《Love That Wasn't Meant to Last》


 Chapter 1

    Selena Norman was the heiress of a prestigious family in the city, known for her flirtatious nature and reputation as a ygirl. However, she changed all her ways since dating me. Everyone knew she loved me with all her heart and doted on me endlessly.


    At least, that was what I thought. Everything changed when I came across her and Zion Cabot''s text conversation.


    "Will you always treat me this nicely, Selena?"


    "Of course, babe."


    It felt as if a knife had twisted in my heart at that moment. I didn''t realize that the love I thought I had was now a thing of the past.


    ...


    I arrived in front of the cake and blew the candles. It was 1:00 am, and an hour had gone since our wedding anniversary. For the entire afternoon and night, I held the present and the cake I baked myself before a feast I had prepared, awaiting her return.


    In the end, I was met with disappointment.


    Just as I prepared to retire for the night, I heard sounds from outside. Selena hade home.


    When she entered and saw me, she bolted toward me and wrapped me around her arms, coaxing me with the gentlest tone that resembled the time we first dated. "I''m sorry, Hud. I was held back by my business trip. Why don''t you pinch me as a punishment?


    "I''ve brought you tons of gifts, Hud. See if you like anything, and we''ll call it even, alright?" Then, her assistants carried the presents into our home in a single file.


    I gazed at her without a word, reminding myself this was the woman I loved for years. Yet, when I recalled the text conversation, I was bitter.


    Selena and I knew each other from university. She was bright, charming yet carefree and flirtatious; she faced everything with unwavering determination, never giving up until she hit a wall.


    Most of her rtionships neversted more than three months. Ironically, she fell in love with the lonely ol'' me. The closer she got to me, the more I lost my mind and fell madly in love with her.


    To ensure I was happy, she even broke all her bad habits. So, when did her love and sincerity start fading toward me?


    One of the assistants unloaded the presents and came to my side, defending Selena. "Mr. Davenport, not once have you left Mrs. Davenport''s mind during the entirety of the trip. She got back here as soon as she finished her work.


    "I know we''re stillte, but you should go easy on her, Mr. Davenport." The other assistant nodded in agreement.


    Right, she loved me so much to the point that she would get into another man''s bed on my birthday, travel thousands of miles to cheer me up with a gift, and take everything upon herself while I was sick.


    If that was the case, why did she cheat on me?


    She called him "babe", a sign of their intimate and ambiguous rtionship. I lowered my eyes and had no words to respond.


    Noticing my silence, Selena pulled me to the dining table. "Hud, did you prepare all of this? They''re so delicious; I love them... Hud, stop being mad, will you? I promise I''ll spend the whole day on our next anniversary with you."


    At the sight of her teary eyes, I fell into a daze as the memories from a few years ago resurfaced. Back then, she would always put on a pitiful look like this whenever she made a mistake. Every time, I conceded to her.


    I finally spoke after a long time. "I''m not mad. I''m just tired."


    At that, Selena quickly wiped the whipped cream off her lips and pulled me into the bedroom. "Let''s rest, then."


    Before long, she drifted off to sleep while I struggled to fall asleep. Once I heard her steadied breathing, I sat up and took her phone.


    As expected, Zion''s chat sat at the top of her messages. He was an assistant whom Selena had hired recently. ording to the other assistants, he was young, capable, and handsome.


    I tapped into their chat and realized their conversation had been wiped clean, unlikest time. However, his profile was full of photos of him traveling with Selena.


    Thetest post was uploaded a few hours ago. In the photo, Selena held a light stick, screaming while on Zion''s back. That familiar face wore a smile I hadn''t seen in ages. So, she was busy attending a concert with him and conveniently missed our anniversary.


    I quickly minimized the photo and looked away. Though it didn''t hurt as much as


    I prepared to set down the phone when a new message came in.


    "Selena, the movie I''ve been looking forward to is premiering tomorrow. Let''s watch it together. It''s a date."


    My fingers gripped the phone so tightly that they turned pale, finally snapping me back to reality. I set aside the phone and slowlyy down. Selena, sleeping soundly, subconsciously nestled into my arms and muttered, "Hud..."


    The subconscious trust she had toward me put me in a trance. I simply couldn''t understand it. How could someone who had once loved me so much have a change of heart? That question kept me up all night.


    I woke up early the next morning. After ncing at Selena beside me, I went to prepare breakfast. I fried two eggs, and after some hesitation, I grabbed the heart- shaped mold on the side.


    Selena bought itst time, saying it would make breakfast more delicious.


    Amid my distraction, I let the oil ssh onto the back of my hand, the pain instantly pulling me back to reality as if reminding me.


    Once Iid the breakfast on the table, Selena happened toe out of the room, delighted. "Oh, it smells amazing. You prepared breakfast! Life is great with you, Hud. Careful¡ªyou might have to cook me breakfast for the rest of my life."


    I looked down and ignored her, quietly poking at my egg yolk. "I... don''t think I can continue this anymore," I thought.


    After breakfast, Selena stayed in the vanity room for a while and came out looking youthfully beautiful.


    I casually asked, "You''re working on the weekend, too?"


    She nted a kiss on my lips very naturally. "Yeah. My assistant called and said I have to handle some work. I''ll be back soon, though."


    I didn''t reply to her but couldn''t help but recall the conversation I sawst night.


    She was going on the date, wasn''t she?


    As I watched her retreating figure, I no longer felt the bitterness from before. Rather, I had made up my mind.


    Once Selena left, I called my assistant, Jordan Weasley, and instructed, "Jordan, prepare a copy of the divorce agreement for me."


    Since I had made up my mind, the first step was to get this out of the way. After ending the call, I removed the wedding ring from my ringer and ced it inside a small box within the drawer.


    I had worn it since the day of our marriage and never removed it once. I used to think it symbolized our love and happiness, but now... I supposed it should return to its original ce.


    After keeping the ring, I dreaded spending another second here in this familiar yet foreign ce. I headed out and got into a cab with no destination in mind.


    The driver asked where I wanted to go, but I couldn''t answer him and eventually told him to drive aimlessly. He repeatedly nced at me, and I found his action funny.


    "If you have something to say, go ahead, sir."


    The driver pursed his lips. "I can tell you''re not having a good day, young man. Have you run into trouble? Word of advice-everything happens for a reason, and we should always focus on doing the right thing. Life is short; make it worth it."


    His words prompted a bitter smile on my face. Even an outsider could see the bigger picture better than me...

 Chapter 2

    At some point, the driver took me to my alma mater. I thanked and paid him before alighting from the cab. After hesitating at the entrance, I ultimately entered the campus.


    Many young boys and girls in fashionable clothes walked past me, giggling and looking content. I wandered around aimlessly and eventually arrived at the field. Everything was just as I remembered.


    This ce was where Selena and I officially began our rtionship. The weather was simr to today''s, and it was also in the afternoon when she dragged me out to the field.


    She pulled a bouquet out of nowhere and shoved it into my arms. "Once you ept my flowers, you''re mine."


    I was stunned at that time, but her rosy-hued cheeks made me burst into a smile and pull her into an embrace. "Why are you, a girl, making the first confession? Gosh, you''re eager to be with me, aren''t you?"


    "Hudson Davenport?"


    Someone called my name, pulling my focus back to reality. I turned around and saw a man in sses, somewhat familiar. He seemed enthusiastic as he greeted me. "It''s you, Hudson! I''m Vincent Gardner, your uni mate. You seriously don''t remember me?"


    I recognized him when he called my name the second time. "Long time no see, Vincent."


    He appeared as cheerful as I remembered. "Why are you here?" I asked.


    He chuckled and nudged my arm. "Bro, I came back here afterpleting my master''s degree. I can''t believe I''ve run into you when I''ve just started my first year."


    Vincent then shot me a wistful look. "How are you and Selena? I remember you guys were madly in love back then, always torturing us with your lovey-dovey rtionship."


    His words jolted me back to the old days, and I forced a smile. Perhaps sensing my mood was off, he no longer continued that topic. "You''re here just in time, by the way. They''ll soon chop down the wishing tree. From what I heard, they''re nning to expand. You should take a look."


    After bidding farewell to Vincent, I arrived beneath the wishing tree. From my recollection, Selena and I used to love chatting about life and dreams under this tree. Once, she came to hang a letter but forbade me to read it.


    Using the help of my memory, I sessfully located the letter she wrote. Surprisingly, it was still there after the ravages of wind and rain all these years. Although it was torn and yellowed, the writing was still faintly legible.


    I opened the letter gently, and her neat handwriting appeared before me.


    "I hope I can be with Hudson forever and ever, spending each birthday and anniversary with him!"


    "I hope Hud and I will have a grand wedding ceremony so that I can let the world know he''s mine."


    "I hope to wake up and see Hud every morning."


    "Most importantly, of course, I wish Hud stays safe and happy!"


    "I think I wrote a little too many wishes. If you can''t grant all of them, just make thest onee true!"


    Her words were concise, yet they were full of love toward me. My hands began trembling as I gripped the letter. We used to be so in love, so why... Why couldn''t she just love me and me only?


    She was the one who wanted us to spend forever together; to wake up next to me every day. All our promises and vows had now turned into a knife that ended up stabbing my heart. What a joke...


    I tucked the letter into my pocket. Right then, I had an impulse to meet the man who changed Selena''s heart. As such, I went to the cinema he mentioned in his message.


    I stood in a discreet corner and patiently waited for the movie to end. At some point, I began to feel my legs turn numb. However, the familiar figure finally appeared. Standing beside her was a young and handsome man.


    That ought to be Zion, right? Okay, fine-he was young and handsome.


    The way I stood in the corner made me no different than a stalker prying into their love life. I watched as Zion draped his jacket over Selena, fed her popcorn, and even tucked her hand into his pocket to keep warm.


    Suddenly, he looked in my direction.


    I wasn''t sure if he had seen me. All I knew was he bent down and nted a gentle kiss on Selena the next second. Not only did she not refuse him, but she even reciprocated the kiss.


    For a split moment, I felt like a clown. Every ounce of love I had ever felt for her was flushed down the drain with that kiss.


    "Oh, Selena... What a long time it took me to realize your extraordinary talent in acting. While loving me, you shared your heart with another person."


    Never mind, though, because everything would be over soon...


    I left the cinema and returned home. Perhaps because of my mood, I found the ce eerily quiet.


    Pulling out the letter from my pocket, I stuffed it into the drawer along with the ring. Meanwhile, I took the opportunity to pack up my belongings. By the time I finished, it was already dark outside.


    ncing at my phone, I noticed a message from Selena. "Hud, lots of work came up today. I won''t being back home for the night. So, rest well. I''ll see you tomorrow."


    I left her messages on "Read" and quietly went to bed. It wasn''t until the next afternoon that she finally returned. While beside her, I heard her mumbling, "Why does it feel weirdly empty in here?"


    Before she came home, Jordan had sent over the divorce agreement. I temporarily kept it in the drawer along with the other items from yesterday.


    At the sight of herplete change of clothes, I felt a tinge of bitterness. Yet, she excitedly ran over and hugged me. "Give me a hug, Hud. I''m exhausted."


    Exhausted? Was she exhausted from dealing with two men at the same time, or was she only exhausted when it came to me? She was the one who was in another man''s arms.


    I pushed her away stoically. "It''s almost lunchtime. I''ll go cook."


    I supposed she sensed something strange with me and refused to let go of my hand. "I know I''ve been busytely and haven''t been spending time with you, Hud. Why don''t we catch a movie? You know what? Forget about making lunch. Let''s eat out."


    Then, her expression stiffened abruptly. "Where''s your ring, Hud? Why did you take it off?"


    The sight of her anxious look got me scoffing inside. Oh, Selena...


    Without a change in expression, I exined, "It got dirty, so I took it off. I''m looking to have it cleaned by a professional."


    At that, she heaved a breath of relief and yfully stuck her tongue out. "You scared me, Hud. I thought something happened."


    Then, she pushed me toward the door. "Alright, let''s go. It''s time for lunch."

 Chapter 3

    It wasn''t until the car arrived at our destination that I realized this was where


    Selena and Zion went on a date yesterday. What a surprise. It appeared I was the only variable in this "simtion" of yesterday''s date, and I couldn''t help but smile bitterly.


    Selena seemingly noticed my downcast mood and insisted on holding my hand and bringing me everywhere she went. For some reason, it was crowded today. I couldn''t shake the feeling that I might lose her in the crowd at any moment.


    As I watched her expertly buy and collect the movie tickets and drinks, a sudden realization hit me-she and Zion might havee here far more times than I had ever known.


    Selena ended up buying a couple''s seat for the movie, where two seats were connected. While sitting inside the cinema, I allowed my thoughts to run wild. I was even watching the exact movie they watched yesterday, but she seemed excited and keptmenting on the movie throughout.


    Whenever there was aedy scene, she would hold my hand andugh heartily. "Hud, the male lead is hrious, right?"


    There was one part in the movie where the male lead betrayed the female lead. Selena wept continuously and murmured, "You better not betray me like he does, Hud, or I''ll go insane."


    I concealed the sour ache I felt inside my heart, which was now practically empty. "What happens if you betray me first, Selena?" I pondered.


    Her reaction throughout the movie almost convinced me this was her first watch. What a performance.


    By then, my mind was filled with images of Selena and Zion in the couple''s seat, cuddling as she begged him with tears to never betray her.


    Had it been exhausting to handle two men simultaneously, Selena? Was it annoying to watch the same movie twice? No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn''t understand why.


    The movie finally ended. When we headed out of the cinema, we were separated by the crowd. For the first time, I refused to hold onto her. She shouted at me from the back, "Wait for me outside, Hud. I''ll be there soon."


    I waited outside as she asked, but I was too absent-minded to notice the car behind me.


    "Hud, watch out!" Selena darted behind me, and we were propelled to the ground by an electric car.


    Luckily, I only suffered some abrasions on my arm. However, her injuries seemed much more severe than mine. With an anxious look, she questioned, "Hud, are you alright? Did you get hurt?"


    I shook my head and stared dazedly at her. Eventually, a passerby helped call the ambnce.


    As I sat in the hospital corridor, my mind kept shing back to Selena''s panicked state. Until then, I still couldn''t understand why she still acted like I was the most important person to her.


    Soon, the doctor helped Selena out of the room, stating, "Not a major issue, but just a mild twist on the ankle. She''ll require a period of rest."


    I didn''t know whether to be happy or not. I even had an unhinged thought that maybe it would have been better if we died in that ident earlier. At least I wouldn''t be alone.


    For the next few days, Selena had to stay home and could only make slow, limited movements. Thus, I caringly looked after her.


    The second day, she woke up in tears. I asked her what was wrong, and she told me she had a nightmare where I was in danger; she couldn''t find me, and her hands were full of blood.


    I embraced her, saying, "Don''t be scared. It''s just a dream."


    Even if that nightmare turned into reality, I supposed Zion would be holding andforting her instead.


    With that said, some things always came when least expected. What truly surprised me was that homewrecker had brazenly ed at my doorstep.


    As I met Zion, who was holding a fresh bouquet, at the door, I squeezed out a stiff smile. "You''re Selena''s assistant, right? Come on in."


    I knew that without Selena''s permission, he would''ve nevere so boldly. He entered calmly and appeared familiar around the ce as if he were home. All he said to me was, "Hi, Mr. Davenport."


    However, I perceptively caught a flicker of scorn on his face.


    "Who''s here, Hud?" Selena''s voice rang from the bedroom.


    A twinge of bitterness caught within my chest, as I had never seen her so eager to wee a guest. When I brought Zion before her, she appeared mildly unsettled but mostly delighted. "Zion, are you here to drop off some documents?"


    He cooperatively yed along. "I brought you some important details about the project, Ms. Norman..."


    He trailed off and suddenly paused to look at me.


    "Oh, am I unwee here? Fine, enjoy your private time together," I sneered inwardly. Granting their wishes, I eventually excused myself.


    Not long after, Zion was ready to leave. I even saw him out of the door, and before departing, he cast me a meaningful gaze. I didn''t understand the meaning initially until I walked back into my home and saw Selena''s swollen and flushed lips.


    Was that an open provocation from the homewrecker?


    Gradually, the sky turned dark. I waited for Selena to fall asleep before taking her phone again. Humans were a paradox; despite knowing it would hurt, I couldn''t stop myself from discovering more.


    It almost felt like self-harm... or perhaps this was a crucial step before I made up my mind to leave.


    This time, the chat records remained. Thetest message was from less than an hour ago.


    "How''s your injury, Selena?"


    "Everything is fine. Hudson is taking great care of me."


    "I''m worried about you, Selena. I''ll go see you now. Don''t worry, though. I''ll bring some documents over and pretend it''s for work."


    "Okay."


    I peacefully read the messages until the end. In fact, Selena deserved credit for hiding her infidelity so well. Had it not been for that ident, I would''ve never found out about it.


    Suddenly, the phone vibrated. I reflexively assumed Zion texted her again, but there was nothing on her phone. A realization dawned, and I fished out my phone. As expected, an unknown number had texted me.


    "What''s it like having your wife kiss another man, Hudson?" I didn''t have to guess to know it was Zion.


    Atst, he couldn''t resist provoking me, huh?


    Following that were a few more texts.


    "Stop pretending, Hudson. I know you knew."


    "I saw you at the cinema entrance the other day."


    "What''s it like being cheated on?"


    "You should leave before it gets worse. Sooner orter, Selena will be mine."


    I was unsure what he was trying to convey. Was he showing off that he had Selena''s affection? Or did he want to watch me get dumped and left in disarray?


    It was unfortunate to him because I did not react to his provocation at all, let alone replying to his messages. With every disappointment, my love for Selena slowly faded, never mind the puny provocation Zion threw my way.

 Chapter 4

    Eventually, Selena''s ankle recovered. She pinned me down on the chair and


    began massaging my shoulders. "You''ve been taking such good care of metely, Hud. Are you tired?"


    I shook my head. "If it weren''t for me, you wouldn''t have gotten injured. I should be apologizing to you instead."


    There wasn''t much issue with my words, but apologizing over something like this between a married couple sounded strange.


    Selena scrunched her brows and flicked my head lightly. "You and I¡ªwe don''t use the S-word here."


    I smiled without a flicker of expression, and she reciprocated, confidently promising me, "I''ll cook for you today."


    Right when she prepared the ingredients, her phone rang. After ncing at me, she walked to the side and answered the call.


    I knew what was happening. The only person who could make her so wary of me was Zion. As expected, she ended the call and approached me with an apologetic smile.


    "Hud, I don''t think I can cook for you today. Something urgent came up at thepany. Once I return, I''ll prepare you a feast!" Selena coaxed and hugged me. Then, without hesitation, she turned and left.


    I didn''t try to stop her this time because I knew I couldn''t.


    In the kitchen, I cooked a meal using the ingredients left behind. I sat alone at the vast dining table and ate something light. As I prepared to rest, my phone suddenly chimed. It was another text from Zion again.


    "Hey, Mr. Davenport. Would you like to see Selena in a wedding dress? I bet she''ll look stunning. She''ll probably say yes to anything I want. If you''d like to see her too, drop by Vi 101, Melrose District."


    I was frozen in my seat upon reading the message. Atst, I rose to my feet, started my car, and headed to the address he provided.


    I sat in my car as it parked outside the vi, watching Zion put on the headpiece for Selena. She donned a wedding dress and danced in the garden with him.


    She was ever-so-stunning. The memories from our youthful years began rushing into my mind.


    Our wedding ceremony was a grand one, to say the least. Due to our identities, many guests attended to celebrate the asion with us. However, none of those came close to the vivid memory of her walking toward me in her wedding dress.


    At that moment, it felt like time had frozen, as if Selena and I were the only persons in the world, with the officiant speaking in the background. I still remember what she said in her vows. "I, Selena Norman, will only ever wear a wedding dress for the only man I love, Hudson."


    "Selena, do you remember that? You vowed that you''ll only wear the wedding dress for me. Have you forgotten it already?"


    From afar, I witnessed her tender look as she danced with Zion. That was exactly how she was with me. Just minutes ago, she said she would cook me a feast; the next thing I knew, she was running away to meet another man.


    I stood for what felt like an eternity outside the vi that day. It wasn''t until the sky drizzled that I snapped back to reality. My heart had long been numb, and my body was cold. I returned to my car in my drenched clothes and slowly fell asleep.


    When I groggily opened my eyes, I realized it was already a new day. I turned on my phone and saw a few missed calls from Selena and a text from Zion. The sight of his phone number seriously annoyed me.


    "I know you were there, Mr. Davenport. What did you think? Was she a beauty?" He even attached a photo of Selena as if making sure I saw them.


    A looming headache warned me I might be getting sick. I looked into the mirror and saw my flushed cheeks. Perhaps I had a fever from yesterday''s downpour. As such, I drove to the hospital and decided to call Selena after some thought.


    Once the call connected, her panic-stricken voice sounded. "Hudson, you finally returned my calls! Where are you? What happened? Do you know how worried I was because I couldn''t reach you?"


    Her long string of words only worsened my headache. "I''m in the hospital. I''m running a fever."


    It didn''t take more than a second before she eximed, "What did you do? Are you okay? Gosh, I¡ª"


    I decisively hung up without waiting for her to finish. Subsequently, I texted her my ward number.


    If I remember correctly, this was my first time disconnecting her call. I felt rather mncholic, a feeling which I couldn''t quite describe.


    Soon, Selena arrived at my ward with a sk of peppermint tea. Her eyes immediately reddened with tears upon seeing me. "Why did you hang up like that? What''s wrong with you, Hudson? You''re freaking me out! Why didn''t you look after yourself?"


    Her words of concern offered me with not even an ounce of warmth. I struggled to believe this was the same person in Zion''s arms yesterday. Perhaps she was frightened by our sudden loss of contact.


    For the next few days, Selena kept vigil by my side and looked after me like I did when she twisted her ankle. Everything felt ordinary yetpletely foreign at the same time.


    One night, I groggily got up to use the bathroom and heard some chatter in the corridor. When I looked out the window, I saw Zion. He was probably here because he was upset that Selena had been spending too much time with me.


    "It''s my birthday tomorrow, Selena. No matter what, you''re spending the day with me."


    "Rx. Of course, I remember what day it is tomorrow. I even prepared a surprise for you." Selena''s voice was as tender as when she spoke to me earlier.


    I stopped eavesdropping and returned to bed, eventually losing my urge to sleep.


    The next day, she used the same excusepany matters to get away. As she left, I couldn''t help butugh at myself for how often she had relied on that


    excuse.


    I was taken aback for a moment, then I smiled. Tears mixed with my smile as I muttered to myself, "Selena, let''s end everything."


    After Selena left, I went to the counter and processed my discharge paperwork. There was no point staying there any longer. Besides, it was time to do something.


    Atst, I drove home. A feeling of wistful loss washed over me as I opened the door. While she was gone, I quickly tidied up every corner and packed all my belongings into boxes.


    Following that, I took out the divorce agreement from the drawer. I filled out everything that needed to be filled, then put it all back in the drawer.


    After I sealed the boxes, I contacted Jordan to have them loaded onto the truck. Once I sent him away, I returned to my living room.


    Standing in the center of it, I gazed at the home I had lived in for many years. What was once filled to the brim now felt so empty, with much of it gone. It looked so vast, so vacant.


    At the same time, it was reminding me that everything had changed.

 Chapter 5

    By the time Selena got home, it was already the wee hours. I sat on the couch, waiting for her, but she didn''t notice me. Instead, she tip-toed her way in as if afraid to wake me up. When she turned around, we locked eyes.


    Initially stunned, she quickly resumed her normal walking posture and approached me coquettishly. "Why didn''t you tell me you''ve been discharged, Hud? I went to the hospital for nothing."


    Hanging my head low, I pursed my somewhat chapped lips. "I forgot. Sorry."


    She seemed to have missed my strange emotions and continued tenderly, "Why aren''t you asleep yet at this hour? Were you waiting for me? Gosh, Hudson, you should look after yourself sometimes."


    She grabbed my hand and realized it was cold. "Why are your hands so cold? You should''ve turned on the heater. What if you get sick again? Also, did you clean around the house? Why does it look so empty?"


    My mind was surprisingly calm at that moment. I had figured everything out. Indeed, Selena loved me, which was unquestionable. At the same time, she couldn''t let go of Zion. Both statements were equally irrefutable.


    With that said, it was that exact reason that I couldn''t take this. I couldn''t ept someone who loved me while at the same time flirting with another man.


    I suppressed the bitterness I felt in my heart and looked up at her, interrupting, "I know, Selena. About you and Zion."


    The light was dim, yet it was enough for me to glimpse Selena''s ashen face. She pretended to be clueless, but her trembling voice and paleplexion betrayed her. "What are you talking about, Hud?"


    My lips curled into a wry smile. "Are you still gonna keep pretending, Selena? What''d be the point?"


    She shrunk underneath my arms and spoke with a shaky voice. "Hear me out, Hud-"


    I didn''t push her away and simply interrupted her coldly, "What can you even say? That you missed our anniversary because you were busy attending a concert with him? Or that you went on a movie date with him not long ago? Or was it about how you wore a wedding dress for him?"


    The more I spoke, the more pale she became. In the end, she pulled her head out of my arms, gripping my hand, her face pale as she shook her head at me. "Enough, Hud..."


    I disregarded her and continued, "I honestly wondered if you ever thought of me while you were with him. You could''ve just told me that you got sick of me, and we could end this amicably. After all the years we spent together, you chose to lie to me until the end.


    "I can''t believe you actually had the heart to do that..."


    My interrogative words prompted her to weep endlessly. She struggled to find her words, with nothinging out of her mouth. I gazed at her, calm yet resolute. "Selena, let''s get a divorce."


    I finally said it, and it wasn''t as difficult as I thought.


    She was frozen in ce, muttering, "Divorce?"


    "No, I''m not getting a divorce with you!" She shot up, screaming with a rather hoarse voice and contorted expression. "I won''t agree to the divorce, Hud. I was wrong; I''m sorry. I admit I had a thing with Zion, but it was never serious.


    "I swear I was never serious with him. You know I love you and only you."


    Selena would always look as pitiful as she did now whenever she made a mistake. Without a miss, I would always concede to her. But not this time.


    I stared resolutely at her. "We should just end it, Selena."


    While saying that, I stood up and took out the filled-in divorce agreement, wedding ring, and letter for her. "Remember to fill this up. I''ll be back to collect it. Also, I''m returning these to their owner."


    I turned around, ready to leave, yet she charged over and hugged me from behind. "No, Hudson! You cannot leave! I won''t agree to the divorce... Can''t you just forgive me once? I''ll delete all of Zion''s contacts and never see him again, okay?"


    I pried away her hands and turned around to face her. "Sometimes, there''s no going back once you take the wrong step. You know me; I never second-guess my decisions."


    If someone asked me, "Is this what you want?" I would''ve answered no. But that was life, wasn''t it? No matter how reluctant I was, some things were meant to be given up.


    I finally took a step out of the door. For some reason, I felt a weight lifted off my shoulders.


    I came to the cottage that Selena and I resided in before we got married. Although it wasn''t as spacious as my old home, it had everything I needed. After resting for a day, I resumed work at thepany.


    At the office, I was weed by arge bouquet of gardenias sitting on my desk, which took up half the space. Gardenias used to be my favorite flower.


    The bouquet also came with a card that read, "It''s a new day. I hope it''s a good one for you, Hud."


    Although there was no signature, I knew who had sent it. After all, my love for gardenias wasn''t something that strangers would know. But Selena... She had never understood why I adored them.


    When I first met her a long time ago, she was holding a mini bouquet of gardenias. The way she smiled wasplemented by the beauty of the flowers, and it became one of the fondest and most beautiful memories I have of her.


    Now, the sight of the gardenias felt like a p in the face.


    The following days, I received the same bouquet of gardenias on my desk. I knew she wouldn''t agree to the divorce so easily.


    One day, one of my employees couldn''t resist his gossiping urge and came to me, asking, "Mr. Davenport, are these from Ms. Norman?"


    I left his question unanswered, which everyone else took as a tacit agreement.


    "Oh, Mr. Davenport, I envy you and Ms. Norman''s love. When will I find someone as gentle and capable as her?"


    "I know, right? They''ve been married for many years, but their rtionship is going strong."


    I used to be ecstatic when hearingpliments like this, but now... never mind.


    I grabbed the gardenias and tossed them into the trash can in front of my


    employees. Under their puzzled and astonished gazes, I announced, "Do not say things like that in the future. Selena and I are divorced."


    With that, the atmosphere plunged into silence... until a ttering sound pierced the tense air.


    When I turned around, I found myself facing Selena''s gaze. She stood at the entrance with her eyes reddened, but she didn''t say a word as if silently admitting it was the truth.


    In stark contrast to her low mood, Zion radiated quiet delight and smugness behind her. He probably thought he had a chance now that Selena and I were getting a divorce. But whatever the case, it had nothing to do with me.

 Chapter 6

    "Selena, why are you still holding on to him? Wouldn''t divorce be better for everyone? Once you''re divorced, we can be together openly, and no one will gossip about us behind our backs anymore," Zion said.


    Selena and Zion''s affair was an open secret at theirpany. Due to Selena''s position and Zion''s charismatic personality, which made him well-liked by everyone, their colleagues chose to turn a blind eye and keep their mouths shut.


    Some coworkers had previously suggested I visit the office more often to check on Selena. At the time, I did not understand what they were implying, and I declined their well-intentioned advice, using the excuse of not wanting to disturb her work.


    Unexpectedly, Zion''s words only seemed to agitate Selena more. She covered her ears, appearing on the verge of a breakdown.


    "Stop it! I don''t want to hear anymore. I love Hud, not you!" Selena shouted. However, when she saw the tears welling up in Zion''s eyes, she immediately regretted her outburst and rushed tofort him.


    "I''m sorry, Zion, I didn''t mean to. I just got a little emotional, that''s all. Please don''t cry. I''m sorry, I know I was wrong..."


    Zion''s eyes brimmed with tears as he put on a show of being hurt, but when he nced at me, I caught his smug expression. He was clearly gloating, showing off how much Selena cared for him and how he held a special ce in her heart.


    As Selena continued rambling, I had already tuned out. It was clear that she herself did not know who she truly loved.


    Watching her console Zion, I shook my head and sighed. "Selena, just sign the divorce agreement. I''m tired of this rtionship, and ending it would be better for everyone."


    My words made Selena burst into tears. She looked at me and mumbled, "Hud, how can you just give up on our marriage? I know I made mistakes. Please forgive me. Zion and I... We''re just...


    I knew what Selena wanted to say, but she could not bring herself to express it with Zion present. She was walking evidence that women could be equally deceiving in a rtionship.


    Sometimes, I felt grateful that we did not have children, grateful that I was not the one who betrayed our marriage, and grateful that I could escape this rtionship. Though it hurt, it was better than continuing to live in denial.


    "If you won''t sign the papers willingly, we''ll have to settle this in court. Selena, we''ve been together for so many years, and I don''t want this to end uglier than it needs to," I said firmly.


    My words caused Selena''s expression to changepletely. I could not recall what else was said, but Zion eventually left with Selena. Our colleagues whispered among themselves, and while I could not recall their exact words, I noticed their looks of contempt toward the pair and sympathy toward me.


    Yes, sympathy was appropriate. Our love story, which had begun in college and led to marriage, was ending in ruins. Even after all those years together, a third person still found a way between us. It frustrated me that Selena was the first to want out when she was the one who made the first move.


    The pain I felt was overwhelming, so I requested time off. My boss seemed to have heard about my divorce. He looked at me with concern and assured me that better days woulde, suggesting I take some time to rest.


    I simply thanked my boss and left, heading to the bar where I used to work part- time during college. Since marrying Selena, I had rarely gone out drinking. Partly because alcohol was harmful to my health, but mainly because Selena disliked men who smoked and drank.


    As soon as I walked into the bar, the owner, who knew me from way back, greeted me warmly. "Well, look what the cat dragged in! What brings you to my humble establishment, Mr. Davenport?"


    I did not frequent the bar often, usually only showing up when work was rough or I was feeling down. Over time, I had be pretty close with the staff.


    The owner grabbed a bottle and sat down beside me. "Haven''t seen you in ages. What brings you here looking so down? If something''s bothering you, maybe I can help."


    I stared at him for a moment before taking a deep breath and sharing my burden. "I-I''m getting divorced," I said simply, not knowing what else to add.


    Clearly caught off guard by my response, the owner fell silent for a while before forcing a smile and patting my shoulder. "Hey, divorce isn''t so bad! You''re a free man now, and you can do whatever you want, whenever you want. It''s all good!"


    Despite his words, he soon fell silent, as if he knew exactly what I was feeling. We shared a few drinks before he left to tend to other customers.


    Perhaps out of sympathy for my situation or a sense of shared experience, he surprised me by gifting me a bottle on the house. I took the bottle and found a quiet corner to drink alone. As I sat there, a woman approached my table.


    She wore a red dress that hugged her curves, with wavy hair and wless makeup. Though my vision was getting blurry and my stomach was starting to churn from the alcohol, I could tell she was attractive.


    While I could not make out her exact features, something about her felt strangely familiar, as if I had known her for years.


    She seemed excited to see me, and her eyes fixed on me with such intensity that it made me ufortable. "Hudson, it''s been so long! I''ve missed you so much," she eximed.


    "Hudson, I''ve had feelings for you for such a long time," she continued. "I heard about your divorce from Selena, so I know you''re single now.


    "Hudson, I may not have been part of your past, but I want to be there for your future. Please give me a chance."


    A chance... How many chances were there, really?


    I had already been hurt once by a woman, and my divorce with Selena was not even finalized yet. I had neither the energy nor the desire to jump into another rtionship, so I had to decline.


    "I-I''m sorry. I-I just..." I mumbled, my head spinning. I vaguely remembered the woman saying something else, but I could no longer make out her words. Perhaps passing out and forgetting everything was not such a bad thing after all.

 Chapter 7

    I had a dream that night.


    "Selena will marry Hudson, and they''ll be together forever and ever."


    "I, Selena Norman, swear that I''ll only love Hudson for the rest of my life."


    "Hud, being with you is the greatest blessing of my life."


    Dreams were strange things-they could bring joy or pain, and sometimes, they cruelly reminded you of everything you had lost. I could not quite exin this feeling, but that was exactly where I found myself at that moment.


    When I woke up, I stared at the empty ceiling, feeling lost and confused. The memories of our happy moments still echoed in my mind, but Selena had destroyed it all with her own hands. A wave of sadness washed over me, and tears rolled down my face.


    Why did Selena have to be the one who pursued me first? She promised to love me forever and swore she would only love me. Yet, she was the one who broke her words.


    "Selena, I hate you," I thought to myself. "But I hate myself more for still thinking about you."


