When she opened her eyes the next morning, she immediately flung the hand away, only to hear a terrified voice.

"Ma'am, did I wake you?"

Lydia froze, looking up to see the house maid.

Her heart sank. Her voice was raspy and trembling. "Were you the one with me all last night?"

"Yes, Ma'am. I couldn't get through to Mr. Julian, and he didn't reply to my texts. You wouldn't let go of my hand, so I stayed."

"Do you need me to try calling him again?"

Lydia was about to speak when her phone began to buzz frantically with notifications.

The moment she opened the chat, she knew there was no need.

The messages were from Xavier, but the hundreds of photos and videos all showcased the madness between Julian and Sienna last night.

They had been together from the foyer to the balcony, entangled all night long. Julian had long since forgotten his promise to her.

She even suspected that if she had died last night, Julian wouldn't have come back.

Lydia glanced at the screen once and turned it off.

She closed her stinging eyes. "No need. Just help me pick up my delivery."

It was the divorce settlement drafted by the lawyer. It was time to put her departure on the schedule.

Once she had signed her name, she took the agreement to Julian’s company.

But she never expected to see Sienna at the front desk.

Chapter 3

Lydia frowned, intending to ignore her, but she was cut off before she could take a single step.

"Hello, do you have an appointment? You can't go in without one."

Sienna wore a professional smile, but Lydia could see the spite and triumph simmering beneath it.

Her face turned cold. "Sienna, everyone in this company knows who I am. Are you sure you want to stand in my way?"

Sienna’s smile widened. "So what if you’re the CEO's wife? He won't even let you bear his child. You had three years and couldn't even manage that. Tell me, do the sterilization drugs taste good?"

Slap!

Before the last word had even fully left her mouth, Lydia’s palm had already struck Sienna’s face.

"With a mouth that filthy, you shouldn't be working at a front desk."

Sienna clutched her cheek. After the initial shock, she let out a soft laugh. "Hit a nerve, did I? Is that why you're so angry?"

"Lydia, in the race for a bright future, we each use our own means. But today, don't even dream of going inside. Security!"

Before the guards could arrive, the elevator doors opened, and Julian stepped out, his expression dark.

Even before he reached them, his voice boomed across the lobby.

"Sienna, did a dog eat your employee handbook? The very first rule tells you exactly who you should and shouldn't block. Either do your job or get the hell out of here!"

Turning to Lydia, his voice softened into a worried tone. "Lydia, did she hurt you?"

"It’s still raining outside. Why did you come out dressed so lightly? You haven't recovered yet."

Julian’s brow was furrowed, appearing to blame Lydia for not taking better care of her health.

This scene filled Sienna’s eyes with jealousy, but she lowered her gaze to hide it, remaining silent.

Lydia didn't speak either. She just stared fixedly at the red mark on the side of Julian’s neck.

After a long silence, she let out a soft, dry laugh, though the corners of her eyes had turned red.

Julian, your concern is moving, but why put on such a show?

She moved aside to avoid his reaching arm and headed toward the elevator first.

"It’s nothing. Let’s go up."

However, when the elevator arrived, Julian didn't move.

"Lydia, I have a meeting with a partner this afternoon to discuss a contract. Go to my office and wait for me there. I’ll come find you as soon as I’m done. Be a good girl."

Wait again. How long would it be this time?

A thousand questions rushed to Lydia’s mind, but they all dissolved into a sense of utter exhaustion. She gave a hollow, emotionless "Mhm."

Julian was slightly surprised by her uncharacteristic cooperation today.

But he didn't give it much thought, assuming she was still reeling from the pain of losing the baby. He considerately held the elevator door until it closed before turning to leave.

Lydia waited for a long time, but the elevator wouldn't move up. She pressed the floor buttons again, but they wouldn't respond.

Then it hit her—Julian hadn't given her an elevator card.

Left with no choice, Lydia stepped out to message him and ask his secretary to come get her.

But just as she stepped out of the elevator, she heard familiar voices coming from the nearby emergency stairwell.

"Are you angry? Didn't I tell you that you aren't allowed to provoke her? Why won't you listen?"

"Hmph, I'm just jealous. Besides, she hit me first. It really hurts. How are you going to make it up to me?"

Julian let out a soft chuckle. The doting tone in his voice felt like an ice pick piercing through Lydia's heart.

"How about I spend the rest of my life making it up to you? And then we can have a whole soccer team of kids."

Sienna gave a shy laugh, calling him "naughty," and Julian laughed as he silenced her with a kiss.

Lydia stood in the shadows, her heart already plummeting to the bottom of an abyss.

Julian’s words were hauntingly familiar. They were the same words that had made her heart tremble with emotion during that grand wedding after their reunion.

She would never forget that day. The most powerful man in the capital, the head of the house of Julian, had knelt humbly before her in front of so many dignitaries, his voice choked with emotion.

"Lydia, the fortuneteller said that the blood covenant would cost me my lifespan in exchange for the one I love never leaving me. But I am willing. I give my entire life to you. Are you willing to stay by my side through every lifetime?"

Back then, Julian had been shaking so hard he could barely hold the ring.

He said he didn't want to give empty promises; his love would only be finalized the moment his coffin was sealed.

But now, only three years later, he had abandoned her countless times for a woman like Sienna.

Lydia clenched her teeth and closed her eyes. Tears fell silently.

Julian, your 'finalized love' is truly a joke.

As the sounds of intimacy grew louder, Lydia turned away resolutely, not sparing another glance.

The secretary eventually picked her up and took her upstairs. This time, Julian finally appeared before nightfall.

Seeing what Lydia was holding in her hand, Julian gave a gentle smile.

"What have you got there?"

Chapter 4

As he spoke, he reached out to take the documents.

"If there's something you want to buy, just use the stamp in my study to authorize it. You don't need to come looking for me specifically; I don't want you to get tired."

Lydia, her eyes swollen and red, spoke calmly. "This isn't for that. It’s a divorce..."

Before she could finish, the office door was pushed open.

"Mr. Julian, Sienna has everything ready. You can go up now."

Julian had just flipped to the first page, but because of the secretary’s words, he flipped straight to the final page without looking and quickly signed his name.

The unfinished sentence was stifled. She didn't find another chance to speak, so she simply gave up. He would find out sooner or later anyway.

She took the agreement back. "Go on, then. I'm leaving too."

But as she shouldered her bag, he suddenly grabbed her arm.

"Don't be in such a hurry. Come with me."

Before Lydia could react, Julian had led her to the rooftop of the building.

"Lydia, Sienna was introduced by a senior company member, so it's hard for me to fire her. Don't be angry. She knows she was wrong about what happened this afternoon, so she specifically bought fireworks to apologize to you."

"I remember you’ve always wanted to see a fireworks show, haven't you?"

Lydia froze. She hadn't expected Julian to remember that.

It was a New Year's wish she had made during the first year they were dating. It had been nine years.

For a moment, she was dazed, as if she were seeing the young Julian who loved her with such burning passion.

But in the next second, she was snapped back to reality by Sienna’s voice.

"Mr. Julian, I’m going to light them now."

Julian nodded, one arm tightly around Lydia, while the other hand pulled out a cupcake.

It was a small, cheap, and low-quality cupcake, but she had craved it for a long time.

Before her mother passed away, she would bring one home for her every time.

After her mother died, she never had one again, and they were nowhere to be found.