Chapter 10
Jason shot to his feet, his chest heaving, his eyes fierce and terrifying.
He bolted out of Sophie's room like a whirlwind, racing toward Lily's room.
Lily was coming out of the anesthesia, her mind hazy and her eyes barely open. The first thing she saw was Jason's face, shadowed with rage, his eyes practically shooting flames.
Jason locked his gaze on her, his stare as cold as a winter icicle. Through gritted teeth, he forced out his words, "Lily, tell me the truth. Are you seeing someone else behind my back?"
Lily's mind was still foggy, and she was completely thrown off by his sudden accusation. "What?"
Jason's eyes grew even colder, like he'd been betrayed and was losing it, pain and fury written all over his face.
He demanded, "Then how did you get all that money? Tell me, which random guy gave it to you?"
Lily stared at his handsome face, now twisted with rage, and listened to the humiliating words spilling from his lips. She was stunned, and then a surreal, crushing sense of sorrow washed over her.
For Jason, she'd begged Samuel, the brother she'd reconnected with, for help; she'd endured seven years of poverty and hardship, and she'd almost donated her kidney to him.
But in the end, in Jason's eyes, she was nothing but a shameless woman willing to sell herself for cash.
Lily laughed, her smile pale and broken, dripping with bitter sarcasm.
But to Jason, whose mind was clouded by jealousy and suspicion, that laugh was nothing but a confession and a challenge.
Jason was on the verge of snapping. He clamped down hard on Lily's injured arm, making her cry out in pain, his eyes burning red as he confronted her, "How could you? How could you do this to me?
"Do you have any idea how much I love you? Do you know what I've sacrificed for you?
"So you really are a gold‑digging bitch. All this time, I thought you were innocent, kind, didn't care about money—and I stayed. Do you have any idea how much crap I put up with to marry you?"
Every cruel word was like a poisoned needle, stabbing straight into Lily's heart, already battered and bruised.
She looked at the man who had shared her bed for years, the one who always claimed to love her, and the tears finally broke free. But even as they fell, she forced a bitter, mocking smile.
She asked, "What exactly did you give up for me? Was it giving up your chance to be the heir to Johnson Group, basking in glory?
"It's been seven years. You pretended to be poor, pretended to love me, and had me dancing in the palm of your hand like an idiot. Didn't you ever get tired of keeping up that act?"
Jason's eyes bugged out, his pupils dilating as shock and panic swept over his face. He hadn't expected Lily to know his true identity.
Lily stared at his shocked, frantic face, then jabbed a finger at her faded hospital gown—like she was pointing straight through it, at every cheap piece of clothing she'd worn over the past seven years. Her voice shook with pain and fury.
She snapped, "A gold-digger? Tell me—what kind of gold-digger wears shabby clothes like these and lives in a dump? Jason, in your eyes, is someone like me, only good enough for those trashy necklaces from the dollar store?
"Only worthy of a milkshake for my birthday? Am I a joke for you and your fancy friends to laugh at and humiliate?"
When Jason met Lily's gaze—her eyes bloodshot, swimming with tears, and so full of disappointment it was like she could see straight through his soul—his heart felt like it shattered on the spot.
One glance at those eyes, burning with pain and hatred, and it was like a thousand needles were driving straight into his heart.
He bowed his head, guilt, regret, and panic swirling inside him, too shaken to meet her eyes even for a second longer.
Thinking about all the lies and hurt he'd inflicted on her, Jason felt like he was drowning in regret and pain.
He crashed to the floor, the cold surface biting into his legs, and clutched his hair as if he wanted to tear it out by the roots.
"Honey, I'm sorry. It's all my fault!" Jason's voice was nearly begging, thick with tears. "It's because I love you so much. I was terrified that if you found out who I am, you'd leave me. I was scared you only cared about my money.
"Honey, I'll make it up to you a thousand times over. I've got more money than you can imagine. I'll buy you fancy necklaces.
"I'll take you home to meet my parents. I'll shout to the whole world that you're my wife. I'll give you the grandest wedding ever. Honey, I'll make it up to you. Please forgive me."