Yeri felt momentarily conflicted. But looking at Shin, she made up her mind. "Dad had me investigated," she began carefully. "At that time, he suddenly asked how we got acquainted. I was caught off guard, and it was Brother Jj who came up with the idea that I had a crush on you." She decided to tell him the truth. It was precisely because Shin had always been genuine with her, because he’d protected and trusted her that she couldn’t bring herself to lie. It would be unfair. He didn’t deserve to be deceived, especially not by someone he was supposed to build trust with as his soon to be fiancée. The source of this content ɪs 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵•𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒•𝙣𝙚𝙩 "I see. So it was an excuse." Shin’s tone was even, but Yeri caught the faint flicker of disappointment in his eyes. Grabbing his sleeve, she quickly added, "Yes, an excuse but there’s still some truth in it." Her cheeks warmed. "I don’t know if it counts as ’like,’ but... it’s true that you’re my ideal type." Her gaze dropped to his sleeve as her voice softened, embarrassed. "And... I’m attracted to you. Physically. Although I don’t think I need to say that out loud since you already know. You said so before." Yeri waited for a response, but Shin stayed silent. When she finally looked up, she was met with his teasing smile, his eyes full of amusement. "You... Were you stringing me along?" she sputtered, face burning. "Did you lie that Dad said something?" Shin laughed lightly, catching her hand before she could smack his arm. He had been disappointed at first, sad, even when he thought her feelings were just a misunderstanding. But hearing her awkward confession that she found him attractive was enough to erase all that. Petty as it was, it still made him happy. "I didn’t lie," Shin said, still smiling. "Your father really did say those words. And I think you do like me. You just like confusing yourself. Being attracted to someone is a kind of like." "Are you forcing your opinion on me?" Yeri shot back, chuckling as she hugged her arm. "Just so you know, I’m not that easy to convince. Even if I just woke up and haven’t eaten, my brain isn’t muddled." To her, he really was like a living pain reliever, just hugging his arm, and she felt even lighter, as if she’d never been sick at all. Just then, the door opened. Her parents entered, finding the two of them sitting close together with Shin beside her bed, Yeri leaning comfortably against his arm, their smiles warm and unguarded. In a flash, she pulled away, but it was too late. Father Zhi looked at her with an expression that screamed, he doesn’t recognized this shameless daughter anymore. Meanwhile, Madam Zhi simply smiled and nudged her husband’s arm gently, wordlessly telling him to relax. ’Let the young ones cultivate their feelings, dear.’ "Princess, it’s good you’re awake," Madam Zhi said cheerfully. "Are you hungry?" Yeri awkwardly nodded, trying to inch away from Shin but the latter, either completely oblivious or shameless beyond saving, casually wrapped an arm around her shoulders again. "The hospital food will be here soon," Madam Zhi continued, pretending not to notice. "But if you don’t like it, we can have someone bring food from home. By the way, the doctor said I can be discharged today." "What about me?" Yeri asked quickly. "Give it a day or two," Father Zhi replied flatly, his gaze locked, no, glaring at Shin Keir. As he thought, even though he’d already accepted their engagement, seeing the two together still didn’t sit right with him. Should he postpone this engagement? he wondered darkly, watching Shin’s hand rest comfortably over his daughter’s shoulder. Meanwhile, Zahn’s mood was a stark contrast to that of Shin and Yeri. Sitting in his dimly lit office, he stared blankly at his computer screen, rereading the email Lianna had sent him. Perhaps he had never imagined that a day would come when she would be the one to ask for it or that their marriage would reach this point. For a long moment, Zahn simply sat there, unmoving, eyes fixed on the words that felt like a verdict. He couldn’t understand. Couldn’t fathom what drove her to this. Was it because he scolded her that day? Because of what happened at their son’s birthday party? Was it his long absences, the endless hours he spent at the hospital, or had she found someone else, someone who actually had the time to stay by her side? No. That didn’t sound like her. Maybe it was just another one of her tantrums. Back then, Lianna would often come to the hospital, sometimes bringing their son, Sean, under the pretense of a check-up or a mild fever. Even when he was away for three years on a medical mission, she kept in touch. Her messages were brief but steady updates about Sean’s studies, little details about home life, small things that made him feel remembered. A knock on his office door broke his trance. A nurse came in to ask about a patient’s chart, and Zahn automatically