Jiro Hirayama blurted out, "Unless you agree to marry me right now!"
Rona Muir was stunned.
What did he just say?
Marry him?
He’s only twenty-five, and I’m almost thirty!
Is he kidding?
Besides, he’s the second son of the Hirayama Family, and I’m just an ordinary nobody.
And I definitely won’t go to Japan with him—my roots and connections are all in China.
I’m not the kind of woman who depends on a man. My company, my future—they’re all in China.
Rona Muir’s stiff expression made Jiro Hirayama’s heart sink.
He’d just proposed—why was she making that face?
Did she really not want to marry him at all?
Was she still thinking about that man inside?
Maybe I should just poison that Sean Kerr guy and be done with it!
Rona Muir’s face didn’t look great, but she didn’t explain. She just said softly, "Enough, don’t be childish. You’re not a kid anymore. Ethan and Miles aren’t half as immature as you."
True—Ethan Yin would just throw explosives!
Seeing Jiro Hirayama still angry, Rona Muir sighed. She thought about how she was almost thirty, yet here she was, squabbling with Jiro like a kid.
Rona took a deep breath, reached out, and held Jiro’s hand. "Alright, I’ve already called Cici over. I’ll have her talk to Sean Kerr, okay?"
Hearing this, Jiro Hirayama’s mood visibly improved.
Jiro puffed up and said, "I gave you my first time! You have to take responsibility!"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Rona Muir nodded vigorously.
"I may be Japanese, but I’m not some playboy," Jiro Hirayama continued.
"Yes, yes, yes!" Rona kept nodding—as long as he wasn’t mad anymore, that was good enough.
"Well, if you’re not busy, come back to Japan with me and meet my parents." Jiro finally looked happy.
"Yes, yes... huh?" Rona stopped mid-nod. "Why do I have to meet your parents?"
"To talk about us, of course." Jiro gave her a look that said, "If you mess with my feelings and don’t marry me, I’ll poison you."
Rona shivered.
Is this the price for flirting with a cute guy?
"Ah... ah..." Rona couldn’t even complain—she just laughed awkwardly.
Meanwhile, Cici knocked and entered Sean Kerr’s hospital room.
Sean saw it was Cici at the door—not Rona—and a trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes. Still, he greeted her politely: "Sorry, I couldn’t come pick you up this time."
Cici dragged a chair over and sat right in front of Sean, leaving everyone else outside.
"It’s fine. I heard you’ve been drinking a lot lately? And you only drink the strongest stuff?" Cici looked at Sean’s pale face, feeling a bit speechless.
"I was upset, so I had a few more drinks than usual," Sean answered, not really caring. "It’s not that bad."
Cici didn’t push the topic, instead bringing up what happened three years ago: "Remember our last heart-to-heart? It was on that ship three years back. I was pregnant then, grilling you with questions nonstop."
Sean gave a wry smile. "Yeah, you left me speechless back then."
Cici looked at Sean seriously. "I want to grill you again today. Are you ready for it?"
Sean nodded.
"I think I know why you’ve been drinking," Cici said bluntly. "But that’s exactly why I have to ask—was it worth it? You know that even if you drink yourself to death, Rona won’t come back! Back then, the Kerr Family fought so hard to keep you two apart, and you chose your family over Rona."
"I didn’t give up—I just backed down for now," Sean insisted.
"So how long are you going to keep backing off? How many years do you think Rona has left to wait for you? She’s almost thirty—how much longer until you give her a real answer?" Cici pressed. "You know, back in Capital City, that was Rona’s last chance for you. But at Miss Emily Gong’s birthday party, you let her down. Rona never gets drunk, but that night she drank herself senseless. That was her way of burying her feelings for you. Once she lets go, she won’t turn back."
Sean stayed silent.
"That night, Rona cried beside me like a child. She’s waited so long, it’s worn her out. Seeing you with Miss Emily Gong, it was like her world ended." Cici sighed. "Sean, when are you going to change? Why do you think everyone should revolve around you?"
Sean’s face flushed at Cici’s words.
