Knock! Knock!
The sudden knocking made both Vivian and Nana jump. They turned toward the door and saw a handsome young man standing there.
Rover smiled. "Sorry for interrupting, but I couldn't wait any longer."
Vivian hurriedly wiped her tears, forcing a fragile smile. "It's fine, Rover. Thank you for..."
Before she could finish, Rover gently pressed a cold compress against the bruise on her cheek, his voice low and calm. "A pretty face like this shouldn't be left with scars. That would be a waste."
Vivian's cheeks flushed. She instinctively glanced at Nana sitting on the bed, but the little girl immediately turned away, pretending she wasn't watching.
Vivian bit her lip, warmth blooming in her chest. "Thank you, Rover. You've... you've done so much for me. I don't know how to repay you..."
Rover chuckled. "You're my woman now. Your body belongs to me, so of course I have to take care of my own asset. Besides..."
He suddenly leaned in, his face drawing so close that Vivian's heart nearly burst from her chest.
"You'll have plenty of chances to repay me later."
Vivian's face turned even redder, her skin burning as if she had a fever.
Rover laughed softly at her reaction, then placed a large bag on the table. Inside were sweets, fruit, and even a new doll.
"Wow!" Nana's eyes sparkled. "This is the newest doll! And this candy just came out yesterday! Nana saw it online!"
She hugged the bag to her chest, smiling brightly. "Thank you, Baba."
Vivian: "..."
"Nana! What are you saying? Apologize to Uncle Rover right now!" Vivian snapped in embarrassment.
Nana pouted. "Why should I apologize, Mom? Baba bought food for me, bought me a doll, and he protected you too. That means he is Baba."
"You..." Vivian glared at her, then shot Rover a panicked look before turning back to Nana with a stern face. "This is Uncle Rover. He's Mommy's friend."
"But Baba said he'll protect me," Nana blinked innocently. "And Baba bought things for me. That means he's my Baba."
Rover burst out laughing, gently patting the little girl's head. "Calling me Baba is fine. From now on, I'll be your Baba."
"Yay!" Nana threw her arms around Rover's neck, planting a kiss on his cheek. "Baba! Nana loves Baba the most! Now I finally have a dad! No one can say I'm a fatherless kid anymore! No one can say I don't have a dad because I'm sick!"
Rover smiled warmly. "That's right. Anyone who dares bully my Nana, Baba will never forgive them."
"Yay!" Nana cheered, her smile bright as sunlight.
Vivian watched her daughter laugh, a laugh she hadn't heard in so long, and tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably.
Rover sat beside Nana. "You and Nana should pack your things. We're moving to another room."
"Huh?!" Vivian gasped, quickly wiping her tears. "We... we're moving?"
"That's right," Rover nodded. "The conditions here are too poor. I've already arranged to have Nana transferred to a better ward. She'll get proper treatment and better medication."
Vivian froze, stunned. She opened her mouth to protest, but Rover continued:
"Don't worry. I've already paid for everything. You and Nana just need to focus on healing."
Vivian bit her lip hard and nodded. Words weren't enough to express what she felt right now.
'So this is... what it feels like to be protected.'
Watching Rover play with Nana, surrounded by warmth she hadn't felt in years, Vivian silently wept again.
BAM!
"Nana! Vivian!"
The door burst open, making all three jump as they turned toward the entrance.
Standing there was a woman with brown hair in a fitted office dress and white blazer, her face full of panic, breathing hard.
"Auntie Rosie!" Nana exclaimed happily.
Rosie's eyes widened when she saw the man in the room. "Rover?!"
...
A moment later, after hearing Vivian's explanation, Rosie looked toward Rover with gratitude in her eyes.
"Thank you, Rover. Truly, thank you." Rosie smiled softly, warm and gentle, reaching her hand toward him, but he immediately pulled his own hand back.
Rover's gaze toward Rosie was filled with disgust, though he concealed it quickly, speaking in an indifferent tone. "No need to thank me. Vivian paid an equivalent price."
Rosie then looked at Vivian.
Vivian bit her lip, her face slightly flushed as she explained, "Sister Rosie, I'll explain later. Please... just trust me."
Rosie nodded lightly and smiled. "Of course. If it were another man, I might doubt it, but if it's Rover, naturally I can trust him completely."
Hearing that, Rover became even more certain that the one who leaked the news about him withdrawing money at the bank... was Rosie.
Because she believed he was rich, she spoke like that.
That's right, from the earlier conversation, Rover had already learned that Rosie was Vivian's older sister.
He still couldn't believe such a coincidence existed in this world.
Rosie herself was confused. She felt that Rover seemed to dislike her, even avoiding any contact.
She was beautiful, and many men outside would fight just to shake her hand and hold it a moment longer.
