Quinn woke up in the early dawn, only to realize Nicholas was no longer in the ward. Only the breakfast he'd left behind remained on the table.

"Something came up in the company, so I had to leave first, Quinn." On her phone was a message from him, sent an hour ago.

Quinn wondered if he was that eager to see Jasmine.

Nicholas only returned during the night, with a camera in his hand. He looked at her excitedly. "I found a perfect place for wedding photos today, Quinn. How about we go take some together? I've always felt the previous ones weren't perfect enough. I want to personally capture our happy moments this time."

…

Quinn only realized that they were at a desolate mountain, with no one around after they reached their destination.

"Look at the stars here, Quinn! Aren't they so much more beautiful than anywhere else?" Nicholas said as he took out her wedding dress.

He received a call just as Quinn was about to get changed.

As he answered the call, she watched the way his smile gradually morphed into a worried frown. She could vaguely hear Jasmine's name as well.

"Don't fret, I'll come over now!" Nicholas hurriedly ended the call. He then drove away before Quinn could say anything.

She watched the car speed away from her sight without any ounce of hesitation. He did not even give her phone back.

Quinn chuckled bitterly before she started making her way down the mountain, resigned.

Her health wasn't great, to begin with, and it was very cold on the mountain. However, she only put on a thin shirt in order to go with Nicholas' photoshoot.

Quinn walked for over four hours before she could finally hail a taxi. Her body was heating up by the time she arrived home.

Just as she was ready to head to bed, she saw the entertainment news on her computer. "Rising star Jasmine Shaw caught in a scandal—Nicholas York personally clears the air."

Quinn clicked into the video and saw the way Nicholas firmly stood in front of Jasmine.

He said, "It's true that our relationship goes beyond just superior and subordinate. But Jasmine isn't a mistress—we've known each other for ten years. Also, the new endorsement was originally intended for her."

Quinn's heart sank instantly upon hearing his words. What was initially her endorsement somehow had gone to Jasmine now.

Besides, her endorsement had already been publicly announced. Now that Nicholas was saying this, everyone would think that she was the one who stole Jasmine's endorsement.

As expected, war erupted in the comment section.

Someone commented: "Does that mean that Quinn was the mistress instead?"

Another wrote: "You could tell she wasn't a good person from the fact she gave up on her research career to enter the entertainment industry."

Someone else replied: "She was even shameless enough to steal Jasmine's endorsement! "

The video was still playing on the computer by the time Nicholas came back.

He paled and anxiously started explaining, "I'm sorry, Quinn. I didn't mean to leave you on the mountain. I was just so worried. After all, this matter could greatly affect the company.

"We're about to get married anyway, and you won't need to do this kind of work anymore. Just consider this time a small sacrifice for me and the company, okay?"

Quinn looked up at Nicholas. "Back then, it was you who asked me to quit my research career and enter the entertainment industry for you."

He replied, "I'm sorry, Quinn. I know it's unfair to you, but this will be the last time. Please don't be mad, okay? I'll let you get back to work once things calm down."

Quinn kept quiet, no longer wanting to talk about it. After all, she decided to let go of both this career and Nicholas.

…

Quinn developed a high fever that night. To make things worse, she received news that Thomas Brooke, her maternal grandfather, fell ill.

As she was his only relative in Heathridge, she had to hurry over.

Quinn struggled to get up, but she passed out just after taking a few steps.

She found herself in the hospital when she regained consciousness, feeling much better than the night before.

Upon remembering Thomas, Quinn pulled out the IV drip and prepared to leave. However, she was stopped by Nancy Jones, the nurse.

Nancy said, "Mr. York asked us to make sure you don't go anywhere, Ms. Sullivan. He's already dealing with your grandfather's situation. After he brought you to the hospital last night, he went straight to your grandfather."

Stella arrived shortly after Nancy finished speaking. "Nicholas told me you're in the hospital. He was worried so he called to ask me to take care of you.

"Nicholas has already rushed your grandfather to the best hospital for heart treatment. He's currently taking care of your grandfather over there, and I heard he hasn't gotten any rest. He even said he'll come to visit you later.

She continued, "He had also canceled your upcoming appointments—forking out a huge amount just for cancellation fees. To be honest, I'm starting to believe he really does love you."

