Chapter 3

The next morning, the hospital room door was pushed open.

Lockard arrived.

He was holding a bouquet of flowers, with Camilla following behind him.

The moment I saw the flowers clearly, my fingers froze.

White lilies.

I was allergic to lily pollen.

As soon as Camilla entered, she smiled and said,

“Valentina, Lockard brought me here first thing this morning to check on you.”

Lockard walked to the bedside and placed the flowers on the nightstand. His movement wasn’t exactly gentle, and the bouquet tilted to the side.

“Have you calmed down yet?”

His voice was lower than usual, but it still carried his usual impatience.

The petals brushed against my arm, and the sharp fragrance instantly filled the air. My throat tightened, and breathing became difficult.

I raised my hand and swept the flowers onto the floor.

“Take them away.”

Lockard’s expression darkened.

“What are you getting angry about now?”

I looked at him.

“I’m allergic to pollen.”

His brows twitched slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but he stopped himself.

His gaze fell on the lilies scattered on the floor. After a two-second silence, his tone softened slightly.

“I forgot.”

Camilla immediately crouched down and picked up the flowers, speaking in a gentle, apologetic voice.

“Valentina, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were allergic to lilies. It’s all my fault. I only wanted to buy the most fragrant flowers.”

After saying that, she leaned closer to me and lowered her voice.

“But Lockard also went shopping for baby supplies with me today. He said he loves children more than anything.”

“Unfortunately, some people just can’t get pregnant.”

I looked up at her.

The corners of her lips curved upward, her eyes filled with provocation.

I grabbed the glass of water from the bedside table and threw it at her.

“Get out.”

“Ah—!”

The glass crashed beside her feet, water splashing everywhere. Camilla screamed in fright and immediately hid behind Lockard.

“Lockard, I only came to check on Valentina…”

“Enough.” I stared at her. “This is a medical facility, not a place for you to put on a performance.”

Lockard grabbed my wrist, his face turning cold.

“Valentina, can’t you act like a proper lady of the family?”

I pulled my hand free, took the marriage dissolution papers from beneath my pillow, and threw them at him.

“Sign.”

The room fell silent for a moment.

Lockard lowered his head and glanced at the papers, his expression becoming terrifyingly dark.

“Say that again.”

“Dissolve the marriage.”

My voice wasn’t loud, but every word was clear.

“I don’t want the assets. I don’t want the estate. I only want to cut all ties with you.”

A flash of delight crossed Camilla’s eyes, but she hurriedly tried to persuade him.

“Lockard, Valentina just lost the baby. She’s emotional right now. Don’t argue with her…”

I suddenly turned toward her.

“How do you know my baby is gone?”

Camilla froze.

Lockard also turned to look at her.

She quickly explained,

“I…I guessed.”

I let out a cold laugh and looked at Lockard.

“Do you believe her, or do you believe the medical records?”

Lockard grabbed the papers, his fingers tightening around them as he stared directly into my eyes. His voice was extremely low.

“Valentina, are you sure you want to do this?”

I didn’t answer.

I simply met his gaze.

He closed his eyes briefly, then slowly tore the papers apart piece by piece.

His movements were slow. The scraps of paper fell onto the edge of the bed and scattered across the floor.

“Trying to threaten me with a marriage dissolution won’t work.”

His voice was raspier than before.

“If you want to make a scene, I’ll play along. But don’t think I’ll tolerate you like this for the rest of your life.”

I raised my hand and brushed the paper scraps from my face, my voice turning cold.

“Fine.”

“Then I’ll see you at the family council.”