Hearing what he says, Lily feels a sting in her eyes. Her hands slowly clench and she tries her best to
withstand the tingly sensation in her nose.
“When you had that accident and the police thought you were dead, Rex was the hardest one to accept
the fact. He neglected himself for a very long time. He didn’t care about anything, not even his
company. He didn’t listen to anyone and keep drinking as if he wanted to die drinking.”
“That arrogant look you are seeing right now is merely a disguise. He had changed so much in these
five years. His eyes are empty most of the time. No emotions, no spirit. All he knew was to look for you,
think about you and tormenting himself. He went back to the place of the accident almost every day. He
said it is the only way he could keep you accompany so that you wouldn’t feel scared.”
Telling Lily what happened to Rex in the past reminds Karl of Rex’s condition previously and he
becomes concerned, “I know what happened previously hurts a lot and you will never forget about it but
all these years when you are gone, Rex wasn’t living well too. I’m not trying to compare what both of
you have been through. All I wish is you know about the other side of the story and that Rex still cares
about you.”
Lily totally understands what Karl meant. She has heard the same thing more than once and she got
heartache every time she hears about the story. However, she really thinks Rex and her have drifted
too far apart. She can’t ignore the fact that there are many things unsolved and standing between
them.
Lily stares at the corner of the table in a daze, “But this is too hard for me.”
“Because of the feeling you had in him? Or the is it the child?”
Karl makes the issue transparent for Lily. Too transparent that Lily doesn’t know how to answer it. Lily
feels like Karl could see her through and reaches her deep into her heart. All her disguise and cover-
ups are useless in front of him.
Karl doesn’t force Lily to make her decision right away either. He gently advises her, “I won’t comment
much on your relationship with him. It is entirely up to you two. However, about Adair, I know you have
been raising him alone since he was born. It is not an easy job and that you have poured your heart in
him but after all, Rex is his father. It is an undeniable fact. You are asking him to give up his child now.
If it was you, would you agree to that?”
Lily wouldn’t even think about the assumption, let alone agree with it.
This is her life. Her child is everything to her.
“Karl, I never want to find another guy to spend my life with after Rex. I can give everything up but not
my child.” Lily had been hurt too many times in love. It is difficult for her to fall in love again.
Karl takes a good look at the woman standing in front of him. It’s been five years. Lily is no longer the
young lady of twenty-four years old. She has her life now. He could see her toughness and
determinations through her eyes. She has got something to guard for now.
The Lily he sees now is heartbreakingly admirable.
Karl thinks of Lily as his little sister and he wishes the best for her, “Lily, I’m saying this as your friend
instead of Rex’s. I really hope you could let go and let the past be the past. Everything bad has already
been settled. If you really didn’t love Rex anymore, I would say a word about it and I wish the best for
you but it is obvious that you still have feelings for Rex. Don’t deceive yourself or you might end up in
regret at the end of the day.”
Every word Karl says is like grenades dropping in Lily’s heart. Each word causes an explosion and
leaves Lily in shock. She hears it all but she becomes more and more torn.
Everyone tells her that she still loves Rex and she is the only opposition to those voices. Could she be
wrong?
Rex apologized but he never explains and clarifies about what happened five years ago. She admits
that she couldn't let it go and she thought about it all the times. It is also part of what Rex’s family did to
her. The whole family of his makes her feels unsettled.
She doesn’t feel comfortable handing Adair over to such a family and she will never put him in danger.
“If there’s any problem, both of you should talk about it. You know, make things clear,” Karl secretly
wishes both of them could be happy- as her friend, and as his friend.
Lily shakes her head when she hears what Karl says, “I couldn’t get in touch with him. I got a letter from
the lawyer this morning.”
She hands over the document to Karl. In fact, Karl knew about this document yesterday but sometimes,
under a certain condition, a white lie is needed. He covers his guiltiness with an innocent look and
browses the document right away.
Karl becomes angrier and angrier as he finishes reading the letter. No wonder he couldn’t convince Lily.
Rex sends out the letter for real, and it is a pretty conscientious one!
Karl wants to tell Lily so badly that it is just a trick plays by Rex, just to scare her. Rex never has the
intention of separating Adair and her. However, Karl remembers Rex’s instruction. He pauses for a
while then continue saying, “The Rex I know would never do such thing if he didn’t being pushed too
far.”
Then he remembers that day when Rex borrowed shirts from him, Karl asks, “Did something happened
between you two that made him jump into such decision?”
Karl’s question reminds Lily about what happened the other day in the room. She flushes. Lily knows
what Karl is asking but she couldn’t tell him exactly what happened. So, she gives an ambiguous
answer, “Something went wrong the other day in the hospital.”
“That’s it,” Karl waves his hand in an indifferent attitude, “He was just too mad. Maybe you could try
giving in? If he really wants to separate you and Adair, he wouldn’t even allow you to go visit Adair in
the hospital in the first place, right?”
“Karl’s right,” Lily thinks. She was too angry to think about all these that day but…
She opens her contact list and says in a disconsolate tone, “He is not picking up any of my calls and he
wouldn’t see me. Let alone the child.”
Karl was waiting for her to say this. He replies immediately, “It’s fine, I’ll make the call.”
Karl then makes a call to Rex directly. The phone call didn’t go through after a while. Lily is nervous but
Karl knows what’s going on. It is obvious that Rex knew Lily is with him, so Rex is taking his time
picking up the call.
“Where are you now?” Karl asks Rex in a lowered tone. He feels nervous to put up a play in front of
Lily.
“I’m at home, of course. Where else could I be?”
“Lily wants to see you. You guys should talk things out. Isn’t it a bit childish to play ghosting?” Karl
takes the advantage to insult Rex and enhance the image of himself in Lily’s eyes.
However, Rex replies coldly, “I don’t want to see her.”
He wants her to be panic.
“Hey, don’t push your luck,” Karl wants to stop this play. He asks Rex directly, “Do you want to come
over, or do you want me to bring Lily to your place? Your choice.”
Rex stares at the view of the garden from his window. He slowly says, “I’m going to MS Club tonight. If
she wants to see me, ask her to be there.”
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