Chapter 3

The next morning, I visited my former mentor in his office at the medical center.

For three years, I had diligently done physical therapy with little progress.

After researching medical journals, I wanted to try alternative therapies like specialized acupuncture and nerve stimulation.

I came to consult my mentor to see if it was worth exploring.

He fully supported the idea.

He told me there was a national medical symposium next month, and he would connect me with top specialists in regenerative therapy.

I thanked him and left the hospital.

Passing through a downtown plaza, I saw a giant digital billboard broadcasting an interview with Rosalind and Zachary.

The headline read: "Major Breakthrough in Artificial Heart Research on Animals: Human Clinical Trials on the Horizon!"

The medical world was buzzing with excitement.

Toward the end of the interview, the reporter leaned in with a personal question.

"Rumor has it that CEO Lawson and Engineer Ford share a close bond, working side by side day and night. Now that this project has achieved a major milestone, has your relationship reached a new milestone as well?"

Rosalind did not answer right away. She looked down, avoiding the camera.

A soft blush crept up her cheeks.

Back when we first started dating, she used to blush the exact same way.

Ever since I lost my legs, I had never seen that look on her face again.

"We are only answering technical questions today. Thank you," Zachary answered smoothly.

As he spoke, his hand casually slid around Rosalind slender waist.

Rosalind was wearing a sleek black cutout dress that accentuated her curves, leaving her bare skin exposed where Zachary hand rested.

His touch was brazen and intimate.

The sight stung my eyes so badly that I looked away.

Perhaps Zachary truly was the perfect son-in-law the Lawson family had always dreamed of.

They grew up together, and he had a brilliant career ahead of him.

If this project succeeded, his future in the biotech world would be limitless.

I decided to head back to the penthouse, pack my belongings, and move into a temporary rental.

When I unlocked the front door, I found Zachary and Rosalind chatting animatedly in the living room.

"See? I told you he would come crawling back," Rosalind said smugly.

Her words struck like a dagger to my chest.

Even though I had told myself ten thousand times to let go, this was still the woman I had loved for a decade.

No one can switch off their emotions in a split second.

"I only came back to pack a few bags," I said calmly.

"Ansel, have you not had enough of this childish tantrum?" Rosalind frowned.

"Do you really need to play this petty either-him-or-me game?"

"Do you have any idea that if Zachary research succeeds, it will open up international markets for Lawson Biotech? Do you even understand the scale of this?"

"No, I do not," I replied flatly.

Those two words nearly made her explode with rage.

The way she looked at me shifted from fury to shock, and finally to condescending pity.

"Right. What would a shut-in who only knows how to cook understand? Talking business with you is like casting pearls before swine!"

"Since you are back, get changed. You are coming with me to Zachary celebration banquet tonight."

"Why on earth would I go?" I asked.

She knew very well that we had fought countless times over Zachary, yet she still expected me to attend a gala thrown entirely in his honor.

"My parents organized this event," she said impatiently.

"You humiliated them by canceling the engagement party without my consent. They are furious."

"This is your chance to apologize properly and get back on their good side."

I stared at Rosalind in utter disbelief, wondering if she had lost her mind.

I was supposed to show up at Zachary victory party and grovel to her parents?