Old Master Zhou sat on the somewhat aged sandalwood chair, looking at Katherine. His cloudy eyes were filled with waves of heartache, almost wetting his eyelids.
His voice was hoarse and full of guilt: "Katherine, it's all my fault. I didn't raise Andrew well, so you had to bear so much pain alone."
Katherine smiled lightly, pulling up a bit of cheer. "Grandpa, don't say that. How could it be your fault?"
"Matters of the heart are like drinking water—only you feel whether it's warm or cold. Maybe there is no right or wrong here. It's just… he didn't love me."
As she said this, Katherine lowered her eyes slightly to hide the fleeting sadness beneath. When she looked up again, her smile was peaceful. "But now, I'm like him. I don't love him anymore."
Old Master Zhou heard this and knew that if Andrew realized his own heart in the future, it would be very hard to win Katherine back.
If that happened, Andrew would have no one to blame but himself.
Katherine steadied herself and her eyes filled with concern. "Grandpa, you have to take good care of yourself from now on. Get regular checkups at the hospital, and don't worry about young people's matters anymore. Just enjoy your later years."
"You've worked hard all your life. It's time to enjoy happiness, to leave behind worries, and be happy every day."
Old Master Zhou felt a sudden chill in his heart at her words. Somehow, it sounded like she was saying goodbye.
He quickly asked, "Katherine, will you not come to see me anymore?"
At this, Katherine froze for a moment. Her fingertips curled slightly, and a bitter feeling rose in her throat. She swallowed hard to keep it down. Her smile stayed, but her eyes were a little red.
"How could that be, Grandpa? No matter what Andrew and I are to each other, you will always be my grandpa. From the bottom of my heart, I have always respected and loved you like my own grandfather. I will come visit whenever I have time."
But inside Katherine's heart, a voice screamed: Grandpa, I'm sorry. I lied to you.
Beneath her strong front, every crack hurt quietly, every breath pulled at the wounds in her chest.
She truly did not want to stay in a place with Andrew anymore.
She had already decided not to return to the capital city. Too many bitter memories were there, and she feared getting trapped in them, never able to leave.
But this kind and caring old man was truly good to her. She hoped with all her heart: Grandpa, please take care of yourself, live a long life, and even if I'm not around, be joyful and well.
Katherine left Old Master Zhou's old house. Standing at the door, she looked back with deep affection and longing at the building.
She sealed all the memories inside that glance, then straightened up and walked toward her car.
The heels of her shoes clicked on the ground, each step like a farewell.
Just as she walked away, Andrew's car slowly drove back.
Andrew lifted his eyes and his gaze accidentally caught a familiar yet strange car silhouette flash past and disappear around the corner.
His brows slightly furrowed. Something felt off. Was that Katherine's car?
Assistant Ryan parked the car steadily in front of the old house, then reminded him: "Boss, we're here."
This voice pulled Andrew back from his drifting thoughts.
He quickly cleared the haze from his eyes, cleared his throat, and said calmly, "Okay, you can go now. Come pick me up tomorrow morning."
After speaking, he opened the car door, took a long stride, and got out.
Entering the old house's living room, the quietness was usual, but a subtle atmosphere lingered.
The servant who had just received Katherine hurried forward when he saw Andrew return, smiling on his face. "Young master, you're back. You came back at a bad time. The young mistress just left."
Hearing "young mistress," Andrew's eyes narrowed slightly. Doubts grew in his heart. Was that really Katherine's car just now?
He stayed calm and asked in a low voice, "Did she come here for something?"
The servant didn't know they were divorced. In her mind, Katherine was still the gentle, virtuous, and filial young mistress. She smiled even more warmly.
"The young mistress brought a lot of health supplements for Old Master Zhou again. She really cares for him."
"When you weren't home before, it was the young mistress who took Old Master Zhou to regular checkups and even made a healthy meal plan for him. She took care of everything."
"Thanks to the young mistress, Old Master Zhou's health is getting better and better."
Listening to the servant's words, Andrew felt like a stone had been thrown into a calm lake in his heart, creating ripples.
"If I had known you were coming back, young master, I would have asked the young mistress to wait for you," the servant said, breaking his thoughts.
Andrew nodded slightly, his face returning to its usual coldness. He casually replied, "It's nothing. The young mistress had things to do."
After speaking, he walked upstairs, each step seeming heavy.
Back in his room, he closed the door behind him and tugged at his necktie that felt tighter and tighter, a strange irritation spreading in his heart like wild vines.
Since the divorce, he had never seen Katherine, not even once by chance.
He sat on the sofa, took out his phone, and opened Weibo, scrolling through various news to distract himself.
At that moment, his phone suddenly vibrated urgently. It was a call from Ethan.
As soon as the call connected, Ethan's loud voice came through. "Andrew, did something big happen in Jing City while I was on a business trip?"
"My goddess was slandered like this!"
Andrew frowned, impatience clear on his face. He coldly asked, "Who is your goddess?"
Without thinking, Ethan raised his voice. "Katherine from Xiehe Hospital. I didn't know she was a surgeon."
"The last time I met her was at the dark night."
"How dare someone slander her? I won't let those two people off."
"Andrew, where are you? Come out and help me figure out how to solve this big problem for my goddess."
Andrew's frown deepened. Thinking of the car that had just disappeared, the servant's words, and Ethan's urgent defense, his feelings were complicated.
He snorted coldly and replied stiffly, "I'm busy. She doesn't need your help. Someone else is already handling it."
Before Ethan could speak again, Andrew ended the call, threw his phone aside, and leaned heavily on the sofa, closing his eyes tightly.
The room was silent except for his heavy breathing. After a long while, an unknown unwillingness and confusion rose in his heart.
Katherine, what kind of charm do you really have?
Even Ethan, who is usually unrestrained and has high standards, can't stop thinking about you.