33 Chapter 28 Part 1

[ November 9, 2019; Saturday ]

Waking up in a mess of a room, Caiden's blue eyes are still a bit puffy from the events that had transpired last night. Yesterday, right after a magazine photoshoot, he instantly headed to where his Lily is currently staying at. Just like a few days ago, he once again tried to talk her out of her decision, hoping that she'll finally give up and listen to him. But in the end, he was left heartbroken again by her response.

He let out a bitter laugh, recalling that memory; the tears once again daring to spill out. So desperate to have her again, Caiden even ended up trying to guilt trip her, telling her that he would never ever talk to her if she proceeded to be with him. But in the end, she still chose Alessio over him while emphasizing those painful words to him that the love that she shared with Alessio is stronger than everything else.

Is this how it's really going to end? Are the memories that they have gone throughout those years just nothing to her? Does she really love that bastard that much?! He clutches onto his bedsheet, harshly crumpling it under his grip. But a few seconds later, he drops it as he places both his hands over his face.

While Caiden initially threatened to break his relationship off with her, he just cannot manage to do so. He loves her; he loves her too much. And while she didn't seem to treasure their memories, it's different for him. All the times that they have spent together is very precious to his heart, and he is not going to forget those just because she chose that man over him.

It was all just empty threats…

Maybe Lily knew that already, so she resolved to stand with her decision. Maybe she wasn't so scared of him abandoning her because the chances for that to happen are too impossible. Or maybe she trusted him enough that he would soon understand and back off… and even support her with her relationship with that man all because she deeply knew that he loves her with all his heart.

And she was right.

Maybe it is time for him to give up because the woman she loves already found her happiness. It is just misfortunate that it wasn't with him and instead with another man. He forces down the sob, pressing his lips, feeling the intensity of the pain trying to break him down inside. The painful realization somehow manages to hurt him more than the discovery of Lily's relationship with Alessio. Is moving on really the only choice for him available?

…

I don't want to, He sighs as he takes his phone from the table beside him, helplessly looking at the screen that has him and her smiling straight at the camera. I don't want to, but it's for her… and my sake. He brushes a thumb over her innocent features with a heavy heart before unlocking his phone several minutes later as an effort to distract himself from the overwhelming sorrow within him.

Though that doesn't seem to work as his gaze happens to land on an article. His dark blue eyes, narrowing, as rage instantly fills in, sweeping the sadness away. Quite roughly, Caiden closes his phone and throws it beside him. His handsome features, painted with a furious expression; but it's not really enough to express his anger and disappointment from what he has seen over the social media.

Judging from the article, that Alessio bastard and his fiancée have travelled somewhere to commemorate their relationship. While Lily was so busy defending their love from his protests, that man really dared to go behind her back. Is she really planning to choose him over me?!

Love?! Love, you say?! If he truly loves Lily, then he shouldn't be spending his time with his fiancée?! He should instead have cancelled their engagement already?!

No… no… Caiden couldn't the love of his life waste her time over this cheater of a bastard! He doesn't deserve her love; he doesn't deserve her, and Caiden is not someone who'll let his dearest one be treated like trash by somebody— not even by the one she proclaimed to love with all her heart.

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"Cai—Caiden?!" Lily's light brown eyes widen upon seeing the visitor behind the door. She unconsciously steps back, flinching upon realizing his identity. He seems to notice that and immediately prevents himself from coming closer to her and pulling her into his arms as he instead only sends her a pleading look.

Observing him, the short blonde-haired girl already has an idea what he was here for; and well, she wasn't very much so pleased to be having another confrontation again with her closest friend. Last night, they already talked that out… and she was hoping that that conversation would have finally brought his objections into a stop, but seeing him here again, that doesn't seem to be the case.

"I'm sorry for coming without a notice, but this is quite urgent. I— I truly care for you, and I am fine with you loving someone else that isn't me, but…" Lily shakes her head, placing both her hands on each of her ears to block his words out.

"I told you! That conversation was over. Whatever words you are about to say to me right now, I still won't give up this love. This is my life anyways! You don't control me; you don't own me!" she quickly exclaims, interrupting his words, as her light brown eyes start to get teary. Looking up at him, she has that look of innocent-like determination drawn over her delicate features.

