The next day, Leona Grant’s fever had broken.

When he woke up, he first scanned the entire hospital room impassively. Only when he found Annabelle Linton was truly not there did he realize it had all been a dream.

’Why would Annabelle Linton care about him?’

He sat dejectedly on the bed, his bangs covering his eyes. One didn’t need to see them to know how disappointed and hurt he was.

Ashley Grant, who had just stepped out, came back in and saw him like this. A pang of pain shot through her heart.

But she concealed it, smiling as if nothing was wrong. "You’re awake? How are you feeling?"

Leona Grant didn’t react much to Ashley Grant’s voice. "I’m fine," he said flatly. "Arrange for my discharge."

Ashley Grant stood her ground. After watching him for a moment, she asked expressionlessly, "Why don’t you try to fight for it, to make her stay? Are you sure you won’t regret this later?"

Leona Grant paused, then let out a mirthless laugh.

’Make her stay?’

’That’s a gamble only someone with a sliver of hope would dare to take. And with Annabelle Linton, he saw no hope at all.’

’His presence in her life was just an insignificant interlude. Why should he humiliate himself, lose his dignity, and disgust her in the process?’

Leona Grant gave a self-deprecating smile, got out of bed, and went into the bathroom.

Then he spent the rest of the day immersed in his work.

That evening, while the family was having dinner, the doorbell suddenly rang.

Everyone looked toward the door, except for Leona Grant.

It was a mail carrier.

The butler respectfully brought the package in and said to Patrick Grant, "Sir, a package has arrived. It’s from Miss Linton, and the recipient is listed as the Grant Family."

Leona Grant’s head snapped up, his eyes fixed on the package.

’What would Annabelle Linton send them?’

The package wasn’t even open yet, but a cool, sharp pang of pain was already welling up inside him.

He subconsciously didn’t want to see what was inside. He put down his bowl and said to everyone, "I’m stepping out for a bit."

Then he grabbed his coat and left.

Patrick Grant watched his retreating back, a flicker of emotion in his eyes.

Once outside, Leona Grant didn’t know where to go. He wanted a cigarette, but he didn’t have any.

So he parked his car and went into the nearest large supermarket to buy some.

But just as he went in and grabbed a pack, a man and a woman appeared before him.

Leona Grant’s eyes narrowed, his gaze turning deep, pained, and complex as he watched the two figures.

The two were none other than Annabelle Linton and Aaron Wyatt.

Aaron Wyatt was pushing a shopping cart while Annabelle Linton had a faint smile on her lips. It wasn’t a wide grin, but he could still tell she was living a relaxed and happy life.

From a great distance, he could only vaguely see that the two of them were constantly talking about something.

It was mostly Aaron Wyatt talking. They would walk for a bit, then stop, picking out quite a few items. Annabelle Linton would occasionally say a few words.

When they went to the counter to pay, he saw Aaron Wyatt point at a box of condoms and say something, which made Annabelle Linton blush.

Finally, they finished paying. There were two large bags of groceries, one for each of them.

Annabelle Linton started walking ahead, but after a few steps, Aaron Wyatt called out to her.

She stopped, and Aaron Wyatt walked up to take the bag from her hands. He seemed to gently chide her, but Annabelle Linton just laughed, not seeming to mind.

Then he saw Aaron Wyatt wrap an arm around Annabelle Linton’s waist and lightly press a kiss to her forehead. Annabelle Linton seemed to freeze for a second, then broke into another smile.

After that, Aaron held out his other hand to Annabelle Linton and said something else Leona couldn’t hear.

Annabelle Linton smiled and took his hand.