"I’m not like you, mixing with women year-round; naturally, my judgment of people isn't as good as yours."

Ethan retorted coldly.

This made his father’s face turn white, and anger climbed into his eyes: "What did you say? Say it again!"

Ethan didn't fear his father’s fury at all, saying word for word: "Was I wrong? Since Mom passed away, the number of women you've brought home is probably too many for even you to count."

"You!"

His father was red with rage, a trembling finger pointing at him: "How dare you talk back! Not only have you failed to take care of Clara, but you’ve also thrown away the entire Ethan family’s reputation!"

A few words once again stoked the already fractured relationship. Ethan looked at him, his tone chilling: "Enough! Who is your hypocritical kindness for? My mother, who has been dead for twenty years? A man who didn't even show up for his wife’s final moment, and never even visited her grave—what right do you have to lecture me?"

As soon as the words left his lips, his father raised his hand and slapped him hard.

"You bastard!"

Accompanying the searing pain, Ethan’s face was knocked to the side, and his left cheek slowly began to swell red.

His father seemed stunned, staring in astonishment at his defiant son: "Ethan..."

Ethan maintained his bone-deep indifference, slowly retracting his icy gaze, and turned to hail a taxi.

"You stand right there!"

His father was both angry and anxious, but Ethan got directly into the car.

Watching the car drive away, his father seemed to shed all his pretenses, lowered his head, his eyes turning red as he let out a weary, helpless sigh.

Outside the car window, the street scene receded, and Ethan watched listlessly.

The pain in his cheek remained, but it was far less than the pain in his heart.

His hand resting on his leg tightened. He brushed away the thorny memories of his childhood and began to worry about Clara.

An hour later, the taxi stopped at the hospital entrance.

Ethan didn't delay a second, going straight to my patient room.

I had already woken up, retching continuously due to an adverse reaction to the medication.

Xu Li supported me as I vomited until my face turned blue, her eyes full of heartache: "Hang in there, swallow the medicine, Clara."

As soon as she finished speaking, a pair of hands took me from her shoulder.

Xu Li looked up and, seeing Ethan, was stunned: "Mr. Ethan?"

"I’ll handle it."

Ethan pulled me into his arms, taking the medicine and water from Xu Li.

Seeing this, Xu Li let out a sigh of relief and left.

"Clara, open your mouth."

Ethan said softly.

His gentle tone was like a feather drifting onto my heart, clearing my chaotic consciousness just a little.

Is... is that Ethan?

I don't know when it started, but the mint-tobacco scent on him had vanished, replaced only by a fresh citrus aroma.

Seeing me half-open my mouth, Ethan placed the medicine in and fed me warm water.

But in the next second, I began to cough violently.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Ethan instinctively went to wipe the water stains on my chin, only to see bright red blood flowing from the corner of my pale lips.

Drop by drop, it stained his hand and the pristine white blanket red...

Chapter 34

"She has been vomiting quite severely recently, which has damaged the mucous membranes in her throat, causing the symptoms of spitting up blood. Try not to feed her food that is too hot or too hard."

Upon hearing the doctor’s findings, the weight on Ethan's heart finally lifted.

When he had seen my mouth full of blood, he had felt as if everything in his mind had come to a standstill...

After the doctor left, he sat slowly by the bedside, watching me as I regained my composure, his nose stinging with acidity.

He dared not imagine if the person before his eyes were truly to leave, whether he would go insane.

Hearing Ethan’s irregular breathing, I turned my head slowly: "Julian said... you had business at the company and it would take several days... to return. Why... did you come back... so quickly?"

At this, Ethan suppressed the unease in his eyes: "Of course I had to come back quickly. Do you expect me to let someone with ulterior motives stay with you?"

Though the words were harsh, they lacked the barbs they once had.

I remained silent.

Julian was a doctor and was usually busy to the point where his feet barely touched the ground; he only came during his break, said a few words, and then left. He was nothing like this man, who was shameless enough to stay by my side every single step of the way.

Seeing me silent, Ethan asked again: "Don't want to see me?"

I wanted to ask if he was asking the obvious, but seeing the slap mark on his left cheek, I couldn't help but freeze: "Your face..."

Ethan pursed his lips carelessly: "It’s nothing."

His indifferent response carried a hint of imperceptible dejection.

I looked at him, and a shred of sympathy stirred in my complex heart.

Ethan was such an arrogant man; he would never allow anyone to lay a hand on him. The only person capable of hitting him would be his father.

Noticing my softening gaze, Ethan’s eyes brightened: "You're concerned about me?"

My hand beneath the blanket moved, but eventually, I pulled it back.

I told myself once again that I could not soften my heart toward Ethan.

The more I softened, the harder it would be to let go, and the more it would make him think there was still a possibility for us.

I said nothing, responding only with indifference.

Seeing this, Ethan said nothing more.

At the very least, my not mentioning the divorce again was already a blessing to him.

After tucking the corner of the blanket for me, he stood up and said: "You sleep for a while, I'll go buy you something to eat."

With that, Ethan left the room.

Once his footsteps faded away, I let out a long sigh, yet a sense of powerlessness quietly climbed into my heart.

Whether in the past or now, I seemed to be in a passive position when faced with Ethan.

I didn't want things to end too ugly, and I didn't want to carry regrets before I died...

My thoughts became increasingly chaotic, forcing me to close my eyes in exhaustion.

At the end of the corridor.

Ethan habitually leaned against the window, staring at the trees outside that were beginning to sprout new buds.

Julian, who happened to be doing his rounds, caught a glimpse of him standing there and walked over: "What happened?"

Ethan glanced at him and shifted his gaze to the distant high-rise buildings: "Melanie got herself into trouble; I went to assist with the investigation."

Hearing this, Julian couldn't help but recall the woman who had been so sharp-tongued that day.

He had seen her at the school gate during high school as well; even then, he had disliked that girl with the treacherous eyes.

Recalling my words from last night, Julian said in a low voice: "Yesterday, Clara said she wanted to go home."

Ethan froze.

"I asked Dr. Zhang; her postoperative recovery has been decent. She can go home next week. If the muscle stiffness becomes more frequent, she must return to the hospital for treatment."

Julian looked out the window: "I promised her, too—I’ll take her home when she's feeling a bit better."

Hearing this, Ethan’s face darkened: "Dr. Julian need not trouble himself with such matters."

Chapter 35

Having thrown down that sentence, Ethan turned and headed downstairs.

Julian didn't mind.

He had come to terms with it these past few days; as long as Ethan took care of me sincerely, he would just treat him as a free caregiver.

A week later, Ethan handled my discharge procedures.

When he carried me into the car, I was still completely bewildered: "Where are you taking me?"

Ethan fastened my seatbelt: "Don't worry, it's definitely not the Civil Affairs Bureau."

I frowned, my expression looking somewhat grim.

Only then did Ethan explain: "Taking you home."

Hearing this, a flash of astonishment crossed my eyes.

Home?

I seemed to have only mentioned wanting to go home to Julian; how would Ethan know?

Ethan got into the driver’s seat and started the car, driving away at speed.

Throughout the journey, I didn't say a single word to the man beside me.

It wasn't until I saw the familiar streetscape that I couldn't help but exclaim: "This is the road back to my house?"

I had assumed the "home" Ethan spoke of was that villa I had guarded for four years.

Ethan gripped the steering wheel and gave an "un-hun."

Not to mention me, even he didn't want to return to that cold, lonely villa, as if stepping inside would immediately pull them back into the past where they constantly misunderstood each other.