Chapter 368 The Bitter Price


    Yulia was clearly terrified of going to jail.


    She sobbed uncontrobly, her voice choked with panic and despair.


    But to Lily, her tears weren’t the least bit pitiful. She wasn’t about to y the saint and let her off.


    Yulia had already called once before, pleading to avoid detainment.


    Back then, she’d put on the same heartfelt act Tull of guilt, full of tears- yet none of it had stopped her from targeting Lily again.


    And now, she clearly knew Lily was pregnant.


    She had drenched her in freezing water and tried to shove her off the stage- her aim was obvious: she wanted to kill Lily’s baby.


    If James hadn’t shown up just in time to catch her, the baby would’ve been lost.


    If things had gone worse, Lily might’ve hemorrhaged like Elsa had been forced to undergo the same surgery, or worse… she and the baby might not have survived at all.


    Why should she forge any of that?


    “Yulia, you led the attack against me. Don’t you think there should be consequences?”


    Lily’s voice was ice–cold, every word deliberate and firm. “Getting expelled, being sued, going to jail – all of it is exactly what you deserve.”


    “Lily!”


    Cornered and humiliated, Yulia was seething inside.


    –


    But that’s the way people like her were if Lily had been weak and helpless, she would’ve screamed at her, maybe even threatened her with revenge.


    But now that Lily stood tall, backed by real power, Yulia didn’t even dare curse at her, let alone retaliate.


    Lily ended the call.


    And Yulia? She dumped every ounce of me and hatred onto Elsa.


    If Elsa hadn’t dragged her into it, she wouldn’t have lost everything, wouldn’t be hated by all, and wouldn’t be facing legal punishment.


    In the end, Elsa was the one who ruined her.


    This hatred she would carry it to her grave.


    After hanging up, Lily was just about to get out of bed and wash up when the bathroom door opened.


    James stepped out, shirtless.


    III


    The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm golden glow across his body, making the contours of his muscles stand out even more clearly.


    His physique was incredible.


    More solid and powerful than the currently popr “lean muscle” look


    but never exaggerated.


    His pale skin, firm chest, chiseled abs, and pronounced V–line as he walked toward her, it was honestly overwhelming. He looked good enough to make someone bleed from the nose.


    But when she had stayed in his room before, he always came out of the shower fully dressed, making sure she didn’t see a hint of skin. So why was he shirtless now?


    It had to be because he assumed it was still early and she was probably still asleep. That’s all.


    Look ategy


    Even if she really wanted to look, she politely turned her head to the side.


    When their eyes met and she immediately looked away, James’s face darkened.


    The forum post he’d made had gotten a lot of attention.


    Enthusiasticizens had flooded the thread asking how his “seduction n” was going and even gave him a ton of advice.


    One user had shared how he’d managed to “climb the ranks” as the side guy.


    –


    He’d fallen for a married woman her husband was always gone and had mistresses of his own. So, he yed the nice guy, always checking in on her, shing his abs when he could. Eventually, she couldn’t resist touched his stomach, then pushed him straight into bed.


    Now she’d dumped the scumbag husband, and he was the official one.


    James had never pursued a woman before, let alone tried to seduce one with his body.


    But since everyone said it worked, he figured he might as well give it a try.


    And yet…


    Last night, Lily had slept like a rock. He didn’t even get a chance to use his so–called “seduction.”


    –


    This morning, he shamelessly walked around shirtless and she wouldn’t even look at him.


    Operation Hot Guy: total failure.


    All he could do now was move on to Phase Two: the upgraded n.


    Abination of pity and appeal.


    James, being naturally upright and serious, wasn’t the type to fake weakness.


    But anothermenter had said they only won over the girl because they acted pitiful decided to put his pride aside and give it a shot.


    – so James


    ?


    O


    “Lily.”


    “Hm?<b>” </b>


    Lily knew it was rude to ignore someone when they were talking to you, even if you were trying not to ogle them. After a second of hesitation, she turned back to face him, waiting for him to speak.


    “There’s something I need your help with.”


    He had done so much for her. If he needed help with something, of course she’d step up.


    “What is it? If I can do it, I definitely will.”


    “Mm.”


    Doing something this shameless for the first time, James felt extremely awkward.


    After a pause, he finally said, “I’m injured. On my back. I can’t see it, and I can’t reach it properly. I need your help… applying medicine.”


    T