Chapter 2: Heartbreak

Linda glanced shyly at Charles and smiled sweetly. “Charles, it’s so nice to have you by my side,” she said softly. She then playfully tapped her head in frustration. “It’s my fault. If I had paid more attention while walking, I wouldn’t have been knocked over by that kid. I’m just not used to life here yet. Back abroad, cars always yield to pedestrians.” Charles looked at her with an indifferent gaze, and this one glance filled Linda with a sudden sense of unease. “Charles,” she continued, “the *Valorate* project is so urgent right now, but with me injured, won’t it delay the whole schedule?” *Valorate* was a cutting-edge game produced by a subsidiary of Charles’ company, and Linda had been invited back as the head of artistic design. “We can’t afford to slow down the company’s progress because of me. I need to get back to work,” she said, throwing off the blanket and attempting to get out of bed. But Charles placed the blanket back over her and gently pushed her back down. “Focus on healing first,” he said. Alicia witnessed the entire scene from a distance. She realized that Charles’ so-called germaphobia, his reluctance to touch other women, didn’t apply to Linda. It wasn’t that he couldn’t bear to be near other women—he had simply reserved his affection for Linda. Alicia suddenly felt a wave of sorrow wash over her. Her eyes reddened, and tears welled up. She sniffled, fighting back the tears threatening to spill, and on an impulse, dialed Charles’ number. Inside the hospital room, Charles, who had been comforting Linda, glanced at his phone. When he saw that it was Alicia calling, his expression darkened slightly. He gave his assistant Randy a pointed look. “Tell her I’m having lunch with some shareholders,” Charles instructed coldly. Alicia pressed her hand tightly to her chest. Even though she already knew Charles didn’t care for her, seeing him like this still broke her heart. Randy walked to the corner of the hospital room, covering the phone as he spoke softly. “Madam Alicia, I’m sorry, but the Duke is currently having lunch with a few shareholders. If you have something urgent, I can pass on a message.” Alicia felt a pang of bitterness at the absurdity of it all. “It’s nothing,” she replied. “I dialed by accident.” Randy frowned slightly in irritation. “Madam Alicia, the Duke will be very busy for the foreseeable future. Please keep that in mind.” *The future?* Alicia thought, her heart sinking. *He still thinks there’s a future?* Lying in bed, Linda caught wind of the conversation. Her lips curled into a smug smile. She casually flipped her hair, revealing a pink Hello Kitty band-aid on her wrist. When Charles saw it, his gaze softened, and he couldn’t tear his eyes away. The band-aid triggered memories from the past. “It’s been so long, and you still haven’t gotten rid of that little habit of yours,” Charles remarked, a hint of nostalgia in his voice. Linda smiled back at him, though her smile was slightly strained. “I’m a sentimental person,” she replied with a small laugh. The mood in the room grew intimate, their gazes locking with unspoken affection. Standing at the doorway, Alicia felt her heart break. She bit her lip and turned away, leaving quietly. Alicia had once believed that the night she and Charles spent together might change the course of their relationship. But after today, it was clear that such thoughts were nothing more than wishful thinking. Although it was autumn, the city of Sihalata still felt as scorching as a furnace. Inside Sacred Heart Hospital, the air conditioning was cranked up so high that the cold wind blasted relentlessly, forcing people to bundle up for warmth. As Alicia replayed the recent events in her mind, her frustration grew. Her head throbbed, and she felt lightheaded, as if every step she took was on clouds. Just then, a young boy ran through the hospital lobby and crashed straight into Alicia. She instinctively caught him, but the collision caused her to lose her balance and fall to the ground. Cold sweat soaked her clothes as she gripped her stomach tightly, terrified for the baby inside. Before Alicia could react, the boy burst into tears, drawing the attention of everyone in the hospital lobby. A disheveled woman rushed over, lifting the boy and inspecting him frantically. After confirming he wasn’t hurt, she clutched him protectively and glared at Alicia. “Oh, my God! May the Lord punish people like you who don’t watch where they’re going! My boy is the heir to our family’s fortune! If you harmed him, not even 800 lives would be enough to repay us!” Alicia bit her lip and absentmindedly rubbed her belly. Concerned for her baby, she didn’t want to argue with the woman. But the woman wouldn’t let it go. “How dare you try to leave after hitting my child!” she yelled, grabbing Alicia by the arm. Already feeling weak, Alicia nearly collapsed under the force of the woman’s tug. “There’s a security camera here. Shall we take a look at the footage?” Alicia’s cold tone sent a shiver through the woman. The woman quickly grabbed her son and fled. Dizzy and disoriented, Alicia leaned against the wall, breathing heavily as she tried to calm herself. Meanwhile, in the VIP hospital suite, Linda gazed seductively at Charles, inching closer, her lips approaching his. Charles lowered his eyes and watched her, but just as Linda’s lips were about to touch his, he pushed her away. Suddenly, Charles felt a wave of dizziness, as if he were about to faint. His head felt heavy, and a nauseous sensation washed over him. Back at the Duke’s mansion, Charles handed Alicia a divorce agreement. “Take a look and sign it,” he said. After handling the situation at the hospital, Charles had returned home and immediately brought up the divorce. His mind wandered to Linda’s pitiful expression before he had left, and his gaze darkened. He hadn’t pushed Linda away out of reluctance or hesitation—he had done it because he was overwhelmed by that strange dizziness. At first, Charles thought it was just fatigue from the past few days. But for some reason, the moment he saw Alicia, the discomfort worsened. Alicia, still dazed from her visit to the hospital, stared at the divorce papers in front of her, caught completely off guard.