Chapter 2 She Bloomed Like a Rose and Entangled Him Without Mercy


    <i>Selfish</i><i>. </i><i>Cold</i><i>–</i><i>blooded</i>. <i>Fighting </i><i>a </i><i>dying </i><i>woman </i><i>over </i>a <i>pendant</i><i>… </i>


    But that pendant was hers–left to her by her parents. What was <i>so </i>wrong about wanting it back?


    Did he really expect her to keep sacrificing everything for him after being betrayed <i>so </ipletely? Was she supposed to grovel after being humiliated like that?


    <i>She </i>wasn’t <i>that </i><i>pathetic</i>.


    Before she could even say a word, John’s phone rang shrilly.


    It was a call from Elsa.


    Her voice was weak and pained. “John, I just threw up blood. I feel awful… Can youe be with me?”


    John paused.


    He hadn’t even managed to calm Lily down yet.


    But he figured Lily would never really leave him, and Elsa was already seriously ill. So he made his decision.


    “Elsa, don’t cry. I’m on my way.”


    Hearing her choked sobs, he didn’t bother exining to Lily anymore. He turned around and left the room without looking back.


    As the front door mmed shut, Lily let out a coldugh and kicked the diamond ne into a corner.


    It had been like this ever since Elsa came back a month ago.


    Every time Elsa felt a little ufortable or upset, he would drop everything to run to her.


    Rain or shine, day or night—he was always there for her.


    It was like all those sweet whispers he’d once murmured to Lily, all those promises of eternal love, had been nothing but a dream.


    But luckily, it was all about to end.


    In one month, she’d marry James.


    Then John could stop worrying about her clinging to him, and go be happy with his precious crush. What a perfect oue.


    Funny thing was–her wedding day would be on John’s birthday.


    His birthday, her wedding. Two celebrations on the same day. <i>Poetic</i><i>, </i><i>really</i><i>. </i>


    As far as Lily was concerned, once she broke up with John, he was no longer her boyfriend. She had no reason to stay in his vi.


    And it just so happened to be a Sunday. She spent the whole day packing everything she owned.


    She sold what she could, tossed the rest.


    She’d contacted the biggest luxury resalepany in Capital City. The staff came straight to her door, and her used bags and jewelry sold for a total of twenty million.


    She didn’t transfer a cent to John. She kept it all.


    She earned that money. It was hers.


    As night fell, Lily shredded thest tie she’d ever made for John, threw it away, and returned to her room.


    She was just about to leave with her suitcase when she noticed the photo on her nightstand.


    In the picture, she leaned against John’s shoulder, smiling brightly. He was gazing down at her with what looked like affection.


    John had always hated taking photos.


    This one was taken on her birthdayst year, after she begged and pestered him nonstop. It was the only photo they had together.


    She had treasured it like gold.


    As soon as it was printed, she ced it on her nightstand and looked at it every single day. Even on business trips, she would take it with her.


    Now, all she felt was mockery.


    She smashed the frame against the floor and tossed it in the trash.


    By the time John came home, it waste at night.


    He parked in front of the main house and immediately noticed the living room was dark.


    The sight made him vaguely ufortable.


    He often came homete from social events.


    But no matter howte it was, Lily would always leave the lights on for him.


    That single light in the night had always guided him home. So before Elsa returned, he had never once stayed out all night.


    He figured Lily was still sulking.


    Knowing her, she was probably curled up on the couch waiting for him to coax her.


    “Lily.”


    He snapped out of his thoughts and walked quickly into the living room, flipping on the lights.


    To his surprise, she wasn’t there.


    She wasn’t dozing on the couch like usual, struggling to keep her eyes open after waiting so long, ready to stumble into the kitchen and make some ginger tea for him.


    The living room felt… emptier.


    He couldn’t quite put his finger on what was missing, but it felt cold.


    “Sir, you’re back.”


    Hearing him, Mandy rushed out of her room. “Did you drink, sir? I’ll make you some ginger tea.”


    “No need.”


    John wasn’t in the mood. He rushed upstairs and headed straight to Lily’s room.


    She wasn’t there.


    The room itself was empty.


