"I know, you won nowadays are enlightened, each one of you advocating for independence, autonomy, living for yourselves—not relying on n, not living for children. But have you considered that life always requires trade-offs? If you truly don’t want to reconcile with him, then there are only two paths: either you leave the children behind and walk away, sacrificing the parent-child relationship for your independence and freedom; or you stay with the kids, abandon those feminist ideas in your mind, and maintain harmony with your family."
He stared tightly at the woman, speaking bluntly, "How can you be so greedy? Wanting both the children and freedom? If Christopher made mistakes back then, you are no better. You gave birth to three children carrying half his blood, yet you’re unwilling to let him fulfill his responsibilities as a father—isn’t that cruel? Can you still claim to be innocent and faultless?"
Alia Garcia was rendered speechless by his forceful words, unsure of how to respond for a mont.
Benny Palr saw her stunned expression, feeling a pang of guilt, and softened his tone, showing so patience: "My words may have been harsh, but it’s out of necessity. Watching him suffer all this pain for you, yet you turning a blind eye, not even noticing how much he’s struggling physically, I couldn’t help but feel indignant. Just now, he vomited blood as soon as you got out of the car—he must have endured it the entire way, not wanting to show it in front of you to worry you, or perhaps afraid you’d think he’s playing another Bitterness Strategy."
Alia lowered her lashes, overwheld with guilt and self-bla: "On the way back... I was constantly worried about the kids and didn’t pay attention to him."
"Do you think it’s just in this mont that you’ve neglected him? Even before this, countless tis. And yet, when he was on the verge of heading into surgery with barely conscious awareness, he still instructed us not to tell you."
Alia looked at him with a peculiar glint in her eyes, her heart slightly conflicted.
He used to be particularly fond of playing that Bitterness Strategy.
But now, he seems to have turned over a new leaf.
Or perhaps... this is just another way to induce her guilt and stir her emotions?
If she voiced this thought aloud, Benny would undoubtedly berate her as soone poisoned with paranoia.
She took a deep breath, composed herself slightly, then smiled bitterly in frustration, "Everything he’s done for and the kids these days—I’ve seen it all. But love and marriage aren’t just a matter between two people. His family is so hostile toward , and Wendy Hart’s jealousy is insane. If I do agree to reconcile, they will undoubtedly lose it."
Benny chuckled softly, "Hasn’t it already spiraled out of control? If you reconcile with him, at least he wouldn’t be fighting battles on all fronts anymore. Let his family’s nonsense be his problem to deal with—but when it cos to you, you could offer him joy, happiness, and warmth. Isn’t this better than the current situation?"
Alia remained silent.
To be honest, she was indeed a bit vexed.
When she divorced Christopher Hart back then, she secretly vowed never to have any dealings with the Hart Family ever again.
The Hart Family looked down on her, but she herself despised Emma Carter’s hypocrisy.
It’s not like she couldn’t live without a man—why should she put up with such humiliation?
But listening to Benny’s words now, it suddenly felt as if her pride and stubbornness had been utterly ridiculous.
"If you are willing to consider Christopher’s feelings, to set aside your pride and face his family proactively, I believe... one day, these relations will smooth over. If you’re unwilling to care for him, unable to swallow your indignation, then just disregard them altogether. Anyway, that love-stricken fool is wholeheartedly defending you and the kids—let him deal with his family on your behalf, pissing them off might as well be his way of avenging you. Isn’t that sothing nice too?"
"I see you’re brilliant at running a business, but when it cos to handling relationships, you tend to get stuck in concrete stubbornness. In the end, what you may lose... could be your own happiness, and you might even compromise the kids’ childhoods."
The corridor fell into silence, the night becoming colder.
Yet a glimr of warmth erged in Alia’s heart.
"Benny, your words... I’ll seriously consider them." She lifted her gaze and looked at him.
Benny smiled lightly, "That’s the best outco."
With that, he pushed open the hospital room door, looking at Lucas King inside: "Lucas, let’s go!"
Lucas was confused, "Benny, you’re... leaving President Hart here alone?"
Benny slightly nodded in Alia’s direction, "Isn’t there soone here? There’s a eting tomorrow morning. Let’s go."
"Oh." Lucas stepped out.
Benny sighed, turning to Alia: "I’ve been running around with you all these days, the company’s business has been delayed a lot. Tomorrow morning I have an important eting; I need a few hours of sleep. Whether you leave or stay, it’s entirely up to you—anyway, nobody’s taking care of him tonight."
Alia stood there blankly, watching the two n leave nonchalantly, before sluggishly turning around and stepping back into the hospital room.
After this tumultuous night, she was exhausted—too tired. Sitting down by the bedside, she quietly watched the unconscious man, Benny’s recent words still ringing in her ears.
Reason told her Benny made valid points, but deep down, she still felt unfairly wronged.
People say forced love is never sweet—but when did forced love beco the epito of infatuation?
And the one forced into it, if they don’t accept, suddenly becos cold-hearted, ungrateful?
