Her fingers dug deep into the palms of her hands, yet Ella felt no pain at all. Every word Danny spoke pierced her heart like needles, stirring waves of relentless agony.

“Believe it or not, I didn’t push her.”

Danny had just lifted Sarah and laid her on the bed when he heard these words. He was about to turn and ask, "If not you, who else could have done it?" when the blood-soaked bandage on Ella's calf caught his eye.

He was taken aback for a moment; only then did he realize that he was the one who pushed her.

"Ella... I ...." But before he could say anything, Ella had already turned and left without looking back.

Watching her retreating figure, a wave of intense unease washed over him and he instinctively wanted to chase after her.

But, before he could, his wrist was grabbed. When he looked down, he saw Sarah's red, tear-streaked eyes. She pleaded, "Please, can you get me a doctor? My hand hurt again."

When he didn’t move, Sarah bit her lip and added softly, “It’s not that I can’t handle the pain, but the experiment needs to keep going and if my hand doesn’t heal properly, I'm afraid I won’t be able to cooperate with you. If that delays the Lily of the Valley Project and the person in charge gets upset…”

Hearing that, Danny hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Alright. I’ll go get the doctor.”

After confirming with the doctor that Sarah was fine, he went to the ward next door.

Inside the ward, after Ella tossed her takeout box into the trash. She immediately called her lawyer.

“Yes, the day after tomorrow. I can come to the law firm for a consultation.”

She was about to say more when the ward door opened behind her, followed by Danny's voice. “What lawyer?”

Ella ended the phone; her expression stayed calm. "It's nothing, you heard it wrong.”

She then lay down on the bed, clearly not wanting to talk further.

Danny walked to the side of the bed and when he saw the takeaway box in the trash can, his hands, that previously hung by his side, curled up.

“You’re just… eating takeout?” he asked in a low voice.

But Ella did not even look at him. She simply turned her back to him.

His breathing quickened, chest rising and falling with frustration. "Ella, never thought you’d show up at the seminar, so I certainly couldn't have known the other person hit by the object was you. You followed me without telling me—I haven't even blamed you for that. But that still doesn’t justify you hurting Sarah!"

But she didn't even move, still turning her back to him.

“What do you want me to do?" he demanded. "I've been incredibly busy lately. I visited Sarah only because we have an experiment requiring both of us to complete it. I was worried her hand might affect the experiment—that's all. You're the one jumping to all sorts of conclusions. Not only are you not helping me, you're making things worse!”

Just when he wanted to say something, Ella turned and sat up.

Her eyes were as still as stagnant water when she looked at him. “Are you done? If so, leave. I want to rest.”

The glimmer of hope that had just flickered in his eyes instantly dimmed.

Watching her cold, indifferent back, Danny felt a growing sense of unease in his heart, as if something was slowly slipping beyond his grasp.

But he quickly reassured himself that they had been married for so many years, so it was impossible for Ella to leave him. She was only like this now because she was still angry; as long as he coaxed her, everything would definitely be fine.

With this thought, he calmed a bit. “Then have a good rest. I'll come see you again tomorrow.”

A flash of sarcasm flickered in Ella's eyes at his words and she curled her lips in disdain.

What she hadn’t expected was that he actually brought her a bowl of soup the next day at noon. She frowned, but he urged her, “Drink up. I simmered it for ages.”

Hearing his words, Ella raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing her mind.

Since their marriage, Danny had scarcely set foot in the kitchen. Yet this time, he’d personally make the soup.

Half-doubting, half-believing, Ella lifted the lid. The moment her eyes met the contents, she froze in place.

At that moment, her phone chimed. She looked down and saw a message from Sarah. [My favorite carrot and bone broth soup! I made him stew it himself last night. Do you think it's delicious?]

Boom!

The word hit her like a bolt from the blue. Ella's hand, which was holding the bowl, shook uncontrollably.

Seeing something was wrong with her, Danny asked, "What's wrong with you, Ella?"

With reddened eyes, she choked out a question, “You know... I'm allergic to carrots, right?”

Danny's face instantly drained of color. He grabbed her hand. “I'm sorry, Ella. I...”

Ella pulled her hand and smiled bitterly. "You don't have to say anything. We're getting …"

A frantic ringing interrupted her words. She could only wait for Danny to finish his call.

But his expression turned grim. He looked at her gravely. "Ella, John fainted."

The two of them rushed to the hospital, where John was treated. Hearing the doctor say that John had only developed a sudden high fever, they breathed a sigh of relief.

Even though John had opened his eyes, he didn’t even glance at Ella. Instead, he asked Danny, who was standing beside him, “Dad, the school wants parents to record videos cheering us on for the college entrance exams. Could you take Aunt Sarah to record one for me?”

