hapter 229 No Turning Back
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Elsa’s body gave a violent shudder.
She had, in fact, framed Lily before.
<b>And </bst time<b>, </b>when the truth came out, John had still chosen to stand by her, out of pity or affection
She’d thought <b>this </b>time would be the same. That if she just bowed her head and yed the victim, he woulde back to her in the end.
But now… he was still defending Lily. Still scolding her–for Lily’s <b>sake</b>.
Simon’s face wasn’t looking good either.
He’d heard rumors in his circle before–how Lily had once loved John so desperately she was willing to sacrifice her dignity, her future, even her life.
At the time, he hadn’t thought much of it. Just idle gossip about a woman hopelessly in love.
But now, hearing John recount everything Lily had done for him… something twisted in his chest.
A sour, bitter ache welled up from deep inside.
It hurt. Like hell.
Lily <b>had </b>broken three ribs for John….
She had loved him with everything she had.
Maybe it was because Lily had once been his blind date–maybe that was why he couldn’t stand hearing about how much she’d loved someone else.
“I’ve wronged Lily…”
John murmured, <b>almost </b>to himself.
Sessful men rarely liked to revisit the darkest days of their past. John was no different. He almost never thought <b>about </b>those years.
But once the memories started flowing, he couldn’t shut them off.
They came in swarms–sharp, painful, relentless–like a thousand ants gnawing <b>straight </b>through his heart.
Before he met Lily, he’d lived twenty–two years
He’d even dated Elsa <b>once</b>, briefly,
But <b>that </b>rtionship had been shallow, born more from external pressure <b>than </b>from true affection. It had never <b>run </b>deep.
Chapter 229 No Turning Back
In fact, everything before Lily felt faint and blurry now. Insignificant.
It was only after Lily entered his life that things started to matter. That he truly began to live.
She was his present, his future, his forever.
He couldn’t lose her.
“I have to find Lily!”
The need hit him like a tidal wave. Love, regret, longing–it all surged through him with terrifying force.
He <b>had </b>to see her. Hold <b>her</b>. Kiss her.
Right now.
Without sparing Elsa another nce, he turned and bolted down the stairs.
Elsa stood frozen in disbelief.
She <b>was </b>covered in blood.
And he just… left?
She didn’t even cry–he was too stunned to react.
Every time she’d coughed blood since returning to the country, every time she whimpered in pain, he’d alwayse running. Rain or shine.
But tonight–when she was injured more seriously than ever before he <b>just </b>left?
The shock hollowed her out. Her <b>usually </bposed phoenix–shaped eyes filled with something rare. panic.
She choked on his name. “John.. please, believe me. I didn’t mean to do it tonight. I know I was wrong. I’m <b>in </b>so much pain… can’t you <b>just </b>hold <b>me</b>?”
But John didn’t look back.
“John<b>. </b>
Elsa trembled, consumed by pain she couldn’t control.
She’d been so sure she would win in the end. She’d never imagined that despicable bitch Lily could still worm her <b>way </b>back into his heart.
She couldn’t let Lily take him away.
“Simon… I think John hates me now…
If she couldn’t hold onto John, she would have to turn to Simon with her grief.
“I know I went too far tonight… I was just so scared for my i you think I’m horrible too? Do you hate me now?”
mom. I didn’t know what else to do. Simon, do
Chapter 229 No Turning Back
<b>But </b>Simon wasn’t listening.
His mind kept looping the same line over and over again: Lily broke three ribs for John.
He’d never seen it himself–he’d been abroad during that time. He hadn’t seen Lily get beaten bloody. hadn’t seen here home bruised <b>and </b>broken just to pay for John’s surgery.
But
somehow<b>… </b>the image yed in his mind anyway.
He could almost see it–Lily, covered in blood, her face bruised beyond recognition, crying
And <b>that </b>imagined cry–raw and pitiful–rattled <b>him</b>. It wed at his thoughts, drowned out Elsa’s voice.
<b>All </b><b>he </b>could manage was a <b>vague</b>, distracted “Yeah.”
Yeah!
The word stabbed Elsa straight through the heart.
She’d always seen herself as above others–elegant, untouchable, the kind of woman men would fight over.
She’d never known <b>this </b><b>kind </b>of humiliation.
She realized now that Lily’s video had been too damning,
No matter what she said, she could never make John and Simon <b>look </b>at her the way they used to.
So she went limp and let her body sag, pretending to pass out.
There was no other choice.
She couldn’t let one defeat stop her. Not now.
She’d bide her time.
Lily would pay.
She’d make sure of it.
She would crush Lilypletely–so thoroughly that John and Simon would have no room left in their hearts for anyone but her.
She would be the one who won in the end.
“Lily!”
John’s shout echoed as he reached the front steps.
<b>James </b>was just about to ce Lily into the car.
His arms.
ms were warm. He carried the fresh<b>, </b>clean scent of something cool and pure. Lily had been content, sinking into thatfort, that warmth.
Chapter 229 No Turning Back
And then she heard John’s voice.
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