“But the strange thing is, after that woman was out of danger, he never went to see her again. Instead, he stayed by the side of that woman named Sylvia in Room 06.”

“This relationship is really messy. Do you think that one in Room 0 was actually the mistress? The legitimate wife must be in 06, which is why he wouldn't dare watch over the other one openly, right?”

Those words caused Claire to tremble all over.

Julian had watched over her all night?

Why?

Didn't he claim repeatedly that he didn't love her anymore?

With her thoughts in chaos, she walked straight to Room 06. Before she could even push the door open, Julian had already come out.

Upon seeing her, his face darkened instantly.

“What are you still doing here?”

He pushed her away from the room. “If it weren't for your careless driving, Sylvia wouldn't have been injured. You have the nerve to come here now? Go back to your own ward; I don't want to see you right now.”

Claire did not move, her gaze locked firmly on Julian’s face.

“Since you blame me so much, why did you care about my surgery? Why did you stay outside the operating room to watch over me all night?”

Julian’s expression clearly stiffened for a moment before he covered it up. “I was just afraid that if you were half-dead, it would affect the divorce proceedings. Don’t think too much into it.”

“Is that so?”

Claire refused to retreat, taking a step forward.

“Julian, tell me, is there something you are hiding from me?”

A sarcastic smirk appeared on Julian’s lips as he scoffed coldly, “Claire, did the car accident break your brain and give you delusions? Is there anything you aren’t brave enough to imagine?”

Unwilling to say more to her, he grabbed her arm and pushed her away.

“Get out. Don’t disturb Sylvia’s rest here.”

After that day, Claire remained in the hospital for recovery.

However, she didn’t see Julian a single time.

It wasn’t until a week later that she received a call from a clerk at her candy shop. “Boss, it’s bad. Mr. Julian brought many people over and said he’s going to tear down the candy shop.”

Claire felt a jolt throughout her body. Ignoring her physical condition, she rushed over from the hospital.

By the time she arrived, the candy shop was already in a mess.

The candy jars she had meticulously designed were smashed, and shards were scattered across the floor mixed with candies.

Julian was ordering workers to dismantle the cabinets and decorations.

“Stop!” Claire rushed over, blocking Julian’s path. “What are you doing?”

Julian looked at her expressionlessly. “Sylvia liked this place and wants to change it into an art studio. You caused her injury while driving last time; let this place be your compensation to her.”

“Why does it have to be this place? Julian, you clearly know what this place means to me!”

Because her childhood had been too bitter, owning a candy shop had always been her dream.

After she and Julian achieved success with their startup, she chose to withdraw from the company, and Julian had designed this candy shop by hand as a gift for her.

Back then, he had held her, making a solemn promise in her ear, “Claire, I will help you realize every single one of your dreams.”

But now, the man who built her dreams was going to crush them with his own hands.

“If you aren’t willing, sign that, and I can spare this place.”

Julian produced a document and placed it in front of her.

It was the divorce agreement she had seen countless times.

So, he was that desperate to divorce her; he would go so far as to use this to force her.

Claire clenched her fingers tightly and took a deep breath.

When she looked up again, her eyes were filled with a deathly stillness.

“I won't sign it. If you want to tear it down, go ahead.”

Anyway, after she died, there would be no point in keeping this place.

But if she signed it, she would completely lose the title that kept her by his side.

She only wanted to use this stolen, remaining time to look at him just a few more times.

“You!” Julian erupted in rage, his eyes sinister as he leaned in close to her. “Claire, I don’t love you anymore! Why do you refuse to leave me? Why are you clinging to me like this? You disgust me!”

“You don’t love me anymore?”

Claire scoffed, suddenly reaching out to grab the thin chain around his neck.

“Then tell me, if you don’t love me anymore, why are you still wearing this next to your skin?”

That was something she had discovered by chance before—the necklace Julian had been wearing all along held the wedding ring he had taken off his finger.

Julian was caught off guard. The moment the necklace was pulled out, his expression became exceptionally ugly.

“I just forgot to throw it away. Claire, stop being so delusional!”

He tore off the necklace and threw it fiercely onto the ground.

Watching that resolute action, Claire’s heart felt suffocated.

“Fine, what a wonderful ‘forgotten’.” She smiled with red eyes, but it was uglier than crying. “I’ll tell you this too, Julian: I will never agree to a divorce, and I will never fulfill the wishes of you and Sylvia. As long as I am alive for one day, don’t even think about getting rid of me!”

“Claire, do you really think I wouldn’t dare do anything to you?”

Julian was beyond furious, gripping her wrist tightly.

Suddenly, Claire grabbed a utility knife from the table, shoved it into his hand, and held his hand so the tip of the blade pointed straight at her own heart.

“Alright then! Let me see what else you can do to me!”

Claire’s eyes were bloodshot, her voice shrill and miserable. “Didn’t you say you don’t love me anymore? Didn't you say you hate me for pestering you? Then stab me! As long as you stab me once, I’ll believe you, and I’ll never pester you again.”

Chapter 4

The moment the sharp tip of the blade pierced her clothing, Julian’s pupils contracted violently.

He reacted almost instinctively, wanting to push Claire away, but during the struggle, he was led by her to press the blade deeper. Fresh blood instantly stained a large area of her chest.

In a flash, Julian reached out his other hand without hesitation, grasping the blade directly.

Blood spilled out through his fingers.

His roar followed.

“Claire, have you gone mad?!”

“Yes, I have gone mad! I would rather be mad than watch us reach this point today.” Claire tilted her head back, large tears rolling down. “Julian, if you force me any further, I will die to show you. I mean what I say.”

Julian stared at her intently, his chest heaving violently.

He gripped his fists tightly but, in the end, said nothing more.

He pushed Claire away abruptly, turned, and left.

After that day, perhaps he was truly afraid she would do something extreme.

Julian never mentioned the divorce again and tacitly allowed her to continue staying in the villa.

However, he never spoke another word to her, ignoring her as if she were air.

That was until the company’s anniversary banquet, when she was dragged along by Sylvia.

In the banquet hall, when Julian saw her, his face sank instantly.

“Who let you come here?”

“I invited Sister Claire,” Sylvia said, affectionately linking her arm with Claire’s. “After all, Sister Claire is a founder of the company; she should have a place at the anniversary banquet.”

Julian kept his lips pressed together, cast a cold glance at Claire, and without saying anything else, took Sylvia away to socialize.

The moment they left, several socialites surrounded her, their gazes landing on Claire with ill intentions.

“Miss Claire is truly admirable. You really stayed by Mr. Julian’s side and became a mistress?”

“That’s right. I’ve seen shameless people, but I’ve never seen a first wife so shameless that she’s willing to play the mistress.”

Claire had no desire to deal with them and turned to leave, but was grabbed by the arm.

“Miss Claire, how is it that your necklace is exactly the same as the one Miss Sylvia is wearing? Miss Sylvia’s was a gift from Mr. Julian—it’s one of a kind. Yours couldn't possibly be a fake knock-off, could it?”

“As expected, just like the person, you can’t get on the stage.”

While speaking, one of them reached out directly and violently ripped Claire’s necklace off.

“Give it back to me!” Claire countered sharply.

The person opposite scoffed, throwing the necklace on the ground and stomping on it fiercely.

Claire suddenly pushed those people away and lunged forward to pick up the necklace.

But she was pushed forcefully by someone and fell to the ground.