Chapter 198 Dream–Tangled Night


    +10 Free Coins


    Lily didn’t want to trouble him, but since her IV was almost finished, she didn’t say anything more.


    Once the IV drip ended, she drifted off to sleep quickly.


    James closed the door to the hospital room andy down on the guest bed.


    Lily didn’t sleep soundly. She dreamed of the crash that had happened earlier that night.


    She also dreamed of that terrible ident sixteen years ago–the one that took her parents‘ lives.


    At the moment of impact, her mother had thrown herself over her, shielding her with her own body. She’d whispered. “Lizzy, you has to live. You has to live a happy life.”


    No matter how hard she tried to be happy, she still missed them.


    Missed them so, so much.


    “Lily?”


    James saw her curled up under the nket, silent tears slipping down her cheeks. He realized she was having another nightmare.


    She’d suffered a concussion, and the doctor had warned them to be careful.


    Worried the nightmare would take too much of <i>a </i>toll on her, he got up and gently called her name a few times.


    But she didn’t respond. Her face remained wet with tears, and she suddenly pulled the nket over her head.


    Fearing she might suffocate, James quickly pulled the nket away from her face.


    <i>The </i>moment he did, she suddenly sat up and threw her arms around him.


    And in that sudden movement, her warm, soft lips brushed against his.


    It felt like an electric current shot through him. The brush of her lips sent an uncontroble jolt through his body.


    His heart tripped, his pulse stumbled, and for a moment, he forgot to breathe. He stood there frozen,


    unable to react.


    Lily was still caught in her dream.


    The blood–red nightmare faded, only <i>to </i>be reced by memories of being thrown into the icy river by Bodger, Taylor, and the others.


    Then it was like the night at the fountain again, when Taylor had forced her into the freezing water. She’d struggled to breathe, desperate to survive.


    But then, warmth returned.


    O


    55%


    +10 Free Coins


    Chapter 198 Dream–Tangled Night


    James appeared like a god, holding her tight.


    She clung to that warmth, unwilling to let go.


    The nket slid down her shoulders, and a chill crept over her. Instinctively, she reached for something- anything to hold onto, something warm.


    Her hands slid across James‘ torso, slipping under the hem of his soft cotton undershirt.


    His chest and abs were firm, every inch packed with lean muscle. His body was warm–young, full of life, radiating a powerful heat. Her bare hands pressed against his skin, unfiltered.


    So warm. Sofortable.


    “Lily!”


    She’d just grabbed a handful of his chest, and James finally snapped out of his daze.


    “Take your hands off me! Don’t touch me!”


    But Lily was still tangled in her dream.


    She was still curled into his arms, savoring the warmth, when the James in her dream suddenly scolded her, demanding she let go.


    If this had been real life, she would’ve immediately pulled away, scrambling to avoid his disgust.


    But it wasn’t.


    It was her dream.


    Her dream—her rules. She wasn’t going anywhere.


    She hugged him tighter, one hand even squeezing his abs with a yful little twist.


    James hadn’t expected that. Her boldness caught himpletely off guard. The sensation jolted through him, and he couldn’t help but grunt under his breath.


    Her soft hand wandered without restraint, touching him like she owned him. His whole body tensed, muscles rigid as stone.


    He wasn’t going to tolerate it. No way.


    He grabbed her arms, trying to push her off him.


    But she was clinging too tightly, stubborn as ever. The moment he broke her grip, shetched onto him again.


    “Lily, stop holding me! I told you–I don’t like physical contact with you!”


    As he looked down, something stopped him cold.


    She was still in her loose hospital gown.


    O


    55%


    16:59 Tue, 22 Jul


    Chapter 198 Dream–Tangled Night


    <b>+10 </b>Free Coins


    One wide sleeve had slipped off, revealing the deep gash along her left arm. It was fully exposed, angry and red against her pale skin.


    The sight of it made him flinch.


    Maybe it was the harsh lighting, or the way the blood had dried so darkly, but his eyes stung just looking at <ol><li>it. </li></ol>


    And that pain… it didn’t stop at his eyes. It sank into his chest, threading through him like tiny needles.


    He turned his face away, too shaken to keep looking at the wound.


    But that meant he caught sight of something else: the tear still clinging to the corner of her eye.


    One tiny tear.


    That was all it took to throw his heart into chaos.


    She wasn’t crying anymore, but her cheeks were still wet, her nose tinged red. She looked so small, curled against him like that. So yulnerable.


    And those trembling, red lips…


    The longer he looked, the more he thought they looked exactly like Le’s.


    “Hold me…”


    Or I’ll fall<i>… </i>


    In her sleep–fogged mind, Lily thought James was trying to push her away again.


    She didn’t want to fall. She didn’t want to hit the floor.


    So she clung to him tighter.


    Eyes closed, she pressed her face into his chest, rubbing against him as if seekingfort. Her soft lips brushed the edge of his again.


    Then she shifted into a snug little position and curled up in his arms, sleeping soundly–peacefully.


    27