When I left the prison, I received some news.
Ethan was going to marry Charlotte.
Tch, he really was deeply in love with Charlotte.
Their engagement party was scheduled for one week later, which was soon.
But for me, it was enough.
I immediately ran a bath when I got back, wishing I could scrub off a layer of skin.
Revenge was exhilarating, but also disgusting.
After soaking for two hours, my fingers wrinkled, and only then did I get out to prepare. I was going to visit William.
Now, he wasn't at the hospital. He was staying at a villa under his name, almost as though he had found a place to quietly wait for death.
I closed my eyes, shaking off all the negative thoughts in my head.
When I arrived at the villa, I saw William sitting at the door.
It was already late autumn, and he wore a camel-colored coat. His hair hung softly over his forehead, no longer the domineering look he had at the office.
By his side was a white cane.
His eyes, which no longer focused or held any emotional depth, were fixed on the road ahead.
He was waiting for me.
I walked closer, and he easily recognized my footsteps.
"Lana."
He stood up and reached out his hand.
But I didn't take his hand, didn't bring him into the villa.
I simply said, "It's dirty."
My hands were dirty.
I couldn't hold his hand.
William paused for a moment, then smiled. "No."
He used the sound of my voice to locate me, took a step forward, and reached out again.
I bit my lip, fighting back the urge to avoid him.
William took my hand, gently blew on it as though to dry it, and then patted it.
"Okay, it's clean now. Let's go inside. It's cold out here."
He held my left hand with his, and in his right, he grasped the cane.
I followed him mechanically, the only sound in my ears was the rhythmic tap of the cane.
"William."
He responded with a low hum.
I stopped walking, and when he stopped too, I came up from behind him, wrapped my arms around his waist, and let my tears wet the hem of his coat.
"Thank you."
He patted my hand in a comforting gesture. "You're welcome. I don't regret it."
He said he didn't regret it.
The emotion in my chest surged more strongly.
"I asked the maid to make dinner. If we don't eat soon, it'll get cold."
I didn't know how to thank him, I could only do what I could, which was to stay by his side.
While we were eating, the media announced the Cooper and Rubio families' alliance.
At that moment, I was spooning soup for William. He asked me, "What are we going to do next?"
I blew on the soup, then took a spoonful and brought it to his lips, watching him open his crimson mouth to drink it down.
While feeding him, I explained my plan to him.
After the bowl of soup was finished, I wiped William's lips. He chuckled lightly:
"I may be blind, but I'm not incapable of taking care of myself."
"But I want to take care of you."
Suddenly, he asked, "Is it because of guilt?"
I paused for a moment.
Was it guilt?
"Yes, and no."
For William, I had already developed a different kind of feeling.
But I dared not think too deeply.
Because the more I understood, the guiltier and more uncomfortable I became, to the point of suffocation.
William didn't bring up the topic again. Instead, we talked about company matters.
I stayed in the villa for a week, taking walks with William every day and chatting with him.
Sometimes, he would say that it would be great if time could freeze at this moment.
But time doesn't stop. It only moves forward relentlessly.
Soon, the day of Ethan and Charlotte's engagement arrived.
William flashed a beautiful smile at me. "Go ahead, I'll wait for you to come back."
"Mm."
I tried hard to make my voice sound normal.
But as I turned around, a sharp pain hit my chest.
Because during this time, I realized that William's hearing seemed to... have deteriorated as well.
