“Dad, I’ve agreed to move to France for the arranged marriage. We need to move fast, or I’ll change my mind.” Mr. Sterling’s reply was immediate: “My sweet girl, it will be handled within a month, tops!” Lily Sterling silently wiped away her tears and put her phone away. Just an hour ago, Damon Cunningham’s kisses had coaxed soft moans from her. The Bentley’s partition was up, isolating the back seat, so the driver heard nothing. Damon deepened the kiss, taking what he wanted. Lily loved him fiercely, irrevocably. She was utterly consumed by him. They had been together for three years, trying every possible scenario, and the car was a frequent setting. Damon’s phone buzzed. He scowled at the interruption, but his expression softened slightly when he saw the caller ID. He answered. Lily glimpsed the name on the screen—a foreign one. Georgian. A rare language; few people outside of Georgia understood it. “Calling at a time like this!” Damon snapped, his tone cold. “What, are you busy with something important?” the voice on the other end chuckled. Damon’s fingers tightened on Lily’s slender waist, a silent command in his touch. He spoke with a cool, lazy drawl: “You know I am, so get to the point.” “Tell me,” the voice mused, a hint of gossip in his tone, “how much does she resemble Seraphina?” Damon traced Lily’s delicate face with a dismissive touch. “About seventy percent.” “Damn it, you absolute bastard!” the man swore with a laugh. “What’s so great about this chick?” Damon kissed Lily’s neck. “Pure. Like a docile little puppy. Her eyes are clear, almost foolishly innocent. Clean.” The man’s breathing grew heavy. Damon frowned, annoyed. “Enough of that, you sick bastard. Get to the point or I’m hanging up!” “Seraphina’s flying back tomorrow,” the man quickly blurted, “to launch her career here!” Damon froze, his breath catching. “Really?!” “Seraphina wanted to keep it a secret, but I thought I’d give you a heads-up, didn’t I? Your first love, the one that got away, is back. You won’t have trouble ditching the stand-in, will you?” “There’s nothing money can’t solve,” Damon replied, his voice flat and detached. He tossed the phone aside and continued his actions. Lily’s head was half-bowed, hidden by the seat, but she saw the phone lying on the floor mat, still connected. Damon didn’t know she understood Georgian. Her family had business dealings in Georgia; she had studied the language for over five years. She understood perfectly. Tears welled up, a burning flood that soaked into her hair as she slumped. Three years of genuine devotion. In his eyes, she was nothing more than a dog. The sun shone brightly. It felt as though summer had arrived early. The three-story European-style villa was bathed in the morning light. Damon descended the stairs, leisurely fastening the diamond buttons of his custom-tailored shirt. He was Damon Cunningham, the younger heir of the Cunningham Group, a global top 100 conglomerate. He managed several of the family’s entertainment and media companies. His figure was tall and lean, exuding a cool, detached elegance, carrying the aloofness typical of a successful man. Three years ago, she was a freshman in college. The moment she first saw him, she was completely captivated. He had noticed her in the crowd too, his eyes lighting up. He pursued her relentlessly, and though she held him at arm’s length for three months, she eventually gave in. From then on, her heart and soul belonged to him. She had lost herself. But… Lily turned her head, her expression blank. Damon didn’t notice her unusual silence. He cupped her face and kissed her hard. “I’m off to a meeting at the office. You be a good girl and wait for me here. I’ll bring you some dessert.” With that, he turned and left. His tall frame, now retreating, held a curious hint of haste. Lily offered a bitter smile and began to organize her belongings. She started by systematically discarding every item that declared their love: matching mugs, toothbrushes, keychains, scarves, T-shirts, stuffed animals – all tossed into the trash. They seemed scattered and insignificant when she wasn’t paying attention, but gathering them filled a surprising number of boxes, leaving her sweaty from the effort. Returning after throwing out a box, she saw the living room TV broadcasting news about international star Seraphina Thorne’s return to the country. The airport lobby was swamped with fans, their screams and shouts echoing. Her hair was styled in glamorous waves, her figure tall and statuesque, her features perfectly sculpted. She possessed an undeniable, camera-ready beauty from every angle, smiling and waving for the cameras, eliciting another wave of cheers from her fans. As the camera panned, Lily caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in a corner of the airport lobby. *Ding, ding, ding.* A SnapChat notification pinged on the laptop. Damon never bothered to log out, his SnapChat still open on the screen. Lily walked over and clicked on it. *Sera darling: Damon, where are you? I don’t see you anywhere.* *Damon: I’m back in the car. Too many fans, I don’t want to be seen.* *Sera darling: Then I’ll meet you at the hotel.* Damon sent an OK emoji. *Sera darling: It’s been five years, I’m so excited to see you.* Lily gave a mocking laugh and went back to throwing things away. Damon didn’t return late. He’d been drinking; a hint of lingering amusement softened his usual cool, detached expression. He held a large bouquet of red roses, his voice a deep, resonant rumble: “I’m home.” Lily was curled up on the sofa, uploading photos to an online marketplace for designer pre-owned items. She was selling off her valuables, planning to donate the proceeds. Hearing his voice, she closed her laptop and looked up. Damon walked over, tucked the flowers into her arms, then wrapped her and the bouquet in a tight embrace, kissing her lips. “What’s wrong? Miss me?” Lily kept her lips pressed together, silent, as she lowered her head to smell the roses. Damon, as if performing a magic trick, pulled a long, narrow box from the wrapping paper of the roses and opened it. His eyes, the kind that could make anyone feel like the center of the universe, were now fixed on her, intensely alluring. Lily saw it was a diamond necklace she’d admired, worth over three hundred thousand dollars. A few days ago, when they were shopping, she had only glanced at it. She hadn’t expected him to buy it today. Seeing her staring at the necklace in a daze, he leaned in and kissed her cheek. “So happy you’re speechless? Let me put it on you!” Lily’s long, slender white fingers caressed the necklace. She said, flatly, “Roses, diamonds… I almost thought you were going to propose.” Damon’s hands stilled. He shot Lily a sharp glance. His voice cooled. “When I propose, there’ll be something even better.” The smile had vanished from Damon’s face, replaced by a cold glint in his deep eyes. Lily looked away, reaching to unclasp the necklace. Damon seized her hand, then crushed her lips with his, pushing her onto the sofa. Her body instantly tensed. She turned her head, avoiding his mouth, and pushed at his hands. “I… I’m not comfortable.” Damon’s voice was imperious and cold: “Don’t play coy with me, Lily. I know your period just ended.” With that, he grabbed her hands again. Panic flared in Lily’s chest. Just then, Damon’s phone rang. Lily quickly pushed him. “Your phone! Answer it!” Damon let out an annoyed sigh, pulling his phone from his pants pocket. Lily, beneath him, could see the screen clearly. Caller ID: Sera darling. Damon quickly flipped the phone face-down on the sofa. He swept a detached glance over Lily, saw her expression was normal, and stood up. “I’ll take this call.” Then, he adjusted his pants, picked up his phone, and went upstairs. A short while later, he came back down, dressed in a different custom-tailored suit. “A buddy of mine ran into some trouble, I’m going to help him out. You go to sleep first.” He didn’t notice, not once, how many small items were missing from the villa, making it feel strangely empty. Damon hadn’t returned in three days. He’d called, saying he was busy with work. Lily’s mood was surprisingly calm. Still, she couldn’t help but check Seraphina Thorne’s social media. Updates every day. The first day’s photo showed two hands clinking two glasses of red wine, with the caption: *Some friendships are like fine wine, growing richer with age.