At the hospital.

I stood numbly at the doorway of the ward, watching the scene unfolding inside as pain spread through me. I bit my lip and suppressed the grief with everything I had, refusing to make a sound.

Rudolf's son was having his blood drawn, his face pale with tears rolling down as he cried pitifully.

Rudolf paced back and forth, his face dark with fury, yelling at the row of doctors in front of him.

"You can't even figure out what's wrong with my son? What kind of doctors are you? If anything happens to him, you can forget about continuing to operate your hospital!"

One of the doctors stuttered a reply. "We have a preliminary diagnosis, but we can't confirm it. We need to run blood tests first."

Rudolf wasn't listening, and he exploded again. "Obviously! But by the time you get your results, it'll be too late! He's in pain right now! Find a way to stop it!"

The doctor nodded quickly. "Yes, yes, we'll prescribe something right away."

The doctors started to diagnose the boy for a while before heading off to prepare the medicine.

"Rudolf, you're making such a big scene… What if Ms. Amelia finds out?" Vivian asked, her eyes red, a worried look on her face.

"I can't help it. I get anxious when my son is sick," Rudolf said, looking somewhat exhausted and helpless.

"Why don't you send us away once he gets better?" Vivian suddenly suggested.

"No. I can't bear to leave Sean," Rudolf refused immediately.

"But… What about Ms. Amelia?" Vivian frowned at him, puzzled.

Rudolf became even more frustrated as he rubbed his temples, eyes full of conflict.

"I love her too, and I'll only ever love her. But I can't be without an heir. You must help me keep this from her. I don't want her to get hurt."

He paused, then looked at Vivian seriously. "You're Sean's mother. I won't mistreat you."

"I understand," Vivian said gently.

Then she let out a long sigh. "When Sean gets sick, he just wants to see you. I had no choice but to bother you when you're with Ms. Amelia."

She went to Sean's side and took his hand. Instantly, he stopped crying.

Rudolf let out a sigh of relief.

"I don't blame you. Sean is our son. I haven't taken good enough care of him. I failed both of you." He stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and resting his head on her shoulder. "I know you wanted to leave so I could be with her, but I can't bear to see you and our boy suffer. I want to see you both whenever I can."

Vivian smiled gently. "I know. I want to see you too."

She raised her hand to smooth the furrow from his brow, then leaned in and pressed her lips to his. The sight of them together was like knives, stabbing into my chest again and again.

My lips trembled as I tried to hold back the crushing grief. My nails dug deep into my palms. No matter how hard I tried to suppress it, the pain was digging into my bones. My eyes felt empty, carrying nothing but despair.

Once again, I ran away like a fool.

Outside, rain poured. I didn't bother to shield myself. I walked straight into it, letting the water soak me through, as if it could wash the pain away.

When I got home, drenched from head to toe, the maid gasped. She quickly grabbed a towel and put it over my shoulders. "Madam, what happened? Should I call Mr. Rudolf? He'd be heartbroken if he saw you like this."

I let out a cold laugh.

Even the maid believed Rudolf loved me deeply. No one knew that his love carried lies.

Or maybe… He did love me.

He simply shared that love with another woman.

"No need to bother Rudolf. I'll just take a hot shower," I said with a hoarse voice, shaking my head. I then went upstairs without another glance at the maid and shut myself in my room.

Sitting on the bathroom floor, I finally broke down and sobbed loudly, letting out screams of gut-wrenching pain I couldn't hold back.

I thought I was immune after seeing the photos of Rudolf with Vivian and their child, Sean. But seeing them together in person as a family ripped the wound wide open, torturing me repeatedly.

No matter how strong I tried to be, I was fragile at this moment.

I wanted to ask Rudolf—why was the man who once swore eternal love to me also the same man who had a child with someone else?

But what would asking him do to undo his betrayal?

No.

Asking him wouldn't do anything.

After a long time, when my tears finally ran dry, I changed clothes and lay on the bed. At that moment, my face hardened. I felt like nothing could scare me anymore.

The next day, I went to the office. Work kept me busy until nightfall. Rudolf sent me countless messages during this time. I didn't read them, didn't reply.

That evening, when I got home, I planned to pack my things and leave. But the moment I opened the door, I heard the sound of a child's laughter. Vivian was standing right in front of me.

She was wearing a maid's uniform, her face bare.

In the living room, a little boy was playing noisily, leaving the place a mess.

Rudolf appeared from behind Vivian when she saw me coming home. Smiling, he gestured toward her. "Lia, this is the maid my mother sent to help take care of the boy."

My brows furrowed tightly, my lips pressing tight. Even breathing was taking effort.

How dare he…? How dare he bring the two of them into our home so openly?

Noticing my expression, Rudolf quickly explained, "Honey, I sent you a message this afternoon, but maybe you missed it. My mother brought this boy from the orphanage. She said it was destiny that brought him to us, and suggested we adopt him."

I gave a cold laugh.

I had already cried out all my grief. What remained was only anger.

Because he was treating me like a fool!

"Rudolf, are you doing this on purpose? Are you trying to mock me because I can't have children?"

His expression shifted. Clearly, he didn't expect such a sharp reaction. His explanation came out flustered.

"No, it's not like that. Please don't be mad. It's just that… The Gray family can't be without an heir. The elders have been pressuring me, so I agreed to my mother's request. If you really don't like it, I'll send him away immediately," Rudolf said.

Everyone knew Rudolf adored me. He never forced me into anything I disliked. It was as if they all believed that, as long as I refused it, he would send the boy away. None of them knew the truth that the boy was his biological son.

It was obvious that his love for me was fake, and it made me feel disgusted.

When I stayed silent, he grew anxious.

"It's my fault, honey. I'll send the boy away tomorrow." I could see the frustration on his face, yet he was still being patient with me. "Don't be angry. You've had a long day at work. Get some rest upstairs."

I sneered.

This was just him trying to brush me off so he could get the boy to stay one more day. He would then think of a way so he could make the boy stay permanently.

I was about to speak when the boy suddenly burst into tears, running over to kick my leg.

"You're a bad person! You're bullying my dad! I don't like you!"

Rudolf's face changed instantly. He rushed over to pull Sean away. "Sean, stop doing that! No… Shut up!"

The boy then looked at Rudolf with reproachful eyes, his crying sharp and piercing.

"Ah… Daddy, why are you together with her? Don't you want me anymore?"