---- Chapter 7 I glanced over at the warming belt resting by the bedside, and on the table, there was chicken soup John had personally prepared. That was when I realized how far people would go when they actually cared about another person. With the Barkers' resources, they wouldn't lack expensive health equipment and supplements. They definitely had them. The point was that I wasn't someone Simon cared about, so he never bothered to show concern for me. But now that I had someone who truly cared about me, the marriage that I once had no expectations of suddenly seemed worth looking forward to. The day before the wedding, Simon appeared at the Medinas, as if he'd suddenly remembered I existed. After I left, rumors spread through the Schumans ---- that Carly had died during childbirth, but she had actually changed her name and become Simon's woman. Simon clearly loved her deeply, so much so that he was willing to raise Ryan's child as his own. He had welcomed Carly into the Barkers with great fanfare, finally fulfilling his wish. He should have been lost in their passion, yet here he was, making a big show of coming to see me. After many days apart, Simon didn't appear that well; he wore a dark and stormy look. He was stopped at the door by the butler, and in anger, he slammed on the door and shouted, " Irene is my lawful wife, and I can't even get in to see her? What kind of nonsense is this?" The butler, who had watched me grow up and held a grudge against Simon, had received instructions from my father. He ordered the bodyguards to beat Simon badly before throwing him out. ---- Perhaps the beating stirred some guilt, because he later sent over several large boxes of tonic supplements, saying I could take my time to recover before returning to the Barkers. With the gifts stacked by the roadside, Simon stood there in front of the closed door, speaking with a voice full of emotion, "Irene, I've wronged you before, but we're still husband and wife. There's nothing we can't solve, as long as we're together. If you're angry at me, I'm willing to wait until you forgive me." The passersby who were unaware of the truth praised his loyalty and devotion, while I inexplicably earned a reputation for being jealous. My father was so furious that he smashed two cups. He ordered the butler to open the door and publicly announced that Simon and I were officially divorced. He sneered and threw the divorce papers in Simon's face, scolding, "You shameless brat, you