While Caden was setting the table for breakfast, Lilly went to the guest room to wake Mark and Sara.
Sara woke up and saw that Mark was already dressed, sitting on the sofa as if he were ready to leave. Without saying anything, she got up and went into the bathroom.
Mark was folding the blanket and fixing the bed when Lilly hesitantly knocked on the door.
Mark opened it.
Lilly didn't want to talk to him for long.
"Breakfast is ready."
She immediately turned to leave.
"I didn't hurt her intentionally. It was an accident," Mark said.
"If something like that happens again, I won't tolerate it," Lilly replied.
Just then, Sara came out of the bathroom.
"Oh, Lilly, good morning."
"I came to tell you that breakfast is ready."
Without waiting any longer, Lilly hurried away.
Sara looked after her.
What happened to her? Is she still angry with Mark?
She turned to him.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes. Let's go."
They went downstairs, where Caden was already sitting at the table waiting for them.
"Good morning," he said.
Sara smiled.
"Good morning."
"Good morning," Mark replied.
Sara and Mark sat next to each other.
A moment later, Lilly returned carrying a cup of coffee for Caden. She sat beside him.
Throughout breakfast, Mark and Lilly didn't exchange a single word.
Both Sara and Caden noticed, but assumed it was because of what had happened the previous night.
After breakfast, Mark stood up.
"We should leave now. I have work today."
"Yes, and thank you for breakfast. It was really good," Sara said.
Lilly smiled.
"Come again."
Sara hugged her.
"Sure."
Caden and Lilly walked outside to see them off.
As they headed back inside, Caden's phone rang.
The moment he saw the screen, a smile appeared on his face.
"Yes, you have to come. I'm waiting for you."
Leaving Lilly behind, he walked into his study to continue the conversation.
Lilly noticed but didn't think much of it.
Meanwhile, Mark drove them home.
He was still thinking about Lilly. Her cold behavior toward him bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
Sara noticed his silence.
She assumed he was still upset about her injury and about the way Lilly had treated him.
Trying to cheer him up, she spoke.
"When are we going shopping?"
Mark didn't respond. He was lost in thought.
Thinking he hadn't heard her, Sara spoke louder.
"Mark, when are we going shopping?"
Mark glanced at her nervously.
"Oh."
After a moment, he replied,
"I have to go to the hospital."
Sara smiled.
"It's okay. I can go by myself."
"Okay."
She looked at him worriedly.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. I'm fine."
"I'll buy things for you too."
"It's okay. You don't have to."
"No, I want to."
Mark was slightly taken aback by her enthusiasm and simply nodded.
When they got home, Sara collapsed onto the sofa tiredly.
Mark went to his room to get ready for work.
A few minutes later, Mark's sister Fiona arrived.
Sara stood up to greet her.
"We just got back."
"Oh? Where's Mark?" Fiona asked.
Sara pointed toward the room.
"In there."
Fiona sat beside Sara.
Then she pointed at her earrings.
"Those earrings look really good on you."
Sara smiled.
"Thank you."
"Of course they do. I picked them."
Sara blinked in confusion.
"You?"
"Yes. I bought them for you."
Before Sara could respond, Mark walked out of his room.
"Fiona, what are you doing here?"
"I came to visit you guys. Can't I visit my own brother?"
"No, you can't. You need my permission."
"It's not just your house. Sara lives here too."
Sara looked at both of them in confusion.
Fiona turned to Sara.
"Sara, can't I come here?"
Sara glanced at Mark before answering.
"You can come here whenever you want."
Fiona looked triumphantly at her brother.
"Problem solved."
She sat back down.
"You can go now. Why are you still standing here?"
"I'm leaving, but don't bother her."
"Just go already."
"I'll go change first," Sara said.
As Sara walked away, Mark glared at Fiona.
"Why can't you keep your mouth shut?"
Fiona looked at him angrily.
"What?"
"Why did you tell her that you bought those earrings?"
Fiona stared at him.
"How is that my fault?"
Mark continued glaring.
"Fine. No need to cry about it."
