After three years of cold marriage, Seraphina had prepared herself for this moment. She knew that when she saw him again, there would be another woman by his side. So when Pierce walked through the door with her—young, beautiful, possessive—Seraphina didn't cry, nor did she fight. She simply handed him the divorce papers she had already signed. "Let's end this," she said. "You're free." She took off her ring, packed her things, and walked out of the house that had never felt like home. Everyone said she was doing the right thing. His friends told her to let go. His new woman offered her anything—money, conditions, whatever she wanted—as long as she walked away. Only Seraphina knew the truth. In the silence of that night, Pierce had come to her. He had traced the scar on her lower abdomen—the one she never talked about—and then he broke. He fell to his knees, pressing his forehead against her hand, his voice raw and broken. "Give me one more chance," he sobbed. "Please. Just one..."

Chapter 1Seraphina Somerset had barely returned home from work when someone embraced her from behind.The living room was pitch black, and the chest pressed against her back felt broad and searing hot. Wet, tender kisses fell along the side of her neck, slowly trailing up to her earlobe."Where did you go? Why are you just getting back?" his voice was deep, laced with a slight hoarseness, scraping against her heart like coarse sand.Seraphina had barely opened her mouth to speak when he silenced her. His lips tangled with hers, kissing her so deeply she couldn't utter a word, let alone answer his question.The large hands gripping her waist gradually tightened. The familiar sense of constraint surged through her, igniting her body's deep-seated memories.Seemingly dissatisfied with her distraction, he pinched her chin, forcing her to face him as he aggressively claimed her lips once more.That was, until someone flipped on the living room lights.Lyra Langley stared at the two entangled figures, momentarily stunned. "What are you doing..."Seraphina froze.The forceful grip that had just been clinging to her vanished in an instant. Along with it went his scorching body heat and that frantic, consuming intimacy, all pulling away at once.Pierce Prescott frowned slightly, glancing at Seraphina with a fleeting look of confusion. The burning desire in his eyes instantly cooled, replaced by a distant and polite tone. "Sorry, I mistook you for someone else."He quickly walked toward Lyra, his voice tinged with anxiety. "Where did you go? Why did you leave without saying anything? I thought it was you who just walked in."Lyra lifted a small plastic bag to show him. "I went to buy you some hangover medicine. You were blacked out, so I didn't want to wake you."Pierce said, "Tell me before you go anywhere from now on.""I know, nag..."Lyra muttered her complaint, seemingly annoyed by his fussing.But when she looked at Seraphina, her expression shifted into a gentle, welcoming smile. "Seraphina, don't misunderstand. Pierce and I are just old classmates, nothing more."Seraphina gave a soft, "Mhm."Just old classmates, yet they couldn't wait to passionately make out the moment they saw each other.If they hadn't been interrupted, it probably would have escalated beyond just kissing.Very normal indeed.While she was lost in thought, Lyra walked over and greeted her. "Seraphina, do you still remember me? I'm Lyra Langley, your high school classmate."How could Seraphina forget? Back then, Lyra chased Pierce, and Pierce chased Seraphina. That melodramatic love triangle was legendary throughout the entire school.Pierce had roared at Lyra more than once, "Can you stay away from me? Your relentless clinging only makes me sick."Lyra had cried hysterically, pointing at Seraphina as she screamed, "What's so great about her? She's a broke, country bumpkin! What do you even like about her?!"What had Pierce said back then?He had said, "I just love her. No matter who she is, I love her."Later, Lyra went abroad under her parents' arrangement, and no one heard from her again. Word among classmates was that she had gone to the UK.Seraphina looked down and let out a soft chuckle. So, Pierce had been in the UK for the past three years. As Mrs. Prescott, she was just finding this out now.Lyra navigated around Seraphina with the familiarity of a homeowner, heading straight into the kitchen to boil water.Pierce followed right behind her. As Lyra boiled the water, he stood behind her, watching her closely, refusing to leave her side.Lyra burst into a laugh. "Why are you following me?""I was afraid you'd run off again.""It's the middle of the night. Where would I even go?""This area is pretty desolate. It's not safe for you to go out alone."The two chatted as if no one else was there for a while before Lyra finally realized they seemed to be ignoring Seraphina.Seraphina was at the entryway, changing her shoes. Over the past few days, she had covered shifts for a colleague, pulling two all-nighters followed by three long day shifts. Too exhausted to commute