Chapter 87 One Heart, One Lifetime

Chapter 87 One Heart, One Lifetime

She had already told him–when he vanished all those years ago, she hadn’t been angry.

As long as he bwas /bbalive /band well, that was benough /bfor her.

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+5 Free bCoins /b

She truly didn’t want James to be bstuck /bin guilt over disappearing without a word. So after saying she didn’t me him, she quickly changed the subject.

“James, I was seriously awesome btoday/b. Can you guess bwhat /bI did?”

Watching the text bubble bounce across the screenb, /bJames could almost picture the girl resting her chin in her palm, brimming with pride.

The storm of pain and self–loathing on his face began to dissolve. He gently traced his fingers across her message, and slowly, the sharpness in his eyes softened.

Just as he was about to type a reply, her messages came rapid–fire.

“I beat up my ex–boyfriend’s crush today.

“I pped her seven times. It felt amazing.”

“James, aren’t I incredible?”

Ex–boyfriend.

Those two words hit James like a freezing wind.

He hadn’t expected that she had once loved someone–truly loved them.

Bitterness spread like wildfire beneath his ribs, pulling tight across his chest. It hurt even to breathe.

But… it was her ex–boyfriend.

James had never confessed his feelings to her–not before he fell into aa, not even after. And in the four and a half years he was gone, he had no right to expect her to remain alone.

Still, from now on–he hoped the man beside her would be him.

James had never been ba /btimid man.

But because she mattered so muchb, /bhe moved with extraordinary caution

Staring at the screen for a long time, he finally typed his breply /bwith solemn care:

“Very impressive. Ex–boyfriend? You’re not bseeing /banyone now?”

Then after a pause:

“Does your hand hurt?”

The moment she saw hispliment, Lily broke into a glowing smile.

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Chapter 87 One Heart, One Lifetime

And when he asked if her hand hurt, a warm flush spread through her chest–and her eyes stung, for no reason at all

She curled up on the couch, typing back: “It felt so good at the time I forgot it could even hurt.”

She had always trusted James. Even though they had never met in real life, he was still the one she considered her closest friend.

So when bhe /basked about her ex, she told him the truth.

“I used to really like bhim/b. I even wished I could be with him in my next life. He promised me forever, too. I thought we’d get married someday. But when his old crush came back, everything changed.”

“Luckily, I’ve moved on, I don’t want a wishy–washy cheater anymore. As for a new boyfriend… I’m not interested. Men are too unreliable, I just want to shine on my own!”

She had once loved him deeply.

She had wished to spend her next life with bhim/b….

That old ache came crashing down again in James’s chest.

Still, when she called her ex “a disloyal flirt,” he was a little relieved–and also anxious.

Because just earlier, in the bathroom, his own body bhad /breacted in a way that made him feel disgusting.

Even if he didn’t love Lily… even if he resented the arranged marriage… that reaction made him no different than the men she hated.

A yer.

The thought made him, the everposed, steady heir of the Luke family, feel uncharacteristically sheepish.

He didn’t even dare to say something like, “Not all men are like that. I’m not.”

Meanwhile, Lily realized she’d gone too far.

H

James was a man, after all–wasn’t it kind of rude to rant about how unreliable men were?

Quickly, she added:

“But not all men are jerks. My dad wasn’t one. And I know you’re not either, James!”

Seeing that line-“I bknow /byou’re not“-a soft glow returned to bJames’s /bdeep ck eyes.

Then banother /bmessage popped up

b“/bJames, do you think all men have a crush they bnever /bforget?”

“No.”

He answered instantly.

19:22 Fri, 18 Jul

Chapter 87 One Heart, One Lifetime

James didn’t want her thinking he still held onto anyone else. He typed with fierce rity.

“If a man can’t let go of his crush, he has no right to be with someone else. That’s ying with people’s feelings. It’s irresponsible.”

Then, almost reverently, he added:

“I don’t have a crush.”

“I believe in loving one person for a lifetime.”

One person. For a lifetime,

Lily knew James wasn’t implying anything romantic. He was just stating his views on love–clear, unwavering.

And yet… her heart skipped a beat.

She’d just started to type out apliment about how healthy and grounded his perspective was when her phone buzzed again.

Another message appeared:

“Call we… meet?”

Lily froze.

Her fingers trembled, and she nearly dropped her phone.

stated bhis /bviews on

She had never expected James–the same James who had balways /bfirmly never marrying, who kept his distance with everyone to ask to meet her.

It had to mean nothing romantic. He probably just saw her as a real friend.

But still…

She hadn’t had many friends in recent years. And when it came to dealing with people in real life- especially someone she cared about–she couldn’t help but feel nervous.

19:23 Fri, 18 Jul