Cecilia Ye lay weakly on the hospital bed, lifting her head to look at the person standing behind Vivian Belle.

A cold, furious voice rang out, devoid of all warmth. "Cecilia Ye, what are you trying to do?"

Fu Zhiyan pulled Vivian Belle aside, his eyes icy as he stared at the person lying in bed.

Cecilia Ye steadied herself, waiting for her dizziness to fade, and her gaze fell on Fu Zhiyan's hand clutching Vivian Belle's wrist—a protective gesture.

"What am I doing? Isn't it obvious?"

Fu Zhiyan turned to Vivian Belle. "You should go."

Vivian Belle shook her head, fear written on her face. "A'Yan, I just wanted to see if Cecilia was feeling unwell and check up on her."

She was shaking all over. Cecilia Ye thought, She really does look like a poor little bird.

Fu Zhiyan regarded her for a long moment, the look in his eyes dark and unfathomable. He spoke coldly, "I'll have someone take you down."

He took off his coat, draped it over Vivian Belle's shoulders, and escorted her out.

Cecilia Ye let out a smile, tears sliding silently down her cheeks.

*

Fu Zhiyan entrusted Vivian Belle to his assistant before quickly returning. Seeing Cecilia Ye in the same position as before only gave him a headache.

"Why did you hurt her?"

Cecilia Ye wanted to reply, Because she's truly malicious. She'd never realized it was possible for someone's heart to be so wicked.

But Cecilia Ye said nothing. She knew Fu Zhiyan would never believe her.

Fu Zhiyan folded his arms, standing over her, and warned, "Cecilia Ye, don't lay a hand on her again."

He turned to the table and picked up a file.

"About the divorce you mentioned," he said, "I've drawn up another agreement. Like I told Grandpa Rivers before, you'll be properly compensated."

"Take a look. If anything seems unfair, I'll have it revised."

A few thin sheets of paper landed lightly on the bedspread.

Cecilia Ye hesitated a moment before reaching for them. Her slender, pale fingers were even whiter than the pages themselves.

She suddenly wondered, What would happen if I simply refused to divorce him?

Would Fu Zhiyan go mad with anger?

With that thought, she asked, "Fu Zhiyan, what if I change my mind and don't want a divorce?"

Fu Zhiyan frowned, his tone growing colder, "Don't make trouble. Just sign it."

"If I don't divorce you, then you can't marry Vivian Belle, right? Fu Zhiyan, do you really like her? Do you want to marry her?"

Not wanting to waste any more time, Fu Zhiyan shoved the pen into Cecilia Ye's hand. "Yes."

A self-mocking smile appeared on her pale face. Yes, he liked Vivian Belle. He wanted to marry Vivian Belle.

Even mustering up the courage to try had ended with her so easily defeated.

"No need. I don't want any compensation, anything at all," Cecilia Ye murmured. Her blink was slow, her voice barely above a whisper. "Don't worry, I won't stand in the way of your marriage."

She took the pen and signed her name at the bottom.

Her elegant handwriting cut across the signature line, leaving a fractured streak behind.

Fu Zhiyan was agitated; nothing in recent days had made sense. Maybe, once the divorce was done, the problem would be gone too.

"Whether you want it or not, what you're owed will still be given to you."

"And I've already said—don't ever touch Vivian Belle again. Did you hear me?"

"Mhm. I heard you."

She turned her back, tears slipping silently down her cheeks. This time, she didn't make a sound. She didn't want Fu Zhiyan to see her cry; from here on, she'd wipe her own tears.

The person behind her stood for a while, then quietly left the room.

When the door finally closed, Cecilia Ye couldn't hold it in anymore—her sobs filled the empty room.

The next day, someone Cecilia Ye never expected came to visit.

Julian Jarvis.

He entered with a bouquet of bluebells in hand, flashing Cecilia Ye a gentle smile when he saw her.

They hadn't seen each other since that night at the bar.

Cecilia Ye hadn't expected to see Julian Jarvis at a time like this.

Thinking back on that night, she actually owed Julian Jarvis thanks. But recently, her mind had simply been too preoccupied for gratitude.

Julian Jarvis didn't ask any questions. He took a seat beside her bed.

He picked an apple from the fruit basket and began to peel it.

"I was actually going to tell you one of your paintings at the gallery has sold," he explained. "But then I heard you were in the hospital, so I took it upon myself to visit. Cecilia, promise you won't be upset."

Cecilia Ye shook her head, recovering from her surprise. "Of course not. I just ran into some trouble a few days ago, but everything is fine now."

"Good."

The room fell silent. Julian Jarvis peeled the apple with practiced hands, his fingers long and deft, his expression as warm and gentle as always.

But only he knew how much his heart ached when he saw Cecilia Ye so badly hurt.

Cecilia Ye seemed to recall something and hesitated before speaking. "Julian Jarvis, I... Can I ask you for a favor?"

Julian Jarvis raised an eyebrow. "What do you need?"

"Can you keep the money from the painting sale for me? Give it to me after a while."

Cecilia Ye thought if she divorced Fu Zhiyan, she would have to leave the Fu household. She didn’t want to live in a house he’d given her, and she'd need money to rent her own place.

She did have savings, but she didn't want Fu Zhiyan to know about them.

Julian Jarvis’s hands never faltered—he even managed to peel the apple skin in a single, unbroken strip. Once finished, he cut it into bite-sized pieces and handed her the plate. "Of course. I’ll keep it safe for you."

He didn't refuse, and the thought of hiding this from Fu Zhiyan gave him a strange sense of satisfaction.

He offered her an apple slice. "Here, eat something. You're too thin."

Cecilia Ye obediently took a piece, putting it in her mouth and smiling with her eyes. "It's very sweet."

They chatted casually about her paintings at the gallery until Julian Jarvis rose to leave.

Cecilia Ye let out a quiet sigh of relief, still anxious that Fu Zhiyan might return unexpectedly.

Even if nothing happened between her and Julian Jarvis, Fu Zhiyan always got angry whenever they met.

The day Cecilia Ye was discharged, it was Fu Zhiyan who came to pick her up.

Her injuries had mostly healed, and the bandage on her head had come off.

Only a small scar remained, but Cecilia Ye knew the events of that day would haunt her for a long time.

Whenever she was alone, nightmares crept in.

They returned to the Fu residence. Zoey Zhang greeted her with a happy tail-wag, bounding up as soon as she saw Cecilia Ye.

Cecilia Ye crouched down and scooped Zoey Zhang into her arms. "Zoey Zhang, I missed you so much. Did you miss me?"

After so many difficult days, a real smile appeared on Cecilia Ye’s face. Fu Zhiyan felt a rare bit of peace seeing her so happy.

It almost felt like before, just the two of them living at the Fu residence.

Fu Zhiyan still came home every night and held her as they slept.

But Cecilia Ye no longer wanted this. She didn't want to be in his arms, and often went to bed alone, lying as far away from him as possible.

Yet somehow, every morning she still woke up in Fu Zhiyan's embrace.

When her wounds had healed completely, Cecilia Ye made up her mind—she would go back to the old house and ask Grandpa Rivers for the household registration book.