Chapter 9
Lily thought Mrs. Westwood would praise her. A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she stepped out from behind Jason and bowed to them one by one.
“Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Westwood. I’m Lily Brooks, Jason’s classmate. This dress was a birthday gift from him.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me!”
Even Mrs. Westwood, who was usually gentle, snapped. She gave Jason a glare full of bitter disappointment.
“You skipped Scarlett’s coming–of–age party. To make up for it, I had this custom gown made for her. You had the matching piece–I planned for you two to wear them at your engagement.”
“And you gave it to someone else?!”
Jason turned sharply to look at the dress, realization hitting him like a slap to the face.
No wonder Scarlett was upset that day. So that was it. But why didn’t she say anything?
Lily, flustered, rushed to speak, her hands tugging at the hem of the dress like she might take it off.
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Westwood. Jason never meant to upset anyone–please, it’s all my fault!” M
She glanced at Jason, hoping he’d step in–but he just stood there, eyes fixed on the floor.
Mrs. Westwood scoffed and sat back down elegantly. “It’s just a dress. Once it’s been worn by someone else, it’s tainted. Scarlett wouldn’t want it back. If she likes it, I’ll buy her a hundred more.
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Lily clutched her skirt, humiliated but still trying to gain favor. She placed the sweet potatoes on the table with a smile.
“These are from my grandpa’s garden. No pesticides at all! People from the city love to drive out just to buy them.”
Mrs. Westwood didn’t even glance at them. She sipped the coffee Mr. Abbott Sr. had brought.
Of course–everything from the Abbotts was always top–tier.
She set the cup down with a meaningful smile. “Well, those sweet potatoes do sound nice. But Jason wasn’t the only one who stood up for you, was he? Did you thank the others?”
Lily quickly waved her hands. “No, no! I brought them just for Jason!”
She glanced at Mrs. Westwood’s dazzling jewelry, unable to hide the envy in her eyes.
“Is that your mom? She looks so elegant and classy.”
Jason stepped back, putting distance between them. “You don’t have the right to ask.
“What?” Lily blinked, confused.
“1
That finnally snapped her out of her daydream. She turned around awkwardly, forcing a smile. “Jason, what’s that supposed to mean?”
Jason didn’t answer. Instead, he used his silk handkerchief as a barrier and took hold of her hand.
For a split second, joy flashed across Lily’s face—but it vanished just as quickly.
Because Jason removed her bracelet, then wiped his hands with obvious disgust.
“Jason, how could you humiliate me like this?”
Her voice trembled with the threat of tears, but Jason didn’t flinch.
He asked flatly, “What were those photos supposed to prove? Did I touch you? Did anything even happen between us?”
Lily glanced nervously toward the Westwoods.. She tried to spin it, “I just didn’t want her to worry about you, so I-” Chapter 9
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eRomance–Romance
“A decent girl respects herself,” Mrs. Westwood said coldly, rising from her chair.
“If you really didn’t want Scarlett to worry, then you should’ve sent Jason back to her.”
But Lily didn’t get it. Between her and the Westwood family, there was a chasm she could never cross.
No matter how desperately she reached, the distance might as well have been cosmic.
The Westwoods hadn’t invested a fortune molding Jason just to watch him throw himself at
end up with a girl like her.
And Jason? He had never once looked at her that way.
Hi
”
”
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“All I ever felt for you was pity. Maybe I sent mixed signals, but that was just basic decency.”
”
a
=
charity project. They would never let him
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“The only person I’ve ever liked is Scarlett. And you don’t even deserve my pity. So stop clinging to your pathetic little fantasy.”