back and forth, she had simply lived in her office.Counting the days, she hadn't been home for about five days.Yet, the shoe cabinet was already lined with several pairs of shoes that didn't belong to her.Two pairs of men's leather shoes, three pairs of women's heels. And two pairs of slippers, identical in design—one pink, one blue. A matching couple's set.Lyra said, "Pierce, you and Seraphina haven't seen each other in three years either, right?"Pierce gave a vague response. "What about it?""Go talk to Seraphina. Stop hovering around me."Pierce didn't move.Lyra gave him a gentle push. "Go on. Didn't you say you'd listen to everything I say from now on?"Pierce finally shifted slightly, glancing back at Seraphina with a flat tone. "Are you still working at Metropolitan General Hospital?""Yes.""Is work going well?""It's alright."That was the end of the conversation.Seraphina felt that she and Pierce sounded exactly like regular old classmates. The pleasantries felt forced, just making small talk out of thin air.Lyra frowned slightly, scolding him in a low voice, "What kind of question is that? Seraphina is your wife, and you don't even know which hospital she works at?"Pierce replied, "I don't have anything else to ask."Lyra looked at Seraphina with an apologetic expression. "I'm so sorry, Seraphina. Pierce is just like this—so emotionally closed off. Don't be mad at him. He actually cares about you a lot."Seraphina wasn't mad. She had exhausted all her anger over the past three years. Now, all that remained was calm indifference.Pierce frowned, standing by Lyra's side. "Why are you explaining all this to her? You're exhausted today. I'll boil the water. Hurry upstairs, take a shower, and get some rest."Lyra smiled and nodded. "Alright. Make sure you take the hangover medicine. Drink some water.""I know."Lyra headed straight upstairs, walking toward the master bedroom.But halfway up, she suddenly paused and turned around. "Since Seraphina is back, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to stay in the master bedroom anymore. Should I move to the guest room?"Pierce frowned. "Don't bother. Moving your things back and forth is too much of a hassle.""But...""No buts. This is my house, so listen to me.""Alright then."With that, Lyra quickly finished heading upstairs.After she left, Seraphina and Pierce were the only two left in the massive first-floor living room.A phantom sensation lingered on her waist, as if his arm was still domineeringly wrapped around her. The damp traces he had left on the back of her neck and her earlobe were still there. When the night breeze hit them, it sent a bone-chilling cold through her.Pierce said, "Lyra just returned to the country and hasn't found a suitable place to live yet. She's staying here for a few days."Seraphina nodded. "This is your house. Whatever you decide is fine."He added, "She has trouble sleeping in new beds. She's been staying in the master bedroom these past few days, and if she switches rooms, she won't be able to sleep."Seraphina agreed immediately. "Then I'll take the guest room.""Thanks for understanding.""You're welcome."After three years apart, Seraphina never imagined their reunion would look like this. Two people who had once loved each other so fiercely were now exchanging polite, superficial pleasantries.She had actually prepared herself mentally; when he finally returned, there would likely be a woman by his side.She just never expected that woman to be Lyra Langley. The same Lyra who was so twisted with obsession that she spread vile rumors, claiming Seraphina had slept with her stepfather and had an abortion.Seraphina swapped her shoes for slippers and headed straight for the guest room.But Pierce suddenly called out to her, "Seraphina Somerset."It was the first time he had ever used her full name. He sounded like a stranger, or perhaps an old acquaintance he hadn't seen in ages. It carried a subtle, awkward tension.She stopped in her tracks. "Yes?"Pierce said, "Lyra lived in the UK for years. She came back with a lot of luggage, and it didn't all fit in the master bedroom, so I moved a lot of your things to the guest room."When Seraphina pushed open the guest room door, she finally understood what he meant.Her clothes, shoes, and even the books from her bookshelf had all been tossed in there. Aside from the bed, every single one of her belongings had been cleared out and haphazardly piled in the room.Their wedding photo had been casually tossed onto the floor, the glass shattered and scattered everywhere....Halfway through the night, she woke up thirsty and went downstairs for a glass of water.To her surprise, she bumped into Pierce again. He was standing there with only a towel wrapped around his waist, heating up some milk.Pierce never drank milk. He used to say he couldn't stand the smell.So it went without saying who he was heating it up for.Hearing her footsteps, Pierce glanced back at her before quickly turning away, acting like a casual roommate. He couldn't even be bothered to say hello.With the kitchen occupied, Seraphina didn't want to go in and have any further interaction with him.She turned around to head back to her room. But ultimately, she spoke the words that had been hovering in her mind for so long. "Since you're back, let's find some time to go finalize the divorce."Pierce's eyes flickered. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "Alright."Early the next morning, it was time for the day shift.Seraphina arrived at the department by 6:30 AM, slipped on her white coat, and went to do her rounds.It was winter, peak season for cardiovascular diseases, and the wards were packed, mostly with elderly patients.After finishing her rounds, Seraphina returned to her office and checked her schedule for the day. Outpatient clinic in the morning, followed by three surgeries in the afternoon—all cardiovascular angiographies with stent placements.While she was looking it over, there was a knock at the office door.Her current medical resident, Lana Langley, poked her head in. "Dr. Somerset, the director wants to see you in his office.""Alright, let's go."Seraphina gathered her charts, stood up, and headed toward the director's office. She knocked on the door."Come in."Seraphina pushed the door open. "Director, you wanted to see me?"There were two other people standing in the office, a man and a woman. Both were familiar faces.The director smiled warmly. "Dr. Somerset, let me introduce you. This is Dr. Lyra Langley, a top-tier talent our hospital recruited from overseas. From now on, she will be the Chief Physician of the Cardiology Department, which essentially makes her your direct superior."He then pointed to Pierce. "And this is Mr. Pierce Prescott. He recently made a generous donation of several medical machines to our hospital, all imported from abroad. Thanks to him, patients will no longer have to wait in line for scans."Seraphina was a bit surprised, but she didn't let it show, merely offering a polite nod.The director chuckled. "Oh, right, I forgot to mention. They are a couple. Mr. Prescott donated the equipment completely free of charge, all for Dr. Langley's sake. Keep this to yourself and don't go spreading it around."Lyra immediately waved her hands dismissively. "Please don't tease me. Mr. Prescott and I are really just old classmates, don't misunderstand.""Old classmates?""Yes!" Lyra looked over at Seraphina. "Dr. Somerset is also our old classmate. The three of us went to the same high school."The director's eyes widened. "Is that so? Then you must know Dr. Somerset!"Lyra nodded. "Of course, how could high school classmates not know each other? But it has been a long time, and she has definitely changed a lot since then. Right, Pierce?"Pierce gave a noncommittal hum. "Yeah, we know each other, but we're not close."*Not close.*They had been together for ten years, kissed each other raw hundreds of times, and broken more beds than they could count. Now, it was summed up in two words: Not close.Seraphina pressed her lips together in a mocking smile.The director clapped his hands excitedly. "Well, that's truly destiny! Since that's the case, it makes what I'm about to ask much easier."His tone suddenly grew much more amiable. "Dr. Somerset, the reason I called you in today is actually to discuss something with you.""Go ahead. What is it?"The director said, "You're about to publish a research paper. Could we put Dr. Langley's name as the first author?"Seraphina's head snapped up sharply. "Why?"For medical professionals, publishing a paper—especially in a core journal—was as difficult as scaling a sheer cliff. She and Lana had poured blood, sweat, and tears into that paper. Why should Lyra get the first authorship?The director explained, "Dr. Langley is on an accelerated medical track. And she wants to secure her position as Chief Physician. People might gossip if she doesn't have a first-author publication..."Seraphina let out a cold scoff.Everyone knew exactly what this so-called accelerated track really was. It was a shortcut for the privileged elite.Chapter 2Seraphina Somerset had barely returned home from work when someone embraced her from behind.The living room was pitch black, and the chest pressed against her back felt broad and searing hot. Wet, tender kisses fell along the side of her neck, slowly trailing up to her earlobe."Where did you go? Why are you just getting back?" his voice was deep, laced with a slight hoarseness, scraping against her heart like coarse sand.Seraphina had barely opened her mouth to speak when he silenced her. His lips tangled with hers, kissing her so deeply she couldn't utter a word, let alone answer his question.The large hands gripping her waist gradually tightened. The familiar sense of constraint surged through her, igniting her body's deep-seated memories.Seemingly dissatisfied with her distraction, he pinched her chin, forcing her to face him as he aggressively claimed her lips once more.That was, until someone flipped on the living room lights.Lyra Langley stared at the two entangled figures, momentarily stunned. "What