The Ex-Girlfriend of a Suspected Lover

Alistair sighed, stepping back and casting an apologetic look at Lily. "I'm sorry."

He hadn't expected things to turn out this way. No matter what, it all started because of him, so he felt he owed her an apology.

Lily's gaze shifted past him to focus on Misha and Aria, who had followed behind. Misha met her eyes with a fierce glare, while Aria, head down and lost in thought, seemed utterly dejected.

Lily's eyes darted around before she looked up at Edmond. "Are we going to the hospital?"

"Yes," Edmond replied, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "Your wounds need treatment. I won't let you have scars."

He began to walk quickly, but Lily tugged on his sleeve. "Misha's hurt too. She should come with us to the hospital."

Everyone was taken aback.

Standing by the river, they wondered if they had misheard. Ten minutes later, Edmond drove out of the parking lot in Alistair's car. Alistair sat in the passenger seat, occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror with a complicated expression.

In the back were three people, seated from left to right: Aria, Lily, and Misha. This arrangement was Lily's doing.

She had said Misha was injured too, so they might as well go to the hospital together. She insisted that injured people need their friends, so Aria had to come along. She also claimed she had more to ask Alistair, so he had to join them too.

As for why they were using Alistair's car, she had a ready explanation: "Misha's negative energy shouldn't taint my husband's car."

And why Edmond was driving? "With your fiancée and your suspected lover's ex-girlfriend in the car, do you think you can focus on driving? What if there's an accident?"

Suspected lover's ex-girlfriend—what a term. Alistair had initially refused to get in the car, but Edmond had unceremoniously shoved him into the front seat, leaving a likely shoe print on his backside.

He had no idea what Lily planned to do next. The car was already on the move, and he had no chance to escape.

In the back, Misha sat by the door, Lily was turned towards Aria, and Aria was tending to Lily's wounds with a first-aid kit from the restaurant. With no one speaking, the atmosphere in the car was tense.

Alistair slumped back in his seat, feeling numb. Whatever, let her cause a scene. He was innocent.

Just as he was about to resign himself to the situation, Lily's voice came from the back. "Alistair, I don't accept your apology. My injuries weren't caused by you. I'm fair with grudges. Whoever hit me should apologize."

This was clearly directed at Misha. Misha glanced at the man driving the car—someone she couldn't afford to offend—and swallowed her anger. "Mrs. Zhou, I'm sorry."

"I accept your apology."

Aria put away the first-aid kit. Lily adjusted her position and looked at Misha. "Don't feel too wronged. If you hadn't shown me those photos, I wouldn't have hit you, and we wouldn't have had this fight."

Misha was astonished at how easily Lily could lie without batting an eye. "I didn't show you any photos."

"Didn't you? Then I must have seen a ghost." Lily cut her off, kindly suggesting, "I remember there were cameras where we fought. I saw their positions. I have nothing to hide, so let's check the footage. If you have nothing to hide either, it should be fine, right?"

The pain from her facial wounds was making Lily remember Misha's name with a fierce intensity. Surveillance footage? Misha knew she couldn't produce it.

She had instructed someone to turn off the cameras in that area before she confronted Aria. Who could have predicted Lily would seize this loophole!

Misha's silence made Alistair's face darken. He understood Lily's implication and noticed Misha's guilt.

So, Misha really did show Lily the photos. But where did those photos come from?

He remembered Misha didn't take any at the time, though she had friends with her. Maybe they took them? But the photos were wrong.

 Lily's description of the hug was probably just him helping Misha with her sprained ankle, a misleading angle. And the kiss?

Lily had only described one hug before Misha interrupted, so Alistair couldn't ask for more details with Aria present. He thought he'd find a chance to talk to Lily alone at the hospital.

Unexpectedly, Lily brought up the kiss photo herself. "Alistair, Aria believes in your character and thinks you wouldn't cheat during your engagement. I don't think you're a jerk either." She asked, "So, did you kiss Misha or not?"

"I..."

That kiss photo was definitely problematic. Alistair had a good idea of what might have happened and was very angry. But denying it now would embarrass Misha.

He was about to say he might have forgotten, but a glance at the rearview mirror showed Aria staring out the window, and he hesitated. "I didn't."

He was surprised at his own words. Then he shook his head, dismissing the strange thought. He must have subconsciously wanted to clear his name.

Aria continued to gaze out at the night, her eyes flickering, but she remained silent.

Misha finally realized why Lily had dragged her into the car! By implying the existence of surveillance, Lily forced her to admit to the photos, and made Alistair clear up the misunderstanding with Aria in front of her.

Lily acted oblivious to Misha's anger, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Oh... so the photo was photoshopped?"

Misha didn't want to respond. It was too late now. She closed her eyes and leaned back, her chest aching.

But Lily wasn't done. She leaned into Misha, her full weight pressing on her, speaking with a smile. "I knew that photo looked doctored. Misha, we've fought and made up, but I'm actually a photographer. Next time you need to edit a photo like that, come to me. I'll give you a discount."

She patted Misha's stiff arm. "I'm not bragging, but my editing skills are top-notch..."

For the next twenty minutes, Lily bragged about her photo editing skills, her voice filling the car. Edmond occasionally glanced at her in the rearview mirror, his face showing indulgence. Alistair and Aria both stared out their windows, lost in thought.

Only Misha, enduring the torture, felt her blood pressure rising. Lily's weight kept her pinned, forcing her to listen until she felt like her ears would burst. If Edmond weren't there, she'd have cursed Lily out.

When they finally got out of the car, Misha glared at Lily and rubbed her numb arm. "How can someone like you exist? You're unbelievable! Lily, you're really something!"

Scheming, shameless, utterly unpredictable, infuriating, and unyielding... she was going insane! She surrendered! Completely!

By the time they left the hospital, it was nearly ten at night. Edmond's driver had brought the car around.

Lily hesitated. She had said she'd go home with Edmond, but that was just a spur-of-the-moment remark. What should she do now? If she left with Edmond, what about Aria?

Edmond saw her hesitation and knew what she was worried about. Her facial wound had been treated, and the doctor assured her it wouldn't scar. With his mind at ease, he didn't want to make things difficult for her. He was about to suggest taking them back to the apartment when Aria spoke first.

"Mr. Zhou, Lily's wound shouldn't get wet. Please take good care of her."

Edmond raised an eyebrow, looking at Lily. Lily grabbed Aria's hand. "What about you?"

Aria's family was in Yangcheng. She needed someone to be with her tonight.

Aria stepped forward and hugged her, whispering, "You've helped me this far. If I keep avoiding this, I'd be letting you down."

Some things needed to be addressed tonight with Alistair.