After Rebirth, I Replaced My Ex-Husband's True Love-Chapter 85: Overthinking Again

A few days after New Year’s Day, I was discharged from the hospital.

It was indeed boring in the hospital, and since I was recovering well, I arranged for an early discharge.

After Lane took me back to Maplewood Gardens, the housekeeper prepared a sumptuous lunch for me, which I devoured enthusiastically, feeling revitalized.

Suddenly, Joel Sutton called, "Miss Hathaway, how are you doing? Are you alright? I went to the hospital and they said you were already discharged!"

"Sutton, how did you know I was in the hospital?" I was a bit surprised since I hadn’t posted about it on social media or anything. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Joel Sutton was silent for a few seconds before telling me, "Azure told me this morning."

Why would Azure tell Joel Sutton about my injury? Recalling how she said Joel Sutton treated me differently, I seemed to understand her intentions. Could it be that she wanted me and Joel Sutton to continue being ambiguous?

Just then, Henry Preston’s call came in. I brushed off Joel Sutton with a couple of words and answered Henry’s call.

He was there to question me, "Why didn’t you inform me about your discharge?"

"Did you go to the hospital?" I asked.

"What else?" Henry sounded very angry, "Wasted my time!"

It suddenly dawned on me that Azure knew Henry was going to the hospital this morning, so she informed Joel Sutton about my hospital stay, assuming they would meet. But she didn’t expect me to be discharged early.

I never expected that Azure was such a manipulator, starting to play little tricks.

Henry had already hung up, and I didn’t call back.

In the winter, the days are short and the nights are long; by half past five in the afternoon, the sky had already darkened. I slept for the entire afternoon before getting up, wrapped in a coat, and walked alone to the snowman outside.

The snowman had slightly deformed, as heavy snow fell sporadically in recent days, making it bulky and out of shape.

"Madam, it’s too cold outside, come back in to warm up." The housekeeper kindly reminded me.

"It’s okay, I’m dressed warmly." I smiled at her, "Go make dinner. I’m not hungry; just make something simple."

"Yes."

After the housekeeper went inside, I stepped back a couple of steps, looking at the mansion in front of me, which once felt like a love nest for Henry and me. But now, I realize it was more like a huge cage I’ve willingly trapped myself in for five years.

For the past five years, I’ve done nothing, apart from thinking about Henry and waiting for Henry, having no other goals.

Crystal Dawson still enjoys flirting; Leah Lane has always worked hard to become a singer, and Tiana O’Connell is focused on her career. But I became extremely empty, wasting time after giving up on Henry.

Perhaps, after the divorce, I should plan what to do next, whether to pursue the so-called music dream or return to my family business for some experience?

In any case, I’m not going back to The Preston Group to be a personal secretary.

I was too lost in thought to realize when Henry stood behind me.

"Sigh." I let out a deep sigh, turning around to go back inside. Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed Henry’s figure, and I screamed in fright, patting my chest, "You scared me to death, Henry, are you a ghost?!"

"What guilty conscience makes you so skittish?" Henry had his hands in his coat pockets, with a black and white plaid knitted scarf around his neck, looking handmade rather than purchased.

It suited him well.

I didn’t answer him, instead pointing at the scarf, "Looks great, did Azure make it?"

I had seen this scarf in my previous life, but much later. Ivan Underwood told me it was knitted personally by Azure for Henry.

Henry cherished this scarf as if it were the most expensive luxury item in the world.

He raised an eyebrow, seemingly acknowledging and waiting for me to continue.

"Looks warm, mind if I try it on?" Without hesitation, I reached to take off his scarf, expecting him to refuse. Unexpectedly, he bent down slightly, cooperating with my action.

As he bent down, the distance between us closed. I slowed my movements, gazing at his face, hardly imagining I had loved this face for ten years and was now truly ready to let go.

The look in Henry’s eyes also gradually changed, perhaps with a hint of exploration. He asked, "Are you trying it on or not?"

Only then did I quicken my pace, quickly pulling the scarf off and loosely wrapping it around my neck, possibly due to the magic of love, as this scarf indeed felt very warm.

"Azure would be angry if she found out," I nudged the scarf with my chin, deliberately saying, "It was hard for her to soften towards you, don’t ruin it."

"She’s not that petty." Henry responded casually, as if in his heart, Azure was the woman who most understood and trusted him.

I sighed softly, wishing I could play the recording for Henry right now, also telling him Joel Sutton visited me in the hospital this morning, which was information leaked by Azure.

But with the divorce approaching, there was no point in doing that. It would only delay the divorce proceedings, and the impact of the recording wouldn’t be optimal.

The scarf around my neck seemed to grow spikes, making me uncomfortable. I took it off and handed it back to Henry, "Thanks, I’ve had enough."

I turned around to head back inside, Henry following closely with the scarf in hand.

Unlike the freezing cold outside, it was comfortably warm inside; even standing barefoot on the ground didn’t feel cold. I tossed my coat aside, and Henry did the same.

"Did you bring the divorce papers?" I asked from the sofa, holding a cup of hot tea, looking at Henry across from me indifferently.

"No." Henry’s answer took me by surprise.

"How come they aren’t ready yet?" I was a little frustrated, "I want nothing, no division of assets; shouldn’t it be simple?"

Henry frowned, "Are you in such a hurry for a divorce?"

Those words felt familiar!

In my previous life, I also eagerly questioned Henry about this, only to receive the answer that he wanted to give Azure a legitimate status, not keep her as a hidden mistress.

I was somewhat bewildered, as if some scenes from both lives overlapped, even swapping roles.

"Why not divorce then?" I regained my composure, the ripple in my heart calming down, "We’ve been nominally married for five years, isn’t that enough? Now that there’s someone you truly like, and I’m willing to let go of the past, isn’t that a good thing?"

"Henry, what’s wrong with you? What exactly are you hesitating about? Is it really because you can’t let go of my family’s little bit of interest?"

My questioning made Henry’s expression change drastically. I noticed his hand slowly clenching, veins on the back of his hand bulging from exertion.

A growing suspicion within me pushed me to keep going, "Could it be... you’ve started to have feelings for me?"

"Zoe Hathaway!" Henry’s voice brimmed with impatience, "Can’t you stop your wishful thinking?"

I was speechless, the rising tide within me instantly crashed onto the beach, as if I had indeed overthought. How could something not accomplished in ten years be achieved in just a few months after rebirth?