are you doing..."Seraphina froze.The forceful grip that had just been clinging to her vanished in an instant. Along with it went his scorching body heat and that frantic, consuming intimacy, all pulling away at once.Pierce Prescott frowned slightly, glancing at Seraphina with a fleeting look of confusion. The burning desire in his eyes instantly cooled, replaced by a distant and polite tone. "Sorry, I mistook you for someone else."He quickly walked toward Lyra, his voice tinged with anxiety. "Where did you go? Why did you leave without saying anything? I thought it was you who just walked in."Lyra lifted a small plastic bag to show him. "I went to buy you some hangover medicine. You were blacked out, so I didn't want to wake you."Pierce said, "Tell me before you go anywhere from now on.""I know, nag..."Lyra muttered her complaint, seemingly annoyed by his fussing.But when she looked at Seraphina, her expression shifted into a gentle, welcoming smile. "Seraphina, don't misunderstand. Pierce and I are just old classmates, nothing more."Seraphina gave a soft, "Mhm."Just old classmates, yet they couldn't wait to passionately make out the moment they saw each other.If they hadn't been interrupted, it probably would have escalated beyond just kissing.Very normal indeed.While she was lost in thought, Lyra walked over and greeted her. "Seraphina, do you still remember me? I'm Lyra Langley, your high school classmate."How could Seraphina forget? Back then, Lyra chased Pierce, and Pierce chased Seraphina. That melodramatic love triangle was legendary throughout the entire school.Pierce had roared at Lyra more than once, "Can you stay away from me? Your relentless clinging only makes me sick."Lyra had cried hysterically, pointing at Seraphina as she screamed, "What's so great about her? She's a broke, country bumpkin! What do you even like about her?!"What had Pierce said back then?He had said, "I just love her. No matter who she is, I love her."Later, Lyra went abroad under her parents' arrangement, and no one heard from her again. Word among classmates was that she had gone to the UK.Seraphina looked down and let out a soft chuckle. So, Pierce had been in the UK for the past three years. As Mrs. Prescott, she was just finding this out now.Lyra navigated around Seraphina with the familiarity of a homeowner, heading straight into the kitchen to boil water.Pierce followed right behind her. As Lyra boiled the water, he stood behind her, watching her closely, refusing to leave her side.Lyra burst into a laugh. "Why are you following me?""I was afraid you'd run off again.""It's the middle of the night. Where would I even go?""This area is pretty desolate. It's not safe for you to go out alone."The two chatted as if no one else was there for a while before Lyra finally realized they seemed to be ignoring Seraphina.Seraphina was at the entryway, changing her shoes. Over the past few days, she had covered shifts for a colleague, pulling two all-nighters followed by three long day shifts. Too exhausted to commute back and forth, she had simply lived in her office.Counting the days, she hadn't been home for about five days.Yet, the shoe cabinet was already lined with several pairs of shoes that didn't belong to her.Two pairs of men's leather shoes, three pairs of women's heels. And two pairs of slippers, identical in design—one pink, one blue. A matching couple's set.Lyra said, "Pierce, you and Seraphina haven't seen each other in three years either, right?"Pierce gave a vague response. "What about it?""Go talk to Seraphina. Stop hovering around me."Pierce didn't move.Lyra gave him a gentle push. "Go on. Didn't you say you'd listen to everything I say from now on?"Pierce finally shifted slightly, glancing back at Seraphina with a flat tone. "Are you still working at Metropolitan General Hospital?""Yes.""Is work going well?""It's alright."That was the end of the conversation.Seraphina felt that she and Pierce sounded exactly like regular old classmates. The pleasantries felt forced, just making small talk out of thin air.Lyra frowned slightly, scolding him in a low voice, "What kind of question is that? Seraphina is your wife, and you don't even know which hospital she works at?"Pierce replied, "I don't have anything else to ask."Lyra looked at Seraphina with an apologetic expression. "I'm so sorry, Seraphina. Pierce is just like this—so emotionally closed off. Don't be mad at him. He actually cares about you a lot."Seraphina wasn't mad. She had exhausted all her anger over the past three years. Now, all that remained was calm indifference.Pierce frowned, standing by Lyra's side. "Why are you explaining all this to her? You're exhausted today. I'll boil the water. Hurry upstairs, take a shower, and get some rest."Lyra smiled and nodded. "Alright. Make sure you take the hangover medicine. Drink some water.""I know."Lyra headed straight upstairs, walking toward the master bedroom.But halfway up, she suddenly paused and turned around. "Since Seraphina is back, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to