Chapter 374 Battle of the Spoons
James knew the truth, Lily’s heart belonged to Jackson.
After what Jackson had done – shielding her from a knife with his own body – Lily was bound to love him even more. She was touched, worried, full of gratitude… and affection.
James understood that in this triangle, he was the outsider.
–
Seeing her gently feeding Jackson soup, he knew his presence was unnecessary intrusive, even.
But he couldn’t ept it.
He didn’t want Lily feeding Jackson. He didn’t want them gazing at each other sweetly like lovers.
So he walked to the door, knocked symbolically, and stepped inside.
“James?” Lily blinked in surprise. Clearly, she hadn’t expected him.
“Yeah.”
His tone was t, face expressionless. His gaze locked onto the spoonful of soup she was about to bring to Jackson’s lips – and he snatched the bowl straight out of her hands.
“I heard Jackson say he’s too weak right now… can’t even lift a fork.”
“Well, I’ve got nothing going on today. I can stay at the hospital to help take care of him.”
“I can feed him. And if needed… help him bathe.”
James’s voice was calm, but the words were full of barbed intent.
He knew Jackson was ying the helpless card/ If the guy couldn’t even eat, he’d surely turn up the act tonight – whining about not being able to wash himself, trying to get Lily to do it for him.
But Lily was his wife.
There was no way James would let that shameless punk get his wish.
“Here. Eat.” James smiled
—
–
lips only and shoved a spoonful of soup at Jackson’s face.
<b>He </b>wanted to feed Jackson. He wanted to bathe him.
Lily’s <b>eyes </b>widened in horror.
Suddenly, she remembered something important: James liked men.
And Jackson was ridiculously good–looking. Polite. Sweet.
Could it be… that James was into Jackson?
“Cough<b>, </b>cough—”
Chapter 374 Battle of the Spoofs
<b>Jackson </b>choked on his own spit.
He’d been putting on a pitiful act in front of Lily to get her sympathy-
–
to be fed, pampered, doted on.
He wanted her soft hands and gentle attention. Not a grown man roughly shoving soup at his face. Definitely not bathing.
“Lily…” he gasped between coughs.
James was not feeding him gently.
That spoonful had been aggressive – like a punch to the mouth.
Eyes wet from coughing, Jackson turned to Lily with a pitiful gaze. “Your ex–husband is so mean… I don’t want him feeding me. Can you do it instead?”
–
Lily had noticed too. James’s feeding wasn’t just clumsy it was borderline hostile.
–
She realized she had overthought things earlier. James wasn’t trying to seduce Jackson he was trying to choke him out of spite.
Jackson had been injured protecting her. He was someone she genuinely cared about, like a younger brother. There was no way she could just stand there and let James torment him.
She looked at Jackson’s tearful, red face and couldn’t bear it. “James, it’s okay. I’ll feed Jack myself.”
“No need.” James’s voice was cold. “I don’t find it troublesome at all.”
Lily knew James had always been dignified, disciplined, and proper. He wasn’t the type to deliberately choke someone out.
He’d probably never fed anyone before. Maybe he was just bad at it.
It would be cruel to tell him he was doing a terrible job.
But Jackson’s eyes – so wide, so vulnerable – were hard to ignore. She hesitated, then took the bowl back
anyway.
<b>“</b>James, really… I’ve got it. I’ll take care of Jack myself.”
Of course, to her, Jackson was family. Feeding him wasn’t strange. But bathing?
Absolutely not.
She would ask the hospital for a male nurse to assist with thatter. No need to bring it up with James she doubted he cared to hear it.
After a pause<b>, </b>she added gently, “Maybe you should go home and rest<b>.</b>”
James looked down at his now empty hands. His face darkened, inch by inch.
So she was that eager to feed Jackson? That quick to reject <b><i>him</i></b><b>? </b>
–
He wasn’t shameless. Normally, if someone told him he <b>was </b>being <b>a </b>nuisance, he would’ve left.
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Chapter 374 <b>Battle </b><b>of </b>the Spoons
But right now, he couldn’t stand the thought of them being alone together. So he stayed
rooted in the room <b>like </b><b>a </b>statue<b>. </b>
Lily could <b>feel </b>the chill in the air.
–
cold, silent, stiff
She knew James probably came with good intentions. Telling him to leave again would only hurt his pride.
Since he wasn’t insisting on feeding Jackson anymore, she didn’t push him out. Instead, she sat calmly by the bed, feeding Jackson spoonfuls of soup.
“Mmm. Soup tastes even better when Lily feeds me,” Jackson murmured with a smile.