Chapter 26

Feeling sleepy and desperate for a caffeine fix, Lily decided to step out of her cabin and grab some coffee from the kitchen. As she walked out, her mind was clouded with fatigue, and she didn’t pay much attention to her surroundings. Suddenly, she bumped into someone.

“Whoa!” she exclaimed, her eyes widening as she realized she had collided with her boss, Lewis. The coffee cup in his hand tipped over, spilling hot liquid all over his fingers.

“Oh no! I’m so sorry!” Lily blurted out, panic rising within her as she watched him hiss in pain. “I didn’t see you there! I’m so sorry!” She repeated her apologies a million times, her voice laced with concern.

Lewis winced, shaking his hand slightly to alleviate the burn. Lily’s gaze fell to his hand, noticing the redness forming on his skin. Without thinking, she reached out and gently grabbed his hand. “Come with me,” she urged, her voice filled with urgency.

She led him to the office kitchen, her heart racing. Once there, she turned on the tap and held his hand under the cold water, trying to soothe the burn. “I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to—” she started, her words tumbling out in a rush as she felt the weight of her mistake.

Lewis remained surprisingly calm, his intense gaze fixed on her as she fretted over him. A soft smile began to form on his lips, and he raised a finger to her lips, shushing her gently. “It’s fine,” he said, his voice soothing amidst her panic.

Lily froze for a moment, caught in the depth of his eyes. The world around them faded away as they stared at each other, the tension in the air thickening. Finally, the silence broke, and she blinked, coming back to reality.

“Really, it’s fine,” Lewis repeated, his smile reassuring, though the intensity of his gaze lingered, leaving her heart racing.

Lily was momentarily speechless, her mind racing as she tried to find the right words. After a brief pause, she composed herself and asked, “Why are you still here, sir? It’s midnight.”

Lewis looked at her, a hint of sadness in his eyes. “I have to live alone, whether it's at home or at the office. What difference does it make? Besides, because of me, you’re stuck working late, so how can I leave you here alone?”

Lily was taken aback by his words, feeling a mix of surprise and empathy. She didn’t respond, her thoughts swirling as she turned to leave, needing a moment to process what he had said.

As she stepped away, she suddenly realized there was still water on the floor from washing his hand. Her foot slipped, and she felt herself losing balance. Just as she was about to fall, Lewis reacted instinctively, reaching out to grab her waist and steady her.

Their eyes locked, the world around them fading into the background. Time seemed to stand still as they shared a moment of connection, the warmth of his hand on her waist sending a shiver down her spine.

“Are you okay?” he asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper, concern etched on his face.

Lily nodded, her heart racing as she regained her footing. “Y-yeah, I’m fine,” she stammered, still caught in the intensity of his gaze. The air between them crackled with unspoken tension, and for a fleeting moment, everything else faded away.

Just then, Ethan’s voice echoed through the kitchen, sharp and accusatory. “So, this is your late-night work? Entertaining another man?”

Lily and Lewis froze, shock written across their faces as they turned to see Ethan standing in the doorway, anger radiating from him. Lily’s heart sank at the sight of him, and she felt a rush of confusion and fear. Ethan’s eyes burned with fury, and he stepped forward, closing the distance between them.

“I was fucking worried about you, thinking you were alone and hurt. I came here to apologize, and here you are with another man. Wow, Lily, so finally you show your true colors,” he spat, his voice dripping with disdain.

The bitterness of his words ignited something within Lily. “What nonsense are you talking about?” she shot back, her voice rising. “Why are you even here? Why do you care? And what are you apologizing for? To kill your own child, is that the reason?”

Ethan’s face twisted with rage, his teeth gritting as he retorted, “Forget about the apology. I did the right thing by divorcing a woman like you. You’re a slut, Lily!”

The moment those words left his mouth, Lily felt a surge of anger and humiliation. Without thinking, she raised her hand and slapped him hard across the face. The sound of the slap echoed in the kitchen, leaving a tense silence in its wake.

Ethan’s fury reached a boiling point, and he raised his hand as if to strike her back. But before he could make contact, Lewis intervened, catching Ethan’s wrist with a firm grip. “Dare to touch her, and I will break every bone in your body right here, right now,” he warned, his voice low and menacing.

Ethan glared at Lewis, his anger intensifying. “Who the hell are you to talk between me and my wife?” he growled, his eyes narrowing.

Lily took a deep breath, her heart racing. “Ex-wife, Ethan,” she corrected firmly, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. “The one wife who loved you with all her heart, and you left me and went back to your lover. You cheated on me, ruined me, killed my child, and snatched everything from me that I had left. I no longer belong to you. I hate you for everything, and I hate myself for once loving you.” Her words hung in the air, heavy with emotion. Tears welled in her eyes as she spoke, and she felt the weight of her pain crashing down on her.

With a choked sob, she turned and walked away, unable to bear the confrontation any longer.

Ethan jerked his hand from Lewis’s grip, his face contorted with rage and betrayal as he watched Lily leave. “Go to hell!” he shouted after her, but the door swung shut behind her, cutting off his words.

Lewis remained where he stood, lost in thought, processing the whirlwind of emotions that had just unfolded.

As silence enveloped the kitchen, Lewis glanced at the spot where Lily had just been, concern etching his features.