Filed To Story: The Broken-Hearted She and The Icy He Book PDF Free
He still had things to say, so he didn’t leave for the study immediately.
Seeing her curled in the corner of the bed, looking like a heap of crushed snow, he spoke sharply, “Get dressed.”
Lily had been so mortified she hadn’t even realized she was still naked under the blanket.
Now she felt even more like scum. She scrambled to pull the blanket tighter around herself, wrapping it securely.
She knew he must have something to say.
Lowering her head, she sat there like a guilty schoolgirl awaiting punishment.
Truly, after what she’d done tonight, she deserved whatever scolding-or even beating-he gave her.
James glanced down at his own shirt and realized how disheveled he looked. He silently buttoned it up- one by one, slow and precise, his face cold and restrained.
Lily peeked up and saw his hands.
Long, pale, well-defined fingers.
Those same hands had landed on her waist when he tried to push her off.
And what had she done?
She’d grabbed them like a woman possessed, like she meant to drag him into the depths of lust and never let go.
Her face dropped lower, burning with shame.
He shouldn’t have just tossed her to the bed corner. He should’ve thrown her straight out the window.
If the roles were reversed-if she had saved a man, only for him to pounce on her, kiss her, touch her, take advantage-she’d have hacked off his hands with a broadsword and had him castrated on the spot.
Truly, the fact that James hadn’t hit her, hadn’t cursed her, was evidence of his extraordinary restraint and character.
She was just about to bury her whole face under the blanket when his voice rang out again-calm, cold, devoid of all emotion.
“Tonight, I saw and touched your body. When we divorce, I’ll add another hundred million to the settlement.”
James didn’t like Lily. He’d never wanted physical contact with her.
He had saved her tonight not to take advantage of her, but simply because it was the right thing to do.
Still, whether in the car or on the bed-when she kissed him, groped him, pawed at him-he hadn’t managed to push her away in time.
That, to him, was a failure of self-control. And he would pay the price for it.
James loathed his loss of control tonight-and he was determined to make it right by offering her compensation.
“…Huh?”
Lily was stunned.
After what she’d done tonight-throwing herself at him, crossing countless lines-she felt like even being torn apart by horses wouldn’t be enough punishment.
She should be the one compensating him.
Sure, he was obscenely wealthy and she had no idea how much money would be enough to express her remorse, but still-she never imagined he would be the one to offer her compensation.
He’d clearly been resisting her advances, uncomfortable with every kiss and touch.
Lily understood that he was only offering to compensate her because of his unshakeable moral compass. Even though she was the one who acted out of line, he saw her as the more vulnerable party and felt responsible.
But from her perspective, she hadn’t suffered at all.
She’d only been a disgraceful, insufferable mess.
She couldn’t possibly take that billion. She wouldn’t let him pay for her mistake. Embarrassed, she blurted, “You don’t have to compensate me!”
She couldn’t admit that she remembered everything-so she paused, then added carefully, “I… I remember being knocked out after coming out of the restroom. I think I was taken to a place called The Charmer. Someone tried to hurt me. If you hadn’t shown up when you did, I’d be ruined. As for whatever happened afterward… I honestly don’t remember. All I know is you saved me. Even if my clothes were ruined or we, uh, had any physical contact, you were only helping me. You really don’t owe me anything.”
As she said that, her gaze drifted to the red marks on his throat.
She shut her eyes, trembling.
She was filthy.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to speak again. “I… I just noticed you have some scratch marks… I really don’t remember anything that happened after we left The Charmer. Did those scratches happen during a fight or something? They. they weren’t from me, right? I didn’t do anything to you on the way home, did I? I swear I don’t remember. If I did do something and made you uncomfortable, can we just pretend it didn’t happen?”
Scratch marks from a fight?
James glanced coldly down at his shirt collar.
Fighting with another man, leaving scratch marks?
His stomach turned.
He wasn’t into that kind of thing.
But there was no need to clarify. No point bringing up the absurdity of earlier. If she claimed to have blacked out-so much the better.
As for the one billion… he’d made a mistake. He’d take responsibility. He’d ask Ashton to wire the money to her tomorrow-no need to argue about it.
Expression flat, he lifted his eyes and gave a calm, indifferent reply. “Mm.”
So… he wasn’t angry anymore?
Lily quietly let out a sigh of relief.
Then, spotting a smear of blood on his shirt-Randall’s, she realized-she quickly added, “I scratched Randall’s neck earlier, got some blood on me… That might’ve gotten on your shirt when you carried me. How much did it cost? I can pay you back.”
“No need.”
James couldn’t care less about a few thousand-dollar shirts. All he wanted was for Lily to move on, find someone who suited her, and keep their lives separate.
After a moment’s pause, he added coolly, “From now on, let’s be more careful. When we see each other, keep a safe distance. No more physical contact.”
“Yes, of course!” Lily nodded like her life depended on it.
She would repent for tonight’s lust-driven madness. She’d never again make him uncomfortable.
But seeing his cold expression-still seemingly displeased-she rushed to reassure him. “Don’t worry. Next time I see you, I’ll take at least ten steps back. I promise I won’t lay a finger on you. Even if I’m drunk, or someone drugs me again, I’ll do my best to stay away. If I ever lose control and try anything… you can just throw me out. I won’t be mad.”
“Mm.”
James wasn’t unreasonable. Seeing her so earnest, he didn’t push the issue further.
After a moment, he changed the subject. “Any progress with Simon? When can I tell Grandma about you two?”
This morning, Simon had thoughtfully served her breakfast, even brought her carefully selected roses. And Lily had blushed around him, From James’ perspective, it looked promising. He hoped they’d get together soon.
Lily glanced at him, eyes complicated.
She didn’t want to outright question his judgment….
But she couldn’t stand Simon. That walking disaster was the last man she could imagine being with.
Still, she decided to phrase her answer gently-acknowledging James’ kindness while making it clear he shouldn’t keep hoping for a match.
“James, I really think you have great taste. You’re a genuinely good person-always thinking of me. Thank you for introducing me to someone as amazing as Simon. Seriously, he’s got everything, looks, brains, charm… even his body is incredible.”
She spoke so highly of Simon-anyone listening would think she’d fallen for him already.
By all logic, James should have felt relieved, even pleased.
Yet there was a faint tightness in his chest.
It wasn’t strong, but it lingered just enough to make him uncomfortable.
He was about to congratulate her on finding the perfect match when she added, “But everyone has different preferences. Simon’s great, but… I’m just not into him.”
Worried he might think she was trying to back out of the divorce, Lily quickly added, “Don’t worry, though. I’ll start dating someone soon. Actually, I… I recently reconnected with an old classmate.”
She didn’t dare mention the truth-that she’d met someone online and was planning to meet him in real life. Most people didn’t take online relationships seriously. Feeling guilty, she lowered her voice. “We’ve been talking a lot lately. I think… I might date him. And even if it doesn’t work out, I’ll hire a handsome college guy to pretend to be my boyfriend. I swear I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure your grandparents support our divorce. I won’t stand in the way of your happiness.”
Oddly, as soon as she said she wasn’t into Simon, that tightness in James’ chest… vanished.
But the second she brought up dating her old classmate, something unpleasant churned in his gut.
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.