I opened the hospital room door to see Dad slowly sipping soup.

My eyes welled up, but I didn’t dare approach.[]

Afraid it was all fake.[]

Afraid it was just another dream.]]

“Little Vera, my baby girl…“[]

Dad looked up and saw me, trying to get up.[]

But his legs had atrophied from the long bedrest, and he nearly fell.]

Sebastian was quick to catch him.[]

I was terrifiedb, /bbut Dad just chuckled and patted Sebastian’s shoulder.[]

“You must be my son–inw?“]

Sebastian’s eyshes suddenly trembled.[]

Thinking Sebastian was angry, bI /bquickly started to deny it.[]

But Sebastian suddenly said:]

“Yes, Mr. Bet. I’m Vera’s husband.“]

“So good! Thank you for taking care of my daughter all these years.

Dad and he got along wonderfully.

But having just awakened, Dad was still very weak and soon fell asleep.[]

I pulled Sebastian outsideb, /bnot understanding why he’d done that.[]

“We’re obviously not in that kind of rtionship. Why did you lie to my dad?”

b“/bIf I didn’t lie to himb, /bdid you want him to know you’ve been miserable and got divorced?”

“He’d me himself to death.“]

I fell silent for a moment, quietly studying Sebastian.[]

“You seem very familiar with my family.“[]

“Sebastianb, /bhaven’t we met before?”

Puce Dilends him? Then bWhe’s /btheb b1492 /bSKATY VOTE ONTH

51796

Sebastian went quiet.[]

He suddenly felt an itch in his throat and instinctively pulled out a cigarette to light.]]

But seeing me, he forcibly suppressed the urge and said softly:]

“We haven’t met.“]]

Over the following days, Sebastian came to visit Dad every day.[]

The more Dad saw of Sebastian, the more pleased he became, asking:[]

“You’ve been married five years, why don’t you have children yet?“|[]

My hand paused while peeling fruit, and before I could speak, the hospital room door was suddenly pushed open.[]

“What marriage?”

The person who least should be here had arrived.]]

Damien carried bags of expensive supplements.[]

“And you are?”

Dad asked in confusion.]

Before I could organize my thoughts, Damien spoke without hesitation:]]

“Damien Thorne, eldest son of the Thorne family, and Vera’s husband. Your son–inw.“]

“What?“]

Dad looked at me in surprise:]

“Sweetheart, didn’t you say Sebastian was the Bet family’s son–inw?”

I couldn’t exin it clearly.]

Only then did Damien notice Sebastian, and his underlying rage red again.[]

“What are you doing here?“[]

“What do you mean you’re the Bet family’s son–inw?“}

Sebastian casually crossed his legs.]]

“Obviously, I’m going to marry little Vera.“[]

“What! Vera, what the hell is going on?!”

Damien felt his chest hurt so much he couldn’t breathe.[]

b52.0 /b

Chapter b8 /b

He’d thought my talk of divorce was just empty words.[]

He never expected me to find a recement so quickly.]

I took a deep breath and told Damien to leave.[]

“We’re already divorced. You’re not wee here. Get out!“]

Damien’s chest heaved violently twice before he stormed out, mming the door.

I calmed myself and told Dad that Damien and I had divorced due to ipatible values.[]

I didn’t mention a word of the grievances I’d suffered.]]

He fell silent.

When I went out to find a nurse, Dad suddenly asked Sebastian to tell him the truth.]

Sebastian told him everything about how I’d been bullied all these years.[]

Dad’s eyes turned red, and he coughed violently from excessive anger.

She’s… my precious baby girl. Just because I was away for a few years, they dared bully… Marcus Bet’s daughter like I was dead?!”

In the following days, when the prominent families in this city heard my father had recovered, they all wanted to visit.[]

I turned them all away.

Once Dad’s condition stabilized, he wanted me to host a thank–you banquet.

To properly “thank” all these people for their “care” of me.

Sebastian helped me with all the arrangements.[]

Watching this man efficiently directing everythingb, /bbI /bcouldn’t help but smile.

My phone suddenly buzzed with a message from Damien.]

[Vera, don’t trust Sebastian too much.]]]

[Do you know who he is?]]

[He’s the son of the hit–and–run driver!]]]

(10)