    Unable to contain my emotions any longer, I buried my face in my knees. Maybe crying would help ease the pain. After all, my world would not stop turning just because one person left. Surely, I could still find a way to be okay on my own.


    As I wallowed in my emotions, a woman''s voice suddenly broke through."Hudson, you''re finally awake."


    Her words felt like a bucket of cold water, instantly washing away my misery and recing it with embarrassment at being caught in such a state. I quickly wiped my tears, trying to regain myposure.


    Looking up, I saw a young woman with wavy hair and stunning features, wearing no makeup. She appeared gentle and kind.


    Seeing my tears, she looked surprised, her shock evident on her face. She asked, "Hudson, why are you crying?"


    I could note up with an answer that would not make me sound even more pathetic, so I chose to remain silent. How could I tell her I was crying over my divorce and the woman who betrayed me? How could I admit that I was the one who ended the marriage?


    Perhaps realizing something, her face showed a hint of awkwardness before she, too, fell silent. With both of us quiet, the room''s atmosphere grew ufortably tense.


    I nced around and noticed I was in an unfamiliar ce, covered by a thin nket and reeking faintly of alcohol.


    "How did I end up here? Where am I?" I asked, confused. My head was pounding, and I could not remember anything from the night before.


    The woman watched me with concern as I winced in pain. She handed me a ss of water and gently exined what had happened.


    "You were pretty drunkst night and passed out at the bar counter. I was worried about leaving you there, but I didn''t know where you lived. So I brought you back to my ce."


    She caught the confusion in my eyes and immediately blushed. Her sears turned visibly red as she hurriedly added, "Hudson, don''t worry-nothing happened between us. You just slept, that''s all.


    "I know you''re single now after divorcing Selena, and while I''d like to pursue you, I''m still a person with morals, I promise."


    I understood what she meant and believed her when she said nothing had happened. It was a relief that even in my drunken state, things had not gottenplicated.


    After that, we talked a bit. I learned that she was Sylvia Zanderson, a former ssmate who had been in the same major as me.


    Unfortunately, I was quite introverted back then, only really knowing my roommates and project teammates. I was not close to many people, so I barely knew who was in our ss after those four years.


    Hence, hearing Sylvia im she was my former ssmate left me a little stunned, maybe even a bit doubtful if she was telling the truth about us being college ssmates. Sylvia could tell I was skeptical, and she seemed disappointed.


    "You really don''t remember me at all, do you? I guess that''s fair. I was pretty ordinary in college and barely spoke to you, so it''s natural you wouldn''t remember me," she said with a sad smile. "I''ll let it slide this time, but Hudson, you better not forget me again."


    I did not know what to make of her, but I found her interesting in a way. ncing


    at my phone to check the time, I frowned, feeling an odd sense of loss.


    Was I mourning my past marriage? My current mess of a life? Or was it the unknown future that felt so unsettling?


    Sylvia looked at me nervously and confessed, "Hudson, I like you. I''ve liked you for a long time."


    Her confession caught me off guard. In all these years, Selena had been the only one to confess to me, and now, right after deciding to leave her, someone else was expressing their feelings.


    Was the universe trying to make up for all the hurt it put me through?


    I gazed at Sylvia and sighed. "To be honest, Sylvia, I don''t know you well. I mean, sure, we went to college together, but what is it you actually like about me?"


    She clearly had not expected this response and stared at me for a while before pouting slightly. "There''s no specific reason. I just wanted to tell you how I feel," she replied, seeming annoyed.


    I could not quite understand her reaction, but I knew I did not dislike her. However,


    I did not have feelings for her either, and I definitely could not agree to anything with someone I barely knew.


    As I thanked her for her help and prepared to leave, she insisted on exchanging contact information. Out of guilt and gratitude for her help, I agreed to add her on social media.


    When we officially became friends online, Sylvia smiled and waved her phone at me. She said, "Hudson, about your question earlier-when the time is right, I''ll give you the real answer."

 Chapter 8

    When I returned to work, I spotted Selena waiting outside the office building. She was holding a box with a forced smile, and despite the heavy makeup on her face, she looked exhausted. Nheless, I could tell she had clearly made an effort to dress up in expensive clothes.


    It was obvious that she had not been doing well during our time apart. Since she was clearly waiting for me, I texted my boss, iming I was feeling unwell to avoid any drama, and got permission to take the day off.


    Just as I turned to leave, Selena spotted me and ran over, holding her dress. She was still as reckless as ever, not caring about her own safety.


    Perhaps out of lingering affection, I stopped and waited as she approached. Selena just could not let go, and hearing her desperate words only made me sigh. I knew she still loved me, but her love was not reserved for me only.


    If she could not stay faithful, there was no point in continuing this rtionship. I was exhausted and could not turn a blind eye anymore. I could not casually ept her being intimate with other men or sharing my wife with someone else. "It''s over, Selena. I''m tired. We can''t keep doing this," I said firmly.


    My words immediately triggered her. "Why? Why? Why, Hud? Isn''t it enough that I''ve admitted my mistakes?"


    Suddenly remembering something, she quickly opened the box she was holding to reveal an borate dessert. "Hud, look! I spent hours yesterday following food bloggers'' tutorials to make this mango cake. Please try it¡ªI made it just for you, and I promise you''ll love it!"


    I fell silent when she mentioned that it was a mango cake. I looked at the cake with a frown but still reached for a piece and took a bite. The taste was as unpleasant as expected, and my skin started to swell. I sighed, feeling a deep sadness settling in.


    Selena''s hopeful expression faltered as she caught my sigh, confusion filling her eyes. "What''s wrong, Hud? Why are you sighing? Does it taste bad? That can''t be -it tastes great to me!"


    Then, she took a bite herself and ate with obvious enjoyment. Watching her eat contentedly, I shook my head.


    My action only upset Selena further. She finally put down her piece of cake and crouched down in distress.


    "You say you love me, but Selena, do you even know I''m allergic to mangoes? Do you know my skin swells up when I eat them? You don''t know anything about me," I stated, pulling up my sleeve to reveal my already swollen skin.


    Selena loved mangoes, but I was allergic to them. This was one of the reasons I initially hesitated to date her. However, her persistence eventually won me over.


    To make her happy, I tried to build up a tolerance, taking allergy medications and even ending up in the emergency room several times. I thought I had be immune, but yesterday''s reaction proved that my body still rejected mangoes as strongly as ever.

 Chapter 9

    Just like my marriage to Selena, it was useless no matter how hard I tried.


    Selena''s eyes widened in shock when she saw my allergic reaction, and she quickly threw away the cake. She rambled frantically, "I''m sorry, I didn''t know! I just saw you eating them often, so I thought mangoes were your favorite.


    "I had no idea you were allergic. But you never had a reaction before. Hud, are you lying to me? This can''t be true."


    What she thought she knew was just her imagination. I sighed and shook my head helplessly. "Selena, just go back. Aren''t you happier with Zion than you are with me?


    "How could you say that?" Selena was clearly hurt by my words but continued trying to reassure me, "Hud, believe me, you''re the one I love most. Zion is just a temporary recement¡ªhe can never take your ce."


    Oh, Selena. If only Zion could hear these words, how heartbroken would he be?


    My phone kept buzzing with notifications. When I checked, I noticed Zion had spammed me with multiple messages and pictures of them together, smiling brightly in various locations.


    "Selena is happy with me," Zion''s message read. "I know she won''t divorce you because she can''t let go of your history together, but I''m confident her feelings for you will fade soon. Selena is mine, and you can''t take her away."


    If Zion were not afraid of crossing Selena''s boundaries, he probably would have sent photos of them in bed. Looking at the pictures on my phone, I knew I could not trust Selena anymore.


    As she continued rambling, I lost my patience and showed her the photos. I stated firmly, "Selena, we''re done."


    She could make promises of forever one moment, then be with someone else next. It was just who she was; she would never change¡ªnot for me or anyone. I knew that now.


    "Look how happy you are with Zion-even happier than when you''re with me," I said, swiping through the photos one by one.


    "See all these ces? They''re the ones you told me you wanted to visit but never did. Now you have another man taking you there. You have someone else in your life now, and you don''t need me anymore. Please let me go. I''m exhausted."


    Selena stared at the photos, speechless for a moment. Then, she grabbed my arm and shook her head desperately. "Hud, I''m so sorry. I know I was wrong."


    She broke down sobbing, which pained me to watch, but I had to stand firm. We needed to end this because I simply could not ept it anymore.


    I pulled my arm free from her grip and took a deep breath to steady myself. "Enough, Selena! You never truly loved me!"

 Chapter 10

    After shouting those words, I felt a bit shocked at myself. While I was not exactly known for being gentle, people generally saw me as calm andposed.


    Looking at Selena''s stunned expression, I suddenly felt guilty. "I didn''t mean it like that, but I just can''t get past this," I said, shaking my head, at a loss for words.


    I nced at my phone and sighed. "Anyway, I need to go to work." I stared at her for a few seconds before turning to leave.


    "I''m sorry for everything," Selena mumbled from behind me. The words stung, but I did not look back.


    Instead of going to work that day, I bought several bottles of liquor and went home after requesting a week off. I knew I was throwing away my perfect attendance bonus and a week''s sry, but I did not care about the financial hit.


    I just needed to find some way to let it all out, or I would not know how to cope. That night, I drank eight bottles straight, one after another, until my stomach was on fire and my gut was churning.


    I spent that night running between my bed and the bathroom. The next seven days passed in a blur-three days of drinking myself into oblivion, followed by three days of confused, endless sleep.


    I wanted to end it all a few times, thinking if this was what life hade to, what was the point? On thest day, I finally snapped out of it. I found an old photo of myself when I was younger and looked at my phone, where a bucket list I had once written stared back at me.


    I realized this was not how I wanted to live. So, I shaved off my scruffy beard, changed out of my alcohol-stained clothes, and went downstairs to get some real food.


    ...


    When my colleagues saw me, they were surprised.


    "You''ve lost weight in these two weeks. Is the stress getting to you? Don''t worry too much. This too shall pass, and you''ll find someone better."


    I just smiled and changed the subject to work. I had no idea how Selena was doing. After deciding on divorce, I deleted all her contact information and limited my phone and work ounts to clientmunication only.


    While I was not typically a cold person, I believed that you should make a clean break when you decide to end things. What was the point of leaving loose ends? The idea of rekindling old mes seemed ridiculous to me.


    Someone told me that Selena had cried for hours that day. I did not know if she was crying over our years together or because she could not let me go. However, it did not matter anymore.


    I was selfish and could not ept sharing my love with someone else. After a week, I gradually moved on from the divorce. I threw myself into work and tried to keep things professional with everyone around me.


    Though they looked at me with doubt and were probably wondering if I was just putting on a brave face, none of that mattered anymore.

 Chapter 11

    Just as Earth would not stop spinning because of one person''s absence, my world kept turning too. After returning to work with a clearer mind, I noticed something strange-Selena had stopped trying to contact me.


    When I realized this, I felt an unexpected pang of disappointment. In a weird way, her desperate attempts to win me back had made me happy, proving that she still cared.


    Sometimes, I wondered if I had held out for just another month or two, would I have lowered my defenses and given her another chance? Maybe I would have even epted the reality of our situation.


    I wanted to call myself pathetic, but love was a strange thing. To prevent myself from breaking my own principles, I forced myself to avoid any news about her.


    I started putting my phone away after work and only used it for business


    purposes. During that time, I fell in love with reading physical books, spending my free time quietly immersed in their pages.


    I even began enforcing strict discipline in my life-waking up early, going to the gym, trying new hobbies like rock climbing and running. I also rekindled my old dream of pursuing a doctorate, increasingly driven to be a better version of myself.


    Yet, deep down, I knew the truth. I had genuinely loved Selena, and all those years of devotion and emotional investment were real. It was not easy to let go of years of love.


    Strangely enough, Selena still had not signed the divorce agreement. I had not approached her about it again; instead, I hired awyer to draft the divorce papers and file the court application.


    Due to the court''s busy schedule and the mandatory cooling-off period, our case was pushed back several months. Nheless, I did not mind the dy. Like wounds that would naturally heal with time, feelings would eventually fade too.


    My exceptional work performance earned me apany celebration dinner-the first one I had received in the seven years since I joined. After the party, my boss gave me a meaningful look before sharing some news.


    "Thepany wants to appoint you as general manager of our subsidiary. We hope you''ll manage it well and live up to headquarters'' expectations," he said.


    The subsidiary was located in Carzonia. It was barely three years old, had a weak foundation, and was thousands of miles away. This "promotion" was essentially a subtle demotion.


    In the past, I would have never epted such an arrangement. But after some quiet contemtion, I agreed.


    Once upon a time, I fell in love with this city because of one person. Back then, I turned down offers from majorpanies in smaller cities and passed up opportunities to study abroad, all to stay with Selena in this city, marry her, and live our simple lives together.


    Now that we were separating, it seemed like the right time to start fresh in a new city. When I ran into Sylvia at the subsidiary, I waspletely stunned.


    She greeted me with her usual cheerful smile and extended her hand warmly. "Let me reintroduce myself¡ªI''m Sylvia Zanderson, Director of SinoTech. I''m looking forward to working together!"

 Chapter 12

    Sylvia was a fascinating person. She was dedicated to her work and detailed in her approach. She also treated me with respect despite being newly hired as her supervisor, and she skillfully guided me through thepany''s policies and procedures.


    Sylvia had been a huge help in many ways, especially since I was not the social type and had kept my distance from most of the team. But with her support, I began to build stronger rtionships, and the wholepany atmosphere felt great.


    Perhaps because she was too obvious about it, the office started gossiping about us. They spread rumors about how perfect we were for each other, iming we were just too shy to acknowledge our feelings.


    Sylvia even once teased me about their gossip, saying, "They say we''re perfect for each other and can''t wait to see us together. What do you think, Hudson?"


    I did not know how to respond and chose to remain silent. After seeing my reaction, Sylvia quietly returned to her work.


    Having been used to the convenience of Adenville, moving to the less-developed Carzonia left me feeling somewhat disced. I could not pinpoint exactly what I was missing, but my thoughts often drifted to my marriage with Selena. I wondered if we would have been happy if Zion had not entered the picture.


    But there were no "what-ifs" in reality.


    "Sylvia, my divorce with Selena isn''t final yet," I told her resignedly. She clearly had something to say, but when our eyes met, she fell silent, disappointment evident in her expression.


    I was unsure if she understood my meaning, but I could not handle the idea of starting a new rtionship while my previous one had not properly ended. I had my principles and did not want to rush from one rtionship to another.


    After that conversation, Sylvia never mentioned the topic again, and the office gossip about us died down. At least, I never heard any more rtionship spection about us in my presence.


    During my first month there, I gradually adjusted to life in Carzonia. I got used to its slower pace, the quietness, the empty streets after 10:00 pm, and the solitude of living in a strange city.


    Sometimes, I resented being an orphan. People said home was the ultimate haven, but I had no family and few friends-no parents''fort or family''s care. Being alone was truly lonely.


    Other times, I felt grateful for not having a family because the pain of my divorce was mine to bear. Still, it hurt like hell.


    Later, ourpanynded a major project, and we celebrated with a party. Thepany covered all expenses at the upscale venue, and everyone was having a great time-except me.


    That night, Sylvia gotpletely drunk. I could not understand why she drank so much, but I could only watch as she knocked back drink after drink.


    Perhaps out of curiosity, everyone insisted that I should be the one to take the intoxicated Sylvia home. With no other choice, I ended up helping her back. Her face was flushed red from alcohol, and she made several trips to the bathroom along the way.

 Chapter 13

    Though I was not in her shoes, I could tell Sylvia was suffering. I felt helpless watching her state.


    I sighed. "If you can''t handle alcohol, you shouldn''t drink so much. You''re only hurting yourself. You''re old enough to know better than this."


    Sylvia remained silent, hanging her head low to manage her difort. I went outside to buy her a bottle of water.


    When I returned, I found her slumped against the wall, seemingly asleep with her eyes closed andpletely still. I approached and gently nudged her, but got no response.


    Just as I was about to lift her, she awakened and wrapped her arms around my neck, looking at me with a longing gaze. "Hudson, do you like me?"


    Sylvia was genuinely wonderful. She was beautiful,petent at her job, and kind to others. However, I could not quite define my feelings for her. I did not dislike herpany-in fact, I found peace andfort in our time together and sometimes wished things could stay just as they were.


    Yet, when it came to actual dating, I was not ready to start a new rtionship. I could not clearly describe my feelings for her, so I remained silent in response to her question.


    The question felt too heavy, and I could not give an answer lightly. I liked how things were and did not want to risk changing them.


    Seeing my silence, Sylvia smiled with tears in her eyes, looking hurt. "Whether you''re divorced or not doesn''t matter to me because your rtionship with Selena is beyond repair, isn''t it?"


    Sylvia was right. My rtionship with Selena seemed irreparable. In all this time, Selena had not tried to contact me or sent any messages. It was as if she had vanished from my world.


    I closed my eyes, trying to suppress my sadness. However, my reaction only made Sylvia grow more frustrated.


    "Hudson, you''re a grown man. Why can''t you be braver? You''re stuck in the past, avoiding the future, and refusing to let go. How can you ever be happy like this?"


    I understood Sylvia''s point and admitted she was right. Yes, I was being a coward and avoiding any discussion of the past.


    I was afraid to have any contact with Selena, fearing I might give in to the


    temptation of getting back together with her. Yet at the same time, I wanted to maintain my dignity as a man.


    As I looked at Sylvia''s face, realization suddenly dawned on me. I said, "Sylvia, I''ll take your advice. Let''s give us a try."


    They said the best way to heal a broken heart was to open yourself up to something new-to use the joy of a new love to fade the memories of the old one.


    Love would never truly disappear, but maybe it could be redirected.

 Chapter 14

    Everything changed a little after I decided to be with Sylvia. People in the office looked at Sylvia and me differently. I couldn''t quite describe it, but their eyes had a mix of surprise and happiness.


    I chose not to move in with Sylvia even though she hinted at the idea. I turned it down. To me, deciding to live together without fully understanding my own feelings and without introducing each other to our families didn''t seem respectful to her. "When the time''s right, I''ll move in with you," I said, trying to keep a straight face.


    She looked a bit disappointed, but there was also joy in her eyes. "Alright, I''ll go along with you for now. But soon, I''ll take you to meet my parents. Hudson, I really like you. You''re such a good man."


    In the month that followed, we spent time shopping, watching movies, dining out, and traveling together-it felt like when I had just started dating Selena. Those days with Sylvia were genuinely joyful.


    I thought happiness was finally within my reach-until one day, someone unexpected showed up. When I arrived at the office that morning, I noticed a vaguely familiar figure at the entrance. There was something off, though, something that didn''t quite match my memory.


    As he turned around, I could hardly believe it. It was Zion-the same guy who once unted Selena''s love for him in front of me.


    It had been two months since we hadst met, and he looked thinner, his face more gaunt, with deep circles under his eyes. He looked exhausted.


    Wasn''t he supposed to be happy with Selena? Why did he look like this? What had he been through?


    I felt a twinge of resentment and couldn''t be bothered to hide my annoyance. "Zion, what are you doing here? I already agreed to divorce Selena. What else do you want?"


    I expected him to get angry, but instead, he looked even sadder. His eyes held a mix of frustration and helplessness, and then, suddenly, he dropped to his knees in front of me.


    "Hudson, please," he begged. "Pleasee back. Selena really misses you; she can''t live without you. I''m begging you toe back."


    His action stunned me, and I quickly pulled him to his feet. "What are you doing? This is embarrassing. If you have something to say, just say it. Don''t kneel. I don''t need this from you."


    I nced at my phone, feeling a bit relieved that I usually came in early. It was only 7:00 am, and there wasn''t anyone else around yet.


    Watching him cry like that, I couldn''t help but feel contempt. A man was supposed to stand tall-what was with all the tears?


    After a long back-and-forth, I finally managed to get him up. Seeing as we still had some time before work, I led him to a nearby caf¨¦.


    I checked the time again and then looked at him,pletely out of patience. "If


    you''ve got something to say, just spit it out. I''ve got to get to work soon and don''t have time to waste here with you."

 Chapter 15

    Zion looked at me with both frustration and resignation. "I''m begging you. Just go see Selena. I''ve been looking for you for so long and only recently found out you work here."


    I never thought I would hear these words from him. After remembering how arrogant he used to be, I almost felt likeughing. "It''s over between me and her. Besides, I have a girlfriend now." With that, I showed him a photo of Sylvia and me together.


    When he saw our picture, heughed again. This crying andughing act of his was beyond my interpretation. After a few minutes, I took my phone back from him. "I don''t have time to waste with you here. I need to get to work."


    I stood up, ready to leave, but to my surprise, he started crying outright, his tears dropping onto the table one by one. "Do you know that Selena tried to kill herself because of you?


    "Barely half a year after breaking up with her, and you''re already with someone else. She still talks about you like you''re a good man, Hudson. But who do you think loves Selena more between you and me?"


    Suicide? How could she think of suicide?


    My mind went nk.


    Suicide? Why would she...?


    She was always so full of life, always smiling-how could she even consider something like that?


    I frowned, staring at him in disbelief. "Zion, what are you trying to pull here? I''m happy with my girlfriend now, so stop messing with my life."


    He gave a bitterugh, looking up at me with disgust. "You still don''t believe me even now, huh?"


    I scoffed. "It''s a life. You can''t just make something like that up. Be more realistic, Zion."


    "Do you really think I''d lie about this?" With that, he pulled out his phone and showed me a video, which showed that Selena''s hair was messy and her eyes were unfocused.


    "Hud, Hud, I miss you so much. Why won''t you text me? Why did you block me?


    "Ahhh... Is it because you don''t love me anymore... I''m sorry, I''m sorry, Hud. Come back, pleasee back.


    "What''s the point of living without you? Hud, I''m sorry. Just promise me you''ll live well, okay? I''ll be watching over you."


    Then, she took a sharp knife and began shing at her wrist. In an instant, blood dripped from her arm, staining the floor below. She looked at her wounded wrist and suddenly began tough.


    "Hud, if I die, will you love me again? Turns out, slitting my wrist doesn''t even hurt that much. After all,pared to the pain you caused me, what''s a little cut?


    "Hud, I love you. I truly love you. I''m sorry. Juste back. Where are you hiding? How long are you going to keep avoiding me? Hud, I miss you so much."

 Chapter 16

    Watching the video of Selena in that manic state left me stunned. Was this really Selena? My mind went nk as memories of our time together shed before me. "Hi, my name''s Selena Norman. I like you. Can you be my boyfriend?"


    "It''s our first anniversary. We have to celebrate it!"


    "I''m super in love with you."


    I recalled those sweet words she told me before.


    It had only been a few months, yet somehow it was impossible to process that she might be gone.


    "What happened to her? Is she okay?" I asked, gripping Zion''s arm.


    "If you want answers,e back with me," he replied. "Don''t make a choice you''ll regret."


    In the end, I took a week off and flew back with him on the next avable flight. After hours of turbulence, wended at dawn. The sun was rising, casting a soft glow across the sky. Exhausted, I hadn''t slept a minute, haunted by the image of her harming herself.


    Zion made a call, then turned to me with aplicated expression. "I''ve called a car. Try to sleep on the way. Even if you''re separated, Selena wouldn''t want to see you like this."


    But I couldn''t sleep. Every time I closed my eyes, the video surfaced in my mind, and I heard her cries. "How is she?" I asked, barely holding it together.


    "You''ll find out soon." He sounded indifferent. He added while frowning after he seemed to think of something, "You''d better catch some sleep. You might be able to fall asleep. Don''t be fooled by your assumptions."


    We ate something at the airport and then got into the car. I eventually drifted off like what Zion said even though images of Selena popped up in my mind.


    I was asleep for a long time until we arrived at the hospital. Zion didn''t lie to me. Selena did try to end her life but failed.


    She was found out by someone half an hourter after cutting her wrist.


    Following Zion inside, I found that the halls were nearly empty, adding to the heavy silence.


    "How is she now?" I asked as we walked down a long corridor.


    He didn''t respond, only stopped in front of a room, nced at his phone, then looked at me.


    "She''s in there. Go see for yourself."


    I stared at the closed door and felt my heart race.

 Chapter 17

    Selenay in the hospital bed, dressed in a blue and white patient''s gown with an IV in her hand, while her wrists were wrapped in thick bandages.


    Her unadorned face looked quiet and almost serene, though her lips were pale, and she was thinner than ever. Her once-delicate corbones now stood out


    starkly.


    Looking at her now, I couldn''t help but wonder if she had been taking care of herself at all since I had left.


    Zion came in, nced at me, walked over to her, and gently tapped her shoulder. "Selena, wake up. Look who I brought."


    Slowly, she opened her eyes, still half-dazed. "Hud, you''re finally back. I missed you so much," she said, stretching her arms out, wanting a hug.


    After seeing her look so fragile, I, feeling a surge of guilt, leaned in and embraced her gently. Zion, watching us, looked visibly ufortable and quickly stepped out, leaving us alone.


    Selena poured out her heart, talking about how much she missed me. It stirred something in me, but my mind kept drifting back to Sylvia and the guilt I felt toward her.


    I sighed, gently patting Selena''s back, trying to calm her down. Then, all of a sudden, she began to cry again, beating her fists weakly against my chest.


    She tried to push me away but failed. Hence, she stayed in my embrace and cried as she spoke, "Hudson, how can you be so cruel? I''ve been lying here all this time, but you didn''te once. We''re still married, yet you''re so indifferent. If I had really died, would you even have visited my grave?"


    Her words tore at me, filling me with a painful regret. "I''m sorry, Selena. I didn''t know."


    Hearing this, she quieted down, settling back into my arms. Not long after, exhausted from crying, she fell asleep.


    I gentlyid her back down, pulled up her nket, and quietly left the room. I didn''t dare to tell her about Sylvia.


    Outside, I found Zion waiting in the hallway, smoking with a distant look on his face. When he noticed me, he silently offered me a cigarette.


    "Sorry, I don''t smoke." I declined, pausing before voicing my thoughts. "Did youe all this way from Adenville to Carzonia just to bring me here to see Selena?"


    Zion said nothing, took a long drag, and then crushed the cigarette beneath his shoe. Watching him, I frowned. "If there''s nothing else, I''ll head back. I have work waiting."


    Thisst-minute leave hadn''t given me any time to wrap things up at the office. If I weren''t in such a senior position, I would probably be facing a major reprimand for this.


    I turned to go, but Zion grabbed the edge of my shirt. He kept his head down, his expression hidden, though I sensed a simmering anger. When he finally looked up, he seemed to have reached some kind of decision, and his eyes held a fierce determination.


    "Hudson, don''t leave. Selena needs you right now."


    His sudden words left me taken aback, even making me question if I had heard him right. Did this reallye from him?


    As if to confirm, he repeated himself, "Hudson, I''m giving Selena back to you."

 Chapter 18

    "I''ll give Selena back to you..." Hearing these words from Zion felt almostughable.


    "Zion, you must be joking," I said, barely able to hide my irritation. "You took Selena away from me. You wanted her-so take responsibility like a man."


    I watched as he looked away, clearly wounded, but I felt no sympathy. "And let''s be clear-Selena isn''t some object you can ''give back'' whenever you feel like it. She chose you that was her decision. It has nothing to do with me."


    "Can''t you see?" Zion finally said, his voice strained. "Deep down, she still loves you."


    Something in my words must''ve triggered him because suddenly, Zion sat down, overwhelmed, and began to tell me the full story.


    He exined that after I had thatst conversation with Selena, she went home in silence. He thought she was just upset over the divorce and that she would eventually get over it.


    But in the days that followed, things started to spiral. Selena constantlypared him to me, always putting him down. He was frustrated but couldn''t do anything except try to please her and hope she would move on.


    About two weekster, Selena made it clear to him-she loved him, yes, but she couldn''t let go of me or the years we had shared as husband and wife. She wanted to fight for our marriage, thinking maybe after her infatuation with him faded, she would still choose me.


    Zion felt desperate and helpless, so he took it upon himself to block any path of her back to me. He intercepted messages, provided the wrong contact information, and did everything he could to keep us out of touch.


    There was even a time when Selena came to my office looking for me, but by then, I had already epted a position at a branch office in a different city. Given the confidentiality requirements, no one could tell her my new location, and with Zion''s interference, she couldn''t find me.


    Unable to contact me or track me down, she started to unravel.


    "He left, Selena," Zion told her, attempting to dissuade her. "If he walked away, he''s already made his choice. You have to let him go."


    But he hadn''t realized how much those words would break her. "Let him go? How could you say that? After everything we''ve been through-all those years together, all those memories-and he just walked away?


    "Hudson, where are you?"


    In desperation, she flooded the inte with posts looking for me, even offering a reward for information. By that time, though, I had taken a step back from the world, deciding to cut down on screen time and barely even checking my work messages.


    For reasons I still don''t understand, the messages she posted never reached me;


    it was as if they got lost in the endless digital noise.


    It was only after she realized I was truly unreachable, gone from her lifepletely, that the gravity of loss became too much for her. And that''s what led her to attempt suicide.


    Zion finished his story, looking at me with a mixture of bitterness and regret.

 Chapter 19

    "I''m giving Selena back to you¡ªnot because I think I''m not good enough, but because I love her. I love her enough not to stand by and watch her destroy herself like this. Hudson, take good care of her. If you don''t, I won''t let you off easily," Zion dered.


    His eyes looked fierce, and I could tell he meant every word.


    But what could I do? Even if I wanted to care for her, I had no right to anymore. "But we''re already over," I replied, sighing. "Aren''t you two meant to be together?"


    "Are you blind? Can''t you see she needs you right now?" His voice rose as he spoke.


    I had always hated being yelled at-especially by someone like him. ncing around, I noticed that his outburst had attracted some attention; people were starting to peer out of nearby rooms.


    A nurse approached, visibly annoyed. "This is a hospital. If you need to sort things out, please do it outside. Don''t disturb the patients."


    I apologized to the nurse and led Zion outside to the parking garage. Once there, I looked around to make sure we were alone, with no one to overhear. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm.


    "First of all, I''m divorced from Selena. That means our marriage didn''t work out. Second, I have a girlfriend now. How do you think she''d feel if I dropped everything to take care of my ex-wife?


    "And finally," I said, fixing him with a steady look, "you were the one who took Selena from me. If you wanted her so much, then take responsibility. Don''t make me lose respect for you, Zion."


    I tried to keep my expression as impassive as possible, stating my reasons withplete rity.


    Then, unexpectedly, Zion dropped to his knees. "Hudson, I''m begging you. Just- just don''t bring up the divorce again with her. Lie if you have to. Please, just don''t let her know."


    He looked up at me with his eyes reddened and tearful. "I made a mistake. I never should have broken you two up. I should''ve been content with being with her in secret. At least then, I wouldn''t have ruined her life like this.


    "Selena''s health is fragile now-it took months just to stabilize her. You were myst resort.


    "This time, I managed to pull her back from the brink, but next time?" His voice was barely a whisper. "Next time, you might really lose her for good."


    "Are you really telling me that you don''t feel anything for her anymore?" His question hung in the air, heavy and painful.


    I didn''t know the answer. Since meeting Sylvia and starting a rtionship with her, my heart had felt strangely settled. Whatever I once felt for Selena didn''t seem as consuming as it once was.


    But the image of her lying frail in that hospital bed tugged at something deep inside me something I didn''t want to admit.


    Running my hand through my hair, I felt a rush of conflicting emotions. "This is too much. Give me a few days to think about it, alright? Let me go back and weigh everything."


    Zion stood up, wiping his tears. His eyes were wide and hopeful. "Fine. I''ll give you a few days. Hudson, I just hope to hear good news from you."


    I held his gaze for a moment, not saying a word, then turned and walked away.


    Would it really be "good news" in a few days? And what would "good news" even mean for me?

 Chapter 20

    I stayed the night in a hotel near the hospital. As soon as I turned off airne


    mode, my phone flooded with messages from Sylvia.


    "Why did you take the day off?"


    "Where are you? Why isn''t your phone reachable?"


    "Hudson, are you okay?"


    "Please call me back-I''m really worried."


    After reading through all her messages, I decided to call her back with a video call.


    The second she answered and saw me, relief washed over her face. "Thank goodness, Hudson! You finally called me. Do you know how long I''ve been waiting? Where did you go? Why didn''t you answer? Am I still your girlfriend or not?"


    I just gave her a quiet smile, letting her get it all out. After a moment''s pause, I decided to keep things simple.


    "Something came up suddenly, so I had toe back to Adenville. I was in such a rush that I forgot to call you. I''m sorry for making you worry."


    She looked skeptical but nodded. "Alright, fine. I''ll let it slide this time. So, when are youing back?"


    I couldn''t help but feel a little touched. That was just who she was. She didn''t press me for details, didn''t question my choices-she just waited patiently until I was back.


    A yful thought crossed my mind, and I asked, "Aren''t you worried I''ll get into trouble here in Adenville?"


    "I trust you. You wouldn''t do anything you shouldn''t. But if you ever did cross a line, just promise not to tell anyone I''m your girlfriend! I don''t want to be embarrassed like that," sheughed.


    Hearing this, a pang of doubt hit me. Taking care of Selena-was that something she would see as "crossing a line"?


    Noticing my silence, Sylvia''s expression grew concerned. "Is everything okay? You seem distracted."


    Staring at her on the screen, I couldn''t shake the urge to get her opinion. "If someone who was once very important to you was going through a tough time and needed you to care for them, but other people might misunderstand your intentions... would you still go?"


    She looked at me for a long moment, her expression shifting. She seemed to weigh the question heavily before answering, "That... that would depend."


    She paused, and I almost thought she would change the subject instead of responding. But then she said softly, "If they truly mattered to me, then I''d help. Misunderstandings can be fixedter, but some people... you only help if they''re really worth it.


    "I wouldn''t want to waste my time on someone who didn''t appreciate it or risk putting myself out there for the wrong reasons."


    There was a hint of sadness in her voice, as if she were recalling something painful from her past-something I hadn''t known about.


    "I think... I think I understand now," I said.


    Her expression was tight, like she was trying to shake off an unpleasant memory. She forced a small smile. "Alright then. Just... take care of yourself, okay? I''ll be here when you get back." And with that, she ended the call.


    Staring at the phone, guilt started creeping in again. I couldn''t help but wonder how Sylvia would feel if she knew the reason I had rushed from Carzonia to Adenville was to see Selena. How would she feel about it?

 Chapter 21

    At Zion''s request, I unblocked Selena''s number. As soon as I finished my call with Sylvia, Selena started flooding my phone with messages.


    "Hud, I miss you so much!"


    "Where are you right now? Have you eaten? What did you eat? Was it any good?"


    I felt a bit torn while reading her nonstop messages. Now that I had a girlfriend, should I even be replying?


