While laying on the hospital bed,Julianne gave a bitter smile to herself.She already knew that Leon would always choose Silvana as long as that woman was around.

Julianne pressed the call button and asked the nurse to clean up the beef soup on the floor.Then,she ordered some food for herself before closing her eyes to rest.

Yet,her mind couldn’t stop thinking about the five years she spent with Leon.

In the beginning,she didn’t know Leon had a first love.She only knew that he came from a rich family before it went bankrupt.He became a car mechanic afterward.He also dropped out of school early because he couldn’t afford the tuition.

Julianne taught him many things and found that Leon was very interested in computers.She even hired experts to teach him and helped him become one of the best computer experts in the Great Capitol.

Just after Leon won a big computer competition and became famous,his first love,Silvana,came back.She had a terminal illness.Her family was gone and Leon was her only“support”.

That day,Leon locked himself in the room for a long time.Then he told Julianne that he had to stay with Silvana for the rest of her life.

From then on,whenever Silvana felt unwell,Leon would go to her.He even bought an apartment nearby just to care for Silvana.That woman became more and more dependent on Leon.She kept posting photos of the two of them online.Finally,they couldn’t control themselves and slept together.

The first time Julianne found out about their affair was on her birthday.She invited many people to celebrate at home.When she turned on the lights,she saw Leon and Silvana was tangled together on the sofa.

Leon knelt down naked and begged for forgiveness.“If you’re angry,be angry at me.Don’t hurt her.I couldn’t control myself.”

Unfortunately,Julianne couldn’t bring herslef to punish him.

After crying alone for three days,she made Leon sign a promise to never see Silvana again.She swallowed her pain and got back together with him.

The second time she caught them,she made Leon sign an agreement that he would leave with nothing if he betrayed her again.Then,the third time,the fourth time,Julianne wasn't brave enough to leave.

Leon slowly realized that Julianne would never leave him.So he became even more fearless and bold.Now that things had reached this point,it was all because Julianne had spoiled him.

Just then,the food delivery arrived and broke her thoughts.

She slowly ate red bean soup,feeling bitter inside.

Leon didn’t like red beans,so after getting married,Julianne rarely ate them.No one knew that red beans used to be her favorite food.

After finishing her meal,Julianne took out her phone and called her grandfather.She hadn't contacted him for a long time.

“Grandpa Finn,I regret it.I’ve decided to divorce Leon.Blue Tech will go public in the stock market within seven days.I want you to help me take back my position as the main director.”

Finnick Cross was the biggest shareholder Blue Tech under the Cross Enterprises.In the past,Julianne didn't want to hurt Leon’s pride,so she gave up being the director.

Julianne now understood that Leon didn’t deserve her thoughts.What belonged to her,she would take them all back.

Her grandfather’s voice choked on the phone.“You finally woke up from that nightmare.At least you were done from being fooled.This time,you must not regret your divorce,or I won’t help you anymore.”

Suddenly,two messages appeared on her phone.They were from Silvana.They were photos of Leon gently applying medicine for her.

Julianne’s heart became even more determined.“Don’t worry,Grandpa.I won’t disappoint you again.”

She truly didn’t want Leon anymore.Leon had already signed the divorce papers before.Julianne only needed to submit them.

Once the call was over,she then closed her eyes in relief.Finally,everything was about to end.

This time, she's going to take back everything she's lost!

Early the next morning,Leon appeared at by Julianne's door.It was rare for him to come so early.There were dark circles under his eyes,as if he hadn’t slept all night.

“Jullie,”he walked to her bed.“I had checked the security cameras related to the incident yesterday.It was true that Silvie spilled the soup herself.I’ve already told her not to trouble you again.”

Julianne looked calm.She only frowned slightly.“You don’t need to tell me that.I’m not interested.”

“I know you’re still angry,”Leon didn’t hear the distance in her voice.He thought she was just upset about yesterday.

He pulled a chair over and sat down beside her.“Today I’m not going anywhere.I’ll stay here with you.”

“I said I don’t need you.”Julianne lowered her head and looked at her phone,clearly impatient.

Yet,Leon acted as if he didn’t hear her and stayed seated.

An awkward silence filled the room.So,he tried to find something to say.“You’re still weak.Do you want to sleep more?I asked the nurse to make some soup for you.”

Julianne didn’t respond.She didn’t even look at him.

Leon felt uncomfortable,but he still forced himself to continue.“I’ve told the staff at Blue Tech about your condition.No one will disturb you these days.What do you want to eat?I’ll have someone buy it.”

“No need.”Still just two cold words.

