Filed To Story: The Broken-Hearted She and The Icy He Book PDF Free
Meanwhile, upstairs, Blanc had pulled Victor into the study and given him a stern scolding.
When Victor later came down and spotted Renee, a flicker of something strange crossed his expression. But it was gone in an instant, replaced with his usual calm gravity. “Renee, you’re back. How long do you plan on staying?”
“My mother and I decided we’re staying here for good-we won’t be leaving again,” Renee answered cheerfully.
Blanc’s brows drew together briefly. But when he noticed Nancy’s delight at her words, he said nothing further.
After breakfast, the men of the Luke family all left for their busy schedules.
Lily, with no pressing matters, chatted with Grace for a while, then went for a stroll through the back garden.
“Lily!”
Renee’s sweet voice chimed from behind her.
“Wow, these roses are beautiful! Did you plant them yourself?”
Lily smiled faintly. She loved flowers, yes-back when she and John had shared a home, she’d planted plenty.
But here, in the vast estate of the Luke family, the gardens were tended by professionals. One rose garden alone was as large as a basketball court. If she’d tried to do it herself, she’d have worked herself to death.
She answered honestly, “The gardeners take care of them. I don’t help much”
But Rence was no longer listening. Her eyes had caught on a tall tree a little farther away.
She ran toward it, face alight with joy. “I can’t believe the wintersweet tree James and I planted is still here-and it’s grown so big!”
“It’s blooming too… the flowers are gorgeous, and the scent is wonderful!”
Her tone was bright, innocent, brimming with girlish charm.
But Lily’s chest prickled as if pierced by a needle.
The wintersweet-also called the love tree, the tree of eternal union. A symbol of everlasting devotion.
Maybe Renee had spoken without thinking. Maybe, when she and James had planted it, they hadn’t given the symbolism much weight.
But Lily was his girlfriend now. Hearing another woman reminisce about planting a love tree with him was unsettling.
Or perhaps it wasn’t just the words. Perhaps it was Renee herself. Something about her left Lily uneasy, even beneath her dazzling smile.
But with the elders doting on her, and with Susan being James’s beloved godmother, Lily had no intention of stirring conflict.
So she excused herself politely and walked away, choosing distance over confrontation.
As Lily’s figure retreated, Renee’s bright, innocent smile faded. In its place rose a shadow of burning resentment.
She loathed Lily.
James had been the first boy she had ever liked-the only one. He had always cherished Susan, and she had believed, with childish certainty, that she and James were destined to be together forever.
She had been ready to confess her feelings. But the very night before, he had been in the car accident that left him a vegetable.
The doctors had told her he might never wake.
She had panicked, torn apart between love and fear. In her eyes, a vegetable was no different from the dead. She had been young, too young to tie her life to a man who would never open his eyes again.
So she had forced herself to let go. Forced herself to ignore his name, his face, his existence.
She met men abroad-many of them. But none stirred her heart. None could make her think of marriage, none could make her want a future.
James’s name, his reputation, had always been too large to escape. Even when she tried, his shadow lingered.
Then, just days ago, she saw the news-he had woken up.
Her heart had leapt. She had flown back, desperate to rekindle the story she thought was theirs.
But he already had someone else. And worse-that woman was carrying his child.
She refused to believe it.
They had grown up together, bound by years of companionship. She knew him-she knew him too well. He couldn’t possibly love another woman.
No, it had to be Lily. That shameless woman must have used some trick, trapping him with pregnancy, forcing her way into his life, rising by virtue of the child she carried.
Renee’s fists curled at her sides, her smile long gone.
She would never allow Lily to steal the place that belonged to her.
Rence held firm to her conviction.
She had years of history with James. Her mother Susan was Nancy’s dearest friend. Both Nancy and Grace adored her, and Victor and Ivan had always treated her well.
With the Luke family’s support, with her mother’s past kindness weighing in her favor, she was certain James would ultimately choose her.
She would never raise another woman’s child. She would never let some stray flower force its way into his life.
Since Lily and James had laid their hearts bare, he had almost always come straight home after work.
But that evening, he called her. Susan wasn’t feeling well, he said-he needed to check on her and would be home later.
She thought it would be quick. He would see Susan and return.
But ten o’clock came and went, and still no sign of him.
She trusted him. She believed in his feelings, that he wasn’t the type to wander.
And yet… the thought of that wintersweet tree in the back garden, planted by him and Renee, and the way Renee’s eyes had sparkled when she saw him-it needled at her, unsettling her heart.
Curled in the corner of the room, she wrapped her arms around her belly. She was just about to call James when her phone rang sharply.
She assumed it was him and answered without checking.
But it wasn’t his voice.
It was Adeline’s-hoarse, broken, trembling. “Lily, call… call the police, I’m at-
The sound of a scuffle, a cruel man’s laugh, and then the line went dead.
“1
“Adeline!”
Lily’s heart dropped. She redialed at once, then again, and again. Three calls. No answer.
Panic spurred her into motion. She called the police, then ran for the door. She needed Ivan- he could trace Adeline’s phone. With guards, they could reach her in time.
But before she could get to Ivan’s room, she nearly collided with Victor coming upstairs.
“Lily? What’s wrong? Are you unwell?” His sharp eyes caught her panic.
“Victor, Adeline’s in trouble,” she said breathlessly. “She just called me. She told me to call the police-I heard men laughing on the line. They grabbed her before she could say where she was.”
“Can you track her phone? Please-I need to find her.”
Victor didn’t know Adeline well. They had only crossed paths twice-once when she’d stubbornly stood on stage to shield Lily, and once, just a fleeting glimpse the night before.
They had never even spoken.
But hearing she was in danger, his chest tightened inexplicably.
No time to dwell on it. He steadied Lily with a warm tone. “Don’t worry. Give me her number. I’ll find her.”
Lily sent the number, and within minutes, Victor had pinpointed the location: Flora Club.
“It’s late. Stay here and rest,” he told her firmly. “I’ll go with my men. Once I find her, I’ll call you.”
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