Chapter 218 A Line Crossed
Chapter 218 A Line Crossed
Her <b>gaze </bnded on him, filled with sharp ridicule. You defended Wendy and without quenvie couldn’t tell right from wrong, and practically fed your brain so a dog Do you even know why I ended up in the men’s restroom just now? Because Wendy and her precious daughter for ked me inside the private dressing room and sent two men to strip me and take photos to ckmail me into barking down. They want to destroy <b>me</b>. They want me ruined. And you expect me to just forgive that Wenly had somene ram into me <b>with </b>a car and then framed me for drunk driving I’ll see her pay for that. And I’ll see her pay for what happened tonight too. As long as I’m breathing. Fll make sure the pays for everything she’s done
“That’s not possible….
Simon stared <b>at </b>her, stunned.
The drunk driving setup–he already knew that had been Wendy’s doing.
But he’d loved Elsa for so long, <b>and </b>through her, he’de to ept Wendy as family. He didn’t want to believe Wendy could stoop so low, to the point of sending someone to take indecent photos
He opened his mouth, trying to defend her. “Wendy would never.
“Lily!”
Before Simon could finish, James‘ voice rang out.
Grace had asked James to swing by the theater and take Lily home. After <b>his </b>meeting, he had Ashton drive straight over. But just as Ashton parked, James received Lily’s distress message.
He didn’t waste a second. He’d rushed toward the dressing rooms like the ce was <b>on </b>fire, only to find her gone. He instructed Ashton to detain the two men found inside, along with the shady figure lurking in the hallway, then hurried downstairs to search for her.
When he finally saw her, she was covered in digt and dust, her face smeared and clothes a mess. It was obvious she’d gone through something harrowing.
His heart twisted violently.
“James…”
Lily couldn’t understand it. Whenever she saw Simon, she just wanted to argue or p him. But with James… her chest flooded with heat and pressure. Suddenly, she felt small and helpless.
The overwhelming fear and indignation from earlier short–circuited her thoughts, and before she knew it. she was rushing toward him, throwing herself into his arms.
James froze on the spot..
He hadn’t expected Lily to suddenly leap forward and hug hire. His instinct was to shove her away. He didn’t like physical contact with her.
<b>But </b>then he looked <b>down </b>
Herrge, teary eyes were hazy and trembling, filled with silent sorrow and vulner.
Chapter 218 A Line Crossed
Those eyes looked so much like Le’s.
The fog in them coiled around his heart like a. He couldn’t move. The hand he had lifted to push her <b>away </b>instead fell gently onto her back.
A clumsy attempt atfort.
He didn’t pull away. That fact alone made the tears Lily had tried to hold bark finally spill over. The fear. the humiliation–it all came crashing down in waves. Her body trembled as she leaned into his embrace, unable to stop the tears rolling down her cheeks.
Her tears were warm.
They soaked through his shirt, scorching his <b>chest </b>like molten needles piercing his heart.
His fingers trembled. Then he gently patted her back.
Simon stood nearby, arms awkwardly half–raised, his expression <b>so </b>dark it was nearly murderous.
When Lily had stepped toward him just now, he thought she was finally going to acknowledge what happened–maybe offer some exnation for peeking. Instead, she bypassed himpletely and threw herself into the arms of the one and only James.
He knew James had no interest in Lily. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have arranged that blind date between
them.
But watching her cling to someone as cold and untouchable as James stirred something bitter inside him. <b>As </b>if Lily’s proximity tainted that untouchable man somehow. And for reasons he couldn’t exin, he
hated it.
Grinding his teeth, he spat <b>out</b>, “Lily, what do you think you’re doing?”
The <b>sound </b>of his voice jolted both Lily and James out of their daze.
James‘ expression stiffened. Disgusted with himself, he took <b>a </b>step back.
Lily, mortified, quickly let <b>go</b>.
Shame and guilt surged inside her. She pinched her palm hard, furious with her ownck of <b>control</b>. What on earth had she just done?
She knew James hated being touched.
He’de here tonight just to help her, and she’d repaid his kindness by overstepping every line.
Her face was filthy. Her tears had mixed with the grime on her cheeks and stained his once–pristine white
shir
It was disgraceful
He probably found her repulsive now.
The more she thought about it, the worse she felt. Her limbs felt heavy with embarment. She took several steps back lowering her head.
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Chapter 218 A Line Grossell
James. I didn’t mean to just now. 1.. 1o.
She couldn’t bring herself to say it. That she clung to him because the needed condor
him <b>made </b>her feel safe.
She lowered her head even further, her voice barely a whisper. Tm sorry I touched your without permission. I didn’t mean to make you ufortable.”