stay in the master bedroom anymore. Should I move to the guest room?"Pierce frowned. "Don't bother. Moving your things back and forth is too much of a hassle.""But...""No buts. This is my house, so listen to me.""Alright then."With that, Lyra quickly finished heading upstairs.After she left, Seraphina and Pierce were the only two left in the massive first-floor living room.A phantom sensation lingered on her waist, as if his arm was still domineeringly wrapped around her. The damp traces he had left on the back of her neck and her earlobe were still there. When the night breeze hit them, it sent a bone-chilling cold through her.Pierce said, "Lyra just returned to the country and hasn't found a suitable place to live yet. She's staying here for a few days."Seraphina nodded. "This is your house. Whatever you decide is fine."He added, "She has trouble sleeping in new beds. She's been staying in the master bedroom these past few days, and if she switches rooms, she won't be able to sleep."Seraphina agreed immediately. "Then I'll take the guest room.""Thanks for understanding.""You're welcome."After three years apart, Seraphina never imagined their reunion would look like this. Two people who had once loved each other so fiercely were now exchanging polite, superficial pleasantries.She had actually prepared herself mentally; when he finally returned, there would likely be a woman by his side.She just never expected that woman to be Lyra Langley. The same Lyra who was so twisted with obsession that she spread vile rumors, claiming Seraphina had slept with her stepfather and had an abortion.Seraphina swapped her shoes for slippers and headed straight for the guest room.But Pierce suddenly called out to her, "Seraphina Somerset."It was the first time he had ever used her full name. He sounded like a stranger, or perhaps an old acquaintance he hadn't seen in ages. It carried a subtle, awkward tension.She stopped in her tracks. "Yes?"Pierce said, "Lyra lived in the UK for years. She came back with a lot of luggage, and it didn't all fit in the master bedroom, so I moved a lot of your things to the guest room."When Seraphina pushed open the guest room door, she finally understood what he meant.Her clothes, shoes, and even the books from her bookshelf had all been tossed in there. Aside from the bed, every single one of her belongings had been cleared out and haphazardly piled in the room.Their wedding photo had been casually tossed onto the floor, the glass shattered and scattered everywhere....Halfway through the night, she woke up thirsty and went downstairs for a glass of water.To her surprise, she bumped into Pierce again. He was standing there with only a towel wrapped around his waist, heating up some milk.Pierce never drank milk. He used to say he couldn't stand the smell.So it went without saying who he was heating it up for.Hearing her footsteps, Pierce glanced back at her before quickly turning away, acting like a casual roommate. He couldn't even be bothered to say hello.With the kitchen occupied, Seraphina didn't want to go in and have any further interaction with him.She turned around to head back to her room. But ultimately, she spoke the words that had been hovering in her mind for so long. "Since you're back, let's find some time to go finalize the divorce."Pierce's eyes flickered. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "Alright."Early the next morning, it was time for the day shift.Seraphina arrived at the department by 6:30 AM, slipped on her white coat, and went to do her rounds.It was winter, peak season for cardiovascular diseases, and the wards were packed, mostly with elderly patients.After finishing her rounds, Seraphina returned to her office and checked her schedule for the day. Outpatient clinic in the morning, followed by three surgeries in the afternoon—all cardiovascular angiographies with stent placements.While she was looking it over, there was a knock at the office door.Her current medical resident, Lana Langley, poked her head in. "Dr. Somerset, the director wants to see you in his office.""Alright, let's go."Seraphina gathered her charts, stood up, and headed toward the director's office. She knocked on the door."Come in."Seraphina pushed the door open. "Director, you wanted to see me?"There were two other people standing in the office, a man and a woman. Both were familiar faces.The director smiled warmly. "Dr. Somerset, let me introduce you. This is Dr. Lyra Langley, a top-tier talent our hospital recruited from overseas. From now on, she will be the Chief Physician of the Cardiology Department, which essentially makes her your direct superior."He then pointed to Pierce. "And this is Mr. Pierce Prescott. He recently made a generous donation of several medical machines to our hospital, all imported from abroad. Thanks to him, patients will no longer have to wait in line for scans."Seraphina was a bit surprised, but she didn't let it show, merely offering a polite nod.The director chuckled. "Oh, right, I forgot to mention. They are