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Chapter 291 Heartache and Provocation

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He could only grip his phone tighter, his face deathly pale as he whispered over and over, “Lillse, I’m

I’m sorry

After Lily got herself cleaned up, she bended /bup 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 ident 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 nced at her through the rearview mirror and noticed how stiff she looked.

He knew it was ridiculous for a bman /bto im he still saw a woman as a sister after taking her body. That wasn’t just irresponsible–it was insulting.

But Lily was abour 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 ufortable, so he said coolly, “You don’t have to be bthis /btense 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 btreat /bhim that way, he’d probably worry she was clinging to him, and that bwould /bstress him out. After a pause, she softly replied, “Okay.”

James’srge hand on the steering wheel clenched tighter and btighter/b.

His face turned cold in an instant, a terrifying chill washing over him.

He really had gone insane.

He was the one bwho /btold Lily to treat him like a brother.

But now that she actually was treating him that way, the pain in his bchest /bbwas /bso suffocating it nearly drove

him mad

He pressed down hard on those wild, absurd thoughts raging in his mind band /bbanswered /btly, “Mm.”

They didn’t speak again for the rest of the drive.

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Chapter 291 Heartache and Provocation

Before long, James pulled up in front of the theater.

still incredibly awkward around him.

Even though she bhad /bcalled him her brother. Lily C

After getting out of the car and waving goodbye, she hurried to get away from his line of sight.

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But just as her sore legs carried her toward the entrance, a young, bright–eyed, and handsome man called out to her.

“Lilyb, /byour water bottle.”

She had left her thermos behind in her rush to get out of the car.

James bhad /bnoticed 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 blovesick /b

puppy.

The moment bJackson /bspotted James, a glint of mischief and challenge shed in his eyes.

“You’re the ex–husband, right?”

Ex–husband?

James’s brow furrowed.

He didn’t like thatbel one bit.

And just bas /bthe 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!

bBut /bafter he said bhis /bname was Jackson, she quickly realized who he was.

He was the “poor college student” the agency had found for her.

Yesterday afternoon, the agency bhad /bcalled to say they’d found someone who matched all her requirements–great looks, bgreat /bpresence, and not too pricey. The guy had even said he’d meet her at the

theater.

Lily figured the agent was probably exaggerating just tond amission.

Two grand a month didn’t exactly scream male model material. She wasn’t expecting much.

As long as the guy looked decent band /btrustworthy, that would be enough.

But the agent hadn’t exaggerated–if anything, she’d undersold him.

Jackson was exactly like his name–bfull /bof energy, handsome, and brimming with sunshine. Even dressed. bin /bfaded tracksuit, he stood tall and proud, with a natural elegance that couldn’t be faked. He was way to

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Chapter 291 Heartache and Provocation

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.

bIn /bthat department, Jackson had wildly exceeded her expectationsb. /b

This guy wasn’t just a decent actor–he was a full–on drama king.

She definitely needed to bgive /bhim a braise/b.

“One and only“… “fiancé

James’s eyes darkened again.

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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, Jam dinner with Jackson’s father, and of course, he knew about the time Jackson had been kidnapped as a bchild /bby his father’s enemies.