* One of the hands was a man’s. Lily recognized that long, elegant hand, and the ring on its ring finger – a custom-made couple’s ring, identical to the one on her own hand. She slipped her ring off, a bitter smile on her face. “I’m so used to wearing it, I forgot to sell it.” The second day’s photo was of a sunset by the sea. Caption: *I wish I could grow old here, slowly.* Lily recognized the two coconut trees leaning against each other in the photo. She and Damon had planted them together on the beach near his seaside villa, and she had hung a handcrafted charm on one of them. The third day was a photo at an airport, where Damon’s tall, imposing figure could be seen among the bustling crowd. Seraphina’s fans went wild, asking if she was in love. She replied to all: *No, just feeling reflective, being back in a familiar place.* Lily suppressed the bitterness in her heart. She methodically mailed off the sold items to their buyers and donated the money to a prominent celebrity charity foundation. Some extremely valuable pieces of jewelry were too high-end for the online marketplaces, so she took them to an auction house. She also went to her university, completing the withdrawal procedures for her graduate program. Then she visited the immigration office, had her photo taken, and gave her fingerprints. She deactivated her rarely used social media and online shopping accounts, keeping only two frequently used ones, which she planned to deactivate before getting on the plane. Today was her birthday. After midnight, messages and calls of congratulations poured in without a break. Her parents, brother, sister, classmates, friends, mentors, professors… But not a single word from Damon. Lily glanced up at the picture frame on the wall. She was nestled in Damon’s arms, smiling sweetly, happily, utterly content, as if she possessed the entire world. Damon’s handsome face, however, was cold and deep-set, utterly expressionless. She let out a self-deprecating laugh, pulled over a chair, and reached up to take down the frame. Suddenly, the door opened. Damon walked in. His handsome face was dark and stormy, exuding an aura that warned people to keep their distance. He saw Lily perched on the chair, rushed over, and frowned. “What are you doing up so high?” Lily offered a faint smile. “Why are you back?” Damon lifted her from the chair, kissed her lips. “Silly girl, forgot what day it is?” A sudden pang of sorrow tightened Lily’s chest, and her eyes uncontrollably reddened. Damon cupped her face, kissing her eyes. “No more sadness, I remembered, see?” Lily lowered her long lashes, pushing him away in protest. He held her tightly, chuckling softly. “Think you’re not getting a gift? Come on, let’s go see your gift.” He pulled her hand, leading her towards the door. He pushed the door open, revealing a bright red Ferrari parked in the driveway. The car, costing over a million dollars, was perfect for a young woman like her. He placed the keys in her hand, his voice affectionate. “Your birthday gift. Do you like it?” “I love it,” Lily said, smiling. She wanted to ask: *Is this my severance package?* Damon bent down to kiss her ear… His touch, through her thin clothes, brushed against her body. His breathing grew heavier. He bent, picked her up, and carried her inside. Lily frowned, wondering how to refuse, when his phone rang again. A wave of self-mockery washed over Lily. She didn’t even need to think of an excuse to refuse; the phone always rang at the most opportune moment. He set her down, ruffled her hair, and said, “Go change into a dress. I’ll take you somewhere in a bit.” Lily felt like she’d been granted a reprieve. She turned and went upstairs. Behind her, she heard him answer the phone: “Hello, Sera…” Lily went back to her room and changed into a sapphire blue silk gown. The skirt fell past her knees, revealing only a hint of cleavage, but the largely exposed back was covered by her long, dark hair. She applied light makeup, put on a pair of pearl stud earrings, and went downstairs. Damon was still on the phone. He watched her descend the stairs, his eyes locking on her. Sapphire blue was a challenging color, but Lily’s skin was exquisitely fair, making her appear noble and elegant. A form-fitting silk dress easily exposed figure flaws, but Lily’s figure was perfect, without a single imperfection. Her features were delicate, her demeanor refined, captivating attention even without elaborate jewelry. Damon hung up the phone and slipped it into his pocket. He reached for her waist, pulled her close, and kissed her lips, his touch possessive. “Why aren’t you wearing the diamond necklace?” “It’s too precious,” Lily said, her smile faint. “I bought it for you to wear,” Damon sighed. “Tomorrow, I’ll buy you an even better one.” Lily held up the car keys. “Let’s go. I can’t wait to drive my new car.” Damon affectionately ruffled the back of her head. “Alright, let’s go.” Once in the car, Damon sat in the passenger seat, setting the navigation. Lily noticed the destination was an exclusive club in the suburbs, open only to members, with an annual fee of half a million dollars. They had been there last year for Damon’s birthday. Just the two of them, for two days, they hadn’t even left the room. He had been so exhausted he’d gotten a nosebleed, and she’d ended up in the hospital. Lily frowned, realizing he intended to celebrate her birthday the same way. But she no longer had the passion or the desire. The thought made her feel sick. All the way there, she could only think about how to escape. The drive felt incredibly short. The electric gate opened, and the red Ferrari slowly drove in, stopping in front of an antique-style two-story building. Damon got out first. He walked around to the driver’s side, holding Lily’s high heels, and placed them on the ground. Lily took his arm to get out of the car, then slipped on her heels. As she stood upright, she heard two loud *bangs!* Lily jumped. A shower of red rose petals drifted down, creating a dreamlike scene. Damon pulled her close, shielding her with his arm. The handsome couple, locked in an embrace, was bathed in a rain of roses. “Oh! Hahahaha…” Many people rushed out from all directions, laughing and cheering joyfully. “Happy birthday, Lily!” “Happy birthday!” “You’re so beautiful, no wonder Mr. Cunningham kept you hidden so well!” “What a perfect couple!” Lily felt bewildered. For three years, Damon had never introduced her to his parents, relatives, or friends. He claimed that, dealing with celebrities and being part of the entertainment industry, he couldn’t make their relationship public. She had wanted to introduce him to her family, but he always said the time wasn’t right. What was happening now? Was the time finally right? Lily was in a daze, as Damon led her, arm in arm, into the grand ballroom. Music swelled, lights sparkled, rose petals floated down from the ceiling, and waiters in suits and bow ties wheeled out a birthday cake taller than a man. “Cut the cake!” In the joyous commotion, a cake knife was placed in Lily’s hand. Damon wrapped his arm around Lily, his hand over hers, whispering in her ear, “We’ll cut it together.” He found a spot, and the cake knife sliced down… “Am I late?” A tall figure appeared at the doorway. Damon’s hand froze, his eyes changing instantly. Lily looked up and saw Seraphina Thorne, backlit, radiant and dazzling, approaching. Many smiles in the room faltered – those who were in the know. Some who weren’t, paused for a moment, then erupted in excitement. “Seraphina Thorne!” “It’s Seraphina Thorne! The international star!” Many people swarmed Seraphina, taking photos, asking for autographs, and posing for selfies. Reporters and media personnel, in particular, began to pull out their equipment for interviews. Suddenly, Seraphina became the center of attention. A reporter asked, “Seraphina, why are you here? Do you know Mr. Cunningham?” Seraphina smiled gracefully and confidently. “Mr. Cunningham and I have been friends for years. I heard he was celebrating his girlfriend’s birthday, so