    While I was still hesitating, there was a sudden knock on my door. I raised an eyebrow, feeling a strange sense of unease. I was here alone-who would be knocking? Reluctantly, I opened the door.


    To my surprise, standing there was Zion, nked by several unfamiliar men, allrge and intimidating. This definitely didn''t look good.


    "Why is it you again? And how did you know I was staying here? And what''s with these guys?" I asked, frustrated. I hadn''t shared my whereabouts with anyone- how did Zion even find me?


    He just sized me up and exined, "I saw you entering the hotel. All I had to do was to pay to know which room you''re staying in."


    Looking down at his phone, he exined why he was there, "Selena wants to see you. Come with me to the hospital-she needs you. I''ve arranged for a bed for you there so you can stay overnight."


    The way he said it wasn''t a request; it was more like he was just informing me.


    His attitude rubbed me the wrong way, so I instinctively refused, "It''s already 10:00 pm. I''ve been busy all day and I''m exhausted. I just want to rest. Let''s discuss Selena tomorrow, okay?"


    He didn''t respond. Instead, he pulled out his phone and made a video call to Selena.


    She answered almost instantly, and as soon as she saw me, she broke into a huge smile, repeatedly calling my name.


    "Hud! Hud, where are you? Why didn''t you reply to my messages? Have you still not forgiven me? Hud..."


    Seeing that I didn''t respond, her face twisted into an expression of despair. She clutched her hair, screaming and bing increasingly agitated.


    Watching her unravel like that, Zion''s expression soured, though he softened as he turned back to her. "Selena, don''t worry. I''ll bring Hudson to you soon. Just wait."


    Then he turned back to me, his voice sounding icy as he said, "Selena''s like this, and you still don''t want toe with me?"


    Seeing Selena in that state, I frowned. I had no idea what I had done to provoke such a reaction from her, but I had no choice. Reluctantly, I followed Zion back to the hospital.


    That night, I signed up to stay in the room with her. They ced a cot next to Selena''s bed, and I settled in for the night.


    She was thrilled to have me there. She wouldn''t stop talking, keeping me awake until three or four in the morning before finally falling asleep herself.


    Watching her sleep, calm and peaceful, I couldn''t help but wonder¡ªwhat had happened to her? How had she gone from the person I knew to the one lying here tonight? What had she gone through while I was gone,pletely unaware?

 Chapter 22

    After a full day of flying, all I wanted was a decent night''s sleep at the hotel. But after being kept up all night by Selena, I fell asleep instantly once she drifted off, sinking into a deep, dreamless sleep.


    The next morning, I woke up as soon as sunlight hit my face-my body never failed me. Selena was still asleep, but beside her sat Zion, gently holding her hand and wiping it, like a caring parent watching over a child.


    Noticing I was awake, Zion pointed to a stic bag on the bedside table, silently signaling that breakfast was there. I didn''t decline; after an entire day without eating, my stomach was empty.


    Once I finished eating, Zion stood up, looking at me with an expression of calm resolve. "I''ve already submitted a request for extended leave on your behalf to yourpany. Your boss approved it.


    "Hudson, stay here and help Selena through her treatment."


    It was only then that I learned Selena had been diagnosed with bipr disorder, and her suicide attempt hade after nearly two weeks of symptoms. Seeing my skepticism, Zion handed me a thick medical file from the bedside table. It documented every detail of Selena''s diagnosis, episodes, and treatments.


    He then pulled out a credit card from his pocket and handed it to me. "This is Selena''s card. There are 800,000 dors. Consider it apensation for you staying and helping with her treatment.


    "If you agree to stay, we''ll make sure it''s worth your while. I didn''t change the password; you should know what it is better than I do."


    I didn''t take the card. For one, I didn''t need the money; and besides, it was Selena''s card. The whole thing felt distasteful, and I looked down on Zion''s approach, especially knowing he had kept Selena''s diagnosis from me.


    "If you knew all of this, why did you agree to the divorce in the first ce? If I''d known, maybe Selena wouldn''t have " I didn''t even finish my sentence before Zion cut me off.


    "That''s because I was too arrogant," he said. "I thought I could help her get better on my own. But her treatment failed because you left.


    "Hudson, Selena''s condition is partly your fault. You''re responsible for her." He was practically seething, looking as though he could strangle me right there.


    His anger didn''t faze me. After years of dealing with all kinds of people, I wasn''t easily intimidated. And honestly, I felt unfairly med. I had no idea about Selena''s condition.


    We had been married for years, and she never once brought it up. To say this was all my fault seemedpletely unreasonable.


    "I''m not agreeing to this," I said firmly. "I''ve already filed for divorce, and we don''t have any kids, so legally speaking, Selena and I have no obligations to each other."


    It wasn''t that I didn''t want to help Selena, but as her ex-husband, I didn''t feel it was my ce anymore. Besides, I was already with Sylvia.


    Zion was visibly angry at my refusal. He shot me a dark look before breaking into a cold smile.


    "If you don''t agree, then I''m keeping your ID and phone," he threatened. "You won''t be able to leave. Let''s see how you handle that."


    His words made me suddenly realize I was missing something. I patted my pockets-empty. My phone and ID were gone.


    To make a point, Zion pulled out my phone and waved it in front of me, a taunting look in his eyes. I tried to grab it back, but he quickly moved it out of my reach.

 Chapter 23

    Seeing I couldn''t grab my phone, Zion looked smug, waving it around before me. "Hudson, if you don''t behave, you''ll end up just like this phone," he sneered, then hurled it to the ground with force.


    With a sharp crack, my phone shattered into pieces. I picked it up the screen was destroyed, and it wouldn''t turn on. Clearly, his resentment toward me ran deep.


    My phone was beyond repair, and there was nothing I could do about it. All I could salvage was the SIM card, which I would need tools to extractter.


    I was fuming looking at my broken phone and then Zion. I set the phone down, then threw punches at him and kicked him. He didn''t resist, allowing me to vent my anger on him. After a few hits, my frustration subsided, and I stood up.


    Staring at his bruised, swollen face didn''t bring me any satisfaction. "This is illegal detention," I said coldly.


    Zion wiped the blood from his mouth, his tone defiant. "So what if it is?"


    Then he doubled over in a fit of coughing, his eyes filling with tears¡ªwhether from pain or something else, I couldn''t tell.


    Looking at me, he said slowly and deliberately, "Hudson, I have no other choice."


    He nced over at Selena, who was still asleep, seemingly undisturbed by ourmotion. I couldn''t tell if she was pretending or really out.


    Zion gazed at her with such tenderness, his hand lingering on her pale face as he gently adjusted her nket.


    "I''m not letting you go until Selena fully recovers," he said. "As for your girlfriend, I''ll have someone reach out and exin things to her. Don''t worry. As long as you don''t walk away on your own, I''ll make sure this doesn''t cost you your rtionship."


    With that, he held his chest and staggered toward the door. When it opened, I saw several men stationed outside. So it wasn''t just the door that was locked-he had even set up guards. Anger red up in me all over again.


    "Zion, if you love Selena so much, why don''t you handle all this yourself? Aren''t you afraid that she''ll fall for me all over again and leave you by keeping me here? Are you crazy?"


    He stopped, then burst outughing. At first, it was augh, but then tears mixed in, making him look half-mad. He approached me with a twisted mixture of tears andughter, and I instinctively took a step back as he locked eyes with me.


    "Yes, I am crazy," he said. "I love Selena. I can''t stand seeing her like this. I''d do anything if it meant she could be herself again."


    I had no response for him-just a sense of utter bewilderment.

 Chapter 24

    Zion left, locking the door behind him. With someone guarding the entrance, I found myself stuck inside.


    Looking around the empty room, I felt a wave of frustration wash over me. After spending the whole nightforting Selena and now dealing with Zion''s antics, my stomach was in knots from anger. I decided the best solution was to try to sleep it off.


    When I woke up, I found Selena sitting beside me, cupping my face in her hands, her eyes just inches away from mine. I was startled by her sudden closeness.


    "Great! You''re still here, Hud! I knew you loved me!" she cheered, pping her hands and bouncing with excitement.


    Remembering the medical records Zion had shown me made me swallow hard. I still felt a twinge of unease. Regardless, I needed to find a way out. Zion was acting uwfully; he had no right to confine me.


    "Selena, where''s your phone? Can I borrow it for a moment?" I scanned the room, hoping to find her phone. She had been on a video call with Zion just hours


    earlier, so it had to be somewhere in the room.


    "Phone?" she murmured, then got up to search her bed. After a while of


    rummaging with no luck, she started tossing the nkets and smashing things in a fit of rage, looking like an enraged lion.


    "Where''s my phone? Why is everything gone? Aah!" She pulled at her hair, yelling.


    I was puzzled by her sudden outburst, but I couldn''t just stand by. I wrapped my arms around her, holding her hands to stop her from pulling her hair, trying to soothe her. "It''s okay, it''s just a phone. If we can''t find it, we''ll buy a new one. We have the money for it, so don''t get upset."


    My calming words seemed to work. Her emotions settled down a bit, and as I helped her back onto the bed, I noticed her phone tucked in the corner beneath the pillow, wedged between the wall and the frame. Seeing her calm down made me feel relieved, so I handed the phone back to her.


    When she saw her phone, her face lit up with joy, like a child who just found a long-lost toy. She held it up and showed it to me, grinning.


    "Hud, I found my phone! I''m not someone who just loses things. I cherish my stuff! Please don''t leave!"


    Watching her excitement, I felt a mix of helplessness and concern. I wondered if her episodes had affected her brain. But when she caught my doubtful


    expression, her mood shifted again. She put on a serious face, holding the phone up to me.


    "What do you want my phone for?" Her voice turned sharp and her gaze icy, resembling the stern demeanor she had at work.


    I hesitated, not daring to ask her directly for her contacts, nor could I tell her I wanted to call Sylvia to help me escape. If she found out I had a girlfriend after our divorce, there would be hell to pay. I had to think fast.


    "I was just feeling bored. My phone is broken. Can I borrow yours?"


    After a moment''s thought, she nodded. "Oh, okay, then you can have it." She handed me the phone and even kindly unlocked it.


    Just when I thought she would actually let me keep it, her expression suddenly hardened. She snatched the phone back from my hands and smashed it to the ground, shouting in fury.

 Chapter 25

    "No, I won''t give you my phone, and I won''t let you leave! Hud, I heard everything you said to Zion. You have to stay here and be with me," Selena insisted.


    It became clear that she had been pretending to sleep all along.


    She had smashed her phone with considerable force, and it became broken beyond repair. Watching my only means ofmunication destroyed made my patience wear thin, and I couldn''t help but explode in anger.


    "What do you both want from me? Why do you want to keep me here? Selena, did you instruct Zion to do this? We''re divorced now. Can''t you just let me go?"


    As soon as I spoke, I regretted it.


    Selena had bipr disorder, and I feared that my outburst might trigger a severe episode. I didn''t know exactly what her episodes looked like, but from our brief interactions, I found them quite rming.


    I was about to soothe her when I noticed that Selena remained eerily calm, staring at me with a nk expression. She turned to nce at the door, then down at the shattered phone on the floor, and suddenly let out a coldugh. "Hudson, I don''t know what Zion ns to do, but I know he''s doing it for my sake. I won''t me him, and if I were in his position, I wouldn''t let you go either.


    "And by the way, Hudson, I never signed that divorce agreement. There hasn''t been any movement from the court, so legally, we''re still husband and wife. You have to take care of me."


    I was baffled by her sudden rationality and the way she articted those thoughts.


    It made me wonder if the medical records Zion showed me were fabricated to make me feel guilty. I furrowed my brows, but then Selena''s demeanor shifted again.


    She looked up at me, took several deep breaths, and suddenly burst into tears, unable to contain her emotions any longer.


    Watching her cry left me in a daze,pletely unsure of what was happening. What was she doing?


    Selena clung to my arm, pouring out her feelings. "Hud, I miss you so much. I know I was wrong. Can you forgive me?


    "I know I''m a terrible person, selfish and fickle. I''ve hurt your feelings, and it''s my fault. I didn''t dare to stop you, but I truly couldn''t help it. After you left, I realized just how much I love you."


    Selena rambled on, and while I wanted to say something, I chose to stay silent when I considered her mental health.


    People often bottled up their feelings for too long, which led to anxiety and depression. But once those feelings were expressed, their mood could shift dramatically.


    That was how it was for Selena; after sharing her thoughts for a long time, her mood seemed to brighten significantly.


    Sometimes, I found myself wondering if she wasn''t actually sick at all and if this was just her true self.


    Yet, staring at the closed door, I felt a sense of confusion. Was it really worth it to stay and care for Selena?

 Chapter 26

    My interactions with Selena were quite simple. Even though we were stuck in this small hospital room, unable to leave or contact anyone because we had no phones, the hospital facilities were decent enough, and we had ess to the inte on the television.


    After chatting for two or three hours, she suggested watching a movie.


    After a few minutes of browsing, we settled on the film "Flipped".


    As I watched the movie, I couldn''t help but feel nostalgic. This was the first movie we had ever watched together, and even though it was released before I was born, it still moved me deeply.


    I clearly remembered my reaction the first time I saw it-Selena reminded me of the female lead, chasing after the person she liked with such bravery and passion. She truly was a good girl.


    Holding the remote, Selena looked at the movie cover and, snuggling up to my arm, asked softly, "Hud, do you remember that "Flipped" was the first movie we watched together back then?"


    I simply nodded, not wanting to say much. The plot still resonated with me, but watching it yearster feltpletely different.


    The female lead knew when to cut her losses, even when she liked the male lead. She could ignore his advances when she suspected his character was wed. But what about me? Should I do the same when I learned about Selena''s darker side?


    Sometimes, I found myself wishing that her rtionship with Zion was merely a misunderstanding.


    As I watched the male lead''s grandfather share wisdom with him on screen, I reflected on the different types of people in the world. Some were shallow, some were quiet, some were superficial, while others had inner depth.


    Everyone eventually met someone who shone like a rainbow, making everything else feel trivial inparison.


    These thoughts filled my mind as I saw the words on the screen.


    Suddenly, Sylvia''s face came to mind. When I was feeling down, she was the one beside me,forting me.


    When I first started working and faced difficulties, Selena rarely offered help. She was already a high-ranking executive, having be the president of thepany at a young age. She secured significant projects with the help of friends and family and thrived.


    She had no understanding of the frustrations of being undermined by superiors or the anger of being framed by colleagues. She would often casually say, "If it gets too hard, just quit. I can support you."


    As a man, how could I rely on a woman? I was determined to work hard and build my own career. I started putting in long hours, hustling for business, and dealing with all sorts of people. I was often away from home for ten days to two weeks at a time. Sheined, but she respected my choices.


    Eventually, I climbed the ranks from employee to team leader, then supervisor, and finally to president. Though it was exhausting, it was worth it.


    Yet, looking at her in my arms, I felt a twinge of doubt, even guilt.


    Had my absence left her feeling lonely and cold? Otherwise, why would she fall for her assistant?


    After all,pared to me, Zion had been with her much longer. It wasn''t surprising that feelings could develop over time. But that couldn''t justify her infidelity. That was simply hical.

 Chapter 27

    I was feeling conflicted and unsure of how to view Selena. I loved her, but at the same time, I resented her. I wanted to reconcile and return to how things once were, yet something in my mind warned me against it.


    It felt like a battle between two halves of myself, and I didn''t know what to choose, so I opted for silence. I didn''t know how much time passed, but then Zion came in with some food.


    As soon as Selena saw him, her gaze shifted between him and me, a mix of confusion in her eyes. But she quickly made her choice. She sat beside me, wrapped her arm around mine with enthusiasm, and smiled as she asked if I was hungry and what I wanted to eat.


    Although Zion looked pained and reluctant, he still brought the doctor in to check on her condition.


    After we had a simple meal, Zion called me outside to listen to the doctor''s findings.


    "The patient''s condition appears stable for now. As long as you don''t provoke her, she should be able to return to normal in time," the doctor exined.


    After hearing this, Zion visibly rxed and turned to me with a smile. "Keeping you here to care for Selena was indeed a good choice. As long as you obediently stay by her side, she''ll recover quickly."


    I nced around the VIP room, noting the quiet, empty corridors.


    Seeing Zion''s relieved expression made me shake my head, filled with apprehension for the future. "Zion, I don''t understand why you''re doing this. Selena is already unwell, and you are the only man by her side."


    I shook my head and suggested, "Why not take this opportunity to move Selena''s money away? You''ll have plenty of money that allows you to live freely andfortably. I''ve seen many people do just that."


    The moment I said this, it seemed to strike a nerve with Zion, and his expression darkened. "Hudson, do you think I''m like you,ing from a lowly background? That I''m with Selena just for her money?"


    I raised an eyebrow, confused.


    If Zion wasn''t with Selena for her money, then what was his motive? Could it truly be for some idealized version of love?


    Before graduating, I might have thought that way, but after entering the real world and witnessing its darker sides, I found it hard to believe in the abundance of love out there.


    This wasn''t some romance novel where a domineering CEO fell in love with his assistant. Where was all this loveing from?


    It seemed Zion sensed my thoughts and sneered, "Hudson, you should read more novels. While CEO stories can be clich¨¦, they sometimes reflect reality. I genuinely like Selena."


    Was it really genuine?


    Seeing my skepticism, Zion shook his head, his eyes filled with frustration. "I just don''t understand what Selena sees in you. It''s one thing for her to pursue you, but she actually married you and now can''t stop thinking about you."


    Later, I learned that Zion wasn''tcking in money either; he came from a wealthy family, even being the son of a chairman of apany.


    But I still wanted to know-what was it that Selena initially saw in me?

 Chapter 28

    Zion bought me the same phone model as my original one, but he still refused to give it to me and imposed restrictions on my usage.


    "I need to see your sincerity. Who knows if you might suddenly call the police and run away from here? Hudson, you can make calls and send messages, but you have to do it right under my nose," he insisted.


    I felt speechless but had no choice but to agree.


    Sometimes, I really regretted it. If I had known Zion would act this way, I wouldn''t have traveled all the way from Carzonia to Adenville with him, even if Selena had died.


    I inserted my SIM card into the new phone and called Sylvia. I realized how much I had missed her after being separated from her for days.


    The moment I heard her voice, all the gloom of the past few days lifted, and my spirits brightened instantly. "Sylvia, how have you beentely?"


    Since Zion was nearby and controlled my phone, I didn''t log into any of my social media ounts for privacy reasons; I chose to call Sylvia directly instead. Not being able to video chat with her and see her face filled me with an inexplicable mncholy.


    "I''ve been doing well. Why haven''t you called me in so long?" Sylvia voiced her


    concern.


    I nced at Zion, who was ying on his phone, and frowned. I quickly made up an excuse to brush it off. After chatting about various things, I sensed Sylvia hesitating to say something, but with Zion present, I couldn''t directly ask her what was on her mind.


    Looking around the hospital, the thought that I would have to stay here for the next several days-possibly even weeks-filled me with deep sadness.


    "Aren''t you worried about me while I''m gone?" I asked tentatively, hoping she might pick up on something unusual.


    There was a noticeable pause on the other end before she finally replied, "I heard from Mr. Lloyd that you went to Adenville for a project. Since it''s for work, how could anything happen to you?"


    Hearing this made me feel a bit sad, but I also thought there was nothing wrong with her perspective.


    Perhaps for her, I was cautious enough that there was no need for concern.


    After just a few minutes of talking with Sylvia, Selena suddenly came out, hugging my arm.


    Seeing her startled me, and I quickly told Sylvia that I had to take care of something before hanging up, fearing that Selena might say something that Sylvia would overhear.


    Misunderstandings were minor, but I was worried I wouldn''t have a chance to exinter.


    Selena looked at me suspiciously and asked, "Hud, who were you talking to that made you so happy?"


    "It was nothing; I just called to check on something for work," I replied. Luckily, I hadn''t put the call on speaker, so she couldn''t tell that I was talking to a woman.


    I deleted the call record and then returned the phone to Zion before leading Selena back to the hospital room.


    Thinking about that call with Sylvia left me with a lot of mixed emotions.

 Chapter 29

    I never expected that one day I would find myself in a situation as helpless as some of the plots in novels.


    Selena could be very sweet at times, but she could also be difficult to handle. Thankfully, she was generally forgiving toward me; as long as I showed some weakness and tried to appease her, even her temper would eventually cool down. So, dealing with her wasn''t too challenging.


    I had been stuck in the hospital for nearly three days.


    For those three days, I was confined to the room by Zion. Aside from going to the bathroom, I hadn''t stepped out of that room. I had no idea what the rest of the hospital looked like.


    I waspletely unaware of any information from the outside world.


    Zion appeared in front of me, holding a set of fresh hospital clothes. "Selena hasn''t taken a shower in three days. Now that you''re back, you need to help her bathe."


    "Are you saying I have to give Selena a bath?" I looked at the hospital clothes in his hands, puzzled.


    "Selena has bipr disorder. She''s not incapable of taking care of herself. You just need to coax her or remind her; why do I have to do it?" I expressed my dissatisfaction to Zion.


    To my surprise, he got even angrier and shoved the hospital clothes into my hands. "What if she gets the idea to drown herself? If anything happens to her, Hudson, can you handle that responsibility?"


    I rolled my eyes; it was just a bath-what could possibly happen?


    "I have a girlfriend. If someone needs to help her bathe, it should be you, not me."


    Zion seemed to be extremely disdainful of my character. "Now you talk about propriety? You''ve shared a bed with Selena before; you''ve seen her naked. It''s just a bath; it''s not like I''m asking you to sleep with her. Stop pretending to have some moral high ground."


    I was at a loss for words with Zion''s usations.


    Seeing my reluctance, he decided not to push further and instead said in a calmer tone, "If you help Selena take a shower, I''ll give you back your phone tomorrow. You can call whoever you want, and I won''t stop you."


    I was filled with frustration. It was my freedom to call whoever I wanted. I took a deep breath. "Why do I have to help her bathe? Others can do it too. Was she not taking showers before I got here?"


    Zion sneered, looking at me with evident disgust. "Since she was hospitalized, she hasn''t bathed herself. I''ve been the one helping her, but ever since you came back, she won''t let me do it anymore. Hudson, do you think that''s what I want?"


    I was a bit surprised by Zion''s willingness to endure this as a man for Selena.


    Whether it was a psychological act of revenge against him or a way to get another chance to call Sylvia, I didn''t know.


    In the end, I agreed to help Selena take a shower. Looking at the hospital clothes


    in my hands and then at Selena quietly watching a movie on the bed, I felt a wave of guilt wash over me.


    "Sylvia, I''m doing this for you. I hope you can forgive me, and may this stay a secret forever," I thought.

 Chapter 30

    "Selena, how about we take a shower?" I asked, holding the clothes out to her.


    I expected her toply, but to my surprise, she rejected my suggestion without a second thought. "I don''t want to take a shower. I don''t like showers."


    I remembered she used to enjoy bathing, so why the sudden change?


    I had promised Zion I would do this, and for both personal and practical reasons, I needed to follow through. After a lot of coaxing, I finally convinced her. She rxed and grabbed my arm, smiling at me. "If we''re going to shower, I want to take a couple''s bath with you."


    I was taken aback by her words. A couple''s bath was indeed something couples did, and it could be fun and enhance intimacy, but I was already with Sylvia. What would it mean for me to bathe with Selena?


    I frowned, wanting to refuse, but it seemed she sensed my hesitation and became upset.


    "Why are you hesitating, Hud? Do you not want to take a couple''s bath with me? Is it because I don''t look good anymore? Do you not like me? Is that why you don''t want to bathe with me?" she questioned.


    I wanted to refuse her request, but remembering her bipr disorder made me hesitate even more. As I watched her expression change, I quickly reassured her, "No, it''s not that. I just haven''t gotten the clothes yet. Can I go get them first?"


    Hearing this, she smiled, turned, and rang the bell by the bed.


    The bell chimed, and the door opened. A staff member walked in, nced at me, and then turned to Selena with a friendly expression.


    "Ms. Norman, is there something you need?"


    "Get him a nice outfit from a brand-name store and have Zion reimburse the costs."


    The man looked at me suspiciously but then turned and left.


    It was clear that taking a bath with me made Selena very happy. After the man left, she took my hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Hud, the clothes will be here in half an hour. Let''s go shower now."


    I didn''t know how to describe my feelings at that moment-everything was soplicated.


    The VIP room was spacious, and the bathroom was alsorge, equipped with both a bathtub and a shower.


    Once inside, she eagerly began to take off her clothes. Looking at her graceful figure, I swallowed hard. The thought of Sylvia filled me with an inexplicable sense of guilt, and I turned my head away, unable to watch.


    "Hud, what''s wrong? Why aren''t you looking at me?" Selena wrapped her arms around mine, standing on her tiptoes and whispering in my ear.


    "Women should be a bit more careful," I said, gently pushing her hands away from me.


    Even though she and I had been intimate before, our marriage was in shambles now, and I had a girlfriend. Morally, I couldn''t let anything else happen between


    us.


    She grew angry and turned away, not wanting to speak to me.


    Without her teasing, I breathed a sigh of relief. I needed to keep myposure. I was just there to help Selena take a shower. Once it was over, that would be that.


    I didn''t need to involve myself in anything else.


    I lifted my gaze to look at Selena, but I didn''t expect an even bigger surprise to be waiting for me.

 Chapter 31

    Selena''s back was no longer as smooth and delicate as I remembered-it was now marred by various scars, both old and new.


    Upon seeing the deep, crusted scars, I felt my heart sink with surprise and heaviness. I walked over and reached out to touch her back. She gasped, turned her head, and after seeing me, her expression shifted to a smile.


    "Hud, why didn''t you say anything before you touched me? It tickles!"


    I didn''t respond and simply looked into her eyes, realizing she was unaware of the scars on her back.


    Noticing I was still dressed, she stood on her tiptoes and began to undo my buttons. I frowned, but remembering my promise to take a couple''s bath, I reluctantly allowed her to undress me.


    Her hands lingered on my body, igniting a heat within me. If I didn''t stop this soon,


    I feared the situation would spiral out of control.


    I had a girlfriend; even if the only people who knew about this were Selena and me, I couldn''t betray Sylvia. I grabbed Selena''s hands, looking firmly into her eyes.


    "Selena, we''re just here to shower. If you have any other ideas, I''ll walk out right now."


    Disappointment flickered in her eyes as she let out an annoyed huff and pulled away from my hand away forcefully. She stepped into the tub, turned on the water, and began washing with soap without ncing at me again.


    Feeling helpless, I walked over and began to scrub her back. Despite the scars, her skin remained soft and supple.


    To help her rx, I had learned some massage techniques in the past to ease her fatigue, so I spent about half an hour giving her a massage while she soaked in the warm water. She soon rxed and fell asleep.


    Seeing she was unresponsive, I tested her a few times before finally feeling relieved that she was genuinely asleep. I lifted her out of the tub, dried her off with a towel, and changed her into a fresh hospital gown on the bed.


    Once that was done, I hurriedly took a cold shower to cool off and calm my racing heart.


    While looking at myself in the mirror, I was engulfed in confusion. If I had gotten intimate with Selena during this bath, would it alter our rtionship? Would I start to reconsider getting back together with her? But if I remarried her, what would happen to Sylvia?


    Fortunately, during the bath, I managed to maintain myposure and moral restraint. Nothing inappropriate had urred between us.


    As I exited the bathroom, I noticed a fresh set of men''s clothesid out on the bed. After a moment of hesitation, I decided to put them on.


    I nced at the sleeping Selena and then at the bell on the bedside table. After some thought, I chose to ring it. Sure enough, a few seconds after the bell rang, the door creaked open, and a staff member appeared.


    Seeing Selena asleep in bed, they initially looked worried, but I stopped them before they could approach.


    I kept my expression neutral as I addressed them, "I rang the bell myself. I have one request. Please get Zion here. I need to ask him something."

 Chapter 32

    Half an hourter, the door opened, and Zion appeared.


    Selena was still asleep, so to avoid disturbing her and fearing she might be pretending, I asked Zion to step outside for a private conversation.


    "Let''s cut to the chase. Why did you call me here? I have a lot on my te and no time to waste," Zion snapped.


    He knew about Selena buying me clothes, and as he stared at what I was wearing for a long time, his expression was a mix of resignation, reluctance, and even a


    hint of anger.


    I wasn''t sure why he imed to be so busy-perhaps he was handling work matters while Selena was out of the picture. Understanding the pressure of a full schedule, I didn''t beat around the bush with him.


    "What happened to the scars on Selena''s back?"


    "You don''t know how she got those scars?" Zion looked surprised, his gaze showing confusion. "Hudson, you really didn''t know there were scars on her back?"


    Seeing his shocked expression, I felt a bit lost myself. Should I have known about the scars on her body? Or were they something she had for a long time that I missed?


    Suddenly, a realization hit me, and I felt a bit of my pride wounded, especially in front of Zion. After hesitating for a while, I exined, "I haven''t been intimate with her for a long time, so I had no idea what her back looked like."


    As I grasped the situation, I frowned. "Are the scars on her back old? How did she get them? Zion, you need to exin this to me clearly."


    Sighing as he looked into my eyes, Zion finally began to exin.


    Selena suffered from bipr disorder, and when an episode hit, no one could stop it¡ªnot even Zion himself. To prevent her from hurting others or herself, he had no choice but to tie her up until she was exhausted enough to sleep deeply, at which point he would untie her and put her in bed.


    I found it strange but couldn''t pinpoint why. "Is it really that serious when she has an episode?"


    Thinking back to Selena''s state over the past few days and her behavior during episodes, I frowned. While she could be troublesome during an episode, she was still manageable.


    And for some reason¡ªperhaps my cautiousness-she hadn''t had many episodestely, even giving me the impression that she was already on the mend.


    Hearing my skepticism, Zion seemed frustrated. He stared at me, eyes wide with indignation. "That''s because you''re Hudson. She can''t let go of you, which is why she holds back with you."


    I found it hard to believe Zion''s words. Maybe I could have once unconditionally believed in Selena''s love for me, but ever since he entered the picture, I couldn''t bring myself to trust herpletely.


    How could I trust her? Trust in what? Trust that Selena truly loved me and no one else? Forget it; people needed to have some self-awareness, especially considering who I was dealing with-Selena.


    Once trust was broken, it was tough to rebuild.


    "Selena is still hung up on you. She can''t imagine living without you, yet look at you, Hudson¡ªjust a few months apart, and you''ve already found someone new," Zion said with resentment.

 Chapter 33

    I knew that Zion was quite discontent with the fact that I had a girlfriend, and I felt equally frustrated.


    He was the one who had disrupted my rtionship with Selena in the first ce, yet now that I had chosen to divorce her, he seemed to have a problem with me finding someone new. I couldn''t fathom where he got the audacity to look down on


    me.


    Being under his roof, I had no choice but to keep my head down, especially since I felt like I was being held captive by him. Sighing, I looked at him and said, "We agreed that if I helped Selena take a bath, you would give me my phone back."


    Zion sneered, pulling out his own phone and waving it in front of me. "I never said I''d return your phone. I just said you could make a call." With that, he unlocked his phone and handed it to me.


    Looking at his phone, the wallpaper showed a photo of Selena and him together. Seeing that made me lose the desire to make the call.


    Forget it, it was just a phone-nothing special about it. It was just a tool to fulfill my needs. I was about to dial Sylvia''s number when a text message came in. "We''ve found out everything about that woman. Meet at the usual ce tonight." Woman? Usual ce?


    I frowned and nced at Zion, but he showed no reaction. His eyes were fixed on the hospital room.


    Not wanting him to pull any tricks behind my back, I hesitated for a second before deciding to delete the message.


    I entered Sylvia''s number immediately, and as the phone rang, my heart raced with anxiety.


    I had been in Adenville for almost a week now, and I hadn''t seen Sylvia at all. I missed her so much. I even dreamt about her at night, reminiscing about our happy times together.


    But waking up meant those moments vanished, and I still could not see her.


    After what felt like an eternity, all I got was a polite automated response from customer service. I couldn''t believe it, so I tried calling her again, but oddly enough, none of my calls got through.


    Frowning, I felt a sense of dread creeping in, but I tried to reassure myself that I was probably overthinking things.


    Maybe she was in a meeting. It wasn''t umon for meetings to prohibit phones, and it was only three in the afternoon-meetings could definitely be happening.


    "What''s the matter? Not getting your calls answered makes you uneasy? How about I let you try again tonight so that you can satisfy your urge to talk to her?" Zion suggested.


    Just as I was about to agree, he seemed to read my mind and chuckled. "Just kidding. You really took that seriously, Hudson. Your girlfriend''s the one who did not pick up. Don''t me me. Since you''ve used this opportunity, you should wait a few days before you try again."


    With that, he took the phone away, not even giving me time to delete our chat history.


    I wanted to curse Zion for being so scheming, but the phone was his, and I was the one in a vulnerable position. I had no choice.


    Seeing my frustration amused him. He came over and patted my shoulder. "As long as you take good care of Selena, I''ll make sure you''re not shortchanged after she recovers. As for your girlfriend, I''ll handle that for you."


    Handle? What was he going to do?


    I was puzzled, but just as I opened my mouth to ask, Zion turned to leave, clearly not interested in addressing my questions.

 Chapter 34

    I returned to the hospital room to keep Selenapany.


    I wasn''t sure why, but ever since that shower we had, it felt like she had be a different person. She had grown increasingly clingy and was always eager to chat with me. Even when she could tell the conversation was fading, she would switch topics cheerfully andugh heartily.


    However, no matter how funny her jokes were, the thought of being stuck in the hospital with no way to leave or contact anyone without Zion''s permission dulled any humor.


    Seeing my serious expression, Selena stoppedughing and shook me gently. "Hud, what''s wrong? Why don''t you smile at any of my jokes? Did I not tell them well? Are they not funny?"


    I shook my head, sighed, and looked at her.


    "Scientific studies show that if a person stays in a confined space for too long, they''ll start feeling ill."


    Her eyebrows shot up in response. "Hud, are you saying you want to go outside?" I definitely wanted to go outside, but I had no idea where to go. I wanted to return to Carzonia, but neither Zion nor Selena would agree to let me leave.


    "I do want to get out. It''s too stuffy here, but I don''t know where I''d go."


    Hearing this, Selena''s face lit up with excitement. "That''s easy! Just wait for me."


    She immediately rang the bell, and the door opened. She walked to the entrance and said something to the two people standing there. One of them left, and before long, Zion arrived, panting as if he had run over.


    Upon seeing Zion, Selena turned back and hooked her arm through mine, looking positively jubnt. "Zion, get a car for us! Hud and I want to go out and have some fun!"


    Zion looked utterly baffled by this. He eyed Selena suspiciously and then shot me a displeased nce.


    He didn''t have to look at me like this. It was clearly all Selena''s idea, and I hadn''t prompted her at all.


