Mabel stared at the paper rabbit, then at the pile of boxes across the room. A mocking smile tugged at her lips.

Millions of dollars in gifts for Jessie and a paper rabbit for her. How generous.

When she didn't take it, Lennon's expression darkened. "Mabel!"

She finally reached out and took the paper rabbit, then casually tossed it onto the table. "Thanks."

In the past, no matter what Lennon gave her, Mabel had always treasured it carefully. She had never thrown his gifts aside like this.

A flicker of irritation crossed Lennon's eyes. Before he could speak, Jessie stepped forward and handed Mabel a document envelope. "Mabel, thanks for today. This is my gift to you."

Lennon leaned in curiously, but she quickly grabbed his arm. "It's a ladies' secret. You're not allowed to look."

"Alright, alright. You're the boss." Lennon stopped looking and let Jessie pull him away to open the gift boxes.

Their lovey-dovey chatter drifted from across the room. Mabel felt a wave of nausea rise in her stomach.

Standing there, she opened the envelope expressionlessly. Inside were two photos.

In the first, a man and a woman stood in bathrobes before the hotel's huge floor-to-ceiling window, smiling boldly at the camera.

In the second, they lay naked in bed, kissing each other. Even the small glimpse captured in the frame made the heat and intimacy unmistakable.

Mabel's grip tightened around the photos, the veins rising along her temples.

"Ugh…" She couldn't hold it in anymore. She ran outside and vomited against the wall in the yard.

Through the glass door behind her, laughter drifted out. Inside, Lennon and Jessie stood shoulder to shoulder, leaning close as if they might kiss at any moment.

…

Since Mabel had decided to leave, the first thing she needed to do was resign. But after signing that confession, she didn't even need to. The hospital had already sent a notice that she was being fired.

Early the next morning, she went to the hospital to pack her things.

Even after years of working there, she had almost nothing at the office. The only thing that mattered was a medical notebook in which she had recorded important cases for future research.

Just as Mabel walked out of the hospital with her things, something hit her.

"You quack! You killed my dad! Pay with your life!"

"Heartless doctor! Murderer! Pay with your life!"

All kinds of trash flew toward her. One bottle struck her forehead before she could react, making her stumble.

Up ahead, Lennon had his arm around Jessie as she arrived for work. His tall, commanding frame completely shielded her in his embrace.

He stood at the edge of the crowd, watching everything coldly.

"It wasn't me." Mabel tried to explain, but an enraged family member shoved a notice in her face.

"The hospital already released the statement. Your mistake killed my dad!"

The notice had been issued by the hospital itself. It explained the medical malpractice incident and placed Mabel's photo beneath it, declaring she was responsible.

Jessie's name never once appeared in the statement.

Mabel clenched her fists. Across the angry crowd, she locked eyes with Lennon.

After a moment, he turned away and walked off with Jessie.

As they passed by, someone slapped Mabel, sending her crashing onto the ground. Through the gaps between people, she saw Lennon stride past them, looking straight ahead.

Lennon didn't spare Mabel a single glance.

"Lennon, what if Mabel gets hurt?" Jessie asked softly, her voice full of concern. "She's kind of pitiful too."

Two seconds later, Mabel heard Lennon answer, his voice flat and emotionless, "She grew up like that. This is nothing for her. You're different. You're a rich heiress. Those rough people shouldn't even touch you."

He pulled Jessie closer into his arms, making sure the crowd couldn't get near her. "As Mrs. Shepard, this is something she should endure."

His voice faded along with his departing figure.

Mabel lay on the ground like a criminal, getting cursed and beaten by the crowd. Tears slid from the corners of her eyes. "Hahaha! This is what I should endure? Lennon, you really never disappoint."

She had never been good at cooking. Once, when Lennon had gastric pain, she cooked for him and accidentally nicked her finger.

Lennon grabbed her hand in panic, looking as if he might call a doctor immediately.

She laughed at him then, saying she was a doctor herself and that it was just a tiny cut.

Lennon replied, "Mabel, you're the person I love the most. Forget a cut—I worry even when you clip your nails."

The man who once claimed she was the one he loved the most had now pushed her into the storm himself.

She laughed and cried at the same time, looking almost unhinged.

Seeing her like that, the patient's family members were afraid something might happen, so they left while muttering curses.