Quinn chuckled bitterly when she heard Stella's words. Even she couldn't figure out what kind of feelings Nicholas had for her as well.

But even so, she hadn't changed her mind. Betrayal was still betrayal—and she had never been someone who could tolerate it.

Nicholas rushed over from another hospital the same night.

When he saw that Quinn had regained consciousness, he rushed over happily and pulled her into his embrace.

"You really scared me! It's all my fault for causing you to fall sick. I would never be able to forgive myself if something happened to you!" Nicholas said.

Quinn looked at him and gently pushed his arms away. "Thank you for taking care of my grandfather. You must be exhausted."

Nicholas glared at her and said, "Didn't I tell you not to be so courteous with me? Your grandfather is like my own—it's only right for me to take care of him.

"But you don't have to worry—Grandpa will be fine. He just had surgery, and I've arranged for several caregivers to take care of him."

Nicholas then took out the sweets he had brought and placed them on the table in front of Quinn. "I heard that sweets will help you recover faster when you're sick, Quinn. These are all my favorites, so go ahead and try them!"

He looked at her excitedly, yet she only stared at the sweets without any appetite.

Sadness clouded Nicholas' gaze when he saw the way Quinn refused to eat. "It's fine if you don't like them, but you've been cold to me for the past two days, Quinn. Are you angry at me?"

He started tearing up as he said, "You know that I'd be upset seeing you unhappy, Quinn."

Quinn instinctively wanted to pull away when she realized that he was holding her hand.

At that moment, Nicholas' phone rang. He accepted the call irritably, but worry soon clouded his features.

"How did this happen? Where is she now? Alright, I'm coming over now. Make sure to protect her—don't let anything happen to her!" he said.

Nicholas ended the call and rushed off in a hurry, forgetting to even inform Quinn.

After he left, she opened her phone and saw that something had happened to Jasmine again. However, she also spotted her own name in an inconspicuous corner.

Jasmine had actually stolen an important role from Quinn behind her back.

This role was a crucial turning point for Quinn. If things went well, it could even take her career to the next level.

But now, Jasmine actually took the liberty to forge Nicholas' signature on the document. She had even seized the opportunity when Quinn was sick to discuss the replacement of the role with the production team.

The production team wouldn't have bothered with Jasmine if she was doing it alone. However, she now had Nicholas backing her up.

Although he had the resources, he was always careful of his reputation.

If it was any other artist in his company, Nicholas wouldn't have hesitated to fire them. However, Jasmine was the one behind such action this time.

In order to cover up this situation, he spared no expense in buying trending topics and used his financial power to pressure the production team into replacing Quinn with Jasmine.

However, Nicholas never took Quinn's situation into account. If she was replaced, she would lose any chance of accessing good resources in the industry.

Her heart sank when she read the official announcement from Jasmine's account. At the same time, criticism flooded her own comment section.

Quinn had just finished reading through the hateful comments by the time Nicholas returned.

Dark circles weighed his exhausted eyes, and his steps were even unsteady. But it was evident from his relaxed expression that he had resolved Jasmine's crisis, resulting in his good mood.

Nicholas walked over to Quinn and linked arms with her affectionately. "Let's head home to sleep tonight. It's more comfortable sleeping at home than in the hospital."

Upon hearing his words, she softly asked, "Are you concerned about me?"

Nicholas was taken aback. He started laughing and said, "Of course—who would I be concerned about if not you? No one else is worth my time other than you."

Quinn wondered if it was the same for Jasmine.

She looked out the window. She couldn't make out anything in the dark—just like how she couldn't make out Nicholas' thoughts.

She could no longer distinguish between his truth and lies.

As soon as they arrived home, Nicholas fell onto the bed and fell asleep instantly.

Quinn then went downstairs to sleep in the study.

…

Quinn was roused by the abrupt doorbell the next morning. She got to the door and realized it was Jasmine. "Where's Nicholas, Quinn? Is he home? I need to see him urgently."

Before Quinn could reply, she heard hurried footsteps behind her. She turned around and saw that Nicholas had rushed over without even putting on his shoes.

"It's too early for you to be coming over, Jasmine. Did something happen?" he asked.

"My father is sick! Can you come to visit him with me, Nicholas? I'm so worried," Jasmine said, tearing up.

