Lily burst into tears and wrapped her hands around Quist. She sniffed, "Big brother, you don't know, but I miss you and Mom so much."
Just thinking about all those years of grievances made Lily's heart ache.
Yet, they couldn't understand her, so she could only direct the blame toward someone else. "That person likes to bully me. I'm so pitiful. I want to stay home for a while."
Quist wrapped his hand around Lily and stroked her hair softly. "Of course. The house belongs to you. Just stay home—"
"Hm hm." Before Quist could complete his words, a certain male lead, who was unable to watch any longer, cleared his throat.
Lily's eyes widened, and she held Quist tighter when she saw Zane Ji's dark face. "Brother."
Aiya. When did Zane come here? Why did he come? How was it that she didn't know? Lily was so engrossed that she hadn't paid attention to anything.
Zane looked directly at Quist and sneered. He asserted, "She's my wife."
Quist's eyes turned cold. "Your wife? She's my sister. It's nothing to break this marriage."
Lily's eyes immediately lit up, and Zane, whose attention was fixed on Lily, caught this happy reaction. This must be what Lily is here for.
Zane's eyes turned cold. Keep dreaming! Even if the whole city gathered to pressure him, he wasn't going to let go of this troublemaking demon.
However, regardless of how excited Lily was to break the marriage, she was still sensible enough to weigh the pros and cons.
Lily couldn't let them break the marriage rashly. She sighed. She couldn't cause trouble for the Shen family.
Lily lowered her head and explained, "It's my fault. I caused trouble in the club, so I ran from home."
If Lily decided to break the marriage without a reason, she would only drag the Shen family into the mud, and she couldn't allow that.
Quist stared at Zane with hostility. "President Zane, everyone in the city knows my sister loves going to the club. If you're dissatisfied with her actions, just divorce her."
Zane Ji looked at Lily and sneered coldly before looking back at Quist. "Why don't you ask Lily what sort of trouble she caused?"
Mrs. Shen held Lily's hand and coaxed, "Lily, be good. What sort of trouble did you cause? Mom and your brother will take care of it."
Lily's face turned hot with shame. Just thinking about that awful memory where she made a bad calculation made her want to dig a hole and hide. She really didn't want to recall it at all.
Lily looked down at her feet and bit her lower lip in shame. "It's just that some people drugged my drink and locked me outside with two men. I was almost—ahem—raped. Zane was the one who saved me."
Even without naming those people, they already understood who Lily was talking about.
Quist's eyes turned cold and calculating. It was clear those people would have a miserable end.
Mrs. Shen's expression changed, and she scolded, "That's terrible… Those damn friends of yours! You can't walk with them anymore."
Lily nodded her head like a chicken pecking rice and wrapped her hands around Mrs. Shen obediently. "Of course, Mom. I have changed, Mom."
Mrs. Shen sighed and pecked her forehead, unable to stay angry at Lily when she was especially this obedient. "Anyway, Lily is still thin. I want her to stay in the mansion," she said, looking at Zane.
Thank you, Mom! Lily's eyes lit up, and she excitedly said this in her heart. Now she'd be free from a certain jerk for a while. Hmph!
Zane Ji smirked upon seeing that happy glint in her eyes. Judging by Lily, a few days would turn into a lifetime. He said, "Lily is my wife. Since she has come here to pay respects to our parents, I am a good husband. Naturally, I'll stay with my wife."
Stay? Lily's expression broke, and she wanted to howl aloud and shake this male lead who had broken out of character again. Stay? Why is he staying again? Why would he want to stay?
Lily hurriedly let go of Quist and shook her head. She coaxed like a good wife, yet her expression showed her anxiety. She didn't want him to stay at all! "Of course not. You don't have to stay, Hubby. You have work. Your place of work is far from the Shen mansion. Going to and fro will make you extremely tired. I can't allow that."
Zane extended his hand and stroked her hair. He smiled at her, seemingly not understanding what she meant. "Since you're happy here, I'll accompany you. It doesn't matter. I'm used to it."
Lily puffed her cheeks. Despite all she did to escape from someone, she couldn't break free at all! Everything she did kept tying her down and making her unable to get away from Zane Ji.
Lily plopped onto the chair, downcast. She stuffed the osmanthus cake into her mouth and silently cursed.
Soon, she tried to console herself. Hmph. She didn't believe he could be that calm!
Perhaps she wouldn't need to worry for long since the drama would begin soon. Then she would finally see the true character of this shameless man!
Before the movie ends, Lily would certainly get a divorce, which meant she could finally live her salted-fish life. Who has to worry about Zane Ji at that time?
Thinking it through, Lily picked up her spoon and began to stuff the meal into her mouth.
Mrs. Shen's heart ached at the sight. Lily had always been spoiled by the family, and seeing her like this made her unhappy. She coaxed, "Careful, careful. Why are you eating like you haven't eaten all this time?"
Lily had only been eating noodles all this while. Sigh. Lily was really pitiful.
Just thinking about it—she had been treated badly ever since she arrived at Zane's mansion and in this world. She really had to break free!