Chapter Insight: What This Scene Reveals About the Story
This chapter uncovers emotional layers that quietly guide the story’s direction, revealing motivations beneath the surface. Their choices are shaped by deeper conflicts they struggle to express. Tension builds subtly, hinting at consequences that will echo beyond this scene. Emotional shifts here set the stage for how each character navigates challenges ahead.
Turning Points: Critical Moments That Shape the Chapter
This chapter introduces key shifts that alter the emotional tone and direction of the story. Confessions, confrontations, or hesitations act as catalysts, pushing characters to reassess themselves and each other. Small moments gain weight as they influence the broader arc.
Emotional Underflow: How Each Character Truly Feels Here
Behind every line lies an undercurrent of emotion the characters try to hide. Their internal struggles show through gestures and pauses, revealing truths they cannot fully voice. This chapter highlights how deeply their emotions shape their choices.
Shadows of the Past: Trauma & History Influencing This Chapter
Past experiences and old wounds influence every decision. Histories rise to the surface, adding weight to interactions and guiding present actions. Trauma and memory become driving forces in the unfolding drama.
Power Shifts: How Relationships Change in This Chapter
Emotional power shifts as characters confront uncomfortable truths. Vulnerability and strength move between them, reshaping relationships and forcing reconsideration of boundaries and roles.
Hidden Meanings: Symbolism Woven Into Key Scenes
Symbolic details enrich the chapter, mirroring internal struggles. Objects, settings, and gestures reveal deeper truths that words alone cannot express, tying personal conflict to the broader world.
Signals of What’s Coming: Foreshadowing in This Chapter
Subtle details foreshadow future conflicts and emotional revelations. Characters’ reactions hint at challenges ahead, planting seeds that will grow into significant turning points.
Lines That Hit Hard: Important Quotes & Why They Matter
Several lines carry emotional weight, revealing hidden fears, desires, and vulnerabilities. These quotes serve as anchors that stay with the reader and deepen the impact of the scene.
Chapter 60Â
Nicole took a sip of the soup and found that the taste wasn’t bad after all.Â
“It’s not bad,” she reluctantly said.Â
“Then, you have to drink all of it. I’ll be off to see Ms. Ashford now.”Â
Matthew let out a relieved sigh. As expected, he acted as if he had just accomplished a mission. After that, he relaxed altogether and couldn’t wait another minute to leave the room.Â
But the next second, voices came from outside the suite.Â
“Did you see the little kid who just left? When I made my rounds just now, I saw him making soup for theÂ
patient who has angina pectoris,” a nurse commented.Â
“That’s her son, right? As expected, the bond between a family is the most touching thing there is in this world. He’s a child himself, yet he burned his hand just to make his mom some soup,” another nurseÂ
replied.Â
Nicole froze for a second when she heard that, and she subconsciously looked down at the soup in the bowl. She noticed it was watery, and there was not even a piece of meat in sight. Only two pieces ofÂ
potato were found at the bottom of the bowl.Â
It was no wonder that there was only soup and no meat. As it turned out, Matthew had made this for Gloria. Since there was some stew left, Hayden must have instructed Matthew to bring this to her.Â
Nicole was heartbroken. With a cold expression, she closed the lid of the thermal container and threw theÂ
entire thing into the trash can.Â
She thought nothing about the pair could disgust her anymore, but whether it was Hayden or Matthew, they always managed to push her past her limit.Â
Despite her discomfort, she struggled as she sat up and called her lawyer. Previously, she had been inÂ
contact with this lawyer when she had to make some inquiries.Â
After the call went through, she asked with a faint voice, “Are you free? Could you help me draft an officialÂ
statement declaring that I’ll be cutting ties with Matthew?”Â
Even though her marriage to Hayden was fake, she was still Matthew’s biological mother. They wereÂ
bound by blood ties.Â
This time, not only did she want to leave Hayden for good, but she also wanted nothing to do withÂ
MatthewÂ
She wanted to disappear completely, such that Hayden wouldn’t even be able to stand at her tomb and call himself her husband.Â
“The statement can be done by tomorrow. Where should I send it to?” the lawyer asked.Â
Chapter 60Â
213Â
Nicole shut her eyes and thought of the time capsule she had gifted Matthew. It was buried under the ginkgo tree in their backyard.Â
She had told Matthew that they would open it together when the new year came. In the time capsule, there was Matthew’s favorite limited edition race car model.Â
Her grip on her phone tightened.Â
“Please send the statement to my house and hand it over to my butler, Mr. Sutton. Tell him that I preparedÂ
it for Matthew and have him put it in the time capsule,” she said in a dull voice.Â
Her corpse would be buried six feet under by the time Matthew opened this statement.Â
After she hung up, Nicole slowly supported herself in getting down from her bed and headed to theÂ
restroom.Â
When she opened the door and stepped outside, she almost bumped into two oncoming people. They backed away in a hurry and apologized.Â
She gently shook her head, saying it was fine. When she was about to leave, however, they stopped her.Â
“By the way, miss, do you know which way takes us to the cardiac care unit? We’re looking for someone,”Â
one of them asked.Â
Nicole paused and said, “It’s one floor down.”Â
With one hand against the wall, she made her way to the restroom, but there was a “repair in progressÂ
sign on the door. So, she had to go to the restroom downstairs.Â
When she had just arrived, she saw a commotion at the end of the hallway. Who would have thought thatÂ
the two men who had been asking for directions were now being held by the collar by Hayden?Â
Hayden wore a stern expression on his face, and anger filled his gaze.Â
He glared at the two men and said, “Do you not understand what I just said? She’s not in the condition toÂ
accept an interview!”Â
The two men raised both their hands as a sign of surrender.Â
“We only heard that Ms. Muller had fallen sick and thought of visiting her. Her fans are really worriedÂ
about her,” one of them said.Â
“That’s right. We only wanted to visit her and see how she’s doing. That’s all we came for,” the otherÂ
added.Â
The few people who were in the hallway overheard their conversation and turned around in a whiff.Â
“Who were you talking about just now? Is the artist, Joanna, resting in this ward?”Â
Suddenly, the situation went haywire. The few people on the floor started yelling outside Gloria’s ward, asking for Joanna’s signature.Â
Chapter 60Â
3/3Â
“Keep it down! No one is allowed to go in!” Hayden shouted at them.Â
Hayden stood in front of the door, blocking anyone from disturbing Gloria. He looked so anxious that his brow was furrowed, and sweat formed on his forehead.Â
Nicole watched them in silence while she tightly held onto her sleeve. She turned around as if it were nothing but a farce and was about to leave.Â
Suddenly, she heard a soft laugh coming from behind.Â
Chapter 67Â
1/3Â
Closing Reflection
This chapter ends with shifting emotions and unresolved tension, hinting at deeper conflicts and unspoken truths. Choices made here will shape what follows, and the weight of this moment lingers as a quiet turning point.
Next Chapter Teaser
The next chapter will build on these consequences, drawing characters into challenges they can no longer avoid. Tension will rise, secrets will surface, and new revelations will reshape the path ahead.
Reader Engagement
This chapter raises questions about motivations, emotions, and relationships. Which moment mattered most? Who revealed more than they intended? How might events here reshape the bonds between characters?
World/Lore Connection
Beneath the emotions lies the broader world’s influence. Unseen rules, histories, and power structures shape choices and outcomes, adding weight to every action taken in this scene.
One-Line Ending
With this chapter complete, the story steps into a new phase filled with uncertainty, tension, and possibility.