"I’m not messing around."

Tears filled Vina Morton's eyes as she looked up at Bryce O'Connor, enunciating each word clearly, "I won’t divorce you!"

Having died once, she now understood what was truly important to her.

She also realized how much she loved Bryce O'Connor.

She wouldn't be willful anymore.

Nor would she foolishly test Bryce O'Connor's love for her.

In this lifetime,

she wasn't willing to let Bryce O'Connor slip away again.

Looking into Bryce O'Connor's cold eyes, Vina Morton remembered him holding her as she was dying, willing to die with her. Her eyes reddened, her lips quivered, and tears threatened to fall as she spoke with a note of grievance, "Bryce O'Connor, are you going to leave me?"

"I really don’t want a divorce."

"I was wrong, please don’t leave me."

As Vina Morton spoke, her tears fell, one by one, landing on the back of Bryce O'Connor's hand. His face remained impassive, but inside, he was in turmoil. Vina Morton was actually asking him not to leave her?

But how could he believe her?

Last night, when he had carried Vina Morton out of the burning building, her first words as she lay dying were that she wanted a divorce. At that moment, he realized just how deep her desire to leave him was.

Seeing the doctors fighting to save her life, attaching monitors and performing emergency procedures,

Bryce O'Connor's heart clenched. At that moment, he felt exhausted.

And afraid.

He loved Vina Morton.

Wanted to keep her by his side no matter what.

But he couldn't bear to see her risk her life to escape him.

"Vina Morton, I'm serious. You don’t have to put on an act for me. I know you’ve wanted to leave for a long time. It’s my fault for keeping you here for my own selfish reasons. If leaving me makes you happy and free, I’ll agree to the divorce."

Bryce O'Connor clenched his fists. She should be happy with this answer, right?

But why did it hurt so much?

Unexpectedly, Bryce O'Connor still insisted on a divorce. Vina Morton began to cry again, clutching Bryce O'Connor tightly and sobbing uncontrollably, "Bryce O'Connor, I don't agree to a divorce. I won’t divorce you!"

Bryce O'Connor didn't understand what was happening. Seeing her so distraught made him feel terrible. His eyes flashed with deep helplessness, and he suppressed his own pain as he said, "Vina Morton, isn’t this what you wanted?"

Vina Morton's eyes blurred with tears. She choked out, "I don't want it now, Bryce O'Connor. I just want to be with you."

"Vina Morton, stop lying to me." Bryce O'Connor sighed, his deep eyes tinged with red. "I know very well who you want to be with."

"I’ll have the divorce papers sent over later. Just sign them, and don't worry about the property division."

Even if he gave her everything, Bryce O'Connor wouldn't hesitate.

With that, Bryce O'Connor forcefully pulled Vina Morton off him and turned to leave.

Vina Morton hadn’t expected Bryce O'Connor to be so resolute. She cried out, struggling to breathe, "Bryce O'Connor, I won’t..."

Overwhelmed by her emotions, Vina Morton suddenly collapsed.

Jesse was horrified. "Sir, the young mistress has fainted!"

Bryce O'Connor turned back in shock to see the girl lying on the bed, her face pale and wet with tears.

"Vina Morton!"

"Call the doctor!" Bryce O'Connor trembled as he held Vina Morton, looking at her pale, tear-streaked face, his heart aching. He called out softly, "Vina Morton..."

Soon,

several doctors rushed into the room.

They were all top practitioners in the hospital.

Seeing Bryce O'Connor, they didn't dare to breathe loudly and quickly began examining Vina Morton.

Shortly after, one doctor removed his stethoscope and sighed in relief, saying, "Mr. O'Connor, the young mistress fainted due to extreme emotional stress. She just needs to rest and keep her emotions stable."

The doctor added, "We’ll administer some calming medication."

Hearing that Vina Morton was okay, Bryce O'Connor finally felt his heart settle.

After the nurse administered the medication, the room grew quiet.

Bryce O'Connor stared at the sleeping Vina Morton, deep in thought.

Why had she suddenly refused to divorce him?

And fainted from the stress?

But hearing her say she didn’t want a divorce had stirred something in Bryce O'Connor. He knew agreeing to the divorce was an act of desperation. If he had a choice, he would never let Vina Morton leave him.

He raised his hand, gently brushing it across her brow.

He murmured, filled with sorrow,

"Vina, why don’t you love me..."

The next morning,

Vina Morton woke up, rubbing her aching head. Seeing the IV in her hand, she paused, remembering that she had cried herself into a faint.

Because Bryce O'Connor insisted on a divorce.

Thinking about it, Vina Morton's eyes filled with tears again, and her heart ached.

"Bryce O'Connor..."

She called out softly.

"Bryce O'Connor, where are you?"

There was no response, and Vina Morton began to cry in frustration. At that moment, a deep voice came from the doorway, "Why are you crying? I’m right here."

She looked up to see Bryce O'Connor standing in the doorway. Vina Morton reached out towards him, her lips pouting with grievance, "Bryce O'Connor, I want a hug."

Bryce O'Connor ignored her request for a hug, sitting beside her and holding a glass of water. He asked calmly, "Do you want some water?"

Vina Morton shook her head, "I don’t want water. I want you to hug me."

She wanted to feel the strength of his embrace and his warmth.

Bryce O'Connor remained silent and didn’t move.

"Bryce O'Connor, I want you to hug me." Vina Morton pouted. Seeing that he remained unmoved, she said directly, "Bryce O'Connor, if you don’t hug me, I’ll pull out this IV. I won’t get any more treatment, and I’ll cry myself to death!"

As she spoke, she really reached to pull out the IV. Bryce O'Connor quickly stopped her. As he reached out, Vina Morton collapsed into him, startling Bryce O'Connor. To prevent her from falling, he quickly held her.

Now in his arms, Vina Morton immediately clung to him tightly.

Bryce O'Connor, still shaken, scolded her softly, "Vina Morton, are you crazy!"

If he hadn't reacted quickly, she would have fallen to the floor.

Vina Morton pouted, her eyes teary, "Bryce O'Connor, you're so mean."

Bryce O'Connor looked at her helplessly, puzzled by her sudden change in attitude. He asked, "Vina Morton, tell me, what's going on?"

"I…" Vina Morton didn’t know how to explain her rebirth. She feared he wouldn’t believe her. "I just realized, Bryce O'Connor, I was wrong. I won't fight for a divorce anymore. I want to be with you forever."