    After studying me for a while, Zion firmly replied, "No way. You''re still hospitalized. You can''t go out."


    Seeing Selena''s expression change, he quickly grabbed her hand and added, "Selena, I''m doing this for your own good. It''s not safe for you to go out. It''s better to stay in your room."


    I was tired of hearing the phrase "for your own good". It often led to harm, and after hearing it so many times, it became irritating.


    Selena clearly felt the same way. She abruptly yanked her hand away from Zion and pointed at him, fuming. "Zion, have I spoiled you so much that you''ve forgotten our identities and rtionship?


    "Just remember that I''m the one in charge here, and you''re just a maid I hired with my money. Now arrange for a car for me and Hud so we can go have fun!"


    Her words seemed to hit Zion''s nerves, and I could see the surprise and sadness in his eyes. Still, after what she said, he eventually relented. He pulled a set of car keys from his pocket and handed them to the person at the door.

 Chapter 35

    Zion said, "The car is parked in the hospital''s underground garage. I''ll have someone take you both there. Selena, just tell the driver where you want to go and be back by six o''clock. Don''t stay out toote, or I''ll worry about you."


    He handed a new phone to Selena, inputting his number before reluctantly sending her off to the parking garage, watching as we got into the car.


    Selena leaned forward to say a few words to the driver. Her voice was too low for me to hear clearly, but I caught bits and pieces-something about a memorial and an old ce. Once she finished speaking, the car started, and Zion was left behind.


    As we drove away from the hospital, I couldn''t help but feel a mix of emotions while watching the building shrink in the distance.


    I had thought getting out would be a challenge. It had taken days to even get a chance to call Sylvia, and if that didn''t work out, I would have to wait even longer. Yet here, leaving the hospital was as simple as speaking a word to Selena.


    If I wanted to return to Carzonia, I just had to wait for the right moment to mention it to her when she was in a good mood and as long as she didn''t catch on to my true intentions.


    These thoughts lightened my mood considerably.


    "Selena, where are we headed?" I asked.


    She simply replied, "You''ll see soon enough! It''s a surprise!"


    We soon arrived at Wondend Park. Wondend Park was thergest and most famous amusement park built in Adenville over thest three years.


    When it first opened, she had insisted I go with her, but at that time, I was busy with several projects, so I had to turn her down. I remembered how she had argued with me over the phone that day, and after that, she never mentioned the amusement park again.


    "Mr. Cabot, are you still working on the same projects?" One of the staff greeted us warmly upon seeing Selena.


    "Mr. Cabot?" I frowned, feeling a bit off about their greeting.


    "What''s wrong with you? My husband''sst name is Davenport, not Cabot. That guy was just my younger brother," Selena coldly pointed out, her expression looking not particrly pleased.


    The staff member, realizing their mistake, quickly apologized, "I''m sorry. I mistook you for someone else."


    They looked at Selena with aplicated expression.


    She seemed a bit guilty toward me, for her tone softened. "Hud, what do you want to y? Let''s do it together."


    I looked at the towering roller coaster and listened to the screams of thrill-seekers echoing around us. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "The roller coaster. I''ve never been on one. Let''s go together."


    She was surprised by my choice, staring at me with disbelief. "That''s a bit challenging. Hud, are you serious?"


    When I didn''t respond, she tried to talk me out of it. "Hud, you have a fear of heights. Maybe it''s best not to go. What if something happens?"


    Her concern annoyed me.


    "You said I should choose for myself, so whatever I decide is my choice. If you don''t want to go, then you don''t have to."


    Reluctantly, she agreed.


    One''s suffering often stemmed from their own inability; I was not incapable. People could be eliminated, but they could not be defeated. Sometimes, it was necessary to face one''s challenges head-on.

 Chapter 36

    Upon seeing my stubbornness, Selena relented.


    However, when it was our turn to board the roller coaster, fate seemed to y a hand as we ended up in the veryst row.


    "I''ve never sat in thest row, but I''ve heard it''s not as fun. Hud, should we wait for the next round?" she asked.


    Earlier, I might have gone along with her suggestion, patiently waiting for the next ride so we could choose any seat we wanted. But now, I wanted to have my own way.


    "No, there''s already a spot. Why wait for the next one? Whether it''s the front row or the back row, it''s all the same. Selena, don''t be so finicky."


    I realized I sounded a bit harsh. Turning to gauge her reaction, I saw a flicker of surprise on her face, quickly reced by a look of grievance as she huffed at me. "Hudson, don''t regret itter."


    Selena rarely called me Hudson; she loved to call me Hud. When she called me Hudson, it meant she was genuinely upset.


    I didn''t have the energy to think too much about it.


    I had never been to an amusement park growing up. My family was poor, and we simply couldn''t afford it. During school, I was too busy studying, and in the holidays, I had to work. Time slipped by, and before I knew it, I had graduated and


    still hadn''t gone.


    Sometimes, I wondered why someone as yful as Selena had never taken me to an amusement park.


    Her family was wealthy, and they had strict rules. They didn''t allow her to be spoiled. When she was a freshman in college, she started getting involved in the family business.


    I thought she would have a carefree life there, but she often cried to me about the difficulties she faced at the grassroots level, feeling like she was being undermined.


    At that time, although I was only a sophomore, I had more life experience than she did. I helped her navigate social situations, taught her the ropes, and even stayed upte with her to work on proposals.


    Thinking back to those days brought a wave of nostalgia. Though those times were tough and filled with hardship, they were also when I felt Selena loved me the most.


    Perhaps, to rebel against her strict upbringing, she sought freedom in her romantic life.


    She dated who she wanted and pursued whoever caught her eye. I lost count of how many men had chased her during college, spanning various majors and years. Rumors even floated that she had caught the eye of a university professor.


    But, of course, some stories were just rumors, and no one dared to investigate their truth.


    When she finally stabilized in her career, I found myself struggling with mine. Sometimes, I marveled at how we had stayed together for so long-from college


    to graduation and into marriage-seven years of her by my side.


    But I couldn''t help but wonder, throughout those seven years, had I really been the only one apanying her?


    We settled into thest row as the staff helped us secure our harnesses. Perhaps it was because it was her first time in thest row, but she looked anxious, instinctively gripping my hand tightly.


    Her small hand wrapped around mine gave me a sense of nostalgia, as if a child was holding on. When she intertwined her fingers with mine, it felt like we were transported back to the past.


    I looked at her, wanting to ask if she still loved me, but the thought of Sylvia made me swallow the question back.

 Chapter 37

    I couldn''t say anything as I pleased as it might lead to unimaginable consequences. Right now, I couldn''t afford to take that risk.


    Selena turned to me, ncing at the throng of people in front of us.


    "Hud, the ride hasn''t started yet. If you''re having second thoughts, we can still back out. If you''re scared, we can ask the staff to let us off. Don''t worry about the money; we can afford it."


    I knew she was concerned that I might be scared since it was my first time, and I understood that starting something new can be daunting. But without taking that first step, how could I ever move forward?


    I sighed. "Selena, I''m not as fragile as you think."


    She didn''t respond and just looked at me with her big eyes.


    The roller coaster had started moving, and I watched as our seats slowly ascended, the incline increasing with each passing moment.


    It would be a lie to say I wasn''t scared-my heart raced as I worried about whether the ride would malfunction or if the staff hadn''t secured everything properly.


    Would I fall? A flurry of anxious thoughts raced through my mind, and at that moment, I could vividly imagine countless ways I could meet my end.


    But then I thought of Selena, and all those fears vanished. She was here with me on this ride; I wasn''t alone. I turned to look at her and saw that she had her eyes closed and mouth agape in a scream of fear.


    Many people on the ride were screaming as well, and the air was filled with the rush of wind and the cacophony of shouts. Yet, despite all that, I didn''t scream.


    My way of dealing with fear has never been to vocalize it. Even as a child, when I encountered strangers on dark paths, I never screamed. I just ran.


    As the ride came to an end, my scalp tingled, and I felt numb all over. Although itsted only a few minutes, by the time I got off, my legs were already feeling weak.


    Selena was exhrated. She had done this so many times that fear had no hold on her. "Hud, wasn''t that amazing? So thrilling!"


    She beamed at me, wrapping her arms around mine as soon as we stepped off the ride.


    I didn''t want her to see my fear, so I forced down the nausea and nodded.


    She scrutinized my expression for a moment beforeplimenting me, "Hud, you''re really impressive! It was your first time on a roller coaster, and you didn''t scream at all! Every time I ride, I can''t help but close my eyes and scream. I wouldn''t know how to get through it otherwise."


    Hearing her words eased my heart a bit. Not only had I not screamed, but I had also tried hard to keep my eyes open.


    As soon as she pulled me to walk away, I almost stumbled, revealing my


    weakness. "Hud, didn''t you say you weren''t scared?"


    I felt a bit embarrassed. "Maybe I just need to get used to it. My legs are a little sore; give me a few minutes to rest."


    She looked at me, smiling quietly without saying anything.

 Chapter 38

    I couldn''t tell if Selena was getting back at me, as the next round, she took me to do something even more thrilling-bungee jumping.


    Standing on the edge of a 300-foot-high tform, looking down at the raging waters below, I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me.


    Fear gripped me. I was terrified that I might identally fall off the edge and never have a chance tomunicate with this world again.


    I stood beside the pir, afraid to move, shivering as I watched her chatting andughing with the staff nearby, blissfully unaware of my inner turmoil.


    Once she finished, she turned to look at me and pointed at the other yers who were preparing to jump. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, clearly eager to take the plunge.


    "Hud, look! This bungee jump is even more thrilling than the roller coaster! I''ve done it before. It''s a st! You should try it too!"


    Sure, bungee jumping was exhrating, but it really put my heart to the test.


    I swallowed hard, managing a reluctant nod without daring to look away. With a gasp, one person jumped off the tform, followed by a chorus of gasps and screams from the onlookers, and my mind flooded with memories of news articles I had seen before.


    "A woman attempts a high-altitude bungee jump but ends up falling to her death due to staff negligence."


    "Shocking! A bungee jump turns into a fatal ident at a rogue amusement park."


    Selena nced at her phone, then turned to me, shaking the tickets in her hand. "Hud, I''ve already bought the tickets. After they jump, it''ll be our turn."


    "Selena, do we really have to bungee jump?" I asked, unable to suppress the gulp that rose in my throat as I stared at the tform.


    Riding the roller coaster had been a challenge for me, while bungee jumping felt like pushing my limits.


    "Hud, if you can handle the roller coaster, why not try the bungee jump? I remember you''re fit enough for this," she said, looking at me skeptically.


    "I..." I nced at her and ultimately chose topromise, mechanically moving closer to her. I could feel the disdainful looks of several men around me, but I didn''t care.


    I closed my eyes, and suddenly everything turned dark. I opened my arms, feeling someone''s hands moving over me. I frowned, realizing it didn''t feel like the staff. I was puzzled when suddenly someone shoved me, and I fell to my knees.


    What scared me more than the pain was an irrational fear. I quickly opened my eyes, and the tform seemed far away. It appeared that the person had pushed me away from it, and I couldn''t help but think how different it would have been had they pushed me toward the edge.


    Just that thought made my heart race, and a sharp sensation of panic washed


    over me.


    "Who pushed me?" I stood up, slightly angry, and questioned the surrounding crowd, but nobody replied. They all exchanged nces until Selena stepped forward, looking guilty.


    "I''m sorry, Hud! I wasn''t standing firm and identally bumped into you. I didn''t think you''d be so scared. I''m really sorry!"


    Scared? I didn''t quite understand her words. All I felt was something warm running down my face. When I raised my hand to touch it, I was shocked to find that I had started crying without realizing it.

 Chapter 39

    I felt embarrassed by the realization that I was crying, so I quickly wiped my tears away.


    Seeing me like this, Selena finally sighed in relief. She untied her harness and came over to take my hand. "Since you''re so scared, let''s skip the bungee jump. We can do something else instead."


    ording to the policy of the amusement park, the bungee jump fee wouldn''t be refunded since I backed out halfway. The staff tried to persuade Selena to go through with it, but she shook her head firmly.


    I noticed her lingering gaze on the people preparing to jump, and a twinge of guilt struck me. "If you really want to do it, I can go with you," I offered.


    But looking up at the tform, I hesitated and self-deprecatingly said, "I''ll just watch from the side. It won''t take long. You''ll be back up in no time, right?"


    We stood at the bottom, watching as people leaped off the tform, swinging through the air before being slowly reeled back in.


    While it looked exhrating, I still found it terrifying. What if the rope snapped or loosened in the middle? Just thinking about it sent a shiver down my spine. I shook my head, trying to rid myself of these dark, anxious thoughts.


    As she observed the jumpers, she pulled out her phone to take a picture, zoomed in, then quickly deleted it.


    Suddenly, she turned to me and asked a very strange question."Hudson, if I really died, how would you feel? Would you be sad? Would you regret divorcing me? Would you wish you had cherished our time together more?"


    I was taken aback by the weight of her sudden questions. I frowned, sensing something was off, but I didn''t know how to respond.


    Death could be a heavy topic, but sometimes it wasn''t. Some people could casually speak of it because they didn''t care, while others found it hard to mention because they wanted to keep living.


    Was she asking this out of concern or indifference?


    I sighed and gently ruffled her hair. "What are you joking about? You''re perfectly fine. There''s no way that could happen. Selena, don''t think like that. Just focus on your treatment, and you''ll get better."


    Maybe sensing my serious demeanor, she quickly shed a smile, patting my shoulder as sheughed. "I was just kidding! Hud, why did you take it so seriously?"


    I didn''t reply and just turned away to look at something else.


    Sometimes, certain words might hold truth, but due to various circumstances, they had to be framed as jokes; otherwise, they might never be spoken at all.


    Since we skipped the bungee jump, she insisted that I apany her on the Ferris wheel.


    Perhaps because there were fewer negative stories associated with it and I was used to heights, even though I had a fear of falling, the anxiety I felt while sitting down wasn''t as intense as I had imagined.


    As we rose on the Ferris wheel, the city unfolded beneath us, looking colorful and vibrant. We were lucky to be there at a perfect moment when the amusement park set off fireworks.


    With a loud bang, small fireworks shot up into the sky, exploding into brilliant shapes that lit up the night.


    "Hud, how about we remarry?" Selena suddenly asked.

 Chapter 40

    I turned to see Selena gazing at me with hopeful eyes, making her heartfelt plea for us to remarry.


    "Hud, let''s get back together. Withdraw the divorce application, and let''s be a couple again." Her gaze was filled with anticipation.


    I knew what she was hoping for and what kind of answer she wanted from me, but


    I didn''t want to go down that path. I was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond in a way that wouldn''t hurt her feelings. So, I chose silence instead.


    "Why, Hud? Why don''t you want to agree to this? You''re willing to put your work aside to support me through my treatment, which means you care about me. If that''s the case, why can''t we be together again? Don''t you see?


    "I don''t have those feelings for Zion anymore. I don''t love him. No one can stop us from being together."


    No one could stop me from being with her? But I had already decided to be with Sylvia; she was my girlfriend, not some third wheel.


    "Selena, it''s over between us. I''m here to help you through your treatment out of respect for our years together. There''s nothing else behind it."


    I didn''t tell Selena that I stayed because Zion forced me to. If I did, it would only make her more upset.


    I could see her shoulders trembling, and soon tears began streaming down her face, quickly soaking her cheeks. She was crying, but she didn''t say a word. She simply crouched on the ground, covering her face in despair.


    When we were together, she rarely cried. After I filed for divorce, she hadn''t cried either-oh wait, she did cry that one time at the office door.


    I didn''t know how tofort her, standing there feeling utterly helpless.


    The Ferris wheel had reached its highest point, but sadly, neither of us was in the mood to appreciate the view from the top.


    I quietly watched her cry, and I''m not sure how long we sat in silence before our ride was over. The staff opened the door, a bit surprised to see Selena crouched on the ground. "Hey there, youngdy, why are you sitting on the floor? Get up!"


    Feeling awkward, I nced at the staff and bent down to encourage her to stand, but she got up on her own, wiping her tears and looking at me with red eyes.


    "Hudson, don''t regret this," she said, and then she walked away.


    Our trip to the amusement park quickly came to an end after I made her unhappy. We headed to the parking lot and headed back.


    When we arrived at the hospital, Zion was waiting there, clearly having been there for a while. He rushed over to greet us as soon as he saw us.


    Since Selena was upset, shepletely ignored Zion''s attempts to be friendly, walking straight into her room and mming the door shut in anger. Though Zion didn''t understand the situation, he could tell she was not in a good mood.


    "You upset Selena again," he said, grabbing my tie and ring at me. "Hudson, I''m warning you. Don''t bully Selena, or we''re going to have a serious problem."


    With Selena feeling down, I was also simmering with frustration.


    I shook off Zion''s hand and looked him in the eye, sneering, "Zion, if you''re so tough, go ahead and kill me for real. You think I''m afraid of your threats?"

 Chapter 41

    "Zion, don''t challenge my limits." I wasn''t sure why I said that all of a sudden. Maybe it was the courage I gained from the roller coaster, or perhaps it was the pent-up frustration from these past few days finally spilling over.


    Regardless, after I said it, I could tell that Zion''s expression toward me shifted.


    I didn''t reveal to him that the real reason Selena was upset was because I had rejected her proposal to remarry.


    Just the thought of her wanting to get back together with me made me anxious. What troubled me even more was that she imed she didn''t love Zion anymore. It wasn''t good news for me that she didn''t love him and still couldn''t let go of me.


    I said angrily, "If you''re capable, then fight for her yourself. Take Selena back from me."


    "And Selena''s the one who can''t let me go, not the other way around. You don''t need to take out your anger on me." I added, hoping this would lessen Zion''s hostility toward me.


    Zion scoffed. "Hudson, you really are quite full of yourself."


    I could hear the mockery and disdain in his voice, but I didn''t care. I didn''t expect any love from Selena. That way, when the time came to divorce her for good, I wouldn''t be as heartbroken.


    I returned to my room to find Selena already asleep and turned away from me, so I couldn''t see her expression.


    Looking at her back, I felt a surge of emotions and had a lot I wanted to say to her. But as soon as I tried to open my mouth, I couldn''t find the right words.


    What should I say? Should I tell her I have a girlfriend? Should I say I don''t want to remarry because I don''t trust that she would only love me? Or should I admit that I felt like I didn''t love her as much as I once did?


    Every one of those statements would hurt her.


    Forget it. It would be better not to say anything and avoidplicating things further.


    The next morning, when I woke up, Selena was already up. She was sitting on her bed, watching a movie with the remote in her hand. Given what happened yesterday, I felt a bit awkward and didn''t know how to start a conversation without making things ufortable between us.


    However, I was even more afraid that she was still upset and would ignore me if I tried to talk to her. I hesitated for a moment until I saw her turn her head to look at me when she heard a noise.


    "Hud, you''re awake! Come over and watch this movie with me; it''s really good," she said, patting the space beside her.


    She was offering me an opportunity to join her, and it would be pretty clueless of me not to take it. So, I walked over and sat down next to her.


    My mind was racing with thoughts, and I was lost in them. I had no idea whether the movie was good or not; all I knew was that it seemed she wasn''t angry with me.


    With that thought in my head, my heart finally felt at ease. As I nced at the time disyed on the TV, a wave of mncholy washed over me.


    I had been here for almost half a month, and I still hadn''t found a way to escape.


    Since I arrived, I had only met her doctor once, and I still had no clear idea of how her recovery was progressing. So, I didn''t know when I could leave.


    Sometimes, rather than sitting around and waiting for something to happen, it was better to take the initiative.

 Chapter 42

    I rang the bell for I wanted to see Zion.


    He clearly disliked me. The moment he saw me, he wore a look of annoyance and didn''t even bother to hide it. Instead, he nced at his phone as if he were too busy to talk. "Hudson, just say what you need. I don''t have time to waste with you," he said.


    "How much longer does Selena need treatment? It''s been almost half a month. Is there really no progress at all? Zion, what''s your purpose in keeping me here?" I expressed my frustration directly.


    "I''m not the doctor. How would I know?" Zion rolled his eyes, clearly impatient.


    To avoid making the atmosphere any colder and fearing that our conversation woulde to aplete standstill, I switched topics. "Who''s handling things at thepany while Selena has been in the hospital?" I raised an eyebrow at Zion, voicing my concern.


    "What does that have to do with you?" Zion responded, puzzled. Then he added, "Don''t worry. I''ll make sure your position as president is still there for you when you get back."


    I was indeed worried about losing my position as president, but there was nothing I could do if they kept me trapped here. If I couldn''t ensure my own freedom, then the title of president wouldn''t matter to me as much.


    "It''s not ideal for Selena to stay in the hospital for so long. The shareholders will start toin. Why don''t you bring her paperwork to the hospital? I can handle it for her. Besides, she''s improving. Maybe she can manage a bit on her own."


    I needed to find a way to engage with the outside world. If I remained oblivious to everything going on outside for too long, I feared I would bepletely out of touch.


    Sometimes, the unknown was a terrifying thing.


    Zion seemed ready to say something else, but then a person suddenly approached and interrupted him.


    "Mr. Cabot, someone wants to see Ms. Norman."


    "Who wants to see Selena?" Zion asked, his expression suddenly turning wary.


    Since I had arrived here, the only person who hade to see Selena was Zion.


    Selena came from a wealthy family, but in many ways, she was also quite unfortunate. Her parents worked abroad, managing their ownpany and business, and rarely checked in on her life.


    Thepany she ran now belonged to her grandfather, but sadly, without even waiting for our wedding, he had passed away just three years after she took over.


    She was practically estranged from her parents. Even when I married Selena, they showed up for the ceremony and left the very next day, only to transfer arge sum of money into our ounts as an apology before flying back.


    Thinking about all this made me feel pity for her.


    Perhaps her tendency to seek affection wasn''t solely due to her personal issues. Maybe theck of attention from her family pushed her to desperately look for care and concern from others.


    The man shook his head, indicating he didn''t recognize the visitor. Zion frowned, turned to me, and took a deep breath, instructing, "Stop that person. I''ll go see who it is in a moment."


    "We can''t stop her. She''s alreadying over."

 Chapter 43

    Zion was still caught off guard when a woman in a dress approached us. Her long hair flowed down to her waist, and she carried herself with an air of confidence. Unfortunately, the briefcase she held seemed mismatched with her elegant appearance.


    This woman clearly didn''t like Zion, for her tone was curt as she spoke. "Zion, where''s Ms. Norman? I need to see her."


    Zion didn''t respond. Instead, he stood on his tiptoes, trying to see if anyone else was with her. When he confirmed she was alone, his expression soured.


    "I never mentioned to anyone in thepany that Selena was in the hospital. How did you find out? Andy, who told you?"


    "Andy?" I frowned. That name sounded familiar. I remembered hearing it from Selena before.


    Noticing the butterfly ring on the woman''s finger, I recalled that Selena had a capable assistant named Andy Zimmerman, who was very pretty and had many admirers. Unfortunately, she wasn''t interested in men.


    When Selena had mentioned her, I had briefly wondered if there was something more between them, as she often brought her up.


    The tension between the two was palpable, and neither seemed particrly


    happy.


    While I was still processing this, Andy''s gaze shifted to me. She raised an eyebrow, clearly not recognizing me. "Who''s he? I''ve never seen him before. Why is he here?"


    Zion shot me a nce, clearly reluctant to introduce me. "He''s just an outsider. He has nothing to do with our business. Why do you need to know him?"


    I had no idea what I had done wrong, but I felt that Zion''s words carried a personal undertone.


    "Andy, I''ll ask you again. Why are you here? I''ve never told anyone in thepany that Selena is in the hospital. How did you find out, and who told you?" Zion reiterated his question.


    I wasn''t sure what position Andy held in Selena''spany. But she must have been someone important, as she didn''t seem afraid of Zion, who also appeared unable to exert any authority over her.


    "Why do I need to tell you how I found out? I have my own ways. Where is Ms. Norman? I need to see her about something important," Andy insisted.


    "What''s so important that it can''t wait until I''m back? Why do you have toe to the hospital and interrupt Selena?" Zion was frustrated, though I sensed he was holding back, possibly because he was wary of Andy.


    "Zion, you''re just an assistant to Ms. Norman. You don''t get to decide everything," Andy replied, ncing around impatiently. "Where is Ms. Norman? I need to report on a project to her."


    "If you have anything to report, you can just email her. She''s still checking her emails," Zion retorted, rolling his eyes.


    "Email?" Andy seemed surprised by Zion''s suggestion and quickly shifted to mocking him. "Who knows if it''s actually Ms. Norman reading the emails or someone with ulterior motives? If any important secrets get leaked, can you and I be held responsible? That''s why I need to report to Ms. Norman in person.


    "Zion, are you trying to stop me because you''re hiding something from us?"

 Chapter 44

    Even though Andy spoke with impatience, I couldn''t help but agree with her logic. Watching the tension between the two of them, I felt no joy in the drama unfolding. It was just noisy. So, I decided to interrupt their exchange.


    "Actually, you could give me the documents, and I''ll pass them on to Selena. She''s resting right now, so it''s best not to disturb her. If you have anything to discuss with her, just tell me, and I''ll ry the message," I said.


    I looked at Andy and made an effort to appear polite.


    "Who are you? What''s your connection to Selena?" Andy asked, her expression filled with confusion.


    "Hello, I''m Selena''s husband, Hudson Davenport." Although I was reluctant, I had to rify my rtionship with Selena in front of her.


    "So you''re Selena''s husband, the president of Advanced Technology?" Andy seemed surprised, scrutinizing me for a moment before turning to Zion as if to confirm my identity.


    Zion was visibly annoyed but chose to turn away from me, remaining silent. However, sometimes silence spoke volumes, which meant he acknowledged my status.


    "Your title as president means you must have some capability. I''d appreciate it if you could take a look at this contract and see if there are any issues." With that, she handed me the briefcase.


    I opened it to find a stack of documents filled with dense text.


    Seeing her hand me the files didn''t please Zion. He continued to wear a scowl as he watched us.


    After she finished exining, Zion issued an immediate dismissal. "Since someone is handling the contract, you can go back now."


    Hearing this, Andy snorted dismissively. "Whether I leave or not is none of your business. Zion, if you can''t handle it, just deal with it. Just because you''re silent doesn''t mean people think you''re mute."


    With that, she beckoned me to follow her. I nced back at Zion but ultimately decided to apany her. Once we were away from him, Andy scrutinized me closely, pping her hands in appreciation.


    "I have to say that Selena has good taste. You''re handsome, in great shape, and quite capable. It''s a mystery why she would choose that pretty boy, Zion. I really don''t understand what''s so appealing about him that she would let someone like you go."


    Realizing what she had just said, her expression suddenly shifted to one of panic, and she hurriedly added, "Don''t get me wrong. I''m just speaking casually. There''s nothing to it."


    I understood why she was flustered. She probably assumed I was unaware of Selena''s affair with Zion and feared she might identally reveal something that could harm my rtionship with her. However, they seemed to be oblivious to the fact that I was already in the midst of a divorce process with Selena.


    "You don''t need to worry. I''ve known for a while," I said to Andy, calmly exining without mentioning my ns for divorce.


    "Wait, did you just say you''ve known all along?"


    I nodded, reluctantly confirming her assumption. Andy looked taken aback, her expression a mix of surprise and intrigue.


    Perhaps she was amazed at myposure. Knowing my wife was with someone else and still managing to stay calm must have been unexpected for her.


    But I couldn''t exactly tell her I had already submitted my application for divorce. Some things were best kept private, and this was one of them.

 Chapter 45

    "It''s good to know. Better than being in the dark," Andy said, visibly relieved. Her gaze held a hint of sympathy as she looked at the documents in my hand. She raised her hand as if to touch my arm but then hesitated, opting instead for a supportive gesture.


    "Just give it your all. As long as you put in the effort, Selena will still be yours. I believe in you-Zion can''t hold a candle to you."


    Hearing this, I could only smile and stay silent.


    To be honest, my position as president was not solely due to my own efforts; a significant part of it stemmed from Selena''s connections and influence. The people I worked with were more interested in partnering with her and Ocean Group than with me personally.


    That was why I was willing to start from the ground up in otherpanies rather than simply stepping into a high-ranking position at Ocean Group because of her.


    As a man, I valued my dignity. I didn''t want to be seen as someone living off a woman. I wanted to prove that I could forge my own path and achieve sess independently, regardless of my rtionship with Selena.


    Even if some people whispered behind my back, the fact remained that I had made it. In just five years, I climbed to the position of president and entered the upper echelons of thepany. No matter how much envy or resentment they felt, they had to respect me.


    The journey had its challenges, but the results were worth it, weren''t they?


    "Since someone is already handling this project contract, I''ll head back to thepany. There are matters I need to attend to. By the way, I forgot to ask¡ªhow long will it take you to review the contract? Is three days enough? I''lle to pick it up personally in three days," Andy said.


    I shook my head, and Andy frowned. She opened her mouth to speak, but I interrupted her. "It''s just a review of a document. You won''t need three days; two days will suffice. Juste by to pick it up then, and I''ll mark any issues for you."


    I couldn''t tell Andy that I wasn''t adept with technology.


    When I mentioned needing only two days, Andy regarded me skeptically but turned to leave nheless.


    Watching her graceful figure as she walked away, I decided to voice my curiosity. "How long has Selena been absent from thepany?"


    Andy paused and looked at me, furrowing her brow as she thought for a moment. "She hasn''t been in for nearly two months."


    Two months-she hadn''t gone to the office even before our marriage troubles began. This suggested that her bipr disorder might have developed before our separation, meaning her illness wasn''t solely a result of our rtionship.


    Reflecting on what Zion had said earlier only deepened my confusion.


    What exactly was Zion''s intention in keeping me here? Was it genuinely for Selena''s sake, or did he have ulterior motives?


    After pondering for a few moments, I still couldn''t grasp Zion''s motives, so I decided to let it go.


    At that moment, Andy''s voice interrupted my thoughts.

 Chapter 46

    "What''s wrong? Is there an issue?" Andy asked with concern, noticing my puzzled expression.


    I shook my head, choosing not to respond, and simply gestured for her to leave. Zion turned to me as I stepped out, his eyes filled with suspicion.


    "What were you two discussing behind my back? Why did it take so long? What were you really talking about?" he questioned.


    After hearing the words "behind my back", I couldn''t help but shake my head in exasperation. This guy was impossible; he clearly had a one-track mind.


    I nced at the file I was holding. It was quite substantial, but I still didn''t understand why Andy felt so confident in handing it over to me. Didn''t she worry about any repercussions?


    "Could I get a few different colored pens? Selena and I will need themter," I said.


    Ultimately, this document belonged to Selena''spany, and even though I wanted to help, I couldn''t shoulder this burden alone. I needed to coborate with her on this.


    Noticing Zion''s expression, I understood his concerns. "Don''t worry, I''ll take the file back to Selena and we''ll review it together. I won''t leak any of yourpany''s secrets. There''s no need to be stingy with a few pens."


    He scoffed, looking at me with a warning re. "Hudson, I''m warning you stay close to Selena during her treatment. Don''t even think about running away. I''ve told you before that I''ll let you go once Selena recovers. I keep my promises, so I hope you do too."


    I didn''t know why he insisted on saying such nonsensical things-maybe it was jealousy, or perhaps he just enjoyed trying to intimidate me. Either way, I was used to it by now.


    I managed to tune out his words and walked past him, heading straight to the room. Selena was already awake, sitting quietly and watching a movie. She looked bored and barely moved. When she saw me, she made some space for me and patted the spot next to her, inviting me to sit.


    I opened my bag and took out the contract documents, handing them to her.


    "What''s this?" Selena asked, her expression one of confusion as she epted the papers. She flipped through them briefly before closing them again, turning to me with surprise in her eyes.


    "How did the acquisition n from Titan Group end up in your hands?"


    It was clear this project was significant; I could hear the angerced in her voice.


    "One of your subordinates, a woman named Andy, brought it to you. She insisted you review it personally, but Zion wouldn''t let her, so I offered to bring it to you.


    "We can go over it together. If everything looks good, she''lle by the hospital to pick it up the day after tomorrow," I exined calmly.


    She looked at me for a moment without saying anything, then resumed reading the document. After flipping through a few pages, she closed it again, scratching her head and frowning. She was clearly a bit irritated.


    But it was normal to feel stressed about work; after all, being at the office was rarely enjoyable.


    She turned to me and tossed the file back, then rang the bell next to the bed.


    When the bell rang, the door opened quickly, and she looked at the two people standing there, saying coldly, "Tell Zion to go to the office and bring me myputer. I need to take care of somepany files. I want myputer within half an hour, or you can all consider yourselves fired."

 Chapter 47

    The person at the door paused for a moment, then quickly closed it again, and I could hear hurried footsteps-presumably going to find someone.


    I looked at the file in my hands and began to flip through it.


    Since it belonged to Selena''spany, I didn''t fully grasp the specifics, but from my quick review, it didn''t seem to have any major issues. Still, there was something odd about it that I couldn''t quite pinpoint.


    Noticing my actions, Selena frowned. "You don''t need to worry about this document. I''ll handle it with Andy," she said coldly while taking the file back from


    me.


    "Actually, I could help if you need it. I may not know all the details about your project, but I can assist with some basics," I replied, looking at her earnestly.


    Selena nced down at the file, let out a coldugh, and then met my gaze with a look filled with indifference and sorrow. "Hudson, since you refuse to reconcile with me, don''t pretend to care. I don''t need your concern or your help."


    I understood that she was still upset about what happened yesterday, and I didn''t take her words to heart-they were just temporary outbursts.


    However, with her rejecting my help, I felt powerless. I watched her in silence, sighing inwardly. Sometimes, I truly wondered why our rtionship had be so strained.


    Half an hourter, the door opened.


    Zion appeared with aptop bag, looking displeased. He walked over to Selena, who was absorbed in her documents. As if he understood her choice, he handed her theptop.


    "You could have just asked Andy for an electronic copy of the contract. There was no need to make it thisplicated," he pointed out kindly.


    Selena ignored his suggestion and deftly opened theptop. She pulled out her phone from the bedside and scanned a QR code to log in, then clicked on a cartoon avatar to send a few messages.


    From her expression, I could guess that the cartoon avatar belonged to Andy.


    Oddly enough, the same Andy who had initially refused to help Selena sent the electronic copy of the contract without hesitation after Selena sent her a few messages, seemingly forgetting our prior arrangement.


    She opened the electronic file and scrolled a few times, her brows furrowing. She then looked at both of us and firmly issued an order, "I need to discuss something with Andy. You two need to leave. I don''t want to be disturbed."


    Since it was her request, neither Zion nor I dared to say much. After Zion offered a few words of concern, he led me out of the room.


    As I nced back at Selena''s fierce and determined expression, I briefly caught a glimpse of the ambitious woman I had known in college.


