Liliana stayed in the hospital for about half a month. Even though she felt like she had almost fully recovered, the hospital staff insisted she still needed rest and further observation.At first, she did not think much of it, but when even Tania started finding it odd, Liliana began to feel that something was off.She asked her attending doctor and the nurses about her condition, but they firmly insisted she had not completely healed and needed more time to recuperate. No matter how much Liliana reassured them that she was fine, they refused to discharge her.Eventually, when they realized they could not convince her to stay any longer, they told her to speak with Sean as he was the one who had given the orders regarding her hospitalization.Liliana initially did not want to go to Sean, but staying in the hospital indefinitely was not an option either. Besides, she was still in the middle of her internship, and being absent from the company for too long was becoming unreasonable.
Leighton turned to Joanna with a bright smile and said, "Ms. Jacquet, Mr. Smith's surgery is going to take a while. If there's anything urgent, I can pass along a message for you, or… you can wait inside and rest until he's available.""Thank you, Leighton." Joanna responded graciously. Her polite and warm demeanor made it hard for anyone to dislike her.Liliana had already turned to leave, but hearing such obvious preferential treatment made her pause. "Leighton, is it? I'm here to see Mr. Smith for a legitimate reason. It's about my medical condition."Leighton, growing visibly impatient, shot her a look. "Didn't I just tell you? Mr. Smith is in surgery and doesn't have time to see you.""Leighton," Joanna interjected at just the right moment, noticing the rising tension between them. "Liliana is actually Sean's and my junior. She's here as a patient at the hospital."With a soft smile, Joanna turned to Liliana. "Liliana, are you still unwell? The last time I saw you was half a
Leighton sucked in a sharp breath. "D-Dr. Smith!"Liliana also sensed the sudden chill in the air. She narrowed her eyes slightly and turned her head, only to see Sean standing there.He held his white coat in one hand while the other was casually tucked into his trouser pocket. His cold, piercing gaze locked on hers, chilling her to the bone.She frowned slightly and parted her lips as if to speak but ultimately said nothing. Instead, she simply smiled. "Mr. Smith, your timing is perfect. I've fully recovered, yet for some reason, your hospital's doctors and nurses insist I remain admitted. Anyone who doesn't know better might think your hospital enjoys squeezing money out of patients."Sean did not say a word, but his icy stare remained fixed on her, indifferent and unyielding.Liliana felt uneasy under his gaze.In front of Sean, she never seemed capable of maintaining her composure. No matter how much she tried, she could not ignore the overwhelming presence he exuded.Takin
Liliana handed the phone back to Sean and showed a faint smile. "Can I ask what exactly is wrong with my body that requires me to stay in the hospital?"Sean furrowed his brows, but before he could respond, Liliana chuckled lightly. "Never mind. I'm fine now. If there's nothing else, I'll be heading back."Without waiting for a response or even sparing Sean another glance, she turned and walked away.Sean's fingers still held traces of her warmth, yet she had already left without hesitation as if she had no lingering attachment whatsoever.Joanna, who had been silently observing their interaction, felt her face grow increasingly pale. Though she did not show it, the way Sean and Liliana had behaved just now was nothing like that of two people unfamiliar with each other.Sean even knew Liliana's brother's phone number. From the conversation between them, it was evident that Sean and her brother were more than just acquaintances. They were familiar with each other, even close.More
"Thank you for the reminder, Ms. Jacquet!"Leighton watched Joanna leave, but something felt off. However, he did not dwell on it for too long and quickly returned to his work.Sean sat in his office for a while, still holding his phone. His mind replayed what Liliana had said to Leighton and the others earlier.From past to present, he had never seen her lose her temper like that. He had always assumed she was weak, which was precisely why he had felt the need to protect her.When Sean stepped out of his office, Leighton immediately stood up. "Mr. Smith!"Sean gave a slight nod and took a few steps before pausing. His sharp gaze landed on Leighton. "From now on, no one is allowed into my office without my permission. Do you understand?"Leighton's face turned pale. "What about Ms. Jacquet?""Does she not count as a person?" Sean retorted with an indifferent tone. "If you can't handle this job properly, I can replace you. There are plenty of capable people out there. What do you
"Sean was out of line earlier, and I want to apologize on his behalf," Joanna said with a polite smile, her tone full of sincerity."But Sean is the hospital director, and you're his patient. He was only looking out for you. Please don't take it to heart. He did what he did for your own good, not just because of the money."Oh, really?Liliana silently scoffed at Joanna's act, playing the role of Sean's girlfriend so naturally. However, she did not let any of her emotions show on her face."There's no need for that, Joanna," Liliana replied indifferently. "If Mr. Smith truly believes he did nothing wrong, then there's no need for an apology. And even if an apology was necessary, wouldn't it be more sincere coming from him in person?""That's..." Joanna had not expected Liliana to be so difficult, let alone have the audacity to suggest that Sean should personally apologize.Who did she think Sean was?He was the future heir of Smith Group, the director of this prestigious hospita
