Wendy rushed back to the girls' dorm and found Halsey sitting on her bed, nursing an injured ankle. "Wendy, I'm fine. I just twisted my ankle while walking today. It's swollen, but I applied some ointment, and it'll heal soon. I don't know why Luna told you to come back because of this. It's nothing major." So Halsey had just sprained her ankle. Luna's phone call had been so urgent, saying that something had happened to Halsey, but she hadn't clarified what. Wendy had been scared out of her wits. "Just rest here. Don't walk around too much," Wendy said, inspecting Halsey's swollen ankle. "Got it." After confirming that it wasn't serious, Wendy finally relaxed. Wendy grabbed her pajamas and went into the bathroom for a hot shower. Her body ached all over. And there were the marks from Stanley—hickeys from last night—dotted across her skin. As she stood under the hot water, her mind wandered back to last night. His eyes were fixed on her, intense and fiery, never le
Just then, the sound of a soft ringtone broke the silence—Wendy's phone was ringing. It was Nathan calling."Wendy, I'm being discharged today. If you don't come, I'll have to go home alone," he said, his voice light but with a hint of playfulness.Wendy smacked her forehead, realizing she had forgotten Nathan's discharge day. She quickly grabbed her things and rushed to the hospital.-Stanley had arrived at the hospital and made his way to the VIP ward, where he found Jessica.She was lying on the bed, dressed in an oversized hospital gown. Her face was as pale as paper, and she was still unconscious.Stanley stood by her bed, concern in his eyes. "What happened to Jessica?""Mr. Hawk, last night you left Jessica alone, and she was so upset she collapsed. She was rushed into the operating room for emergency surgery," Harry explained, his voice tight with worry. "The surgery went well, but she's been in a coma ever since."Lilian and Harry were both visibly shaken, their faces
Stanley said that he and Wendy were done.Jessica was overjoyed, throwing herself into Stanley's arms and clinging to him tightly. "Stanley, I know Wendy's great at seducing men. I don't blame you for developing feelings for her, but I know you'll always choose me. The one you really love is still me!"Yes, Stanley had developed some feelings for Wendy, but the one he loved most, the one who truly had his heart, was Jessica—his girl from the cave.Stanley reached out and embraced Jessica in return.Harry looked on with a proud smile, relieved to see Jessica so happy. If she was happy, then as her father, he was happy too.Lilian, too, seemed content, but her eyes flashed with bitterness as her thoughts turned to Wendy. She had never imagined that a country girl like Wendy could make Stanley even a little bit interested in her. That little troublemaker!-Wendy arrived at the hospital, and Nathan had already packed his things, ready to leave."Nathan, I'm sorry. I had someth
Wendy could only ask her best friend for advice.Ding!Cecelia's reply came through. [That means your friend didn't keep her husband satisfied in bed. He got tired of her after just one time.]What? Was that really what happened?Wendy thought about it. To build a long-lasting relationship, the couple had to be congruent in every area, and sexual compatibility was especially important. She knew that men like Stanley had high standards when it came to physical intimacy. He needed a woman who could keep him pleased in the bedroom.Had she failed to keep him satisfied last night? Had Stanley gotten bored of her after just one time?Ding!Another message from Cecelia popped up. [Wendy, don't tell me this friend is actually you! Have you and Stanley slept together?]Wendy didn't know how to respond, so she decided to brush it off for now. She denied it, saying, [It's not me.]Putting her phone down, Wendy fell into an unsettled sleep.She woke up the next morning and went throug
Stanley froze for a moment. Wendy fainted from taking what? A morning-after pill? He wanted to ask more, but before he could, he heard a few beeps, indicating Halsey had hung up the phone.Jessica, who had overheard the conversation, looked at Stanley in shock. "Stanley, Wendy fainted after taking a morning-after pill?"Stanley didn't answer. He immediately pushed Jessica away from him. "I'm going to Clavendale University," he said quickly, his voice tight with urgency.He rushed out the door.Jessica turned to Lilian, her confusion evident. "Mom, what's going on? Nothing happened between Stanley and Wendy. Why would she take a morning-after pill?"Lilian didn't know what to think either, but her face grew serious. "I'll find out what happened."-Stanley arrived at Clavendale University as quickly as possible, heading straight to the school's medical office. "You're finally here! Please, look at Wendy!" Halsey pulled Stanley over to the bed.Stanley lowered his ga
Wendy's pale eyes instantly reddened. She had always known that Stanley knew exactly how to humiliate a person.If he wanted to shame someone, he would do it in the most cruel, humiliating way possible.She hadn't asked Halsey to call him.Even if she had, so what?He was the one who hadn't used any protection!"I understand," Wendy said, her voice thick with emotion. "Don't worry, Mr. Hawk. I won't call you again. You can leave now."She forced herself to lift her gaze, trying to stop the tears from spilling. She didn't want to cry in front of him.Stanley noticed the redness around her eyes, and an unexpected sense of satisfaction surged through him. It felt almost like revenge, like a deep, bitter kind of justice. He knew he hated her. He hated that she didn't show up that night.He had deliberately called Zayn, knowing that he would go looking for her.But she never came.He hated even more that she had called him when she passed out.She got allergic to morning-after
