Chapter 5 His Heart Raced–for Lily
After John carried Elsa out, his friends all rushed to the hospital after them, eager to show concern and help.
Soon, the luxurious private room was left with only Lily and Simon.
Simon was the only heir to the Bale family, one of Capital City’s top elite lineages.
He and John had grown up like brothers, thick as thieves.
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He’d spent the past few years abroad. When John was cast out of the Jones family, they lost touch. It wasn’t until Simon returned six months ago that he found out what had happened.
Unlike John’s other friends, who dismissed Lily because they sensed John didn’t care much for her, Simon disliked Lily for different reason: he doted on Elsa, truly saw her as a little sister.
When he was ten, he went with his father on a charity trip to the countryside and got caught in a terrible earthquake. He and Elsa were trapped in the rubble together.
He had been gravely injured, unable even to speak. If not for Elsa comforting him and encouraging him the whole time, he wouldn’t have survived until rescue.
Elsa was smart, radiant, noble–Capital City’s proud and untouchable red rose. Lily, aside from a prettier face, had nothing to.
compare.
*Lily, you dared to send thugs to attack Lizzy? You deserve to die”
Lily, sti
, still staring blankly in the direction John had gone, was stunned by Simon’s voice.
Lizzy?
Clearly, Simon meant Elsa.
Funny her childhood nickname had also been Lizzy.
Only her now–deceased loved ones and the friend trapped with her in the rubble sixteen years ago had ever called her that.
But that friend had never spoken. She never even knew his name.
The pocket watch he gave her had been stolen years ago. There was no chance they’d ever meet again.
Simon looked at her bloodied face and felt even more disgusted. To him, John being with her was rock bottom.
His anger flared. Without thinking, he picked up a glass of liquor and threw in her face.
“Touch Lizzy again, and I’ll make your life worse than death.”
“I didn’t hurt Elsa!”
The wound on her forehead flared with pain,
The alcohol stung like acid, and her body trembled like a dead leaf in the wind.
But her defiance refused to break. She pulled herself to her feet and, with every bit of strength she had left, slapped Simon across the face.
11 say it again–Elsa’s word alone doesn’t convict me!”
“Call the police if you want. Without real evidence, they can’t arrest me either.”
“And you? You have no right to throw anything at me.”
“Lily!”
4:02 PM
Chapter 5 His Heart Raced–for Lily
Simon stood frozen for half a minute before his voice returned.
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He was the Bale family’s heir, the golden boy of Capital City, People flattered and fawned over him. He couldn’t believe someone had just slapped him.
Especially a woman he despised.
If he weren’t the type to avoid hitting women, he would’ve snapped her neck on the spot.
Lily caught the murderous gleam in his eyes. Her eyelid twitched.
She could feel the danger.
But she didn’t regret the slap.
She stared at him with razor–sharp eyes, refusing to back down
“You hit me first. That slap? You earned it
Simon was so furious, he actually laughed.
John really has no taste.
He grabbed another glass.
Lily looked scared, but still held herself tall.
Blood still dripped from her temple. Her pale face was a mess of red and pain..
But her eyes–those bright, almond–shaped eyes–blazed.
Even filled with anger, they sparkled with life.
Maybe it was the way her eyes caught the light, but Simon’s heart skipped a beat.
He couldn’t throw the glass
Still, Elsa had been wronged. He couldn’t just let it slide..
Instead, he smashed the glass at her feet. His voice was like a blade.
“Don’t go near John again.”
“Marrying John was Lizzy’s final wish. If you interfere again. I’ll make you regret ever being born.”
With that, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.
“Freak.
Lily muttered to herself.
Four years ago, it was Elsa who dumped John because he was paralyzed and broke.
It wasn’t until after their breakup that Lily took John in.
How was she the one interfering?
Not that it mattered anymore
She and John were over.
These people no longer meant anything to her.
All she wanted was her parents‘ keepsake..
402 FM
Chapter 5 His Heart Raced–for Lily
The alcohol, the injury, the exhaustion–it all hit her. Her head felt unbearably heavy
She couldn’t drive like this.
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She slumped onto the couch, catching her breath for a long while, then ordered a car to the hospital to treat her injury.
The ER was crowded that night.
By the time she got stitched up, it was already deep into the night.
The doctor prescribed her two ointments and reminded her to apply them on time. The wound wasn’t deep, and with proper care, it wouldn’t scar.
As she walked out of the hospital, she noticed the snow had started falling
Through the curtain of snow, she saw John walking with Elsa on his back, a picture–perfect scene right out of a romance
drama.
Her eyes stung
She turned to walk in the opposite direction–until she heard Elsa’s teasing voice.
“John, the doctor said I’m doing better. You don’t have to carry me.
“Put me down. I can walk.
“Don’t be silly,” John replied, voice full of fondness and patience. “It’s too cold. Let me get you home.”
Elsa tightened her grip on his neck.
With a bit of spoiled pride, she giggled. “Well, if you’re going to carry me.. then you can only carry me from now on. If you carry another girl. I’ll get jealous!
“Look! That bakery across the street! I want a strawberry cake. Go buy one for me?
Lily’s gaze followed Elsa’s voice toward the opposite sidewalk.
It was that trendy 24–hour dessert shop, famous online. Despite the snow, the line outside was long.
Not long ago, Lily had seen a video of it and wanted to try the strawberry cake.
when the
happened to pass by, she’d said she wanted some.
John had frowned at the long line and told her, “Waiting in line that long for cake is a waste of time.”
But tonight, the line was even longer.
And he gently tucked Elsa into the car, wrapping her in a blanket
Tll wait in line. You stay warm inside.
The blanket. Lily had bought that blanket.
John
Elsa didn’t let him go.
She raised her leg–long, slender, wrapped in a scarlet heel–and curled it around his waist, dragging him into the backseat.
Their breaths tangled, the air thick with heat and tension.
Lily thought they’d be all over each other in seconds.
But suddenly, John turned his head-
