foster had never placed any faith in her at all.
He watched as she looked away, refusing even to meet his eyes. Subconsciously, his grip tightened.
He’d already apologized—what more did Cecilia Ye want from him?
"Let go. Grandpa Rivers and Grandma Rivers are waiting downstairs."
She was tired. She no longer cared what Xavier Foster was thinking.
He gave her a lingering look before releasing her hand. Together, they went downstairs.
At the dining table, Grandma Rivers still looked displeased, and Grandpa Rivers seemed to have heard what happened as well—his face was stern and silent.
Cecilia Ye mustered a cheerful smile, trying her best to act as if nothing had happened, hoping to put the elders at ease.
"Cecilia, darling, eat more of those pork ribs. I had Aunt Whitney stew them especially for you," Grandma Rivers urged.
"Thank you, Grandma Rivers. They’re delicious."
Though she was exhausted inside, Cecilia Ye forced herself to act unaffected.
She remembered—whether it was back in the orphanage, or after she was adopted—she was always trying her hardest to please everyone.
She’d always believed she was abandoned because her parents thought she was a nuisance. She thought, if she could just behave better and not trouble anyone, maybe, just maybe, she wouldn’t be abandoned again.
But, Xavier Foster—I really have tried my best.
She lowered her head, took a bite of pork rib, and stuffed her mouth with a bit of rice. There was only so much pretending she could keep up.
Noticing she’d barely eaten, Xavier Foster peeled a shrimp for her and placed it in her bowl. "Eat more. I’ll peel another for you."
Cecilia Ye stared blankly for a second before putting the shrimp in her mouth.
After dinner, Cecilia Ye didn’t go upstairs. She wanted to walk in the courtyard to clear her mind.
The front yard of the old house was filled with all kinds of flowers, though, being late autumn, not many were left blooming. The ginkgo leaves had already fallen. People always said autumn was bleak—that it brought sadness. In the past, Cecilia Ye had loved autumn best, but this year, she found herself perpetually sorrowful.
Zoey Zhang nestled quietly in her arms.
The three-story house glowed with warm light. Cecilia Ye sat on a bench, blankly gazing ahead.
Six years—it had already been six years since she came to the Fu family.
Those days, six years ago, felt like a prison with no daylight. Only Xavier Foster had let in a sliver of light. But now, that light seemed to be fading.
She hugged her knees and wrapped her arms tightly around herself.
Zoey Zhang snuggled contentedly in her embrace, as if she found her arms especially comfortable; she even narrowed her eyes, looking ready to sleep.
Lost in her thoughts, Cecilia Ye didn’t notice someone approaching from behind until a warm jacket was draped over her shoulders.