I came to offer my blessings.” Another reporter asked, “From your Ins posts, it seems you’ve been with a mysterious man since returning to the country. Are you in a relationship?” Seraphina looked at Damon in front of her and said, “No, that was just a very, very good old friend.” A reporter teased, “Old friends can also fall in love and get married. Would you consider that mysterious man?” Seraphina looked directly at Damon and said, slowly and deliberately, “No. I. Wouldn’t.” Damon’s arm around Lily’s waist tightened, his gaze icy, his face darkening. The sudden chill in the air stiffened everyone’s smiles, and the lively atmosphere instantly cooled. “Today is my girlfriend’s birthday party,” Damon stated coldly, “not a press conference for the great Seraphina Thorne.” The event organizer quickly tried to smooth things over. “Right, right! Let’s cut the cake! Music!” These were all industry veterans; the atmosphere immediately livened up again. Lily took the first slice of cake and offered it to Seraphina, smiling. “Welcome, great Seraphina, have some cake.” Seraphina took the cake, staring at Lily’s face intently. “Why do I feel like we look a little alike?” she asked, surprised. She turned to the people around them. “What do you think?” Those in the know offered awkward smiles, trying to deflect. “Beautiful people often look similar, similar enough, haha.” Those who weren’t aware began to murmur. “Oh, she’s right, there’s a resemblance.” “At first glance, yes, but not so much upon closer inspection.” “Different styles. One is like a peony, dazzling and incomparable; the other, pure and elegant, like an orchid.” Lily smiled calmly. “What a coincidence. Even when I was little, people used to say I looked like the great star, Seraphina Thorne.” Those who understood the underlying meaning of her words exchanged knowing glances. Indeed, Lily was very young, only twenty-one, just graduated from college. Her beauty was natural, pure, and untouched by the world. She came from a privileged background, receiving the finest education and upbringing since childhood. That innate elegance, grace, confidence, and poise made her shine. Seraphina, on the other hand, wasn’t much older, only twenty-nine. But years of cosmetic procedures and navigating the entertainment industry had left her with a certain worldliness that no amount of acting could erase. Moreover, she came from an ordinary family, starting art school and joining the entertainment industry at a very young age, with insufficient academic training. This often gave people the impression of superficiality. Class and presence were qualities that radiated from within, and they were starkly evident when compared side-by-side. Someone intervened to break the tension. “Everyone, help yourselves to the buffet! Red wine, white wine, drink as much as you like.” The crowd dispersed, glasses in hand, mingling and chatting in small groups. Damon’s arm was around Lily’s waist. He whispered, “What would you like to eat? Or drink?” In such settings, no one was truly there to eat or drink. Lily didn’t know anyone and felt incredibly awkward. “Let’s sit by the French windows.” Damon brought her favorite red wine and dessert and stayed by her side, but his eyes kept drifting to Seraphina Thorne, who was skillfully working the room. Seraphina, with her radiant smile, was in her element. She chatted with reporters and independent media first, then clinked glasses with several producers and screenwriters. After that, she engaged in conversation with two powerful directors from the film industry. She wanted to build her career here, and cultivating relationships with these top directors was crucial. Under the influence of alcohol, men and women, all chasing fame and fortune, inevitably found themselves being plied with drinks, groped, and having their boundaries tested. Damon’s face grew darker, his aura colder. Initially, he made an effort to exchange a few words with Lily, but soon he couldn’t even manage that. Lily saw one director’s hand move to Seraphina’s lower back, while another handed her a large glass of brandy. Damon could no longer sit still. He abruptly stood up, strode over, snatched the glass of alcohol away, and said with a cold face, “Have you forgotten what the doctor said? And you’re still drinking!” His voice was so stern that the surroundings instantly fell silent. Everyone turned to look. Seraphina, slightly tipsy, smiled, making her even more enchanting. “Damon, you’re still so careful. Don’t worry, I know my limits.” The director, already quite drunk, chuckled. “Mr. Cunningham is deeply devoted to you, Seraphina! Back then, when you had a kiss scene, he even caused a scene on set!” A tipsy friend also laughed. “Exactly! Damon is a true romantic. Once he loves, it’s etched in stone, forever and always!” Seraphina quickly interjected, “Don’t talk nonsense, everyone. My stomach is very sensitive; he’s just worried I’ll get another stomach bleed.” Damon instinctively glanced at Lily, then at the gossiping eyes around them. He grabbed Seraphina’s hand and pulled her towards the exit. “Let’s talk outside!” Lily’s heart felt a complex mix of bitterness and sorrow. Damon was five years older than her, always composed, dignified, and capable of handling anything with calm detachment. She never imagined he would lose his composure like this, especially in public! She felt everyone’s eyes on her, filled with a strange mixture of curiosity and pity. She felt utterly uncomfortable. She stood up and went to the terrace. The wind was cool. There were no lights out here. The light from the main hall cast long, shifting shadows. She found a chair in a corner and sat down. Looking up, she saw Damon and Seraphina arguing fiercely by a flowerbed. Finally, Damon, furious, turned to leave. Seraphina reached out to grab him. He angrily shook her hand off. Seraphina, unsteady in her high heels, twisted her ankle and stumbled into the flowerbed. Hearing the commotion, Damon rushed over and pulled her out. She seemed quite injured, and her ankle was sprained. Damon picked Seraphina up and ran towards the red Ferrari. He placed her in the passenger seat, then drove off. By the flowerbed, a single silver high heel lay forgotten. With the main characters gone, people in the ballroom gradually started to leave. Lily returned to the ballroom. Leftovers and cold dishes, the party was over. The waiters, tidying up, looked at her with pity and a hint of gossip. Lily’s white high heels crunched over a carpet of red rose petals as she slowly walked out of the ballroom. The Ferrari was gone, driven away by Damon. “Ma’am,” a man’s voice called from behind her. Lily’s heart jumped. The voice sounded somewhat familiar. She turned to see a man with blond hair, appearing to be in his thirties, a mix of European and Asian descent, with deep-set eyes and a high nose—a rather handsome face. But his eyes held a lewd, unsettling glint. He extended his hand. “I’m Yuri, a Georgian-American.” Lily didn’t shake his hand. She turned away. Yuri awkwardly retracted his hand. “I’m a friend of Damon’s. It’s hard to get a cab here. I can give you a ride back.” Lily politely declined. “No need. The club has cars.” With an annual membership fee of half a million, the club offered chauffeured services. Lily walked towards a parked car in the distance. Yuri watched her perfectly curved silhouette, tilted his head, licked his lips, and flashed a predatory, confident smile. *The woman who could hold Damon’s attention for three years was indeed exceptional.* Lily felt his gaze like daggers in her back. As she settled into the club’s private car, she saw Yuri still standing there, watching her, his face filled with ill intent. Remembering his phone call with Damon earlier, a wave of disgust washed over her. She gave the driver her address and urged, “Let’s go.” Bored in the car, she picked up her phone. Online, the trending topics were exploding. The top four were all about Damon, Seraphina, and her. *DAMON CUNNINGHAM SPOTTED AT CITY HOSPITAL WITH SERAPHINA THORNE, LOOKING DISTRAUGHT, RAISING CONCERNS OF SERAPHINA’S SEVERE INJURIES/DISFIGUREMENT!* *DAMON CUNNINGHAM THROWS BIRTHDAY BASH FOR NEW GIRLFRIEND, EX-GIRLFRIEND SERAPHINA THORNE ATTENDS TO OFFER BLESSINGS, PRIVATE MEETING IN GARDEN, EARLY DEPARTURE!