Leon’s eyes fell on the necklace around Julianne’s neck.It's black paint shone coldly in the morning light.Without thinking,he reached out to touch it.

Julianne suddenly raised her hand and slapped his away.The movement wasn’t strong,but it was full of disgust.

“You think you deserve to touch it?”Her voice was icy.

Leon’s hand froze in the air.It felt like something stabbed his heart.He had never seen Julianne look at him like this before.There was no love.No sadness.Only pure hatred and disgust,as if he were some dirty trash.

After the pain,irritation rose in his heart.He frowned and spoke in anger,“Julianne,how long are you going to keep this up?It was just one child.We can have another in the future.Silvie is terminally ill.She doesn’t have much time left.Can’t you be more understanding for her?”

Julianne acted as if she hadn’t heard him.She didn’t even bother to look at him.To her,his words were only ridiculous and cruel.

Seeing her ignore him,Leon felt even angrier,but he couldn’t just let it out.After a moment of silence,he softened his tone.

“Silvie will have her final full checkup tonight.The doctors want to see if her condition has gotten worse.They said if it’s bad,she might only have a few days left.Jullie,don’t fight with her anymore.It’s not worth it.”

Julianne’s fingers suddenly froze.A strong sense of unease rose in her heart.

Leon stayed in the hospital all day.Sometimes he tried to talk.Sometimes he just sat and watched her.

Julianne completely ignored him.Suddenly,in the evening,Leon’s phone suddenly rang.

After he hung up,his face changed.His lips trembled slightly.He looked at Julianne with a complicated and struggling expression.

“Jullie…”he said with difficulty,his voice full of hesitation.“The test results are out.Silvie’s condition has a chance now.If she gets a suitable kidney transplant,she can live.”

Julianne’s heart sank.Her unease reached its peak.

Leon took a deep breath,as if making a huge decision.“The doctors said that matching kidney donors are extremely rare.And right now,the only person who matches Silvie…”

He paused.

“…is you.”

Julianne’s mind went blank.She understood what Leon meant.

“Don’t even think about it.I will never give Silvana my kidney.Leon,get out!I don’t want to see you again!”

Seeing her red eyes,Leon felt a moment of pain in his heart.However,he still continued.

“Jullie,listen to me.I treated Silvana well before because she was dying.Now,as long as she gets a kidney,everything can end.Think about it again,just for our future.”

As soon as he finished speaking,Julianne threw her cup on the floor.“Get out!”

Only then did Leon finally leave the room.

Julianne felt frozen.She deeply regretted why she had chosen such man to marry back then.Now his husband wanted her to give up a kidney for another woman.

That made her scared to stay around in the hospital.So that night,she packed her things and left quietly without telling anyone.Only after she walked out of the hospital did she feel slightly safe.She took a taxi and planned to go home first.

Eventually the ride home caused her sleepiness.She soon closed her eyes.

***

In her half-dream,she returned to the scene of falling from the building.Silvana used her as a cushion and wanted her to die.Leon just watched from upstairs and never held anyone responsible.

The feeling of despair was so real that Julianne opened her eyes.To her surprise,she found herself in a strange place.

The taxi driver was gone.The person in the front seat had changed.It was Leon.He looked at her coldly.

“I knew you would run,Jullie.You’re so selfish.It seems I have to keep an eye on you.

After the surgery,I’ll let you go.”

A chill went through Julianne’s whole body.Without saying a word,she opened the door and ran in the opposite direction.She tried to call for help on her phone.

Before the she finish dialing,Leon caught up.He grabbed her phone and smashed it.“Jullie,be good.”

Leon and several bodyguards dragged Julianne into a villa.The walls were covered with Silvana’s photos.Julianne knew instantly that Leon bought the place for Silvana.

In the end,Julianne was locked in a room.To prevent her from harming herself,Leon tied her hands tightly.“Jullie,don’t blame me.I have no choice.I can’t just watch Silvana die.”

Julianne closed her eyes weakly.She had underestimated how shameless Leon could be.

At dinner time,Leon sent a maid to bring food.Julianne didn’t even look at it.In the end,the food got cold and was taken away.

“Ms.Cross,you didn’t eat anything.It’d be hard for us to explain this to Mr.Rockfell.”

“He doesn’t care whether I live or die.Don’t worry.”Julianne smiled bitterly.

If he really cared about her,he'd never tie her up and lock her in this basement.

***

The maid took the food and reported to Leon.“Ms.Cross didn’t eat anything.She said she has no appetite.”

During the time,Leon was discussing the surgery time.He soon paused.He knew Julianne was stubborn.

“Put the tray down,”he said.“I’ll go feed her myself.”