Nicholas immediately went to get changed and put on his shoes. He rushed back soon after.

Quinn called out for him as he was about to leave. "Nicholas, today—"

Before she could finish speaking, Nicholas interrupted her. "Let's talk about it when I get back, Quinn."

Quinn could only swallow her unspoken words when she saw Nicholas hurrying away.

He seemed to have forgotten about their appointment with the reporters. On the day of their engagement, he had contacted several reporters to come over for an interview, hoping to document their pre-wedding preparations.

Today was the day of their appointment.

Quinn was about to contact the reporters to cancel today's interview, but they had already arrived.

A reporter asked, "Do you have anything to say regarding the fact that you knowingly became someone's mistress, Quinn?"

Another said, "I heard that you've been arrogantly canceling confirmed collaborations, and Jasmine ended up having to fix your mess. Are these things true?"

"Where's your professionalism as an actress, Ms. Quinn Sullivan? Can you offer the public a proper explanation regarding the recent events?" someone asked.

Quinn's heart sank instantly upon hearing the reporters' aggressive questions.

Even though they were aware of the recent events, since Nicholas had invited them over to record their warm daily life, they wouldn't have come up to her with these blunt questions.

Someone must have been pulling the strings behind the scenes with all those questions.

Upon seeing the growing crowd of reporters and paparazzi, Quinn could only retreat back into hiding in the house. Unfortunately, the crowd refused to leave and remained waiting outside.

As the sky grew darker, the crowd grew, yet Nicholas did not come back. She tried calling him multiple times, yet nobody picked up.

Quinn had been kept awake from the commotion outside, unable to sleep. By dawn, she could clearly feel her heart acting up, yet the crowd outside still hadn't dispersed.

She knew she would be surrounded at once if she showed herself now. Those reporters and paparazzi wouldn't listen to her explanation anyway.

Feeling the uncomfortable tightness in her chest, Quinn reached out for her phone. Her hands trembled as she dialed Nicholas' number once again.

The call finally got through, yet it was Jasmine who picked up. "Are you looking for Nicholas, Quinn? He was busy the entire night and just fell asleep. If there's nothing important, you can just call him again later."

Quinn wondered what Nicholas had been busy the entire night with.

Jasmine continued, "We'll be going to the hospital to visit my father later. I'll end the call now, Quinn."

Quinn ended the call with a bitter chuckle when she found out that they weren't even in the hospital last night.

Looking at the crowd outside, she clutched her chest and curled up on the couch. She broke into a cold sweat from the excruciating pain.

Nicholas only returned during the afternoon. He rushed in hurriedly after sending the reporters outside away.

Quinn's heart was already in unbearable pain then. She struggled to get up to go to the hospital when she saw the reporters had finally dispersed.

Just as she passed by a bookshelf, a sharp pain shot through her chest. She subconsciously reached out to steady herself on the shelf, only to knock over a glass music box sitting on the bookshelf by accident.

Quinn collapsed at the same time the music box fell to the ground. She broke up in cold sweat from the excruciating pain.

However, Nicholas rushed over and pushed her away. Instead, he picked up the music box behind her and carefully checked if it was broken.

Quinn couldn't help but chuckle bitterly upon seeing the sight. She couldn't believe a music box was actually more important than her to him.

Upon noticing her gaze, Nicholas carefully placed the music box back onto the shelf before walking over to help her up.

Quinn pushed him away with all her might just as he reached out for her. Under his shocked gaze, she struggled to get up by supporting herself with the nearby table.

Nicholas said, "Are you blaming me now, Quinn? This music box was something Jasmine's mother left for her before she passed away. She gifted me this music box, and I have to cherish it. After all, this was from her mother."

Quinn looked up and chuckled. "Of course, the music box would be more important than my illness then. You'd better check if the music box is still working."

Nicholas finally realized something was wrong when he saw her pale complexion.

"What's wrong, Quinn? Why are you looking so pale? Wasn't everything alright when you were discharged?" he asked, concerned as he reached out to help her up.

At that moment, Quinn was overwhelmed with so much pain she couldn't utter a single word.

Upon seeing her hand pressed firmly against her chest, Nicholas suddenly realized something.

With a trembling voice, he asked, "Do you have a heart disease, Quinn?"