    The vibrant, stunning Selena who had captured my heart for so long.


    But s, those days were gone forever.

 Chapter 48

    Looking at the empty corridor, I thought for a moment before striking up a conversation with Zion. "Is Selena very close to Andy?"


    "They''re not exactly close, but not bad either. Their rtionship isn''t as simple as it seems on the surface," he replied.


    Zion looked at me suspiciously, his eyes full of wariness. "Hudson, you never used to bother with things rted to Selena''spany, so why are you suddenly so invested? What exactly are you thinking?"


    I was speechless at his wild imagination, but I didn''t bother correcting him either. "Then why does she dislike you so much?" I asked, puzzled.


    "No idea. Maybe she''s just messed up," Zion replied irritably. For some reason, he looked at me with the same annoyed expression.


    "What''s it to you, anyway? Why do you care so much? Hudson, you didn''t used to be like this. Ever since you went to Carzonia, you have been asking all sorts of questions."


    I was used to Zion''s sarcasm, so it didn''t bother me much. In fact, it gave me a strange sense of superiority, as if his jabs were actually his frustration about me taking Selena away from him, though that wasn''t my intention.


    Recalling what Andy had said, I frowned and asked, "Did Selena have health issues from a long time ago? Her hospitalization wasn''t really because of me, was it?"


    There was a sh of shock in Zion''s gaze, but he quickly regained hisposure. He studied me as if trying to find something, then looked away.


    "Don''t jump to conclusions. Since you''re helpful to her treatment, whether it''s because of you or not, you need to stay with her."


    Hearing his answer, I sighed, feeling a bit helpless.


    It seemed that the reason behind Selena''s illness no longer mattered. Zion had no intention of letting me leave until she recovered.


    Just then, we heard a sound. Selena rang the bell by her bed. Zion and I rushed over immediately.


    Selena closed herptop, frowning as if she were deep in thought. When she looked up, her eyes were devoid of any of the previous affection she showed toward me. She didn''t even spare me a nce and looked directly at Zion instead.


    "Zion, I need to return to the office to handle some business. Arrange for me to get discharged. I''m leaving the hospital tomorrow," she ordered.


    After hearing that, Zion outright denied her request.


    Selena gazed up, staring at him coldly and reminding him, "Zion, don''t forget your position. There are some things I may let slide, but do not test my limits. My patience has boundaries."


    She didn''t raise her voice. As she was still weak, her words came out rather softly, but they carried a chilling undertone.


    Upon hearing that, I could sense Zion''s fear. His lips even trembled slightly as he looked at Selena with disbelief.


    I knew what surprised him, and even I was taken aback. Selena had gotten genuinely angry.


    She rarely got angry and usually couldn''t be bothered to pay much attention to other people. Even when others called her a disloyal, heartless woman, at most, she would give a slight hint of punishment in response instead of getting truly angry.


    But this time, I could tell she was genuinely upset.


    After a few minutes of direct eye contact between them both, Zion suddenly looked at me as if something had dawned on him. He pointed at me.


    "If you insist on getting discharged, then Hudson...Hudson will leave you.


    "To be honest, Hudson didn''t willinglye here to look after you. I was the one who forced him to stay."

 Chapter 49

    I never expected that one day Zion would voluntarily confess this matter, and


    even more so, that it was to make Selena stay.


    Selena looked at me suspiciously, her eyes filled withplex emotions I couldn''t decipher.


    "Hudson, is this true?" she asked me coldly.


    I was a bit puzzled. "Didn''t you already know?"


    After all, why would Selena have smashed her phone if she wasn''t afraid I would leave?


    But I hadn''t realized that Selena actually didn''t know the true reason I decided to stay. Did she think I was here solely because of her?


    She didn''t respond immediately and just kept staring at me. Then, she turned away and took a deep breath as if trying to calm herself.


    "You two can leave now. I need to think about this matter." Selena waved her hand.


    Once again, she chased me away, but I felt less confused than before.


    At least I now understood that keeping me in Adenville to take care of Selena seemed to have been Zion''s intention alone and nobody else''s.


    After being thrown out and threatened by Selena, Zion felt distressed. He held his head in his hands, questioning himself, mumbling as if he were in deep self-doubt.


    I couldn''t be bothered with Zion. His pain had nothing to do with me. On the contrary, I had endured quite a bit of suffering because of him.


    Sometimes, when someone disliked you, they would indiscriminately create trouble for you and me you for that, just like Zion did. After rambling to himself for a few minutes, he turned to attack me.


    "It''s all your fault! If you hadn''t taken that file from Andy and given it to Selena, she wouldn''t be insisting on being discharged. Hudson, if anything happens to her, I won''t let you off the hook!"


    As I no longer had to rely on Selena, I wasn''t particrly afraid of Zion''s threats.


    I believed that as long as Selena was here, he couldn''t do anything to me. Looking into his eyes, I suddenly felt an impulse to look down on him. "You need to understand that this situation hase to be because of your own actions." Upon hearing my words, Zion got angry and raised his hand as if to hit me, but he was shorter than me, and I easily caught his arm as he swung.


    I grabbed Zion''s arm, shaking my head, feeling his helplessness.


    He was fragile,cking any masculine strength men should have.


    Kids these days really didn''t pay attention to their physical condition or work on fitness. It was one thing to look weak, but they couldn''t afford to actually be weak.


    "Zion, you better not provoke me," I whispered coldly in his ear before releasing his arm and returning to the ward.


    As I pushed open the door, I found Selena sitting there. Herputer was on. She stared at it nkly, lost in thought.


    "Have you figured it out? What are you going to choose?" I asked.

 Chapter 50

    I looked at Selena expressionlessly, asking for her choice.


    She stayed silent, eyes on herptop. I didn''t mind and found a ce to sit, picking up the remote to watch something by myself.


    It felt like there was something different about her, though I couldn''t quite say what. She seemed like the same Selena I knew, yet not. But people wereplicated and strange creatures, after all.


    The movie ended. I was still trying to piece together the plot and make sense of the case when Selena interrupted my train of thought.


    She tapped thest key, closed herptop, and looked at me with a cold,posed gaze. "Hudson, do you really have no feelings for me at all?"


    I knew I could no longer dodge or brush off this question.


    "Maybe I did once, but now..." I sighed and didn''t finish the sentence. I knew she would understand what I meant.


    She was silent for a while, then forced a smile. "People say you can never force anyone to love you. If that''s the case..." There was another pause. My heart leaped with excitement.


    If Selena would just let me go without Zion''s approval, I could buy a ne ticket back to Carzonia immediately.


    It had been so long since Ist saw Sylvia. I had no idea how she was doing or whether she had been taking care of herself while I was gone.


    I felt ted, but what Selena said after that shattered my hopes.


    "I think I''ll choose to stay in the hospital," she said with a sly smile.


    From her expression, it was obvious she was saying it just to spite me, and I became angry. "Why, Selena? Feelings can''t be forced. There''s no going back for us. Letting me leave would be better for both of us."


    My anger grew. This whole situation was pointless. Staying here with Selena didn''t only disrupt my work but also my future.


    "Why?" Sheughed coldly, meeting my gaze with a smug smile. "I can''t force you


    to love me, but I will do all I can to make you stay with me for now.


    "Hudson, you''re staying right here. Once I get bored, I''ll let you go."


    Those familiar words infuriated me.


    I looked at the remote in my hand and took a deep breath, but couldn''t stop myself and hurled it to the floor.


    The loud crash shattered the remote into pieces, scattering it across the room. Hearing the noise, Zion rushed in.


    Seeing the broken remote and my anger, Zion was startled but quickly became furious.


    He pointed at me and scolded, "Hudson, what''s your problem? What did that remote ever do to you? And this isn''t even your stuff! What gives you the right to break it? Who do you think you are?"


    I was already fuming with anger after Selena''s little stunt, so his scolding only pushed me to my edge.


    "I don''t need anyone''s permission. I''ll break whatever I want. It''s not like I can''t afford to rece it."


    Zion was shocked, though he quickly tried to regain hisposure, looking at me in frustration.


    I turned to Selena. There was no joy on her face. As if to further provoke me, she put on a triumphant smile like a proud victor.


    "There''s nothing to fear in taking your own life. If Selena can do it, then so can I." I said.

 Chapter 51

    I bent down, picked up a shard of the broken remote, and drew it across my arm without hesitation.


    It happened fast. After a slight sting, a thin line opened, and blood began seeping out. It trickled down my arm and dripped onto the floor.


    Zion froze, looking stunned. Only after several drops of blood hit the ground did he snap out of it, shouting, "Hudson, what are you doing? Are you hurting yourself?"


    Selena, too, realized what I had done. She grabbed my arm, her eyes filled with fear, though she quickly rxed. She saw it was just a shallow cut on my skin, not my veins.


    I never told them, but I once had a mild depression.


    Bing a CEO was as grueling and demanding. There was high pressure and an insane amount of tasks, long hours, difficult clients, troublesome subordinates, and unreachable goals. Each of these issues pierced my heart like needles.


    I often sat on the stairs during that dark period, contemting my life. Was this all there was to it? Why were there so many schemes and deceptions in this world?


    I had considered ending it all so that I didn''t have to suffer anymore. But in the end, I always gave up on those thoughts.


    Every time, the image of Selena woulde to mind, shing before my eyes. My will to live was rekindled by looking at her pictures and thinking about what she said to me. In those moments, life was worth fighting for again.


    The world was a mess, but at least I still had Selena.


    But I never expected that she, too, would betray me and our love.


    When I found out about her and Zion, I was pushed to the edge again. I would even hurt myself back then to numb the pain.


    But fortunately, I met Sylvia afterward. If Selena had been my first ray of sunlight, Sylvia was my second, one that chased away the darkness Selena had left behind.


    So, I needed to find a way to get back to her. I needed to see Sylvia again.


    When Zion saw my injury, despite his reluctance, he went to find a doctor after Selena told him to.


    Selena picked up a towel and tried to clean my wound, but I grabbed it from her hand and tossed it to the floor. I didn''t need her kindness.


    "Hudson, what are you doing? Hurting yourself won''t do anything. It only injures you. It won''t affect anyone else," she said angrily.


    "Yes, it hurts me physically, but isn''t it a pain in your heart as well?" I smirked, looking at her with satisfaction.


    I was betting on her feelings for me. As long as she still loved me, if she felt a pang of sympathy, perhaps she would let me go.


    A little pain was a small price to pay if it meant I could go back.

 Chapter 52

    "What is it that you really want?" Selena asked as she took a deep breath. She was clearly flustered.


    "Nothing much. I just want my freedom back," I replied coldly.


    She looked visibly frustrated by my answer. She took several deep breaths before muttering angrily, "What can I do so that you won''t leave me?"


    I wanted to leave, and she wanted me to stay. We were in a deadlock situation.


    With no other choice, I decided to make a small concession. "Then at the very least, let me have my phone. Give me some way tomunicate with the outside world. Being cooped up in this hospital all the time is really getting on my nerves."


    I tried to keep my tone calm, but I was still feeling angry, and my tone showed that.


    Selena hadn''t expected me to be so insistent. After a moment''s silence, she reluctantly nodded.


    "Fine, I''ll give you your phone," she said.


    She looked at Zion, took a deep breath, and said, "But on one condition. You must promise me that you won''t leave until I''m fully recovered. No matter what."


    I didn''t want to agree, but I had no choice.


    "Zion, give him the phone."


    It was clear now. If I could get Selena to bend, Zion would be just a nobody.


    Seeing that Zion had taken out the phone, I looked at Selena, and as if thinking of something else, I said, "Wait. I have one more condition."


    "What''s with all these conditions?" Zion snapped. As he was about to scold me, Selena shut him up. She looked at me and heaved a resigned sigh, nodding for me to go on.


    ncing around, I took the phone from her and quickly checked for a signal. It was all alright.


    I gulped and then looked back at them calmly. "I need freedom of movement. You can have someone follow me if it makes you feel better, but you can''t restrict my movement."


    Selena hesitated, then nodded. "Fine, I''ll allow you some freedom, but you''re only allowed to move around near the hospital. You aren''t allowed to go too far. Hudson, it''s not that I don''t trust you, but I can''t bet that you won''t sneak away."


    She looked at me withplex emotions in her gaze. Her lips were pressed together as if there was more she wanted to say but couldn''t bring herself to.


    Seeing her relent to this extent, I knew I couldn''t push her further, so I just nodded.


    Once I agreed, she looked calm, although the color on her face was slightly drained and pale. "I still have work to handle. Both of you, please leave," she said weakly.


    Zion shot me a fierce re but turned and walked out.


    I wandered around the hospital. It was a big ce, yet strangely empty. Most of the patients seemed to stay inside, rarelying out to enjoy the sunlight or do some exercise.


    I felt sadness for them when I thought of that. They chose thefort of their rooms over the simple joys of nature.


    Checking the time on my phone, I hesitated but finally logged in and contacted Sylvia. It took several tries before she finally picked up the video call.

 Chapter 53

    Seeing Sylvia''s image appear on the phone screen, I could hardly contain my excitement. After all these days, I finally got to see her again.


    Sylvia couldn''t hide her excitement as well. But she covered her mouth, put on a serious expression, and scolded me.


    "Hudson, after all this time, you finally decided to call me. I thought you''d forgotten you had a girlfriend."


    Hearing that, I felt helpless and somehow misunderstood.


    Not only did I remember I had a girlfriend, I had also been reminding myself practically every second of it. No matter what Selena said or how she tried to tempt me, I couldn''t bring myself to give in.


    Sometimes, though, I wonder. If I hadn''t met Sylvia, if I hadn''t agreed to be with her, how would things between Selena and me be now?


    "Hudson, let''s get back together. I promise, from now on, I''ll only love you. Trust me."


    Selena''s words weighed heavily on my heart.


    Perhaps sensing that my mood was down, Sylvia put away her stern look and gently asked, "Hudson, when can youe back to Carzonia?"


    "Well, I... I don''t know yet. We are short of staff right now. I''m the leader of this project, so there''s so much to handle that I..." I was too embarrassed to continue lying because I genuinely didn''t know when I would be able to return.


    Selena''s condition was unpredictable. I didn''t know how she was progressing either. Judging by the way things were going, it seemed they wouldn''t let me leave anytime soon.


    "All right, fine, keep working on your project. It''s not like I have to have you by my side. I''m young, after all. I can wait for you toe back." But as she said this, she started tearing up.


    She quickly wiped her tears away, trying to hide her longing for me.


    There are times when I wanted to just tell Sylvia the whole truth, but the thought of Selena and Zion stopped me from doing that.


    I loved Sylvia, and I didn''t want her to get hurt because of me. I didn''t want to drag her into this mess as that would make me an awful person.


    Looking at Sylvia, I sighed and tried to reassure her,."I''ll try to finish it as soon as possible ande back."


    She didn''t respond and quickly found an excuse to end the call.


    I knew it was because she couldn''t hold back her emotions and didn''t want to break down in front of me. I could tell how much she missed me, but sometimes, certain things are best left unsaid, just like with love and rtionship.


    But I was caught in a dead end, and it was hard enough to protect myself. I didn''t have the right to make promises to Selena. More so, I didn''t want her to get disappointedter on.


    As I was getting ready to leave, I saw Zion standing there, looking annoyed.


    He raised his eyes slightly and gave me a cold look. "Selena wants to see you."


    For some reason, I always thought of Sylvia whenever I saw Zion.


    I couldn''t help but feel sorry for Zion. He and Selena used to be so close. He


    boasted about this rtionship to me and tried to push me away. But now...


    I sighed, looked at him, and finally asked the question that had been on my mind since I got back to Adenville.


    "Zion, aren''t you tired of living like this?"

 Chapter 54

    "What are you talking about?" Zion seemed puzzled. He looked at me as if he were looking at an idiot.


    "Isn''t it exhausting, to always follow behind Selena like this?"


    I wasn''t sure if Selena truly loved me, but at least I can tell right now that she cared more about me than she did about Zion, by a long shot.


    Zion was stunned for a while, clearly surprised that I would ask something like that.


    Then he turned away, only to turn back around with a scoff. "I only do what I like to do. Don''t you worry about it."


    But, as if thinking of something else, his expression darkened. A hint of anger then crossed his face, and he said, "Hudson, don''t get too full of yourself. I''ll admit that right now Selena might be paying more attention to you, but give it time. I''ll prove to you that she loves me more."


    Watching his fierce determination, I felt inexplicably satisfied.


    Though I wasn''t sure if it was for myself or for Selena.


    When I turned back to find Selena, she had her head down. She fixed her gaze on theptop screen.


    "Selena," I called out softly.


    Upon hearing my voice, she looked up and gestured at herptop. "You''re here, Hudson. Come over and help me review this contract. I want to make sure there aren''t any more issues."


    Even though she had be a formidable, decisive businesswoman and CEO, Selena still liked to ask me for help when it came to reviewing contracts.


    Back then, in order to support both her and myself, I spent an entire semester studying businessw just for this.


    Seeing her being focused and diligent now, the memories of those years came shing back.


    Especially those years when we first got together...


    Actually, when I first met Selena, I barely knew who she was.


    During my college days, due to financial stress, I was always juggling my studies with part-time jobs.


    Selena, on the other hand, was known for her wealthy background. I may not have known who the student council president was, but almost everyone had heard of Selena.


    She was known as a rich second-generation heiress. She was a flirt, the kind who changed boyfriends as easily as changing clothes.


    We met when we both worked at her family''spany.


    The summer after my freshman year, Inded an offer with thepany thanks to my university''s reputation.


    They agreed to sponsor my tuition for the next four years. And after graduation, I would have to work for them for a minimum of five years.


    During those five years, they would cover my living expenses, and I would get all the usual benefits. I agreed right away.


    That summer was the first time I met Selena.


    Though I had heard her name, I had never seen her in person.


    She struck me as gorgeous and outgoing. It was theplete opposite of my boring, reserved self.


    She didn''t reveal her identity when she joined us, probably on purpose. Other than me, no one in thepany knew she was an heiress.


    Back then, Selena wore clothes worth only a few hundred dors and lived and worked alongside us, enduring the hardships as all the other entry-level staff did.

 Chapter 55

    Having grown up with a life of luxury, Selena was truly a novice when it came to basic life skills. She couldn''t handle even the simplest task.


    She was beautiful, but this didn''t stop people from disliking her.


    Women who were a few years older than her especially disliked her and gave her a hard time. Even the men resented her, since her mistakes often got everyone scolded.


    They started calling her a spoiled princess, a name that hurt her deeply even if it wasn''t far from the truth.


    I would often find her sitting alone by the staircase, quietly crying to herself.


    I had started at thepany two weeks before her and had plenty of experience from the various part-time jobs I had done before to support myself. Thus, I picked up on the work quite quickly.


    Our team leader also noticed it. Within a few weeks, I was promoted and was already making more than the others who had joined at the same time.


    Maybe it was because of my calm temperament, and perhaps thepany''s special arrangements as well, but I was eventually assigned as Selena''s mentor, responsible for teaching her how to work more effectively.


    Over those two months of working closely together, Selena gradually became fond of me.


    When she confessed her feelings to me before she left the job, I was at a loss but eventually agreed to date her.


    Although she wasn''t skilled at work, often getting scolded by the leaders and crying over little things or breaking down easily, I was always there tofort her and convince her to keep going.


    Slowly, over those two months, she began to settle in, making friends with her coworkers.


    Perhaps because of her family background, she continued to spendvishly despite working entry-level jobs. Within days of getting paid, she would burn through almost everything.


    At one point, in order to give her a test, the Norman family cut their financial support for her.


    Despite that, Selena continued to splurge on things. She woulde to me for a few hundred dors to get through the month even before the middle of the month.


    I would ask her why she didn''t learn to save, and she would look down at her meager bnce, looking as if I had wronged her.


    "It''s not like I want to spend all my money," she''d say pitifully. "But if I don''t, how can I build rtionships with everyone?"


    She was right. Building connections had always been a costly thing.


    "I honestly thought she wouldn''tst. I''m surprised she managed to the end," our leadermented one time.


    "Honestly, I stayed because of you," Selena said.


    "This job was so tiring and so hard. I wanted to cry and quit every single day. I thought about running away so many times. But when I remember you were still here, it somehow made things a bit more bearable."


    "Hudson, being with you every day makes me so happy. I''ve never felt this way before. I really, really like you. Let''s be together, okay?" she said.


    Whenever I thought of those words from her confession, a warm feeling would fill my heart.


    Some memories, no matter how much else has changed, stayed vivid and fresh. The mere thought of those moments were enough to bring mefort and strength.


    "Hudson, what''s wrong?" Selena''s voice pulled me back from my thoughts. She looked at me curiously, waving a hand in front of my face.


    I looked at her and smiled, deciding it was time to tell her what I had been wanting to say for so long.


    "Actually, Selena, you look the best when you are focused and working hard."

 Chapter 56

    Selena was briefly stunned, clearly not expecting me topliment her directly. After a moment, she rested her chin in her hands, her eyes darting yfully as she smiled.


    "Actually, I think so too," she replied with a mischievous grin.


    She leaned in, cupped my face with both hands, and looked me directly in the eyes.


    "Who wouldn''t like someone who''s amazing?" she said.


    She continued, "So, Hudson, I really, really like you. Let''s get married again, okay?"


    Seeing her boldness,bined with all the memories I had just thought about, I felt a sudden flicker of hesitation.


    I was in a panic. I quickly pulled away from her grip, turning my head to avoid her gaze.


    "Hudson, please. Can''t we start over? I don''t even like Zion anymore. If you don''t want to see him around, I can fire him today. I promise you''ll never have to see him again."


    I could sense the distance between her and Zion, but the reason I couldn''t get back together with Selena wasn''t just because of him. The problem was, I couldn''t tell her that I had a girlfriend either.


    Right now, Selena was much more stable, and I was sure she would be able to return to her job soon.


    I, too, could leave Adenville and go back to Carzonia to resume my own life. If she found out about my girlfriend, though, she would surely lose her temper, and all my efforts would have been for nothing.


    It simply wasn''t worth the risk.


    "Why?" she asked again.


    She had asked me this question hundreds of times, but I still couldn''t tell her the real reason.


    I shook my head and sighed. "I don''t me you anymore, but I have my own reasons."


    Seeing the look of frustration in her eyes, I had no choice but to turn and walk away, leaving her alone to cool down.


    Ever since I had told Selena that I needed space, Zion had arranged for me to have a separate room.


    He was happy to do it, looking smug as he said, "Hudson, if you keep this up, you''ll lose Selena eventually. Don''te crying to meter. Here''s onest chance. Are you sure you don''t want to share a room with her?"


    I firmly shook my head. I still chose to leave and not sleep in the same room as Selena.


    It wasn''t just about having a girlfriend or worrying about Sylvia misunderstanding things if she found out. I was more concerned about what might happen to me and Selena.


    The two of us, staying in the same space for a period of time. One day, we might eventually cross a line.


    Even though I had turned down Selena''s request, it was like she had selective amnesia,pletely forgetting about our argument earlier.


    I had only returned to my room to rest for half a day when she knocked on my door, asking for help.


    "Hudson, could you take a look at these contracts and see if I''ve missed anything?"


    Seeing Selena standing there with herptop in hand, I sighed helplessly.


    When Sylvia called, I was still discussing the details with Selena.


    I looked at Sylvia''s name on the phone, then looked at Selena sitting beside me. I was hesitant whether to pick up.


    "If someone''s calling you and it''s not spam or a sales pitch, why not pick it up?" she asked, looking at me with curiosity, as though she couldn''t understand why I wouldn''t want to answer.


    Since she had asked me to, I stepped into the hallway to take Sylvia''s call.

 Chapter 57

    On the other end, Sylvia seemed to be in the middle of a bustling city, as her voice was nearly drowned out by the background noise.


    "Hudson, can youe to the train station in Adenville? I have a surprise for you," she shouted excitedly.


    Adenville? The train station? I was confused. A terrifying thought crossed my mind.


    I shook my head, trying to dispel it.


    How was it possible? How was it possible? It was ridiculous. Why would Sylvia be


    in Adenville? She had a job, and a busy one at that. There was no way she would have time toe here.


    Despite my doubts, I decided to go check it out.


    I made up a quick excuse to Selena. Though she was not happy by my sudden departure, she was bound by our previous agreement, so she reluctantly let me


    go.


    "Hudson, don''t you run away from me," Selena said as she looked me in the eye. It had crossed my mind, but I knew it wasn''t a real solution. Even if I left, Selena would eventually find a way to pull me back.


    So, for now, I decided to just take things one step at a time.


    I took a cab and spent nearly an hour getting to the main train station in Adenville.


    It was the busiest train station in Adenville. The station was buzzing with crowds when I arrived.


    I stood by thendmark out front, looking at the throng of travelers, and frowned. I was just about to call Sylvia when I heard someone call my name from behind.


    "Hudson, we meet again."


    Seeing Sylvia appear in the crowd with her suitcase in hand left me momentarily nk.


    "Sylvia, what are you doing here?"


    I was surprised by her appearance as I had never imagined she would actuallye all this way.


    "It''s because I missed you, of course." She pouted slightly. "I understand you can''te back, but if you can''te see me, then I''ll just have toe to you."


    For a moment, I didn''t know how to even begin exining to Selena that I had a girlfriend.


    "You don''t seem that happy to see me," Sylvia said, studying my expression with a frown.


    She looked a little annoyed. "Are you not happy that I came?"


    Honestly, my feelings were mixed.


    On one hand, I was thrilled to see her. After waiting and yearning for her for so long, how could I not be? I believed anyone would be excited if the person they cared about suddenly appeared in front of them.


    But on the other hand, her timing couldn''t have been worse. Given Selena''s current situation, how was I supposed to introduce Sylvia and exin who she was?


    I was overwhelmed.


    There was too much uncertainty. I was not sure what to do next.


    Sylvia patted me on the shoulder, looking confident.


    "Don''t worry. I''ve already booked a hotel, so it doesn''t matter if you''re staying in a dorm or renting your own ce. I''ve handled it all. No need to worry about amodations."


    She took a deep breath, closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them to gaze at the city''s towering skyline.


    "Adenville, I''m back," she murmured.

 Chapter 58

    I followed Sylvia to the hotel she had booked earlier.


    It was an extremely ordinary hotel with very average decoration and amenities.


    I didn''t quite believe it was a hotel. It was more like a small guesthouse, hidden in a narrow alley.


    Without calling the hotel directly, I doubt I would have even found it.


    "Why are you staying at a ce like this?" I gave Sylvia a puzzled look.


    She looked embarrassed, but she smiled. She then patted the white bedsheet and gestured to me to sit down.


    "It''s just for a few days, and I just need somewhere to sleep. Why do I need to be picky? It has air conditioning and a bed, and everything else a hotel usually has, so why not?"


    "Let me book you a better ce. This ce doesn''t seem very safe. "As I spoke, I took out my phone, wanting to book another hotel for her.


    The prices of the other hotels were a hundred dors per night. I suddenly understood why Sylvia didn''t want to stay in a hotel.


    I had been through rough times as well. I was no stranger to this kind of hardship.


    With that thought, I sighed and chose to respect her choice.


    "I still have some things to handle back at work, so I''ll head back first," I said, looking at her with a sigh.


    "You took the train here all alone from Carzonia. The long journey must have been tiring. Get some rest."


    Instead of leaving, though, I found a quiet spot nearby and called Zion.


    The phone connected quickly, and I was surprised to hear his voice.


    I had assumed he would recognize my number and hang up right away. But apparently, he had no idea it was me.


    I quickly introduced myself. There was a pause before he responded in an irritated tone, "Hudson, why aren''t you at the hospital with Selena? What are you doing out here?"


    So Selena had indeed sent someone to follow me.


    I nced around but didn''t see anyone tailing me. Still, I knew there was someone keeping an eye on me all this while.


    "Zion, I need your help with something." I decided to try working with him.


    "Just say it." But he quickly added, "But remember, Hudson, I''m not promising anything."


    I frowned. "Can youe over here? I need to talk to you in person."


    "If you don''te, I''ll just head back to Carzonia and catch the train from the station. With the digital ID system now, I can travel without my ID card."


    Apparently, my words were enough to threaten him. Although unwilling, Zion asked for the location.


    Half an hourter, I saw him downstairs at the hotel.


    He looked at the building''s shabby exterior with disdain. His gaze grew even more disdainful when he saw me.


    Ignoring his attitude, I led him into the hotel, all the way to Sylvia''s room.


    As if being disgusted by the ce, he patted his clothes to brush the dust off.


    I had slipped the receptionist some money, so I managed to book an hourly room without needing an ID.


    We sat in the room next to Sylvia''s. Zion looked at me disapprovingly at the room I had booked.

 Chapter 59

    "Hudson, are you out of your mind? What are you doing at a ce like this?"


    Zion looked around the room. He looked utterly dissatisfied with the d¨¦cor and the amenities of the room.


    "The bed is terrible, the decor is bad, and the whole ce has a creepy vibe. If you wanted somewhere to stay, couldn''t you have picked something better? Even the hospital''s amodations are miles ahead of this. I honestly don''t get what''s going through your head."


    My hospital room was in the VIP ward, costing hundreds of dors per day. Naturally, a hotel that cost only 50 or 60 dors a night was noparison.


    I didn''t have the time or patience for hisints, so I cut to the chase.


    "Zion, I need to ask you something. Did you send someone to follow me?"


    He looked slightly puzzled but nodded anyway. "Wasn''t that what you asked for? If


    I didn''t have someone watching you, what would happen if you ran off?"


    I didn''t quite understand why. If that was the case, why did he still choose to meet me when I threatened to leave?


    After a moment of hesitation, I sighed. "Can you not tell Selena what I was doing today? Make up an excuse if you have to, but just don''t tell her I went to the station to meet someone."


    "You went to the station to meet someone? Who exactly are you meeting? Where are you being so sneaky about it? What exactly happened¡ª"


    Before he could finish, I cut him off. "My girlfriend came to Adenville, and I went to pick her up from the station. She''s staying in the next room. If you don''t believe me, I can introduce you."


    "Your girlfriend is here?" He was surprised, but he quickly became angry.


    "Are you out of your mind? You don''t even know if Selena has gotten better, and now you bring your girlfriend into the picture. Do you even n on leaving?"


    I understood his anger but could only sigh helplessly.


    "She came here on her own without telling me. I had no idea she hade until she arrived."


    How could Sylvia know that what she thought was a surprise was actually more of a shock for me?


    "Things have already gone this far, so let''s focus on dealing with it. You wouldn''t seriously tell Selena that I went to the station to pick up my girlfriend, would you? Imagine her reaction if she found out about that."


    Zion rolled his eyes. "If you know the consequences, why did you go to the station?"


    "And if I didn''t? My girlfriend would definitely start to suspect something. What did you expect me to do? Call her and ask her toe meet me at the hospital?" I shot back.


    That left him momentarily speechless.


    "So what''s the n now? Your girlfriend is already here." He looked up at me and asked.


    I stared at the dim, cracked ceiling, feeling lost.


    "I don''t know."


    Zion didn''t give me a moment to collect my thoughts. Hearing my answer, he became infuriated, jabbing his finger toward me in rebuke.


    "You don''t know?'' Did you think about any of this when you started dating again? Selena still hasn''t officially divorced you, yet you''re already jumping from one rtionship to another without a second thought. Did you even think about the consequences?"


    I couldn''t help but smirk.


    And who was he to criticize me?


    Did he really think he had any right?


    Besides, I never aimed for some seamless transition, let alone begin another rtionship.


    Sylvia had been the one to pursue me from the start.

 Chapter 60

    "Hudson, what are you zoning out for? Think of something!" Zion interrupted my thoughts.


    I nced at Sylvia''s number on my phone and sighed.


    When he saw this, Zion rolled his eyes. "I haven''t even started sighing, so why are you sighing?"


    He rubbed his brow, looking visibly troubled and upset by Sylvia''s sudden arrival.


    "I don''t know why your girlfriend came to Adenville. Whether she''s here to see you or just to have fun, one thing''s for sure. Selena can''t know she''s here, and she absolutely cannot find out about this girlfriend of yours."


    He scratched his head, rolling his eyes again. "If Selena finds out, it would be a miracle if she didn''t get mad."


    Of course, I knew that. It was why I called Zion here in the first ce.


    After all, two heads are better than one, right?


    Zion stood up and started pacing, as if trying to work off his frustration. Then, he turned back to me and asked, "So, how long is your girlfriend nning to stay? When will she be leaving?"


    "I don''t know," I answered hopelessly.


    Since arriving in Adenville, and under Zion''s watch, I didn''t get many chances to speak to Sylvia. I had no idea what she had been going throughtely or what she was thinking.


    She didn''t discuss it with me beforeing to Adenville. Her unannounced appearance hadpletely thrown me off.


    When he heard this, Zion''s eyes widened in disbelief. "Hudson, be honest with me. Did you really have no clue she wasing?"


    Though I didn''t want to admit it, all I could do was nod.


    Zion let out a coldugh. "Your girlfriend is fun. She sure loves surprises but clearly doesn''t care if she drags you down with them."


    As much as I wanted to retort, it was true that her unexpected visit was indeed causing problems. I couldn''t think of anything to say to defend myself.


    I nced over at the room where Sylvia was staying, feeling a wave of frustration. For now, I could keep things under her radar, but if she nned on staying for a week or two, I was at a loss for how to handle it.


    Zion turned back to me. "So, what are you going to do? Can you tell her to go home?"


    "Are you serious, Zion? She just got here, and you''re suggesting I send her back? What do you think she''ll think of me if I do that?"


    "What would she think of you?"


    He gave a mocking smile. Then, he stepped closer and ced a hand on my shoulder. "How about this, I''ll introduce you to someone younger and prettier. You can just break things off with this one."


    It triggered me and I shoved him away. "If I break up with my girlfriend, then I''ll leave Adenville, and I won''t be around to help with Selena''s treatment."


    Hearing this, Zion''s smug look faded. He pursed his lips and scoffed. "What''s so special about this girlfriend of yours that makes her worth all this trouble?"


    I turned to him with a cold smile. "Then let me ask you, what''s so special about Selena that makes her worth all this trouble for you?"


    A few months ago, Zion was full of confidence. Even as Selena''s assistant, he had approached everything with a bright and upbeat attitude.


    Now, though, it was visibly different. He looked exhausted all the time. Though he was in his 20s, he looked as tired as someone in their 30s, like me.

 Chapter 61

    Selena''s attitude toward Zion had always been inconsistent. Sometimes, she


    treated Zion like a servant, taking out her frustrations on him and not showing any sign of affection for him.


    Zion took a deep breath and gave a cold look. "What do you know?"


    He sounded defensive, then added, "Selena''s sick right now. She only needs you temporarily. Once she''s better, I know she''ll realize that I''m the one who truly cares for her."


