The night was quiet and serene.

    Julian stood alone in his study, staring out at the endless snow outside. His mind kept reying the scene of Willow’s distorted speech, as well as her tear–streaked face that was filled with despair.

    Willow herself must’ve found it unbearable!

    Julian looked at the night sky, his gaze unreadable.

    He realized that he seemed to never have truly made Willow happy. All he ever did was hurt her, disappoint her, and make her

    cry.

    This wasn’t how loving someone was supposed to be.

    The next morning, Julian didn’t appear in her room.

    Willow washed up on her own. Even if she barely had an appetite, she still walked out to find something to eat for the sake of the baby she carried.

    As she opened the bedroom door, she froze.

    Grace was standing outside the door, holding a basket in one hand and Snowy in the other. She stared at Willow with her gentle, loving eyes.

    Willow stood there in a daze before her lips trembled.

    In a broken, trembling voice, she called out, “Grand…ma…”

    Grace understood her words. She walked into the bedroom, then set Snowy down. With trembling hands, she picked out two of the biggest hard–boiled eggs from the basket, stuffing them into Willow’s hands.

    Grace said, “You loved these the most when you were little. They have kept you healthy and strong. Everything’s fine at home. Your parents miss you and are worried about you.”

    Willow couldn’t hear Grace’s words. Her world remained silent, but she could understand what she was saying.

    With tears in her eyes, she slowly peeled the egg and put it in her mouthb, /bsavoring it bit by bit.

    Grace kept wiping the tears off her face, mumbling words Willow couldn’t hear. “Early this morning, he sent someone to pick me up.

    “I was in such a rush that I didn’t have the time to cook more eggs for you. I even had to sneak the dog out for you.”

    Willow couldn’t hear, but every time Grace spoke, she just gave a faint smile.

    Grace had always been a strong, resilient woman. But now, her heart ached more than ever.

    Her precious Willow had suffered too much.

    Grace didn’t want to cry in front of Willow, afraid of making Willow feel worse. After their brief reunion, Grace led Willow downstairs, cooking a few simple dishes herself in the kitchen.

    For the first time in a while, Willow ate heartily. She didn’t even rush to the bathroom after the meal.

    During the day, Grace would cook for her.

    At night, Grace would bathe Willow just like she did when Willow was a little girl.

    Grace told Willow that she’d grown into a fine youngdy and was about to be a mother.

    With Grace around, Willow was getting better. Her cheeks filled out, and her body grew healthier as she put on some weight.

    But that wasn’t enough. Grace wanted to take Willow away from here.

    In the study, Julian sat aloneb, /bsmoking.

    For an entire week, Grace apanied Willow. Willow put bon /bsome weight, and her smile even returned. When she smiled, she

    was beautiful.

    The door opened gently, and Grace stepped inside the study.

    Julian looked up and quickly stubbed out his cigarette. He stood up and greeted her, “Grandma.”

    She didn’t correct him.

    Grace was a wise woman. She sat down across from Julian on the single–seater sofa. He kindly advised him, “You should cut down on smoking. It’s bad for your health. You’re not even 30 yet. You’re still in your prime.”

    Julian’s eyes grew misty.

    He pressed the cigarette butt harder into the ashtray and replied, “You’re right.”

    Grace held a tiny pair of handmade baby shoes. Despite her poor eyesight, Grace insisted on making a pair offortable shoes for the unborn child.

    As she worked on the shoes, she continued casually chatting.

    “My Willow has always been like a weed since she was little. No wind could blow her down, and no rain could drown her.

    “When you two got married, to be honest, I didn’t agree with it. Your worlds were too different. But Willow liked you. “And I thought, since Willow was so capable and lovable, she’d surely earn her husband’s love and her inws‘ respect. “Now she can’t hear, but her heart isn’t blind. You need to let her experience the normal world. If you keep locking her away like this, she’ll surely fall ill.

    “Will she still be the Willow you love if that happens? As for your rtionship with her, that’s up to fate. It can’t be forced.”

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