Celia's lovestruck expression was so ridiculous that even Christan couldn't bear to watch anymore.
He walked up, frowning. "Celia, you've just woken up and are still very weak. Rest a little more. Xavier and I will step outside to have a quick chat."
"Huh?!" Celia pouted and mumbled reluctantly, "Christan, if you want to say something to Xavier, just say it here! I... I don't want to rest. I want to spend more time with Xavier!"
Grinding his teeth, Christan sneered inwardly.
Silly sister, you don't even know-the real reason behind your suicide attempt is this very man you admire so much.
The way you're acting now, it's like being sold off and still helping the seller count the money!
Xavier curled his lips and said coolly, "You'd better listen to your brother and get some rest. What we're going to talk about is between men-it's best for a young lady like you not to listen."
Celia blinked. As if she had thought of something, her face suddenly flushed, and she said shyly, "Then... alright! You two go ahead and talk! But Xavier, after you finish talking to my brother, will you come back?"
"We'll see," Xavier replied with a devilish grin. "Maybe we won't have a pleasant conversation, and your brother won't let me come back."
That smile-like sunlight-shone straight into Celia's heart.
Her head was spinning, and all she could think was, "Oh my god, oh my god! Xavier just smiled at me! How is he so good-looking?! I'm so lucky..."
Shaking her head instinctively, she said, "No way! Xavier, you're so nice-my brother won't stop you from coming back!"
"That's not for sure!"
Xavier shot a sidelong glance at Christan's gloomy face.
Celia quickly looked at her brother and hurriedly hinted, "Christan, you must not make Xavier angry. You have to let him come back!"
Christan didn't respond. He just sighed silently, then turned and walked out first.
In the hallway, leaning lazily against the wall, Xavier said with a casual tone, "So, what is it you want to say?"
"Xavier!" Christan gritted his teeth, suppressing his anger as he spoke. "How can you have the nerve?! You've harmed my sister like this and still show up acting like some kind of savior!"
"All those scandalous rumors were fabricated by you and spread online. Now, not only are you pretending to be innocent, but you're also posturing like a hero, promising to clean up the mess? This is your responsibility in the first place-why pretend to be a big shot?!"
"And what do you expect me to do?" Xavier raised an eyebrow and looked at him. "Confess everything to your sister? Tell her that I did all this because she didn't apologize to Serena and I wanted to take revenge for Serena? Tell me, would she be happier hearing that, or happier not knowing anything?"
"You-!"
Having just witnessed his sister's infatuation with Xavier, Christan didn't know what to say.
He could only sigh-his sister was really hopeless.
For a man like this, was it really worth it?
At the same time, he couldn't deny it-what Xavier said was true.
If Celia found out the truth, it would be a fatal blow to her.
"So what now?" Xavier asked calmly when Christan fell silent. "Do you think I'm doing the right thing now?"
"..." Christan didn't respond.
"If your sister tried to take her life because she feared my misunderstanding, then the only thing I can do is pretend I know nothing and firmly tell her I don't believe the rumors. That's the best for her."
Xavier lowered his gaze. "I'll suppress this entire incident-as a way of making amends to her."
"Making amends?!" Christan narrowed his eyes. "What a joke! You caused this whole mess. Cleaning it up is your duty. How is that considered a favor to her?!"
"Then how about some financial compensation?" Xavier offered tentatively. "Name your price."
"Heh! Do you think the Ryder family is short on money?!"
"So, you don't want money. Then what do you want? I've said it before-I will never be with your sister."
After a moment of thought, Christan lifted his head and looked at him seriously. "Even if you won't be with Celia, you still have to take responsibility for your mistakes. I want you to promise-within one year, you're not allowed to marry Serena."
"..."
The request clearly surprised Xavier.
He had just made up his mind to marry Serena as soon as possible-no matter how difficult it would be-to give her a proper name and stop making her suffer.
But now, Christan wanted him to delay it for a whole year?!
Compared to asking for money, this seemed like a much steeper price!
"Why?" he asked instinctively.
Christan gave a faint smile and replied, "My sister just suffered a big emotional blow. I don't want her to experience another one so soon. For her safety, I don't think a year is an unreasonable request."
Worried that Xavier wouldn't agree, he quickly added, "Within this year, I'll also do my best to guide Celia to let go of you. That way, when you do marry Serena in the future, it'll cause less trouble. What do you think?"
Xavier frowned, weighing the options.
A year wasn't too long, but not too short either.
To marry Serena, he still had to get his parents' approval.
His father was incredibly stubborn, and convincing him would take time.
Besides, Serena was too kindhearted.
If Celia spiraled again, even if it wasn't Serena's fault, she'd still feel guilty and blame herself.
If within a year, Christan could really help Celia let go and avoid any more drama, then this deal wasn't a bad one.
After thinking it through, Xavier finally nodded. "Alright. One year it is. I promise you-within one year, I won't marry Serena. But you have to promise me: this scandal ends here. And you really will do your best to talk your sister out of it."
"Of course! If your heart isn't with her, even if she forces you to be together, she won't be happy. I only have one sister-I'm not about to push her into the fire."
"It's a deal then!"
"A deal!"
The two impossibly handsome men slapped their hands together in agreement in the hospital hallway.
At that moment, a faint glint of cunning flashed in the corner of Christan's eye-there and gone in an instant...
***