She was right; the data she held did indeed show changes, indirectly proving that her instincts hadn't misled her.Lillian hummed in affirmation, then fell silent, neatly folding the papers and putting them away. Once she was done, something occurred to her, and she said to Oliver, "Actually, I think Grandma is afraid of the surgery. This afternoon, you shouldn't have told her about moving up the date."Oliver was taken aback at her words. "Is that so?""Yes."He looked over at her and saw the seriousness etched on her face, suddenly realizing that her words at the nursing home weren't just empty talk. She genuinely cared for his grandmother, not just for his sake. This revelation wasn't just a spur-of-the-moment outburst. She truly saw his grandmother as her own.With this thought, Oliver's lips curled slightly, "Alright, I understand. I'll reassure her later."Because they were discussing his grandmother, an unusual calmness settled between them. But once the topic of Grandma ended,
"Yes, a truce," Lillian nodded gently, "Can we go back to the way things were before?"The way things were before? Oliver felt his heart leap at her words, not even realizing his own stuttering response. "You mean..."Lillian glanced at him then lowered her gaze, speaking earnestly, "I've given it some thought on the way back. Grandma seems stable now, and those minor changes don't seem to pose a problem. But with the surgery only half a month away, we don't need to be fighting. It would only upset Grandma if she senses something is off."As Oliver digested her words, he felt he grasped her intent. "You mean...""Don't you understand yet? It's a critical time, so we need to cooperate. After this half a month, you can do as you please. No one, and nothing, will hold you back."Lillian thought she had made herself crystal clear. "You're a smart man, you should get what I'm saying."Oliver tugged at the corner of his lips; how could he not understand? Essentially, she didn't want to reco
That day, Oliver breakfasted with a face so dark it could have eclipsed the morning sun. The servants, unable to see his expression from their angle, mistook the couple’s proximity for intimacy, assuming they had reconciled.Meanwhile, Lillian, with her annual leave to spare, avoided the company, choosing instead to visit Grandma Qin at the sanatorium daily. The old lady’s spirits had visibly soared, and Lillian herself felt a rare tranquility.Events seemed to be unfolding exactly as she had anticipated. The half-month interim was quickly dwindling, already three or four days in. Sometimes, in her quiet moments, Lillian found herself gently caressing her belly, her feelings evolving. Initially uncertain about the baby, she now felt a profound connection with the small life within her, a growing affection with each passing day. She even found herself confiding in her unborn child the words she couldn’t share with others.This secret communion only deepened Lillian's bond with her baby
Lillian needn't put herself in Serena's shoes to know the impossibility of acceptance. But Lillian was just that—Lillian, not Serena. And she could only view the unfolding events from her own perspective."Pity, I'm not as magnanimous nor do I possess such a spirit of self-sacrifice. The child is in my body; to birth or to abort lies within my liberty. Aside from myself, no one can decide the life or death of my child.""You...""If you wish for me to repay a favor, that's possible. Should you need help with anything else, command and I shall obey, but this matter is non-negotiable."Her baby was her kin. She herself couldn't bear the thought of termination, so how could she let an outsider dictate the fate of her child?"I command, and you'll obey?""Yes, as long as it's reasonable."Debts of gratitude must be repaid, but if Serena's demands were excessive, they were out of the question.Serena fell into thought. She had anticipated Lillian's refusal even before coming here. Who was
Lillian lapsed into silence.Across from her, Serena's heart thumped with nervous anticipation, though she maintained a façade of composure. She was uncertain whether her words would intimidate Lillian. Her understanding of Lillian was limited, but if there was one thing she knew for certain, it was Lillian's pride.So Serena gambled on this approach.As Lillian remained mute, Serena's palms grew sweaty under the table. She forced a smile, "What's wrong, you don't agree?"Lillian glanced at her, her tone light, "You seem rather anxious?""I'm not anxious, I'm just..."Cut off by Lillian's sharp retort, Serena nearly revealed her true state. Hurriedly, she backpedaled, "Take your time to think."Serena wished Lillian would make a quick decision as she had previously claimed. Wouldn't that be wonderful? But Lillian was deep in thought.In truth, signing the agreement meant little to her; even without it, she intended to fulfill all but the first clause—leaving the country for five years
No sooner had Lillian said her piece than she gathered her belongings and hastened out of the coffee shop, not noticing that the man called Zhou Chong took a seat across from Serena to inquire about her once she left.Standing at the roadside, Lillian didn’t head home but instead watched the passing cars, feeling a weight lift from her heart. She couldn’t help but pull out her phone to share the news with her father that she had repaid her debt of gratitude. But after the phone rang for a long while, there was no answer. Noting the time, she guessed her father was likely busy at work and decided not to call again.Leaving her earlier conversation with Serena behind, Lillian spent the rest of the day at the nursing home, accompanying the elderly lady. Due to the delay, Lillian arrived at the nursing home a little later than usual. The caretaker mentioned, "Lillian, you're over half an hour late today; the madam has been waiting for you for quite a while."Lillian felt a twinge of guil
"What, what?" Serena could hardly believe her ears. This wasn't the outcome she had envisioned. She had hoped her lovingly prepared lunch would impress Oliver, showcasing her bandaged fingers, and in turn, he would be deeply moved and concerned for her. It was supposed to be an opportunity to spend intimate time alone in his office, not... this. Serena, refusing to concede, managed an awkward smile. "Oliver, what urgent matter do you have? If it won’t take long, I could wait for you in your office." "Sorry, Serena, I will be out for a while. You should head back first." "I..." The assistant had already approached Serena. "Miss Serena, if you please." Serena’s heart sank, her lips tightening as she bit back her frustration, turning to Oliver with eyes brimming with tears. Would this display of vulnerability make any difference to him? However, Oliver didn’t even see her reddened eyes. By the time his assistant approached, he had already strode away, his urgency unmistakable. Left
Listening to stories...Right, Lillian remembered now. She had been engrossed in Granny's tales of her youth, though for some reason, sleepiness had crept upon her unexpectedly. Too polite to interrupt, she had fought valiantly to keep her eyes and focus but succumbed to slumber without realizing when.Chiding herself for nodding off, she fretted, "I didn’t mean to fall asleep. Will Granny be upset with me?""How could she be, when she adores you so much?" Oliver recounted how Granny Qin had insisted on not waking Lillian after his arrival.Lowering her lashes and smiling softly, Lillian conceded, "True."Freshly awakened, she looked so endearingly disheveled that Oliver couldn’t resist flicking her forehead playfully. "What’s on your mind all day long?"She blinked, the haze of sleep clearing instantly. Lillian caught Oliver’s gaze and felt a moment of puzzlement. Sometimes, his particular gestures could seem confusing, sparking a fleeting illusion that maybe, just maybe, he harbored