Chapter 27 Trash and Firelight


    His grip tightened again as he dragged her out of the room.


    “Do you even know that Lizzy slit her wrists? If you hadn’t posted those videos and photos online and incitedizens to attack her, she never would’ve tried <i>to </i>kill herself! Thankfully, Madam Wendy found her in time, or she’d be dead by now. But even after waking up, she won’t eat, won’t drink, won’t speak… You’re the one who did this to her! You have to apologize! If she refuses to forgive you, or worse, if she hurts herself again, I won’t let you off!”


    So Elsa had actually slit her wrists…


    ying the pity card, huh? She was a real expert.


    Lily definitely didn’t want to be dragged to the hospital.


    When he pulled open the door and forced her out, she bit him–hard.


    Taking advantage of his pain, she darted back into the room, trying to m the door shut.


    But he was faster.


    Just before the door clicked shut, he lunged in and grabbed her wrists with a cold expression.


    “Lily, don’t push your luck! I’ll say it onest timee to the hospital and ask Lizzy for forgiveness!”


    “And I’ll say it onest time–I did nothing wrong, and I will not apologize to Elsa!”


    Her wrists burned like fire.


    She was certain her bones were about to snap under Simon’s grip.


    But she still refused to give in.


    She lifted her face, met his gaze, and said word by word, “I don’t believe Elsa ever meant to die. That whole suicide attempt? It was probably just a show! Oh, she couldn’t handle being called a mistress… but isn’t that <i>exactly </i>what she is? Sure, I’ve broken up with John now–but before that, she clung to him and even stole the wedding dress I hand–sewed, then married him. She’s a shameless homewrecker!”


    “Lily!”


    Simon couldn’t bear to hear anyone call his beloved Lizzy a mistress. The killing intent radiating off him was enough to make the air drop several degrees.


    “Lizzy’s gravely ill! She’s dying! She just wanted John to stay with her for her final days!”


    Lily wasn’t intimidated.


    She stood her ground, sneering, “So she’s dying. And that gives her the right to throw away dignity and decency to be a mistress? So because she’s dying, it’s okay to wear my handmade wedding dress without asking? Because she’s dying, I’m just supposed to ept my boyfriend secretly marrying her behind my


    back? No wonder you adore Elsa so much. You two really are birds of a feather–equally disgusting, equally despicable!”


    Simon’s expression darkened to something monstrous.


    He couldn’t believe someone dared to call him–the sole heir of the Bale family–disgusting and despicable.


    He wasn’t in the same league with Elsa.


    It was just that, back when he was a child buried under rubble, it was warm, gentle Lizzy who gave him the will to live. That’s why he treasured her above all else.


    He hadn’t even recovered from the shock and fury when a sharp pain shot through his foot–Lily had stomped on him again.


    His grip loosened slightly from the pain.


    She seized the moment, yanked her wrist free, and lunged for her phone.


    He didn’t want things to spiral out of control. Rushing forward, he once again grabbed her wrist with precision.


    She instinctively stepped back to avoid him.


    But right behind her was the edge of the soft bed.


    She stumbled and fell straight onto it,pletely off–bnce.


    At the same time, he was still holding her wrist. Caught off guard, and a bit distracted, he stumbled forward toonding right on top of her.


    Simon had always looked down on Lily. He hated even being near her.


    Logically, the moment hended on her, he should’ve pulled away immediately.


    But her body was unbelievably soft.


    The light sweetness of her body wash, mixed with a faint pear blossom scent, slipped into his nose like a spell–seeping into his senses, corroding his restraint.


    For a moment, he forgot to pull away.


    He just stared at her in a daze, watching the fury ze in her eyes, those mes shockingly bright.


    Their eyes locked.


    And in that moment, he remembered the video he’d stumbled upon earlier that morning.


    In it, garbage and debris had been hurled at her.


    Her neatly tied hair hade undone and was dripping wet. Her face was smeared to the point of being unrecognizable. But her peach blossom eyes burned with unyielding rage–just like they did now- shining fiercely.


    His heart suddenly pounded, faster and faster, until even his breathing turned feverish.


    His grip on her wrist instinctively tightened.


    But in that moment, he wasn’t sure anymore–was he holding her down to drag her to the hospital and make her apologize to Elsa, or for something else entirely?


    Still staring at her, he noticed the lump swelling on her forehead, and the wound near her temple that hadn’t healed yet.


    His heart, already pounding like a drum, twisted painfully.