Chapter 227: Self-Abandonment
Hospital
Mia stood at the hospital room door. The moment she saw what was happening inside, her feet froze mid-step as she was about to rush in.
Her eyes instantly turned red, her heart twisting in pain.
The James inside was someone she had never seen before.
He sat slumped on the floor in a mess, his hair sticking out all over the place, completely disheveled and haggard.
His hands were clenched into fists, pounding hard against his own legs over and over.
He had given up on himself.
Watching this, Mia's tears fell in big drops from heartache.
Afraid that James might hear her, she raised her hand to cover her mouth, bit down hard on her lip, and silently backed away.
She didn't go in.
Because she understood James, she knew that he wouldn't want her to see him like this.
James was such a proud person - he wouldn't want her to see him at his worst.
Mia leaned against the wall with her hand over her mouth, crying silently.
After crying alone for a while, she wiped away her tears and dragged her heavy legs away from the room, heading downstairs to find a doctor to learn about his condition.
Just as she entered the elevator and pressed the floor button, everything went black and her body went limp.
The elevator stopped, the doors opened, and the person waiting outside immediately rushed in.
"Miss, what's wrong?"
Getting no response from Mia after calling out several times, they immediately shouted outside, "Help! Someone's passed out!"
......
Lily woke up in the evening, starving.
Since the abortion, Benjamin had arranged a place for her to stay.
Except for when she had classes, she lived here the rest of the time, making it convenient for Benjamin to come over whenever he wants.
She didn't really want this, but she couldn't refuse Benjamin.
Just by looking at him, whatever he said, she could only nod.
Last night was their first time making love after the abortion.
Benjamin came over suddenly in the middle of the night. She was sleeping soundly when he kissed her awake.
She was in a daze. It wasn't until they were completely intimate that she fully woke up.
She suspected his fiancée hadn't been able to satisfy him because he was acting like a hungry wolf. They went from midnight straight through to morning, and he still wasn't done.
Drifting in and out, she heard his phone ring.
She opened her eyes and through her hazy vision saw him glance at his phone. Though he didn't answer it, he finally let go of her.
No longer holding back, he finished.
She was so tired that after he left, she slept like a log.
She slept straight through to evening, waking up starving.
The nightgown she'd worn last night had been torn apart by Benjamin. After getting out of bed and taking a shower, as she entered the walk-in closet to get clothes...
She saw the few sets of clothes Benjamin kept there.
Her hand, reaching for her own nightgown, changed direction and landed on Benjamin's shirt instead.
Holding it in her hands, even though it had been dry-cleaned and smelled only of fresh laundry...
She could still somehow smell Benjamin's scent on it.
A scent that made her feel attached.
Knowing that Benjamin had been here last night and wouldn't come again today, she boldly put on his shirt.
She had a small frame, so Benjamin's shirt hung loose on her, the length just reaching below her hips, exposing a pair of long, straight legs.
This stolen intimacy made Lily press her lips together, feeling satisfied inside.
Leaving the closet, she went downstairs to make herself dinner.
The fridge was packed full.
Opening it, she took out the ingredients needed for dinner. Feeling so hungry, she grabbed extra.
Her mom had been sick, so she'd started cooking for herself when she was just over ten. Her cooking skills were pretty good.
She placed the ingredients on the counter, put on an apron, washed and cut the vegetables - her movements were practiced.
In just half an hour, Lily had made food that looked, smelled, and tasted delicious.
Glancing at the main dish that still needed a few more minutes, Lily couldn't resist the smell of the meat. She reached out, grabbed a piece, and popped it in her mouth.
Due to her hungriness, the meat tasted especially good.
Lily closed her eyes, chewing contentedly.
The kitchen door was closed and the range hood was running, so Lily didn't hear the sound of the front door opening.
This was the scene Benjamin walked in on.
Through the kitchen's glass door, he watched Lily showing a side of herself he'd never seen before.
Sweet and charming.
Around him, she was always cautious, well-behaved and understanding, careful, unconditionally accommodating to him.
His gaze fell on Lily, somewhat lost in thought.
Lily raised her hand to lick the sauce from her finger.
Her pink tongue curled over her fingertip.
Seductive without even knowing it.
Benjamin clearly felt his lower abdomen tighten.
He put down his car keys and strode toward the kitchen.
Inside the kitchen, Lily was facing sideways to the door. Hearing footsteps, she froze.
Her hand still at her mouth, she turned her head toward the door in a daze.
Initially, she didn't react to his sudden appearance.
Finally, Benjamin saw clearly that Lily was actually wearing his shirt.
This visual impact excited him even more.