Chapter 35 Austin's Apology was Genuine
Dennis shot a cold glance over. "What are you doing here?"
"Just keeping you company," Eric replied with a grin.
"You can leave now," Dennis said, grabbing his bag and heading inside.
But Eric followed him anyway.
"So heartless, huh? Well, I'm not leaving," Eric chuckled as he walked into the elevator and sneaked a peek at the bag. "You bought hot cocoa? Is it that time of the month?"
Dennis responded nonchalantly, "Yeah."
"If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it. You're buying feminine products and hot cocoa, so considerate!"
Everyone knew that Dennis had never been this gentle and attentive to any girl before. It was always girls who fawned over Dennis.
"Make sure you don't scare her," Dennis instructed before heading back to the apartment.
He walked to the bathroom door and knocked. "I got the stuff."
Lily heard his voice and slowly walked over, her face heating up. She opened the door a crack and extended her slender hand.
Dennis handed the bag over.
Her hand sank slightly; he had bought so much?
Lily closed the door and saw various brands of sanitary pads. She couldn't help but smile.
He probably didn't know which brand to get, so he bought them all.
After changing, Lily walked out and saw a young man she didn't recognize sitting on the couch.
Lily felt a bit awkward.
Eric waved. "Hey, I'm Dennis's good friend, Eric Murphy."
"So, it's you."
Lily knew she was staying in a house owned by Dennis's friend.
The last time at the restaurant, when Michael and Sophie were kicked out, it was also because of this friend.
"Did Dennis mention me? Did he say bad things about me?"
"No, I just wanted to thank you in person for letting me stay in your room."
Eric smiled. "Feel free to stay. I have plenty of houses and I'm hardly ever here."
At that moment, Dennis came out of the kitchen holding a cup of hot cocoa and handed it to Lily.
Lily was surprised to see the hot cocoa. She didn't expect Dennis to be so considerate.
She held the warm cup. "Thanks."
Dennis's expression remained indifferent. "Finish it and get some rest."
Lily nodded obediently, sipping the hot cocoa in small gulps, feeling much better.
She lowered her gaze. It had been years since anyone cared for her like this.
She stole a glance at Dennis, but he probably felt sorry for her, which was why he was being so kind.
After all, she had shamelessly stayed in the medical room to do her homework.
Lily recalled seeing Dennis dining with a beautiful woman at the restaurant. He must have had other women in his life.
After all, he was older and quite handsome; surely girls were chasing after him.
Lily quickly looked away, packed her bag in the study, and returned to the neighboring house.
As soon as she got back, she received a call from Michael. "Lily, Austin spent so much time preparing his apology today. What didn't you like about it?"
Lily spoke coldly, "His insincere apology was just to get me to join the team."
"Austin's apology was genuine. What did he do wrong? Tell me, and I'll make him change."
Michael really hoped Lily would reconcile with Austin and stop being angry.
"This is the last time I'll say it. I won't join the team, and I won't forgive him."
Lily hung up.
She had long seen through Austin's tricks and wouldn't fall for them.
After Lily left, Eric teased, "Dennis, don't you think you're being a bit too nice to her?"
"You talk too much."
"I'm just reminding you. Don't underestimate your own charm. What if she falls for you?"
Eric had noticed the way Lily looked at Dennis. It was easy to understand a young girl's feelings.
Dennis sat on the couch. "She likes someone else."
"Who?"
"She didn't say."
Eric clicked his tongue. "If she didn't say, then there's a problem. Maybe that person is you."
Dennis's lips pressed into a thin line. "Don't talk nonsense."
"I'm just reminding you. Don't get caught up in her problems because you haven't sorted out your own issues. There are plenty of ways to help her, but isn't this a bit too much?"
"You don't understand. She didn't have a good life with the Roberts family."
"She has six brothers protecting her. How could she not have a good life?"
Dennis's voice was muffled. "But there's also an adopted sister, the driver's daughter. The Roberts family treats that girl very well, but Lily has always been overlooked."
At first, he thought Lily had a good life, but now he realized she was like a pitiful person.
It made him want to be kind to her.
Eric sighed after hearing this. "I knew something was off when I saw her brother's attitude in the medical room. I thought she was disobedient, but there was more to it. She didn't seem like the rumors said."
Who the hell could be so biased? Not protecting their biological sister and instead treating an adopted sister so well.
"That's why I want to make it up to her. If her parents hadn't had that accident, she wouldn't be living like this."
Dennis tilted his head, his eyes downcast, hiding the fleeting sadness in his eyes.
Eric couldn't help but speak up. "What happened back then was an accident. Don't take all the blame. If you want to be good to her, then do it. You two are in the same boat."
But Eric was worried. He felt Dennis's compensatory behavior might be crossing the line.
Maybe Dennis himself hadn't realized it yet!
The next day, a heavy rainstorm hit.
Lily looked at the pouring rain outside, feeling a bit troubled.
It was the first day of her period. If her shoes got wet, her stomach would definitely feel uncomfortable.
Lily packed her bag and stepped out, just in time to hear the door next door open.
Eric waved. "Good morning, Lily. It's hard to catch a ride in this rain. Let us drive you to school."
Dennis stood beside him and glanced at her. "Let's go."
Lily didn't refuse, feeling inexplicably happier.
The three of them went to the garage.
Lily saw the black luxury car and turned to Eric. "Is this your car?"
Dennis had used the same car to pick her up yesterday.
Last night, she had looked it up and found out it wasn't cheap.
Eric coughed. "Yeah, this is my car. Look at those lines! So sleek!"
A free car was a free car, after all.
Dennis sat in the passenger seat, giving Eric a cold look. "Drive."
"Got it!"
Eric was quite cheerful.
After all, he had wanted this car before, but Dennis had bought it first.
Lily sat in the back, watching their interaction, feeling a bit envious.
Because of Sophie, she never really had friends.
She envied the way Dennis and his friend interacted.
The rain was heavy, and the traffic was slow.
The car stopped at the school entrance, where there were a lot of people and cars.
Dennis was the first to get out, holding a large black umbrella, standing by the back door.
Lily was stunned. She opened the door and stepped out.
The rain was so heavy that it blurred everything around her. But she didn't get a single drop on her.
His long arm held the umbrella, exposing a bit of his wrist.
The large umbrella shielded her from the rain, leaving a dry space for her.
Lily spoke, "Is there only one umbrella?"
"Of course not. Lily, you take the umbrella to school."
Eric braved the rain to get another umbrella from the back seat, standing next to Dennis, clearly trying to keep distance between them.
Dennis's expression didn't change as he handed the umbrella to Lily.
She took the handle, feeling the residual warmth from his hand.
Lily lowered her gaze. "I'll go now."
She walked away in a good mood.
"Lily, wait! Can I share your umbrella?"