Chapter 33

“Why don’t you come to my apartment?” Lily suggested, trying to sound casual despite the awkwardness of the situation. “It’s nearby, and I can clean your shirt. We can grab some food too.”

Lewis raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Are you sure? I don’t want to impose.”

“Not at all,” she replied, forcing a smile. “I owe you one after the sneeze incident.”

With a nod of agreement, Lewis led the way to his car, and they drove toward her apartment. The atmosphere was light, but Lily felt a strange mix of embarrassment and annoyance. When they arrived, they spotted Mr. Wilson, their elderly landlord, chatting with another resident on the ground floor. Mr. Wilson squinted at Lewis, studying him for a moment before his eyes widened in recognition.

“Is that…?” he began, but Lily quickly waved him off, guiding Lewis past him into the building.

Once inside her apartment, Lily gestured toward the bathroom. “You can change in there. Just give me your shirt, and I’ll wash it for you.”

Lewis nodded.

To her surprise, Lewis didn’t head straight to the bathroom. Instead, he stood there for a moment, then casually pulled his shirt off right in front of her. He held it out with a grin. “Here you go. Be gentle with it; it’s my favorite.”

Lily's eyes widened, caught off guard by his boldness. “Uh, right,” she stammered, trying to maintain her composure. She reached out to take the shirt from him, her fingers brushing against his skin, which sent an unexpected rush of warmth through her. “I’ll treat it like gold,” she promised, attempting to sound nonchalant.

With a playful smirk, he stepped back, giving her a quick glance. “Thanks! I’ll just clean up a bit more in the bathroom.”

As he walked into the bathroom, Lily leaned against the kitchen counter, her heart racing. “What just happened?” she thought, shaking her head. “This is so awkward.”

Lily tossed Lewis's shirt into the washing machine and pressed the start button, the machine humming to life. Just then, the doorbell rang, interrupting her thoughts. She wiped her hands on a towel and walked toward the door, curious about who it might be.

When she opened the door, she was greeted by Mr. Wilson, her elderly landlord. He stood outside, his brow furrowed with concern. “Hello, Lily,” he said, his voice serious. “Who is the man with you?”

Lily hesitated for a moment, caught off guard. “Oh, um, he’s my boss. His shirt got ruined by me, so I brought him here to clean up,” she explained, trying to sound casual.

Mr. Wilson’s expression didn’t change; he remained serious. “He’s the same guy who was watching you last night from the street. Are you sure he’s okay?”

Lily felt a jolt of shock at his words. She masked her surprise with a forced smile. “It’s fine, Mr. Wilson. Really.”

“Alright, just be careful,” he cautioned, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he could sense her unease.

She nodded, grateful for his concern, and closed the door, her mind racing. Anger surged through her as she thought about Lewis. How low had he stooped to come here? Did he really think he could just waltz back into her life after what happened?

When Lewis emerged from the bathroom, still wearing only his formal pants and with his upper body exposed, the sight stirred a mix of emotions within her. Anyone could misunderstand their situation, and she felt a surge of frustration.

“Lewis!” she exclaimed, marching toward him. “What were you doing last night? Are you so low that you’ve started stalking me? Is that why you caught a cold?”

He looked taken aback, his expression shifting from surprise to irritation. “What? Stalking you? That’s ridiculous!”

“I know you came here to take revenge on Ethan by using me,” she continued, her voice rising. “I’m not a pawn in your game! We’re separated; he broke me, and I don’t want anything to do with him. So there’s no reason for you to drag me into this!”

Lewis’s frustration boiled over. “Enough, Lily!” he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls. “I just wanted to help! I regret kicking you out of the car last night. I followed you to make sure you got home safely. I’m not stalking you; I’m not like Ethan!”

The tension in the room crackled, and Lily’s heart raced. She could see the anger in his eyes, but beneath it, there was something else—genuine concern. Still, she couldn’t let that sway her. “You think this is okay? Showing up here like this?”

Before he could respond, he grabbed his coat, clearly agitated. “I’m done with this conversation,” he said, turning to walk out of the room.

But just as he reached the doorway, he froze. Lily’s heart sank as she saw Ethan standing there, leaning against the frame with a smug expression on his face.

“Lily, what’s going on here?” Ethan asked.

The tension in the room was palpable, thick with unresolved emotions and unspoken accusations. Lewis, his anger simmering just beneath the surface, stepped closer to Ethan, his voice low but fierce. “What do you do with this? What is going on here? Didn’t you just divorce her? You did the worst thing by killing your own child, you bloody coward.”

Ethan’s fists clenched at Lewis's words, his face contorting with rage. He stepped forward, ready to retaliate, but Lily quickly intervened, her voice rising in desperation. “You have no right to talk about my personal matters!” she shouted, trying to shield herself from the escalating confrontation.

Ethan sneered, his eyes glinting with malice. “After sleeping with him, now you’re showing innocence? How cheap can you be, Lily?”

The insult hung in the air like a heavy weight, and Lily felt her heart race with a mix of anger and humiliation. Before she could respond, Lewis’s patience snapped. In a swift motion, he swung his fist, connecting hard with Ethan’s jaw. The impact echoed through the room, and Lily’s eyes widened in shock.

“Stop! Both of you!” she cried, but her voice was drowned out by the sound of fists meeting flesh. The two men were locked in a fierce struggle, grappling with each other as they exchanged blows. Lewis’s anger fueled his strength, while Ethan fought back with a wild desperation, each punch fueled by a mix of rage and betrayal.

Lily rushed forward, trying to pull them apart, but the chaos was too intense. She grabbed Lewis’s arm, pleading, “Please, stop! This isn’t helping!” But her words fell on deaf ears as the fight escalated, furniture being knocked over in the scuffle.

Just then, the commotion attracted the attention of Mr. Wilson, who had been in his apartment nearby. He hurried down the hallway, concern etched on his face. Hearing the sounds of the brawl, he quickly reached for his phone, dialing the police. “I need help! There’s a fight happening in my building!” he said urgently, his voice trembling slightly.

Within moments, the sound of sirens filled the air, growing louder as they approached. Lily felt a wave of panic wash over her. “You both need to stop! The cops are coming!” she shouted, but her warning was lost in the chaos.

The door burst open, and two police officers entered, their presence commanding immediate attention. “Step away from each other!” one of them shouted, drawing his weapon as he assessed the situation.

Lewis and Ethan froze, both breathing heavily, their faces bruised and angry. The officers quickly moved in, separating the two men and placing them in handcuffs.

“Both of you are under arrest for assault,” one officer declared, his tone firm. “You have the right to remain silent…”

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