He stood by the bed, hands in his pockets, his handsome and indifferent face bathed in the light, silently watching me.
After a long while, he answered, "I don't know."
"Hahaha..." I was stunned for a moment, then burst into uncontrollable laughter. The sound echoed in the bedroom. Gradually, I felt my eyes moisten, and my breathing became tight.
It was too funny. I wiped the tears of laughter from the corners of my eyes and looked up at him. "I really didn't expect you to answer me like that. Suitor, simp, wife in name, marriage tool—so many labels, and you couldn't think of a single one?"
"Hugh Pei, you are so selfish. Since you don't love me, just let me go. Go and pursue the woman you truly love. With your current status and position, what does a little support from my family matter? I loved you for ten years. How many ten years does a person have? And it was a woman's best years! Even if you don't like me, at least for the sake of those ten years, let me leave with some dignity. Everyone has a heart, but yours is a malignant tumor, wishing to poison me to death!"
The more I spoke, the more agitated I became. After being reborn, I had been restraining myself, trying to find release, hoping to leave this hopeless marriage as soon as possible and not suffer through another round of torment.
But I couldn't even leave. I had to watch as things spiraled further out of control. I felt like a failure.
Suddenly, I grabbed a book from the bedside and threw it at Hugh Pei's face. He didn't dodge, his face just grew darker, as if he was suppressing his anger.
I grabbed a pillow and, standing on the bed, started hitting him with it, not stopping my tirade. "Hugh Pei, you're a bastard! You'll die a horrible death! You've been so worried about Victor Wei's illness these past few days, right? You left me at your parents' house for three or four days, did you even remember to pick me up? Since you love Lila Wei so much, why are you wasting my time!! Divorce!! I want a divorce!!"
This shrewish state took me back to my past life.
Except back then, I was desperately trying to keep Hugh Pei, refusing to agree to a divorce no matter what.
"Enough!" Hugh Pei finally lost his temper. He snatched the pillow from my hand and threw it on the floor. His eyes were bloodshot, filled with a terrifying rage. "You want a divorce? Fine, then let's get a divorce. I'll have the papers drawn up for you!"
He stormed out of the bedroom after saying that.
I did want a divorce, but hearing Hugh Pei agree, my heart suddenly felt empty. The feeling of unwillingness I once had resurfaced. I had tried so hard to suppress it and gradually found peace.
Wasn't this the purpose of my rebirth? To have a clean break, to let him be with the one he loved, and to free myself.
I took a deep breath, lay back down on the bed, and tried to clear my mind. Otherwise, the emotional turmoil would mess up my hormones, which wasn't worth it.
The next day when I went to the hospital, Victor Wei's room was empty.
They must have changed rooms. Hugh Pei was always very efficient.
"Zoe, you don't have to come here every day. The caregiver is here, don't worry," my mother said, putting down her phone when she saw me.
"Worry or not, I have to come and see you. You are my mother, after all," I said, sitting down and taking her hand. I wanted to tell her about my impending divorce, but I didn't know where to start.
My mother smiled. "My daughter is so filial. It would be even better if you could let me hold a grandchild soon!"
Her words made me hesitate even more. Once Hugh Pei and I divorced, who knew when my mother would get to hold a grandchild.
And I was a little worried that my parents would try to talk me out of the divorce. Although they had a bad impression of Hugh Pei before and thought I was too subservient, now that the deed was done, they would likely want me to stick with the marriage.
The older generation's view of marriage was more traditional; they believed in patching things up and carrying on.
"That will happen naturally," I said, swallowing the words on the tip of my tongue and giving a noncommittal answer.
"Your in-laws must also want you to have a child soon," my mother continued to ramble. "You and Hugh Pei are both only children, which is a bit lonely. It would be great if you could have two children. When your in-laws and I are bored, we can each take care of one."
"Mom, you're treating your grandchild like a way to pass the time?" I was at a loss for whether to laugh or cry. She had even considered my mother-in-law's needs.
My mother chuckled. "Isn't that what they're for? Back then, when your grandmother was bored at home, I would send you over to annoy her, and she was very happy!"
My mother and I chatted about trivial things in the hospital room. Eventually, the conversation turned to Zhao Sufang. When she learned that I had hired a private investigator, she fully supported the idea.
Extraordinary measures were needed for extraordinary people.
Around noon, I left the room. It was also lunchtime for everyone else. The elevator was crowded. I squeezed into a corner at the back, relying on my slim figure.
After the elevator went down two floors, I heard a familiar voice. "Dr. Yu, I'll have to trouble you with my father's surgery. Thank you so much for your care these past few days. If you have time, I'd like to treat you to a meal."
Lila Wei and Evan Yu were standing just ahead of me, with two or three people between us.
She was focused on talking to Evan Yu and didn't notice me in the corner. Evan Yu, however, saw me and gave me a nod.
"Everything I've done is within my scope of duties. You don't need to worry about it," Evan Yu's cool voice sounded in the elevator.
"You're the most responsible doctor I've ever met, and very attentive. That's why I want to thank you," Lila Wei said, standing shoulder to shoulder with Evan Yu. The crowded elevator left no space between them. When she spoke, Lila Wei would turn her head slightly and look up at Evan Yu with great focus.
"No need. Besides, the person you should be thanking the most isn't me," Evan Yu remained cool and detached.
I couldn't help but wonder, was he immune to Lila Wei's charms? Why was he acting like such an unromantic, straight-laced guy?
Amidst my jumbled thoughts, the elevator stopped and started, finally reaching the first floor. Lila Wei followed the crowd out of the elevator to get food from the cafeteria. Evan Yu and I, however, stayed in and continued down to the underground parking lot.
With just the two of us in the elevator, he said to me when we reached the basement level, "What are you daydreaming about? Not getting out?"
I came back to my senses and saw that his hand was holding the "open door" button.
"Thank you!" I said quickly and stepped out of the elevator. Evan Yu followed close behind.
"Want to get lunch together?" Just as I was about to get in my car, Evan Yu came up to me and invited me. "Lucas Lu and Jake Fu have made a reservation. The food at that restaurant is really good."
Unbelievable. Why didn't he agree to have lunch with Lila Wei but invited me instead?
Besides, I wasn't close with Lucas Lu and Jake Fu. In their eyes, I was a stumbling block to Hugh Pei's happiness. My use of my family background to secure the marriage was my fault from the beginning.
I didn't want to go, so I refused.