Caiden's will doesn't falter in the slightest as he instead places his hands over hers, gently tugging those blockage down from her ears and holding those instead in his. "Lily-jie, I didn't mean for you to view me in that manner. Believe me. I'm—" He looks at her with the most sincere gaze he can muster. "I am not forcing you to choose me anymore. I'm here to help you choose the right decision for yourself."

"What do you mean…?" Lily blinks her eyes. "Do you think that I'm choosing a wrong decision?! Alessio-ge and I love each other! What is even there more to say?!" she cries out as she starts to pull her hands away from Caiden's.

He doesn't let go though as he maintains his grip. He is not planning to have Lily close the door on him before he can even say those words. "No… no… I don't exactly mean that, but I'm afraid to say that Alessio is not someone who's worthy of your love. Haven't you seen the news?!"

Lily blinks her eyes. "What news…?"

To her words, Caiden finally drops the bomb. Of course the blonde haired girl is already aware of that; but hearing it again from his lips, she cannot help but slightly lower her gaze to the ground and tremble in fear of what might happen. "Don't you see it?! While you claim that Alessio truly loves you, there's also a high possibility that he might abandon you too just as easily as he left his fiancée. Because before he met you, didn't he also love Ember…?"

Lily purses her lips.

…

As if that struck a nerve on her, Caiden is not able to receive a response from her. She is quiet for too long that he suddenly has an urge to give her some space. He slowly takes back his hands from his arms; his eyes, carefully observing for any small movements she might take. But there seems to be none as she remains in her place. He cannot even see her expression anymore as she has her head lowered. As he waits— for a second, he thinks that she'll finally admit her defeat and forsake those feelings.

Instead, he receives a different reply.

"Shut up," Lily mutters under her breath, her words quiet yet emphasized in its delivery. "You know nothing," she says once more as she finally reveals the unusual dead look on her delicate features. The way she speaks and looks instantly catches him off guard; unconsciously making him take a step back. He has never seen her so indifferent towards him; so seeing her right now, he wonders if that was just his brains playing tricks on him. He blinks his blue eyes at her, but she maintains that demeanor.

"Lily?"

Finally, she cracks.

The blank look breaks down into a sorrowful look as the tears stream down her face like an endless waterfall. "Caiden, stop. Please stop. You don't know anything about Lessio-ge! It hurts that you keep on slandering him when he's really nothing like how you view him. I know that he would never betray me. He wouldn't," she emotionally exclaims, shaking her head in denial of his words.

"Lily-jie, y— you need to open your eyes," he desperately begs; but she continues to insist that all his words are nothing but baseless defamations. Eventually she has enough with the chit chat that she finally chooses to close the door on his face.

Caiden tries to knock on the door several times, but Lily is not in the mood to listen anymore. Wiping the tears off her displeased face with her arm as she continues feigning unawareness to the knocks outside, she softly breathes out a sigh. "Confrontation is really the most exhausting thing ever," she murmurs, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, before calmly walking back to her bedroom.

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"So they'll come back tomorrow? I see… thank you."

He ends the call; his lips, in a straight line.

The blue-eyed man then languidly walks towards the couch, with a kind of exhausted look. As he takes his seat, he places his hands on his face. The memories earlier still conquering his thoughts; he just hates the fact that it has come to this. The pride that he has always carried is thrown away as he eventually decides to make a deal with Ember Wang, the woman Lily is currently in bad terms with.

Caiden knows that she'll be hurt if she ever knew this arrangement, but it was not like he's doing it intentionally. It's for her sake anyways. So he believes that he shouldn't be guilty for doing this. While it would temporarily hurt Lily, he would make sure to be with her and make her happy in the end. It's much better than giving the bastard a chance to permanently shatter her fragile heart.

I truly wish for your happiness, Lily-jie.

I truly do...

But I believe that Alessio won't give you the happiness you truly deserve, so I'm not sorry for doing this, Caiden breathes out a sigh, feeling the warmth of his exhales trapped in his palms.