hapter 174 Only a Hug… Just One Hug


    Chapter 174 Only a Hug… Just One Hug


    She’d really fallen for him.


    Even though she tried so hard to fight it.


    Even though she tried to shut her heart away.


    In the end, she surrendered–fully aware she was losing herself.


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    The weight of despair and self–loathing swallowed her whole, and tears surged uncontrobly from her eyes.


    Warm droplets fell one by one onto his arm.


    And soaked into his heart.


    “Le, don’t cry…”


    He held her tighter, clumsily and frantically wiping away her tears, whispering over and over, “Don’t cry. Don’t cry…”


    Lily didn’t want to cry in front of him.


    But the moment he tried tofort her like that, her tears just spilled even faster, as if they weren’t worth a thing.


    ????????


    Inside, she was overwhelmed with sorrow and conflict like never before.


    He was holding her gently, speaking softly, his voice full of tender affection.


    She could tell–he truly cared about “Le.” He genuinely wanted to be with “Le.”


    But all of that was based on one thing: he didn’t know Le was actually Lily.


    There was no future for the two of them.


    The more she thought about it, the harder it was to bear. Her tears poured like a stream down her face.


    Even in his drunken haze, James could sense she was crying even harder now.


    And every single tear felt like a de digging into his heart.


    The pain was gut–wrenching. Like his soul was being torn apart.


    He kept clumsily and gentlyforting her. “Don’t cry… Le, please don’t cry…”


    “James, I’m really not Le. You’ve got the wrong person.”


    Lily looked at him through teary eyes. “I’m Lily. The one you hate the most. This morning, you even warned me to stay out of your sight. You hate me so much–if you wake up and find out you touched me while you were drunk, you’re going to be disgusted!”


    <b>16:54 </b>Tue, <b>22 </b><b>Jul </b><b>? </b>


    Chapter 174 Only a Hug… Just One Hug


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    “Le… Le…”


    He didn’t seem to hear her at all. He just kept holding her tight, repeating her name again and again.


    His voice was soaked in longing.


    Lily’s heart sank into deeper despair.


    She had no idea what to do anymore.


    As she stood there frozen, not knowing whether to retreat or stay, he suddenly spoke, soft and pleading.


    “Le… don’t push me away. I just want to hold you for a bit. Just let me hold you… just once…”


    Lily’s body tensed.


    All the strength she’d used to resist, to struggle, suddenly disappeared.


    She knew he wasn’t in his right mind. Letting him get this close was wrong. It was taking advantage of someone when they were vulnerable.


    But he said he just wanted to hold her. Just for a moment…


    She couldn’t bring herself to say no to him like this.


    In the end, she gave up fighting.


    She let him pull her closer and tighter into his arms.


    And then, trembling and hesitant, she raised her hand and gently hugged him back.


    Like someone lost in the cold, carefully reaching out to touch a bit of warmth they’d longed for.


    “Le…”


    Up until now, she had been trying to push him away. Even though he’d stubbornly held onto her, he still felt empty inside.


    But now, feeling her hug him back, every bit of that unease and helplessness vanished–reced by a joy so intense it made his heart skip a beat.


    He lowered his head, eyes locked on her face.


    He was so drunk, his usually sharp and regal phoenix eyes were misted over with alcohol and softness, like a veil of fog.


    From his perspective, most of her face was shrouded in haze.


    All he could clearly see were her beautiful, shimmering peach–blossom eyes–and her lips, the ones that had haunted him like a curse.


    That first kiss wasn’t enough.


    He wanted to im those lipspletely.


    16:54 Tue, 22 Jul


    Chapter 174 Only a Hug… Just One Hug


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    And he wanted to im her.


    Because he was sure this was a dream, he didn’t bother to hold back.


    In a sudden motion, he turned and pulled her down onto the bed with him, his grip firm, his kiss savage.


    He bit down on her lips with desperation.


    There was no restraint.


    His kiss burned, fierce and wild, like he wanted to consume her entirely.


    He had just said he only wanted to hug her.


    She had thought he would simply hold her like a gentleman, so she had let her guard down.


    Who could’ve imagined that he’d suddenly press her down like this, as if he wanted to devour her? She waspletely stunned.


    The scent of liquor on him–mixed with the crisp, steady smell of cedar–wrapped around her.


    And the intoxication in his body felt contagious, making her feel like she was drunk too, slowly sinking into him.


    So deep that, even knowing it was wrong, she kissed him back.


    “Le…”


    James was more and more certain this was a dream.


    Because in reality, Le had turned down his confession.


    She hadn’t wanted to meet him.


    Only in a dream would she be this gentle.


    Only in a dream could he have her like this.


    But it wasn’t enough.


    One kiss couldn’t quench the wildfire of love and desire raging in him.


    He didn’t just want her lips.


    He wanted all of her.


    He wanted her to bepletely his–only his.


    His burning kiss began to drift downward.