Chapter 127 Water and Fire
Chapter 127 Water and Fire
If she tugged his shirt any harder, she’d be seeing his abs next.
And maybe even more….
Suddenly, the air in the private room felt so stilling. Simon could barely breathe.
He turned his head sharply, trying to escape the suffocating heat, trying to ignore the way her gaze burned against his bare chest and made every inch of his skin feel electrified.
Then she leaned in–soft breath brushing against his neck, hot and uninvited, mingling shamelessly with his own
His throat went dry.
He couldn’t take it. He wanted to push her away, but somehow, at the same time, he didn’t.
Her red lips were inches from his own, like a rose soaked in flames–dangerous and intoxicating.
He had this irrational certainty that any second now, those lips would press into his.
The tension between them made him freeze, made him want and fear all at once.
“Lily, you–why do you keep putting your hands on me? You–how can you…”
How can you be so shamless?!
To hide the heat creeping up his neck, Simon forced his tone to be sharp, scolding.
But before he could finish yelling at her, something hit his face.
No–poured onto it.
She hadn’t kissed him. She’d grabbed the wine glass and dumped the whole thing on him!
Then she flung his collar away and huffed, full of smug disdain, “Maybe a little water will help your brain grow in next year! Simon, hope you finally grow one!”
“Lily!”
Simon’s face turned a furious shade of green.
This was the second time.
Again?! This arrogant woman had dared to pour something on his face again?
Was she trying to get herself killed?
He wanted nothing more than to grind her into dust–but even now, there was something wild and bright about her expression that made his fists clench in hesitation.
He stared at her vivid, ice–clear face, dazed for a moment–just long enough for his phone to start ringing.
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Chapter 127 Water and Fire
urgently and insistently.
The caller ID flashed. Elsa.
Still dazed, he picked up.
“Simon. I’m really not doing well,” came the soft voice over the line. “Can you come talk to me for a bit?”
He was still on his date…..
For the first time in his life, Simon actually felt a twinge of reluctance to go comfort Elsa.
But then he remembered–sixteen years ago, when he was buried beneath the rubble in that lightless, hopeless place… it had been Lizzy who stayed with him through the darkest days
He couldn’t bear to let her down.
“Alright. I’ll be there soon.”
He hung up, cast Lily one last cold, loathing glance, grabbed his car keys, and left in a gust of frigid air-
That same evening, John was dining with friends at Gold Towers.
The private room was full of flattery and laughter, but John’s sharp, handsome features were frosty and expressionless. He was clearly in no mood to entertain anyone.
Tonight was the second anniversary of his relationship with Lily.
He hated how pushy and unreasonable she’d become lately.
And yet, maybe because it was their anniversary, a part of him still missed her.
Truthfully, he’d wanted to spend tonight with her.
Why else would he have gone out of his way to pick out another diamond ring after losing the first one?
“Hey, by the way, Simon’s here tonight too–on a date!”
John was lost in thought when a friend leaned in with a grin. “They’re at Moonview Hall, all the way down at the east end. I only saw the wornan’s back, but she looked fine.”
“You know Simon best, right? Any idea who she is? Things got intense–I saw her push Simon up against the wall. Didn’t stick around to see more though. didn’t want Simon to beat me up.”
John really had no idea who Simon was meeting.
He was even more surprised that Simon–who never showed interest in women–was being so intimate.
Wait. No. Simon wasn’t actually disinterested in women.
He suddenly remembered that time Lily had been drugged… and how Simon’s fingertips had hovered over her lips, trembling and full of heat.
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Chapter 127 Water and Fire
He knew Lily only had eyes for him.
Her recent behavior–causing scenes, stirring things up–it was all just to make him cut ties with Elta once- and for all
She loved him too much to go on a date with Simon. No way.
And yet, that image of Simon’s finger brushing her lips clung to his mind like a curse, squeezing at his chest until he could hardly sit still.
“John, you alright?”
Someone finally noticed the strange look on his face.
“I just remembered something. Gotta go. You guys carry on.”
He stood up abruptly and left, cold and wordless,
Everyone assumed he was off to be with Elsa, and went right back to drinking.
But John didn’t believe Lily would actually be at Gold Towers.
Still, once he left the private room. his feet carried him straight to Moonview Hall.
He was just about to push the doors open–when they swung wide from the inside.
And there she
-was-
Lil
The woman who had just been on a
on a date with Simon… the woman tangled in all that tension
and hear
It really was her
And in that moment, a wave
ve of pu
pure rage swallowed him whole.
