"We both know exactly who the snakes are. Should I call a press conference and list exactly how much blood you and my uncle have sucked out of me over the years?" ire didn''t give an inch.


    Jean instantly deted, losing her nerve, and mped her mouth shut.


    ire swiftly finished her paperwork and strode out of the hospital.


    Stepping into the sunlight, the air tasted like absolute freedom.


    It was a gorgeous day.


    It would have been a perfect day if she were officially divorced.


    Wilbur had pulled up in a wildly shy, custom-blue Lamborghini Aventador. It was as brilliant and eye-catching as the man himself.


    ire couldn''t help but stare in awe.


    Wilbur stepped out, gesturing gantly. "Your carriage awaits, Princess."


    ire had fallen in love with sports cars during her very first movie shoot.


    Unfortunately, her bank ount had never allowed her to indulge the passion, so she could only admire them from afar.


    This was her first time actually riding in one, and the novelty was thrilling.


    "Let''s go for a drive," Wilbur said, sliding into the driver''s seat.


    "Deal!" she agreed instantly.


    As the vibrant car roared away, the tinted window of a Maybach parked discreetly across the street rolled down, revealing Felix''s devastated face.


    He knew she was being discharged today.


    He hade to pick her up.


    But when he arrived, he couldn''t even summon the courage to call her.


    He had sat parked outside for hours.


    And in the end, he had to watch her willingly get into Wilbur''s car.


    Felix saw the radiant smile she gave Wilbur.


    It had been so long since he''d seen her smile like that.


    The sight of it felt like a physical blow to his chest, sparking a frantic sense of panic.


    That smile used to belong to him.


    "Boss, she''s gone. Should we keep waiting?" his driver, Mr. Yates, asked gently. "Let''s go," Felix muttered.


    Mr. Yates started the engine and pulled away.


    After a long, suffocating silence, Felix finally spoke. "What kind of person do you think ire is?"


    Mr. Yates was an honest man, and he answered truthfully. "She''s a wonderful person, sir. Completely down-to-earth, kind to everyone. After She joined the Quigley family, Old Mrs. Quigley smiled so much more. You remember how


    dépressed your grandmother was after your grandfather passed. Her health was failing, and the doctors didn''t think she''d make it through the winter. But ire sat with her every day, making herugh, keeping herpany. It turned her health right around."


    "The house used to be so full of life andughter back then. Even you starteding home more often."


    As the driver spoke, the memories yed like a film reel in Felix''s mind.


    Because he had lived through them, they were piercingly real.


    "Yeah," Felix agreed softly. "She used to smile all the time. But now... she doesn''t smile at me anymore. She won''t evene home. She''d rather live in a hotel."


    Mr. Yates paused before asking softly, "What do you think happened to change her like that?"


    That single question shattered the fleeting softness on Felix''s face.


    Mr. Yates instantly realized he had overstepped and shot a terrified nce at the rearview mirror.


    In the


    tur ackseat, Felix''s aura had


    turfied to loe, à tempest of agonizing regret raging in his dark eyes.