After Rebirth, I Replaced My Ex-Husband's True Love-Chapter 84: A Wedding Gift

Azure Vaughn saw that I was ignoring her, so she stood up with her hands clasped in front of her, holding her handbag, with a gentle and obedient posture. "Miss Hathaway, Henry Preston said you want a divorce without taking a penny. You... don’t be so foolish. Ten years of youth, you should get some compensation. A woman’s youth is her most precious asset."

After saying that, she turned and left.

I was so furious. How dare the mistress advise the soon-to-be-divorced wife to leave with nothing? Does she think she’s being kind?

And she actually knew that I had loved Henry Preston for ten years!

She must be feeling a bit smug and a bit sympathetic. My ten years of unrequited love couldn’t compare to the few months she had with him. In contrast, she also knows how well Henry treats her.

Henry must have told her, right? I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. It’s not the first time I’ve become a laughingstock. What’s a few more laughs from Azure Vaughn?

If I lose my temper, it would just end ugly. I’ll hold on until after the divorce and then go on a world trip. Time heals all wounds.

"Eggplant with minced meat is here!" Crystal Dawson came back, holding the food she had ordered with excitement. When she saw my troubled face, she frowned, "What’s wrong? You look like you’re about to fall apart."

I forced a smile. "Let me play you something."

With that said, I took out my phone and played the recording from earlier.

After listening to it, Crystal couldn’t suppress her rage. Her face turned red with anger as she cursed, "Damn that little bitch, with such a toxic heart, she wants to ruin you? No way, I am going to give her a couple of big slaps. I’m so pissed off!"

"Crystal, don’t go." I shook my head. "You don’t know where she went. How would you catch her?"

"Isn’t she also in the music department of University A? I can hang a banner, hire people to stand there with loudspeakers and scold her. If I don’t make her drop out, I’ll be ashamed of my name, Crystal Dawson!" Crystal said angrily.

"I’m about to divorce Henry Preston, so why bother with Azure Vaughn?" I said softly. "Let me finalize the divorce first, and then I’ll talk about revenge. It has to be on an auspicious day."

Crystal was taken aback. "Zoe, why are you being superstitious?"

Then she asked, "What do you mean by an auspicious day?"

I laughed, "For example, when they’re getting married. It would make a great wedding gift."

That idea instantly lit up Crystal’s eyes. She gave me a thumbs up. "Yes, playing it just for Henry Preston isn’t enough. If he’s completely smitten and decides to protect Azure Vaughn, it could backfire. It’s better to play it publicly at a chosen time and place. Let’s see if Azure Vaughn dares to show her face again."

"Yeah, if Henry Preston is willing to divorce me for her, it means they have a high chance of marriage. No need to rush." I ended up comforting Crystal instead.

After finishing the meal, the sky gradually darkened, and I urged Crystal to head back early.

The hospital room returned to its quiet state, with only the occasional hurried footsteps of nurses coming from outside.

I lay in bed scrolling through social media, a stream of people excitedly preparing to celebrate the New Year. They all seemed so happy.

Unknowingly, I fell asleep and was only awakened by the sound of fireworks at midnight.

Every New Year’s Day and Spring Festival, City A’s Waterside Plaza holds a spectacular fireworks display. It’s a great place for couples to celebrate the occasion together. I used to wish Henry Preston would accompany me, but it never happened.

Woken up, I couldn’t sleep again. A hunch pushed me to open Azure Vaughn’s social media, and as expected, her latest post showed the fireworks at Waterside Plaza, along with a selfie. Behind her bright smile, there was half a face of a man—Silas Lockwood.

At such a time and place, with Silas Lockwood being there, it’s highly likely that Henry Preston was too. Azure Vaughn just couldn’t get a direct shot of him, so she captured Silas as proof.

Henry Preston hasn’t divorced yet, so there’s nothing legitimate about Azure Vaughn.

Like Sherlock Holmes, I zoomed in and out on that photo, trying to find traces of Henry Preston in the background when suddenly someone appeared at the door.

"Can’t sleep?" It was Ivan Underwood.

"I woke up." I put my phone away. "Is Dr. Underwood on night duty?"

"Yes, want to go to the rooftop and watch the fireworks?" he asked.

I didn’t want to go at first, but since I had nothing better to do, I got up and found my coat. "Sure."

Ivan and I walked through the long corridor, and as we passed the nurse station, a small nurse exclaimed, "Ah, Dr. Underwood, did you switch shifts with Dr. Garrison?"

I was taken aback and turned to look at Ivan.

He replied, "Yes, Dr. Garrison has a severe cold."

So that’s what happened. I continued to follow him, reaching the rooftop of the inpatient building. The cold air swept over me instantly, and I shivered a little as the beautiful fireworks burst in the distant night sky, dispelling a bit of the coldness.

Just then, my phone rang. My mom sent me a transfer of fifty-two thousand, accompanied by a note: Happy New Year, my dear daughter!

The gloom in my heart was instantly shattered by my mom’s gesture. I happily accepted the payment and sent a heart emoji: Happy New Year, Mom and Dad!

"A message from Henry Preston?" Ivan Underwood asked out of the blue, seeing me smiling so happily.

"Do you think that’s possible?" I put my phone away, taking a deep breath of the frigid air that chilled me to the bone. "My mom gave me a big red envelope, so I’m happy."

Ivan Underwood removed his mask and put it in his pocket, his handsome and cool face breaking into a small smile. "I didn’t know you love money so much."

I responded, "Who doesn’t love money?"

He nodded, and the topic changed again. "By the way, Walter Vaughn had surgery yesterday. It went well, so he’ll probably be discharged soon."

If bringing up Azure Vaughn’s family used to provoke my curiosity, it now only stirred dislike in me. Remembering Azure Vaughn’s earlier photo, I wondered if she posted it knowing I’d see it?

"It’s none of my business. You should share the good news with Henry Preston, he’s so devoted," I replied calmly.

"He has Azure Vaughn to relay that. It’s not my place," Ivan Underwood said, exhaling, before suddenly heading to a corner of the rooftop and returning with a bunch of sparklers, "Would you like to play?"

"Where did those come from??" I asked, surprised.

"Every New Year’s, the hospital leaves some sparklers on the rooftop. Night-shift staff can light them as a way to celebrate," Ivan Underwood explained, taking out a lighter from his pocket, inviting me, "Let’s play."

I hadn’t played with sparklers in ages. Taking the two sparklers Ivan handed me, he shielded the lighter with one hand from the wind, lighting them for me.

As the "zzzz" sound filled the air, the sparklers burst into a dazzling display, beautiful like shattered electric lights. Ivan lit one as well, and we started waving them like three-year-old children.

If I had known that at this very moment, Henry Preston was watching us from the exit, I would never have made a wish with a sparkler, shouting, "To hell with Henry Preston!"

But that’s hindsight.

After Ivan and I had finished off the sparklers, an hour had passed. I was thoroughly satisfied and happily thanked him before heading back to the ward to sleep. Since my head was injured, I needed to get plenty of rest.