Chapter 86 Soaking in Hot Springs

Chapter 86 Soaking in Hot Springs

"I don't mind," she said flatly.

"That's great!" Hazel linked her arm through David's. "Let's go, Samuel."

The three of them walked toward the exhibition together.

Lily walked behind, watching the two intimate figures ahead. Hazel kept her arm linked with David's, occasionally leaning in to whisper in his ear. Although David's expression was somewhat stiff, he didn't push her away either.

This scene deeply hurt Lily's heart.

She tried hard to tell herself to stay calm, to keep her distance, not to fall for him...

But the bitterness and pain in her heart just couldn't be suppressed.

The exhibition was held in the art gallery at Tranquil Springs Retreat, displaying various design works.

Hazel chatted and laughed with David the whole way, as if Lily didn't exist.

"Samuel, look at this design. Isn't it creative?"

"Yes."

"And this one, the color combination is really good. That exhibition we saw abroad last time had a similar style."

"Is that so?"

"Do you remember? We had such good food together that time. The steak at that restaurant was amazing..."

Hazel deliberately brought up memories she shared with David, her words implying how close their relationship was.

Walking behind them, Lily's heart ached with every sentence she heard.

So they had been abroad together...

So they had so many shared memories...

So she was just someone insignificant in his life...

"Ms. Martin, why aren't you saying anything?" Hazel suddenly turned around, asking with a smile. "Are you not interested in these designs?"

Lily forced a smile. "I'm looking carefully."

"That's good. But these designs are quite professional. People who don't study design might not understand them. What do you do for work, Ms. Martin?"

"I'm also in design," Lily said.

Hazel looked surprised. "Really? What a coincidence! I'm very interested in design too. We should exchange ideas more in the future."

As she spoke, she leaned closer to David again.

"Samuel knows a lot about design, too, right? I remember you even took design courses in college."

David nodded, but his eyes kept observing Lily.

She looked very calm, neither angry nor jealous.

This made him feel a surge of disappointment.

Did she really have no feelings for him?

The three continued wandering through the gallery.

Hazel grew bolder, not only linking arms with David but also occasionally resting her head on his shoulder, acting intimate.

Watching them, the pain in Lily's heart grew stronger and stronger.

She kept telling herself: don't care, don't fall for him, they're just in a contract marriage, he has the right to be intimate with other women...

But a voice inside her was roaring, "You do care! You care a lot! You don't want to see him being so intimate with another woman!"

Lily's emotions were about to collapse.

She needed to find somewhere to calm down.

"Um... I'm a bit hungry. I want to go to the restaurant and get something to eat. You guys keep looking, don't worry about me."

After saying this, she turned and left without waiting for a response.

David watched her retreating figure, his brow furrowed.

Was she... angry?

Or was she really just hungry?

"Samuel, look. Lily would rather go eat than stay here."

David's heart sank.

Indeed...

If Lily really cared about him, seeing him so intimate with another woman should make her angry, jealous, or even question him.

But she said nothing, just calmly left.

This meant she didn't have him in her heart at all.

An indescribable sense of loss and anger surged in David's heart.

"I'm going to check on her." He pulled away from Hazel's grip and walked toward the restaurant.

Hazel watched his retreating figure, a satisfied smile playing at the corners of her mouth.

The plan had worked.

In the restaurant, Lily ordered a whole table full of food.

She needed to use food to ease the pain in her heart.

Steak, desserts, drinks... she kept stuffing food into her mouth, trying to cover the bitterness in her heart with its taste.

But the more she ate, the sadder she felt.

She realized she had really fallen for him.

She had promised to keep her distance, promised it was just a contract marriage...

But seeing him intimate with another woman, her heart still hurt. She cursed herself quietly: "Damn it, Lily, you're so pathetic!"

Just then, a tall figure sat down in front of her.

Lily looked up and saw David.

He sat across from her, his eyes behind the mask complex.

"Are you very hungry?"

"Yes. I didn't eat much this morning, so I'm hungry now."

"Lily..." he wanted to speak.

Lily interrupted him. "Why did you come? Where's Ms. Carter? You're not keeping her company?"

"Hazel went to handle some work matters. I came to keep you company."

"No need. Go keep your sister company. You grew up together, you're so close, and you even went to Paris together. You must have a lot to talk about."

The more she spoke, the more fluent she became, as if she really didn't care.

"Besides, Ms. Carter is so nice, gentle, and caring, and she understands design. You have common interests. You should spend more time with her."

David frowned. "Lily, what are you saying?"

"I'm telling the truth. Ms. Carter is so good to you; you should treasure her. Good girls like her are hard to find."

As she spoke, tears were about to fall. But she desperately held them back, not wanting to show her vulnerability in front of him.

Listening to her words, the fire in David's heart burned hotter.

What was she doing?

Pushing him toward another woman?

She was his wife!

Seeing her husband intimate with another woman, shouldn't she be angry and question him?

But what about her?

She was actually encouraging him to pursue another woman!

"Lily. Do you know what you're saying?"

"Of course I know. I'm thinking of you. Ms. Carter is so excellent, and you two match so well. I think you'd be happier together."

"Enough! I don't want to hear this!"

He looked at the mountain of food piled in front of Lily, his frown deepening.

"And don't eat so much junk food. It'll hurt your stomach."

"What I eat is my freedom. Don't worry, no matter who you're with, no matter how many sisters you have, I'll fulfill the contract and give you a healthy child. As for how I am, you don't need to care."

After saying this, she lowered her head and continued stuffing food into her mouth, using it to suppress her tears.

David felt like something had violently struck his heart, and his irritation reached its peak.

Just then, Hazel appeared at the restaurant entrance.

"Samuel, since we have nothing to do today, how about we go to the hot springs together?"