    Honestly, I didn''t care who Selena liked, as long as it wasn''t me.


    But the main issue now was figuring out a way to get Sylvia out of the picture.


    "Zion, can you do me a favor? Can you check how many days of leave Sylvia took toe here?"


    Without a word, he picked up his phone and made the call.


    Meanwhile, I messaged my assistant to get some information on Sylvia''s situation.


    "Mr. Dawson, Sylvia has been transferred to Adenville. Starting next month, she''ll be appointed as a director at the main office."


    I stared at the message, my eyes widening in disbelief.


    So Sylvia was moving to Adenville for work? Why hadn''t she mentioned any of this since she arrived, not even at the train station? Was she nning some other "surprise" for me?


    I waspletely in the dark. I saw Zion hang up, looking at me angrily as he asked, "Hudson, is your girlfriend here to cause trouble? What''s the point of leaving her position in Carzonia just to work here in Adenville?"


    Hisment made my head spin.


    I recalled Sylvia''s words at the station. "I''m back in Adenville again." Now, I finally understood what she meant.


    Zion also scratched his head, being frustrated at what he had heard.


    Indeed. Sylvia wasn''t here just to visit me. It was a permanent move for her. It had be much more difficult to solve this issue now.


    After a pause, Zion turned to me with a seething look.


    "If the enemy doesn''t move, we don''t move. You better go next door and ask her directly what her true intentions are."


    I looked at Zion, agreeing with him.


    I checked my phone for the time. It was already 10:00 pm. I called Sylvia a few times, but she didn''t pick up. I was left with no choice but to head over to her room.


    I knocked for a while but she didn''t respond. Just as I was about to ask the front desk for help, the door creaked open, and Sylvia poked her head out.


    When she saw it was me, she rxed and let out a sigh of relief.


    "Oh, Hudson, it''s you! I thought it was someone up to no good, knocking at this hour."


    She seemed nervous, ncing around to make sure I was alone before reluctantly opening the door and inviting me in.


    "It''s sote. What are you doing here?" Her hair was damp, like she had just finished showering. That might exin why she hadn''t answered her phone.


    "I just got off work. I missed you. Can''t I stop by to see you?"


    I took a look around. The room was simr to mine. Her clothes andptop were scattered across the bed. Theptop screen was still on. She was working on some documents.


    She noticed my gaze and frowned slightly. Then she shut theptop.


    I didn''t understand her reaction. I thought it was quite odd, but I didn''t dwell on it. I


    met her eyes and got straight to the point.


    "I heard you''ve been transferred to Adenville. Sylvia, is that true?"

 Chapter 62

    "How did you find out about this?" Sylvia frowned, clearly caught off guard.


    Looking at the expression on her face, it was obvious that she had no intention of telling me.


    Realizing this made me feel angry, though I wasn''t even sure why I felt that way.


    "Why? Wasn''t staying in Carzonia good enough?" I questioned her, looking her directly in the eyes.


    She sat down, slowly wiping her damp hair as she began to exin.


    "I just thought Adenville has a better economy and more opportunities. Working at the headquarters means faster promotion, and my sry will be higher."


    Her reasoning was solid, but something still felt off to me.


    Either way, my main task now was to persuade her to go back. If she was willing to return to Carzonia, I could use my current position, and even with Zion''s help, to transfer her within thepany.


    "But if you''re working here in Adenville and I finish my project and return to Carzonia, we''ll be living far apart. A train ride will take hours. We''ll end up in a long-distance rtionship."


    It had only been a month since we started doing long-distance.


    In this one month, we''ve hardly spoken. I knew nothing about her daily life, and it was unsettling. I couldn''t imagine how we would manage if this separation continued indefinitely.


    I was upset, but Sylvia seemed unbothered.


    She put down the towel, smiled at me, and shrugged.


    "Rx. I already paid two months'' rent for your ce, so your things can still be put there for two months. Plus, if you want, you can apply to stay here in Adenville. You used to work here, after all. If you requested toe back, they would probably approve it."


    I nced at my phone. Ourst conversations were those few short video calls. Besides that, we didn''t have any realmunication. I realized Sylvia hadn''t discussed any of this with me.


    The thought made me even angrier.


    "Why didn''t you at least talk to me about these things?" I asked, barely holding back my frustration.


    She looked at me with genuine confusion. "This is my business. As long as I have it sorted, why do I need to discuss it with you?"


    "Did you discuss it with me before you left Adenville? You left without a word. You didn''t even leave a message," she shot back.


    I didn''t know Sylvia was still thinking about that incident. I thought she had gotten over it.


    "You didn''t tell me a single thing abouting to Adenville. I called you so many times, and you didn''t answer. If it weren''t for the fact that you finally called back before the 72-hour limit to file a report, I was ready to report you missing to the police."


    "And now, here you are, lecturing me about not discussing the transfer with you, as if you consulted me when you took on this project in Adenville," she added, her voice bing louder.


    It was clear that she was not happy about meing to Adenville.


    "Sylvia, I know I should have talked to you beforeing here. But you have to believe me. It wasn''t by choice. I had no other option."


    I wanted so badly to tell her the truth, to exin it wasn''t that I didn''t want to tell her abouting to Adenville, or that I didn''t answer her calls on purpose. It was because, at that time, I simply couldn''t.

 Chapter 63

    But with Selena''s bipr disorder and Zion''s craziness, they would surely take revenge against me. Thinking about that, I swallowed the words I intended to say.


    It was better for Sylvia to be angry with me than be caught in this madness.


    I sighed, walked over, and pulled her into my arms.


    "Please, Sylvia. Go back to work in Carzonia. I''ll help you sort out the transfer. Just wait a bit longer, and I promise I''ll finish up here in two months. Then, I''lle back for you."


    "Enough, Hudson. I''ve made up my mind. If you can''t ept it, then let''s just break up." Sylvia pushed herself free from my arms.


    "Break up." Those two words were cruel, yet she had said them so effortlessly.


    I was speechless. Suddenly, I didn''t know what to say in response.


    Seeing my silence, Sylvia seemed to realize she had gone too far. She nced at me, looking embarrassed, and nervously tugged at the corner of my sleeve.


    "I was just joking. I didn''t mean it. I''m just too angry, and it slipped out. Don''t take it to heart, Hudson."


    I looked at her face and took a deep breath, unsure of what to say. I was afraid that if we continued talking, this rtionship might truly be over.


    If she could say "break up" so easily when angry, one more argument might push her to leave for good.


    What had she gone through while I was away? Why did she feel like a stranger now?


    It was different from the Sylvia I used to know-the one who was gentle, open- hearted, and cheerful.


    I looked at her, took a deep breath, and calmed myself.


    Although I still loved her, her not discussing anything with me and acting on her own will still frustrated me.


    "Sylvia, I think we need some time apart. I''m very busy these days and honestly won''t have time to see you. Please take care of yourself."


    As soon as I said it, I regretted my words. But before I could backtrack, I heard her coldly agree.


    I don''t remember how I left her room or what her expression was. The next thing I knew, I was outside, and her door was shut tightly behind me.


    I stared at the door, regretting what I had said. I wanted to knock on the door, but in the end, I let my hand drop.


    Forget it. Couples argued. It waspletely normal.


    When I returned to my room, Zion immediately approached. "So, did you get it all sorted?"


    Looking at him, I was feeling less drained and anxious than before. I sighed, feeling only helpless.


    "No. But at least she won''t be looking for me for the next few days. That gives us some time to n things out."


    I sat down, regretting what I said to her just now.


    I shouldn''t have said those words to her. I had been in the wrong first, and here I


    was, ming it on her. Thinking of the words I had said, I felt guilty and remorseful.


    Maybe Sylvia and I had both changed.


    Zion sat beside me, looking confused and irritated at the same time.


    "A few days? Why only a few days? Can''t you find a way to buy more time?"

 Chapter 64

    Hearing Zion''s words, I felt a sudden wave of anger swelling up. I grabbed him by the cor.


    "Zion, shut up. If you hadn''t tricked me into leaving Carzonia and forced me to stay here, none of this would have happened!"


    So many things I wanted to say swirled in my head, but when I saw the fear in Zion''s eyes, I held back and let him go.


    Forget about it. What was the point? None of that would change anything now.


    I took a deep breath, looked helplessly at my phone, and felt lost.


    "Let''s think it through these next few days. Avoiding it won''t solve anything. We need a n."


    Zion straightened his clothes. He gave me a long, unreadable look, and left.


    I was left alone in this hourly hotel room. Staring at the empty ceiling, I slipped into deep thought.


    Sometimes, life felt so tiring.


    My early years were spent as an orphan, growing up in a welfare home with no family and no friends. There were just books to keep mepany.


    My favorite moment was sitting quietly in ss, watching the teacher teach. It was only during those lessons that everyone seemed to forget I was a child nobody wanted.


    When I grew up, I went to school and made some friends, but none I was close with.


    I was too busy with part-time jobs and too focused on making money. My life revolved around work and studying, with no time or energy for anything else.


    In college, I had a bit more time, but I was still busy. My life only became slightly easier after I met Selena. But even then, she betrayed me.


    I''ve tried to let go, to stop thinking about anything at all. I told myself it didn''t matter who Selena was with. As long as she didn''t push for a divorce, I could keep going.


    In both work and life, sometimes you have to turn a blind eye. There came a time whenpromise became a skill.


    But now, I really couldn''t bring myself to just ept things as they were.


    I didn''t expect that my rtionship with Sylvia would hit such a rough patch, and


    so soon.


    All my life, up to now, Selena was the only person I had been in a rtionship with. Besides the issues with Zion, we had never argued or fought about anything.


    Now, I didn''t know how to fix the conflict with Sylvia. Part of me felt I should apologize, but another part of me insisted I wasn''t in the wrong. I was in a situation I couldn''t control. It wasn''t that I didn''t want to contact her. And she didn''t discuss with me about the transfer at all, not giving a care about how I might feel.


    But if I didn''t apologize, how was I supposed to face Sylvia?


    If this argument continued, how could we possibly sustain this rtionship?


    I sighed. There was no way to solve this. Sometimes, life really was exhausting.


    Forget it. I was going to sleep on it. I would figure it out in the morning.


    When I woke up, the first thing I saw was a message from the front desk reminding me to check out of the room.

 Chapter 65

    I opened my door. After making sure that Sylvia''s door was closed, I hurried downstairs and went back to the hospital.


    Before I left, I stood in front of the door of Sylvia''s room, feeling conflicted.


    What exactly should I do so that me and Sylvia could go back to where we were before?


    When I got back to the hospital, I spotted Selena still working on herptop. When she noticed me, she closed it, walked over, and wrapped her arms around my waist like we hadn''t seen each other in ages.


    "Where have you been these past couple of days? Why didn''t I see you here at the hospital?"


    I thought of pulling her hands away, but after a moment''s thought, I didn''t do it.


    If Selena wanted to hold onto me, so be it. It wasn''t like she was going to do anything bad to me.


    "Nothing. I just had some issues to handle at work. I got so caught up I forgot to mention it to you." I quickly came up with an excuse.


    When she heard I had been working, she looked up and pursed her lips, looking slightly upset.


    "Hudson, quit your job ande back to Blue Charm. I can offer you a higher position and higher pay. I promise your role will be better than the one you have now. You wouldn''t even have to show up every day if you don''t want to."


    I never thought Selena would suggest something like this. She had never mentioned anything rted to work before. We had always stayed in our respectivepanies, managing our own work without interfering with each other''s work.


    I didn''t know how Zion had managed to keep my current job in order, but since I hadn''t received a termination notice, I figured he had done a decent job. Thus, I wasn''t too worried about it.


    As for Selena''s offer, I decided to turn it down.


    "Given our rtionship, working at yourpany wouldn''t be appropriate. If people found out about us, they would have all sorts of things to say behind our backs." I shook my head and sighed.


    Legally, I was still Selena''s husband. If I joined herpany and people found out about us, they would assume I got in because of Selena.


    At the end, no matter how capable I was, they would only see me as her husband, not a random employee.


    Upon hearing what I said, Selena became upset. She let go of me and crossed her arms as she looked up at me.


    "Why not? I''m the one who built Blue Charm from the ground up, and I hold the most shares in thepany. I have the final say here. I''ll hire whoever I want. If anyone has an issue with that, they can quit. I''m not forcing anyone to stay."


    Blue Charm might be a subsidiary, but it was well-known and full of talented people. Sure, with her authority, she could fire anyone she wanted. But if she threw away someone''s career just because she wanted me by her side, her employees would definitely be dissatisfied with her.


    After being a leader for so long, Selena still remained immature in her handling ofpany matters.


    "I''m happy with my current job and position," I replied. "I''ve been there for years and am not ready to leave yet."


    "You''re just an employee. Why are you so loyal to them? You are loyal to them, but would they be loyal to you? Once you get to a certain age, they''ll still let you go," she said, pursing her lips.


    She wasn''t wrong. Once one reached a certain age, thepany would choose to let them go as they no longer generated values for thepany. It wasmon these days.


    But I wasn''t worried about those issues yet. They were too far away now to think about.


    Sometimes, thinking too far ahead was not necessarily a good thing.

 Chapter 66

    Seeing that I remained silent, Selena let the matter drop. She only added in a disgruntled tone, "If I had known it would turn out like this, I would''ve made you stick to the contract with mypany back then."


    I had signed an agreement with herpany, where they would cover four years of my tuition in exchange for at least five years of employment after graduation.


    But once I started working there, I realized I was assigned to difficult tasks or impossible projects.


    The workload was intense. It took tremendous mental and physical energy. By the end of the summer internship during my third year, I had lost 15 pounds.


    When I returned to school, Selena saw my sharp jawline and skinny corbones and nearly cried.


    "This isn''t a tform for you to showcase your skills. They are exploiting you. For work worth tens of thousands, they''re paying you just five thousand a month. They''re not helping you. They''re using you as cheapbor."


    That experience made her realize how cruel thepany could be.


    After I graduated, she used her influence to pressure thepany into


    terminating my contract. Since they had breached the agreement first, I didn''t have to pay any penalties.


    Looking at her now, I felt a pang of mixed emotions.


    I was grateful for how she had helped me then. But I couldn''t force my feelings for her, no matter how hard I tried.


    I hadn''t yet found the words to exin this when there was a knock at the door. It sounded different than usual.


    I frowned, walked over, and opened the door, only to see Andy standing there. She wasn''t dressed in her usual work attire or a skirt but wore a casual outfit instead. Her style was so different, so it took me a moment to recognize her.


    Seeing my face, Andy smiled. "I''m here! Is my contract ready yet?"


    I was momentarily taken aback. She brushed past me and entered the room. When she saw Selena, her face lit up, and she quickly went over to hug her.


    "Didn''t I email it to you? You came all the way to the hospital?" Selena rolled her eyes.


    Andy hugged her even tighter, looking genuinely thrilled.


    "I just wanted an excuse toe and see you! Do you know how much I''ve missed you this past month?"


    After a long hug, Andy released her and held her shoulders, looking at Selena with admiration.


    "Selena, when are youing back to work? I miss you so much, and Zion is driving me insane."


    Selena nced over at me and sighed. "I''m not sure. We''ll see."


    I knew exactly what Selena was thinking. She didn''t want me to leave her side. I felt helpless as I thought about that.


    Of course, Andy had no idea about this.


    Hearing her response, Andy looked disappointed. She heaved a sigh.


    "Selena, you should considering back soon. People at thepany are starting to get a bit restless about your absence."


    Selena frowned at this. "I''ll handle it. You should go back early. Just get back there and help me keep things running smoothly."


    "I have only just arrived and you are sending me off. How cruel of you!" Andy pouted, although she grabbed the contract and headed out.

 Chapter 67

    I watched Selena for a moment. After hesitating for a while, I found an excuse to catch up with Andy before she left.


    "Ms. Andy, what did you mean earlier when you talked to Selena about those things?" I couldn''t help but express my puzzlement.


    Andy gave me a suspicious look and said, "You''re not with ourpany, so why do you care?"


    She shrugged and left right away. I ran toward her and blocked her path again.


    "It''s true, I''m not part of yourpany. But on paper, I''m still Selena''s husband. Am I not allowed to care about things for my wife?"


    Though I wanted to get a divorce and was fed up with her relentless clinging, our rtionship was still real. I didn''t want to see her or herpany dragged down.


    Andy looked annoyed, rolling her eyes and covering her ears, as if protesting my retort.


    "Fine, fine. I get it. You are a devoted husband. You really don''t have to emphasize how much you love Selena in front of me. I might actually get mad."


    I didn''t fully understand her reaction, but I pressed on. "So what''s really going on?"


    I didn''t want any lingering ties with Selena, but I also didn''t want to be in the dark about what was happening in her world.


    After all, I had yed a significant role in her past.


    Andy sighed. "What do you think? It''s just the usual. People see Selena holding all these assets as a single woman, so they take advantage and bully her. Now that she''s been away from thepany, some are taking advantage of it and seizing some money for themselves."


    She rolled her eyes, looking exasperated. "Honestly, I''m tired of seeing those greedy people in the office every day."


    Then she turned to me and said, "So if you can, try to persuade Selena toe back to thepany soon. If she keeps staying away, I really don''t know what kind of chaos thispany might be."


    After a few more words, Andy left.


    I was feeling uneasy over what she said. For now, I was not sure what to do either.


    Looking at the phone, I frowned. I decided to call Zion to see if he knew more. After he picked up, we exchanged a few pleasantries, and only then I had the courage to ask, "Is something going on with Selena''spany?"


    There was a brief, surprised silence on the other end. Zion then replied with irritation, "Why are you, an outsider, constantly worried about ourpany? Just focus on your own."


    His words stirred my anger.


    "You think I wouldn''t focus on my own work if I could? You''ve kept me here in the hospital for 20 days, and you barely let me use my phone and make calls. Mypany is in Carzonia, a thousand miles away from here. How am I supposed to look after things there?"


    During these 20 days in the hospital, I wasn''t aware of what was going on at thepany. If I had been able to go in even once, I wouldn''t have been blindsided by something as important as Sylvia''s transfer.


    After a long pause, Zion replied coldly, "I''ll handle the issue at Selena''spany."

 Chapter 68

    I found what Zion said amusing.


    "If you could handle it, Andy wouldn''t havee to the hospital looking for Selena."


    "Besides, I''ve looked into your background. You''ve only been involved in the management of thepany for two or three years. With this limited experience, there are many things you have no idea how to solve."


    Ever since Zion forced me to stay, I secretly paid someone to look into what he and Selena had been doingtely. Although the timeframe was short, I still managed to find some clues.


    Hearing my words, Zion looked surprised, but more so, he looked suspicious.


    He probably didn''t believe me at all.


    Despite being angry at what I said, Zion couldn''t deny them because they were true.


    "That''s my business, not yours. As long as thepany doesn''t copse, it''s fine."


    His dismissive response infuriated me.


    Selena had worked hard for over three years to gain control of thepany. Despite everyone''s doubts, she rose step by step to be the current CEO. Yet Zion''s only goal was to prevent thepany from falling apart.


    Was it because it was Selena''spany and not his, so he didn''t care much about it?


    Thinking of this made my anger re.


    "My girlfriend has already decided toe to work in Adenville, and now Selena''spany is in trouble."


    I was fuming as I thought of what had transpiredtely, but I held back my frustration and suppressed the urge to shout.


    "It hase to this, and you still won''t let me go. What are you thinking? Do you really care about Selena, or are you just pretending?"


    If Zion was standing in front of me, I would have punched him, just to let him know how angry I was.


    On the other end of the line, Zion seemed to not care, sneering at my anger.


    "Hudson, do you think I want to keep you here? I don''t like how you use Selena''s affection for you to threaten me."


    He added, "If I could, I would buy you a ne ticket and send you back to Carzonia right now. But Selena''s condition hasn''t improved. What should I do if she rpses after you leave?"


    "If you push Selena to go to work and the board of directors finds out she is sick, do you know what kind of consequences that would have?"


    Of course, I knew the consequences. If the board of directors found out that Selena was sick, they would surely think she wasn''t fit to lead thepany and vote her out.


    At that point, even Selena herself couldn''t use her power to do anything, as thepany wasn''t solely owned by the Norman family. No one would want someone unfit to run thepany and hurt everyone''s interests.


    Thinking of this, I frowned, took a deep breath, and tried to calm myself.


    "I have my own way of doing things. I know how to handle this. You don''t need to worry that I''ll do anything reckless. You''re not the only one worried about Selena. I understand the importance of thispany better than you and am more capable of managing it."


    I nced at the phone. It had already been half an hour since we were on this call.

 Chapter 69

    I took a deep breath and looked at the hallway. Selena didn''te out to look for


    me. Perhaps she was upied with work.


    But, Selena, soon, you wouldn''t have to work hard like this.


    "I''ll discuss this with Selena. There''s nothing more to talk about. This is how it''s going to be, whether you agree or not."


    Without waiting for Zion''s reply, I hung up.


    When I returned to the room, Selena wasn''t looking at herptop. She was watching a TV show.


    Even though the program on the screen was aedy, Selena wasn''t smiling. There was not even the slightest desire tough. She fixed her gaze on the screen, as if lost in thought.


    When I sat beside her, she turned to look at me and said quietly, "Hudson, you''re here." There was no joy in her voice.


    Seeing her like this, I wasn''t sure if my suspicions were correct, so I asked tentatively, "Why do you look so down? Was it something Andy said that upset you?"


    Selena shook her head and sighed.


    She nced at the TV, then picked up the remote and turned it off. Turning to face me, she sighed again, looking lost.


    "I... I don''t know. I don''t feel like there''s anything to be happy about. I just suddenly feel so lost."


    "I''m here in the hospital every day, and I don''t feel like going anywhere else. I feel like I have nothing to do, and that life is boring. Yet it also feels like there are so many things waiting for me to do. I want to do them, but when I try to get up, I don''t feel like doing it anymore..."


    Selena rambled on, and I just sat quietly, listening to her.


    Back then, to distract myself from the pain of Selena''s infidelity and pull myself out of that sorrow, I threw myself into work.


    I worked hard, negotiating with clients and securing projects, running around constantly, picking up calls every second. During that period, I was so busy that I couldn''t even get six hours of sleep a night.


    I contributed a lot to thepany, to the point that they held a celebratory banquet for me. I was publicly praised in meetings more than once, but I was still unhappy. I was faking smiles throughout.


    Later, I epted a transfer to Carzonia. Though it was still an executive position, the pace of life there was much slower than in Adenville. Everyone lived at a leisurely pace, and that atmosphere gradually influenced me.


    I learned to ept that the promotion might actually be a demotion, trying to ease some of my homesickness.


    But there were drawbacks too. When I had free time, it was easy to ck off. I yed games or watched videos, and the whole morning was gone. I achieved nothing and wasted a whole day.


    At that point, I felt truly lost. What was the point of a life like this?


    I hade here to help the head office manage the branch in Carzonia. But what had I done? Nothing. There were no results and no achievements. Thepany was the same as when I first arrived.


    Eventually, I learned to let go.


    Carzonia was just a subsidiary. It didn''t have a solid foundation. In the days that followed, I led my team to develop business, attract clients, spend money on data, and understand the market.


    The beginning was always the hardest. Although those days were tough, we made it through.


    So, there was nothing to fear, and no challenge was too great. As long as one persevered, one would always see a rainbow after the storm.

 Chapter 70

    Seeing the fear in Selena''s eyes, I reached out to gently stroke her hair, trying to calm her down.


    "Selena, don''t be afraid. Thatpany was left to you by your grandfather. Even if not for yourself, think about him. Would you really want the business he worked so hard to build to fall into someone else''s hands?"


    Hearing this, Selena shook her head. Her face was full of reluctance. Still, she clung to my hand and looked at me with a pitiful expression.


    "But if I get discharged, wouldn''t that mean you would leave? Hudson, I don''t want you to leave me. Stay with me, please. I can manage thepany from the hospital."


    Knowing your enemy as much as you knew yourself was the only way to not be defeated. If she stayed hidden away in the hospital, how would she ever know what was really happening at thepany?


    I sighed and ultimately decided topromise.


    For now, Selena''s condition seemed stable. With proper care over the next month or two, she might be fully cured.


    I looked into her eyes, grasping her hand with mine so that our hands wereyered together.


    "Don''t worry. Even if you''re discharged, I won''t leave. I''ll stay with you for the rest of the treatment. Selena, thepany is facing issues right now. Avoiding problems won''t solve them. You need to face the challenges and deal with them bravely."


    Selena hesitated. She frowned and shook her head. "But what if I can''t handle it?"


    She turned away, avoiding my gaze, and buried her head in my chest. She murmured, "I can''t stand those old folks at thepany. They alwayspare me to others, saying I''m not as good. But what does it matter how well others dopared to me?"


    Listening to her, I recalled that summer from long ago.


    That summer, when Selena came to do entry-level work, she was often scolded by her team leader, whopared her to others and said she was useless. The leader told her to go home and be a pampered daughter. There was no need for her to suffer here.


    At that time, Selena was only 17 or 18 years old. She was young and prideful. After being scolded, she didn''t dare argue because her family had warned her. Instead, she would run off to cry in the hallway alone.


    Back then, to carry out the duty of a leader, I alwaysforted and encouraged her.


    Many times, Selena would look up at me with teary eyes and softly ask, "Why can others do it but not me? Hudson, am I really that bad? Am I that bad at everything?"


    I didn''t know how tofort others, so I could only say a few words of encouragement and then silently hand her some tissues, telling her to stop crying. But the next day, she woulde back as if nothing had happened, smiling and begging me to teach her some operational procedures repeatedly.


    "Selena, have you forgotten what you said to me that summer seven years ago?" "You said there are no tasks that can''t bepleted, only people who refuse to work hard for it. You also said, ''I am Selena, after all. What in the world could defeat me? I am Selena.""


    Hearing this, Selena smiled and wiped her tears, looking at me.


    "Hudson, I didn''t think you still remembered that. I thought you had forgotten. But that summer was seven years ago now. I can''t believe we''ve been together for so long."


    How could I ever forget?

 Chapter 71

    That was the first time Selena and I shared happy moments together. Although it was tough, it was the only time we truly experienced the hardships together.


    Back then, Selena wasn''t the heiress of the Norman family. She was just a freshman working at the factory to support herself.


    Without the halo of her prestigious background, she would get scolded and cry in the hallway for not doing well. To me, that version of Selena was simply a kind- hearted girl who needed encouragement.


    She looked up at me with her teary eyes and asked, "Hudson, do you think I''ll be able to solve the issues at thepany if I go back?"


    Looking into her eyes, I felt a sudden jolt, as if something within me had been awakened. Realizing this, I frowned and quickly turned away, avoiding her gaze.


    "It''s okay, Selena. Don''t be afraid. Just go back to thepany confidently. If there''s anything you don''t understand, you cane to me for help. I''ll be there for you."


    In the end, I sessfully persuaded Selena to return to thepany.


    We consulted with the doctor about her condition and paid for additional check- ups.


    Three dayster, the results came in. Her health was fine, and her condition had stabilized.


    After that, Selena called Zion to help with her discharge procedures and to escort her back to thepany to reacquaint herself with the business.


    Although Zion was upset, he had no choice but toply with Selena''s request. "Hudson, you had better keep your promises and manage everything well. Otherwise, I won''t let you off easily," Zion warned me in private.


    I shook my head, feeling indifferent toward his silly threats.


    I went back to thepany with Selena, though they didn''t know who I was.


    Years ago, in order to protect me, Selena had paid to have my information hidden from the public. Everyone only knew that she had a CEO husband working elsewhere but had no idea what I looked like.


    Only a few people close to her knew my identity and appearance.


    When Andy saw me, her eyes widened, but she gave me an approving nod when Selena announced her return.


    Selena looked at the staff and then pointed at me, saying, "Let me introduce you to my new assistant, Hudson. From now on, any documents that need to be submitted to me should go directly through him."


    Zion''s eyes widened as he looked at me, but he could only keep quiet under Selena''s determined gaze.


    I hadn''t expected this move from Selena. I had promised to help her with the issues at thepany, but I never imagined she would create an official position for me.


    Looking up, I noticed some employees ncing between me and Zion, looking confused.


    Perhaps they thought that Selena had shifted her favor and reced Zion with a new "favorite".


    I followed Selena back to her office. Looking at me, she raised an eyebrow and asked, "What is it, Hudson? Are you unhappy with the assistant role?"

 Chapter 72

    I didn''t say anything and only sighed helplessly.


    Fine, I would be her assistant. I would be working with her after all.


    Selena arranged a dedicated office for me. It was close to Zion''s. Every time I looked up, I could see him.


    When I entered, the anger on Zion''s face was evident.


    When I went to the men''s restroom, Zion followed me. After ensuring that no one else was around, he walked up to me.


    "Hudson, is this what you meant by handling things? Bing Selena''s assistant, taking my ce, making me aughingstock at thepany? So that you can rekindle your rtionship with Selena and eventually marry her again?"


    "Your n is incredibly meticulous. Did you forget that you have a girlfriend about to start her new job here in Adenville? You are clinging to your ex-wife and maintaining an ambiguous rtionship with her.


    What do you take your girlfriend for? You might as well break up with her."


    I didn''t expect Zion to bring up Sylvia.


    Whenever I thought of Sylvia, I felt a sense of inexplicable sadness.


    We hadn''t really talked at all since thest argument.


    I was so caught up with everything rted to Selena that I hadn''t taken the time to think about how to approach Sylvia and mend things, so I hadn''t called her.


    Zion''s reminder made me pull out my phone to check.


    Over the past week, Sylvia hadn''t called me. She hadn''t sent any messages either.


    Was she still angry?


    "Now that things with Selena were rtively under control, shouldn''t we think about how to resolve this situation with my girlfriend?"


    "What''s there to resolve with your girlfriend?" Zion looked puzzled but he quickly pieced it together. Then, he came riled up.


    "Wait, Hudson, you still haven''t convinced her to return to Carzonia? Is she really going to work here?"


    Hearing the agitation in his voice, I sighed again.


    "She insists oning, and I can''t stop her. I need to see her in the next couple of days. Help me figure out how to deal with her."


    I had to see Sylvia soon. If I waited any longer, our rtionship would probably fade with time.


    Her term started next month, and there was still half a month before then. I couldn''t let this situation drag on for that long. The longer the silence was, the weaker the rtionship would be.


    Hearing my words, Zion rolled his eyes and gave me a lousy suggestion.


    "If it were up to me, I would say you should break up with her. I''ll introduce you to someone better."


    "Why don''t you just leave Selena then? If you left her, you wouldn''t have so many troubles. You wouldn''t have to bow and beg or even deal with me..."


    "Shut up!"


    I smirked at Zion''s exasperated expression.


    He always got flustered when it came to Selena. It seemed he truly cared for her.


    But why didn''t Selena like him back? Was it really because of me?


    Zion proposed many solutions, but I rejected them all.

 Chapter 73

    Recalling Sylvia''s attitude and her opinion of Adenville, it seemed impossible to convince her to return to Carzonia.


    When I rejected another one of his ideas, Zion couldn''t hold back any longer and snapped. "Hudson, are you crazy?"


    "You rejected every n I suggested. I kepting up with something, and you kept saying it won''t work. If you''re so capable,e up with a good n yourself instead of torturing me."


    Seeing Zion''s exasperation, I frowned and decided to share my idea instead.


    "Alright, I have an idea. Sylvia has always mentioned she wants to travel, but she''s never had the chance because of work and money. This time, we can fulfill her wish."


    During my time in Adenville, I hadn''t been in touch with Sylvia. Although she hadn''t said anything, I was sure she felt hurt. This trip could serve as a way to make it up to her.


    Unfortunately, I wouldn''t be able to join her on this trip.


    "How long do you n for her to be on this trip?" Zion asked.


    I thought for a moment and replied, "About half a month. Dy her meeting with Selena as long as possible. Even if I can''t fully handle all the issues in thepany within that time, I believe, after half a month, Selena will be familiar enough with thepany''s operations to manage on her own without my help."


    "I need your help with this," I added, looking at Zion.


    With Zion''s help, I soon found where Sylvia was staying.


    It was clear she had nned this. After arriving in Adenville, she quickly found a ce and moved in.


    I pressed the doorbell several times before Sylvia finally opened the door.


    When she saw me, it was clear she was still holding onto the resentment from a few days ago. She didn''t seem pleased. She paid more attention to Zion instead, looking wary of him.


    "Who are you? Why haven''t I seen you before?"


    "Hello, I''m Hudson''s colleague, Aaron." Zion made up a name on the spot.


    She frowned, puzzled as to why I would bring a colleague with me, but she still let us in.


    The room was small. There were some basic necessities, a table, and chairs. There was a single room with a living area and bathroom. There was no air conditioning, just a new fan against the wall with its packaging still not removed and ayer of protective film clinging to it.


    "What brings you here?" Sylvia asked, tilting her head.


    Though her tone was neutral, I could tell she was still angry with me.


    I sighed, apologized, and exined why I hadn''t been in touch.


    "Sylvia, I''ve been really busy since I came to Adenville. There''s been so much to handle, and I didn''t even get much sleep. That''s why I haven''t contacted you. I''m sorry. I promise, once things settle down, I''ll make it up to you. Please don''t be mad."


    Sylvia sighed and said, "I''m not angry. You have your responsibilities, and I have mine. I understand."


    Hearing her say that, I felt relieved. If she said she understood, it meant she wasn''t angry anymore.


    After clearing things up, I felt a weight being lifted off my chest. I moved closer to her, and she didn''t resist, though her eyes subtly reminded me that we weren''t alone.


    She nced at Zion, who was rolling his eyes, seemingly disgusted by my disy of affection.


    She frowned, turned to me and asked, "So why are you both here today? Even if you came to see me, why do you have to bring your colleague?"

 Chapter 74

    Hearing this, Zion quickly put on a smile and exined, "It''s like this. Our


    "Family benefits? A free trip?" Sylvia looked puzzled, turning to me with a skeptical look.


    She leaned closer, looking warily at Zion, and whispered in my ear, "Hudson, I''ve been at mypany for three or four years and never heard of family benefits or sponsored trips. Since when did they get so generous? Is this guy a scammer?"


    I looked at Zion and frowned. Then I thought for a moment and decided to y along.


    "The policies here in Adenville are different from those in Carzonia. This is a recent employee incentive at ourpany, and it''s probably exclusive to us. You''re not an employee of ourpany, so it''s normal that you wouldn''t have heard of it."


    Sylvia still looked doubtful.


    From her expression, I couldn''t tell if she was questioning the policy itself or just doubting her own luck for receiving it.


    Of course, thepany didn''t actually have such a policy. This was just a story that Zion and I hade up with to get Sylvia to leave for a while.


