He could only grip his phone tighter, his face deathly pale as he whispered over and over, “Leila, I’m sorry.” I’m sorry… … After Lily got herself cleaned up, she ended up riding in James’s car after all. She realized her legs were still shaky. Her back hurt terribly too. She was afraid she’d cause an accident if she drove, and James hadn’t given her a choice—he had simply picked her up and carried her to the car. So now, she was obediently sitting in the back seat. “Lily…” James glanced at her through the rearview mirror and noticed how stiff she looked. He knew it was ridiculous for a man to claim he still saw a woman as a sister after taking her body. That wasn’t just irresponsible—it was insulting. But Lily was about to marry the man she loved, and their grandparents had told him again and again that he should treat her like a true sister, protect her, care for her. He didn’t want her to be so uncomfortable, so he said coolly, “You don’t have to be this tense around me. From now on, just treat me like your older brother. We’re… family.” Lily knew that ever since she’d moved into the princess room, Henry and Grace had truly started treating her like their granddaughter. She liked James, and after everything that happened between them, it was hard to look him in the eye and pretend he was just a brother. But if she didn’t make an effort to treat him that way, he’d probably worry she was clinging to him, and that would stress him out. After a pause, she softly replied, “Okay.” James’s large hand on the steering wheel clenched tighter and tighter. His face turned cold in an instant, a terrifying chill washing over him. He really had gone insane. He was the one who told Lily to treat him like a brother. But now that she actually was treating him that way, the pain in his chest was so suffocating it nearly drove him mad. He pressed down hard on those wild, absurd thoughts raging in his mind and answered flatly, “Mm.” They didn’t speak again for the rest of the drive. Before long, James pulled up in front of the theater. Even though she had called him her brother, Lily still felt incredibly awkward around him. After getting out of the car and waving goodbye, she hurried to get away from his line of sight. But just as her sore legs carried her toward the entrance, a young, bright-eyed, and handsome man called out to her. “Lily, your water bottle.” She had left her thermos behind in her rush to get out of the car. James had noticed and brought it over to her—only to witness a young man from one of the top families in the capital, the Scott family’s youngest son Jackson, clinging to Lily’s arm and calling her like a lovesick puppy.The moment Jackson spotted James, a glint of mischief and challenge flashed in his eyes. “You’re the ex-husband, right?” Ex-husband? James’s brow furrowed. He didn’t like that label one bit. And just as the weight in his chest started pressing down harder, Jackson shot him a cocky smile and added, “Let me introduce myself. I’m Jackson—Lily's one and only favorite. Also, her… fiancé!” “Cough, cough…” Hearing Jackson call himself her “one and only,” Lily nearly choked on her own spit. Seriously, this heartthrob act came out of nowhere—it was terrifying! But after he said his name was Jackson, she quickly realized who he was. He was the “poor college student” the agency had found for her. Yesterday afternoon, the agency had called to say they’d found someone who matched all her requirements—great looks, great presence, and not too pricey. The guy had even said he’d meet her at the theater. Lily figured the agent was probably exaggerating just to land a commission. Two grand a month didn’t exactly scream male model material. She wasn’t expecting much. As long as the guy looked decent and trustworthy, that would be enough. But the agent hadn’t exaggerated—if anything, she’d undersold him. Jackson was exactly like his name—full of energy, handsome, and brimming with sunshine. Even dressed in a faded tracksuit, he stood tall and proud, with a natural elegance that couldn’t be faked. He was way too good-looking to be charging just two grand a month. She had also asked the agency for one more thing: Whoever they sent needed to have at least some acting skills. In that department, Jackson had wildly exceeded her expectations. This guy wasn’t just a decent actor—he was a full-on drama king. She definitely needed to give him a raise. “One and only”… “fiancé”… James’s eyes darkened again. Clearly, Jackson was the one Lily had her heart set on. The Luke and Scott families did have some dealings with each other. Not long ago, James had even had dinner with Jackson’s father, and of course, he knew about the time Jackson had been kidnapped as a child by his father’s enemies.