Inside her room, Sara removed the earrings and placed them back in the drawer.
What did Fiona mean? Did Mark buy them for me or not?
She came out a little later, wondering what she could serve Fiona.
She couldn't even cook, and lunchtime was only a couple of hours away.
Meanwhile, Caden finished his phone call and came out of his study.
He saw Lilly getting ready to leave.
"Are you going somewhere?" he asked.
"I'm thinking about resigning from the hospital where I currently work."
Caden looked concerned.
"Why?"
"It's really far from here."
"I hope you're not quitting because of me."
"No. Don't worry. I'll find a job closer to home."
"I have a better idea. Why don't you work at my hospital?"
Lilly hesitated.
"No. I don't think that's a good idea."
"Everything that belongs to me belongs to you. You have every right to work there."
Lilly felt overwhelmed by the affection in his words.
"I'll think about it."
Lilly headed toward the gate.
"Wait, I'll drive you," Caden said as he followed her.
She shook her head.
"It's okay. I've already booked a cab."
For a moment, he looked like he wanted to insist, but eventually he nodded.
"Call me when you get there."
Lilly smiled.
"I will."
Without giving him a chance to change his mind, she walked out.
At the hospital, Mark was working in the OPD.
One of his senior colleagues, who had just finished seeing a patient, walked over to him.
"Why are you here? You're newly married."
"My newly married wife is busy with her own work, so I came to mine," Mark replied.
His colleague laughed.
"By the way, did you know Dr. Lilly is here today?"
Mark looked up but kept his expression neutral.
"I heard she's here to resign."
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then he suddenly stood up.
"I'll be back."
Without offering any further explanation, he turned and walked away, leaving his confused colleague behind.
Outside the office, he spotted Lilly walking out.
She saw him approaching.
"What are you doing?" Mark asked.
Lilly frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you resigning?"
"I want to work at my husband's hospital."
Mark scoffed.
"Really? I can tell you're doing this because of me."
Lilly crossed her arms.
"Why do you think everything in the world revolves around you?"
Without waiting for a response, she walked away.
Mark stood there furiously.
Mark returned to his office and sat in silence.
After a few moments, he opened an old file on his laptop.
It was the resignation letter he had written years ago but never submitted.
Back then, leaving had meant leaving Lilly behind.
Now there was no reason to stay.
His finger hovered over the mouse for a second before he finally clicked Send.
A minute later, he received a message.
He already knew who it was.
The message read:
'Come to my office. Now.'
Mark immediately headed there.
Jeremy looked at the resignation email.
"What is this?"
"I want to resign."
Jeremy sighed.
"Is this because of Dr. Lilly?"
"That's none of your business."
"I've watched you for years. Don't make an impulsive decision."
"I already sent the resignation. Please accept it."
Mark walked out before Jeremy could say anything else.
Back at home, Fiona was cooking while Sara watched.
She prepared coffee for both of them while the food simmered on the stove.
Sara helped carry the cups to the table.
After sitting down, she asked curiously,
"Do you like cooking?"
"Not really."
Sara smiled.
Both brother and sister are exactly the same.
"What does Mark like?"
Fiona laughed.
"He's boring. I don't think he likes anything."
Noticing Sara's disappointed expression, she quickly added,
"If you cook delicious food, he'll love it."
Sara looked at her hopefully.
"Really?"
"Yes. Most men are like that."
"Can you teach me how to cook?"
"Of course."
Sara smiled excitedly.
Then why did he act like he didn't like cooking before? Maybe he was worried I wouldn't like his food.
Fiona continued,
"You know, I never thought he'd get married."
"Why?"
Fiona laughed.
"Because whenever Mom asked him to marry, he'd say he already had someone."
Sara's smile faded.
"Then what happened?"
"Then I found out he had a girlfriend."
"Who?"
Fiona grinned.
She loved gossip.
"I never met her, but I know she worked with him at the hospital."
Sara fell silent.
What if he only married me because something happened between them?
What if he saw me as a replacement while trying to move on from her?