    Sylvia had just arrived in Adenville, and now I was forced to spend money to send her away and even lie to her about it. Just thinking about it made me feel guilty.


    "It''s rare that you have some free time, and thepany is covering the costs. Why not go on a trip? Work can be exhausting, and it''s good to go out and see more of the world. Consider it a little break." I tried to persuade her.


    Seeing Sylvia still hesitating, Zion jumped in to help.


    "Exactly! This is a rarepany perk that Hudson worked hard to get. Let me tell you, this was hard to get. It would be a real pity to turn it down."


    "Even though a free trip sounds tempting, I would rather leave this opportunity to someone else at thepany."


    "I would much prefer staying here and spending time with the person I care about." With that, Sylvia moved closer, holding my arm and resting her head on my shoulder.


    Zion looked at her, speechless and somewhat disgusted by her words.


    But what probably annoyed him even more was that I had ended up with a girlfriend who was so romantic that she would pass up a free trip.


    Her refusal gave me a headache.


    I looked at her, took a deep breath, and exined, "But I''m very busy this month. There''s so much going on at thepany. I managed to make time for you today, but I won''t be able to tomorrow. Sylvia, I''m not lying. I really am that busy."


    Hearing this, Sylvia looked up at me. I saw a hint of disappointment in her eyes.


    "It''s alright. I can wait for you. I''ve already transferred to work here in Adenville. If you can''t spend time with me this month, there''s always next month. There''s plenty of time, so I can wait."


    She continued, "If you can''te to me, then I''lle to you. Hudson, I''ve gone this far for you. You can''t abandon me now." Saying this, she held my arm even tighter.


    Seeing her determination, I felt both happy and helpless.


    But this was a desperate time, and I couldn''t let Sylvia stay in Adenville with me. I couldn''t imagine how she would react if she found out I was currently involved with Selena.

 Chapter 75

    I took a deep breath and finally decided to say the words I had rehearsed for three or four days.


    "Sylvia, this is a benefit I worked hard to get from thepany. Why don''t you use it? Do you know how much hard work I had to put in to get this free trip? You can go anywhere you want, as long as it''s not abroad. Thepany will cover all your expenses. Why give up such a good opportunity?


    "I know you''ve missed me a lot this past month because I haven''t been by your side. I understand that, and I feel the same. But, Sylvia, I''m really busy. I have so much to deal with.


    "I really don''t have the time to apany you. If I could, I would go on this trip with you, but I just can''t. I hope you understand."


    Some of what I said was true, although some didn''t make any sense. I wasn''t sure how Sylvia would feel about me after hearing this, but I said it anyway.


    Sylvia remained silent for a while, then lifted her eyes and smiled at me. "Since you''ve put it that way, fine. I''ll listen to you and go."


    When she said that, Zion rolled his eyes.


    He probably hadn''t expected Sylvia to be so romantically silly.


    What I thought would be difficult turned out to be solvable with just a few sweet words.


    Seeing that she agreed, I gestured for Zion to hand her the prepared documents for her to fill out.


    After shepleted the paperwork, Zion took it. There was a slight smirk on his lips.


    "Well, now that my task is done, it''s time for us to head back, Hudson. There''s still work waiting for us at thepany. You can''t let me handle all of that on my own."


    As he said this, he shot me a disdainful re, clearly thinking I was cruel.


    I gently moved Sylvia off my arm.


    I checked my phone for the time. It was a little past 10:00 am in the morning. It was still early, and I wished I could stay with her longer.


    Sylvia stood up, holding my hand, looking visibly upset that she had to let me go.


    She nced at the neatly folded bed and seemed to think of something, then asked, "By the way, you''ve been here for almost two days, and I don''t even know where you''re staying. Come on, take me to your ce. I want to see how you''re doing."


    "I..." I exchanged looks with Zion. Neither of us expected her to ask this question.


    How was I supposed to exin this to her? Previously, I had been staying in the hospital with Selena. After leaving the hospital, I stayed with her at her vi.


    I had considered finding my own ce or even staying in a hotel for a month or two, but Selena refused. She almost got angry because of this. To prevent her from having a manic episode, I had no choice but to agree.


    Zion knew about this too, but he could only sulk silently, not being able to do anything.


    "I, I..."

 Chapter 76

    I stammered for a while, not knowing how I should respond. Zion rolled his eyes at me and quickly stepped in.


    "Hudson is currently staying in the employee dormitory. Ourpany has a policy that doesn''t allow non-employees to enter the dormitories. So, he can''t take you there."


    Hearing this, I quickly nodded in agreement.


    Sylvia looked at me skeptically, pulling me closer.


    She nced at Zion and whispered to me, "Dopanies in Adenville have such


    a strict rule? Why don''t I know about this? Hudson, whichpany are you working for?"


    I wasn''t sure how Zion managed to cover for me at thepany, but from Sylvia''s expression, it seemed she wasn''t fully aware of the truth.


    With no other option, I had to go with the lie.


    "Yes, that''s just how thepany''s policy is. There''s nothing we can do about it."


    "Is that really the case?" Sylvia looked disappointed, as if she regretted not being able to see where I was staying.


    "Well, if that''s the case, we should head back. Hudson, there''s still a lot of work waiting for us at thepany." Zion looked at me with a forced smile. I could tell he was at the end of his tether.


    Although Sylvia seemed annoyed by Zion''s words, she had no choice but to let me leave.


    As we walked out and took the elevator down, Zion started to vent. "Hudson, your girlfriend is really annoying. She keeps asking questions. It''s irritating."


    I had nothing to argue against Zion.


    Sylvia did show a lot of concern for me and talked quite a bit, but I couldn''t me her for that. She was my girlfriend. She cared for me because she liked me.


    Besides, if Sylvia were indifferent toward me, I might even start questioning whether our rtionship could continue-whether she truly loved me.


    Seeing that I remained silent, Zion became annoyed and tried to tease me with an old joke.


    "How about this, you break up with your girlfriend, and I''ll introduce you to other beautiful women. I guarantee they won''t be worse than this one."


    I didn''t understand why Zion kept trying to convince me to get a new girlfriend. If


    he really knew so many women, why not find one for himself instead of hoping for Selena to return his unrequited feelings for her?


    "Zion, I''ve told you before. If you keep saying things like this, then don''t me me for being ruthless."


    I turned to look at him with a smile.


    "Am I not allowed to joke now? You''re so petty." Zion ignored me and continued walking ahead.


    Sometimes, I found myself wondering if I had changed because I spent time with people like Selena and Zion. I couldn''t shake the feeling that I was somehow different from who I used to be.


    Who was it that changed me?


    Still deep in thought about this difficult question, I heard Zion shout back at me.


    "Oh, by the way, Hudson, there''s something I''ve been wanting to tell you. Why does it seem like your girlfriend doesn''t love you as much as she should?"


    "What does that have to do with you?" I responded coldly.


    The first person we encountered on the way back to the office was Andy, who was carrying a pile of files.


    Seeing me, Andy came over to greet me, then leaned in to look at my name badge.


    "So, your name is Hudson. It''s a nice name. It goes really well with Selena''s."

 Chapter 77

    Hearing that, I didn''t feel any joy at all.


    There was a time when matching well with Selena would have made me happy, but things had changed.


    Time had passed, people had changed, and now, I felt nothing but a sense of


    irony.


    Seeing that I remained silent, Andy changed the topic.


    "Why did you suddenly decide to join ourpany? If I remember correctly, people say you were a CEO at anotherpany. Why would you give up a position like that ande here to be an assistant? Isn''t that beneath you?"


    I frowned and sighed before exining, "I''m just here to help Selena. It''s not like I''m going to be an assistant forever. I''ll resign and leave when the timees."


    Andy raised an eyebrow, muttering to herself, "Being with Selena isn''t bad. After all, she''s a ssic rich and beautiful woman.


    "If I were a man and managed to catch Selena''s eye, I wouldn''t mind being taken care of by her. I don''t have to work hard. Even if it was just for fun, I would gain a lot from it. It would be better than working hard myself."


    I looked at Andy in disbelief.


    Andy always seemed like an independent woman. Why would she say something like that?


    It turned out you really couldn''t judge a book by its cover.


    After thinking for a moment, I said, "I would rather rely on myself than depend on someone else. I mean, I am a man, after all."


    Hearing that, Andyughed and raised her hand as if wanting to pat my shoulder, but stopped.


    "Ha! I''m just kidding. I''m not that kind of person. I was only joking. But sometimes work really is exhausting."


    She tilted her head back and sighed. "Hudson, sometimes I feel like if life is going to be like this forever, it would be better to just find a wall and bash my head against it."


    I didn''t know why Andy suddenly became so introspective. Just a few days ago,


    when we met, she was all joyous.


    Maybe she just had a tough week at work.


    "Everyone gets burnt out sometimes. It''s normal."


    Thinking of Sylvia, I frowned and gave a suggestion.


    "If you''re feeling burnt out, why not take a day off? Money is important, but sometimes you have to take care of yourself too."


    Andy shook her head. "I wish I could, but I''m really broke. If I don''t work harder, I won''t be able to pay my mortgage. It''s true what they say, never go into debt lightly."


    I didn''t know much about Andy''s financial situation, but from what she said, it seemed tough. I couldn''t understand why someone as young as her would take on so much debt.


    Seeing my expression, Andy raised an eyebrow and stared at me for a while before finally speaking.


    "Why does it feel like you and Selena are so formal with each other? It doesn''t seem like you''re a married couple."


    I remained silent, unsure of how to respond.


    I couldn''t exactly tell Andy that we were in the process of getting a divorce.


    I looked at her and didn''t say anything, then took out my phone and found an excuse to walk away.


    "Selena needs me for something. I''ll talk to youter."


    After leaving Andy, I found a spot to stand in the empty hallway. I felt heavy in my heart.


    If there were no feelings left between Selena and me, why did she insist on clinging to me?


    You could never force someone to love you.

 Chapter 78

    At work, Zion knocked on my desk and handed me a document.


    "This is a draft proposal for our n. Here''s my ount and password. You can use it to add your girlfriend''s ount and discuss with her about the n."


    I opened the file and studied it. It was just a spontaneous idea that I mentioned to Zion during a conversation. I hadn''t expected him to take it so seriously. For a moment, I saw him in a different light.


    Seeing my expression, he raised an eyebrow.


    "Did you sort out the trip?"


    I nodded. "I signed her up for a tour. She will probably leave in the next few days."


    Selena loved to travel. I had nned countless trips for her in the past, but due to work, I had never gone with her.


    The thought of this made me feel guilty toward her again.


    If I had spent more time with her back then, maybe she would not have fallen for Zion.


    Maybe she turned to him forfort and attention she wasn''t getting from me.


    Noticing that I was zoning out, Zion knocked on my desk again, snapping me back to reality.


    "Hudson, why are you always distractedtely? And you''d better manage your girlfriend properly. If something goes wrong, don''t me me for being ruthless."


    Ah, it was that same tiresome threat again.


    I used the ount Zion gave and added Sylvia. I sent her a lengthy message outlining the travel n, like no leaving midway unless under special circumstances and taking care of her own safety, among other things.


    It was a long list.


    She didn''t reply for a while, but eventually, a message came through.


    "I''ve read all the conditions, but I have a question. Are you really that busytely?"


    I paused for a moment before replying, "Thepany is expanding into new markets, so there''s a lot to do. Being busy is normal."


    "I have other things to attend to. Have a great trip, and feel free to contact me if you need anything," I added.


    Reading my conversation with Sylvia made me feel a mix of emotions.


    The departure date I had arranged with the tour group was tomorrow.


    Tomorrow, Sylvia would be leaving Adenville.


    When I got home, I informed Selena that I would be taking leave the next day. She looked puzzled.


    "Hudson, why are you always taking leave? You''ve only been at thepany for a few days, and you''re already taking so many leaves. It will create a bad impression and put me in an awkward position."


    I thought she would easily agree, as that was how she had promised me before I agreed toe back to thepany.


    I could do whatever I wished, as long as I kept herpany at work.


    It turned out, those were just empty promises.


    "I agree it''s not right, but I have things to handle. It won''t happen again," I exined to Selena helplessly.

 Chapter 79

    Although Selena seemed somewhat reluctant, she eventually let me go.


    After work, I stepped out of the elevator and Selena followed, grabbing my arm. She touched her pocket and handed me her car keys.


    "Hudson, my car is in thepany''s underground parking lot. Let''s go home together. It''s been so long since I''ve been your passenger."


    I looked at the keys and sighed helplessly.


    We then walked to the parking lot together.


    It wasrge and almost empty, filled with various luxury cars. I pressed the button, and found the Mercedes following the signal.


    That Mercedes was the one she bought as a reward afternding her first big project, using three months of allowance she had saved.


    She wanted to gift it to me at that time, but it was too shy, so I declined.


    In truth, I also didn''t dare to ept it.


    "Is this the Mercedes you bought with your savings back then?" I asked cautiously, curious to see if she still remembered.


    "Hudson, so you still remember."


    "Yeah, this is the one I saved up for. Look how well I''ve maintained it. It''s been four or five years, and it still looks new. You wouldn''t believe how much I spent on keeping it in good condition."


    "That''s great, but you don''t need to go to such lengths." I sighed and shook my head.


    "Selena, it''s not like you don''t have money. When you find a better car, just buy it. It''s normal to upgrade. If this one doesn''t work anymore, just rece it. There''s no need to invest so much emotion into it."


    I wasn''t sure if she understood what I was implying, but I had expressed myself.


    We had indeed shared seven or eight years together, but if those feelings had already broken and we both found someone better, there was no need to cling to the past.


    Selena just smiled silently. I opened the car door, and she got into the passenger seat. On the way back, neither of us spoke.


    We returned to her house.


    When I switched on the light, there was a faint smell of dust.


    Selena hadn''t been home for about a month or two, and it seemed she had forgotten to hire a cleaning service toe by regrly.


    Seeing this, she scratched her head awkwardly but changed into slippers and went upstairs. Standing at the top of the stairs, she called out to me with a smile, "Hudson, upstairs is pretty clean. It''ste, so we should just shower and sleep."


    I nodded. When I came out of the bathroom, I saw her sitting on the bed in a bathrobe.


    Her hair was damp and draped over her shoulders. Without the bun she always tied up in the morning, she looked more rxed now.


    "You''ve washed your hair, so you should dry it. Sleeping with wet hair can make you dizzy," I reminded her out of concern.


    She didn''t move, so I sighed and picked up the hairdryer to help her.


    Selena sat quietly as I dried her hair.


    "Hudson, no matter how I choose, you''re still the one who treats me best. If only we could spend our lives like this forever."


    Hearing her words, I didn''t respond and kept drying her hair.


    When I finished, I put away the hairdryer and opened the wardrobe. I was surprised to see it was filled with my clothes, all neatly hung and untouched.


    I frowned and picked one up, realizing they were all new, and the tags were still attached to it. It seemed they were clothes Selena had bought to match my style. But why would she know about these clothes?

 Chapter 80

    Looking at those clothes, I turned around to face Selena. She didn''t notice my gaze and kept her head down, looking at her phone.


    "It''ste. Get some rest." I closed the wardrobe and headed toward the door.


    Selena seemed a bit surprised. Seeing me leaving into another room, she called out, "Hudson, are you not going to sleep with me?"


    "Men and women should have some boundaries," I replied without exining more. Then I opened the door and stepped out. I stood at the doorway for a few minutes, and Selena didn''t follow.


    At that moment, I couldn''t tell whether I felt relieved or sad.


    I found a guest room to sleep in.


    I had lived in this house for three or four years, and I had been away for almost a month. Looking up at the ceiling and that old chandelier, I felt a wave of mixed emotions that I couldn''t quite describe.


    And I wasn''t sure how much longer I would be staying here.


    I couldn''t sleep, so I yed music on my phone for almost half an hour before I started feeling drowsy. Just as I was about to drift off, I heard the door creak open.


    Selena stood at the entrance with her phone and shlight on, looking at me with a timid expression.


    "I... I''m afraid of the dark when I''m alone. Hudson, could you stay with me?"


    I was already sleepy when I saw her, and my vision was a bit blurry. I rubbed my eyes and asked, "But why weren''t you afraid of the dark when you were in the hospital?"


    When we were at the hospital, I never heard Selena mention being afraid of the dark. Before I arrived, she always spent the nights there alone.


    "That was different. You were there," Selena retorted. She then climbed onto my bed with her phone. In no time, the light fragrance she carried filled the space beside me.


    Any trace of drowsiness was wiped away by her sudden closeness.


    I sat up and moved to put some distance between us.


    "If you''re afraid of the dark, you can just leave the light on when you sleep. It''s not like you can''t afford the electricity bill. You could keep the light on all day if you wanted." I sighed, feeling helpless.


    Considering her condition, I had no choice but to relent and let her cling to me while we slept. But with her so close, I couldn''t get proper sleep.


    The next morning, with dark circles under my eyes, I drove Selena to the office.


    After dropping her off and handing her breakfast, I headed over to Sylvia''s ce to pick her up.


    When she saw me pull up outside her building, Sylvia looked surprised.


    "Hudson, why are you here? Aren''t you supposed to be at work today?"


    "I''m just here to see you off," I exined with a smile, opening the passenger door for her.


    Sylvia stood by the door, staring at the car emblem for a long time before looking at me and asking hesitantly, "This car... it''s a Mercedes, isn''t it? I heard they''re really expensive. How much did you pay for it?"


    I didn''t tell Sylvia it was Selena''s, nor did I mention to Selena that I was using her car to take my girlfriend out.


    Although, if I had asked, Selena would''ve been generous enough to give me the


    car.

 Chapter 81

    "It''s just a car I borrowed from a friend. Come on, get in, and I''ll take you to the tour group," I said, patting the seat. Sylvia hesitantly got in, looking a bit tense.


    The morning rush hour had already ended, and there was no traffic. We reached the meeting point of the tour group quite quickly.


    The staff loaded Sylvia''s luggage onto the bus and began ushering the rest of the group to prepare for departure.


    I looked at Sylvia, feeling a pang of reluctance. Ever since she arrived at the train station, the number of times we met were few and short.


    I patted her hair and said, "Take care of yourself while you''re out there. If you run into any trouble, don''t hesitate to call me."


    I pulled out a bank card I had prepared earlier from my bag. Since my original card was left in Carzonia and I couldn''t return there, I had to go to the bank with my ID and get a recement.


    "There''s a few thousand dors on this card. I''ve saved it in the past few months. The PIN is my birthday."


    "If you see something you like on the trip, just buy it. Don''t be frugal. This money is for you. I''m sorry I can''t go on this trip with you, but I promise I''ll make it up to you when I get the chance."


    I had considered setting up a couple ount for Sylvia, but she declined, so I dropped the idea.


    Sylvia bit her lip as she looked at the card before taking it from my hand, her eyes glistening with tears.


    "I know, Hudson. I''ll take care of myself. Thank you for the card. And, I''m an adult, not a child. I can handle things on my own."


    I watched Sylvia get on the bus, and then watched as the tour group drove away.


    As the bus and her figure grew smaller and eventually disappeared from view, I turned around and drove back to thepany.


    "So, now that you''ve sent your girlfriend off, there should be nothing left holding you back, right?" A familiar voice sounded.


    I looked up to see Zion standing there. His expression was arrogant. He shook his car keys at me, unting his wealth.


    "Zion, why are you here?"


    I was puzzled by his sudden appearance. I had only told him that I was taking Sylvia to join a tour group and handled everything else alone. How did he know the time and ce?


    Zion snorted and said sarcastically, "Of course I know. I followed you the whole way."


    "Someone didn''t evenst three hours at work before sneaking off to the underground parking lot and leaving thepany. As your direct superior, when I couldn''t reach you by phone and you didn''t respond to my messages, I had to follow and see what was going on. You didn''t even apply for leave and just skipped work. I couldn''t just let that go."


    "I had already told Selena yesterday," I exined. But Zion didn''t care and continued lecturing me aboutpany policy, even threatening to deduct my pay as punishment. It didn''t matter to me. I didn''t care about that meager amount of money.


    Thinking of Sylvia, who had just left, I felt lost. "Zion, when do you think Selena''s illness will get better?"


    Zion sighed and shook his head.


    "No idea. Maybe it''s already improving, or maybe it''ll take a while. We''re not


    doctors, and even doctors wouldn''t dare give you an exact time."


    Hearing this, I could only sigh helplessly.


    I could only hope that Selena''s condition would get better and she would recover


    soon.

 Chapter82

    Upon returning to thepany and entering the office, I was told that Selena wanted to see me.


    The moment I stepped into Selena''s office, she lifted her gaze, appearing to havepletely forgotten our conversation from the day before. She asked, "Hud, where have you been? Why didn''t you report your leave? Don''t you know that ourpany policy requires advance notice for time off?"


    I frowned at Selena as I exined, "I have something important to attend to. Didn''t I tell you yesterday that I nned to take the day off?"


    Selena was perplexed after hearing this. "Did you really mention it yesterday? I can''t seem to recall."


    Selena had always been forgetful, particrly when it came to my concerns, so I wasn''t taken aback. She didn''t give me a moment to breathe, gesturing toward the stack of documents on her desk. "Here, help me with these."


    I quietly began sorting through Selena''s documents, reading quickly as usual. After marking the important ones, I received a message from Zion. "There''s a meeting at 1:00 pm on the fourth floor. Please remind Selena to attend."


    I was puzzled about the nature of the meeting on the fourth floor, especially since Zion had to message me to remind Selena about it.


    "Selena, there''s a meeting scheduled on the fourth floor at 1:00 pm. When do you intend to head over?" I inquired.


    Selena paused, looking annoyed. "It''s frustrating to argue with those old fogies again."


    I couldn''tprehend why Selena''s attitude had changed until I attended the meeting with her in the afternoon. Once I met the other participants, it became clear who those "old fogies" Selena had mentioned truly were. It turned out to be a shareholders'' meeting.


    Shortly after the meetingmenced, a few shareholders approached Selena. "Ms. Norman, what have you been up totely? Why did it take you so long to return to thepany? Do you n to exin?"


    Selena wore a cold expression, devoid of any hint of a smile. "Didn''t I mention that I just returned from a trip a few days ago? Do you want to see the photos I took?"


    She turned to face the people who weed her with smiles, her eyes brimming with menace.


    "Why don''t we start the meeting?" a shareholder suggested to ease tensions. "Alright. Let''s discuss our recent coboration with the Cyton Group."


    "Who reviewed this contract? It was approved even with so many issues. Doesn''t the reviewer understand thepany''s situation? Does he even care about thepany?"


    I gazed at the document projected on the screen, the very one Andy had delivered to the hospital for Selena''s review. It was clear that this meeting was targeted at her.


    Andy presented an investment proposal to Selena and me, and both of them showed interest in the newpany for an uing project. However, only Andy and Selena were optimistic about it. The rest of the group opposed the idea.

 Chapter 83

    I also disagreed after reading the contract because the risks were too high and the chances of sess were slim. Unfortunately, Andy missed the meeting, possibly because he wasn''t invited.


    Regardless, Selena was the sole supporter of the project at the meeting. She felt alone and vulnerable, with no one else to rely on.


    Eventually, she stood up. Then, she surveyed the room with a piercing gaze and dered, "I see nothing wrong with this document.


    "Although the otherpany is new andcks fundingpared to established firms, it has made notable progress in thest few years and shows great potential. Sometimes, you have to take risks to find sess."


    The atmosphere turned chaotic as arguments erupted among the group. I stood by, feeling uncertain about what to say. I longed to voice my support for Selena, but as her assistant, I felt my role was too insignificant to intervene in the meeting.


    I watched as Selena engaged in a heated argument, her expression icy and her eyes filled with hurt. Despite this, she kept insisting on her point. I couldn''t help but wonder if Zion would support her if he was present.


    In the end, Selena stood up and mmed the table angrily. "This is mypany, and I''m the biggest shareholder. Why shouldn''t I have the final say? Even if it all goes south, I''ll take responsibility. Why are you wasting time with all this nonsense?"


    Selena said nothing further. She simply stood up and walked out. As a result, the meeting concluded without yielding any oue. At that moment, I was left uncertain about what the result truly was.


    "Thepany suddenly reminded me of my past. If only I had received support back then, my Zyrtec Group would have avoided bankruptcy."


    To prove herself, Selena left thepany back then. She started her own business, Zyrtec Group, which was her second venture.


    Initially, she believed that her sessfulunch of Blue Charm had equipped her with the necessary expertise to start another sessfulpany. However, she struggled to find support and faced temporary financial issues. To avoid losing everything, she decided to dere Zyrtec Group bankrupt.


    In the business world, investment failures weremon, which didn''t surprise me. However, Selena wasn''t used to it and couldn''tprehend it.


    When Zyrtec Group announced its bankruptcy, she locked herself in her room for three days without eating. Despite my attempts to reach her, it was in vain. Eventually, she emerged.


    I couldn''t erase her memories, but I couldfort her and encourage her to move forward. I reassured Selena by patting her shoulder and saying, "Zyrtec Group is in the past. We need to focus on the future."


    In an unexpected turn of events, Selena''s outburst led to the project''s approval. I was initially shocked by the news butter felt a bit sad about it.


    Many projects were approved based on majority rule, but this didn''t stop some dictatorships from arising. While it seemed positive, it often resulted in disappointment. I hoped Selena''s investment was wise this time.

 Chapter 84

    After work, I returned home with Selena. Since she insisted on others supporting her project, she took charge of the preparations.


    As her assistant, I was responsible for doing basic market research and contacting the partnerpany. While it seemed straightforward, it was much more challenging than expected. Having been away from work for over a month, the sudden intensity was overwhelming for me.


    As I reclined on the couch, Selena headed upstairs to take a shower. Before long, Sylvia called me while I was dozing off. "Hudson, I''m d you finally answered. I thought you didn''t want to talk to me anymore. I called multiple times, but you didn''t pick up at all."


    After Sylvia mentioned this, I realized she had indeed called me several times. Since I was at work, my phone was on silent, and I only noticed her call when the screen lit up. "I just got off work. I missed your call because my phone was on silent. I''m sorry. Please don''t be upset."


    Sylvia snorted. Then, she happily shared her experiences from today. I enjoyed her animated storytelling, but the unexpected arrival of Selena dimmed the mood.


    I was taken aback when Selena suddenly appeared before me. Realizing there was still some distance between us, I swiftly ended the call. She stood there, her hair damp.


    I frowned and quickly messaged Sylvia. "There''s a meeting I need to attend. Go to bed early."


    "Selena, why are you here suddenly?" I asked after setting my phone aside.


    She smiled at me, though she seemed confused. "I just wanted to remind you that it''s time for a shower, Hud. It''s gettingte. We should rest early tonight since we have a busy day ahead at thepany tomorrow."


    I acknowledged with a nod and made my way upstairs.


    After my shower, I found Selena sitting on my bed with a hair dryer in hand, deep in thought. She smiled as she showed me the hair dryer. "Hud, could you do me a favor and blow dry my hair? You mentioned that if I go to bed with wet hair, I might get a migraine."


    "But..." I was about to ask why she couldn''t just blow-dry her own hair.


    Observing Selena''s facial expression and recalling her illness, I found myself unable to reject her. Instead, I took the hair dryer from her hand and dried her hair.


    "Hud, do you believe I''ll be sessful in this project?" Selena inquired as she gazed up at me.


    I usually didn''t pay much attention to investments, especially since I worked with experienced executives fromrgepanies. Even with a low sess rate, their strong finances reduced risks.


    However, the smallpany Selena was partnering with this time seemed unpredictable. Seeing her enthusiasm, I felt I couldn''t turn her down.


    "This isn''t the end, so I won''t rush to any conclusions just yet. But I believe in you. If you stay dedicated and put in the hard work, the results will follow in due time."

 Chapter 85

    Selena was quiet for a long time, and I didn''t feel like starting a conversation as well. I just helped her blow dry her hair so we could go to bed early.


    As I unplugged the hair dryer and set it aside, Selena caught the corner of my shirt. With a hurt look, she asked, "Hud, if we break up, will you find someone else?"


    Ovee with embarrassment, I struggled to confess to Selena that I was in a rtionship. Instead, I averted my gaze and replied vaguely, "I... I don''t know."


    After I ced the hair dryer back, she remained seated on my bed.


    "Selena, it''s gettingte. You really should head back to your room and get some rest." I approached her, hoping to persuade her to leave, but she refused.


    Selena sat on the bed, hugging her legs. "Hud, I''m really scared. Can you stay here with me? I swear I''ll just sleep and won''t bother you with anything else. Please, I''m terrified of being alone. Please don''t leave me alone."


    I often felt frustrated with myself. I was in amitted rtionship yet found myself entangled with my ex-wife. If I slept in the same bed with her, who would believe nothing was happening? Honestly, I wouldn''t believe it either.


    I sighed and firmly declined Selena''s invitation to share a room. "Selena, it''s over between us. We shouldn''t share a room. If we were to sleep in the same room and word got out, it would only invite gossip."


    Selena remained unconvinced by my words. "Why not? We''ve been together before, and this is my house. It''s just the two of us here. If neither of us acknowledges what happened, who would ever find out that we slept together?"


    Although it made sense, I still couldn''t shake off the feeling of guilt. With Selena refusing to leave, I realized I couldn''t force her. Thankfully, the house was spacious with several guest rooms.


    I sighed, feeling helpless. "You can sleep here. I''ll take another room."


    As I turned to leave, Selena grabbed my clothes in a desperate attempt to stop me. "Why could you be there for me in the hospital, but not now that I''m home? Are you still upset?


    "I''ve broken up with Zion and I don''t love him anymore. Why can''t you just forgive me? I know I messed up. I''m just a scumbag, an asshole. I keep falling for everyone I meet, and I''m not worthy of you."


    As Selena spoke, her hands trembled uncontrobly, and tears streamed down her face. She bit her lip, making a desperate effort to suppress her cries.


    Gazing at Selena''s hand, an unsettling feeling washed over me. I couldn''t help but question whether it had provoked her illness. This thought sent a wave of panic through my heart.


    After spending nearly a month by her side in the hospital for treatment, I eventually got her discharged. If her condition worsened, and she had to return for treatment, all my efforts would be in vain.


    "Alright, I''ll sleep with you. Please don''t be sad. It''s not good for your health."


    Selena sniffled, her eyes swollen and red from tears. "You promised to sleep with me today. What about tomorrow? You will stay with me tomorrow, right? Hud, please. I don''t want to sleep alone. I''m so scared. I really can''t sleep by myself. Can you please stay with me?"

 Chapter 86

    "Please... please stay with me. I can''t sleep alone."


    Selena cried harder as she spoke, eventually bing too overwhelmed to talk. She buried her head in my arms, trying to hide her tears.


    Selena was trembling, and it made me uneasy. I wanted to be with her, but I couldn''t get past the fact that she had cheated on me. I feared she might do it again.


    At that moment, I suddenly thought of Sylvia, my girlfriend who was still waiting for me. I wanted to resolve the situation quickly and be with her.


    As long as Selena made a full recovery, it was only a matter of time before she fell in love with someone else when she returned to her normal life. Right now, she depended on me, but I knew she couldn''t truly love me forever.


    Once she was healed, I''d be free to be with Sylvia. This realization eased my resistance to Selena, allowing me to ept our current situation.


    "Alright, I''ll stay with you tonight. Selena, please don''t cry. Let''s head to bed, alright? It''s quitete." I gently reassured Selena, much like one would with a child.


    After feelingforted, she finally surrendered to sleep, leaving me feeling a bit weary as well. Selena''s soft, steady breathing filled the silence. I sighed in the darkness, feeling confused and questioning how long I would have to live like this.


    The following day, I woke up alongside Selena. Given the events of the previous day, I reluctantly agreed to return to the master bedroom with her every night. Despite my reservations, I felt it was necessary to agree, so all my efforts would not go to waste.


    Following yesterday''s endeavors, I sessfully located Party Bpany for the project. I drove to their office alongside Selena with the contract.


    Thepany was quite modest, situated above a quaint caf¨¦. A small sign bearing their name marked the stairs leading to the second floor, called Dream Maker.


    When I arrived, I noticed only a few tables andputers. The facilities were quite basic, and it was clear their financial situation was worse than we expected.


    A young woman in casual clothes greeted us when we arrived. I was usually direct, so I simply pulled out the contract and exined the reason for our visit. Although her eyes widened in surprise and skepticism, she nheless turned to seek assistance from someone else.


    The other party consisted of recent graduates from prestigious universities, all of whom hadpleted their studies less than two years prior. Driven by passion and ambition, they established theirpany. Despite facing some setbacks, they persevered. They were shocked to hear that we wanted to coborate with them. The leader was a gentle-looking man with sses. Although young, he appeared aged and tired, likely due to being overworked. He disyed a maturity umon for his age.


    "Did I hear you correctly? Are you saying yourpany wants to coborate with us?" the young man beside the leader inquired.


    I nodded in silence.

 Chapter 87

    Selena simply observed them in silence. As I gazed into her eyes, I found myself unable toprehend the reason behind her sudden quietness.


    With years of work experience, I disliked procrastination, so I handed the contract directly to the leader. "Here''s the contract we prepared. Please review it for any issues. If you agree, we can proceed with the partnership, but you''re free to decline since we have other options."


    Despite their initial skepticism, they epted the contract from me and began to read it. I couldn''t see their expressions clearly since I had my head down, yet I sensed a palpable excitement in the air. Their smiles seemed to shine through, though I couldn''t catch their words. Eventually, theirughter faded one by one.


    "Why did you choose us?" asked the man with sses as he closed the contract and returned it to us.


    "Exactly. I have the same question. Bigpanies often im weck experience and abilities, yet you want to coborate with us instead of other big firms. Is it a trap?"


    It appeared they had been deceived in the past. Before I could say anything, Selena began to exin. She had clearly made up her mind and slowly shared her reasons.


    "You are all neers to the industry, full of potential yetcking experience. It''s indeed risky to cooperate with you, but I still want to take a gamble.


    "Wealth and honor oftene from taking risks. I believe young people are more adaptable and capable of creating than older generations, which is why I want to coborate with you. I''ve shared the contract, and whether you ept it is up to you.


    "No one should feel pressured. If you''ve made a decision, please call us back." After that, Selena ced the contract on the table and led me downstairs. I was in a daze, feeling confused as I watched her walk ahead of me.


    I sighed and suggested, "Selena, we should talk to them first before leaving. Otherwise, they''ll think we''re insincere. Even though you were the president, you weren''t in public rtions. You might not grasp the ws of human nature."


    She sighed deeply, her gaze fixed on thepany''s sign.


    She said, "It''s clear they''re struggling financially. Perhaps an unexpected situation arose when they firstunched the business. They might have faced contract breaches or have even been cheated and had to paypensation. If they are truly bold and desperate, they will reach out again."