Just after they were gone, security arrived. Mabel refused their help and dragged her injured body to the inpatient ward to see Gisselle.

She needed to pack everything and complete the discharge paperwork.

Once everything was ready, Mabel sent Alex a message.

She leaned down and kissed Gisselle's forehead gently. "Mom, wait for me. I'll meet you in Mythara soon."

"What are you going to Mythara for?" Lennon's voice rang out behind her like a nightmare, making her freeze.

Mabel stood up calmly. "A friend's getting married and invited me to the wedding."

Lennon looked at her suspiciously. She simply held out her phone for him to see.

Luckily, she had already prepared a set of fake chat messages.

After reading them, Lennon snorted and tossed the phone onto the bed.

If Mabel hadn't caught it in time, it would have landed right on Gisselle's stomach.

The movement pulled at the wound on her arm, making her suck in a sharp breath from the pain.

Lennon acted like he didn't notice. He grabbed her wrist and dragged her toward the door. "Come with me to Jessie's office."

"I'm not going," Mabel said. "Lennon, let go of me. You wanted me to sign the agreement, and I did it. What more do you want?"

Lennon replied, "Jessie needs to publish a paper. Give her yours."

Mabel had become a surgeon through years of hard work, publishing paper after paper from her own research and experiments. Why should she hand it over?

She lowered her head and bit down hard on Lennon's arm. "I'm not going."

She had barely taken a step away before he grabbed the back of her neck.

He looked at her with a cold smile. "Mabel, when will you learn to listen? Jessie couldn't become my wife because of you. This is the least you can do to make it up to her."

It was that line again. A deep sense of exhaustion washed over Mabel. "Lennon, let's break up. Then you can make her your wife."

Lennon froze at her words. Then he let out a mocking laugh. "Break up? We're married. Mabel, you know someone with my status can't get divorced. And besides…"

He tightened his grip around her neck and pulled her closer, forcing her to look up at him. A faint smile spread across his lips. "Mabel, could you really leave me? You're the one who gave up your chance to study abroad for me. You said it yourself that becoming my wife was an honor."

The day they registered their marriage, Mabel thought she was the happiest woman alive. Now she realized she had simply been the most foolish.

She didn't say a word. In a great mood, Lennon hummed to himself as he dragged her to Jessie's office.

The Sterling family was in the medical equipment business. After graduation, Jessie had gone overseas to get a medical license, then was placed directly at a top hospital as chief physician.

Mabel, on the other hand, had climbed her way up step by step.

"Mabel, I'm really sorry about this. But Lennon said what's yours is mine now, so I shouldn't feel bad about it."

Standing in front of the desk, Jessie waved at Mabel. "Come on, upload your paper to the computer. There's also a case that needs to be handled."

Lennon sat there with his legs crossed and his arms resting on his knees, watching her like a superior.

Meanwhile, Jessie stood beside him, leaning slightly against him as she whispered from time to time.

Mabel sat in Jessie's chair. On the computer screen was a photo of Jessie and Lennon kissing. The date showed it had been taken a year ago.

"Ugh!" A wave of disgust rose in her chest. Her hand tightened around the mouse.

"Ah!" Jessie exclaimed, rushing over when she saw what Mabel had done. "Mabel, you deleted the files on my desktop!"

Her expression fell as she turned toward Lennon pitifully. "Lennon, what do I do? The data for the hospital is gone. Am I going to get punished?"

"Mabel, I know you're jealous, but you shouldn't mess with data." Jessie sniffed, framing Mabel with every word.

Mabel almost laughed. "Ms. Sterling, have you ever even stepped inside a lab? Do you really have any data?"

The moment the words left her mouth, Lennon's hand struck her. He glared at her, his voice as cold as ice. "Mabel Judson! Apologize."

Mabel stared back stubbornly. "Lennon, are you dumb? If I deleted the files, you could just restore them from the recycle bin. You didn't even check before slapping me. You're just that protective of her."

Before Lennon could respond, Jessie spoke first. "The recycle bin can be emptied too. Mabel, I know you're jealous. Don't worry. I'll keep my distance from Lennon in the future."

"No need," Lennon said, pressing a hand on Jessie's shoulder.

His sharp eyes locked onto Mabel as he parted his lips. "She needs to learn her lesson."

After saying that, he patted Jessie's shoulder, then strode over to Mabel. He grabbed her wrist roughly and dragged her toward the door.