Chapter 67 The Night of Unease
Chapter 67 The Night of Unease
As long as they both acted like the other was single, that was enough.
Out of courtesy, she asked, “What about you?”
Seeing those delicate little words appear on the screen, James’s pale fingers trembled slightly.
In business, it was easy to blur truth and fiction–no need to get sentimental with partners.
But Leila was the only woman he’d ever wanted to marry. He didn’t want to lie to her.
Back when they barely knew each other, he’d given her a fake name–and he had regretted it ever since. He didn’t want to keep piling on lies.
But the Leila he remembered was someone who drew clear lines between love and hate.
He was afraid that if she found out he was married–even if it wasn’t his choice–she might never want to speak to him again. Still, he wasn’t going to touch Lily during the marriage, and she had promised they’d divorce in six months. So, he replied:“Not planning on getting married.”
Lily understood.
He was probably still happily single.
She remembered when they first met, he’d told her he didn’t believe in marriage.
But it didn’t really matter to her anymore.
They were just friends who clicked–nothing romantic. They might never even meet in person. If he was single, she’d exchange the occasional greeting with him. If he was married with kids, their chats would still stay within the boundaries of friendship.
She didn’t keep the conversation going. Instead, she typed, “James, it’s getting late. I’m heading to bed. You should rest too.”
James had been asleep for four and a half years–and now that he was finally awake, he wasn’t tired at all.
He actually wanted to ask her if she had a boyfriend now, if she was seeing anyone.
In front of his family, friends, employees, and business partners, he always chose his words sparingly. But with her, he had endless things to say.
He wanted to ask her what job she took after college, if anyone had bullied her, if she’d been happy lately…
So much he wanted to ask.
But seeing her say she was going to bed, he could only end the conversation for the night.
He stared at the phone screen for a long time before carefully typing two words:“Good night.”
The days ahead were long.
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Chapter 67 The Night of Unease
And for the rest of his life, day after day, night after night, he hoped to always say
Good morning. Good night.
“Good night,“Lily politely replied, then grabbed her change of clothes and headed into the bathroom.
James truly didn’t care for her.
But she was still happy he’d woken up.
The Luke family had been so kind to her, and she sincerely wished them all the happiness in the world.
She had once considered staying with the Luke fatnily forever. But ever since being kicked out of the Ginger family over four years ago, she had learned to take life as it came–and she no longer tried to force anything.
Six months from now, she would go through with the divorce, just as they’d agreed, and leave the Luke family’s home with peace of mind.
With that acceptance in her heart, Lily showered and, even in the completely unfamiliar bed, quickly drifted off to sleep.
She slept soundly.
But that night, John was destined for sleeplessness.
Because he didn’t want Elsa’s final days to be filled with regret, and she had said she wanted to be confessed to, he had arranged a drone show to give her a grand romantic moment.
But after giving Elsa romance… all he felt was emptiness.
It was his birthday, and what he truly wanted was to spend it with Lily.
And for some reason, an inexplicable sense of unease kept gnawing at him.
He had this gut feeling… that he had lost something truly important.
But Lily loved him so much. How could she possibly leave?
Still, that anxiety kept clawing at his heart. Unable to ignore it, he left Elsa’s tearful pleas behind and drove toward the hotel where Lily was staying.
On the way, countless thoughts spun through his head.
He figured his restlessness tonight must’ve been because Lily hadn’t even wished him a happy birthday.
All these years they’d been together, every one of his birthdays, she had been the first to say those words to him.
She always prepared birthday gifts for him with such care.
They weren’t expensive–but he treasured every one of them.
And today, she hadn’t even said “happy birthday.” He hadn’t received a single gift from her.
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Chapter 67 The Night of Unense
Elsa’s place wasn’t far from the capital’s First Hotel, and before long, he arrived at Lily’s room.
“Lily!”
John called her name several times, but the door remained tightly shut. There was no sign she was gom to open it.
He missed her so much, and the longer he waited without seeing her, the more agitated he becamic,
After standing there stiflly for a moment, he raised his hand and knocked hard on the door
“What the hell’s your problem? It’s the middle of the night! Why are you banging on doors?!”
“Lily…”
The door suddenly swung open.
John stepped forward, ready to wrap Lily in his arms–only to find that the person standing in front of him wasn’t the girl he’d been aching to see.
It was a man. A man with a full beard.
“Where’s Lily?”
John’s first instinct was that Lily must be with this guy. His handsome face instantly darkened.
He stormed forward, grabbed the man by the collar, and growled in a cold, threatening voice. “Who are you? What are you doing in Lily’s room?”
