Chapter 74 Lines That Shouldn’t Be Crossed
The person doing the verification said the photo of Lily and the man on the marriage certificate was clearly digitally altered.
The moment John saw the message, the agony crushing his chest instantly lifted.
Who didn’t know that registering a marriage required both parties to be there in person and take a photo on the spot?
If Lily’s so–called husband couldn’t even show his face, and the image was a fake, how could the certificate be real?
She’d forged a marriage certificate just to make him jealous…
How childish.
Maybe it was because yesterday had been his birthday. He was used to her spending it with him, and part of him had missed her.
But now that he was sober, everything was clear.
She’d carefully kept the memento of their engagement, and now this? Faking a photo just to provoke him?
There was no way she truly wanted to leave him.
She just wanted him to cave. To chase her. To beg
But this time, she’d taken it too far.
He wasn’t going to give her another out.
Let’s see how long she can keep this up.
He was going to wait until she came crawling back.
“Lily.”
James’s study was located at the very back of the master bedroom. On his way out, he had to walk past the bed where Lily was sleeping.
He didn’t like her. At all. Had no desire to interact with her.
But last night, he’d already had someone draw up the agreement, and he had just printed it in the study. Since she needed to sign it, he still called out to her once he stepped out.
There was no response.
He frowned and instinctively glanced toward the bed.
What he saw made him freeze.
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Chapter 74 Lines That Shouldn’t Be Crossed
The fine silk blanket had been kicked to the floor.
She was only wearing a light green nightgown.
Her sleeping posture was completely unruly. The hem of the gown had ridden up to her waist, exposing two long, pale legs-
And the soft pink fabric beneath.
One of the gown’s shoulder straps had slipped down her arm, leaving the thin material hanging loosely off her frame, barely covering her chest.
From where James stood, he could clearly see the curves of her cleavage.
The pale green fabric made her porcelain skin glow even brighter, as if lit from within.
She lay curled slightly on her side, limbs relaxed, curves rising and falling with each breath. In that moment, James couldn’t help but think of a peeled lychee–soft, pale, and glistening.
And then he remembered–they had just agreed to stay out of each other’s lives. Now, sharing a room with her dressed like this?
James’s sharp, elegant face turned several shades darker.
He tore his gaze away, his voice ice–cold and razor–sharp. “Lily!”
The chill in his tone jolted Lily awake.
She hadn’t even opened her eyes yet, but she sat up instinctively, yawning like a well–behaved schoolgirl waiting for a scolding.
James heard the rustle of movement from the bed.
Assuming she had already adjusted her clothing, he glanced back.
And then-
Her nightgown was still a mess. The hem had ridden up high. The strap was still down. The pale skin before him was blinding.
The image reminded him of white pear blossoms blooming in the early spring–fresh, scattered across. her skin.
His face turned even colder. “Wear proper clothes from now on.”
His voice was frigid, like shards of ice crashing from a mountaintop.
Lily sobered up almost instantly.
She blinked blearily at him, still half–asleep. “Huh?”
What did he mean, not dressed properly?
She looked genuinely confused.
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Chapter 74 Lines That Shouldn’t Be Crossed
James’s irritation deepened.
He didn’t want to look at her. Didn’t want to be near her.
She meant nothing to him. His heart belonged to Leila.
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No matter how fair Lily’s skin was, it held no appeal to him. Her body, to him, was no different than a slab of meat on a butcher’s block.
He didn’t want to waste time talking.
But she hadn’t signed the agreement yet, so he had no choice. “Fix your clothes. Don’t ever show up in front of me like this again. It’s inappropriate.”
Fix what?
Lily looked down.
Only then did she realize how bad it looked.
She had been careful last night–she wore her longest nightgown, wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, even stayed on her side of the room.
But somehow the blanket had slipped off, and the ankle–length gown had bunched up to her waist.
As for her top…
Well, everything that should have been covered… wasn’t.
In this state, in his room, it was no wonder he’d looked like he wanted to kill someone.
Putting herself in his shoes, she’d have done the same–if a man she didn’t like showed up in her room like that, she’d be calling the police.
Then she noticed the stack of papers in his hand. Clearly, he had something to discuss.
Flustered, she quickly tugged down the gown, then scrambled for a jacket and threw it on.
“I’m decent now,” she said in a small voice.