* *DAMON CUNNINGHAM’S NEW GIRLFRIEND 70% RESEMBLES SERAPHINA THORNE, A REAL-LIFE ‘STAND-IN’ DRAMA UNFOLDS!* *SIX YEARS APART, ARE SERAPHINA THORNE AND THE CUNNINGHAM HEIR STILL TOGETHER OR HAVE THEY REKINDLED AN OLD FLAME?!* The posts came with photos, videos, and “truth.” One particularly clear photo showed Lily offering cake to Seraphina, the two standing side-by-side. Seraphina’s fans flooded the comments. Some wished the couple well, hoping they’d finally be together. Others directly called out Damon’s new girlfriend, telling her to know her place and stop being a third wheel. Many fans suspected Seraphina’s injury was Lily’s jealous retaliation, hurling vile insults at her. Only a handful of sympathetic comments trickled in for Damon’s new girlfriend. Lily’s body trembled with rage. *How dare they publish her photos without her permission?* At such a high-end club, guest privacy was paramount. Information wouldn’t be released without explicit consent! This meant that Damon, as the host, had at least agreed to it. Lily immediately sent legal notices to the relevant websites, pursuing action for infringing on her likeness rights. Within two minutes, some of her photos and videos were deleted. But it was too late; thousands had already downloaded them, continuing to spread them in comment sections and private accounts. Lily wasn’t angry for long. By the time she returned to the villa, she had calmed down. Stepping into the living room, she saw their shared photos everywhere, finding them deeply ironic. She kicked off her high heels, tossed her bag aside, and began taking down all the picture frames. She removed the photos and burned them, then threw away the frames. She hadn’t realized how many photos there were. In the living room, the hallways, bedrooms, study, gym, on the walls, cabinets, and tables of the walk-in closet… The phone rang. Lily picked it up and saw it was her father. As soon as she answered, Mr. Sterling’s angry voice boomed: “Lily, what’s going on online? Why are you embroiled in a scandal at a time like this?” Lily sank onto the carpet, exhausted. “Dad…” Her nose stung, and her throat choked up. Mr. Sterling’s voice instantly softened. “My sweet girl, don’t cry, don’t cry! Dad’s here! We won’t be pushed around! Leave the websites to me, I’ll tear them apart!” Her family’s love instantly crumbled Lily’s composure. She covered her mouth, the evening’s accumulated grievances spilling out in choked sobs. “It’s no use crying now, honey,” Mr. Sterling sighed. “But Dad will teach that bastard Damon and that woman a lesson!” Lily wiped away her tears. “No, it’s fine. I was too foolish and naive, I brought this upon myself. I’ve already decided to emigrate and leave, so let’s just let it go.” “You, you never learn!” Mr. Sterling exclaimed, frustrated. He wanted to scold her, but he couldn’t bring himself to. He could only sigh with heartache. Lily asked about the progress of her immigration application, then hung up. She took a shower and went to sleep. Damon didn’t come back all night. No calls, no messages. She woke up to the late morning sun. First, she grabbed her phone. All her photos and videos had vanished without a trace. Damon returned during breakfast. He wore yesterday’s clothes, his hair slightly disheveled, red veins in his eyes, and a shadow of stubble. Clearly, he hadn’t slept all night. He sat across from Lily, his voice heavy as he demanded, “The online stuff, did you send legal notices and sue?” Lily dabbed her lips with a napkin, meeting his gaze directly. “Yes, I did. I need to protect my rights.” Damon spoke in a businesslike tone: “The company has already signed Seraphina Thorne. She just returned to the country and needs publicity. I’ll give you fifty million dollars to withdraw your lawsuit against the websites and allow them to use your photos and videos for promotion.” A mocking smile touched Lily’s lips. “Mr. Cunningham, I’m not an employee of your company. I have no obligation, nor any need, to cooperate with your publicity stunts.” Damon’s eyebrows furrowed. He slammed the glass of milk he’d just picked up back onto the table, his cold eyes scrutinizing her. “Are you jealous? Are you mad about me leaving you last night? Seraphina injured her face and foot last night, that’s why I rushed her to the hospital. Her career depends on her looks; she can’t be disfigured.” “I’m not angry,” Lily smiled. “How you choose to promote her is irrelevant. Just don’t involve me. Understand?” Damon’s eyes sharpened, his voice chilling. “You’ve always been so obedient, so sensible. I hope you won’t disappoint me.” “I apologize if I’ve disappointed you, Mr. Cunningham,” Lily said flatly, “but I stand by my principles.” Damon looked at her, baffled, as if he’d punched a pillow. He lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and slowly exhaled a plume of smoke. His handsome, weary face, shrouded in smoke, took on an air of aristocratic melancholy. After a few drags, he calmed down. He stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette in the ashtray, walked over, and sat next to Lily. He pulled her into his embrace. “Alright, we won’t use your photos and videos. Don’t be angry anymore. How about twenty million dollars if you withdraw the lawsuit? Offending those reporters and independent media will also harm the company’s reputation.” As he spoke, he kissed her ear. His hand moved to her collar. Since it was Damon’s company that had orchestrated it, Lily decided to agree to withdraw the lawsuit. She would consider it payment for his companionship these past three years. After all, he had always been… attentive. Just as she was about to nod, Damon’s phone rang. He kept one arm around her, pulled out his phone, glanced at it, and answered. He spoke in Georgian. “Yuri, what’s up?” Yuri’s voice was insidious and malicious. “Have you smoothed things over with Lily? Has she agreed to withdraw the lawsuit? Those reporters and independent media are hounding Seraphina for responsibility, she’s practically in tears.” Damon said, lazily, “Why wouldn’t she agree?” Yuri chuckled darkly. “Man, I’m really envious. I’ve truly fallen for Lily. You’ve got Seraphina now, why don’t you let me have Lily? Just to… satisfy a craving.” Damon’s arm around Lily tightened. He snarled, “Get lost!” She was so close, Lily heard every word clearly. Damon’s previous words had been ambiguous, making her think it was his company’s operation. She hadn’t realized it was Seraphina Thorne’s doing. Damon hung up, kissed Lily’s face, and urged, “Call your lawyer and withdraw the lawsuit.” “I’m not withdrawing it,” Lily said, her voice cold. Damon’s face instantly darkened. He stood up, towering over her. “Don’t be dramatic, alright? My company will suffer losses. What good does that do you?” Lily held firm. “Your team and those reporters and independent media—they all know about privacy and likeness rights, don’t they? Yet they knowingly broke the law. Why? I was bullied, and instead of holding them accountable, you come to me to make a deal. Why?” Damon’s icy eyes stared at her. “I barely recognize you like this,” he said, disappointed. “Jealousy really distorts a person.” With that, he pushed his dining chair back and went upstairs. The chair scraped loudly, a testament to his anger. Whenever Seraphina was involved, he couldn’t remain calm. Lily lowered her eyes, continuing to slowly sip her bird’s nest porridge. A moment later, Damon came back downstairs. He had changed clothes, and his hair was still damp, indicating he had showered. He paused at the restaurant entrance, turning to look at Lily. “I’ll still transfer the twenty million to you. I apologize for the trouble I’ve caused.” He was perfectly polite. But Lily keenly sensed his coldness and detachment. She didn’t care. More orders had come in on the online marketplace. She packed everything and shipped them off. For seven days straight, Damon didn’t return, nor did he send any messages. That morning, her phone suddenly rang. Lily was startled awake. She fumbled for her phone and saw it was Damon. Her brows furrowed slightly as she answered. Damon’s voice was slurred, his words thick; he must have been heavily