Chapter 6

I didn't see Julian for the next few days.

But before I left, I had to go to the hospital one last time for a dressing change.

The hospital corridor now proudly displayed Willow Evans’s profile, updated and hung among the other specialists on the ground floor.

I glanced at it a few times and was shocked by her published paper.

It was my university graduation thesis!

I repeatedly checked the name and date; they were both around the same time as mine.

“Ms. Sinclair, hello.”

A female voice pulled me back to reality. I turned and saw Willow Evans.

“Care for a chat?”

She raised an eyebrow, tilting her head toward a nearby waiting area.

I looked at Willow Evans, and indeed, everything about her was perfect.

Her white lab coat was impeccably ironed, and every strand of her wavy hair seemed meticulously styled.

Willow smiled and spoke.

“That day the court called, Julian didn’t answer. I did.”

She blinked, feigning a touch of grievance.

“I didn’t know that not speaking meant agreeing to a divorce. Ms. Sinclair, you won’t blame me, will you?”

I was silent for a few breaths, then shook my head.

“No. I wanted the divorce. Not being entangled is better for me.”

Willow didn't seem to care about my answer, immediately chiming in.

“And also, the car accident that day was truly an accident. I apologized to Julian, and Julian promised me everything would be fine. I suppose… Ms. Sinclair won’t hold it against me, right?”

I stared at her, saying nothing.

Deep down, I knew many things couldn’t be resolved by me alone, and Julian defending Willow was what I expected.

“You saw it, didn’t you? That paper.”

Willow continued, her tone sinking slightly.

“Yes, it’s just as you think. Julian… knew I was doing research and voluntarily gave it to me.”

“Thank you for taking care of Julian these past three years. I was doing research abroad and couldn’t be with him constantly. Later, I found out that my sudden departure… caused him to develop selective mutism.”

Willow rubbed her forehead, feigning distress, but then immediately broke into a smile.

“But he’s improved so much in the short time I’ve been back!”

I lowered my gaze, unconsciously stirring the coffee the nurse had brought me.

“Are you here to boast about how much Julian loves you?”

I put the spoon down and drank the bitter black coffee in one gulp.

“There’s no need. I don’t care about Julian’s past, present, or future. I don’t like a mute man.”

“I hope you make good use of the man I left behind.”

I ignored her, stood up, and walked directly to the payment counter.

“Ms. Sinclair!”

Willow seemed displeased with my reaction. She stood up and tried to grab my right hand.

Her grip was painfully tight. I forcefully shook her off.

“Bang!”

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a familiar tall figure: it was Julian!

He helped Willow, who had just bumped into the railing, back up.

“Julian, it’s fine, it’s fine. I’m not that… delicate. I just lost my footing.”

My steps faltered, then I decided to ignore them and walked quickly forward.

But Julian slapped me.

The resounding crack echoed in the hospital corridor, drawing the attention of nearby patients and staff.

Julian seemed a bit surprised himself.

“You…”

He looked at his palm, but his expression quickly returned to cold indifference.

“A-pologize!”

I clutched my stinging right cheek, unable to stop a bitter laugh.

Every time Julian truly spoke to me, it was always about Willow.

What was it about Willow that I lacked? But it didn't matter anymore.

“Julian! How could you hit Ms. Sinclair!”

“It’s okay, Julian. Ms. Sinclair doesn’t need to apologize.”

Julian still wanted to insist, but Willow skillfully draped herself over his arm and spoke softly.

Julian, that block of ice, began to melt again.

I once believed that if I was just considerate enough, Julian would eventually accept me.

If I just scoured every text, Julian’s selective mutism would eventually be cured.

I had fantasized a lot.

But the Julian in reality had never belonged to me.