During her hospitalization, aside from Rachel's parents visiting from time to time, Owen never showed up again.
Felix, however, came to the hospital every single day, hoping to see Rachel.
And every single time, she refused.
She wasn't confident she could control herself if she saw him face-to-face.
There was a real chance she might lunge forward and strangle him on the spot.
That afternoon, Felix showed up again and started arguing with the bodyguards stationed outside her room.
On the surface, they had been assigned by Owen to protect Rachel.
In reality, they were there to monitor her every move-making sure she didn't leave the ward even half a step.
"Let him in."
Hearing the commotion outside, Rachel spoke calmly to the housemaid inside the room.
When she saw Felix again, her heart was much calmer than before.
She turned to the maid. "You can leave us."
Once the door closed behind the servant, Felix rushed to the bedside.
"Rachel, are you feeling better?"
Rachel quietly withdrew her hand from his grasp. Her voice was neutral.
"I'm much better. Why are you here?"
He had caused such a scene outside these past few days for one reason only-he wanted to see her.
Even without Rachel's full memories, she could guess why he was here.
Seeing her distant attitude, Felix clenched his jaw.
"Rachel, don't tell me that now that you've gotten what you wanted, you're planning to dump me? Don't forget the conditions you promised me."
Her expression shifted slightly.
Conditions?
Had the original Rachel promised him something?
She knew Felix well. Beneath that refined appearance was a calculating mind. When she had been Katrina, she had loved him blindly-tolerating his flaws without question.
If he was bringing up 'conditions,' then Rachel must have left something in his hands-some leverage.
Now that she was living in Rachel's body, no matter how much she despised it, she couldn't afford to let anything go wrong before taking her revenge.
"Felix," she said with a faint smile, forcing warmth into her tone, "what are you saying? Do I look like that kind of person? You're my boyfriend. You've helped me so much. How could I treat you that way? You're overthinking it."
Her smile felt stiff, but she maintained it.
"Really?" he asked suspiciously.
"Mhm." She nodded, looking at him with what appeared to be sincerity-while revulsion churned violently in her stomach.
To stabilize him, she had to act.
Only after studying her face carefully did Felix finally relax.
He had genuinely worried that this difficult heiress would toss him aside the moment she got what she wanted.
To be honest, when Rachel first pursued him aggressively, he had been suspicious. But considering the wealth and background of the Sterlings, he didn't care whether her feelings were real or fake.
If she truly loved him, even better.
If not?
He had plenty of ways to squeeze benefits out of her.
...
At the Sterling Corporation headquarters, Wade knocked on the office door and stepped inside.
He leaned down toward Owen and spoke quietly.
"Mr. Blake, the hospital guards just called. Felix caused another scene today. Miss Sterling met with him-and dismissed the servant who was accompanying her."
Every move Rachel made in the hospital was under Owen's surveillance.
"Oh..." Owen's lips curved into a cold smile.
Felix finally couldn't hold back anymore?
And Rachel...
A trace of frost flashed through Owen's eyes, quickly followed by a hint of helplessness.
He hadn't told Rachel's parents about what she had done. Without solid evidence in hand, he could only suppress the matter for now.
"Mr. Blake, there's something I don't understand," Wade said cautiously.
Owen raised an eyebrow, signaling him to continue.
"The entire company knows Miss Sterling and Felix are together. Why are we still preventing them from meeting?"
Rumors were already spreading that Owen was deliberately breaking up a loving couple.
Owen let out a cold laugh.
"Do you really think Rachel is sincerely dating Felix? Or that Felix approached her without ulterior motives?"
More importantly-
Felix's official girlfriend had only just been buried a few days ago.
Katrina Donovan.
So what did that make Rachel?
The other woman.
The mistress who destroyed Katrina and Felix's relationship.
Wade froze for a second. "Given Miss Sterling's status, Felix is definitely the one punching above his weight."
He'd met Felix a few times and never liked him. Sure, the guy put on a bright, easygoing front-but Wade always felt there was something calculating beneath that sunshine smile.
He just hoped Miss Sterling would come to her senses and not let herself be used.
"Mr. Blake... aren't you going to check on her?" Wade asked helplessly.
Owen's voice was cold. "He won't be able to stir up anything."
Wade: "..."
Was that really okay?
"Mr. Blake, you should still go. It'll be easier to explain things to Chairman Sterling and Mrs. Sterling."
That reminder made Owen pause.
The kindness Rachel's parents had shown him was deeper than the ocean. Even though they had never used that debt to pressure him-and had even treated him, their adopted son, with boundless affection-no matter how ruthless Owen could be, for the sake of the two elders, he still had to clean up the mess Rachel kept making.
"Let's go."
He slipped on his suit jacket as he walked out.
...
Twenty-five minutes later, the car pulled up in front of the hospital.
Owen stepped inside with an indifferent expression, Wade following closely behind.
The elevator doors opened.
Felix, his face twisted with anger, ran straight into Owen.
His heart skipped. "Mr. Blake."
Why was he here at this time?
Owen didn't even spare him a glance. He brushed past him and headed straight toward Rachel's ward.
Felix stood there awkwardly, his expression stiff, resentment boiling inside.
'What's he so proud of? He's only lucky because he was adopted by the Sterling family. Just like me-parents unknown. What's with that arrogant act? Tch!'
Fuming, Felix left the hospital, already scheming how to use Rachel to get what he wanted.
