<b>Chapter </b>244 One <b>Knife </b>to Sever It All
Chapter <b>244 </b>One Knife to Sever It All
She’d thought she was being clever, but it backfired spectacrly. She’d lug her own grave.
If he really liked men.. then there was absolutely no future between them.
Because
<b>e </b>no matter what she did, she could never be a real man.
No wonder he’d always reacted so strongly–almost repulsively–whenever they identally brushed against each other. He had never been attracted to women. From beginning to end, he only ever liked
men.
A dull ache bloomed in Lily’s chest.
She knew that if she told him the truth–that she was a woman–he’d probably never speak to her again.
But that was only if she could even convince <b>him </b>she was a woman in the first ce.
She couldn’t exactly strip in front of him to prove it. She couldn’t let him know she was Lily. All she could do now was find some other way to draw a hard, permanent line between them. She had to stop <b>this </b>from spiraling even further out of control.
“James, I don’t think you’re dirty. I don’t think you’re shameless either.”
Lily paused for a moment, then went on. “Talking to you these past few weeks, <b>and </b>meeting you in person today… it’s all been really nice. You’re a great guy. You’ll definitely meet someone just as great–someone who truly loves you. You two will build a life together. But us… we’re not going to happen. I’ll admit I used
like men, but from now on, I don’t want to anymore.”
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When she saw that sh of pain in his eyes–sharp, brittle pain–it felt like her heart was being split open.
But the whole point of meeting him today was to let him see her ugly face, to make him back off for good. The way she had given in to temptation, the way she had acted so intimately toward him… that was already a huge mistake. She couldn’t make another one. She couldn’t ruin his future.
She had to make a clean break. Sever it now–fast and deep.
Forcing down the searing ache in her chest, she made her voice as calm and distant as she could. “My grandfather’s really sick. His final wish is to see me get married and have children. I don’t want him to pass with regrets. I’m getting married after the new year, James. We shouldn’t see each other again.”
“Le, what are you saying?”
His pupils shrank, sharp and stunned, as if the words had carved him open.
James had always known Le might not be able to ept him so easily.
He was willing to try. Willing to wait. Willing to prove himself,
But he never expected to hear her say she was getting married.
Lily could see the anguish in his eyes. Her guilt and <b>heartache </b>swelled, but she reminded herself: long pain was better than short pain. If she couldn’t make him give uppletely, she’d be stringing him along.
<b>Chapter </b><b>244 </b>One Knife to Sever It All
She’d be betraying him.
<b>That </b>would be far worse.
She subtly shifted away from him, forcing herself to keep lying. “Once I realized you might have feelings for me, I knew I couldn’t drag this out anymore. I came here today to be honest with you. <b>To </b>put an end <b>to </b>this. The girl my family introduced me to is wonderful. I can’t be two–timing her. I want to settle down and start a family with her. I want to give my grandfather peace of mind.”
“James… let’s go our separate ways.”
She wanted to marry the girl her family arranged for her.
She wanted to have kids with her.
James clutched at his chest like he’d been stabbed, Slowly, painfully, he bent forward.
So this was <b>what </b>it felt like to have your heart ripped out.
His eyes burned red, the pain swallowing <b>him </b>whole, like some invisible hand had dragged him into a pit of hopelessness.
Then, all at once, he looked up–deep eyes locking on her face.
A thousand thoughts shed through his mind in that moment.
He wanted to grab her, pin her beneath him, <b>kiss </b>her like a madman.
He wanted to make her his, body <b>and </b>soul. Wanted to erase everyone else from her heart and eyes Wanted to bind her to his side, forever.
But he cared too much. And the more <b>he </b>cared, the more afraid <b>he </b>became.
Even now, with his heart in tatters, he couldn’t bring himself to hurt her.
“Le,” he finally said, <b>voice </b>low, almost begging, “don’t marry her.”
“Don’t cut me off like this. I don’t want us to go our separate ways. I don’t want us to be strangers. Take me to your grandfather. I’ll talk to him. I’ll beg him to let us be together.”
Lily froze. The words stunned her speechless.
Her grandfather had been dead for years. Where was she supposed to take him?
She had no choice but to double down on the lie. “I can’t take you to see him.”
“I already promised him I’d never fall for a man again. I told him I’d marry a woman and have children as soon as I could. I can’t go back of that. And right now… his health’s in a really fragile ce. He wouldn’t be able to handle any kind of shock. If I brought you to see him, he might…”
“James, I’m really, really sorry. I ate your barbecue. I drank your wine. And now I’m still hurting you like this. But we’re just not right for each other. Let’s set each other free.”
Before he could say anything, Lily shot to her feet. She didn’t even bother grabbing her coat before
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Chapter 244 One Knife to Sever It All
running <b>out </b>of the tent.
The mountain wind blew <b>hard</b>, tousling her wig and drying the tears on her face.
She cared about him. She worried for him. But if she wanted this to truly end, she couldn’t look back..
Not even once.