เข้าสู่ระบบLiz pushed William’s wheelchair out of the elevator and glanced around. “No wonder this hotel is so expensive,” she said lightly. “I guess all the money went into buying flowers. And this restaurant looks kind of strange. Why does it feel so over the top?”The decor seemed far too elaborate for a dining room. Did anyone really need this many decorations just to have dinner?“Let’s go in,” William said.Liz nodded and pushed him through the doors. The moment they entered, she froze.Hunter was sitting not far away, and across the room were Mrs. Smith Sr., Michael, Kimberly, and Jane.She stopped in her tracks, stunned. “Grandma? What are you doing here?”Her gaze swept the room. “And Jane… all of you came? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”Before she could finish, William stood up from his wheelchair. Liz’s eyes widened as he reached into his pocket, pulled out a small velvet box, and dropped to one knee in front of her.“Lizzie,” William began, his voice steady and full of emotion.
William glanced at Hunter but said nothing.When the morning session ended, Hunter was about to leave when William stopped him.“I need your help with something.”Hunter looked surprised. “Uncle William, you actually need my help?”“It’s about Lizzie.”“What about her?”“I’m planning to propose to her. I’ll need your cooperation.”Hunter blinked, momentarily speechless.Over the next five minutes, William explained his general plan, then handed Hunter a folder. “You’re the only one I can trust with this. I’ll send you the detailed schedule later. Just follow it and prepare everything according to the list.”Hunter stared at him, saying nothing. William narrowed his eyes. “What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you still have feelings for her.”Hunter’s eyes widened. “No, no, of course not. Liz only likes you. I wouldn’t dare think otherwise. Don’t worry, Uncle William. I’ll take care of everything. It’s in good hands.”William nodded. “Good. That’s all for now. You can go.”“Got it.
Liz paused mid-fold, her face turning slightly red. She hadn’t expected her own words to come back and embarrass her so quickly.The truth was, most of her anger toward William had already faded during the days she had been sick. And after seeing that video of him collapsing during rehab, she couldn’t sit still any longer. She had to go to Halston.“Mrs. Wood, I didn’t think you’d remember that,” Liz said awkwardly.Mrs. Wood smiled. “I was just teasing, Ms. Liz. You go ahead and finish packing. I’ll tell Mrs. Smith Sr.”“Thank you.”The next morning, Liz took the earliest flight to Halston.When she arrived at the hospital, William wasn’t in his room. The nurse told her he was in the rehabilitation center, so she went straight there.Inside the rehab room, William was drenched in sweat. He gripped the parallel bars, leaning forward with great effort.He was trying to take a step, but his legs felt like they were filled with lead. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t move e
“If you weren’t worried, you wouldn’t be checking your phone every day or zoning out at every meal.”Liz fell silent.Seeing her expression change, Mrs. Smith Sr. sighed. “Liz, if you’re really that worried, then buy a ticket to Halston. I won’t stop you.”After a long pause, Liz finally looked up at Mrs. Smith Sr. “Grandma, I’m not ready to forgive him yet. He went to all that trouble to lie to me. I waited outside his family’s villa for an entire week.”Mrs. Smith Sr. gave her a patient look. “You waited outside the Sanders family villa for a week because he risked his life to protect you during the car accident. His feelings for you are real. And you said yourself that he only wanted to wait until he recovered before coming to Stanley City to find you. He didn’t mean to hurt you. From his perspective, he didn’t actually do anything wrong.”Liz frowned. “Grandma, whose side are you on? Did you forget that I’m your granddaughter?”“Of course not,” Mrs. Smith Sr. replied. “It’s b
Liz lowered her gaze. “I understand,” she said quietly.Then she reached for the car door, ready to get out.“Lizzie, wait! Don’t go!”William pulled her into his arms before she could move, holding her tightly as panic filled his voice. “I’m sorry. I know what I did was stupid, and I know I hurt you. Tell me what I can do to make it right. Whatever it takes for you to forgive me, I’ll do it.”“Let me go first.”“I can’t. If I let you go, you’ll leave, and you’ll still be angry. You might never see me again.”Liz didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. When he had lied to her, had it never occurred to him that she might be angry? When he had watched her stand outside his house day after day in the cold, hadn’t he thought about how she felt?“William, was it fun for you? Toying with me like that?”The moment she said it, she felt his arms tense around her.“Lizzie, I’m sorry. I really know I was wrong.”“Then let me go.”“I can’t.”The car fell silent. The only sound between th
The butler nodded. “All right. But if it ever gets too difficult, you should go home. Your health comes first.”“I understand. Thank you for caring.”When the butler returned to the villa, he went straight to Mrs. Sanders Sr. “Madam, Ms. Smith still won’t leave.”A faint smile curved Mrs. Sanders Sr.’s lips. “Then we’ll see whose will is stronger, hers for wanting to see him or his for refusing to see her.”The rain grew heavier. A small stream had already formed along the edge of the driveway.Liz had been standing there for over an hour, drenched from head to toe. Her soaked clothes clung to her skin, and the cold and hunger made it hard for her to stay upright. Her face had turned pale, her body swaying as if she might collapse at any moment.Inside a car parked nearby, William sat tense, his gaze fixed on her through the curtain of rain. His fingers were clenched tightly around the door handle.“Mr. Sanders,” the driver said hesitantly, “Ms. Smith has been standing in the ra