Ella clenched her fist as a self-mocking smile tugged on her face. “Take care of yourself,” she said before leaving the ward.

Standing at the door, she convinced herself it didn't matter. They were getting divorced soon anyway. She had no intention of fighting for John's custody. From now on, neither father nor son would have anything to do with her.

She sighed and stared blankly out the window for a moment.

“Don’t take it to heart. John is just a child/ He doesn't think things deeply." Danny's voice snapped her out of her senses.

“What were you... about to say in the room? Divorce?”

Ella gave a faint laugh and shook her head. “Nothing. You misheard.”

She didn't plan to tell him now. Divorce was a sure thing anyway and with John's college entrance exams just days away, it was better to wait until after the exams.

But Danny's instincts told him it wasn’t that simple. Her smile didn’t ease his uneasiness at all.

Over the next few days, he packed a few belongings and moved back into their old home to live with her again.

Ella knew that he only did this because he felt guilty, not because he loved her. Therefore, she had no intention of changing her mind. She wouldn't gamble her life away again for his illusory, fleeting affection.

After staying for a few days, as if to make sure Ella was acting normal, Danny soon announced he had to go on a business trip and would be away for several days.

But she merely gave a light “Mhm." and a flash of strange emotion rose in his heart.

He asked reluctantly, “Aren't you going to ask where I'm going?”

“You're an adult. You don't need to report your whereabouts to me.”

Despite her words. Danny couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. In the past, whenever he left for a business trip, Ella would always give him numerous instructions, pack his clothes for him and even see him off downstairs herself.

This time, however, even as he stood at the door, she kept her head down, absorbed in her own work, not even glancing at him.

Exasperated, he left, planning to have a proper talk with her when he returned.

Not long after he left, Sarah knocked on the door. She smiled gently at her and handed a coat. "Ella, is Danny home? He... left his shirt at my place the other day. I brought it back for him.”

Seeing through her scheme, Ella sneered coldly: “Aren't you supposed to be traveling with him? Why not just give it to him directly? Who are you putting on this show for?”

Even after her plot was exposed, Sarah stayed calm. “Since you know so much, you should divorce my Danny sooner rather than later. Stop clinging to this position.”

Her word made Ella snort and say sarcastically, "If you have the ability, you can take it yourself. What? Hasn't Danny given you a proper title yet?”              

A dark shadow flickered in Sarah's eyes as she replied coldly, "He will... soon. I'll confirm our relationship during this business trip. Oh, and one more thing..."

She stepped closer and whispered into Ella's ear, “This time, you probably won't be able to tag along. With your level of skill, the organizers would never send you an invitation.”

Ella's face darkened and she remained silent. Seeing her expression, Sarah felt a surge of satisfaction.

Watching her retreating figure, Ella picked up her phone and made a call.

“Teacher, I'd like to attend this awards ceremony. I'll go accept the award in person....”

***

In the lobby, everyone was buzzing about the Topical Award winner. She was the youngest recipient in history and upon learning her age, every person present was stunned.

"Dr. Sinclair, with your extensive connections, do you happen to know the project leader?”

Danny shook his head. “I've sent her several emails, but she hasn't replied to a single one yet.”

The person who asked him sighed when he heard his answer, but the curiosity in his eyes only deepened. “So mysterious? Looks like today might be our only chance to see her. I wonder which big shot in the industry she is.”

“But no matter how talented she is, she should at least reply to emails. My senior sent her so many—Isn't she being so arrogant?” Sarah muttered under her breath, but Danny heard every word.

"Don't say that. Her achievements clearly prove she’s more capable than me. Someone that talented has every right to be a bit arrogant.”

Seeing the admiration in his eyes, Sarah felt a pang of resentment. She silently prayed this person wasn’t a woman—and if it was, she hoped she was already married.                                                                  But the voice beside her dashed her hopes completely.

"I just saw her being interviewed at the entrance. It’s a woman, looks pretty young, about the same age as Dr. Sinclair. Most importantly... I heard her tell reporters she's currently unmarried!"

In an instant, the voices of discussion rang one after another.

“Not married yet? That's surprising for someone so accomplished. You'd think suitors would be lining up.”

“It's not necessarily that no one pursues her. Maybe she's just picky? Someone ordinary wouldn't measure up. Only someone like Dr. Sinclair could possibly win her over.”

Danny smiled helplessly. When he was about to speak, the host on the stage announced, “Let's welcome the winner of this year's Topical Award—”      

Amidst gasps of surprise, the crowd in front gradually parted to make a path.

Danny looked toward the entrance with anticipation, but the moment he recognized the figure approaching, his pupils suddenly contracted. He just stood there rooted in place.