drunk. “Lily, quick… come pick me up, take me… home.” Lily heard loud music in the background. “Where are you?” she asked. “Lust Nightclub,” Damon slurred. “VIP Room eighty-eight.” “Alright,” Lily said. She quickly got up, pulling on a pair of jeans and a white T-shirt. After a moment’s thought, she found a pair of sparkling black stud earrings and put them on. She went downstairs to the garage. The red Ferrari was parked at the very front. The car wasn’t registered under her name yet, so she hadn’t sold it. Lily opened the driver’s side door and slid in. But she noticed a pair of black stockings on the passenger seat, and a silver high heel on the floor mat. She recognized the high heel; it was a match for the one Seraphina had dropped by the club’s flowerbed on her birthday. A wave of nausea washed over her. She got out and found her BMW Mini among Damon’s dozen luxury cars. It was past two in the morning. She arrived at Lust Nightclub’s underground parking garage. Just as she parked, a middle-aged man emerged from behind a dark pillar and blocked her way. “Hey, miss! Can I borrow some tissues? I’m in a hurry and forgot my own.” Lily was highly wary of strangers approaching her. “No,” she refused. “I lost my phone,” the man tried again. “Can you spare some money? For tissues, and for a ride home.” “No!” Lily said, her voice cold. With that, she turned and walked away. As the elevator doors opened, deafening music blasted out. Flashing lights were dazzling. Men and women swayed together, drinking, singing, flirting… Lily disliked such noisy scenes. She asked the front desk attendant for directions, then went through a soundproof door into a hallway. High-end VIP rooms lined both sides of the hallway, their thick doors keeping the corridor quiet. Lily found VIP Room 88 and pressed the doorbell. The thick soundproof door opened, and a wave of ear-splitting dance music poured out. It was bright outside, but dark inside. Lily couldn’t quite make out the situation within. She stepped inside. The door suddenly closed behind her. Lily gasped, spinning around abruptly, coming face-to-face with Yuri’s lecherous eyes. At the same moment, Yuri raised his hand and *hissed* twice, spraying something at her. Lily tried to dodge, but it was too late. A subtly sweet scent enveloped her, and she inhaled several breaths. Yuri blocked the door, leaving her no choice but to retreat further into the room. “What do you want?” she asked warily. “I want you!” Yuri chuckled darkly. He then *hissed* several more times, spraying her with the substance. Lily felt a flush of heat, her heart pounding, her legs weak, her eyes swimming from the disco lights. As expected, Yuri was spraying her with a despicable drug! Nightclub VIP rooms prized soundproofing and privacy; there was only one soundproof door and no windows. With the music blaring, Lily could scream her lungs out, and no one would hear her! Yuri, who must have taken an antidote beforehand, lunged forward in a few steps, grabbed her, and pressed a kiss on her. “My darling, Big Brother finally has you!” Lily was both horrified and furious. She struggled and fought. “Let go of me! This is a crime!” Yuri grabbed her arm, flung her onto the sofa booth, and pounced on her like a starving wolf. Lily was terrified. She lifted her leg to kick him. But he anticipated her move, leaning forward to pin her down. His hands pinched and squeezed, and he gritted his teeth. “Crime? It’s just the two of us here, no cameras. I’ll say you drank too much and were willing, then woke up and tried to accuse me. Who will the judge believe? It’ll just be dismissed!” Despair washed over Lily. She struggled weakly. “Damon won’t let you get away with this!” Yuri held her down, unbuttoning her jeans, his laughter wild and perverse. “Silly girl, Damon sent you to me! Didn’t he call you here? He’s probably having a good time with Seraphina next door!” Lily felt like she’d been struck by lightning. Tears of heartbreak and indignation streamed down her face. Yuri unzipped her jeans, pulling them down. “Tonight, I’ll show you what Big Brother can do. I’m better than Damon! Seraphina has been in the West for six years, she’s into all sorts of things. Damon will definitely come back to you! By then, after you’ve been with me, you won’t even look at him! Heh heh…” Lily snapped back from the shock, her pants already pulled down to her hips. She raised her hand and slapped Yuri across the face. *Snap!* The sound was sharp and loud. Yuri’s expression changed instantly, but then he twisted it into a sick smile. “A feisty one, I like that!” Lily raised her right hand to strike again, but he caught her wrist. She raised her left hand, and he seized that wrist too. Yuri’s eyes flashed menacingly. “Your little struggles are just foreplay! Once the drug fully kicks in, you’ll be crying and begging for Big Brother!” With that, he bent down to kiss her, like a mad dog. Lily felt a burning heat in her abdomen, her entire body too weak to resist. In the adjacent VIP room, Seraphina held a glass of red wine, admiring the footage on her phone. She smiled at her assistant beside her. “If Lily hadn’t worn pants today, Yuri would have already succeeded. But this is even better; it will only further ignite Yuri’s animalistic urges.” “What if Lily reports Yuri?” the assistant asked, worried. Seraphina scoffed. “Report Yuri? What does that have to do with me? I didn’t do anything. I just suggested Damon call Lily to pick him up.” The assistant looked at her with admiration and awe. Seraphina smiled triumphantly. “With these videos, Lily *has* to withdraw her lawsuit. Otherwise, I’ll release them online! Let’s see who’s willing to sacrifice everything!” With that, she excitedly clenched her fist at her phone. “Yuri, take off her pants, go! Go, go, go!” Damon, lying on the sofa, stirred. “Water, Lily, get me a glass of water,” he slurred. Seraphina’s body stiffened. She turned to look at Damon’s handsome face, a flicker of jealousy in her eyes. “Coming.” She turned off her phone screen and went to get Damon some water. Next door, in the VIP room, Lily felt that her night was about to end in disaster. As Yuri loosened his grip on her hands to pull off her pants, she fought desperately, scratching his face and neck until they were raw. Yuri, like a beast, growled, “Little wildcat, you’ve only made Big Brother more interested! Soon, I’ll record your wild antics for your own viewing pleasure!” With that, he pulled Lily off the sofa booth. Lily’s legs were weak and useless. She crumpled to her knees on the carpet. She reached out to push Yuri, who was pressing down on her. Lily’s eyes were moist, her cheeks flushed, her body already losing control. Sounds escaped her throat, muffled whimpers… No! She couldn’t just give up! She bit down hard on her tongue. The sharp pain brought back some clarity. She abruptly raised her leg and slammed her knee into Yuri’s nose. Yuri was half-kneeling on the carpet, head bent, pulling at her skinny jeans. He hadn’t expected Lily to still have the strength to fight back, and his nose took a direct hit. “Ah!” he screamed, instinctively letting go of Lily’s hands, and sat on the floor, clutching his nose. Lily quickly scrambled to her feet, bit her tongue hard again to stay conscious, and delivered a powerful kick to Yuri’s groin. “Aow!” Yuri shrieked, curling up and rolling on the floor. Lily saw a small spray bottle peeking out of his back pocket. She decisively grabbed it, held her breath, and sprayed him in the face repeatedly, *hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss!* Then she stumbled and crawled towards the door. Opening the VIP room door, a gust of cold air rushed over her, bringing back more of her senses. She quickly wiped her fingerprints off the bottle with her T-shirt, threw it back into the room, slammed the door shut, and ran out. But her legs were weak; even holding onto the wall, she couldn’t run fast. She felt a burning heat throughout her body, with only one thought: *find a man!* She knew that if this continued, something terrible would happen. Either she’d strip naked and make a public spectacle of herself, or some other man would pick her up. Call the police? High-end nightclubs like this had powerful connections. If they got wind of it, they’d deal with her first! Call friends for help? Too late! What to do? What could she possibly do?! *Click!