MasukMonica offered to give Kelly a ride.She sat in the passenger seat, turning to smile at Kelly. "Speaking of which, Vanessa's ear hasn't fully healed yet. We'll still need to trouble Dr. Lane."Her tone when she said this clearly indicated she already considered herself Adrian's wife and Vanessa's sister-in-law.Kelly's expression was as usual, though with a hint of gravity. "Miss Brooks's ear, I'm afraid, will be very difficult to fully recover. I've asked her a few times, but she doesn't genuinely want to get it healed.""That's just how Vanessa is, a bit stubborn."Kelly nodded. "If it's convenient for Mr. Voss, perhaps he could try to persuade her. If things continue like this, it could lead to many long-term complications.""Who can control her?" Adrian truly couldn't. "If she's willing to suffer, then let her suffer.""What kind of brother are you?" Monica was immediately displeased. "Alright, let me talk to Vanessa. If there's a
Between the mess at home and the endless issues with the wedding, Adrian was burdened by a heavy heart, his frustration etched plainly on his face. Kelly, however, said nothing, like a stranger sharing a table. “Are you really not going to eat? It’s such a waste.”“If you like it, eat more.”Somehow.Ever since he helped Kelly last time, he had unconsciously ended up having dinner with her many times. Being with her was far more relaxing than being with Monica. “Has that man who harassed you been bothering you again?”Kelly blew on the soup in her spoon, took a cautious sip. The broth was incredibly fresh, and a visible relaxation smoothed over her features. “No, but my family has been arranging a lot of people for me to meet recently.”“Aren’t you and Felix from the same hospital? He’d be a suitable candidate.”“Dr. Keller?”Kelly quickly shook her head. “Dr. Keller comes from an excellent family. I’m not good enough for him.”
Vanessa rather liked the sound of coffee beans being ground. Standing by the bar, she listened as Julian explained from behind her, "So, you’re going to be Adrian’s stand-in, taking care of Leila.""Not taking care of her, just giving her a place to stay."That sounded really nice. Anyone who didn't know better would think Julian was a saint."Is this for Ivy?"Julian tasted the coffee Vanessa had personally ground. He added some milk and sugar; it was a bit too sweet. "I suppose so. You know I have no feelings for Leila. Why else would I have sent her to Adrian?""Isn’t it because there’s a dirty trade between you two, using women for personal gain?"Vanessa showed absolutely no mercy. "Julian, I don’t care how you arrange things for Leila. And don't bother pretending you're asking for my opinion. Our marriage is fake to begin with.""Vanessa, for me, this is my only marriage."Vanessa turned, a slight smile playing on her lip
The call from Leila came in the dead of night, jarring Julian awake. They hadn't spoken in two years, not since Adrian's birthday party. He hesitated, a fleeting thought, then answered, propping himself against the headboard. His gaze drifted to the figure beside him, Vanessa, her back to him, deep in sleep. Every night since their marriage, it had been the same. An embrace? That was an even more distant memory.Leila's choked sobs shattered the quiet stillness. "Julian, please, can you come get me? Adrian kicked me out. My sister... even for my sister's sake, please.""Why would he kick you out?""I don't know," she whimpered. "He just said it was because of my sister."Leila, bundled with her luggage, was sitting by the main gate. "Julian, please hurry. It's freezing out here.""Leila," he warned, his voice low. "You had better not be lying to me.""I'm not!" she insisted. "Have I come seeking you out at all these past few years?"S
Evelyn's mental state wasn't good. Her mind was fixated solely on Vanessa, leading her to violently lash out at Cameron. Cameron initially just wanted to calm her down, intending to restrain her. Unexpectedly, she started mumbling and shouting Ivy's name.When Adrian entered, Cameron, in a fit of panic, violently slapped Evelyn across the face to silence her."Mom—!" Adrian rushed in, pushing Cameron away and cradling Evelyn in his arms, his brows furrowed in a deep frown. "Dad, how could you lay a hand on her? Don't you know she's sick?""Even if she's sick, that's no excuse to act insane. If she doesn't improve, send her to the hospital and get a caregiver to watch her.""What, after driving away your own daughter, now you're going to drive away your wife?" Adrian's words dripped with disdain for his hypocritical father. "I truly admire you, being able to hide for so many years. And Ivy, she harmed Vanessa, and now you want to harm my mom. Do you believ
No matter what Adrian said, Vanessa remained unwavering, dead-set on severing ties with the Voss family and never contacting them again.Seeing her like this, Julian's emotions were complex. If she could treat the mother who had loved and protected her like that, how could she possibly still harbor any feelings for him?But he was a stubborn man.No feelings.Then he would simply take the person."Vanessa, you're being a little heartless."Julian wiped the blood from his hand, uttering the words as if an afterthought. Vanessa's eyes snapped into focus, staring at him with profound disbelief — the man who had promised to make amends again and again, only to wound her repeatedly. "Am I heartless? Who was it that knew I was innocent, yet still threw me into the eye of the storm?"Julian had brought it up casually, not expecting such a fierce reaction from Vanessa. "You misunderstand. Back then, no one knew you were innocent. Who el
Vanessa didn't feel ashamed at all, and bit her ruby-red lip as she replied, "Who told you to hide from me and not meet me? I had no choice but to wait for you here.""I'm hiding from you. Don't you know what that means?"She was so innocent back then, and truly shook her head.Julian had already m
Vanessa could vaguely guess who was on the other end of the phone.Her return was undoubtedly met with Julian's disgust and abhorrence, hence his need to confirm her condition with Adrian in the dead of night.He was overthinking things.Someone who had rolled in the mud, been utterly shattered, ho
Tending Towards Fear.Vanessa gripped her umbrella, her voice trembling, "...I won't. The past was my fault. I caused you trouble, I'm sorry."Standing in the wind and rain under the umbrella, her thin, malnourished body was hidden in oversized clothes. The wind blew through, and her pant legs were
The scenery along the way was both strange and familiar. Icy rain, like beans, fell from the sky, blurring the car window. Vanessa Brooks looked out, both apprehensive and curious.So much had changed, including her.Three years had passed. The face reflected in the car window was no longer full an







