Upon receiving the update from his assistant, his heart skipped a beat, and he immediately followed the location sent to him.

It was a dilapidated community hospital with decades of history. It was in disrepair; green moss crawled up the walls, and cracks as wide as a finger split the plaster.

Seeing the sparse crowd, the yellowing lab coats, and the rumpled hospital gowns, a bad premonition surged in his heart, followed by waves of guilt, sadness, and grief.

"Are you sure this is the place?"

Could a place like this really treat anyone? He was uncertain.

The assistant replied: "It is an older community hospital. It is a legitimate facility, just with primitive equipment."

"Where is she?"

"Hello, sir. Miss Gu Roujia is in room 203 on the second floor. Are you a relative?" the nurse asked.

He froze. A relative?

"Yes, please take me to her." Setting aside the unpleasant events, they had known each other for over a decade; calling him a relative was not an exaggeration.

And given her deep affection for him, he...

A bitter smile touched his lips. Once he found her, he would take her to the best hospital for treatment to make up for his negligence.

The caregiver said uneasily: "Follow me, she is upstairs. But the patient’s condition is not good; you should prepare yourself mentally."

"Take me up first."

He loosened his tie, urging them anxiously.

The nurse took him up in the elevator to the fourth floor, walked through a quiet corridor, and arrived at the final room at the end. The nurse said: "The patient is here. However, her emotional state is unstable; you must not provoke her."

The room was dilapidated and filled with an indefinable, pungent odor. Having never seen such a scene, his first thought was: how could the once-gentle, beautiful woman end up in a hospital like this? Was it fate, or was he simply too cold-hearted?

He pushed open the door and called out in surprise: "Gu Roujia, I’ve come to take you..."

"Baby, be good. Don't cry. In a few days, Mommy will take you to find Daddy..." A disheveled Gu Roujia, holding a rag doll, said with a gentle expression.

Having just lost her child, she was extremely weak. Her face was pale, devoid of blood, and the blood vessels were visible under her skin. Her dark, sunken eyes and bloodshot eyeballs indicated her state was far from well.

"Roujia..." He called out softly. The nurse sighed and said: "She has gone insane..."

The words struck like a thunderbolt. He turned around, trembling, his eyes bloodshot: "You... what did you say just now?"

"She has gone insane. I don't know what happened, but the patient’s body is extremely weak, and she has suffered a major psychological trauma. She might need to be sent to a psychiatric hospital!" the nurse said in a low voice.

"What psychiatric hospital? How could she be insane?!"

"Ah!" Startled by his shout, Gu Roujia clutched the rag doll tightly, looking at him in terror: "No... don't take my baby away..."

"Roujia, it’s me, it’s Julian..."

He took two steps forward, only to see her body shaking violently like chaff.

Gu Roujia curled up on the hospital bed, clutching the doll, trembling as she stared at him. His heart wrenched as he remembered the nurse’s words: she has suffered a major psychological trauma...

His eyes turned red and his throat constricted. What other trauma could she have suffered? The rag doll she was clutching—did she believe it was the child he had heartlessly forced her to abort?

Julian took a deep breath, fighting back tears, and said gently: "Roujia, I’ll take you back..." His throat was so dry he could barely speak. Gu Roujia only clutched the doll tighter, trembling as she stared at him.

In those bloodshot eyes, there was only fear, helplessness, and wariness.

Julian’s hand, reaching out, stopped in mid-air. He dared not approach further, as the fear and helplessness in her eyes were turning into madness.

"Get out! Go away! Don't hurt my baby! Go away!" Gu Roujia screamed. Every word pierced Julian's heart like a sickle.

Chapter 23: She Is Insane

Julian stood rooted to the spot, dazed. Was this disheveled, frantic woman still the gentle, beautiful Gu Roujia he once knew?

"Baby?"

Julian snapped out of it. Was she insane because of the child that had been aborted? His heart felt acidic and sore. Only now did he realize how much she loved her child, seeing her treat the rag doll in her arms as a treasure.