Wendy lay on her side, her back turned to him, while Stanley sat on the edge of the bed. They looked like a married couple in the middle of a bitter argument.Stanley clenched his fists, then, after a long pause, he finally spat out a single word. "Sure."He stood up and walked out.He left.Tears that Wendy had been holding back slipped down her face uncontrollably. She grabbed the blanket and pulled it over her tear-streaked face. It wasn't a big deal. It was just a bad night. If he didn't have feelings for her, she would just pretend it had been a bad dream.Still, her heart ached. It hurt so much.Wendy knew deep down, she was still in love with Stanley.So deeply in love.-Since that day, Wendy and Stanley hadn't spoken again. The focus of the media during this time, however, was all on Luna.Luna had suddenly joined one of the most talked-about variety shows, and her popularity skyrocketed due to her pure and sweet image. She became known for her innocent persona and
Luna immediately stopped in her tracks. "Wendy, Halsey, what a coincidence! You're both here, too."Wendy and Halsey took a step closer to Luna, but her bodyguards in black blocked their way."Stop right there!" one of the bodyguards ordered.Luna waved her hand dismissively, smiling. "It's fine. They're my classmates."The bodyguards stepped aside, and Wendy and Halsey finally made their way to Luna."Luna, I can't believe you've become a star!" Halsey exclaimed, looking at her in surprise.Luna raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I got myself a boyfriend. He's the one who helped me become a big star.""A boyfriend? Luna, you're dating someone? I've never heard about this boyfriend before," Halsey replied, clearly surprised.Luna flashed a sweet smile. "My boyfriend is handsome and rich, and he spoils me. He loves me a lot."With that, Luna took a step forward and grabbed Wendy's hand. "Wendy, things are going so well for me now. You must be happy for me, right? You must wish me and my
Wendy said seriously, "As medical practitioners, we must be meticulous. A tiny mistake can lead to disastrous consequences."At that moment, Cyril stood while Wendy sat. Despite the height difference between them, her slender, graceful back was perfectly straight. Her intelligent, clear eyes were full of earnestness as she gave Cyril a lesson, almost as though she were the teacher and he the student.Cyril, speechless, was taken aback. Was she teaching him? Did she really think she was his teacher? He had only one teacher, and that was Dr. Ceylan!Cyril couldn't believe what was happening. He was about to reprimand Wendy, but before he could say anything, she spoke up again. "Alright, Cyril, you can go now."Cyril was stunned. She was calling him by his first name again.The interaction left him speechless. He simply turned and walked away.-Back in the office, Cyril was fuming. There was no way he could have been wrong!He immediately grabbed the "Classic of Herbal Medic
Stanley's deep voice rang out. "Mr. Suarez, are you saying that the genius freshman is attending the Summit Academic Forum?"What?The phrase "genius freshman" struck Jessica like a lightning bolt, instantly capturing her attention. Was the mysterious and aloof genius freshman about to make an appearance?"She's actually been in Hovendale this whole time," Dave replied. "Unfortunately, you've never met her. She'll be attending the Summit Academic Forum, so you two will finally get to meet. Please make sure to find some time to attend the event."Stanley nodded. "Alright."After they hung up, Jessica was in shock. "Stanley, the genius freshman has been in Hovendale all this time? Who is she?"Hovendale's circle wasn't that large, and she had never heard of this brilliant young woman before.Jessica felt uneasy about the existence of this genius freshman. Stanley, equally unaware, didn't know who she was either. Thinking about the freshman's mysterious, cool demeanor, Stanley
Before Zayn could continue, Stanley interrupted in a low voice, "We're divorced. There's no need to update me on her situation."Zayn paused for a moment, then nodded respectfully. "Understood." He turned and left the room.At that moment, Jessica walked out. She had overheard everything Stanley had said. A smile curled on her lips as she approached him. She knew Stanley's decisive nature. Once he had divorced Wendy, he wanted nothing more to do with her.Now, his heart and mind were entirely focused on Jessica. She was his one true love.Jessica stepped closer and wrapped her arms around Stanley's waist from behind.Stanley didn't need to look to know it was her. His gaze shifted from the window, and he lowered his eyes to the small hands that had latched onto his waist.Jessica's right wrist had mostly healed, but there was still a scar, a reminder of the injury that ruined its beauty.As a dancer, she was someone who valued her appearance deeply.Stanley gently took her ri
