Chapter 88 A Wish to Meet

Lily had entered college at fifteen.

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Because she was so much younger than her ssmates, they always treated her like a little sister–friendly, but never close.

Outside of school, she used to have a few good friends.

But after Mathilda returned to the Ginger family, all of those so–called friends quickly became Mathilda’s.

Worse, they fawned over the newly returned “true daughter.” going so far as to bully Lily just to earn favor.

She had gone to a college roommate’s wedding once, but after graduation, everyone scattered to different cities. They gradually lost contact.

It had been a very, very long time since Lily had any real friends.

“I… I’m not in Capital City right now.”

After hesitating for a while, Lily decided that she’d wait until she was truly ready before meeting James in

person.

“After the New Year. When I get back from my hometown, I’ll btreat /byou to a meal.”

Reading that she wasn’t in Capital City made James feel unexpectedly disappointed.

A part of him even wanted to track her down, to find her no matter where she was.

But he held back. If he pushed too hard, he might scare her boff/b.

After the New Year…

Only twenty days baway/b.

Twenty days, and he’d get to meet her.

Lily hated lying–especially to a friend.

But she had just lied to James.

She wasn’t out of town. She bwas /bstill in Capital City. And that made her feel deeply ashamed.

In ban /battempt to make up for it, she started sending him red envelopes–five of them bin /bba /brow, beach /bfor

200 dors.

bJames /bhad just been about to ask when exactly they’d meet when his phone was suddenly bombarded with transfer notifications.

Then several more inessages followed:

James. New Year’s almost here. Happy bNew /bYear in advance bHere’s /ba little money–get yourself something Kastyllin turning into ba /bbrich /bgirl. I’ll send you even more next time!?

Chapter 88 A Wish to Meet

James blinked.

Then ba /bwarmth bloomed slowly in his chest.

Never in bhis /blife had he imagined that one day, a girl would send him New Year money.

He opened them one by bone /bfive red envelopes, totaling 1,000 dors.

To be honest, it was the smallest New Year money he had ever received.

#5 Free Coina

From his grandparents, red envelopes usually contained bank cards, property deeds, bor /bshares–figures measured in billions.

Transfers from nc or bNancy /bwere always followed by long strings of zeroes.

But none of them bhad /bever made him feel as happy as this 1,000 dors.

He didn’t even pretend to refuse it. Instead, he replied simply:

“Mm. Happy New Year. See you after bthe /bholiday.”

After all, once he divorced Lily, everything that was his would belong to her. There was no need for polite formalities between them.

“See you after the holiday.”

They exchanged a few more messages before calling it a night.

Lily felt a strange mix of anxiety and anticipation.

What does James look like?

He was probably the serious, uptight type. A stern old–fashioned guy.

Maybe even baldingb? /b

Beer bellyb? /b

Well, whatever he looked like, she had already decided–he would still be her friend. She wasn’t shallow enough to judge by appearances!

After dinner, Lily spent some time chatting with Grace band /bNancy before bheading /bback upstairs.

Afraid she’d identally “offend” James again, she was bextra /bcautious tonight. She didn’t even dare bwear /bher usual sleepwear band /bchose full–length bpajamas /binstead.

Normally she couldn’t sleep when dressed so heavily, but tonight, her thoughts were filled with imagining bwhat /bJames blooked /blike–and she fell asleep surprisingly fast.

James returnedte after being called to the study by nc.

When he stepped back into the bedroom, Lily was already fast asleep, curled up under the soff light

b169/b%%

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19.23 Fri, 18 Jul

Chapter 88 A Wish to Meet

He looked down–and saw her nket had been kicked to the floor again.

The Luke estate maintained a springlike climate year–round, but the temperature did dip at night. Sleeping like that could easily get her sick.

The nket bon /bthe floor was an eyesore.

bBut /bwith Le in his heart, James didn’t want any physical contact with Lily.

So in the end, he simply turned away and left for the study, ignoring her.

As the night deepened, James instinctively sent Le a “Good night” message andid down to rest.

That night, he dreamed of her.

She stood in a misty field, her voice soft and sweet, “James, I finally get to see you. I’m so happy.”

“Mm.

His bvoice /bwas calm, but inside, the yearning roared like a tide.

Even he, normally soposed, couldn’t hold bhimself /bback. He sprinted toward her like ba /bman possessed -like a gale–force wind.

bAnd /bfinally, with all his strength, he wrapped her tightly in his armsb. /b

“bJames/b, I missed you so much all these years. Did you miss me?”

“Mm.”

His voice remained faint.

He wanted to maintain his usual steadiness, that perfect control.

But with her in his arms–body warm, breath mingling–hisposure began to crumble,

Chapter 89 Dreamscars

Chapter 89 Dreamscars