gave her instructions. But once she left, his thoughts drifted right back to the divorce. He tried calling Lianna several times, but her phone line was always busy. His irritation simmered, fed by the stress of hospital duties, the ongoing investigations, and now his wife suddenly wanting to leave him. Just then, his phone buzzed with a new message from his mother. [Your good wife has finally shown her face. Did she suddenly remember she has a home and a son? Why you married that woman, I’ll never understand.] Zahn closed his eyes, exhaling slowly. Perhaps it was the first time in years that he decided to take a day off so suddenly, without planning or excuse. He pulled off his white coat, grabbed his keys, and left the hospital. At the Neri household, Lianna had just returned. She didn’t say a word to anyone and went straight to her room. For days, she had delayed coming back, unsure how to face her son. Even after she had made up her mind to divorce Zahn Neri, to finally cut herself free from the suffocating weight of the Neri family, her love for her son was something she could never cast aside. After the birthday party, Lianna hadn’t been angry. She didn’t blame Sean. How could she? He was just a child, her child, the little life she had carried and cherished. It wasn’t anger that kept her away; it was fear. Fear of seeing his face and not knowing how to explain everything. Fear of what he would think when he heard the word divorce. Now, in the quiet of her room, she began sorting her belongings, packing only the things that had once truly been hers. She didn’t bother with the rest. Most of the clothes hanging neatly in the closet weren’t even her style. The dresses, the accessories, everything had been chosen to suit the Neri family image. Others were bought or gifts from Madam Neri, who had an uncanny talent for disguising control as generosity. As Lianna folded a neatly pressed blouse, she realized something painful yet liberating: she had lost herself the day she entered this household. Somewhere between being a wife, a mother, and a daughter-in-law, she had buried her own dreams and ambitions, convinced that love was enough reason to sacrifice everything. Now, standing there amidst half-packed boxes, Lianna let out a quiet, self-deprecating smile. "How pathetic," she murmured softly, brushing away the single tear that fell. Yeri was right, it wasn’t too late for her to start again. Rebirth? Such a concept was widely accepted and romanticized because everyone had something they wished to change in their past, or someone they wished they’d never met. But was she just going to wait for something as impossible as rebirth? Was she even worthy of it compared to countless others whose lives ended in tragedy? No. Her rebirth had to happen now and it was something she would build with her own hands. Lianna doesn’t felt ashamed of being once a love-struck fool. Growing up in a family that never loved her, a family that treated her as a tool or commodity, Zahn had been the first person to give her affection and care. Naturally, she became addicted, greedy even for that warmth, afraid that without it, she would cease to exist. Of course, Lianna wouldn’t deny that Zahn had been a good friend and a gentle boyfriend. But a husband? No, not really. There were so many things she had finally come to understand, and she was grateful that it wasn’t too late. She had to learn to love herself first, rather than seek that love from others. "If the maid hadn’t told me you were here, I wouldn’t have known. What? Did you suddenly grow wings or horns? Acting all high and mighty now? You didn’t even bother to see me or show an ounce of remorse?" Madam Neri’s shrill voice sliced through the room as she barged in, her expression twisted in disdain. Lianna paused briefly, then resumed folding her clothes in silence. Seeing her calm indifference, Madam Neri’s face flushed in anger. "Have you gone deaf? You made a scene at Sean’s party, humiliated him and this family, and instead of making up for it, you vanished for over a week! And now this? What are you plotting this time, Lianna? I’m warning you, if you cause another trouble, even if my son refuses, I’ll find a way to make sure you two get divorced!" Only then did Lianna stop what she was doing and turn to face her mother-in-law. Madam Neri smirked, thinking Lianna was finally afraid, as expected. To her, Lianna was a parasite who couldn’t survive without Zahn. "I mean every word," Madam Neri continued sharply. "You’d better watch yourself. Zahn marrying you was a mistake, a curse on him and a disgrace to this family. You really latched onto him well, didn’t you? Did you actually think he married you out of love? He only did it because he pitied you and wanted Sean to have a complete family. But for someone as uneducated and ill-mannered as you, I still can’t understand how he ever tolerated it." Lianna simply looked at her. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard these insults.