Chapter 40: Mistaken Her Patience For Forgiveness

The fiasco was still fresh in everyone's minds long after the guests had left the Ping mansion. Some even found themselves praying for salvation—anything to keep Lillie Bai from destroying them.

They wouldn't dare spread the news of Lillie Bai's presence at Elder Ping's birthday party. If word got out, their lives would be ruined. Not only had they failed to recognize her, but they had also insulted her—grievously.

The press would never let them off the hook. They'd be blacklisted from the Elite Society, their business partners would distance themselves, fearful of being dragged into the fallout.

That was the price of revealing Lillie Bai's true identity—and her current relationship with Ethan Li.

No matter how tempting the gossip, none of them had the courage to spread the fact that Lillie Bai was engaged to her long-time rival.

If they did, two devils would be out for their heads.

Fortunately, the guest list had been limited to close relatives of the Ping, all of whom had brought their children—their future heirs.

Once the mansion had emptied, only the Bai and Li families remained. Elder Ping looked as if he had aged another decade in a single night. He sat pale and weary, his fatigue evident.

"I apologize for my actions, Elder Ping," Lillie said, bowing her head slightly.

Elder Ping let out a tired sigh, shaking his head. "Please, Miss Bai. The fault is ours. We spoiled Xiaoyue too much and failed to teach her proper virtues."

Ping Zhi, once the vibrant social butterfly of the Elite Society, sat quietly, her usual confidence nowhere to be found.

"Xiaoyue was a good child," she murmured. "But she was influenced by her father and those around her. We overlooked her mistakes, thinking she was still too young to understand." Her voice trembled. "But after tonight… her actions are unforgivable. As her mother, I can only ask for your forgiveness—for her, and for failing to guide her properly."

Tears slid down her cheeks. The pain of feeling like a failure weighed heavily on her.

She had already lost her husband, believing she had not been good enough. Now, she feared she had lost her daughter too.

She had hoped this party would lift her spirits—how naive that had been.

Lillie's gaze softened. She pitied Ping Zhi. Her husband had nearly dragged their family to ruin, and now her daughter had made an enemy of the very person who had saved them from that downfall.

"Don't blame yourself, Madam Ping," Lillie said gently. "I'm sure your daughter will reflect on her actions. I can tell she cares for her family—it's just that her emotions got the better of her." She pulled out a handkerchief and offered it to Ping Zhi.

Ping Zhi accepted it, a flicker of relief crossing her face. Lillie Bai did not hold a grudge. Perhaps not all rumors were to be believed.

"Thank you, Miss Bai," Ping Zhi said, offering a weak smile.

With that, the Bai and Li families made their way to their respective vehicles and left.

Gabriel and Li Yifei, however, were far from pleased. They had barely spent any time with Lillie before she had been whisked away by Ethan.

They would have their revenge soon.

Meanwhile, as Ethan drove toward Tranquil Villa, he shivered unexpectedly. A strange sense of foreboding settled over him.

"Are you cold?" he asked, glancing at Lillie. She wore a sleeveless dress, her pale shoulders exposed.

Ethan clenched the steering wheel tighter. She was sitting right beside him, yet why did she feel so far away?

"A little," Lillie admitted.

Without hesitation, Ethan pulled over and shrugged off his coat, wrapping it around her shoulders. As he did, his fingers brushed against her skin.

She was freezing.

Lillie leaned against the window, her eyes fluttering shut, though she wasn't quite asleep.

"Ethan," she murmured.

Ethan hummed in response. This was the fourth time she had said his name tonight, and each time, his heart had jumped.

He loved hearing her say his name.

"Do you think... I'm a horrible person?"

Ethan glanced at her, then back at the road.

"I wouldn't call you horrible. Horrible is what Zhang Guan and Ping Xiaoyue are. You're unkind to those who deserve it, and good to those who are good to you."

No hesitation. Ethan Li, you sure have guts.

Lillie was silent for a moment before a soft chuckle escaped her lips. Ethan swore he could feel his heartbeat against his ribs.

Hearing her laugh—that was his new favorite thing.

"So straightforward, aren't you?" she said, an amused yet distant smile tugging at her lips.

It was unfortunate that he was driving, but even from the corner of his eye, he could see it.

"But you're wrong," she continued. "I am a horrible person."

She never claimed to be merciful.

She had given people chances—offered them an olive branch, a path to redemption. But time and time again, they had taken it for granted, thinking her kindness was weakness.

They had mistaken her patience for forgiveness.

And for that, they had suffered.

Yu Mei was a prime example.

She had been given a choice.

She had made the wrong one.

Now, she was still alive.

But every single day, she wished for death.