"I won’t hide it—so much has happened at sea this time. Jiro Hirayama almost died saving Rona, and you saw how close they’ve become. The only thing left is for them to make it official. But do you know the real difference between you and Jiro? Jiro told his family early on that he wanted to be with Rona, and Mr. Henry Hirayama told me he didn’t mind having a Chinese daughter-in-law at all," Cici continued.
Sean’s face turned pale. "Rona agreed? No way! Rona’s Chinese—she wouldn’t go to Japan."
"What if Jiro Hirayama gave up being Japanese and moved to China for her?" Cici pressed. "Don’t doubt it—Jiro really would do that! He’s from the Hirayama Family, but he doesn’t care about the Yamaguchi-gumi or his status. Do you really think he cares about being Japanese? Of course not! For him, wherever Rona is, that’s home."
"Of course, I’m not trying to compare you to Jiro—they’re nothing alike. But Sean, real happiness for a woman isn’t about money or looks. It’s about someone who truly accepts her, flaws and all, and is willing to stick by her for life. Otherwise, what’s the point of all that money? Joe Qi is handsome and rich, right? But is his wife happy? I heard they’re divorced, aren’t they? If a man can’t make a woman feel secure, the marriage won’t last."
"Hurting yourself won’t move Rona. Sure, she can’t stand seeing you so down, but that’s just as a friend—not as someone who loves you. It’s like me standing here—I don’t want you to keep feeling this way, because we’re friends. You grew up with Charles, and I’m destined to be his wife, so that makes you my friend too. This kind of concern is different from what a lover feels—you know that, right?"
Sean quickly looked away, flustered and lost.
Every word Cici said hit Sean where it hurt.
"You’re trying to make Rona feel sorry for you, hoping she’ll come back. Sean, that’s a terrible idea, seriously!" Cici said earnestly. "Rona isn’t the kind of woman who lets emotions control her. She’s independent, strong, and brave, with her own career and goals. She hates being anyone’s sidekick. You’ve always known that, so why keep trampling on those qualities?"
"Rona was worried Jiro would get jealous, so she asked me to come over. I think you know what that means." Cici sighed. "Sean, cooperate with your treatment. The Yin Family Hospital can easily handle your condition—as long as you cooperate, you’ll recover in no time. You’re in great shape, really. Even if you miss out on Rona, there’ll be other girls for you. Just don’t be so stubborn next time. Even the best girl won’t wait forever."
"There won’t be a next time," Sean said, voice low. "You know, I fell for her the moment I saw her. But she was so young then, just starting college—I didn’t want to rush things."
"I was wrong. I shouldn’t have hesitated." Sean gave a bitter smile. "You’re right, it’s all my fault. I’m not as decisive or wise as Charles—I missed my chance with her. I have nothing else to say. If I could do it all over again, I’d never make the same mistake."
Cici sighed. "If you really care about her, let her be at peace as a friend. Rona actually hopes you’ll be healthy and happy. So, for her sake, get better soon."
Sean lowered his head, unable to hide the sadness in his eyes.
"Alright, I’ll let you rest. Think it over." Cici nodded to Sean and left the room.
Sean gently closed his eyes, replaying Cici’s words in his mind.
Sean admitted—Cici was right about everything.
But he just couldn't let go.
Outside the door, Mrs. Kerr anxiously looked at Cici Grant. "Miss Gu, has Sean Kerr agreed to the treatment?"
Cici Grant saw the worried look on Mrs. Kerr’s face. She wanted to talk to her, but thinking of Rona Muir, she changed her mind.
Cici Grant simply nodded and replied, "He’ll think it through. After all, when he’s sick, it’s those who love him who suffer most."
Mrs. Kerr couldn’t help but wipe her tears. "Sean Kerr just isn’t lucky enough to marry a daughter-in-law as good as you."
Cici Grant wanted to tell Mrs. Kerr that Sean Kerr really wasn’t lucky—because Rona Muir was far more outstanding than herself.
But those words, Cici Grant would never say.
Her relationship with Mrs. Kerr was only ever going to be polite and distant.
"Don’t worry, the medical standards at Yin Family Hospital are world-class. As long as Sean Kerr cooperates with treatment, he’ll recover soon," Cici Grant assured Mrs. Kerr.
But physical illnesses can be cured.
It’s the obsessions in the heart that take much longer to fade away.