After the divorce, Stanley and Wendy never contacted each other again. This was the first time he had heard any news about her.It turned out she had fallen seriously ill.Jessica immediately grinned, her red lips curling with a mix of pride, pity, and mockery. "I never would have guessed that Wendy was so deeply in love with Stanley."Trish joined in, mocking Wendy as well. "With her background, she'll never find another man like Mr. Hawk. It's honestly a little sad when you think about it."Jessica tilted her head, gazing at Stanley with a playful pout. "Stanley, now that your ex-wife's sick, don't you think you should give her a call and comfort her?"Stanley remained expressionless, his handsome face still as composed as ever. He looked at Jessica. "Sure. I'll call her right now."He made a move to reach for his phone.Jessica's expression instantly changed. "You wouldn't dare!"Stanley smirked. "Then why did you suggest it?"He was just teasing her—he had no intention of
Losing Stanley hurt more than Wendy had ever expected.She couldn't even explain what it was about him that made her feel this way. He was never kind to her at all. And yet, everyone has that one person in their life they love—someone who might not deserve it, but still holds a place in your heart. She loved Stanley. Her fingers tightly gripped the crystal pendant he had given her, the one she knew she would never let go of. But deep down, she understood—she had lost him. She had lost her Big Brother.At that very moment, Stanley sat in his Rolls Royce Phantom, parked by the side of the road. Through the gleaming windshield, he watched Wendy huddled in on herself, crouched on the street, sobbing uncontrollably.A red haze slowly crept into his dark eyes, and his grip on the steering wheel tightened. Something stung his heart, a pain that wasn't sharp but spread in waves, dense and suffocating.Then his phone rang. It was Jessica."Stanley, have you divorced Wendy?" she asked
Wendy asked if Stanley had ever had feelings for her.The question left him momentarily stunned.Of course, he had.He had once caught himself thinking about Wendy in a romantic sense. He felt reluctant to let go of her—he felt drawn to her, wanting to claim her.He had feelings for Wendy, but in the grand scheme of things, that feeling meant nothing compared to how he felt for Jessica.Now, with the divorce looming, he intended to cut all ties, to sever them completely without hesitation.He spoke the words that seemed to crush the air between them: "Wendy, I love Jessica."He said he loved Jessica.The light in Wendy's eyes slowly dimmed, the question she had asked now feeling like a painful mistake. She had set herself up for humiliation—complete and utter humiliation.Still, she wasn't a sore loser."Then let's get a divorce."Stanley paused. "Go get your marriage certificate."Wendy forced a thin smile and reached into her bag. "I already brought it with me."When
Wendy returned to the girls' dorm and was greeted by a video call from Halsey.Halsey's bright, happy face appeared on the screen, her eyes mischievously dancing. "How did it go last night? Did you and Mr. Hawk, you know..."She wiggled her eyebrows, her expression full of playful insinuation.Wendy chuckled, trying to keep the mood light. "Why aren't you back yet?""I didn't want to interrupt you two. The last thing I wanna do is be a third wheel."With that, Halsey continued, "Mr. Hawk handled Luna really well this time. I honestly think he has feelings for you. You guys consummated your marriage and are officially husband and wife now. I hope things go well for you both, and that you can have a happy life together."Wendy wasn't sure how to respond. She popped a candy into her mouth, letting the sweetness spread across her tongue. After a moment, she smiled and said, "I appreciate that, Halsey. Come back soon, alright?""I'll be back tonight.""Okay."Wendy ended the call
Jessica didn't want Wendy here.Wendy turned to look at Stanley.Still holding Jessica's hand, he slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers.Their eyes locked.Before Stanley could speak, Wendy shifted her gaze and briefly glanced at Jessica before offering a small, polite smile. "I'm glad you're okay. I'll leave now."She turned and walked away.But she didn't leave immediately. She stood outside the door, listening to the conversation inside.Jessica's voice was filled with sorrow as she accused Stanley, "Stanley, tell me. Did you sleep with Wendy?"Stanley looked at the door for a moment before his eyes settled back on Jessica's pale face. "Jessica, I'm sorry."He admitted it.Jessica bit her lip. "Stanley, why? You told me you and Wendy were over!"Stanley's expression darkened. Yes, he had told Jessica that he and Wendy were finished, but he couldn't stop himself from seeking out Wendy. "Stanley, you've forgotten my warning. I told you not to touch Wendy, not to sleep with
Stanley glanced at Wendy before nodding. "Alright."-The two of them arrived at the hospital and entered the VIP ward, where they found Jessica.Jessica lay in bed, her face pale. She was still unconscious, her breathing assisted by a ventilator. Though her right wrist was wrapped in thick bandages, blood could be seen seeping through.Lilian rushed toward Stanley as soon as she saw him. "Mr. Hawk, you're here!"But her movement froze when she noticed Wendy standing behind him. Her expression shifted instantly. "Why did you bring her here?"Wendy gazed at her mother—the one who birthed her—with cold, steady eyes.Lilian's voice grew sharper with anger. "How dare you show your face here, Wendy! Last night, Jessica had heart problems and needed Mr. Hawk by her side. You knew that, but you wouldn't let go of him! Look at what happened—Jessica cut her wrist! Are you happy now that you got what you wanted? You're the one who pushed Jessica to kill herself! Get out of here!"In a