* A door opened. Lily spun around, startled, and saw the door to VIP Room 88, next door, open. Her scalp prickled. If Damon caught her, he would surely send her back to Yuri! Lily’s heart raced with anxiety. The best option was to find an empty VIP room, hide, douse herself in cold water, and try to ride it out! So, she quickly pushed open the door of the nearest VIP room. The door actually swung open. She didn’t hesitate, quickly slipping inside and closing the door behind her. Just as the door shut, she saw Seraphina emerge from her own room and head towards VIP Room 88. Seraphina had barely pushed open the door when someone yanked her inside, and she let out a scream. Lily locked the door from the inside and even hooked the chain. The VIP room was dark and silent; it seemed empty. She felt a wave of relief, immediately followed by the overwhelming sensation of burning heat. She slumped against the wall, slowly sliding to the floor, pulling off her T-shirt to cool herself down. She heard her own ragged breathing and pounding heartbeat. Her entire body felt as if ants were crawling over her, an unbearable agony. She couldn’t help but let out suppressed moans. Suddenly! *Click!* The lights flickered on. Lily’s consciousness was already hazy. Through the fog, she saw a tall, handsome man slowly approach her. The man appeared to be in his thirties, with striking features, deep-set eyes, a high nose, and a mixed European-Asian heritage. Lily, like a dying traveler in the desert who spots an oasis, crawled towards him. “Help me! Please, help me…” She was naturally beautiful; not just her face, but her figure was exceptional. Now, her hair was soaked, her eyes watery, her voice soft and alluring… The man’s sapphire blue eyes darkened. “Madam, should I call the police for you, or an ambulance?” Lily wanted him to help her to the restroom for cold water. “Water, cold water…” She clung to his leg, using it to pull herself to her knees. The moment her body made contact with his, *bang!* Her tightly strung rationality snapped. She had only one thought now: *I need this man!* She was like someone starved for seven days seeing bread. She embraced him, pleading, “Help me! I’ll pay you!” The man’s body stiffened. He reached down, pulled her up, his voice a deep rumble. “I’ll take you to the hospital.” Her ears were ringing, she couldn’t hear anything anymore. Her whole body felt like it had been boiling in water, her blood surging. Another second, and her heart would explode. She stood on her toes, tilted her head, and kissed him, winding around his tall, lean body like a snake, her trembling hands reaching for his casual pants. The man’s eyes instantly darkened. “This is *your* request!” He abruptly bent down, scooped her into his arms, tossed her onto the sofa booth, and with one hand, started to pull down her pants. This time, Lily was entirely cooperative. The man moved like a cheetah hunting prey on the savanna, full of primal ferocity and power. She didn’t know how much time passed until Lily gradually regained consciousness, utterly exhausted. But this place was too dangerous; anyone could walk in at any moment. Lily crawled around, gathering her scattered clothes and shoes, and dressed with trembling hands. The man’s hair was damp, his athletic body covered in a fine sheen of sweat, almost shimmering. Lily couldn’t help but glance at him a few more times. She picked up her phone, intending to transfer money to him. But then she thought, in this situation, it would be safer not to leave any digital trace. After a moment’s consideration, she took off her wristwatch and placed it on the man’s abs. “This watch is worth over five million. It’s your payment.” The man’s face instantly darkened. He picked up the watch and sat up, staring intently at her. Lily, fearing he would demand more, quickly ran out. Five million for one night—that was plenty! Afraid of running into Damon and his group, she avoided the main lobby and took the fire escape. Exiting the doors of Lust Nightclub, she found that dawn had broken. The streets were bustling with cars and hurried pedestrians, already starting their day. She took a deep breath, descended the steps, and walked towards the parking lot. “Lily!” Damon’s voice called from behind her. Lily’s body stiffened. She slowly turned around and saw Damon emerge from Lust Nightclub, his face dark and brooding. Seraphina Thorne, clinging to his arm, walked with graceful allure. A scarf was wrapped around her neck. She looked tired but offered a polite, weary smile. “Ms. Sterling, hello, we meet again.” Damon’s eyes were like ice. He’d blacked out last night, completely forgetting he had called Lily. He demanded, his voice cold, “What are you doing here?” Lily’s fury turned to a mocking laugh. “Where else should I be? In Yuri’s bed?” *Was he angry because his plan hadn’t worked?* Damon’s chest swelled with rage. So early, Lily’s hair was disheveled, her expression exhausted. It looked like she had spent the night at Lust! He desperately wanted to know what Lily had been doing at Lust all night! But he didn’t want to confront Lily in public. He walked over and grabbed her wrist. “Let’s talk back home.” His grip was strong, hurting Lily. Lily frowned, struggling. “Let go! You’re hurting me!” Damon’s expression was grim. “Behave!” he ordered, his voice deep. Seraphina caught up, gently advising, “Damon, don’t get angry. Let’s talk calmly.” Suddenly, a middle-aged man carrying a bucket of paint rushed over. “Seraphina Thorne! You harlot! Shameless!” With that, he lifted the paint bucket and hurled its contents at Seraphina. The three of them were standing close together; there was a lot of paint, and no one could escape it. In a flash of panic, Damon released Lily’s wrist, pulled Seraphina into his arms, spun around, and shielded her. At the same time, Lily instinctively raised her arm to block her face and turned away. Bright red paint splattered Damon’s back, and covered Lily’s head and body. “Ah!” “Ah!” “Ah!” Lily, Seraphina, and bystanders all screamed simultaneously. Damon roared, furious, to the Lust security guards: “Grab him!” Lily recognized the paint-wielding man as the same middle-aged man she had encountered in the parking lot last night. At the same time, the middle-aged man threw down the paint bucket, pulled out a boning knife, and lunged towards Seraphina. “You home-wrecker! You whore!” Damon had some self-defense training. He shielded the terrified Seraphina behind him and kicked out at the middle-aged man. The direction of his kick was precisely towards Lily! The middle-aged man was struck and stumbled towards Lily, the tip of the boning knife aimed directly at her! Her legs felt like jelly, and she reeled back in fear, but tripped over the steps behind her, falling backward. The middle-aged man also toppled forward. If he landed on her, Lily would surely be dead or severely injured. “Lily!” Damon shouted, his heart pounding with anxiety, but he couldn’t reach her in time. In that split second! A flowerpot fell from an upper floor of Lust Nightclub, striking the middle-aged man directly on the head. The man’s body lurched. The Lust security guards seized the opportunity, rushed forward, tackled him, and restrained him. Lily lay on the steps, her body aching, her tailbone numb. She couldn’t get up immediately. “Lily!” Damon ran over, picking her up. “Are you alright?” Tears streamed down Lily’s face from the pain. “It hurts.” “Don’t be scared,” Damon said. “We’re going to the hospital.” The middle-aged man, restrained by security, roared at her: “Lily Sterling! You can’t leave! You haven’t paid me yet! You said you’d make sure I was fine!” Damon’s steps faltered, his face instantly darkening. By now, a crowd had gathered to watch. Many held up their phones, taking photos and videos. Seraphina looked at the middle-aged man, utterly incredulous. “What are you talking about?” The middle-aged man frantically explained, “Don’t arrest me, don’t hit me! Lily Sterling promised me a hundred thousand to teach Seraphina Thorne, that bitch who stole her boyfriend, a lesson! She said she’d guarantee I wouldn’t get into trouble, that’s why I did it!” *Boom!