Behind them, Zahn stood stiff and silent. He had not expected Yeri to be the patient.
Is his wife and Yeri that close?
When Yeri was transferred to a private ward, he automatically stepped forward, he was, after all, her immediate doctor, assigned personally by Shin Keir's request.
Duty pulled him forward even as his heart simmered with turmoil from Lianna's words. He wanted to confront her again, to demand she take back what she had said. But just then, his name was paged sharply over the intercom.
His hands clenched at his sides. In the end, ethics won. He turned and walked away, the weight of both husband and doctor pressing against him.
Yet inwardly, he convinced himself Lianna was simply throwing a tantrum. She couldn't truly mean those words.
Divorce? No… she would come to her senses soon.
---
Meanwhile, in another wing of the same hospital, Elder Madam Keir was howling the moment her son visited her again. Her voice carried down the hall, shrill and indignant, as though the walls themselves should bear witness to her suffering.
Master Keir, calm as ever, sat by her bedside. "Mother, you could be discharged today if you wish," he reassured, his tone gentle but weary.
Yet the old matriarch's biggest concern was not her health.
"What discharge? What health?" Elder Madam Keir wailed dramatically. "Do you think I can rest easy when the family name is dragged through mud? If the media so much as catches wind of that chaos at the golf club, our reputation will be ruined forever!"
Master Keir kept his composure. "You're overthinking it. Nothing has reached the press."
But that only gave her more reason to complain. Tears brimmed her eyes as she clutched her chest like a martyr.
"How hard my life is! A crazy daughter-in-law, and you, of all people, doesn't even share the burden when Eleanor is your wife. Everything falls on me! Me!"
Master Keir stayed silent, letting her words wash over him like waves against stone. He had long learned that arguing with her dramatics only fed the fire.
Still, she pressed on. "It was the most humiliating moment of my life. All those prestigious guests, my old friends… and then, a daughter-in-law lowering herself to brawl like a commoner. Do you know what shame I endured?"
At that, Allister's voice, sharp and cutting, finally interrupted. "Who asked you to bring her there in the first place?"
The old matriarch snapped her gaze toward him, affronted. "It was for the sake of the family! She hadn't been seen or heard from in so long, people had begun speculating. Should I just allow them to gossip? As if I am not stressed enough about everyone asking over that diamond ring, you dare blame me?"
"Mother, it's only in your head—"
"In my head?" Elder Madam Keir cut him off furiously. "Then what am I supposed to do? None of you understand my sacrifice. None! I carry this family's reputation on my shoulders while the rest of you do as you please!"
Master Keir's calm voice came again, steady but with a note of steel. "You can say that to Ellis and his sons. Are they not the ones constantly stirring scandal? Women, domestic disputes, company complaints… each time, who cleaned up their mess? Was it not you, mother?"
Her lips pressed into silence. Deep down, she knew he was right.
With a sigh, Master Keir leaned back. "Enough of this. I will arrange for Eleanor to be sent to a psychiatric hospital."
"Are you insane?!" Elder Madam Keir bolted upright, eyes wide, as if struck by lightning.
"Do you want the world to know she's sick in the head? The moment she's admitted, gossip will spread like fire, the media will sniff it out, and our family will be dissected under public scrutiny! Don't you know better why she's like this?"
"It is a private institution," Master Keir replied calmly, unfazed by her outburst. "There will be no other patients. It is owned by us. This is for her sake. She needs proper treatment, mother."
"She has treatment at the main house! Why do you think we keep immediate doctors and staff at her side?" Elder Madam Keir shot back.
"And has she improved?" he countered. "If anything, she worsens. Perhaps what she needs is a change of environment."
Her eyes narrowed, and her voice dripped with venom. "Better? You call this better? Eleanor became like this because of her obsession to you and that bastard son of yours. Put her in a hospital and she will only spiral further, convinced you've abandoned her for good."
Master Keir rubbed his temple, exhaustion weighing on him.
"Then do you plan to keep her at your side, continually stressing yourself? She will never accept any daughter-in-law, not even Calin Ricci. If she continues causing public scenes, whether you like it or not, everyone will know she's mentally unstable."
The matriarch paled. For a moment, her words failed her, the image of Calin's scandalous fight flashing across her mind. That girl, supposed to be the Ricci jewel, had sullied herself in front of all their peers.