He stood still, not daring to move, fearing he would provoke her again. She trembled, her eyes frantic, clutching the doll. The pitiful sight left Julian at a loss.

Was Gu Roujia really a money-grubbing woman?

He hoped it was all true so he wouldn't have to feel so guilty, but seeing her like this, his heart couldn't help but waver.

"Julian..." Eva called out softly, waking him from his internal struggle. Julian turned to see her, his expression of guilt suddenly replaced by calm, and he asked faintly: "Why are you here?"

At that moment, Eva hurried over. Seeing Gu Roujia’s state, a look of mockery appeared in her eyes, though it was quickly hidden by a mask of feigned concern.

Before Eva could continue, Julian glared at her: "Did you follow me?" His voice rose sharply, startling both Eva and Gu Roujia. Eva’s eyes suddenly reddened, tears welling up, and she choked out: "I... I just noticed you’ve been absent-minded lately, and just now... just now..."

"Just now what?" Julian’s eyes blazed. She had followed him!

"You were in such a hurry, I was worried about you, so... I followed you," Eva sobbed. Julian exhaled, and his gaze toward her softened significantly.

Eva discovered that Julian had been acting strange lately, so she had hired a detective to track him, only to discover he had been searching for this woman, Gu Roujia!

Why couldn't this woman just die? Even insane, she was still an eyesore!

Withdrawing her hateful gaze, Eva’s eyes glittered with tears. She pitifully grabbed Julian’s arm and said gently and aggrievedly: "If... if you like Roujia, I can let you go!" She seemed to have made a great decision, taking a deep breath and looking at Julian tenderly: "After all, to like someone isn't about possession; as long as they are happy, that is enough."

Hearing this, Julian’s heart surged. "Silly, how could that be? I like you, of course I want to be with you."

"It really doesn't matter. Don't be afraid that I’ll be sad. Roujia caused me to lose my child, but I know she only loves you. If you don't like her, why go to such lengths to find her? It’s okay, Julian, tell me the truth; don't be afraid that I’ll be hurt."

Julian felt even more heartache. "It’s really not like that, I..." His wavering gaze became firm: "I just feel she is pitiful."

Eva was innocent, too; he shouldn't drag her into this.

And Eva was so kind.

She loved him so much. Julian felt guilty for his earlier words; he shouldn't have been like that to her, shouldn't have doubted her.

Watching Gu Roujia, his guilt toward her faded significantly with Eva’s arrival. The way she clutched the doll—well, she had brought this upon herself, hadn't she?

She had lost her child, but she had also caused the death of Eva’s child.

Thinking of this, Julian felt slightly better.

Eva saw Julian drifting off again and nudged him: "What are you thinking about?"

Julian came to his senses and said to her: "I was thinking about finding a better hospital for Gu Roujia."

Eva’s face looked trusting, though she remained skeptical. However, seeing Gu Roujia in this state, she felt extremely gratified. With her current condition, what could she possibly use to compete for his affection? Having lost two children, bearing more would be difficult, and Julian would never look back.

"What’s wrong with Roujia? Why is she so quiet?" Eva asked.

Julian’s expression became inscrutable. The gentleness in his eyes vanished, replaced by sadness and guilt as he turned his head and said: "She... she is insane." A flash of delight passed through Eva’s eyes, quickly hidden away.

Chapter 24: The Wedding

Julian took Eva away, and the two drove back to Julian's villa in the suburbs.

Eva drank the bird's nest soup prepared by Mother Wang while distracted.

A thought suddenly occurred to Eva. Julian’s psychological defenses were at their weakest right now; the guilt he felt for Gu Roujia had left his heart in turmoil. It would be better to set the date for their wedding now. That way, it wouldn't matter whether Gu Roujia was truly insane or just pretending; it wouldn't have any impact.

"I want to discuss something with you..."

Eva leaned lazily against Julian.

Julian looked at Eva in confusion and asked gently, "Go ahead."