Bamboo Grove Residences.


    Outside Lillian''s Studio, a few luxury cars were parked, and a group of seven or eight staff members either sat or stood clustered by the entrance.


    Inside the studio, Jade was meticulously flipping through M''s portfolio of art and design work from recent years. Her expressions shifted between furrowed brows and approving nods. About halfway through, she unexpectedly looked up at M, who was waiting nearby.


    "Are you really not upset? Won''t you regret it?"


    M was taken aback for a moment, but then realized what Jade was asking. She felt a mix of helplessness and amusement.


    "Auntie, you''ve asked me this all the way here. I''ve truly made up my mind."


    Ever since she had revealed Lysander''s affair and her decision to divorce, her aunt''s demeanor had been tense, repeatedly asking if she was heartbroken or would regret it, to the point where M was nearly numb from the questioning. Seeing M''s resolve, Jade''s expression softened slightly.


    But soon, she feigned anger and gave the table a gentle tap, "What, you find me annoying just because I asked a few more questions?"


    "Of course not."


    M moved closer, gently grasping her aunt''s hand. "I haven''t seen you in ages, Aunt Jade. I wish I could talk to you every day, listen to whatever you have to say."


    "Oh, now you remember we haven''t seen each other in a long time!"


    As Jade spoke, her eyes reddened, and her aged voice carried a hint of a choked sob. "Seven years, M, seven years. How many more seven years do you think I have? You''re so heartless, never visiting just because I once said I didn''t want to see you. I might be stubborn, but you''re just as obstinate. Do you want to drive me to my grave?"


    Since M could remember, her aunt had always been strong-willed andmanding, never showing such a tender, sorrowful side.


    Her aunt, who had never married or had children, had distanced herself from the family except for M, whom she treated like her own child. Yet M had been so inconsiderate.


    She had truly hurt her aunt''s feelings.


    Guilt pressed on M''s heart like a weight. The tears she had been holding back finally spilled over.


    She moved to her aunt''s side, knelt down, and just as she did when she was a child, ced her hands on her aunt''s knees and rested her head there, filled with affection. "Please don''t say that, Aunt Jade. It''s all my fault for being thoughtless, but you must live a long, long life. I''ll stay with you forever and never leave again." She choked on her words, tears falling like rain, soaking her aunt''s clothes.


    "Alright, alright," Jade soothed, gently stroking M''s hair, her eyes red but full of tenderness. "Promise you won''t break my heart again."


    She continued, "As for Lysander, I could tell from the first meeting he wasn''t the right one for marriage. But you were so determined, and by then, it was toote for me to intervene. Now that you''vee to your senses, just go through with the divorce. Don''t be too upset. There are plenty of worthy men out there; I''ll help you find someone better."


    "I''m not upset." M nuzzled her aunt''s hand,forted by its warmth.


    "And what about my great-nephew, Adrian? What are your ns for him after the divorce?"


    Though Jade hadn''t been in touch much over the years or visited M, she knew M had a child shortly after marriage.


    That was her great-nephew!


    He was seven now, and Jade had seen photos of the handsome boy but had never had the chance to hold him. Not thinking about him was impossible.