I struggled to open my eyes and saw a snow-white ceiling. The scent of disinfectant filled my nose.

"You’re finally awake!" A colleague who had come to the city for the internship with me patted her chest, breathing a sigh of relief. "I was scared to death when I came back and saw you collapsed in the living room."

Memories slowly trickled back. I frowned, enduring the constant throb in my stomach, my face pale.

Seeing my state, my colleague guessed, "Did you drink yourself into this state because of Julian?"

I didn't say a word.

The colleague sighed understandingly. "Twisted fruit isn't sweet. Why torture yourself like this?"

Sunlight from the window spilled onto the floor, making the ward appear brilliantly white.

I lowered my gaze slightly, murmuring with a bitter smile, "I just thought... maybe there was a chance."

"And do you still think there's a chance now?"

"I... I don't know."

We sat in silence, the only sound being the chirping of birds outside the window.

Suddenly, the ward door opened. A man in a suit, travel-worn and unable to hide his worry, stood at the entrance.

"Sienna! How did you end up in the hospital during your studies? Were you not eating properly again?!"

"Jude?!" I was startled, not expecting my busy older brother to rush over.

"Your stomach bleeding was quite severe. The hospital asked me to notify the family. You two talk; I’ll be going now," the colleague said before leaving.

Jude strode in, pulled out a chair, and sat by the bed. "Where’s Julian? Didn't he say he was coming to see you? This is how he looks after you?!"

Hearing that name again, I remained silent for a long time before speaking hoarsely. "Jude, I have a question. Don't lie to me."

"...Does Julian have a girlfriend now?"

Jude’s movement of tucking in my blanket paused. After a while, he nodded. "Yes."

"Don't think about these things. The priority is for you to recover."

I had already suspected it, but getting the answer now still brought an unavoidable ache.

So, his girlfriend is Yara, then?

But why didn't he tell me? Was he afraid I would ruin it?

I felt suffocated by the pain, but for some reason, not a single tear would fall.

Finally, I could only force out a plea: "Jude, I want to go home."

My voice carried a sob. Jude’s heart trembled. "Alright. I'll take you home."

Over the next two days, Jude handled my leave of absence and took me onto a plane.

Two hours later, the plane landed.

When my brother and I arrived home, my parents had already prepared a lavish dinner.

And seeing the familiar man sitting on the sofa, my steps froze in place.

Julian also looked up.

As our eyes met, neither of us spoke.

Just then, Jude walked in. Looking at our silence, he took my suitcase and said to Julian, "Come upstairs. I have something to tell you."

Julian nodded and followed Jude upstairs.

I stood there watching his back until he disappeared around the corner.

Jude and Julian talked for a long time, only coming down when it was time to eat.

For some reason, I felt the atmosphere between them was strange.

After dinner, my parents said they wanted to go out for a walk.

Julian and I walked side-by-side at the back, slowly falling behind the family of three ahead of us.

In the autumn air, yellow leaves drifted down.

I looked at our side-by-side shadows and spoke the first words since my return: "I heard from my brother that you have a girlfriend?" I already knew the answer, yet I still wanted to hear Julian admit it himself.

Julian turned to look at me, his voice deep. "He lied to you."

Chapter 8

He lied to me...

I froze for a moment, a strange sense of relief washing over me, as if I had just survived a catastrophe.

But in the next heartbeat, I felt a deep sorrow for myself.

Julian never lied to me. Therefore, his previous statement about never being with me was also the truth.

But what if? What if he eventually turned around to look at me?

I gathered my courage and spoke up. "Do you know why I stopped confessing to you after I became an adult?"

Julian was taken aback and shook his head.

I let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh. "Because you always treated me like a child. I could only use those legally binding marriage contracts to tell you that I've truly grown up—that I can take responsibility for my own actions."

"I hoped you could take my feelings seriously. To see me as an ordinary girl, rather than shutting me out of your world entirely."

After finishing my speech, I turned around, my eyes shimmering slightly.

The evening breeze tossed my hair, and the fragrance of osmanthus drifted over.

I took a step forward. "Julian, all I need is a chance."

Julian remained silent for a long time before finally sighing. "Treating you as an ordinary girl..."

"If I truly did that, you probably wouldn't even be able to see me. Do you still want this chance?"

"Yes!" My answer was firm.

Emotions surged in Julian's eyes before finally settling into a cold stillness. "I understand. I will give you that chance."

I was stunned, hardly able to believe my ears.

It wasn't until the man turned to leave that I noticed my heart racing and my fingers trembling with nerves.

Upon returning home, I was still immersed in the shock and joy of Julian finally relenting.

After seven years of effort, he was finally willing to give me a chance!

Jude was sitting on the sofa. Noticing my dazed state, he asked in confusion, "What's happened to you?"

I snapped out of it, my throat feeling dry. "Jude, I finally have a chance to pursue Julian."

Jude froze, his brow furrowing deeply. "Why must it be Julian?"

Stumped by the question, I thought for a long time before saying, "I don't know. Jude, why did you insist on being with your wife despite our parents' objections back then?"

Jude opened his mouth but found no words.

Finally, he could only sigh helplessly. "You're an adult now. As long as you've thought it through. No matter what, I and our parents are right behind you."

Hearing this, my eyes grew hot, and I reached out to hug him. "Thank you, Jude."

Jude rubbed my head. In a place where I couldn't see, a flash of complexity crossed his eyes.

The night was as still as water.

After washing up, I lay in bed, unable to fall asleep.

I fumbled for my phone and looked at Julian's chat window. After typing and deleting for a long time, I finally sent a simple "Goodnight."

However, a long time passed, and there was no reply.

I pulled back the curtain to glance at the house next door; the lights were still on.

He must be busy, right?

I found an excuse for Julian to soothe myself and eventually fell into a deep sleep...

But self-consolation is always fragile.

By noon the next day, when I still hadn't received a reply, I realized that Julian hadn't missed the message—he simply didn't want to respond.

Loneliness clouded my eyes.

Jude saw this and couldn't bear to see me suffering alone. "He has to work today. He should be at the Prosecutor's Office."

Hearing this, I nodded and pulled myself together. I headed for the Prosecutor's Office, carrying a lunch I had personally prepared for Julian.

When I arrived, Julian happened to be walking out.

"Julian!" I greeted him with a bright smile.

In the next second, Julian brushed past me as if he hadn't seen me at all, looking straight ahead.

Chapter 9

The smile froze on my face.

I turned to watch the man's retreating back. The suspicion in my heart became a reality, and I finally understood what Julian’s words from yesterday truly meant.

"Julian..." I chased after him and grabbed his arm.

Julian stopped but said nothing.

This version of him—a complete stranger—sent me into a panic. "Julian, don't ignore me..."

Even my voice was trembling.

Julian slowly pulled his arm away. "Isn't this what you wanted? Now, you are no different from any of those other girls."

My hands and feet went ice-cold, and I was frozen to the spot.

Bitterness mixed with hot tears threatened to spill over. I hurriedly lowered my eyes.

Julian watched, a flicker of something passing through his heart.

But he suppressed the urge to comfort me, deciding to leave instead.

Since it wasn't romantic love, he shouldn't give Sienna any more false hope.

But just as he was about to leave, something was suddenly thrust into his arms.

"These are all the dishes you like. Eat them while they're hot."

My head was down, hiding my expression. Once I was sure Julian had a firm grip on the lunchbox, I turned to leave.