Chapter 4

When I opened my eyes, I found myself lying in a hospital bed.

I jerked my head around.

Aria was on the bed next to me, sleeping, her chest rising and falling steadily.

"You're awake?"

Zachary's voice came from beside the bed.

Only then did I notice him sitting there, with faint dark circles under his eyes.

He looked at me, his eyes full of guilt.

"Aria was resuscitated. Don't worry."

I turned back to look at Aria, tears streaming endlessly.

Seven years ago, Zachary wasn't yet Attorney Bennett.

When I had severe morning sickness, he'd run across half the city in the middle of the night to find the pickles I craved.

The day Aria was born, he held that wrinkled daughter of his with trembling hands.

"Lily, thank you both... for coming into my life."

But what about later?

Later he became Attorney Bennett.

Serena came back.

After that came the car accident.

The settlement agreement he signed.

The kick he landed on my shoulder.

"Lily..."

Zachary reached out his hand, wanting to touch my face.

I instinctively dodged.

His hand froze in mid-air.

"I'm sorry. I was too anxious at the time. Serena's case is under a lot of pressure, I..."

Before he could finish, his phone rang.

His expression changed slightly. He stood up and walked to the window, lowering his voice to answer.

"Serena? Don't cry, speak slowly... You fell? How serious is it? I'll come right away."

After hanging up, he walked back to the bed and picked up his suit jacket.

"Serena fell at home. She's emotionally devastated. I need to go check on her."

"I've already paid the medical bills. The doctor said Aria can be discharged tomorrow."

He was about to leave.

I felt very tired.

But I still spoke up.

One last time.

"Zachary, tonight, stay here. Stay with Aria."

I paused, then added the words I'd rehearsed countless times in my heart but never spoken aloud.

"If you walk out that door today, there will never be any possibility between us again."

He looked away.

"Serena is alone, and she's injured... I can't just leave her."

I watched him walk out of the hospital room, his figure disappearing around the corridor corner.

I leaned against the headboard. I didn't cry.

I would never shed tears for him again.

The next morning, I handled the discharge procedures myself.

Back home, I changed Aria's clothes and gave her medication.

"Mommy, is Daddy not going to want us anymore?"

I crouched down. "If Mommy separates from Daddy... would you be willing to live with Mommy?"

She stretched out her small arms and wrapped them around my neck.

"I'll stay with Mommy. I only want Mommy."

This answer severed the last thread of hesitation in my heart.

The night before the trial, Zachary finally came home.

I was sleeping in the master bedroom with Aria. I heard movement but didn't get up.

The next morning, I was woken by pounding on the door.

When I opened it, camera flashes lit up like lightning.

Serena rushed forward and grabbed my hand. "Where's Zachary? He promised he'd appear in court. How could he do this... What about my case..."

I pulled my hand back. Before I could speak, Zachary rushed out.

"What's all this noise..."

Then he saw Serena's tears and the camera flashes.

He turned to glare at me.

"Lily! What did you feed me last night?!"

The flashes intensified.

"Mr. Bennett! Are you saying your wife drugged you?"

"Is it a domestic dispute that caused you to miss the trial?"

"Have you given up on Ms. Serena's case?"

Serena cried even harder beside him. "Lily might have just been confused for a moment..."

Strangely, I felt no panic at all.

Zachary turned to the cameras. "I will petition the court to prohibit my wife Lily from having any contact with this case in any form. Her mental state and actions do not qualify her as a witness."

"As for our domestic affairs, I'll handle them privately. Now, please leave."

The media was half-pushed, half-escorted out.

Before leaving, Serena glanced at me, smugness hidden in her eyes.

Zachary got dressed and coldly threw out a sentence.

"You and Aria stay home for the next few days. Don't go anywhere."

After the front door closed, I walked into Aria's room.

She sat on the bed, fiddling with the children's watch on her wrist.

The watch suddenly emitted a faint sound.

Serena's voice. "Lily is too emotionally unstable now. Having her testify is too risky. She has to be removed."

Zachary's voice carried fatigue. "TThe way she is now, she really isn't suitable. Serena, handle the media yourself. Last time, didn't she say I poisoned her? Since she opened that door first, let's... push it in that direction."

The recording stopped there.

Aria looked up. "Mommy, this is what Daddy and that lady said outside the door when you were sleeping in the hospital bed. I pressed the wrong button and recorded it."

I held the watch, my fingers burning hot.