Chapter 16
Grayson Winter tugged at the corner of his mouth and arched an eyebrow at Ophelia Hartley.[]
“Don’t call me “brother.‘ Pick one–Grayson or Dr. Winter.“[]
Ophelia let out a soft sigh. All right.]
“Whatever my knight in armor wants,” she conceded.[]
Grayson snapped his notebook shut and slid his pen back into his breast pocket.[]
“Let’s hear it then,” he said, completely straight–faced.[]
Ophelia couldn’t help but shoot him a glare, which only made him smile.[]
“Good. Eye movement perfectly normal. Get some rest.“]
After Ophelia was awake, her mother rushed in, eyes brimming with worry as she fired off questions: Was she in pain? Hungry? Did she want something to eat? Needed water?
Every question dripped with maternal anxiety.]
Ophelia felt a pang of both warmth and guilt.]
“Mom, I’m fine. Grayson just said I’m recovering well.“]]
Her mother squeezed her hand tightly. Remembering Grayson’s advice, Ophelia took a deep breath, mentally bracing herself.[]
“Mom, I divorced Bastien. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you right away.“[]
Her mother nodded gently.[]
“I already know, sweetheart. Why on earth wouldn’t you tell us beforehand?“]
“I wanted to handle it myself,” Ophelia replied simply.[]
After having some soup. Ophelia drifted back to sleep, exhausted.
When her parents left, she checked her phone to find a barrage of texts from an unknown number.[
“Ophelia, who the hell is that man?“]
“You’ve been planning this divorce all along, haven’t you?“]
“Why? You clearly loved me! What happened?“]
“Just booked a flight. I’ll be in London day after tomorrow. We need to talk face to face.”
Ophelia took a deep breath. In her condition, seeing Bastien was the absolute last thing she wanted.]
Scrolling through her messages, she suddenly spotted a name: Grayson Winter…]
When had she added him? She sent “Grayson?” with a question mark.]
His reply came instantly: “Yes, it’s me.“]]
Ophelia stared at those two words, speechless. She watched the typing indicator bounce for a moment before he finally sent: “Something wrong?” “Nothing,” she replied.
A moment later, Grayson texted: “Really? Don’t want me to tell Connor about moving you somewhere quieter to recover?“]
Ophelia rolled her eyes. “Did you implant a surveillance chip in my brain during surgery or what?“]
Grayson actually laughed at her message.
The next day, after speaking with Connor, he had Ophelia transferred to his estate. It wasn’t far, making it convenient for her family to visit while keeping her hidden from Bastien []
No one in the Hartley family wanted Bastien anywhere near Ophelia again.]
Especially not while she was so vulnerable–it would only set back her recovery.[]
Bastien arrived in London looking haggard from his flight. Knowing the Hartley family address, he went straight there.[]
When Connor saw him at the door, his expression darkened, though he reluctantly let him in.[]
Immediately upon entering, Bastien noticed that apart from Connor’s wife, who maintained a thin veneer of politeness, everyone in the Hartley family regarded him with ice–cold stares.[]
“Bastien, what exactly brings you to London?” Mr. Hartley’s question hit like a slap.[]
The Hartley family obviously knew about the divorce–of course Ophelia would have told them.[]
After weighing his words carefully, he answered with forced confidence. “I’ve come here for Ophelia.“[]
Mrs. Hartley let out a bitter laugh. “We’re not your in–laws anymore–you’re divorced. Ophelia is free now. What right do you have to take her anywhere?“]
Bastien remembered his mother asking if he had the guts to tell Ophelia’s parents the divorce was fake.]
He didn’t dare. After a lengthy, uncomfortable pause, he said, “Please I konw you are angry with me, but there’s been a misunderstanding between Ophelia and me. I never wanted this divorce.“]]