a couple. Mr. Prescott donated the equipment completely free of charge, all for Dr. Langley's sake. Keep this to yourself and don't go spreading it around."Lyra immediately waved her hands dismissively. "Please don't tease me. Mr. Prescott and I are really just old classmates, don't misunderstand.""Old classmates?""Yes!" Lyra looked over at Seraphina. "Dr. Somerset is also our old classmate. The three of us went to the same high school."The director's eyes widened. "Is that so? Then you must know Dr. Somerset!"Lyra nodded. "Of course, how could high school classmates not know each other? But it has been a long time, and she has definitely changed a lot since then. Right, Pierce?"Pierce gave a noncommittal hum. "Yeah, we know each other, but we're not close."*Not close.*They had been together for ten years, kissed each other raw hundreds of times, and broken more beds than they could count. Now, it was summed up in two words: Not close.Seraphina pressed her lips together in a mocking smile.The director clapped his hands excitedly. "Well, that's truly destiny! Since that's the case, it makes what I'm about to ask much easier."His tone suddenly grew much more amiable. "Dr. Somerset, the reason I called you in today is actually to discuss something with you.""Go ahead. What is it?"The director said, "You're about to publish a research paper. Could we put Dr. Langley's name as the first author?"Seraphina's head snapped up sharply. "Why?"For medical professionals, publishing a paper—especially in a core journal—was as difficult as scaling a sheer cliff. She and Lana had poured blood, sweat, and tears into that paper. Why should Lyra get the first authorship?The director explained, "Dr. Langley is on an accelerated medical track. And she wants to secure her position as Chief Physician. People might gossip if she doesn't have a first-author publication..."Seraphina let out a cold scoff.Everyone knew exactly what this so-called accelerated track really was. It was a shortcut for the privileged elite.Chapter 3Seraphina Somerset had barely returned home from work when someone embraced her from behind.The living room was pitch black, and the chest pressed against her back felt broad and searing hot. Wet, tender kisses fell along the side of her neck, slowly trailing up to her earlobe."Where did you go? Why are you just getting back?" his voice was deep, laced with a slight hoarseness, scraping against her heart like coarse sand.Seraphina had barely opened her mouth to speak when he silenced her. His lips tangled with hers, kissing her so deeply she couldn't utter a word, let alone answer his question.The large hands gripping her waist gradually tightened. The familiar sense of constraint surged through her, igniting her body's deep-seated memories.Seemingly dissatisfied with her distraction, he pinched her chin, forcing her to face him as he aggressively claimed her lips once more.That was, until someone flipped on the living room lights.Lyra Langley stared at the two entangled figures, momentarily stunned. "What are you doing..."Seraphina froze.The forceful grip that had just been clinging to her vanished in an instant. Along with it went his scorching body heat and that frantic, consuming intimacy, all pulling away at once.Pierce Prescott frowned slightly, glancing at Seraphina with a fleeting look of confusion. The burning desire in his eyes instantly cooled, replaced by a distant and polite tone. "Sorry, I mistook you for someone else."He quickly walked toward Lyra, his voice tinged with anxiety. "Where did you go? Why did you leave without saying anything? I thought it was you who just walked in."Lyra lifted a small plastic bag to show him. "I went to buy you some hangover medicine. You were blacked out, so I didn't want to wake you."Pierce said, "Tell me before you go anywhere from now on.""I know, nag..."Lyra muttered her complaint, seemingly annoyed by his fussing.But when she looked at Seraphina, her expression shifted into a gentle, welcoming smile. "Seraphina, don't misunderstand. Pierce and I are just old classmates, nothing more."Seraphina gave a soft, "Mhm."Just old classmates, yet they couldn't wait to passionately make out the moment they saw each other.If they hadn't been interrupted, it probably would have escalated beyond just kissing.Very normal indeed.While she was lost in thought, Lyra walked over and greeted her. "Seraphina, do you still remember me? I'm Lyra Langley, your high school classmate."How could Seraphina forget? Back then, Lyra chased Pierce, and Pierce chased Seraphina. That melodramatic love triangle was legendary throughout the entire school.Pierce had roared at Lyra more than once, "Can you stay away from me? Your relentless clinging only makes me sick."Lyra had cried hysterically, pointing at Seraphina as she screamed, "What's so great about her? She's a broke, country bumpkin! What do you even like about her?!"What had Pierce said back then?He had said, "I just love her. No matter who she is, I love her."Later, Lyra went abroad under her parents' arrangement, and