Chapter 211: Swallow Your Pride
Lily looked at David. She hadn't expected him to actually have leads.
She seemed to remember that in her past life, David had suddenly offended some powerful family, and his company nearly went bankrupt.
Could it be because of this incident?
At this moment, Austin came up to her, his eyes full of guilt.
He said in a hoarse voice, "Lily, when we were kids, I often took you out to play. I walked you to and from school. When Peter was mean to you, I always stood up for you.
I admit I had selfish motives this time—I wanted revenge for the humiliation of losing that competition after you quit the team.
Now I've lost everything and my reputation is ruined. Can you please drop the charges, for the sake of our past relationship?"
By the end, Lily wasn't surprised at all.
After all those nice words, he still just wanted her to drop the charges.
Peter spoke up, "Lily, Austin's team has disbanded, and he's paid a lot in penalties. He's suffered enough. Shouldn't that be enough for you?"
Lily saw Austin acting humble in front of her, but she didn't feel any satisfaction.
She just wanted to know who had fled from the car accident that year.
She wanted that person to go to jail and pay the price too.
David's tone was pressing, "Lily, have you made your decision?"
"I've said this isn't something I can decide. Corporate espionage is a crime that Maple Leaf Corporation needs to prosecute."
"But aren't you close with Eric? Just sweet-talk him or something, and he'll agree, right?" Peter's tone was casual. "A rich guy like Eric won't care about small stuff like this. As long as the project stays with Maple Leaf Corporation, everything else can be worked out."
He knew this kind of thing all too well.
"Eric and I are just friends."
Peter continued, "That makes it even easier! Actually, having a connection with the Murphy Family would benefit the Roberts family too. Lily, you're actually doing better than any of us brothers right now.
With you here, and David backing us up, we can definitely find out the truth about the accident."
Lily glanced at Peter. "I'll investigate on my own. If you want to settle, go talk to Maple Leaf Corporation yourselves."
She wouldn't agree to this privately.
"Stop right there, Lily! You'd rather protect Maple Leaf Corporation's interests than learn about the accident? How can you be so selfish?" David's face turned dark with anger. "Lily, your choice just now is really disappointing."
Lily pressed her lips together. "Mom and Dad would understand my choice."
She didn't want to be morally blackmailed by David.
David angrily raised his hand. "Say that again?"
Michael quickly intervened, "David, talk it out, don't get physical."
"Don't hold me back! Didn't you hear her choice? She doesn't want the leads about the accident at all. She doesn't care about Mom and Dad's death! She's cold-blooded!" David's eyes turned red with anger.
Lily stood there, her gaze quiet. "Think what you want."
She wanted to know about her parents' accident more than anyone.
But she couldn't agree to these conditions.
She could investigate on her own.
Peter stepped in front of Lily. "Alright, David, you were wrong to make her choose like that. Who forces someone with conditions like these?"
Lily said coldly, "Move."
She knew Peter hadn't finished what he wanted to say.
"But you really handled the Austin situation wrong. He protected you the most when you were little, right? Since you were closer in age, he took care of you the most." Peter's tone was gentle. "Drop the charges this time to repay Austin for how good he was to you. You want to cut ties, right? You should repay his kindness first before doing that."
Repay his kindness? She'd repaid him long ago. Hadn't she died miserably enough in her past life?
"Peter, what are you talking about? What's this about repayment between siblings?"
Michael came over to intervene. He looked at Lily, "You should go back first. This isn't something that can be decided right away."
Peter frowned. "Michael, don't stop me, or you might get hurt."
Michael blocked Peter. "She's still young. You need to give her time to think. Lily, leave now, and let me know when you get to school safely."
Lily left without looking back.
Seeing how thin Michael had become, Peter ultimately couldn't bring himself to argue with him.
Fine, he'd give Lily one day to think it over.
Lily walked out of the hospital, her mind completely blank.
She walked alone through the streets, thinking about nothing.
She couldn't remember anything about what happened back then.
Dennis followed her from a distance but didn't dare approach.
It wasn't until Lily had walked quite far that he couldn't help but honk his horn. "Lily."
Hearing someone call her, Lily stopped and saw Dennis.
Almost the moment she saw him, tears streamed down Lily's face.
She was so upset.
Dennis quickly got out of the car and came to her. Lily immediately hugged him. "Let me hold you for a bit, just a moment."
Dennis's whole body stiffened, caught off guard.
After a while, he finally spoke, "What's wrong?"
After Lily let go, she wiped her tears. "Take me back."
After Dennis got in the car, he glanced at her, feeling uncertain.
But he could tell Lily was in a bad mood.
He didn't ask,he didn't quite dare to.
Dennis's car stopped below the apartment building. "I'll walk you up."
"No need, you go back. I want to be alone for a while."
Dennis's hand trembled, not daring to object.
After Lily returned to the apartment, she lay alone on the bed, her mind in chaos.
The next day, Lily was woken by a phone call.
It was Zoey. "You didn't come back last night. Aren't you coming to morning class?"
"I don't want to. Help me ask for leave."
Lily was feeling down.
After hanging up, she noticed a notification from the black market.
She opened the app and received a message from the administrator: [The client is very satisfied with the firewall system you wrote and wants to meet you in person. I'll send you the company address.]
Lily looked at the address—it seemed familiar.
Wasn't this the address of David's company building?
She'd wondered before if it could be such a coincidence.
Turns out it really was.
Lily replied directly: [Sorry, I've suddenly decided not to cooperate. I won't give them the rest of the firewall system either.]
She wouldn't work with the Roberts family.
[What's the reason? Can you explain?]
But Lily didn't reply.
She continued sleeping until the afternoon, then got up to go to school. The team had training in the afternoon.
As team captain, she definitely needed to go back and personally check on everyone's recent training.
Lily left the apartment and took a taxi to school.
Not far away, Dennis's car had been parked in the same spot all night, with cigarette butts by the window.
Stubble had appeared on his chin. He watched Lily's departing figure but ultimately didn't have the courage to follow.
He hadn't expected that even he would have moments of fear.
After Lily arrived at school, she went straight to the team base.
As expected, she saw Peter filming there, surrounded by fans who wouldn't leave.
Seeing so many people, Lily instinctively pressed down her cap and tried to enter through a side door.
"Lily, you're finally here! Everyone's been waiting just for you."
Sophie's sharp eyes spotted Lily and called out loudly.
With that shout, everyone looked over.
Peter walked straight toward her, his tone gentle. "I knew you probably didn't sleep well last night, so I didn't call you over early today. I'll just treat the crew to dinner later—they won't blame you for being late."
Lily stepped back, resisting, trying to distance herself from Peter.
But no one had told her the crew was coming this afternoon!
"That's not important. Have you thought it through? Choose Mom and Dad, or choose outsiders?" Peter gripped her wrist tightly, his eyes threatening. "Don't disappoint me."