Liliana was never one to be aggressive, but if someone pushed her too far, she saw no reason to hold back. Especially when it came to Joanna, whom she had never found particularly likable.Today, Joanna had come not just to ask about Sean but also to subtly provoke her, something Liliana simply could not tolerate.Joanna, however, had no idea what she had done to upset Liliana. Just moments ago, Liliana had been perfectly polite, but now, she was responding with cold indifference.Joanna furrowed her brows and was about to say something when the hospital ward door suddenly opened. Sean stepped in, his gaze immediately landing on Joanna. His brows creased slightly, and his expression darkened with obvious displeasure.Joanna froze, momentarily at a loss for what to do. She was startled by the look on Sean's face, and her heart skipped a beat. Before she could speak, Sean shifted his gaze away from her and asked in a calm but distant voice, "Why are you here?"Joanna opened her mout
Liliana struggled, but Sean warned her, "Looks like you want me to call your brother over?"She immediately stopped moving, but her gaze remained locked on Sean, stubbornness clear in her eyes.Sean felt a sharp pang in his chest. That look—so defiant—was exactly like how she had looked years ago at Jadebrook High when he first saw her. Even though she had been bullied, her eyes had never lost that resilience.He stared into her eyes as if looking at a long-lost memory.Joanna, watching their interaction, could no longer hold back. "Sean, I'll get going then."Sean gave no response to Joanna's departure. His focus remained entirely on Liliana. "You'll need to stay in the hospital for another half a month. After that, you can go wherever you want. No one will stop you."His voice suddenly turned cold, sending a shiver through Liliana. However, as she thought about it, it made sense. Sean probably did not want to see her either. He was only doing this because of Charles."Then I'l
"Sean, stop messing around. Let go of me first," Liliana tugged at Sean's arm, realizing how tightly he was holding her. "You're choking me."Only then did Sean loosen his grip slightly, though he still did not let her go. His forehead rested against hers, and he panted softly. "Liliana, do you remember what you said to me in the fire?"Liliana's face turned red, and she awkwardly turned her head away. "N-No, I don't remember. What did I say? I don't think I—mmph..."Before she could finish, Sean kissed her, swallowing the rest of her words with that one stubborn kiss.Liliana raised her hands and smacked Sean on the shoulder, trying to push him away. "Sea—mmph, what are you doing? Let me go..."She shoved him hard, and Sean stumbled back, clutching his chest. Liliana's face went pale, and she rushed over. "Sean, what's wrong? Are you okay? Did I hurt you somewhere?"Nonetheless, Sean took the opportunity to wrap his arms around her again. That feeling of holding her tightly
Noelle raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say that."Then, she added, "That knot in Liliana's heart can only be undone by Sean."What happened back then had always been a shadow between the two of them. Noelle had noticed it these past few days. Though Liliana stubbornly claimed she no longer cared, she clutched her phone every single day, obviously waiting for a call.Liliana's social circle was small. Noelle and the others knew everyone she knew. Who else could she be waiting for but Sean?Charles furrowed his brows. "If Liliana can't have the best, then she's better off with nothing."Noelle could not help but laugh. "Alright, alright. I know you're still holding a grudge against Hayes and Savannah."Honestly, Noelle shared the sentiment. "Savannah really crossed a line with how she handled everything."Charles reached out and gently pinched Noelle's knuckles. "That's not what I meant."Noelle chuckled, exasperated. "I know."Outside, the sound of a car engine drew their attentio
Sean shoved Hayes away. "Dad, if you're just like Mom and trying to stop me from being with Liliana, then don't even bother. If I can't marry Liliana in this lifetime, I won't marry anyone else."With that, Sean lay down decisively. Hayes frowned. "Sean, this isn't about what we want anymore. It's about Liliana and Charles now."Truthfully, Hayes did not have many opinions about Sean and Liliana's relationship. He was always too busy with the company to pay attention to such things. Even the events from four years ago were only now becoming clearer to him."If you insist on marrying her, I won't stop you. But from what I can see, the problem lies with Liliana and Charles."Sean's gaze sharpened as he clenched his fists. "That's impossible. Liliana already forgave me back when the fire happened. She promised that if we both made it out, she'd marry me."Hayes sighed. "Your mother… She misunderstood Liliana and said some harsh things. Just rest for now. Once you're better, we'll go
