Chapter 87 One Heart, One Lifetime
Chapter 87 One Heart, One Lifetime
She had already told him–when he vanished all those years ago, she hadn’t been angry.
As long as he was alive and well, that was enough for her.
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She truly didn’t want James to be stuck in guilt over disappearing without a word. So after saying she didn’t blame him, she quickly changed the subject.
“James, I was seriously awesome today. Can you guess what I did?”
Watching the text bubble bounce across the screen, James could almost picture the girl resting her chin in her palm, brimming with pride.
The storm of pain and self–loathing on his face began to dissolve. He gently traced his fingers across her message, and slowly, the sharpness in his eyes softened.
Just as he was about to type a reply, her messages came rapid–fire.
“I beat up my ex–boyfriend’s crush today.
“I slapped her seven times. It felt amazing.”
“James, aren’t I incredible?”
Ex–boyfriend.
Those two words hit James like a freezing wind.
He hadn’t expected that she had once loved someone–truly loved them.
Bitterness spread like wildfire beneath his ribs, pulling tight across his chest. It hurt even to breathe.
But… it was her ex–boyfriend.
James had never confessed his feelings to her–not before he fell into a coma, not even after. And in the four and a half years he was gone, he had no right to expect her to remain alone.
Still, from now on–he hoped the man beside her would be him.
James had never been a timid man.
But because she mattered so much, he moved with extraordinary caution
Staring at the screen for a long time, he finally typed his reply with solemn care:
“Very impressive. Ex–boyfriend? You’re not seeing anyone now?”
Then after a pause:
“Does your hand hurt?”
The moment she saw his compliment, Lily broke into a glowing smile.
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Chapter 87 One Heart, One Lifetime
And when he asked if her hand hurt, a warm flush spread through her chest–and her eyes stung, for no reason at all
She curled up on the couch, typing back: “It felt so good at the time I forgot it could even hurt.”
She had always trusted James. Even though they had never met in real life, he was still the one she considered her closest friend.
So when he asked about her ex, she told him the truth.
“I used to really like him. I even wished I could be with him in my next life. He promised me forever, too. I thought we’d get married someday. But when his old crush came back, everything changed.”
“Luckily, I’ve moved on, I don’t want a wishy–washy cheater anymore. As for a new boyfriend… I’m not interested. Men are too unreliable, I just want to shine on my own!”
She had once loved him deeply.
She had wished to spend her next life with him….
That old ache came crashing down again in James’s chest.
Still, when she called her ex “a disloyal flirt,” he was a little relieved–and also anxious.
Because just earlier, in the bathroom, his own body had reacted in a way that made him feel disgusting.
Even if he didn’t love Lily… even if he resented the arranged marriage… that reaction made him no different than the men she hated.
A player.
The thought made him, the ever–composed, steady heir of the Luke family, feel uncharacteristically sheepish.
He didn’t even dare to say something like, “Not all men are like that. I’m not.”
Meanwhile, Lily realized she’d gone too far.
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James was a man, after all–wasn’t it kind of rude to rant about how unreliable men were?
Quickly, she added:
“But not all men are jerks. My dad wasn’t one. And I know you’re not either, James!”
Seeing that line-“I know you’re not“-a soft glow returned to James’s deep black eyes.
Then another message popped up
“James, do you think all men have a crush they never forget?”
“No.”
He answered instantly.
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Chapter 87 One Heart, One Lifetime
James didn’t want her thinking he still held onto anyone else. He typed with fierce clarity.
“If a man can’t let go of his crush, he has no right to be with someone else. That’s playing with people’s feelings. It’s irresponsible.”
Then, almost reverently, he added:
“I don’t have a crush.”
“I believe in loving one person for a lifetime.”
One person. For a lifetime,
Lily knew James wasn’t implying anything romantic. He was just stating his views on love–clear, unwavering.
And yet… her heart skipped a beat.
She’d just started to type out a compliment about how healthy and grounded his perspective was when her phone buzzed again.
Another message appeared:
“Call we… meet?”
Lily froze.
Her fingers trembled, and she nearly dropped her phone.
stated his views on
She had never expected James–the same James who had always firmly never marrying, who kept his distance with everyone to ask to meet her.
It had to mean nothing romantic. He probably just saw her as a real friend.
But still…
She hadn’t had many friends in recent years. And when it came to dealing with people in real life- especially someone she cared about–she couldn’t help but feel nervous.
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