---- Chapter 9 Turning around, the new employee saw the fearsome, cold-faced Levi standing right behind him. Astonishingly, today Levi's face was softened, filled with rare tenderness. He spoke to the veteran employee in a voice so gentle it was almost unrecognizable. "Did you ever notice," Levi said quietly, "how I used to dote on my wife? I didn't even realize it myself back then. What kind of expression did she have when she looked at me?" The employee, looking as if he had seen a ghost, hesitated for a long moment before carefully choosing his words. "T wasn't close enough to see clearly... but judging from the way she moved so tenderly around you, I believe-she was smiling." That single sentence made Levi's eyes instantly ---- redden. He laughed. "Ts that so? I was... that happy once." But he had ruined that happiness with his own hands. When he got off work and returned to the house he used to share with Nikki, there was, as expected, Lily waiting at the doorstep again. Sobbing, she threw herself toward Levi. "Levi, please, I beg you-could you go see Caleb? He's sick, and he's been crying for his daddy all day." But Levi remained unmoved. He coldly pried Lily's hands off him, then took out a handkerchief and meticulously wiped the spot on his arm where she had touched him. "He has his grandmother, the best caretakers money can buy, and you-his devoted mother. My absence won't make a difference in his life. If you ---- want to keep living comfortably, you'd better make sure I never see you again." With that, he turned to leave without hesitation. Years ago, after Nikki had left, he had seen everything from the surveillance footage. He knew it was Lily who had deliberately misled Nikki, making her believe he had long since fallen out of love. True, he had lied to Nikki. True, he had betrayed her. But he could never forgive Lily for playing her part init. He had already given Lily and her child the best life he could afford. That was the extent of his benevolence. Beyond that, he wanted nothing more to do with them. Behind him, Lily screamed, her voice hoarse with rage. ---- "Caleb is your son! How can you be so heartless? You were the one who couldn't keep your hands off me! You tacitly accepted Caleb's existence- and now you want to play the victim? Who are you trying to fool?" Levi's hand tightened almost involuntarily around the car keys he was holding-then, just as quickly, he released it. "You're right," he said, his voice frighteningly calm. "None of us are innocent. And we will both have to pay for it. We will both spend the rest of our lives without the ones we love most, forever burdened with guilt and sorrow." Lily finally broke down completely. Over the years, she had tried everything- begging, pleading, threatening-but nothing could make him even glance at her or their child. He always remained the same-aloof, detached, as if nothing in the world could touch him.