But Rover was different. He didn't even want to touch her hand. His eyes toward her carried disgust, as if he didn't want to look at her at all.
Vivian sensed the atmosphere turning awkward, her heart equally confused.
"Vivian, you and Rover should go take a walk, or just go home and rest," Rosie suddenly said.
Vivian quickly replied, "Sister Rosie, I..."
"It's fine. With me here, nothing will happen. The nurses and I will handle the room transfer." Rosie spoke while pushing Vivian toward Rover.
Nana also chimed in with a cheerful voice, "Baba, go home with Mama! Nana will be good! Nana will listen to Auntie Rosie! Nana will get better soon!"
Vivian turned bright red, hurriedly scolding, "Nana, don't call Uncle Rover that!"
"Bleh! Bleh!" Nana stuck out her tongue, adorably mischievous.
"Hahaha..." Rosie laughed and quickly pushed both Vivian and Rover outside, then closed the door.
Rosie let out a long sigh, glancing at Nana teasingly. "Nana, you're quite cunning."
Nana giggled, hugging the doll Rover bought for her. "Auntie Rosie, Baba is really nice. You also have to work hard!"
Rosie: "..."
"You little brat. Do you want a spanking?"
Nana instantly covered her head, pouting. "You can't hit my head! I won't grow taller!"
Rosie shook her head with a smile, then sat on Nana's bed and opened her phone to check the company messages.
But upon reading the messages in the company group, Rosie froze, then remembered Rover's cold attitude earlier. She could only sigh again.
Rosie glanced toward the closed door, thinking to herself, 'This misunderstanding... might be impossible to explain.'
...
Outside, Vivian walked beside Rover.
They left the hospital, then wandered toward the park next to it.
Throughout the entire walk, neither of them spoke. The silence lingered between them, yet Vivian found herself liking this quiet atmosphere.
Neither needed to talk. Just walking side by side like this... it was a kind of romance she had longed for.
"You're not planning to say anything?" Rover asked as he brushed dust off the bench before letting Vivian sit.
She glanced at him, warmth rising in her chest, along with regret for everything that had happened in the past.
Sitting on the stone bench, Vivian thought for a moment, then said, "Six years ago, I graduated from university and came to this city looking for a proper job."
"At that time... I was just a naive girl, completely inexperienced. During a company drinking party, I was assaulted by a man who also worked there."
Vivian's body trembled. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself, her breathing growing unstable.
Rover gently patted her back. Only after a long moment did she calm down enough to continue.
"I... I was terrified. He told me he would take responsibility, so he brought me to meet his mother."
"But that was when the nightmare truly began. After meeting them, I realized that family wasn't normal at all. His mother was a gambling addict who never worked, spending every day burning money in casinos. His father was a thief who had assaulted people before and been thrown into prison... probably a few more years before release."
"After meeting them, I was confused and scared, but he kept making promises. He said he would give me a happy family. I believed him. I had already given him the most precious thing I had. I didn't know what else to do except trust him."
"Right after that, I was sent on a business trip to another city for a week. During that time, I couldn't reach him at all. I was worried sick, but I told myself that I had met his mother, so surely he would take responsibility for me."
"But I was wrong. When I returned, he had run away, leaving behind a massive debt. I thought it was over. After all, I wasn't his wife. I shouldn't have to pay that debt."
"But then... he sent me a message. Along with it was... was... a video. A video of me and him..."
Vivian trembled violently. Rover pulled her into his arms. Even without hearing more, he already knew what kind of video it was.
"He threatened me." Vivian's hands clenched until her knuckles turned white, torn between hatred and fear. "He said that if I didn't help him pay the debt, he would upload the video online. I was terrified... I was so scared... so I kept working, working nonstop just to pay off his debt."
"But his mother became like a leech, latching onto me, sucking me dry. Still, I kept paying because if that video ever went public, I... I..."
"A month later, I found out I was pregnant. My whole world collapsed. But I still decided to keep the baby. I believed Nana was my hope, the only light in my darkness."
"But when Nana turned four... she was diagnosed with leukemia."
Vivian broke down completely, sobbing uncontrollably, crying as if unloading years of agony and despair she had been forced to swallow alone.
Rover didn't say a word. He just held her tighter.
After a long time, Vivian slowly lifted her head. Tears clung to her pale, beautiful face. Her eyes glistened, her cheeks flushed under the dim streetlights.
In that soft glow, Vivian looked heartbreakingly beautiful, fragile yet captivating, the kind of sorrowful beauty that made any man instinctively want to protect her.
"Rover..." she whispered, her lips trembling as she called his name.
She closed her eyes halfway.
Rover leaned down slightly.
Their faces drew closer, closer still, so close they could feel each other's breath, each other's warmth, each other's scent.
Their lips were less than two centimeters apart when suddenly...
Ring! Ring! Ring!