Such a deep wound was something most people would never reveal.


    Keaton didn''t give Shifra a chance to speak. "To be honest, out of all my exes, you''re the one I find the most repulsive right now."


    "So let''s skip the excuses. The more you talk, the more annoyed I get."


    "Stay away from me from now on. And stay away from my ancestor. If you ever mess with her again, just you try it."


    A strange glint shed in Winona''s eyes. "..."


    Shifra, however, looked at Keaton in terror, now too scared to even breathe. To have her intentionsid bare so bluntly didn''t just make her nervous; it terrified her.


    Who was Keaton? He could crush her with a flick of his finger.


    Shifra didn''t dare say another word. She shakily pushed herself to her feet and fled in disgrace.


    The hospital room fell silent again.


    Winona was still watching Keaton. He turned to meet her gaze and gave her a slight, wry smile. "Ancestor, did you let off enough steam today?"


    Winona: "..."


    Keaton''s smile widened. "Ancestor, hand me your phone."


    "Stop with the weird nicknames," Winona grumbled.


    "Hmm? Didn''t you already admit you were my ancestor?"


    Winona flushed. "...I only said that because I was afraid you''d stick up for Shifra."


    Keaton''s eyes crinkled. "Doesn''t matter why. An admission is an admission. You can''t just burn the bridge after you''ve crossed it."


    Winona was speechless. "Are you that desperate for an ancestor? You short on them or something?"


    Keaton grinned. "I''m not short on ancestors, but I am short on *living* ancestors. The ones in my family shrine are all six feet under, and each one is more boring than thest. You''re much more fun."


    Winona''s mouth twitched. "Fun my ass!" *Comparing me to a bunch of dead people? What''s wrong with him? And talking about his own ancestors like that... what a disgrace to the family name. It''s a good thing Richard isn''t here, or he''d get a beating for sure.*


    Keaton chuckled and beckoned to her. "Come on,e on. Let me see if I look handsome in your little video. If I don''t, you can''t post it. You have to use a beauty filter on me."


    Winona was taken aback. "How did you know I recorded a video?"


    Keaton''s charming eyes narrowed, his gaze tantalizing. "You wanna know? My lips are sealed. Unless you can persuade me."


    His tone shifted so quickly, from calling her ancestor'' to this yful flirting, that it took Winona a moment to register. Her heart began to pound. She frowned and shot back, "I''m your ancestor!"


    Keatonughed. "See? See? You admitted it yourself! Nowe on, ancestor, let me see the video you recorded."


    Winona: "..."


    She stared at Keaton for a moment, then couldn''t help but ask, "Why are you in such a good mood?"


    She could tell. He was in an even better mood than before Shifra had arrived.


    Keaton was surprisingly honest. "I am pretty happy right now." "Why?"


    "I just mentioned Clementine. Didn''t you hear?"


    "I heard. So what?"


    "Don''t you see? I''m really over her."


    "Huh?"


    Keaton sighed wistfully. "I used to avoid talking about her at all costs. It''s been so many years, and I''ve only ever told you and Tarquin about her. Every time I mentioned he


    name, it hurt. But not today! just talked about her openly, and I didn''t, feel a single trace of sadness or


    pain. It''s like she''s really just be a regr ex in my mind, someone I can talk about freely."


    Winona: "..."


    The ex you can''t even bring yourself to name is the one who still owns a piece of your heart. The one you can talk about openly is the one who''s truly i your past. Just like how she never brought up Zane, and whenever she did she still felt angry, hurt, and sad. Because she wasn''tpletely over him yet.


    Keaton was truly over it. That''s why he was so happy. After all, moving on was a


    form of liberation.


    "Congrattions," Winona said sincerely.