no one heard from her again. Word among classmates was that she had gone to the UK.Seraphina looked down and let out a soft chuckle. So, Pierce had been in the UK for the past three years. As Mrs. Prescott, she was just finding this out now.Lyra navigated around Seraphina with the familiarity of a homeowner, heading straight into the kitchen to boil water.Pierce followed right behind her. As Lyra boiled the water, he stood behind her, watching her closely, refusing to leave her side.Lyra burst into a laugh. "Why are you following me?""I was afraid you'd run off again.""It's the middle of the night. Where would I even go?""This area is pretty desolate. It's not safe for you to go out alone."The two chatted as if no one else was there for a while before Lyra finally realized they seemed to be ignoring Seraphina.Seraphina was at the entryway, changing her shoes. Over the past few days, she had covered shifts for a colleague, pulling two all-nighters followed by three long day shifts. Too exhausted to commute back and forth, she had simply lived in her office.Counting the days, she hadn't been home for about five days.Yet, the shoe cabinet was already lined with several pairs of shoes that didn't belong to her.Two pairs of men's leather shoes, three pairs of women's heels. And two pairs of slippers, identical in design—one pink, one blue. A matching couple's set.Lyra said, "Pierce, you and Seraphina haven't seen each other in three years either, right?"Pierce gave a vague response. "What about it?""Go talk to Seraphina. Stop hovering around me."Pierce didn't move.Lyra gave him a gentle push. "Go on. Didn't you say you'd listen to everything I say from now on?"Pierce finally shifted slightly, glancing back at Seraphina with a flat tone. "Are you still working at Metropolitan General Hospital?""Yes.""Is work going well?""It's alright."That was the end of the conversation.Seraphina felt that she and Pierce sounded exactly like regular old classmates. The pleasantries felt forced, just making small talk out of thin air.Lyra frowned slightly, scolding him in a low voice, "What kind of question is that? Seraphina is your wife, and you don't even know which hospital she works at?"Pierce replied, "I don't have anything else to ask."Lyra looked at Seraphina with an apologetic expression. "I'm so sorry, Seraphina. Pierce is just like this—so emotionally closed off. Don't be mad at him. He actually cares about you a lot."Seraphina wasn't mad. She had exhausted all her anger over the past three years. Now, all that remained was calm indifference.Pierce frowned, standing by Lyra's side. "Why are you explaining all this to her? You're exhausted today. I'll boil the water. Hurry upstairs, take a shower, and get some rest."Lyra smiled and nodded. "Alright. Make sure you take the hangover medicine. Drink some water.""I know."Lyra headed straight upstairs, walking toward the master bedroom.But halfway up, she suddenly paused and turned around. "Since Seraphina is back, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to stay in the master bedroom anymore. Should I move to the guest room?"Pierce frowned. "Don't bother. Moving your things back and forth is too much of a hassle.""But...""No buts. This is my house, so listen to me.""Alright then."With that, Lyra quickly finished heading upstairs.After she left, Seraphina and Pierce were the only two left in the massive first-floor living room.A phantom sensation lingered on her waist, as if his arm was still domineeringly wrapped around her. The damp traces he had left on the back of her neck and her earlobe were still there. When the night breeze hit them, it sent a bone-chilling cold through her.Pierce said, "Lyra just returned to the country and hasn't found a suitable place to live yet. She's staying here for a few days."Seraphina nodded. "This is your house. Whatever you decide is fine."He added, "She has trouble sleeping in new beds. She's been staying in the master bedroom these past few days, and if she switches rooms, she won't be able to sleep."Seraphina agreed immediately. "Then I'll take the guest room.""Thanks for understanding.""You're welcome."After three years apart, Seraphina never imagined their reunion would look like this. Two people who had once loved each other so fiercely were now exchanging polite, superficial pleasantries.She had actually prepared herself mentally; when he finally returned, there would likely be a woman by his side.She just never expected that woman to be Lyra Langley. The same Lyra who was so twisted with obsession that she spread vile rumors, claiming Seraphina had slept with her stepfather and had an abortion.Seraphina swapped her shoes for slippers and headed straight for the guest room.But Pierce suddenly called out to her, "Seraphina Somerset."It was the first time he had ever used her full name. He sounded like a stranger, or perhaps an old acquaintance he hadn't seen in ages. It carried a subtle, awkward tension.She stopped in her tracks. "Yes?"Pierce said, "Lyra lived in the UK for years. She came