The water bottle in my hand creaked as I gripped it tight.

"Where is she now?"

"Caught and sent back in. This time, no medical certificate for depression will work. Intentional injury, the evidence is ironclad—she can wait to rot in prison." Chloe paused and added, "Also, that Vice President Wang was sentenced to life in prison in the first trial for corruption and bribery involving massive sums. Julian is smart, though; he's using the shares you gave him and his role as the movie lead to live high on the hog. Just two days ago, he even released a press statement claiming he was the 'greatest contributor to saving Star Shine from the fires of ruin'."

"He won't be jumping around for long," I said coldly.

Someone who builds their position on betrayal and selling others out has no solid foundation and no merit for their status; they will fall sooner or later.

"Alright, enough talking about those unlucky people." Chloe patted my hand. "What do you plan to do? The way Qin Yue is now, she’s basically latched onto you."

"Let her latch on, then." I looked toward the ward, my gaze tender. "Coincidentally, I don't want her to leave either."

Chloe was stunned for a moment, then smiled—a knowing, significant smile.

"Oh, has our little romantic finally opened his eyes?"

I didn't say anything, just smiled.

The following days, I pushed aside all company business to take care of Qin Yue in the hospital with my whole heart.

After her memory loss, her personality became like a child's—clingy and fond of acting spoiled.

She wanted me to feed her, wanted me to coax her to sleep, and the first person she had to see every morning upon waking up had to be me.

When Uncle and Auntie Qin came to see her, she would hide behind me with a wary look, like a kitten protecting its food.

"Aiden, who are they? Why do they keep coming to see me?"

"They are your mom and dad; they are the people who love you most in the world."

"They aren't." She whispered in rebuttal. "You are the one who loves me most."

Hearing that, my heart felt both sweet and sour.

To make her happy, I asked Chloe to move my entire home kitchen into the hospital's VIP suite.

Every day, I cooked all sorts of delicacies for her.

One day Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, the next Wellington steak, and the day after, I’d experiment with new molecular gastronomy.

Qin Yue’s palate became increasingly refined because of me, and she visibly gained a bit of healthy weight.

"Aiden, the food you make is so delicious." She squinted in satisfaction, like a cat that had eaten its fill. "Better than any restaurant outside."

"Of course." I flicked her nose. "My kitchen is open only for you."

"Then from now on, you have to cook for me every day."

"Okay, I'll cook for you every day."

"And you aren't allowed to cook for any other girls."

"Okay, I won't cook for any other girls."

"Pinky promise."

"Okay, pinky promise."

Such childish dialogues were performed several times every day, but I never tired of them.

I loved seeing how she relied on me and loved the way she bossily declared her territory.

It made me feel needed.

That day, as I was peeling an apple for her, Chloe pushed the door open.

"Oh, still putting on the '24-filial-piety' boyfriend show?" she teased.

Seeing Chloe, Qin Yue immediately poked her head out from behind me and asked curiously, "Aiden, who is this pretty sister?"

"This is my sister, Chloe."

"Hello, Sister!" Qin Yue called out sweetly.

Chloe was so charmed that her heart melted; she took a beautiful gift box out of her bag.

"Yue-Yue is so sweet; Sister brought you a gift."

Qin Yue happily took the gift and opened it right in front of us.

It was a limited-edition diamond bracelet.

"Wow! It's so beautiful!" Her eyes sparkled.

"Like it? If you do, when you're discharged, Sister will take you on a shopping spree and move the entire mall home," Chloe said generously.

"Thank you, Sister!"

The two women soon became fast friends, chatting about bags, jewelry, and gossip.

I was left on the sidelines, silently continuing to peel the apple.

"Oh, by the way, Aiden." Chloe suddenly seemed to remember something and turned to me. "Vanessa's trial is next week. Are you going to attend?"

My action of peeling the apple paused.

"No."

"Go, come on, go!" Before I could even answer, Qin Yue excitedly grabbed my arm. "Aiden, let's go together! I want to see that bad woman get locked up with my own eyes!"

Though she had lost her memory, her hatred for Vanessa seemed etched into her very bones.

Looking at her indignant little face, I couldn't bear to refuse.

"Okay, let's go together."

"Yay!"

On the day of the trial, I accompanied Qin Yue and sat in the first row of the public gallery.

When Vanessa was brought to the defendant's dock by the bailiff, the whole courtroom erupted in an uproar.

She wore a prisoner's uniform and handcuffs, her hair dry and yellow, her face haggard, and she had become so thin she was almost unrecognizable.

There was no trace left of the big star from the past.

She saw me, and she saw Qin Yue beside me.

For an instant, her eyes erupted with intense spite and unwillingness.

But soon, it flickered out, leaving only a dead, gray defeat.

The trial process went smoothly, with conclusive evidence that left no room for her to argue.

When the judge announced that, due to cumulative sentencing for multiple charges including intentional injury, provoking trouble, and defamation, Vanessa was sentenced to fifteen years in prison—

Qin Yue squeezed my hand tightly beside me in excitement.

"Great! She got what she deserved!"

I looked at the figure in the defendant's dock who had completely collapsed after hearing the verdict; my heart felt not a single ripple.

Everything was over.

Walking out of the courthouse, the sunlight was somewhat dazzling.

"Aiden, let's go have a big feast to celebrate!" Qin Yue shook my arm, jubilant.

"Okay."

I was just about to take her to the car when a raspy voice came from behind me.

"A... Mr. Aiden."

I turned back and saw Vanessa's mother.

She looked even older than last time, her back hunched, as if all her vitality had been drained away.

"Is something the matter?" I asked in a cold tone.

"I... I beg you." She threw herself to her knees in front of me, tears streaming down her face. "I beg you, please have mercy and let Vanessa go! She knows she was wrong! Fifteen years—her whole life is ruined!"

Qin Yue was startled by this scene and instinctively hid behind me.

I frowned, just as I was about to speak—

Vanessa's mother suddenly pulled something out from her bosom and held it up before me.

It was an album.

With trembling hands, she flipped it open.

"Mr. Aiden, look, these are photos of Vanessa when she was little; she was obedient and sensible from a young age... this is when she got her first scholarship... this is her first time acting..."

"She really isn't a bad child; she was just confused for a moment and took the wrong path!"

I looked at those photos, watching the innocent, bright-eyed girl in the pictures grow step by step into the woman who had later become unrecognizable.

In my heart, I felt not the slightest bit moved.

"Auntie," I said calmly, "she chose the path herself. The current result is also something she brought upon herself. Don't blame others."

After I finished speaking, I didn't look at her anymore, sheltered Qin Yue, and turned to leave.

Behind us, Vanessa's mother's heartbreaking wails rang out.

I didn't stop my pace.

Some people, from the very start, are not worth sympathizing with.

Once in the car, Qin Yue was still feeling lingering fear.

"Her mom is so pathetic..."

"Those who are pathetic must have something hateful about them." I started the car. "If not for her indulgence and pampering, Vanessa wouldn't have ended up like this today."

"True." Qin Yue nodded, then wrapped her arms around mine, resting her head on my shoulder.

"Aiden, I'm so lucky I met you."

My heart warmed, and I freed a hand to ruffle her hair.

"Silly."

Back at the hospital, as soon as we walked into the ward, I sensed something was wrong.

The room was too quiet.

My heart skipped a beat, and I hurried inside.

The hospital bed was empty.

The quilt was pushed back, and on the bedside table, there was a note.

With trembling hands, I picked up the note.

On it was Qin Yue’s familiar, flamboyant handwriting.

There was only one sentence.

"Aiden, I’m sorry, I lied to you. My amnesia... was just an act."

Chapter 9