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Chapter 263
UIT A LOVE REDOIN
I deliberately turned my face away, refusing to meet his gaze. Did he honestly think those pathetic puppy–dog eyes would still work on me? This wasn’t like before when I was madly in love with him, willing to sacrifice everything for just one glance from him.
But that woman no longer existed.
ways when we love
meone,
Women are simple in certain we’ll sacrifice everything. But once that love dies, we won’t spare them even a second glance.
Henry was clearly severely overestimating his importance in my heart.
As I continued to ignore him, Henry finally gave up and returned to the hospital bed, collapsing onto it with an exaggerated sigh. Even lying there, I could still feel his eyes fixed on me, searching for any sign that I still cared about him. He seemed desperate to find even a trace of the old Sophia in my eyes–hoping that my coldness was merely a façade.
But when our gazes finally met, I watched the hope drain from his face as he recognized the genuine indifference in my eyes. Something in him seemed to instantly deflate, and he suddenly looked truly ill–pale and fragile against the stark white hospital sheets.
I couldn’t help but wonder if those little tricks Benjamin had suggested to him were actually working. All those “strategies” to win me back–they had zero effect.
Which part of “I want a divorce” did Henry not understand?
After confirming with the attending physician about Henry’s dietary restrictions and learning he could eat normal food, I went to prepare a simple meal from the items Catherine had brought earlier. When everything was ready, I handed the tray to a security guard standing outside the room.
“Please help Mr. Harding with his meal,” I said, clearly establishing my boundaries. I was willing to stay and ensure Henry received proper care, but I wouldn’t be playing the role of his nurse.
When Henry saw me delegating his care to someone else, he looked genuinely hurt, but he didn’t protest. What right did he have to complain? This entire situation was his own doing.
He picked at his food listlessly, taking a few small bites before motioning for the guard to take the tray away. But when he noticed me watching him, his attitude instantly changed. He shoved a large forkful into his mouth, and the guard, seeing his sudden change of heart, quietly slipped out of the
room.
I almost smiled.
The powerful CEO of Harding Investment–the man who made Wall Street’s biggest players tremble-
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was now afraid of disappointing me by not finishing his dinner.
As a nurse, I appreciated patients who followed medical Instructions. Seeing Henry actually makin an effort, I allowed my gaze to linger on him a moment longer than necessary.
It was strange–this face that had once broken my heart was still undeniably beautiful. That sharp jawline, those expressive eyes, the subtle curve of his lips…
When I caught myself staring, my heart skipped a beat. I quickly looked away, annoyed at my own reaction.
ན་མ་ཚུ་མ་
Henry, noticing my attention, remained perfectly still, as if afraid any sudden movement might scare me away. He sat there quietly, his good behavior almost childlike.
While pretending to scroll through my phone, I found myself stealing glances at his handsome profile. I realized that during our marriage, I had appreciated his handsome features too little. If
things had been different from the banning–if he had treated me well from the start–would we
have ended up heading for divorce?
A nurse came in to check Henry’s temperature and vital signs, confirming that everything was stable. I gathered my belongings, preparing to leave. Henry immediately panicked.
“Wait!” he called out, his voice higher than usual. “Didn’t you say you’d stay and look after me tonight? You can’t go back on your word, Sophia!”
His eyes widened anxiously as he added, “Remember, I got this injury protecting you!”
In that moment, he wasn’t the powerful CEO anymore–just a boy afraid of being abandoned,
remarkably similar to Billy when he didn’t get his way.
“I said I’d take care of you tonight,” I replied coldly. “But I never specified I would stay the entire
night.”
I looked directly into his eyes, deliberately keeping my expression neutral. “I understand that your injury was sustained while protecting me. I’ve been thinking about how to properly repay you.” I paused. “If what you want is my body, I’m willing to sleep with you once after you’ve recovered. Afterward, we’d be even.”
Henry’s face registered pure shock.
I continued mercilessly: “I know I owe you a significant debt, but that doesn’t mean I’ll be indebted to you forever. Every debt can be repaid in some way. If sex is what you want, that makes things simpler. We can have sex once, then go our separate ways, never bothering each other again.”
As my words sank in, Henry’s face turned pale. He perfectly understood what I was offering–a one- time transaction that would permanently close any connection between us.
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Chapter 263
Henry knew that if he agreed to this arrangement, any hope of reconciliation between us would
completely disappear.
His frustration was obvious. Clearly, he had no idea how to handle me now—a woman beyond his control. I watched as he clutched at his stomach, his face contorting with pain.
His chronic gastritis was flaring up again.
Alarmed by his suddenly deteriorating condition, I signaled for the security guard to call a doctor. Before the doctor could arrive, the hospital room door suddenly burst open.
Catherine charged in with Isabella right behind her. Seeing Henry doubled over in pain, Catherine immediately turned her fury on me.
“What have you done to my son?” she shrieked, shoving me roughly aside. “You worthless woman!”
Her unexpected push sent me stumbling backward. I crashed into the bedside table, a sharp pain shooting through my ribcage as my body connected with the hard edge. The intensity of the pain left me momentarily speechless.
“Let me tell you something,” Catherine continued her tirade. “If anything happens to my son, I will
destroy you!”
Isabella, seeing Henry lying on the bed with me nearby, looked furious. She clearly wanted to lash out, but she maintained her gentle persona in front of Henry. She simply shot me a venomous glare before rushing to his side.
“Henry,” she cooed, her voice dripping with concern, “are you alright? Does it hurt terribly? How serious is it?”
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