"I won't force you again. I meant what I said—after we're married, we'll be a real couple. Not before. But from now on, don't see Simon again. Stop thinking about him." John's grip on her tightened as if trying to squeeze out any resistance. "Let go of me!" Lily hissed, her voice sharp. She'd always despised Simon. There was no way she'd ever think about him the way John feared. But that didn't mean she wanted to be here, in his arms, especially with the scent of Elsa's perfume still clinging to him. It made her skin crawl. "John, you just slept with Elsa and then forced yourself on me. You're disgusting," she spat, the words stinging even as they left her mouth. "What the hell are you talking about?" John frowned, clearly caught off guard. "I only take care of Elsa out of pity. Nothing's ever happened between us. How could you think that? Stop overthinking everything." Lily didn't answer immediately. Her thoughts drifted back to that phone call. The moans she'd heard, Elsa's voice moaning in pleasure—John's voice had never come through. Maybe Elsa had faked it, maybe not, but what difference did it make? Even if they hadn't slept together, that didn't change the fact that, while Lily and John were still together, he'd thrown Elsa a damn wedding just to make her happy. He'd let her sit on his lap at the office, kiss him, rub her ankle, tie her shoelaces, buy her strawberry cake—he didn't have to sleep with her to cheat. There were emotional betrayals, lines you crossed that were still infidelity. "Lily, stop making a scene," John snapped, his patience clearly wearing thin. Her eyes narrowed. "Move back home. I'll send someone to the hotel to pack your things." "We've already broken up," she said, her voice cold and unwavering. She paused just for a moment, then added, "I don't have some kink where I stay friends with my exes or keep getting tangled up in their lives. You want to take care of Elsa? Fine. We're done. Go devote yourself to her. As for us… we have nothing left." John's eyes darkened, fury rising once more. "Lily, how long are you planning to keep this up? I'm not breaking up with you!" He hadn't expected her to push this hard. He was trying to hold onto her with every ounce of his being, but Lily wasn't budging. His gaze turned dark with warning, red-hot fury flaring up again. She tilted her chin up, meeting his gaze with ice in her eyes. "You won't break up with me? Then can you stop seeing Elsa? Can you stop hugging her, stop kissing her, stop rushing to her every damn time she calls?" John's brow furrowed deeper, a crease forming between his eyes. "Elsa only has six months left. Her final wish is for me to stay by her side. Why can't you be more understanding? Why—" "Elsa sure has a lot of 'final wishes,'" Lily interrupted, her tone cool and distant. She wasn't going to let him finish. "Her wish is for you to stay with her until the end. Her wish is to marry you. Her wish is to voice Siren. So what's next, John? Her wish to sleep with you? To get legally married? Have a kid? Are you going to grant her all those too?" John's face turned a deep shade of red, a mix of anger and disbelief. "Lily, you're being ridiculous!" His voice was harsh, his patience long gone. The more she pushed, the more his frown deepened. He wasn't the type to explain himself, but for some reason, he didn't want to lose her. He had to say something—anything—to stop this. "I'm not marrying Elsa. I'll never sleep with her. I won't let her come anywhere near this house again, not while you're here. Can you please stop—" But before he could finish, his phone rang. The harsh, urgent sound sliced through the tension between them. The caller ID flashed: Elsa. John hesitated for just a moment, his dark eyes flickering with uncertainty, but then he answered. Lily watched him, her gaze bitter. She couldn't hear Elsa's voice on the other end, but she could hear him clearly. "Elsa, don't worry. I'm on my way." And just like that, he grabbed his car keys and bolted out the door, not even bothering with his coat. Lily's lips curled into a bitter smile as she shut her eyes. He sure was "innocent" when it came to her. No matter the time—no matter how late—it took him only a second to run at Elsa's beck and call. She didn't want to stay here any longer. But her body felt like lead. She was still weak, and there was no way she could get to the hotel by herself. All she could do was lie in bed and wait for the strength to return. She hadn't expected to fall asleep, but when she opened her eyes again, the sun was already spilling in through the window. She glanced at the clothes John had left for her. It wasn't what she would've chosen, but she didn't hesitate. She quickly changed and prepared to leave.