Tilda's hand instinctively rose toward her face before she remembered the glasses were gone.

The irony stung; she had undergone the surgery to please her husband, yet he was with another woman at that moment.

“What brings you to the hospital?" she asked, eager to shift the focus from herself. "Is someone ill?"

“A client, actually. They're unwell," Hutton replied, his gaze steady.

“And you?" he asked.

Tilda hesitated. "I'm waiting for someone."

Hutton noticed the subtle edge in her voice but didn't press on it, as they weren't well acquainted. He lingered for a moment as if weighing his next line of action. "Actually, there's a favor I'd like to ask, if you don't mind."

Tilda's brow furrowed with curiosity. "What kind of favor?"

Hutton hesitated, his jaw tightening for a moment. “I've heard that Valeria landed a lead role in your latest screenplay. I was wondering if her character has any intimate scenes with the male lead?"

Tilda studied him, noting the tension in his shoulders. "There are a few key scenes that involve intimacy," she answered carefully.

Hutton's fists clenched subtly at his sides, and he drew in a slow breath, as though steadying himself. “Could you change those scenes?"

Tilda blinked in surprise. "Those scenes are pretty important to the storyline, showing how the characters' relationship evolves. Removing them would affect the integrity of the story. I'm afraid I won't be able to do that," she explained.

Hutton, undeterred, pressed on, "You're an established screenwriter. I'm sure if you wanted to, you could find a way to rewrite those scenes without affecting the overall story, right?"

Tilda had to admit that he was a man of sharp intelligence. She looked at him curiously. "Why does it matter to you anyway?"

Hutton sighed, a flicker of vulnerability breaking through his firm facade. "Because Valeria is my woman. I can't stand the thought of her in those kinds of scenes."

Tilda was at a loss for words. For crying out loud! Weren't they divorced?

"Well, as I recall, you and Valeria are no longer together," she said, her tone gentle but firm.

"We may be divorced, but she is still mine. We'll get back together,"

Hutton said, his voice edged with a fierce resolve.

Tilda was taken aback by his determination. She began, her voice gentler now, "Valeria is an actress. If she continues in this industry, scenes like these are part of the job. If you can't accept that, and you eventually get back together, it will only cause more problems between you two."

Hutton's hands curled into fists, the veins on his knuckles taut.

"I'm not asking her to give up on her career," he insisted. "I just want her to avoid those scenes whenever possible. So, would you consider it?"

Tilda paused, considering his request. “I can't promise anything," she said finally. “It's not totally up to me."

"I understand," Hutton replied, his voice subdued. "But I hope you'll at least consider it."