Her brows furrowed. "Then you had better appease the Riccis. This mess started with your wife. A formal apology is required. Bring that unfilial son of yours as well. Better yet, have him gift that pink diamond ring to Calin. That would definitely show our utmost sincerity."
Master Keir's expression hardened. He was no fool; he knew what she implied.
"Don't talk nonsense. This matter has nothing to do with Shin."
"It has everything to do with him!" Elder Madam Keir's voice rose again. "They fought because of him! Eleanor is his mother, whether he acknowledges it or not. He has responsibility, he cannot run from it forever."
For the first time, Master Keir's calm cracked. He looked at his mother with cold, sharp eyes. "Enough. You are being unreasonable."
He gave her a few more reminders, his tone clipped, before standing. Without another word, he turned and left, his back straight, his footsteps unhurried.
Behind him, the old matriarch clutched the sheets, her chest rising and falling with rage and fear. Her eyes flickered with a dangerous gleam.
---
Master Keir was on his way back to the villa when he noticed a familiar figure in the hospital corridor.
A woman was hurrying along, clutching a stack of papers in one hand while speaking frantically on her phone.
Yeri's stepmother?
Since Butler Hong had mentioned his son's interest in a young woman, Master Keir had ordered an investigation into Yeri Zhi.
Naturally, he knew of her parents. But what was Madam Zhi doing here?
Curiosity got the better of him. Quietly, he followed her.
Madam Zhi entered a patient room, only to step out a moment later with Zahn Neri. Their expressions were grave as they spoke in serious tones, so focused on their conversation that neither noticed Master Keir standing further down the hallway.
He considered greeting them but decided against interrupting.
Normally, he wasn't one to pry. Yet, with Yeri soon to be his daughter-in-law, he felt he had to check who the patient was.
If it was Klaus Zhi, Shin could be told to arrange immediate assistance.
When he peered inside the room, what he saw stunned him.
"Mrs. Neri?" he asked softly.
Lianna flinched, then quickly rose to her feet. The tension in her shoulders eased when she recognized him. She bowed respectfully. "Good morning, Master Keir."
Master Keir stepped further in, his sharp gaze landing on the pale figure in the bed. His expression tightened. "What happened to Yeri?"
Lianna sighed, looking troubled. "I don't know all the details. She suddenly developed a high fever. Madam Zhi suspects it may be a relapse of something, but the doctors are still running tests."
Master Keir frowned. The investigation had indeed reported Yeri as frail, someone with a weak constitution.
But weak constitution or not, did that really explain this? The girl lying before him was pale as a ghost, her fragile frame connected to tubes and surrounded by medical equipment.
Lianna, reading the conflict in his face, lowered her eyes. She felt the same, but she was in no position to ask questions.
Master Keir gave a short nod, his face unreadable. "I see." With that, he turned and left the room, his footsteps measured but firm.
Lianna watched him go, certain that he would inform Shin Keir. Then she turned back to Yeri and sat down once more, gently holding the girl's cold hand.
"Yeri… get well soon, okay?" she whispered. "I'll stay here until someone else comes to look after you."
Her lips curved into a faint smile as she spoke, half to Yeri and half to herself. "Do you know? I feel strange today. Not in a bad way. It's just… I feel different. Almost like I've become the teenage version of myself again. The me who was confident, defiant, hopeful. Can you believe it? It's been so long since I felt that way. Maybe… maybe this is what you meant when you spoke of rebirth?"
A soft chuckle escaped her, though her eyes glistened.
"I wonder if this feeling will last. Or maybe it's because I've been spending time with you, and somehow your spirit rubbed off on me. Last night, you told me you could help. And I can't stop thinking… maybe you really did what you promised. Are you some kind of genie? Or do you know forbidden magic?"
Lianna laughed at her own words, shaking her head. "Whatever it is, thank you. For listening. For helping me. I know I shouldn't have dragged you into my mess, but I won't disregard everything you've done for me."
Her hand tightened gently around Yeri's. Her next words came out firm, carrying a weight of finality.
"Yeri… I've decided to get a divorce. This time, I won't look back or hesitate. I won't be cruel to myself anymore."
The room remained silent, save for the steady beeping of the monitor.
Even without a reply, Lianna felt lighter. She turned toward the window, letting her eyes rest on the sunlight streaming in. The golden warmth touched her face, and for the first time in years, she allowed herself to look forward and make a fresh start.