    The potted nts by the windowsill were gone. Even her pillows and bedding had vanished.


    The space used to be so cozy–plush toys, crystal bead curtains, whimsical wall stickers…


    Now, it was nothing but cold ck and white.


    The sterile atmosphere irritated him.


    He turned around and asked Mandy in a chilling voice, “Where’s Lily?”


    His presence was so cold, it made Mandy shiver.


    She drew in a deep breath before answering honestly, “Miss Lily said… she broke up with you. And that she’s noting back.”


    John was stunned intoughter by the nonsense Lily had left behind.


    <i>So </i><i>she </i><i>was </i><i>still </i><i>throwing </i><i>a </i><i>tantrum</i><i>? </i>


    <i>Running </i><i>away </i><i>from </i><i>home</i><i>? </i>


    <i>She </i><i>really </i><i>thought </i><i>she </i><i>had </i><i>guts </i>now, <i>huh</i><i>? </i>


    “Mandy, leave<b>.</b><b>” </b>


    Once she was gone, John dialed his assistant Wayne, face still cold, and ordered him to find out what hotel Lily was staying in.


    She had no family in Capital City. In such a rush, she couldn’t possibly have found a proper ce to live.


    Running away in anger–she could only have gone to a hotel.


    Wayne worked fast. It didn’t take long before he confirmed she was at Capital City First Hotel.


    “Lily, how long are you going to keep this up?”


    John typed the message into the chat app–but then he stopped.


    And deleted it.


    Because he realized the photo frame on the nightstand was gone.


    He knew better than anyone how much Lily had treasured that photo.


    Even if she was throwing a fit, she must have taken it with her. No way she’d just walk out for good.


    He didn’t need to message her.


    Four years ago, the Ginger family kicked her out. Her biological parents had died when she was six. She’d had no home since then.


    If she didn’te back to him–where else could she go?


    Since Elsa returned, they’d argued countless times.


    And every single time, she was the one who apologized first.


    <i>This </i>time <i>would </i><i>be </i><i>no </i><i>different</i><i>. </i>It <i>was </i><i>only </i><i>a </i><i>matter </i><i>of </i><i>time</i>.


    In the month since Elsa came back, Lily had been gued by so many negative emotions that she hadn’t had a good night’s sleep.


    But now that she was free of that cage, she slept like a baby.


    Packing up the day before had drained her energy. Her calves were sore and aching–she really wanted to stay in bed.


    But it was a weekday. She had to go resign from Jones Corp.


    All those years with John, she’d built her life around him.


    When he was struggling, she worked herself to the bone to pay for his treatment. After he became


    sessful, she became his personal assistant and cared for him in every detail.


    Now that she was done with him, there was no reason to keep that job either.


    She wanted to chase her childhood dream–to be a great voice actress<b>. </b>


    “Lily, my stomach hurts so bad, I can’t hold it anymore!”


    Lily had just arrived at the secretarial department when the new girl, Yulia Xander, ran up to her in a panic.


    Yulia looked absolutely pitiful. “Mr. John needs this file urgently. Can you please bring it to the CEO’s office for me?”


    She was clearly in crisis mode.


    Before Lily could even agree, Yulia had already dashed off toward the restroom in a very awkward pose.


    Lily didn’t want to see John.


    But it was obvious Yulia was desperate.


    She had a good impression of the girl and didn’t want her getting chewed out by the boss. So she took the file and headed for the CEO’s office.


    The door was slightly ajar.


    Lily raised her hand to knock–then froze.


    She heard Elsa’s coy, flirty voice.


    “John, my ankle suddenly hurts so much!”


    Her hand hovered over the door, then lightly pushed it open a crack.


    Through the narrow gap, she saw Elsa’s body suddenly go limp–and fall into John’sp.


    “Elsa…”


    John seemed startled and instinctively grabbed her waist, probably afraid she’d get hurt.


    But even after regaining her bnce, Elsa didn’t move.


    She hooked her arms around his neck, bright and alluring like a rose in full bloom.


    “John, I suddenly want to kiss you. What should I do?”


    As she spoke, her dewy red lips slowly pressed toward his-


    And John didn’t move away.