Chapter <b>373 </b>The Liar’s Game
James stood frozen, his <b>face </b>pale as ash. After a long silence, he stepped forward and kicked Megan hard
across the face.
“Speak. Who sent you to hurt Lily?”
Megan was too dazed with pain to answer.
His n had been simple: kill Lily’s unborn child, then escape. Even if he got caught, his psychiatric certificate meant he could dodge all consequences,
He hadn’t expected to be overpowered so quickly in the hospital lobby – hadn’t expected James to beat him so badly he couldn’t even crawl.
Truth was, Megan didn’t know the mastermind’s identity. A fully disguised man – face and figure hidden – had approached him, handed him half a million in cash as a down payment, and asked him to do the job.
The remaining half would be paid the same way, once the mission was done.
Megan had crippling gambling debts. The loan sharks had threatened to break his limbs if he didn’t repay them soon.
That money had been a godsend. And with a mental illness diagnosis in hand, he thought he’d walk away untouched. Of course he’d said yes.
“What happened?” Megan suddenly whined, forcing down his fear of James. He slipped into character the perfect act of the unhinged.
“Huh? Why is there blood on me? Did I ck out again? Did my condition re up and I hurt people? I–I deserve to die!”
<b>He </b>mmed his head against the ground, wed at himself, iled with practiced drama.
James’s eyes turned cial. A storm brewed around him.
Megan had injured several people today – but James was sure his real target was Lily.
Without hesitation, James kicked him again. Megan screamed and curled up on the ground, sobbing, but still didn’t say a word of value.
<b>James </b>ordered his men to dig up everything they could on Megan.
The results were frustrating: no family, no close friends – no leverage.
And that diagnosis of mental illness? It was real – or at least legally valid.
Under currentw, even grievously injuring someone while mentally unfit could mean <b>zero </b>punishment.
To James<b>, </b>that <b>was </b>madness.
Anyone who hurt others mentally ill or not, adult or not – should <b>face </b>consequences.
–
Chapter 373 The Liar’s Game
<b>If </b>the <bw </b>couldn’t punish Megan, James would find his own way.
So be it Megan had a psych certificate?
–
Then he’d make sure Megan was sent to the most hellish psychiatric hospital in the country. If he wanted to pretend to be insane, James would make sure he stayed locked up as one.
He suspected that certificate was forged or bought anyway. But even if it wasn’t – he would have someone issue ongoing evaluations dering his condition unfit for release.
For life.
Anyone who tried to hurt Lily… James wouldn’t let a single one go free.
After settling Megan’s case, James returned to the hospital.
He learned Jackson’s wound had been treated and he’d been transferred to a room. Without hesitation, James went straight there.
It was already noon. Just as he arrived, Lily was walking back from the hospital cafeteria with a tray food.
of
—
the knife hadn’t gone in deep. Jackson’s organs were unharmed, and
The doctor had said it was lucky with a few days of rest, he’d recover fully.
Still, seeing Jackson lying weak and pale on the bed, Lily’s eyes filled with tears again.
“Jack… does it still hurt?”
“No…” Jackson forced a smile, looking fragile and obedient.
But when he drew in a sharp breath, clearly in pain, Lily’s heart clenched. She knew he was pretending – trying not to worry her.
—
She ced the food on the bedside table and said in a hoarse voice, “I brought you lunch. Are you hungry? Want to try eating something?”
Jackson touched his stomach, then raised his hand weakly, like he barely had the strength.
His <b>gaze </b>was pitiful and pleading. “I’m hungry… but my hands are too weak. I don’t know if I can hold a
fork.”
That vulnerable look – Lily was instantly reminded of the five–year–old Jack from the orphanage.
One time, the older boys had beaten Jack so badly, he couldn’t even sit up.
He’d been starving, too weak to lift a spoon, and she’d cried while feeding him sour porridge, silently praying he’d <b>recover </b>soon.
To her<b>, </b><b>Jack </b>wasn’t just a friend. He <b>was </b>family – like a younger brother<b>. </b>And now<b>, </b>he <b>was </b>hurt because of
her.
<b>2/3 </b>
Feeding him didn’t feel inappropriate<i>. </i>It felt necessary.
When he was little, his favorite food had been thick<i>, </i>mushy soup.
Hearing him say he was hungry, she quickly picked up the soup and, blinking <i>away </i>tears, said, “I’ll feed you some soup first. Then we can try something else.”
The door to Jackson’s hospital room was wide open.
James stood just outside, hearing everything.
He’d already asked the doctor about Jackson’s condition.
It was a superficial injury – nothing serious. A few days‘ rest and he’d be discharged.
Jackson was young and strong. There was no way he was too weak to hold a fork.
He just wanted Lily to feed him.
Shameless. Completely shameless.