Filed To Story: The Broken-Hearted She and The Icy He Book PDF Free
Luna and Bodger hadn’t expected James to disregard all their childhood memories and turn the story around like that-demeaning someone as “wonderful” as Mathilda. Their expressions darkened.
But the Luke family couldn’t be happier with what he said.
Henry, especially, was beaming like he’d just drunk two pounds of honey.
He’d been worried his oldest grandson was still set on divorcing Lily-but now that James was defending her, things were looking up.
Lily was just as surprised.
She thought that after Luna’s vicious accusations, James would see her as a snake, a piece of trash-just like so many others had.
She hadn’t expected him to turn the criticism back on Mathilda.
The Luke family really had great values.
Even though James clearly didn’t like her, he was, at his core, a good man.
After their divorce, she hoped he’d meet someone he truly loved-and live happil ver after.
“James, just look at your wife’s face! Someone beat her like that right in our home!”
Henry, feeling justified by James’s stance, puffed up with indignation. “My granddaughter-in-law got beaten in the Luke family house! They trying to kill me with rage or what… oh, oh dear…”
He snuck a glance at James before clutching his chest and collapsing onto the couch with a dramatic groan.
“Grandpa, are you okay? Is it your heart again?”
Ivan hurried to check on Henry while also tattling on the Ginger family.
“They’ve seriously crossed the line! Beating up our sister-in-law right in our own house-what, they think they can shit on our heads now?!”
James frowned.
Always with the toilet metaphors…
He wasn’t thrilled with Lily and had no interest in meddling in her business.
But he didn’t want Henry actually getting sick over this. Lily had already agreed to the six-month divorce -they were basically partners at this point. And more than that, he was sickened by the Ginger family’s selfish tactics.
So he decided that he’d make sure they didn’t get their way.
He glanced coolly at Lily’s swollen, red face.
His voice was cold and firm. “Who hit you? Hit them back.”
Lily froze again.
She never imagined James would actually tell her to fight back.
She knew he was only standing up for her to keep Henry from getting upset. Still, after years of being slandered and hurt with no one to defend her, having someone on her side-even for a moment-felt surprisingly warm.
Anyway, even if she didn’t retaliate, the Ginger family wouldn’t let her off easy. Might as well go all out.
Without hesitation, she raised her hand and slapped Bodger across the face.
She’d wanted to do that for a long time.
Not just to Bodger.
Just thinking about those dark days of being bullied made her wish she could cut the Ginger family’s three sons and Mathilda into a thousand pieces.
“Lily!”
Bodger’s phoenix eyes blazed with fury.
He couldn’t believe Lily had dared to slap him again!
He raised his hand, ready to strangle the “vicious ingrate” on the spot.
But before he could even tough her, James landed a hard punch to his face, knocking his head to the side.
“Get out.”
Grace clapped quietly.
She had to admit-the millions they’d spent on James’s medical care hadn’t gone to waste.
Other vegetative patients might need a month just to walk properly after waking up.
But her grandson? Day two, and he was already punching people like a pro. That money was well spent.
She made a mental note to ask the doctors if he was “functioning” in all other areas too. She needed him and Lily to “boil the rice” soon.
James standing up for Lily had the Luke family all smiles. But Bodger was livid.
Clenching his fists, he roared, “James, are you out of your mind? Do you even know what kind of disgusting creature Lily is? You’d throw me away for her? Fine! I’ll say it right now-Mathilda is your real fianc?e. You must divorce Lily and give Mathilda a grand wedding!”
“Then let me make myself clear too-I will never marry Mathilda.”
James’s voice was ice as he repeated his order. “Get out.”
“James…”
The Luke family was the number one wealthy household in Capital City. Nancy had already distanced herself from Luna over previous drama. There was no way Luna would risk falling out with them now.
Seeing that Bodger was about to go after James, Luna quickly held him back. Then, putting on her elder tone, she turned to James and said, “We want you to divorce Lily for your own good. A few years ago, Lily accidentally fell into the river. It was freezing, she was on her period, and injured. After we pulled her out, she had a high fever for nearly a week. The doctor said… said she was in the icy water too long and will most likely never be able to have children. James, you’re a good kid-how can you marry an infertile wife?”
Lily’s face turned ghostly pale, like someone had dusted her with white powder.
Luna was twisting the truth.
Four years ago, Lily hadn’t “accidentally fallen” into the river. Bodger had taken a group of people to beat, her and thrown her in himself.
She could swim.
But every time she made it to the riverbank and tried to climb up, someone would kick her back in. Eventually, her strength gave out and she passed out. Only then did they drag her out.
She had been in that icy water for far too long. When she woke up in the hospital, she vaguely remembered a doctor saying she “couldn’t…” The rest was whispered, and she hadn’t heard the full sentence.
So what the doctor meant at the time… was that she wouldn’t be able to have children.
Lily had long since lost faith in love. She didn’t think she’d ever trust someone again, let alone want a child.
But not wanting children and not being able to have them-those were two entirely different things.
Seeing the dark expressions on Grace and the others’ faces, Lily knew the divorce wouldn’t have to wait six months anymore.
Grace and the others had clearly been hoping to set her up with James.
But the Luke family was a top-tier family-there was no way they’d want a granddaughter-in-law who couldn’t have children.
She was sure if she asked for a divorce now, Henry would wholeheartedly agree.
“Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad-I’m willing to divorce James.”
Lily paused, then added, “We can go to the civil affairs office right now.”
“Lily, what nonsense are you saying?”
Grace was flustered. “You’re the granddaughter-in-law I’ve chosen. Who said you could divorce James?”
“If James can wake up from being in a vegetative state, then your body can heal too. And even if you really can’t have children, so what? The Luke family doesn’t have anything that needs inheriting-we’re not obsessed with carrying on the bloodline. Besides, I’ve got three grandsons. Even if James can’t have kids, the others can. You don’t need to feel any pressure. Children will find their own fortune. And if there are no children, then you and James can enjoy life!”
“She’s right, Lily. Don’t stress about it. Just let things happen naturally,” Nancy added, gently holding Lily’s hand and comforting her.
Nancy and Luna had been college roommates, once very close.
But over the years, Luna had done too many things Nancy couldn’t stand, and their friendship had gradually faded.
Once they grew distant, Nancy hadn’t kept up with the Ginger family and didn’t know they had led the bullying against Lily.
Even so, without knowing the details, she already disagreed with Luna’s words.
After soothing Lily a little more, Nancy turned a sharp, cold gaze on Luna.
“Luna, even if Lily isn’t your biological daughter, she called you ‘Mom’ for over a decade. And now you call her infertile… are you even human? You think being fertile makes you special?”
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.