Chapter 210
If that's the case, then what happened to Lily today was simply someone trying to take advantage of her.
My fists clenched at my sides, anger surging in my chest.
When will they ever stop?
From start to finish, it wasn't Lily clinging to Chris, so why should Lily have to suffer all this in the end?
Ryan took a deep breath, "I know."
This was the first time I'd seen such cold, dark emotions in Ryan's eyes.
He said, "Rowan slapped Lily before, so this time we'll settle both old and new scores together!"
Jason looked at him, "What will you do? I'll back you up."
Ryan looked at him gratefully, "Thanks."
"Friends don't need to say so much."
Jason shook his head.
It wasn't until now that Richard, who hadn't spoken this whole time, walked over and patted Ryan's shoulder.
"Count me in."
My gaze shifted between the three of them.
They were probably going to make a move against Barry and Rowan.
That was business warfare territory. I couldn't really help there.
As long as Lily was okay, I could relax.
"Alright, it's getting late. You guys should head back. I'll stay here and watch over her."
Jason patted his shoulder, then took my hand and left.
Richard followed right behind.
When Lily woke up, she opened her eyes uncomfortably.
She squinted slightly, using her hand to block the light, and only gradually adjusted after a while.
"Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
Ryan sat by the hospital bed, looking at her with concern.
Only then did Lily look around in confusion, "am I in the hospital?"
"Yes."
"Last night I..."
Lily's voice was hesitant.
"Don't worry, nothing happened."
Ryan's words finally let Lily's anxious heart settle.
She looked at Ryan.
Ryan looked haggard, with stubble showing on his chin.
She opened her mouth, "Did you save me?"
Ryan didn't answer, but lowered his head instead.
"I'm sorry, I..."
Lily shook her head to interrupt.
"No, you don't need to apologize to me. I should be thanking you for saving me."
Lily thought to herself that she owed Ryan big time now.
How would she ever repay him?
But she didn't notice the complex look in Ryan's eyes.
Ryan asked, "Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?"
Lily carefully checked herself, then gently shook her head.
"I just feel like I have no energy."
She wanted to sit up, but Ryan pressed her back down.
"It's probably a reaction from the drug residue. Just lie down and rest. Don't get out of bed today. If you need anything, just call me."
Lily really didn't have much strength, so she lay back down.
"What about those two guys? Did you call the police?"
Just thinking about being drugged last night and almost violated by those two thugs made her go cold all over.
Her hands hidden under the blanket silently clenched into fists.
Ryan looked at her deeply, "Don't worry, they'll get what they deserve."
Lily didn't ask more questions.
She hated those two thugs to the bone, but didn't want to see them at all.
Never wanted to see them again in her life!
Lily closed her eyes, trying her best to calm her emotions.
The hospital room fell quiet for a moment.
A moment later, Ryan's gentle voice sounded, "Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?"
Only then did Lily open her eyes.
She looked seriously at Ryan's handsome face, and suddenly felt an impulse in her heart.
She said, "I want to go home. I want to eat food you cook."
Ryan paused, then nodded firmly, "Okay."
After completing the discharge procedures, Ryan carried Lily out of the hospital room.
Originally Lily wanted to walk by herself, but Ryan refused to let go no matter what.
In the end she stopped insisting and let herself lie in Ryan's arms.
Or maybe deep down she also wanted to be close to Ryan.
In the elevator, Lily saw herself in the mirror.
She stared in disbelief, carefully touching her own cheek with her hand.
"My face..."
The woman in the mirror looked extremely disheveled, her cheeks swollen and red like risen dough.
Her skin clearly showed blue and purple marks.
Silently telling of the brutal beating she'd suffered last night.
Lily's heart trembled, and she instinctively looked up at Ryan.
Seeing his dark expression, Lily couldn't help blurting out, "Do you think I look really ugly now too?"
Lily turned her face away, her voice very small, "Never mind, think what you want, just don't look at me right now."
She wanted to always appear beautiful in front of Ryan.
Not like this, such a mess.
Ryan snapped out of his thoughts about severely dealing with those people and realized what Lily meant.
He smiled, his tone carrying warmth and affection that was hard to ignore, "Not ugly, like a character from a cartoon."
Lily glared at him irritably, "Thanks a lot!"
With her bruised and swollen face, what kind of good character could she be?
Coming out of the elevator, Ryan carried Lily to the passenger seat, carefully fastened her seatbelt, then went to the driver's seat.
"By the way, Sue and Richard came by last night."
Lily felt a bit embarrassed.
"Why call everyone over for such a small thing? I'll call Sue when we get home."
"Okay."
Back home, Ryan carried Lily to the bed.
"Get some sleep first, I'll go make food."
From leaving the hospital to getting home, Lily hadn't walked a single step herself.
Lily nodded.
Only then did Ryan leave, thoughtfully closing the door.
Lily stared at the closed door for a long time before calling me to let me know she was safe.
Lily didn't know when she fell asleep.
She was groggily woken up by the heat.
With her eyes closed, she instinctively pulled at the large hand covering her waist.
The other person was holding too tightly, making her uncomfortable.
Wait, large hand? Holding?
Lily suddenly realized something and opened her eyes, turning her head to look.
Ryan was sleeping beside her. Even though he was sound asleep, his brows were tightly furrowed, as if dreaming about something.
Ryan's arms held her tightly, embracing her.
Very firmly, as if afraid she would run away.
No wonder it was so hot.
Lily didn't move, just quietly looked at him.
It seemed like it had been a long time since she'd looked at Ryan like this.
Her heart, which had always felt empty, miraculously settled down in this moment.
She just looked seriously and quietly, tracing Ryan's features over and over.
Twenty minutes later, Ryan suddenly opened his eyes, catching sight of a pair of bright eyes without warning.
He froze for a moment.
Earlier when he finished cooking and came over, he saw Lily sleeping soundly and didn't have the heart to wake her.
It had been so long since he'd seen Lily sleep so unguarded in front of him.
Strong longing drove him to lie down beside Lily, and he didn't expect to actually fall asleep.
Lily asked, "Didn't you sleep last night?"
Ryan shook his head, "I couldn't sleep."
He looked at Lily seriously, his voice very soft, as if having a beautiful dream that could shatter at any second, "I was afraid that as soon as I closed my eyes, you'd be gone. I..."
Before he could finish, Lily suddenly hugged him on her own, burying her head in Ryan's chest.
"Ryan, you know I love you, right?"
Ryan's whole body stiffened, wild joy surging in his eyes.
He tried to pull Lily up, but Lily held him tightly.
"Don't move yet, let me finish."