    Selena paused, her brow furrowed in contemtion. After a moment, she sighed and added, "If they don''t have the courage to take a risk, they aren''t worth coborating with."


    Seeing Selena''s disappointed expression made me realize I didn''t know enough about her. After returning to thepany, we never brought up the coboration again.


    While we hadn''t received a response from thatpany, the project was Selena''s idea, and the market potential remained significant. There were many otherpanies we could work with. Selena just favored that one.

 Chapter 88

    Selena and I put in extra hours, workingte into the night before departing from thepany. When I finally turned on my phone, the first thing that caught my eye was a message from Sylvia.


    "Hudson, why do I feel like you don''t like me as much anymore?"


    Upon receiving Sylvia''s message, my thoughts wentpletely nk. I questioned whether my feelings for her had really faded. Yet, what did it truly mean to like someone?


    Throughout my life, I had experienced love only a few times. I only had two partners in total, Selena and Sylvia, who both took the lead in pursuing me. I had never been the one to make the first move with any woman.


    In my life, I had met many girls and felt brief moments of affection that seemed more like infatuation than real love. Despite approaching my 30s, I still didn''t grasp the meaning of true love. Yet, witnessing Sylvia express her emotions made me realize the profound sadness she must be feeling at that moment.


    I was puzzled when Sylvia deleted her message just a minute after sending it. Following Selena''s betrayal, I had trained myself to ignore signs and feign ignorance. Sylvia''s decision to withdraw her message indicated that her initial words weren''t truly reflective of her feelings.


    Whether it was frustration or sadness born from a brief moment of despair, it was evident she wished to conceal her emotions from me. Respecting her choice, I decided to y along.


    "What did you just delete?" I inquired, pretending not to read it.


    "Nothing much. Just go to bed early. Goodnight," Sylvia responded instantly.


    I was eager to respond to Sylvia''s message, but just as I was about to do so,


    Selena approached and disrupted my train of thought. I found myself momentarily at a loss for words, so I decided to head back first.


    After a tiring day at work, Selena and I quickly took a shower and fell asleep together. By the time I remembered to reply to Sylvia''s message, it was already morning.


    As I held my phone, I gazed at the goodnight message Sylvia had sent me. A thought crossed my mind. Someone once exined that saying "goodnight" could be another way of expressing love.


    But I was not Sylvia, and I was left pondering whether her words were infused with deeper meaning. The uncertainty lingered, and no one could provide me with the rity I sought.


    I let out a sigh and greeted Sylvia with a "Good morning." Still, there was no reply.


    As I was sending documents to Selena, I realized I had missed numerous calls from Sylvia, who had repeatedly tried to reach me. Feeling perplexed, I stepped into the bathroom to initiate a video call.


    The connection was immediate, and Sylvia appeared. However, something was clearly off. Her eyes were red as if she had been weeping for quite some time. "What happened to you? Your eyes look so swollen. Did something bite you?" She wiped her tears and murmured, "It''s nothing, just..."


    Sylvia struggled to catch her breath, and despite her efforts to hold back her tears, they continued to stream down her face. Initially, she tried desperately to wipe them away.


    Yet, ultimately, the difort became too much, prompting her to turn off the video. Although I couldn''t see her expression, it was clear that Sylvia was enduring immense pain.


    "It''s so hard to live. Why do others deny me even though I try so hard?"


    She sobbed.


    I was confused.

 Chapter 89

    I was curious why Sylvia made thosements during her travels. Such journeys


    were usually filled with joy.


    "Sylvia, what''s troubling you?" I inquired.


    There was silence for a while. I wanted to ask something, but then I saw a message from Zion. He asked, "Hudson, where are you? Did you forget you''re not allowed to leave your post during working hours?"


    Upon reading this message, I felt irritated. In the past, I might have ignored it, but now that I was no longer the president, I had no privileges and had to follow thepany''s rules as a regr assistant.


    "Alright. I need to focus on my work for now, so I won''t be able to chat," I told Sylvia.


    Just as I was about to end the call, Sylvia''s voice came through, filled with frustration. "All you see is work, Hudson. Do you still have a ce for me in your heart?"


    I was puzzled by Sylvia''s emotional instability. She hadn''t been like this before. I exined helplessly, "But I''m at work now."


    "I apologize for interrupting your work. Goodbye." Sylvia hung up the phone, anger evident in her tone.


    I was confused as to why Sylvia got upset for no reason. I wondered what had happened to her while I was away.


    After finishing work, I reached out to Sylvia again, but she was clearly still upset with me. When I called again, I got a notification saying she was on another call, which meant she rejected my call. I just didn''t understand why our rtionship had turned out this way.


    I contacted my former colleague at thepany in Carzonia to inquire about Sylvia. "Sylvia has been avoiding my callstely. Is she busy? How has she been since I''ve been away? Is she doing alright now?


    Since I hadn''t mentioned it, they were unaware that Sylvia had arrived in Adenville, or that I had met with her. The response came swiftly from the other side. "Sylvia resigned, Hudson. Didn''t you know?"


    Upon receiving the message, I was confused and replied with a puzzled expression emoji. My former colleague promptly rified the situation for me.


    "She initially requested a transfer to another city, but it was denied. I''m not sure if that prompted her decision, but Sylvia decided to resign. Anyway, I only learned of her resignation through another colleague. Hudson, it would be best to ask her directly for the full details."


    Upon reading this, I felt a mix of shock and confusion. Nevertheless, I expressed my gratitude before ending the conversation.


    Sylvia unexpectedly visited me in Adenville all the way from Carzonia and said she was transferred for work. However, Iter heard from others that she resigned.


    She hadn''tmunicated anything to me, leaving me confused about her intentions.

 Chapter 90

    I suppressed my frustration and reached out to Sylvia. She had always answered my calls without dy in the past, but now it felt like an uphill battle. No matter how many times I dialed, Sylvia remained unresponsive.


    I felt unmotivated at work that day and secretly called Sylvia multiple times without Selena knowing, but she didn''t answer. Before leaving, I called Sylvia once more, and atst, she answered.


    "Hudson, why do you keep calling me?"


    Perhaps I was frustrated that Sylvia didn''t answer my calls. When she asked me this question, I couldn''t hold back my anger. "Sylvia, why did you quit your job?" Sylvia paused before awkwardly replying, "Are we doing this again?"


    "Again?" I still felt very angry about what happenedst time.


    "You traveled all the way to Adenville, and now you''re deciding to resign out of a sudden. Sylvia, why don''t you discuss it with me first? What do I really mean to you? Am I still your boyfriend?"


    "Hudson, you don''t know anything," Sylvia said before hanging up without any exnation.


    After she hung up, I was so agitated that I punched the wall. To my surprise, Zion happened to walk by and witnessed my outburst. I found this moment quite embarrassing.


    He approached, nced at the wall, and asked, "Why are you hitting the wall? Are you arguing with your partner?"


    He approached me, gently patted my shoulder, and shook his head with a knowing look.


    He remarked earnestly as if speaking from personal experience, "Love is magical.


    It can stir up deep emotions, even anger. Just remember, don''t let it weigh you down too much.


    "If this rtionship is wearing you out, consider letting it go. Have you ever listened to that song? Letting go, sacrificing forever for the sake of love..."


    While he talked, he began to sing and dance poorly. His silly appearance made me want to roll my eyes.


    "Before you try to convince me to move on, could you please do so first? Zion, it''s time to let Selena go. Watching you pursue her like this is exhausting."


    "Hudson, I''m just trying to help you. There''s no need to treat me this way. You''re being ungrateful."


    Despite everything, his vulnerability remained Selena. Witnessing his anger sparked a sense of relief within me.


    "Hudson, stop being arrogant. Selena will eventually see your true colors ande back to me. Just you wait." After that, he walked away in anger.


    I watched him walk away until he disappeared down the corridor.


    I still resented Zion for his schemes that got me into this situation.


    However, I could see that he genuinely loved Selena, more than I did. I pondered when Selena would finally recognize that the one who truly loved her was actually Zion.


    Suddenly, Selena approached me and tapped my desk. "There''s an event tonight. Let''s go together."

 Chapter 91

    I looked up and noticed Selena, her expression clouded with concern. I couldn''t quite grasp what was troubling her. "Why do you seem unhappy? Is something bothering you?"


    Selena sighed and exined, "I dislike drinking, but it''s unavoidable when socializing."


    With a deep breath, she shook her head and smiled at me, her eptance of the situation evident. "Forget it. There''s no use in discussing this."


    I followed Selena to a restaurant for the social event. When I entered the private room, it was crowded. Everyone was gathered together, and there were several bottles of alcohol on the table.


    Selena took a deep breath and led me to a seat. Then, she started greeting everyone with a bright smile, exchanging pleasantries one after another.


    Though I can''t recall their exact words, I vividly remembered the moment they began drinking. What followed was an enthusiastic series of toasts that quickly turned into a lively drinkingpetition.


    Seeing Selena drink one ss after another made me worried. As a woman, socializing posed risks, and I feared she could be taken advantage of if she got drunk. Noticing her flushed face, I quickly took the ss from her hand.


    "I''m Selena''s husband. She can''t handle alcohol well, but I''d be happy to enjoy this drink with you on her behalf."


    In thepany, my rtionship with Selena was a well-kept secret, yet everyone here was aware that she was married. Even though they didn''t know me well, I was confident no one would impersonate me and stop Selena from drinking.


    Back then, I often socialized with clients over drinks to boost my sales, significantly increasing my alcohol tolerance in the process. After several bottles, I managed to get them drunk.


    One of the CEOs, holding a bottle of wine, nced at me with a pleased smile and remarked, "You''re quite the drinker. Because of that, I''m d to sign this contract with you."


    I was d to hear this. I drank a lot of wine this evening, and it was worth it.


    An intense heat suddenly enveloped my body, and a warm current surged through me. Yet, I was unable to release it. This sensation felt hauntingly familiar, but just as quickly, it slipped from my memory.


    "Hud, you''re drunk. Let me take you home. Have you been wanting to do this for a while? I really miss you, Hud."


    My mind was in chaos, and my body was even more restless. I felt a small hand gliding over me, slipping into my cor like a searing me, intensifying the heat coursing through me. It was unbearably hot and ufortable. Suddenly, I felt a cool sensation against my skin.


    "Hud, I''ll take care of you." Selena''s voice echoed in my ears. Then, I pinned her down firmly.


    As I gazed at the woman standing before me, her features gradually came into sharp focus. I realized it was my girlfriend Sylvia, whom I had missed so much. I wondered why she was here. Was it a dream?


    Without hesitation, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly. "Sylvia, I really missed you."

 Chapter 92

    The following day, I woke up feeling sticky and ufortable.


    Opening my eyes, I realized I was lying there half-exposed, with only a thin sheet covering me, as if it were myst shred of dignity.


    Suddenly, I heard a soft sigh, and when I looked down, I saw Selena lying in my


    arms.


    She, too, was bare, with only a sliver of modesty left.


    Seeing her like this left my mind nk.


    It was obvious that something had happened between Selena and I the previous night.


    The very thing I had always been worried about had finally happened.


    I had thought about how I might handle it if something like this urred, but now that it had, I was at aplete loss.


    Staring at Selena nestled in my arms, my thoughts were in disarray.


    I pulled myself free from her embrace and got up to dress myself.


    Maybe I moved too abruptly, because it woke Selena.


    She rubbed her eyes, looking at me. Instead of shock or panic, she smiled at me, almost like she''d been waiting for this moment.


    "Good morning, Hud. Did you sleep wellst night?"


    Because of the drinks, my memory of the night before was fragmented, and what I could recall were only blurry scenes of being entangled with Selena. Just thinking about it made my cheeks heat up.


    Selena noticed and reached out to poke my flushed face. Laughing, she asked, "Hud, why are you blushing this early in the morning?"


    "Selena, aboutst night... we..." I couldn''t bring myself to say it, but I knew she understood.


    She chuckled and got up, and as she did, the sheet fell from her shoulders, revealing her graceful figure.


    After a month or two of recovery, the scars on Selena''s back had faded significantly, making them look less harsh than before. In fact, they even added a strange, haunting beauty to her back.


    Her figure had also grown thinner from the fatigue of recent days, making her waist appear fragile, and it seemed like a gust of wind could topple her.


    Selena walked over, wrapped her arms around my neck, leaned down, and kissed my cheek. With a yful smile, she said, "Hudson, did you forget? Legally, we''re already married, so what we did ispletely normal and allowed. So, why are you so surprised?"


    "Oh, and I forgot to ask. Did you have a good timest night? Because I certainly did. How about a little more, now that we still have time?"


    "Selena, you..." I looked at her, not knowing what to say.


    I quickly disentangled myself from her hold and put on my clothes.


    "Selena, wasst night your doing? What did you do to me?"


    I pride myself on my self-control, and I know for sure I wouldn''t just lose it from drinking.


    I had been drunk enough times to know that this shouldn''t have happened.


    There had to be something more going on.


    Selena''s face turned red at my usation.


    Lowering her head, she replied with a hurt expression, "What could I have done? You got drunk, and I was nice enough to take you home. I didn''t expect you to... to lose yourself like that. Then one thing led to another..."


    "You were relentlessst night," she continued to say, putting on a hurt expression


    as she rubbed her sore back. "I''m still sore all over."


    Watching her shamelessly lie, I took a deep breath, struggling to keep my emotions in check.

 Chapter 93

    "Selena, I''m a man, and I''ve been drunk before. When you''re really that intoxicated, your mind shuts down. There''s no way I would have been able to do... that."


    I let out a coldugh and pointed out the obvious. "People don''t just do things like that by ident. There''s always intent behind it."


    As I thought about seeing Sylvia yesterday, something clicked into ce, but I still didn''t want to admit it.


    "Selena, did you put something in my drink?"


    Selena''s expression shifted. She lifted her head and red at me.


    "What is this? Are you really using me of that? Is this just you pulling up your pants and walking away?"


    "Hudson, are you even a man?" she continued.


    Her voice trembled with anger, and her body shook. I knew she might be having another episode, but I couldn''t bring myself to care right now.


    What could I even do? What was there to fix?


    I hade to Adenville with Zion because I missed what Selena and I used to have and felt sorry for her.


    Afterward, staying at the hospital might have been partly out of obligation, but it was also because of her.


    Then I stayed on as an assistant at thepany, unnned, all for her.


    Now, I couldn''t even remember why I had stayed in the first ce.


    Seeing Selena''s distraught expression, I ran a hand through my hair, feeling utterly helpless.


    "I''m sorry, I''m sorry, I''m sorry." Those were the only words that came to mind. I''d let down Selena, and I''d let down Sylvia.


    Selena seemed to sense something in my reaction and softened a little, letting go of her earlier insistence. She came over, held my hand, and tearfully apologized. "I''m sorry, Hud, I''m really sorry. Please don''t be like this."


    Sometimes, I found it almostughable. Why were Selena and I apologizing to each other? Neither of us had really done anything wrong. We just didn''t love each other enough but still tried to force it.


    Looking at Selena, I shook my head, feeling lost.


    The next moment, I felt a wave of dizziness.


    When I opened my eyes again, I saw only a white ceiling and bright lights above me. The faint smell of antiseptic lingered in the air, and a feeling of sadness welled up in my heart.


    I was truly pathetic, unable even to sort out my feelings.


    Turning my head, I saw Selena sitting by my side, asleep.


    It felt surreal. Selena had actually stayed by my side through the night. Even back when she imed to love me the most, she had never done this.


    I reached out, intending to touch her, but recalling our night together, I withdrew


    my hand. An unnamed sadness surged within me, and they only grew stronger and stronger.


    I didn''t know why, but I couldn''t hold back the feeling in my chest. Perhaps I really was just a failure.


    Selena moved, and her eyes slowly opened. Upon seeing me awake, she rubbed her eyes, and her face lit up with joy. She grasped my hand tightly.


    "Hud, Hud, you''re awake."


    I didn''t understand why my awakening made Selena so happy, but there were moments when I wished I hadn''t woken up, that I could just keep sleeping. Then I could be ignorant of everything, free from having to face anything at all.

 Chapter 94

    Selena''s concerned expressions stirred nothing within me.


    It seemed like her care was merely a duty she fulfilled as a wife.


    Realizing this, a sudden chill ran through me. I hadn''t expected to feel this way,


    ever.


    Not long after Selena arrived, I heard footsteps approaching. Soon, Zion appeared at the door. He looked out of breath and visibly anxious.


    He rushed over, grabbing Selena''s arm and looking at her intently. "Selena, are you okay? Hudson didn''t hurt you, did he? Are you hurt? What happened?"


    Selena looked a bit confused but quickly pulled herself together, freeing herself from Zion''s grip as she turned to me.


    "I''m fine. Hudson''s the one who''s in trouble. I''m going to find the doctor. Stop bothering me."


    The sadness in Zion''s eyes was obvious, but Selena ignored itpletely.


    It was true that when one loved someone who didn''t love them back, those people would never truly care about how one felt. This type of love was painful for both Zion and Selena.


    After Selena left, I didn''t say anything.


    I felt exhausted. There was nothing to say. What could words aplish? Nothing would change. What had happened couldn''t be undone.


    As I watched Selena walk away, Zion ran his hands through his hair. There was frustration on his face.


    I couldn''t tell what he was upset about, but his anger was clear when, a momentter, he started shouting at me.


    "Hudson, I don''t get you! Selena cares so much for you. She does everything to make you happy! That''s something I''ve always wanted but never had! Yet you''re ungrateful enough to end up in a hospital! What''s wrong with you?"


    I didn''t know how long Zion ranted. I wasn''t wearing a watch and had no sense of time.


    He kept mumbling.


    Eventually, he seemed to have tired himself out. He stopped, his chest heaving. Then he just stared at me with a look of confusion before quietly asking, "Hudson, what''s wrong with you?"


    What was wrong? What could possibly be wrong? Wasn''t I alive and well?


    Selena returned with the doctor. Oddly, she didn''t seem to mind discussing everything openly. She and the doctor talked as if I weren''t even there.


    When I heard the doctor mention depression, I didn''t feel rmed.


    Depression. A few people at my workce dealt with it. Actually, anyone who had seen the darker sides of this world probably had some form of it. If it was somon, why worry?


    "Just try to be considerate of the patient''s feelings and avoid upsetting him. Right now, it''s important to help him stabilize emotionally. Try watchingedies with him, reminiscing about good memories. It''ll help him recover faster."


    The doctor spoke to both of them.


    I didn''t pay attention to their reactions.


    It didn''t matter to me. As long as I didn''t want to leave this world yet, I''d be fine. Though, there had been times I seriously considered it.


    Turning toward the window, I saw the sun high in the sky, lighting up the world outside.


    It was probably 10:00 am already.


    I got out of bed and headed to the door, only for both of them to block my way. Selena looked at me cautiously.


    "Hud, where are you off to this early?"


    Where? I didn''t know. But as I looked down the empty hallway, a thought surfaced.


    Anywhere but here. I didn''t want to stay in this hospital.

 Chapter 95

    "It''ste. I need to get back to work," I said tly,ing up with an excuse.


    Zion approached and red at me.


    "Why would you go back to work in your condition? I''m your supervisor, and even


    I haven''t started working yet! What''s the rush? You''re not short on money, nor are you aiming for a promotion. Why push yourself?"


    I looked at him and said casually, "Oh."


    What did it matter to me?


    Zion threw a punch at my face.


    "Hudson, stop pretending! You''re not depressed. Are you out of your mind?"


    I didn''t know how the two of them ended up arguing, but before I realized it, Selena was holding my hand and leading me out.


    We sat in a cab, driving forward. Selena was quiet at first, but soon, she broke down crying.


    The driver nced at us through the rearview mirror and couldn''t help but say, "Young man, your girlfriend is crying like that, and you''re notforting her?"


    Should Ifort Selena because she was crying?


    Oh, I suppose I should.


    I turned to look at her tear-streaked face. Her eyes were red and swollen. She couldn''t speak through her sobs.


    Not knowing how tofort her, I chose to stay silent.


    Sometimes, silence and presence were the bestforts, rather than fumbling for words that wouldn''t help.


    The driver sighed, but the car kept moving forward.


    Instead of taking me back to the office, Selena brought me home.


    I sat on the couch, looking around at the familiar surroundings, not knowing what


    to say.


    The ce felt familiar, but the people didn''t.


    In truth, it had been a hard day.


    It suddenly struck me with crystal rity that living was exhausting.


    Selena sat beside me, holding my hand and crying again.


    It was odd. Didn''t her eyes hurt from all that crying? Wasn''t she tired? How could she cry so much?


    Random thoughts filled my head, distracting me from noticing how much pain Selena was in.


    Seeing my confusion seemed to hurt her more. She held my hand with one hand, wiping her tears with the other as regret washed over her.


    "Hud, why? Why did you end up like this? If I''d known it would be like this, I wouldn''t have let youe back."


    Would it have mattered if she hadn''t let mee back? It didn''t seem to.


    What was important anymore?


    I did not know how to exin any of it, I only felt tired. I was just so exhausted.


    Letting go of her hand, I walked upstairs. I looked at the bed and fell onto it. Nothing felt as good as sleep.

 Chapter 96

    In a daze, I heard a creak, like a door opening, followed by the sound of footsteps.


    It was probably Selena. She let out a long sigh, but I couldn''t catch what she said as the sound was too faint.


    I wasn''t sure how much time had passed when I finally woke up and felt a little


    lighter.


    Unlocking my phone, the first thing I saw was a photo of Sylvia and me.


    In the picture, I was seen forcing a smile, one that didn''t look particrly good, but Sylvia, on the other hand, was beaming with joy. Judging from the angle, it was likely a selfie she took.


    A message notification pinged. It was from Sylvia.


    "Hudson, I really miss you."


    Seeing her message, I was suddenly reminded that, right, I had a girlfriend.


    I nced at the time on my phone and realized it was eight in the morning, which was time to get ready for work. Just as I was heading out, I heard the door creak. Selena emerged from the room next door and looked at me with a somewhat strained expression.


    So, she could sleep alone after all.


    "Hud, it''s only eight. Where are you headed so early?"


    I raised an eyebrow. While I still felt a bit of resentment toward Selena, it wasn''t as strong as before. I replied casually, "To work."


    She seemed momentarily taken aback by my response. "Wait for me. I''ll head to the office with you."


    She turned back into her room. I wasn''t sure how long I waited, but it didn''t feel too long before she came out.


    She was dressed in a long dress, her hair flowing loosely over her shoulders. Despite her meticulously applied makeup, she looked weary. Selena carefully hooked her heels, walking gingerly to my side.


    "Hud, I''m ready. Let''s go together."


    I felt no reaction to Selena''s friendly gesture.


    I suddenly realized something. Selena''s condition didn''t matter to me anymore. As long as she wasn''t self-harming or suicidal, that was enough. Whatever else she dealt with wasn''t my concern.


    After all, people were inherently conflicted beings.


    All I needed to do was help Selena handle things at thepany.


    Actually, maybe I didn''t even need to do that. The board elders could say what they wanted. With the amount of shares Selena held, they couldn''t shake her position.  fo


    So, what was I striving for?


    Then I remembered that Sylvia wasn''t back yet.


    Once she was back, I''d resign and leave with her.


    What else mattered?


    After a moment, I decided to reply to Sylvia''s message.


    "Sylvia, I miss you too."


    The days went by uneventfully. For some reason, Selena stopped seeking me out. Wemuted to


    work together, and she no longer


    came to my room at night.


    Sometimes, lying alone in my room, staring at the empty ceiling, I would find


    myself strangely reminded of certain moments, certain times.


    Yet, I couldn''t remember what kind of times those were.


    One day, out of nowhere, I received a call from an unfamiliar number.

 Chapter 97

    "Hudson,e to Adenville train station. I''vee to see you."


    The voice sounded familiar, as though I knew her, but she didn''t say much before


    hanging up.


    Puzzled by this sudden call, I took the day off and headed to the train station.


    After an hour-long ride, I arrived at my destination.


    Watching the crowd, people immersed in their phones or queuing to board, each person seemed busy heading off to their own unknown future.


    I tried calling back, but there was no answer.


    As the automated response kicked in, I found myself chuckling.


    It was ridiculous. Just because of a call from a stranger, I dropped everything, spent an hour getting here and wasted both time and money. And for what?


    For a moment, as I stared at the information scrolling across the screen, I felt an urge to buy a ticket. Where to didn''t matter. What mattered was escaping.


    As long as I could leave Adenville, anywhere would do.


    The thought of staying or fleeing spun around in my mind. I stood there, envying the travelers with their luggage. Some off to enjoy life, others heading to work to make a living.


    But what about me? I didn''t know.


    They were all venturing into the unknown, but at least they had a destination. I had none.


    "Hudson!" I turned around to see Sylvia standing there.


    I couldn''t remember how long it had been since west met, but seeing her again, there was a strange sense of unfamiliarity.


    Her makeup was more refined than before, though her face couldn''t hide the fatigue and sadness, giving her an almost world-weary look. She was thinner than before. Her face looked a little smaller and less full.


    Sylvia seemed like she was about to cry. Covering her face, she wiped her tears


    and then ran over to hug me tightly.


    "Hudson, it''s been so long. I missed you so much."


    Hesitating briefly, I decided to wrap my arms around her back.


    We stood there, embracing each other. A few people looked at us with envy, some


    even stopping briefly before continuing on to their destinations.


    I don''t know how long we held each other. Eventually, our arms grew numb, and we let go.


    Sylvia wiped her tears, her eyes still glistening.


    I felt as though we hadn''t been apart that long, but at the same time, it felt like we hadn''t seen each other in ages Seeing her again brought a strange feeling of nostalgia, as if everything had changed.


    Sylvia took a deep breath. Her chest rose and fell as she tried to calm herself. She closed her eyes, taking several deep breaths before opening them again.


    "Don''t just stand there. Let''s go. I know a nice hotel nearby. We can sit and chat there. It''s tiring to stand. I still prefer lying on a bed when we talk."


    I nodded and followed Sylvia out of the station.


    I didn''t know where she was taking me, but as long as she was leading, it didn''t matter.


    After a short walk, we stopped


    outside a hotel. The narrow alley


    walls were adorned with colorful


    lights, and a sign overhead that read "Adult Goods" shed in rhythm with the lights.


    I had an inkling of what Sylvia might be thinking, but I couldn''t be sure.


    Maybe she just wanted a ce to rest.

 Chapter 98

    Sylvia stared at the words for a while, her expression a bit dazed. After a moment, she seemed to snap back to reality and smiled at me. She took my hand and said, "Hudson, it''s so hot outside. Let''s go inside."


    I wasn''t sure what Sylvia was thinking, but I hoped it wasn''t what I feared.


    Just as we were about to step in, a sharp voice came from behind us.


    "Sylvia, you liar! Why did you go back on your promise? We had an agreement! Why are you doing this?"


    I turned around to see Selena standing behind us, and my mind went nk.


    I hadn''t expected Sylvia and Selena to meet so quickly.


    The truth couldn''t stay hidden forever, but surely there was no need to expose it this quickly. She didn''t even give me a chance to prepare. Selena looked at Sylvia with a look of utter disdain.


    "Hud, is this your new girlfriend?" Selena looked at me, shaking her head with a disapproving click of her tongue as if criticizing my poor taste for choosing someone like Sylvia.


    I didn''t respond to Selena, but I knew that she already had her own conclusions. Without missing a beat, Selena continued, "I thought she''d be more beautiful, but she''s really just... average-looking."


    "So Selena, you already knew I had a girlfriend, right?" I closed my eyes and asked in a pained voice.


    Selena''s calm and natural attitude made me wonder if she had known all along that I was already seeing someone.


    As expected, Selena did know.


    She looked into my eyes, nced at Sylvia, and shrugged nonchntly.


    "Yeah, I''ve known for a while. You and Zion thought you could hide it from me, but when you came to Adenville, I already knew you had a girlfriend."


    "I know more than just that," she added.


    Selena took a deep breath, and I followed her gaze to see that she had been staring at Sylvia. Her eyes were filled with aplex mix of emotions-threat, disdain, and anger all blended together.


    "We should talk somewhere else," Selena said coldly. "Sylvia, this is for your own sake. There are some things you wouldn''t want more people to know, right?"


    I didn''t understand what Selena meant by that, but I could see that Sylvia''s face had turned pale. She seemed a bit dazed.


    When we entered, the receptionist looked a bit surprised to see the two of us together but quickly regained herposure and handed over Selena''s ID to book us a room.


    After swiping the card, we entered the room. Selena sat on the bed and pointed to therge bed opposite, gesturing for us to sit down.


    She looked at Sylvia coldly and said, "Sylvia, have you forgotten what you promised me? Why are you going back on your word? Do you know how much I despise people who don''t keep their promises?


    Though Selena spoke in the same tone, I could tell she was angry. She had used


    the same tone in the meeting room before.


    Keeping her promises? I didn''t understand what kind of deal these two had made behind my back.


    Sylvia, sitting beside me, tightened her grip on my arm, and I could feel her trembling.


    She took a deep breath and tried to act calm, but I could tell she was extremely anxious.


    "I also want to keep my promises, but over time, I realized none of this is worth it. It''s a bad deal."


    She continued, "Selena, you''ve


    deceived me, and now I''m not


    allowed to resist? I''ve endured it for


    almost a month, and I can''t take it


    anymore. Why should I pretend I don''t know what''s going on?"

 Chapter 99

    I don''t like being kept in the dark.


    The two of them were exchanging words, and they weren''t using any professional jargon, but I couldn''t understand a single word.


    "What are you two talking about?"


    Selena took a deep breath, seeminglying to a decision. She shook her head and smiled at me. "Let me tell you the real reason your girlfriend resigned."


    I raised an eyebrow, not fully understanding what Selena meant.


    If Sylvia resigned, then she just didn''t like the job or couldn''t adapt to it. Why would there be another special reason?


    Upon hearing Selena''s words, Sylvia''s emotions seemed to fluctuate even more.


    "No, Selena, you promised you wouldn''t tell Hudson. You can''t go back on your word."


    "Sylvia, get it straight. You broke the promise first, so don''t me me for being heartless."


    Selena looked at Sylvia''s panicked face and smiled. "You don''t want me to tell him? Well, I''m going to tell him anyway."


    She turned to me. "Hud, let me tell you the real reason Sylvia resigned."


    With that, Selena took out her phone and showed me a few photos. "Hud, do you think the woman in these photos looks a bit familiar?"


    I looked at the photos, and a feeling of dread washed over me.


    The woman in the photos, judging by her posture, outfit, and hairstyle, bore a striking resemnce to Sylvia. In one shot, she was seen in


    the arms of an overweight men in


    The


    two of them locked in a passionate embrace, kissing fervently with their clothes in disarray.


    The next photo showed the woman sprawled on the ground with her hair tangled and clothes askew. She seemed to have sustained some injuries while another woman, looking furious, stood nearby.


    As Selena flipped through the photos, she exined, "During the time you were away, this woman was having an affair with your boss. But unfortunately, she got caught."


    "Your boss'' wife then stered pictures of their affair all over thepany. This woman lost all her dignity and had no choice but to resign."


    I turned to look at Sylvia beside me. She suddenly seemed so unfamiliar to me. Did I really know who Sylvia was?


    Sylvia stared at me. Tears were streaming down her face, and she shook her


    head, crying. "Hudson, please believe me. It''s not what Selena says. I... I have my reasons."


    After hearing Sylvia''s words, I took a deep breath and tried to force a smile.


    "What reasons? Tell me, Sylvia. Why did you do this?"


    Okay, I couldn''t hold my emotions back anymore. I yelled at Sylvia, stood up, and distanced myself from her before sitting beside Selena.


    Sylvia reached out and wanted to stop me, but her hand hovered mid-air before retracting.


    "I''m sorry, I can''t say anything right now. But I promise when the time is right, I''ll tell you everything."

 Chapter 100

    Perhaps meeting Sylvia was a mistake from the very beginning.


    As I looked at her, I found her to be a stranger.


    If I could go back in time, I would rather have never met her. I certainly wouldn''t have chosen to be with her either.


    I let out a long sigh, closed my eyes, and didn''t want to speak.


    Sylvia tried to reach out and hold my hand, but Selena stepped forward and pushed her away.


    The push caused Sylvia to fall to the ground and let out a pained cry. Selena didn''t feel the slightest bit guilty. She looked at Sylvia with disgust and disdain written all over her face.


    "Go away, Sylvia. The moment you threw away your morals and dignity to lie in another man''s arms, you became tainted. Don''te near Hud and dirty him." Sylvia couldn''t hold it in anymore and burst into loud, heartbreaking sobs.


    She cried terribly, but my heart hurt even more.


    It wasn''t because of her tears, but because I never thought I would experience a second betrayal.


    And this time, the gap between both betrayals was less than six months. My luck really was something else.


    I stood there, silently watching Sylvia cry. I didn''t want to think about why she was crying, nor did I want to think about how tofort her. It didn''t matter anymore. It really didn''t matter.


    Selena just stood beside me, watching silently as well.


    She didn''t say anything tofort me, nor did she say anything bad about Sylvia. She simply stood there, holding my hand, quietly watching Sylvia cry with me.


    I didn''t know how long it had been, but I started to feel my legs growing numb from standing still.


    I felt like I should do something or say something. Otherwise, just standing there


    doing nothing wouldn''t solve anything. I couldn''t stand here forever.


    Taking a deep breath, I pulled my hand out of Selena''s grasp.


    I walked over and helped Sylvia up.


    At first, Selena seemed a bit upset and even tried to stop me. But hand froze halfway, then she lowered it. I didn''t know why she


    stopped, and I didn''t want to know.


    I helped Sylvia to her feet, and since there was no tissue avable, I used my


    sleeve to wipe away her tears.


    Sylvia looked at me. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying. Yet, she


    continued to sob and apologize.


    "Hudson, I''m sorry. I''m so sorry."


    She shouldn''t say sorry to me. Now that it had happened, what


    Where in saying sorry? Here


    was


    words couldn''t change anything.


    "You don''t need to apologize. You''re not wrong, and neither am I. We''re just..."


    I sighed. I couldn''t bring myself to say those self-deceptive words. I closed my


    eyes and pulled my hand away.


    "Sylvia, I''m tired. Let''s break up."


    I said this calmly. I wasn''t heartbroken, and I didn''t feel any tearing pain.


    It felt like when I wanted to buy a shirt, and then when I saw the price, I gave up with that same quiet resignation.


    All I could do was ept the reality with ease and make the decision to let go peacefully.


    Sylvia, upon hearing this, didn''t get overly emotional. She just cried some more. Her eyes, already swollen, became even redder from her tears.


    I just hoped she didn''t hurt her eyes from all the crying. I wasn''t a doctor, and I couldn''t heal her eyes.


    "I''ve been really happy when I''m with


    you. I thank you for your


    good girl, and I know you have your


    reasons, but I really can''t ept this."


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