"Madam, your condition hasn't stabilized—you shouldn't be discharged yet," Charlotte urged, worry lining her voice.
"Arrange it. We're returning to the Capital."
Charlotte opened her mouth to protest, then closed it silently. Though Elena's exquisite face remained an impassive mask, the weight of her devastation pressed against the room like a physical force.
How could she not be devastated?
How could she not despair?
The man she'd loved with every fiber of her being had repeatedly tried to destroy her.
Anyone would break under that betrayal.
"Have the lawyers draw up divorce papers. Daniel can keep all my assets in Jiang City."
Elena closed her eyes, shutting out the world.
Charlotte stood motionless, struck by how small the legendary "Goddess of Wall Street" seemed in this moment—a figure of shattered grace.
And yet... perhaps this was for the best.
Only by cutting Daniel out completely could Elena truly heal.
Still, an inexplicable tightness gripped Charlotte's chest as she murmured, "I'll make the arrangements immediately."
Near Noon
Daniel Lockwood strode back into the hospital, a thermal lunchbox in hand.
After seeing Dr. Zhang and Lin Xiao off earlier, he'd rushed home to prepare Elena's favorite dishes—completely unaware that the world he knew had just crumbled.
The lunch Daniel carried wasn't some lavish feast—it was a carefully prepared medicinal congee, its recipe painstakingly obtained from Dr. Zhang after two hours of meticulous simmering.
Yet when he reached the VIP ward, his steps faltered.
The room stood empty.
Only two cleaning staff remained, stripping the bedsheets with clinical efficiency.
A cold dread seeped into Daniel's bones.
"Excuse me," he demanded, voice tight, "where's the patient who was here?"
The older cleaner eyed him curiously. "Family member? Didn't you know she was discharged?"
Discharged?!
CRACK.
Something shattered in Daniel's mind.
"Where did she go?" he rasped.
"How would we know?" The woman shrugged. "Check the parking garage—they left barely ten minutes ago."
"Thanks."
The word was a bare courtesy as Daniel sprinted like a madman toward the elevators.
Parking Level B2
His shoes slapped against concrete as he skidded into the cavernous garage—
Only to find every Vanderbilt vehicle gone.
Elena had truly vanished.
A glacial void opened in Daniel's chest.
How could this be happening?
According to his memories from the previous life, Elena shouldn't have left Jiang City until after fully recovering—returning to the Capital in quiet despair. Why had she left so abruptly this time?
"Something must have happened that I don't know about..."
Was this Sebastian's doing?
A murderous glint flashed in Daniel's eyes.
But right now, finding Elena took precedence over everything else.
He instinctively reached for his phone—only to freeze.
Two days ago, in his resolve to divorce Elena, he'd deleted all her contacts, even Wyatt and Charlotte's numbers.
Just as despair threatened to consume him—
Ring... Ring...
An unknown number flashed on the screen.
Daniel answered without hesitation.
"Mr. Lockwood?" A stranger's voice.
Not Elena.
His hope shattered, but he forced out: "Speaking. Who is this?"
"I'm Madam Vanderbilt's attorney. The divorce papers are ready. When would you like to sign them?"
Divorce papers?
"That's right—we're still married!"
A surge of desperate hope flashed through Daniel's mind.
Suppressing it, he demanded, "Where are you? I'll come immediately."
"I'm already in Madam Vanderbilt's former hospital room," the lawyer replied.
"Wait there."
Daniel hung up and sprinted back to the VIP ward.
Inside the now-impersonal hospital room stood a middle-aged man in a tailored suit.
"Mr. Lockwood," he said smoothly, "I'm Wu Yan, Madam Vanderbilt's legal representative."
He produced a document from his briefcase with practiced ease. "Here's the divorce agreement. Please review the terms."
Daniel's first instinct was to walk out—but then it hit him.
This lawyer might be his only link to Elena now.
Steeling himself, Daniel crossed his arms. "I'll sign on one condition: I see Elena first. No meeting, no signature."
Wu Yan's smile didn't waver. Charlotte had warned him about Daniel's obstinacy.
"Mr. Lockwood," he said pleasantly, "Madam has offered extraordinary concessions—all her Jiang City assets transferred to you upon signing."
"Given the... irreparable rift between you, a meeting seems unnecessary, don't you agree?"
Daniel's jaw tightened. "Tell her this: No Elena, no divorce."
"Mr. Lockwood, there's really no need. Even if you meet with Madam Vanderbilt, the terms won't change—you'll only receive her private assets in Jiang City," Wu Yan continued persuasively.
"Then we're done here. I won't sign!" Daniel's voice was steel. "Without my signature, she remains my wife—legally and forever."
Wu Yan hesitated. "Mr. Lockwood, let me consult Madam Vanderbilt first. Please wait a moment."
He stepped aside to make a call—
But in a flash, Daniel snatched the phone from his hand!
"Mr. Lockwood!"
Wu Yan reached for it, but Daniel blocked him. "I just need a few words."
"My client has authorized me to handle this matter exclusively—"
"Are you my wife?" Daniel snarled. "Why the hell would I negotiate with you?"
The lawyer froze, stunned into silence.
Then, through the phone, Charlotte's icy voice cut in:
"Let him speak, Attorney Wu."
With a stiff nod, Wu Yan retreated.
Daniel brought the phone to his ear, his demand razor-sharp:
"Charlotte. Where. Is. Elena?"
"Daniel," Charlotte's voice dripped with venom, "how dare you ask about Madam Vanderbilt?"
"Where were you when she lay unconscious?"
"Oh right—wrapped around another woman, plotting her murder to steal the Vanderbilt empire!"
A hollow, mirthless laugh crackled through the phone.
"They say shamelessness knows no bounds. Well, Daniel, you've reached the pinnacle of disgrace."
"Don't even dream of seeing her again."
"You're not worthy."