At the hospital, Sheldon carefully placed the items Melody needed on the bedside table.

“Thank you for going out of your way. I’ve left the taxi fare for you. Please accept it,” she said politely.

“Mrs. Fuller, there’s no need to be so courteous. Running errands for you is my responsibility. Besides, I owe you an apology for earlier. I should have told you beforehand that Mr. Fuller was coming to see you,” he said, his face full of guilt.

“You’re under his authority. How could you dare tell me? I understand,” Melody replied calmly.

Sheldon hesitated, wanting to explain that informing her beforehand wouldn’t have caused much harm—it had been his choice not to speak up.

“Thank you again. You should head back now, as you’re still on the clock,” she said, cutting him off.

“Mrs. Fuller, Mr. Fuller—” he began.

“I don’t want to hear you making excuses for him. Please leave,” Melody interrupted sharply.

Sheldon fell silent, turning away reluctantly. He noticed the injuries on her lower back and her awkwardly propped-up foot. The severity of her injuries was shocking; she had clearly endured great pain.

“Take care and get well soon,” Sheldon said softly before leaving. He didn’t accept the fare, returning it to her account.

Once in a taxi, a notification popped up on his phone. It was a message from Christopher: “Absent without reporting—your perfect attendance award for this month is forfeited.”

Sheldon read the message, feeling devastated. He quickly typed an explanation, but Christopher’s reply was curt: “Rules are rules. You’re no exception, even as my assistant.”

Staring at the response, Sheldon felt powerless and frustrated. “I was only gone for half an hour! Shouldn’t you just dock one day’s pay?” He hadn’t been slacking off; he had been delivering something for Melody. She and Christopher were married, weren’t they? Was such pettiness necessary? It was the perfect attendance award, after all. Did Christopher know how hard it was to earn? He was a ruthless capitalist.

If the two ever divorced, Sheldon would fully support it. No matter how wealthy Christopher was, a stingy man like him didn’t deserve Melody.

In the private dining room, Cynthia glanced at Christopher, who was busy typing on his phone, and asked, “Who are you texting, Christopher?”

“Sheldon. He left work without permission,” he replied coldly. “There goes his $1,500 perfect attendance award for the month,” he added through gritted teeth.

“He deserved it. If you don’t enforce the rules, everyone will think they can leave work whenever they want,” Cynthia agreed.

Christopher didn’t respond; his mood remained sour. Seeing his dark expression, which hadn’t lifted since he arrived, she bit her lip and said softly, “I’m sorry, Christopher. You’re so busy with work, yet you still made time to have dinner with me and attend my fashion show.”

“It’s what I should do. No matter how busy I am, I’ll always make time for you,” he said.

Cynthia’s lips curved into a smile when she heard this. She hesitated before speaking again. “You were so upset on the phone earlier. Was it because you and Melody argued?”

Her eyes were full of guilt as she continued, “I shouldn’t have messaged her. I’m sorry for interfering.”

“I don’t want to talk about her. She’s an ungrateful, heartless woman,” Christopher snapped, his anger flaring.

Seeing his expression and hearing his voice, Cynthia hesitated, unsure. Was it her imagination? Could it be that he truly didn’t care about Melody anymore?

“I’m going to the restroom,” Christopher said, standing up.

“Okay,” Cynthia nodded quickly.

After he left, she noticed he had forgotten his phone. Without hesitation, she reached for it.