For the past seven years, he had never acted this way. What was he ying at


    now?


    The next moment, M felt her hospital bed dip as someone leaned over. Suddenly, something soft brushed against her lips.


    He dared to kiss her!


    M''s eyes snapped open, ring angrily. "You...!"


    Before she could finish, her lips were sealed again by the intruder. Enraged, she


    bit down hard. Instead of retreating, he held her hands down, kissing her even more fiercely.


    It was only after a long moment that Lysander finally pulled back, his fox-like eyes crinkling with a mischievous smile, his lips looking even more alluring.


    "Are you willing to talk to me now?"


    This lunatic!


    But she knew she couldn''t ignore him any longer. Who knew what this madman might do next?


    M was so furious her chest was heaving, her headache worsening as she slumped back against the hospital bed, utterly drained.


    Noticing her condition, Lysander dropped the teasing and gently massaged her temples with hisrge hands.


    Once M regained some strength, she pped him away. If he hadn''te today, she wouldn''t have been this upset.


    Lysander didn''t seem bothered. He smiled as he sat back down. "Don''t worry. I''ve dealt with those who''ve wronged you."


    M frowned, staring coldly at him. "And what of it?"


    Lysander smiled faintly. "I''ll help you, protect you, just like before. But don''t keep fighting me. If you do, it won''t be yful anymore."


    yful?


    yful, my foot!


    M took a deep, calming breath, her anger tinged with bitter amusement. "That''s unnecessary. I can handle these things without you."


    "And how will you handle them?"


    Lysander nced at the bandage on her forehead. "By getting hurt again?"


    M replied calmly, "It was an ident. He didn''t gain anything from it."


    "Can you ever truly break free from the Suthend family?" Lysander challenged.


    M clenched her fists tightly. "I can! I have my own ways, and I said I don''t need you anymore."


    Her tone was cold but unwavering.


    Lysander''s smile vanished, and the room grew tense and silent as they locked eyes, neither willing to back down.


    ...


    After a long pause, Lysander, as if nothing had happened, picked up a bowl of warm soup and tried to offer it to her.


    M turned away, finding it utterly absurd.


    "Lysander, there are no elders here to perform for. Who are you trying to impress?"


    "All this talk of protecting me? Helping me? Where were you during those seven years when the people around you looked down on and humiliated me?"


    "You ignored me when you wanted, froze me out when you felt like it, treated me kindly when it suited you, and were rough when you chose to be..."


    "And now you do this? Don''t you see howughable it is?"


    "The more you act like this, the more I feel like aplete fool for the past seven years!"


    Lysander''s brow furrowed, as if he wanted to say something, but M stopped him with a wave of her hand.


    Today, she wouldy it all out, even if it tore apart the past.


    "Lysander, you say I need you. Do I need you?"


    "When I needed you, where were you? For even a moment, did you ever give me


    reason to hope? No! Because in your heart, I was never worthy!"


    "Now you im you want the best for me. Fine, I''ll believe you this once."


    M reached into her bag on the bedside table, pulled out a divorce agreement, and threw it in Lysander''s face.


    "You want what''s best for me? Then sign it. You know exactly what I want most right now."


    "I''m asking you for this one thing!"


    "Lysander, signing the divorce papers is myst and only hope for you."