back with a lot of luggage, and it didn't all fit in the master bedroom, so I moved a lot of your things to the guest room."When Seraphina pushed open the guest room door, she finally understood what he meant.Her clothes, shoes, and even the books from her bookshelf had all been tossed in there. Aside from the bed, every single one of her belongings had been cleared out and haphazardly piled in the room.Their wedding photo had been casually tossed onto the floor, the glass shattered and scattered everywhere....Halfway through the night, she woke up thirsty and went downstairs for a glass of water.To her surprise, she bumped into Pierce again. He was standing there with only a towel wrapped around his waist, heating up some milk.Pierce never drank milk. He used to say he couldn't stand the smell.So it went without saying who he was heating it up for.Hearing her footsteps, Pierce glanced back at her before quickly turning away, acting like a casual roommate. He couldn't even be bothered to say hello.With the kitchen occupied, Seraphina didn't want to go in and have any further interaction with him.She turned around to head back to her room. But ultimately, she spoke the words that had been hovering in her mind for so long. "Since you're back, let's find some time to go finalize the divorce."Pierce's eyes flickered. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "Alright."Early the next morning, it was time for the day shift.Seraphina arrived at the department by 6:30 AM, slipped on her white coat, and went to do her rounds.It was winter, peak season for cardiovascular diseases, and the wards were packed, mostly with elderly patients.After finishing her rounds, Seraphina returned to her office and checked her schedule for the day. Outpatient clinic in the morning, followed by three surgeries in the afternoon—all cardiovascular angiographies with stent placements.While she was looking it over, there was a knock at the office door.Her current medical resident, Lana Langley, poked her head in. "Dr. Somerset, the director wants to see you in his office.""Alright, let's go."Seraphina gathered her charts, stood up, and headed toward the director's office. She knocked on the door."Come in."Seraphina pushed the door open. "Director, you wanted to see me?"There were two other people standing in the office, a man and a woman. Both were familiar faces.The director smiled warmly. "Dr. Somerset, let me introduce you. This is Dr. Lyra Langley, a top-tier talent our hospital recruited from overseas. From now on, she will be the Chief Physician of the Cardiology Department, which essentially makes her your direct superior."He then pointed to Pierce. "And this is Mr. Pierce Prescott. He recently made a generous donation of several medical machines to our hospital, all imported from abroad. Thanks to him, patients will no longer have to wait in line for scans."Seraphina was a bit surprised, but she didn't let it show, merely offering a polite nod.The director chuckled. "Oh, right, I forgot to mention. They are a couple. Mr. Prescott donated the equipment completely free of charge, all for Dr. Langley's sake. Keep this to yourself and don't go spreading it around."Lyra immediately waved her hands dismissively. "Please don't tease me. Mr. Prescott and I are really just old classmates, don't misunderstand.""Old classmates?""Yes!" Lyra looked over at Seraphina. "Dr. Somerset is also our old classmate. The three of us went to the same high school."The director's eyes widened. "Is that so? Then you must know Dr. Somerset!"Lyra nodded. "Of course, how could high school classmates not know each other? But it has been a long time, and she has definitely changed a lot since then. Right, Pierce?"Pierce gave a noncommittal hum. "Yeah, we know each other, but we're not close."*Not close.*They had been together for ten years, kissed each other raw hundreds of times, and broken more beds than they could count. Now, it was summed up in two words: Not close.Seraphina pressed her lips together in a mocking smile.The director clapped his hands excitedly. "Well, that's truly destiny! Since that's the case, it makes what I'm about to ask much easier."His tone suddenly grew much more amiable. "Dr. Somerset, the reason I called you in today is actually to discuss something with you.""Go ahead. What is it?"The director said, "You're about to publish a research paper. Could we put Dr. Langley's name as the first author?"Seraphina's head snapped up sharply. "Why?"For medical professionals, publishing a paper—especially in a core journal—was as difficult as scaling a sheer cliff. She and Lana had poured blood, sweat, and tears into that paper. Why should Lyra get the first authorship?The director explained, "Dr. Langley is on an accelerated medical track. And she wants to secure her position as Chief Physician. People might gossip if she doesn't have a first-author publication..."Seraphina let out a cold scoff.Everyone knew exactly what this so-called accelerated track really was. It was a shortcut for the privileged elite.