Sean spat out a mouthful of blood. One hand gripped the bedsheet tightly, his gaze turning darker than ever."What do you mean by that? What do you mean she doesn't want to marry me? She promised me. She said that as long as I was willing to walk out of that fire with her, she'd be with me. You're lying to me, aren't you? Tell me you're lying to me."Sean's bloodshot eyes locked on Savannah's. "Tell me."Savannah was momentarily stunned by the sheer force of Sean's gaze. This was the first time she ever felt fear in front of her own son. "Sean, I…""Where's Liliana?" Sean demanded."Sean," Hayes called out as he pushed open the door and stepped in. "That's no way to speak to your mother.""Then how should I speak to her?" Sean's voice turned icy."Did you know it was Joanna who drugged me nine years ago? And while I was under the influence, I forced myself on Liliana? I misunderstood her, and as a result, she had to hide in the countryside for years."Four years ago, it was me
The operating room door swung open, and Liliana spun around. She saw Saxon step out. Not caring about anyone else’s opinions, she grabbed his hand. "Mr. Holt, how's Sean?"Saxon looked down at their hands, noting how soft and warm hers was. He met her eyes and nodded. "The patient is out of danger now. He should wake up by tomorrow."Hearing that, Liliana let out a sigh of relief and then suddenly fainted."Liliana!"Charles rushed over and wrapped Liliana in a tight hug, but his eyes quickly darted to Hayes and Savannah. "Now that Sean is safe, Sean's fate is no longer Liliana's concern, nor ours," he declared, speaking for the Hoffman family.With those words, Charles carried Liliana away. Saxon was tugged along by Linda. "Saxon, you should check on her. The young lady seemed off to me. She's been hiding her pain. Besides the wound on her shoulder, I think she breathed in a lot of smoke."Saxon's eyes shimmered for a moment. "Yeah, I'm aware."Liliana had been pushing through
"Charles, you…""Stop it!" Hayes was taken aback by Savannah suddenly slapping Liliana. He did not particularly like or dislike Liliana, but she was part of the Hoffman family, and their family commanded much respect. Besides, Noelle was still Charles's wife, and they had to be careful about their actions.Hayes turned to Charles. "I'm sorry, my wife acted without thinking. But what in the world happened today?"Hayes had been told that his son was hurt, but he did not know the details. When he arrived and saw Liliana was there and injured too, Hayes and Savannah could not help but think that Liliana must be connected to Sean's injury.Charles gave a sharp look. "It was Joanna's doing.""Joanna? No, that can't be!" Savannah was shocked to hear the name Joanna, and she quickly objected, "Joanna is such a sweet girl, she couldn't possibly...""Oh, sweet indeed!"Liliana, who had been silent until then, finally spoke. She narrowed her eyes and stood up, ignoring the pain from her w
"Liliana!""Get up quickly!" Liliana used all her strength to pull Sean up from the ground. "Can you walk?""Uh-huh!" Sean had been hit by a falling piece of wood on his leg when he tried to push Liliana out earlier. That was why he could not get out in time and could only hear Liliana's loud calls from outside.He had wished so badly for Liliana to leave quickly, but she had come back for him.Sean bit down hard and pushed himself up.Even if it was hard to walk, he had to try because Liliana wanted him to stand.Liliana slung Sean's arm over her shoulder, noticing his injury. Her eyes were red with tears. "Sean, hang in there. If we both make it out today, I'll forgive you. You can ask me to do anything.""Really?" Sean's eyes sparkled, and he smiled. "Liliana, I don't want you to do anything." In his heart, he added, ‘I just want you to marry me.’"The fire is licking at our heels, and you two are still dawdling," came Charles's icy voice from up ahead. In a flash, he was be
"Sean, where are you? Didn't you just say you love me?" she cried out. "How can you leave me like this, saying you love me and then j-j-just giving up? What am I supposed to do now?"Sean, you took our child from me. How could you think I'd just forgive you? If you don't make this right, I swear I'll never forgive you," Liliana yelled outside, her voice filled with madness. Inside, the plant was engulfed in flames. Shaking from head to toe, Liliana's screams slowly turned into a whisper. She clenched her hands tight, staring blankly at the fire. "If you're gone, what's left for me here?""Liliana!"Charles rushed over and saw Liliana moving toward the flames. He grabbed her and pulled her back. "What are you doing?"Liliana looked up, dazed, and saw Charles. She quickly stood up and grabbed his hand. "Charles, please. I'm begging you. Help me save Sean, please!"Charles's brow creased as he looked at the fiery red inferno, his fingers tensing. "Liliana, the fire's too big. Sean mi
Liliana shoved Sean aside and covered him with her body, taking a knife stab from Joanna. "Ugh..."Pain whitened Liliana's face, and blood dripped onto Sean's face. Reacting quickly, Sean rolled over, picked Liliana up in his arms, and seized Joanna's neck, twisting it hard until it cracked. Joanna's eyes bulged in disbelief as she stared at Sean."You..."She had not thought Sean would actually snap her neck. Her eyes were wide open, one hand clutching a knife, and the other holding a lighter.With her last breath, she tossed the lighter.A loud bang followed, and flames started to spread from that spot.Sean's eyes darkened as he carried Liliana and dashed for the exit. However, how could he outrun the swift spread of the fire while burdened with Liliana's weight?Liliana's eyes widened as she saw the flames creeping up behind them. She pushed Sean, urging him, "Go now, or it'll be too late!"However, Sean's eyes turned a deep red with emotion. "Liliana, I won't let go of you