* The gossiping crowd erupted. This scandal was massive! Two women fighting over one man, driven by jealousy, hiring someone to inflict harm! Damon’s arm loosened, and he looked down at Lily with a cold, contemptuous gaze, filled with disappointment. Lily slipped from his arms, standing on the ground, her heart plummeting into icy water. He didn’t believe her! She looked at Damon, her voice weak as she explained, “I didn’t.” Seraphina, however, nodded earnestly. “Ms. Sterling, I believe you’re not that kind of person!” She turned to the middle-aged man. “This is impossible, I don’t believe it. Do you have any evidence?” “We made the deal right here in the parking lot,” the middle-aged man insisted. “There must be security footage of it!” Lily understood everything then. It was a setup. Police cars arrived at that moment. A kind citizen had called them. The entire group was invited into the police cars. Lily sat in the police car, looking up. She saw a man standing at the window of the sixth-floor stairwell of Lust. It was the mixed-race man. Had he thrown the flowerpot and saved her? At the police station, Lily and the middle-aged man each presented their conflicting accounts. As for what happened inside Lust Nightclub, it was deemed irrelevant to the case, so no details were inquired about. Detectives went to retrieve the parking lot’s surveillance video. Damon remained seated beside Seraphina, his cold gaze fixed on Lily, clearly showing where his loyalties lay. Feeling suffocated, Lily stood up and went to the restroom. Her elbows and palms were scraped from falling on the steps. As she washed them, she trembled with pain. Her hair, neck, and white T-shirt were all covered in red paint. Water wouldn’t wash it off, leaving her in a disheveled state. Seraphina walked in, opened each stall door to confirm no one else was there, and then began to wash her hands. She had been well-protected by Damon; only a few drops of paint had splattered on her shoes. She looked at Lily’s reflection in the mirror, a triumphant smile on her face. “Look at you, what a mess! You’re disgusting. Damon protected me, not caring if you lived or died. You were together for three years, and he still doesn’t trust you. How does that feel? Does it hurt?” Lily met her gaze in the mirror, utterly silent. Seraphina let out a scornful chuckle. “Little sister, you’re so foolish and naive. Do you think I did all this for Damon?” Lily turned to her. “Then why?” Seraphina took a lipstick out of her twenty-thousand-dollar purse and twisted it up. “Who told you to be so ungrateful? Using an unknown like you for publicity was a compliment, and you sued! Damon offered you twenty million, and you still refused to withdraw the lawsuit.” “Damon doesn’t like scheming women,” Lily said calmly. “If he knew what you’ve done, he’d be disgusted with you.” Seraphina laughed as if she’d heard something hilarious. “No wonder Damon says you’re as dumb as a puppy! You have no idea what a ‘first love’ means to a man, do you? So what if I left him to pursue my career abroad? So what if we haven’t spoken in five or six years? All I have to do is snap my fingers, and he’ll come running back like a loyal golden retriever.” Lily’s heart filled with irony. Damon thought she was a puppy. Seraphina thought *he* was a golden retriever. Was this karma? Seraphina looked at her coldly. “If you’re smart, you’ll withdraw the lawsuit immediately.” “And if I don’t?” Seraphina tapped her phone a few times and held it out. “Look. What’s this?” Lily’s mind went *buzz!* when she saw it. It was a video of her and Yuri in VIP Room 88! Seraphina had edited the video cleverly. Yuri was pressing her down, pulling off her pants. Yuri’s back was to the camera, but Lily’s expression was clearly visible. Her cheeks were flushed pink, her eyes watery and dazed, looking utterly submissive. The music in the VIP room was loud, drowning out any spoken words. So, it looked as though she was completely willing. Lily was incandescent with rage. She reached out to snatch the phone, but Seraphina quickly pulled it away. “Stealing my phone won’t help. I have plenty of copies.” Lily trembled with anger, leaning weakly against the sink, glaring at her with hatred. Seraphina smiled. “Tell me, if I post this video on international social media, and it gets shared back here, what do you think will happen? There aren’t as many ‘rules’ on international platforms. These kinds of videos are common. You won’t be able to sue.” “If you’re so capable,” Lily said, her voice cold, “post the *entire* video. When I left, I sprayed Yuri with an entire bottle of that drug. He must have gone crazy, right? And then you walked into VIP Room 88. Did you enjoy what happened next?” Seraphina’s face darkened. She remembered how Yuri had acted like a beast towards her last night, and she shivered involuntarily, gritting her teeth. “What are you so proud of? The video is in my hands; I can post whatever segment I want!” Lily looked at the bruised, purple marks visible through the gap in Seraphina’s scarf. “Look at that. How intense was last night? Even a scarf can’t hide it.” Seraphina quickly adjusted her scarf in the mirror, a triumphant look on her face. “Those are from Damon!” “You and Damon can believe that,” Lily said flatly. With that, she walked out of the restroom. The police officers’ gazes were complex and unreadable. Damon was on the phone, his face grim. “Contact the websites, tell them to delete all the videos!” Lily pulled out her phone. Sure enough, today’s incident had also topped the trending searches, claiming the first and second spots. *INTERNATIONAL STAR SERAPHINA THORNE DOUSE DIN PAINT, NEARLY STABBED! ATTACKER ALLEGES LILY STERLING HIRED HIM!* *SERAPHINA THORNE AND DAMON CUNNINGHAM SPEND NIGHT AT NIGHTCLUB, DAMON’S GIRLFRIEND HIRES ATTACKER TO THROW PAINT!* Beneath these, many related videos had been uploaded. There had been too many people at the scene; videos from every angle were available. Each post was flooded with comments. Seraphina’s fans were practically spewing venom through their screens. *Die! Go to jail! Why wasn’t she stabbed to death?! Lock her in a dog pound and let the dogs have her…* Damon hung up his phone and walked over, his voice deep with condemnation. “Why did you do something so stupid? Now this is impossible to fix!” Seraphina rushed over, trying to soothe him. “Damon, don’t worry, we’ll find a way.” Damon’s voice was like an ice blade. “What way? These trending searches are real data!” A police officer commented, “This has become a public incident. Too many people are posting; it’s hard to suppress. Suing for privacy and likeness infringement in a case like this isn’t easy to manage.” Lily clutched her phone, head bowed, silent, offering no defense. Just then, the officer who went to retrieve the parking lot surveillance video returned. The date was recent, so it was easy to find. The video showed the two having some contact and speaking, but there was no audio, so the content was unknown. Fortunately, there were quite a few cameras in the parking lot, capturing both their backs and fronts. Moreover, Lily hadn’t given the middle-aged man anything. If she had exchanged a few more words or given him tissues or money, she would have been beyond refute. “Please look at my lips,” Lily argued. “I said only four words: ‘No, I don’t.’ My own name is only three syllables; how could I have communicated so much with him?” The middle-aged man’s eyes flickered, and he changed his story. “This was our second meeting. The first wasn’t here. Everything was made clear during that first conversation.” “Where did this first meeting take place?” Lily asked, her voice calm. “My home, my neighborhood, my university – they all have surveillance cameras. We can establish an alibi.” The middle-aged man heard this and couldn’t concoct another lie. “The time, the time was too long ago, I forgot the exact date!” “Do you remember the location?” the officer asked. The middle-aged man’s eyes darted around, his voice uncertain. “In, in the small grove by the river. No cameras there.” With no surveillance footage, no witnesses, and no concrete evidence of transfer or transaction, Lily was ultimately released due to insufficient evidence. “I want to sue him for defamation,” Lily said, her voice cold. “I want to sue him for endangering public safety and intentional assault!” The middle-aged man panicked, shouting in protest, “No! I’m telling the truth! It’s the truth!” “Regardless of whether you’re telling the truth,” the officer stated in a businesslike manner, “intentional assault and disturbing public safety are actions you committed. These are established criminal facts.” The middle-aged man lowered his head and was taken into custody for disturbing public safety. Other charges would be investigated further. Seraphina smiled sheepishly. “I knew it wasn’t Ms. Sterling’s doing. I’m sorry to have dragged you into this and caused you distress.” Damon also looked annoyed. “Let’s go home,” he said grimly. Lily didn’t spare either of them a glance. She told the investigating officer, “I will entrust all subsequent matters to my lawyer.” With that, she turned and walked away. Damon quickly followed, his brows furrowed, his face dark. Seraphina hurried after them, her eyes flashing with cold malice. *This Lily Sterling was really difficult to deal with!* *Hmph! Just wait until I destroy you!* She pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, and a triumphant, cold smile played on her lips. Reaching the elevator bank, Damon quickly pressed the down arrow. Lily stepped back two paces, not wanting to be too close to him. Damon frowned, looking at her, his ‘peach blossom’ eyes flashing with an apology. *Ding…* A message arrived on his phone. He glanced at the screen. The elevator arrived, empty. The three of them stepped inside. Lily stood in the innermost corner, her face devoid of emotion. Damon stood nearest the door, making a phone call, his mind elsewhere. “What is it?” He didn’t know what the person on the other end said. His expression hardened. “What did you say?!” Seraphina stood behind Damon, arms crossed, casting a sidelong glance at Lily, a smirk playing on her lips. Damon hung up and started looking at his phone, his face as dark and terrifying as the sky before a storm. “Damon,” Seraphina asked, concerned, “why do you look so terrible? Has something happened?” Damon didn’t speak until a video opened on his phone. The disco music from inside blasted out. Lily looked at Seraphina, meeting her triumphant, chilling gaze head-on. Damon’s eyes turned bloodshot. He seized Lily by the collar, yanking her towards him. He thrust the phone in front of her face. “What is this?!” he demanded, his voice trembling with fury. Lily saw the exact video Seraphina had shown her earlier. “You called me to Lust,” she said, her voice flat. “You tell me what’s going on.” Her indifferent attitude only fueled Damon’s rage. He lost all control, raising his hand and slapping Lily across the face. *Smack!* The sound, in the confined elevator, was exceptionally sharp and loud. Lily reeled from the blow, stumbling back against the elevator wall. Her face burned with pain. Her ears rang. The metallic taste of blood spread in her mouth. Tears streamed uncontrollably from her eyes. A flicker of satisfaction crossed Seraphina’s eyes. She quickly clutched Damon’s arm, feigning concern. “Damon, calm down! Let’s talk things through, don’t resort to violence!” Damon’s ‘peach blossom’ eyes blazed with fury, as if he wanted to incinerate Lily. He gritted his teeth, his words forced through them: “I can’t believe… how low you are!” Lily wiped a trickle of blood from her lip with the back of her hand, her gaze icy as she met his. She surged forward, raising her hand, and slapped him back with equal force. Damon’s face was knocked sideways. Seraphina shrieked, clutching his arm. “Damon, are you okay?!” “I’m low?” Lily’s voice was cold. “You called me to Lust, delivered me to Yuri, and you call *me* low?!” Seraphina’s eyes flickered. “How could you hit Damon? He’s never been slapped in the face before!” The elevator doors opened, revealing a crowd of people outside. Their eyes gleamed with gossipy interest as they saw the paint-splattered individuals inside. Lily stepped out first. Damon and Seraphina, their faces dark, also emerged. As the three walked out of the police station, they were swarmed by an eager crowd of fans, reporters, paparazzi, and independent media. They pressed forward relentlessly, like starved, rabid dogs. “Lily Sterling, why are you out? Did you really hire someone to harm Seraphina Thorne?” “Mr. Cunningham, two women fighting over you to the point of hiring someone for assault – what are your thoughts?” “Mr. Cunningham, do you prefer Seraphina Thorne or Lily Sterling? After all, they look so similar!” “Seraphina Thorne, did Lily Sterling really try to hurt you? Will you press charges to the fullest, or choose to forgive?” None of the three spoke. Damon, his face dark, shielded Seraphina and pushed his way out. Lily forced her way through the crowd alone. Suddenly, a rotten egg splattered against Lily’s forehead. Seraphina’s fans screamed in fury, “Whore! You snake! Apologize to Sera!” “You bitch! Go to hell!” “Slut! Whore! Selling yourself at a nightclub and still bullying our goddess!” Seraphina, her face a mask of terror, stepped in front of her fans, pleading, “Lily, please don’t be angry! These fans are just too worried about me; they didn’t mean it. Take your anger out on me, just please, don’t hurt my fans, I beg you…” Her voice was laced with a tearful, mournful, tender, and kind quality. The fans’ anger surged even higher. Another rotten egg smashed against Lily’s head. The egg burst, inevitably splattering onto Seraphina. Damon pulled her into his arms, his voice grim. “Let’s go, we need to leave here now!” He glanced at Lily, his gaze like an arctic glacier, cold and merciless. Another rotten egg splattered on Lily’s face, its foul stench burning her nostrils. She numbly watched Damon shield Seraphina, push through the chaotic crowd, get into Seraphina’s personal car, and drive away. She stood like a withered leaf in the frigid wind, solitary and cold. Fortunately, they were at the police station entrance. Officers responded swiftly, and the crowd scattered like flies. A kind, middle-aged female officer handed Lily a towel, sighing with pity. “Here, wipe yourself. I’ll drive you back.” Lily took the towel, wiping the rotten egg off her face. “Thank you,” she said softly. Covered in red paint and rotten egg, she probably wouldn’t even be able to hail a cab. The kind female officer drove her to Lust Nightclub’s parking lot. As Lily got into her own car and locked the doors, feeling safe, the overwhelming wave of injustice and heartbreak finally washed over her. She slumped over the steering wheel, sobbing uncontrollably. She had already decided to leave, already mentally prepared, yet the pain and humiliation were still overwhelming. Her phone rang. Lily grabbed a tissue, wiped her tears and snot, and answered. “Dad…” Mr. Sterling immediately knew she was crying from her voice. “My sweet girl,” he said gently, “I know about the online mess. Don’t worry, your old man will make them pay!” Tears streamed from Lily’s eyes like a fountain. She sniffled. “Dad,” she choked out, “no, let me handle this myself this time.” “You’re just a young woman,” Mr. Sterling sighed, his voice full of heartache. “What can you handle? Let Dad do it!” Lily’s tears flowed into her mouth. She tilted her head back, gasping for air like a fish out of water, trying to suppress her broken sobs. Mr. Sterling’s anxious voice came through the phone: “My girl, Dad’s here, don’t be scared. Dad will protect you! No matter what happens, you’ll always be Dad’s sweet girl, Dad’s good girl.” Lily was finally able to speak. “Dad, I’m okay. Your little girl has grown up; she can handle things herself now.” Mr. Sterling’s voice also choked up. “Good girl, Dad will listen to you. But if you need help, you *must* tell Dad. Don’t try to bear it alone, understand?” “Mmm,” Lily murmured. “The immigration application has been approved,” Mr. Sterling said, his voice thick. “The villa in Paris has been ready for a while. Come over quickly.” “Mmm,” Lily said, wiping away her tears with her sleeve.
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