But a week later, something stirred in Sylus, and he remembered my existence. Maybe it was guilt, or maybe it was simply the looming need to sever ties.
It turned out, he came to the hospital to discuss our divorce. He brought Charlotte with him, her presence like a cruel punctuation to our shattered relationship.
I was still packing my belongings, preparing for my discharge, when they arrived.
The moment Sylus entered the room, a rare flicker of guilt crossed his usually stoic face. His voice, though still distant, held a trace of something softer.
“Why didn't you tell me you were in the hospital?”
Before I could respond, Charlotte cut in smoothly, slipping her arm around his and pulling him closer.
“Oh, Sylus has been with me these past few days. He did not have time to check on you,” she smiled sweetly, through her eyes dancing with triumph. “You know how it is. We have been together since childhood. Our bond is unbreakable.”
She tightened her grip on his arm, her chest pressed provocatively against him, as if daring me to object.
But I did not give her the satisfaction. Instead, I forced a smile, even if my heart was aching even as I feigned indifference.
“It is fine. I am okay now. I was just about to go home,” I said, my voice steady even though my insides felt hollow.
“So, what business brings you here today? Oh, right. Julius mentioned the divorce. Is that what you wanted to talk about?”
The words came out calmly, but inside, I was breaking. The pain I had buried deep within me swelled, but I would not let it show. I could not let either of them see how much it still hurt.
Sylus’s eyes flickered briefly with something. Was it regret? Maybe, but it was fleeting, quickly replaced by the familiar, unreadable coldness.
“This is not the right place to discuss it,” Sylus said after a pause, his tone more commanding. “Come home with us. We will talk at the manor.”
Charlotte’s smile faltered for a split second, surprise flickering in her eyes. She had not expected Sylus to care about me at all, not even enough to bring me back to the manor.
But she quickly recovered, her smile widening as she clung tighter to him. “Yes, Lily. We do have dinner plans, but we can take you home first.”
I shook my head, the weariness of the last few weeks weighing heavily on me. “No need. We are getting divorced anyway. You don’t have to change your plans for me.”