NovelReadingChapter 157
+6 Peuris
The next morning, Lily stirred awake, immediately feeling the ache in her waist and the soreness in her body. She
groaned softly, stretching her arms before catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror across the room. Her eyes
widened slightly at the sight-her skin was dotted with faint marks, souvenirs of last night” passionate escapades.
Shaking her head with a wry smile, she muttered to herself, “Ethan really went overboard
Turning to check the time, her casual glance at the clock turned into a double-take. “Oh, wonderful,” she sighed.
“It's already 10:30 Remembering she had plans to meet Riley at 10, she shrugged and chuckled. “Well, she can
wait. What's another hour!
Unhurried, Lily stepped into the bathroom and treated herself to a long, soothing shower, letting the warm water
case her tired muscles. By the tshe finished, she felt refreshed and ready to tackle the day. She made her
way to the dining table, where Ethan had left a delicious breakfast for her before heading to work After eating
leisurely, she dressed up and finally left for the café.
When she arrived, it was nearly noon-an hour and a half past their agreed meeting time. Spotting Riley seated at
a corner table, Lily casually walked over and slid into the chair opposite her. “Hey,” she greeted simply.
Riley plastered on a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Hi, you look gorgeous today,” she said with
forced enthusiasm. The last tshe saw Lily, she hadn't looked nearly this radiant. Today, however, she
seemed to exude confidence and elegance.
Riley’s real goal was to win Lily’s trust, so she had made an effort to arrive 30 minutes early to ensure she
wasn't late. But what she hadn't expected was that Lily herself would keep her waiting for two hours. Still, she
masked her irritation with a sweet smile. “How have you been?” she asked, trying to sound cheerful.
“Good, Lily replied curtly, offering no further explanation.
A passing waitress caught her attention, and she ordered a strawberry milkshake without bothering to
acknowledge Riley’s effort to make conversation.
Riley clenched her fists under the table, taking slow, calming breaths. Despite waiting for hours, there wasn’t
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇteven a trace of apology on Lily’s face. No explanation, no regret-nothing. But she couldn't let her frustration
show. She needed to play her cards right.
“Look, Riley,” Lily said, breaking the silence. “I don’t have a lot of tto waste. So, let's cut to the chase. Why
did you askto meet you?”
Riley forced a laugh, though it sounded awkward. “Lily, what's with the tone? We're best friends, aren't we? | just
wanted to catch up with you and have a nice, friendly chat.”
“Are we?” Lily asked bluntly, raising an eyebrow.
“What do you mean?” Riley asked, feigning innocence.
“As far as | remember, Lily replied, her tone calm but cutting, “you're Rose’s best friend, not mine.”
“Lily, what are you saying? Of course, we're best friends! You and I-
“Sparethe act, Riley,” Lily interrupted, her voice firm. “Let's not waste tbeating around the bush. Just tell
Riley’s smile faltered for a moment before che quickly recovered determined to stick to her nlan
84
Chapter 157
+8 Pearls:
Cand claim to... Don’t forget to check in daily for great rewards! Riley's expression turnen paie, sne natt
heard from Rose about the new Luty, out witnessing it firsthand was unsettling. The confident, sharp-eyed
woman sitting before her was unrecognizable from the soft- spoken girl she once knew.
For a moment, she could only gape at Lily, trying to make sense of the drastic transformation.
Lily arched a brow, breaking the silence. “What’s wrong? Are you just going to keep staring at me, or do you plan
to say something? If you want, | can save you strouble-take a picture. That way, you can admireall you
want later, she quipped with a sly smile.
Riley flushed in embarrassment. “I-I'm sorry,” she stammered. “It’s just... you're so different from before. What
happened to you, Lily? You've changed so much.”
Lily leaned back in her chair, an amused smirk playing on her lips. “You're askingwhat happened? That's
rich. Her tone tumed icy. “I thought your best friend would've filled you in by now.”
“She did, sort of,” Riley replied hesitantly. “She mentioned something about an argument, and that you left your
family and cut ties with them. But she didn’t go into details. What really happened?”
Lily chuckled darkly, her gaze sharp. “Riley, after I ruin your singing career, you should seriously consider acting.
You're much better at it than Rose. If | didn’t already know the truth, | might have believed that innocent,
concerned face of yours.”
Riley’s eyes widened, panic setting in. “W-What do you mean? My career? Why would you ruin it?”
“Are you really that dense?” Lily’s voice dripped with mockery. “I know everything. After what you and your best
friend did to me, did you honestly think I'd just sit back and do nothing?”
“I didn’t do anything!” Riley protested, her voice rising in desperation. “Lily, please believe me. | had no part in
it, | swear!”
Lily’s smile turned cold. “Calm down, Riley. People are watching. Remember, you're still a celebrity. You wouldn't
want anyone to hear you shouting and uncovering your dirty secrets, would you?”
Riley froze, her throat tightening. The way Lily spoke, with that calm yet cutting demeanor, sent chills down. her
spine. She grabbed the glass of water in front of her, drinking in an attempt to steady her nerves.
Lily continued casually, as if the tension between them didn’t exist. “Oh, by the way,” she said, tilting her head
slightly, “have you been to the hospital recently?”
Riley blinked, confused. “Hospital? No... Why would I go to the hospital?”
Lily raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. “Really? Your best friend didn’t tell you?” She clicked her tongue.
“That's odd. | thought you two shared everything.” Leaning forward slightly, she added, “Ryan is in the hospital.”
“What?” Riley gasped, her voice filled with shock. “Why? What happened to him?”
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm
Lily’s laughter was soft but cold. “My husband beat him up.”
The blunt statement left Riley speechless. She had heard rumors about Lily being married, but she had
dismissed them. After all, she thought she knew how deeply Lily loved Ryan. But now it seemed everything she
believed was wrong.
“You're really married?” Riley asked quietly, still trying to process the information. “But why would your husband
beat him up?”
84%
Chapter 157
D * Starts
Lily’s expression turned serious. “Let’s just say Ryan crossed a line he never should have. That's all you need
to know
Standing up, Lily picked up her purse, her tone dismissive. “Anyway, it was... interesting catching up. Riley. But |
have other places to be.”
As she turned to leave, Riley called out, her voice trembling “Wait, Lily!”
Lily stopped but didn’t turn around, “What?”
“Can we... can we start over?” Riley pleaded, her desperation evident. “I’m sorry. I'll cut all ties with Rose and
the Miller Family. I'll join your side. Just giveone chance. Please...”
Lily turned her head slightly, a cold smile on her lips. “Sweetheart, there's one thing I'll never forget-or forgive-
and that’s betrayal. Betrayal always comes with a price. Good luck.”
With a mocking kiss blown in Riley’s direction, Lily walked away, leaving her former “friend” frozen in shock and
regret.
548
Visit our social media platform to read fascinating stories every day and connect with the community!
