I knew perfectly well that keeping him was impossible, but some things you just have to try. Lifting my eyes to meet his gaze, I said, “I’ll agree to the divorce, but on one condition. You stay tonight, and you come with me to my grandfather’s funeral. The moment it’s over, I’ll sign.” He narrowed his eyes, a cruel, mocking amusement glinting in their dark depths. His lips barely moved. “Seduce me.” He released his grip, his eyes still narrowed as he leaned close to my ear. “You have to earn what you want, Shen Shu. Words are cheap.” His voice was a low, seductive rasp, and I knew what he meant. I raised my arms, circling his waist and tilting my head back to reach for his lips. The vast difference in our heights made the gesture feel clumsy, pathetic. I knew little of the art of seduction, so I acted on pure instinct, my hand reaching for the knot of the towel around his waist. I could hear his breath catch, and I knew he was aroused. I couldn't name the feeling in my heart—to hold onto the man I loved this way… it was truly… pitiful. The towel fell away, and my fingers trailed downward when his hand suddenly clamped down on mine, stopping me. I looked up to see his dark eyes holding an unreadable, smoldering heat. “That’s enough.” Two cold, detached words. I froze, unsure what he meant, and watched as he pulled a pair of grey lounge pants from the bed and slipped them on with an effortless grace. For a moment, I just stared. Then it hit me. He was… staying? Before any joy could take root, a woman’s voice drifted from outside, faint but clear over the sound of the rain. “Shenyan…” I froze, but Fu Shenyan was already moving. He crossed to the balcony in a few long strides, returning a moment later, his face a thunderous mask as he snatched a coat and stormed out of the bedroom. On the balcony below, Lu Xinran stood in the downpour. She was wearing a thin dress, letting the rain soak her completely. The fragile, almost sickly beauty she was known for was amplified by the storm, turning her into a picture of perfect, pitiable vulnerability. Fu Shenyan draped the coat over her shoulders. Before he could scold her, Lu Xinran threw herself into his arms, her sobs muffled against his chest. Watching them, I finally understood why two years with me could never compare to a single phone call from Lu Xinran. Fu Shenyan guided Lu Xinran into the villa and up the stairs. I stood at the landing, my eyes lowered to the two of them, soaked and dripping, blocking their path. “Move,” Fu Shenyan ordered, his tone cold and menacing, his dark eyes burning with disgust as he looked at me. Did it hurt? I didn't know. But more painful than the ache in my heart was the agony in my eyes—forced to witness how he treasured another while trampling over me. “Fu Shenyan, when we got married, you promised Grandfather that as long as I, Shen Shu, lived in this house, you would never let her set foot inside.” This was the only place we ever shared. I had already surrendered countless nights with him to Lu Xinran; why did she have to contaminate the one piece of ground that was still mine? “Hah!” Fu Shenyan let out a sharp, cold laugh and shoved me aside. “Shen Shu,” he sneered, “you think far too highly of yourself.” How ironic. Watching him lead Lu Xinran into the guest room, all I could do was stand by like a spectator. Tonight was destined to be a restless one. Drenched by the rain, the already frail Lu Xinran quickly developed a high fever. Fu Shenyan doted on her, first changing her into dry clothes, then using a cool towel to bring her temperature down. My presence was clearly an eyesore. He shot me a cold look. “Go back to the Fu family estate. Xinran is in no condition to leave tonight.” The Fu family estate? At this hour? Ha… I was in the way. I stared at Fu Shenyan for a long moment, wondering what I could possibly say to remind him how far the estate was, how late it was, how unsafe it would be for a woman to travel there alone. But he didn't care about any of that. All he cared about was whether my presence would disturb Lu Xinran’s rest. Swallowing the bitter ache in my throat, I finally answered, my voice steady. “I'll just go to my bedroom. It's… not a good time to go to the estate.” If he wouldn't cherish me, I had to at least cherish myself. I turned and left the guest room. In the hallway, I nearly ran into a hurried Cheng Junyu. He was still in black pajamas, his tall frame drenched. He must have rushed over in such a panic that he hadn't even changed his shoes, and his clothes were soaked through.