Lily returned home. While waiting for Joshua, she packed up her things.
These past eighteen years, he had been too good to her. Every single item displayed in her room had his touch: paper stars he had folded by hand, all kinds of pretty dresses he had given her, a diamond crown he had won at an auction by outbidding everyone.
The things she had once treasured now looked like nothing more than a pile of junk.
Dawn cast bright light through the window.
With dark circles under her eyes, Lily walked out of the empty room and ran straight into Joshua's arms.
"Lily, why are you throwing yourself at me so early in the morning?" He smiled, pulling her closer. "It was my fault for ditching you yesterday. I messed up the wedding. Tomorrow I guarantee something like that will never happen again."
She smelled the strong rose scent on him, and it felt like her throat had been stuffed with a ball of cotton.
Only after everything was over did he remember her. Was he trying to make her a joke in Capital City again?
She pushed him away. "Joshua, let's end it."
In an instant, his face clouded over. The smile still hung at the corner of his mouth, yet the anger behind it was unmistakable.
"Lily, I know you're mad that I followed Ada and left yesterday. You can hit me, you can curse me, but you're not allowed to say things like that!"
She frowned, just about to say she was serious, when his phone cut her off.
She didn't know what the other side said, but his expression changed drastically. He suddenly yanked her by the wrist.
"Ada was detained at a casino. You know a little martial arts—come with me and get her out."
A piercing pain shot through her wrist. Just how much did he care for Ada to be this frantic?
The bitterness in her heart spread into her mouth, so bitter that her eyes turned wet.
Fine. She would help him this one time, as repayment for the Vance family's kindness to her.
Only when they arrived did Lily learn that the other side wanted an exchange—one for one.
Inside the private room, more than a dozen vicious-looking men surrounded Ada, whose face was pale.
Lily met eyes with the man sitting in the corner watching the show, and her heart suddenly sank.
Sean James—the man who had pursued her for a full five years. When did he come back to the country?
"Tsk, didn't expect Mr. Vance to really bring Lily here for his past-life lover."
Before Joshua could speak, Ada gave a contemptuous laugh. "I told you—Joshua would definitely take care of me."
Joshua's eyes were full of worry for Ada. He turned to Lily. "She can't get hurt. Lily, you stay here first and stall them."
The next second, she was pushed forward.
The second time. Because of Ada, he decisively abandoned her. A stabbing pain tore through her chest.
After finishing the show, Sean stood up unhurriedly. The intense sense of oppression made even the air currents around them slow down.
"Lily, is it worth crying for a man like that?"
She didn't say a word, just lifted her head to look at him. Her reddened eyes made him freeze. As if compromising and as if heartbroken, he reached out and wiped away the tear at the corner of her eye. "Does our bet still count?"
A year ago, faced with his ninety-nine confessions, Lily had made a bet with him to make him give up: if one day Joshua didn't love her anymore, she would accept him.
She hadn't expected that day to come so fast.
Lily pressed her lips together. She was willing to accept the loss.
Even after getting the marriage certificate, she still felt unreal.
"Sean will come pick me up in three days."
The James family was three or four cities away from Capital City. Before leaving, she wanted to go to the countryside to see her master once.
That little old man who always secretly bought her candy.
Sean reached out and covered the back of her hand. Noticing her stiffen slightly, he chuckled. "As you command, honey."