She let out a bitter chuckle, staring at that resting face, indignantly muttering, "Christopher Hart, I’m destined to be shackled by you for life. When I was young and naive, your family pinned accusations of ’attempted murder and corporate espionage’ on ; now that I’m grown and sensible, I still can’t escape your grasp. You pursue relentlessly, and now others think I’m cruel, heartless, ungrateful, and indifferent to the kids... When will your love stop being so tyrannical?"
"I didn’t agree for the sole reason of not wanting you to feel too troubled. Since childhood, I had hardly experienced familial warmth, but I’ve always yearned for it. With your parents alive and a picture-perfect family, what you have is envied by so many. Yet for a woman, you’ve torn your family apart, clashing to extres—I fear one day, when you wake up to regret it profoundly, what would I do then? Loving soone ans dedicating everything to them, but once that love is gone, the smallest flaws beco fatal mistakes. What I fear is... that by then, I’ll be left with another label of bla."
"Being blad is perhaps nothing—after all, I’ve been falsely accused plenty of tis already; what harm is another one to add? But if there’s sothing you regret deeply and can’t resolve, then it would haunt for a lifeti as well."
"As for Benny’s advice, I can’t handle it... Your parents have wronged and ostracized . Every encounter has been laced with sarcasm and hostility. Already resisting the urge to retaliate is the greatest restraint I can offer."
She had never tried to please her father and stepmother—how could she possibly try to win favor with forr in-laws who clearly loathed her?
Lost in thought, she sat silently for a long while, before suddenly standing upright in a decisive manner, staring at the unconscious man on the bed. "Fine... if this is the outco you want, I will yield. As Snow once cheekily said, having one more person willing to cater to my every whim, running around at my command, why the hell not?"
Not to ntion—there were the kids.
They’d certainly be overjoyed.
————
Christopher Hart woke up just as dawn broke.
As consciousness returned, the surging pain in his body ca flooding back, his brows furrowing tightly.
The next second, sensing a change in the presence beside him, he slowly turned his head—and saw a figure leaning over the bed.
The light wasn’t great, so he could only make out a silhouette, but his heart imdiately filled with joy.
It was her...
She still ca.
He rembered instructing Benny Palr before surgery not to notify her.
She had already had it rough these past days.
Although he knew she might not genuinely care about him, he felt there was no need to bother her—let her sleep peacefully at ho, next to the children.
And yet, she still ca.
Thinking about how she had slept leaning against the bed all night, the man’s heart ached deeply.
He wanted to wake her, but feared disturbing her rest—or worse, feared she would leave as soon as she woke.
After hesitating for a while, he eventually abandoned the thought.
Simply staying quietly like this, he felt at peace—and the pain seed to ease.
The room was silent. Alia, exhausted, slept soundly even in a position as uncomfortable as that.
Until daylight fully broke and the doctor ca to check on him.
The sound suddenly made her sit upright in a panic.
"Is it morning already? And I... fell asleep—Oh, you’re awake?" Seeing him with open eyes, she was startled, quickly getting to her feet.
Christopher looked at her, his gaze tender, before anyone could speak a word, doctors and nurses sward around, cutting them off.
Alia’s entire arm fell pins-and-needles asleep, stinging painfully. She frowned in discomfort, rubbing her arm.
Her waist also ached and felt sore.
At that mont, she slightly regretted staying the night—wouldn’t it have been better to co by in the morning?
After a thorough examination, the doctors confird that Christopher’s eyesight had returned, but recomnded additional screenings to monitor the blood clot in his brain.
They also cautioned regarding his other injuries repeatedly, reminding him to remain rested and avoid pushing his limits again.
Alia quietly picked up his phone and placed a call to the Imperial Garden.
The mont the line connected, she could hear the children’s boisterous voices in the background.
Aunt Harper’s voice was high-pitched: "Madam, the children know you’re back and they’re adamant about seeing you both. Are you planning to return later, or..."
"Aunt Harper, after breakfast, could you and Fuller please bring them over?"
"Oh, sure! But... should I bring breakfast for you and Mr. Hart as well?"
She glanced at the man on the bed, who seed energetic, and replied, "Yes, please bring so—preferably light congee and soft food."
"Alright, we have those, no problem."
Once her call ended, the doctors had just finished up.
She followed them out into the hallway for quick inquiries about his condition, then watched them leave before turning back.
"Did you co last night?" Christopher looked at her gently, asking softly.
"Hmm. You were in pain—why didn’t you say sothing? We could have co straight to the hospital from the airport instead of wasting ti at ho." Her tone carried a trace of bla.
"I thought it’d be fine... but later, when I vomited blood, I realized how serious it was."
Seeing her suppressing her anger without speaking, Christopher understood. His brows raised slightly: "Did Benny scold you or say sothing?"
On the way to the hospital last night, he was already semi-conscious, vaguely hearing that guy grumbling about Alia not noticing, not caring, or soone being this sick and she hadn’t realized...
Alia sat down abruptly, giving him a cold glance and refusing to admit it directly. "No... I just thought, if you had sothing happen to you, I’d be blad for eternity. Your parents would literally tear apart!"
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