Lily never expected David to risk his life for her.

Now, seated in the hospital room, watching the doctor clean and dress the gash across his shoulder, her stomach twisted into a tight knot. Guilt, confusion, and something softer—something terrifyingly close to affection—churned together inside her chest.

The antiseptic smell hung thick in the room. The monitor beeped steadily, and David sat still, only flinching slightly when the cotton swab touched raw skin. Lily stood a little away, her arms wrapped around her midsection, her teeth worrying her lower lip. She hadn't said much since they arrived. Neither had he.

The doctor finished the dressing, then glanced toward Lily. "He'll be fine, but he needs rest and careful attention. You're his wife, aren't you?"

Lily opened her mouth but didn't know what to say.

"She is," David said flatly before she could respond. "Make sure she knows how to take care of the wound."

The doctor nodded and began explaining the medication schedule and dressing changes. Lily listened carefully, her hands trembling just a little as she took the instructions. Once they were alone again, the silence stretched.

Lily turned to him. "Why did you do that?"

David raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"You got hurt. For me."

He let out a humorless chuckle. "Don't flatter yourself."

Her eyes narrowed. "I'm not, I'm trying to understand. You didn't have to..."

"You were in the way," he muttered, looking away. "It was a reflex."

Lily stared at him. "That's a poor excuse for someone who just threw himself in front of a falling vase."

His eyes met hers again, colder now. "It doesn't matter why I did it. You're safe. That's all."

His words sounded noble, but something inside her cracked. She wasn't stupid. She'd seen the panic in his eyes when she stumbled, the way he hadn't hesitated even for a second. That wasn't just reflex. It couldn't be.

But before she could press further, the door flung open.

"David!"

A shrill, high-pitched voice echoed in the room.

Marina walked in like a storm wrapped in silk and perfume, her heels tapping loudly against the floor, her eyes taking in the scene like a snake spotting prey. Her gaze flicked between David on the hospital bed and Lily standing near him.

"Well, isn't this cozy," she sneered.

Lily instinctively stepped back.

"Marina," David said warningly, his voice low.

"You got injured and instead of calling me"—she emphasized the word like poison on her tongue—"you're here playing house with her?"

"I didn't call anyone," David said flatly. "She was there."

Marina ignored him. She was only getting started. "Of course she was. This bitch is always around when something goes wrong! You're nothing but a shameless homewrecker, you know that? You think pretending to be caring will bring him back to you?"

Lily stayed silent. The insult stung more than it should have.

"She's here because she's my secretary," David said sharply. "And I don't need to explain myself to you."

Marina's eyes widened, then narrowed. "So she still matters that much? You'd rather protect her than me?"

"I'd protect anyone in danger. A stranger. A cat. Even a dog," David said, his tone ice-cold. "Don't confuse basic decency with affection."

Lily's throat closed up.

Of course.

That was all she was.

A cat. A dog. Just another soul on the street he happened to save because he had a 'moral duty.'

Just moments ago, she had almost believed—almost hoped—he might still care. But hearing him lump her with stray animals...

"Got it," she whispered. Her hands shook slightly, but she forced them still. "Thanks for clearing that up."

She turned toward the door.

But before she could leave, Marina grabbed her arm. "Wait."

Lily looked back, frowning.

"I ordered some nutritious meals for David. Organic, specially curated by his dietician. I... I don't know the roads around this hospital. Can you pick them up for me? I would, but I don't want to get lost."

Lily stared at her.

Seriously?

"You think I'm your errand girl now?"

"Just do it," Marina shrugged with a fake smile. "You're already here. You took responsibility for his injury, right? Fetching some food isn't too much to ask."

Lily glanced at David.

He didn't meet her eyes. He leaned back against the pillow, closing his eyes as if none of this involved him at all.

That was enough.

She exhaled slowly and nodded. "Fine."

If this was what it took to erase the guilt, she'd do it.

Marina gave her a note with the address. "Don't take too long. David hates cold food."

Lily didn't respond. She walked out of the room, feeling her legs tremble slightly under her weight.

She didn't know why her chest hurt so much.

Maybe she really was just a street dog in David's eyes.

But this street dog was finally learning.

Not to love.

But to let go.

The city was sweltering under the streetlights when Lily stepped out of the hospital. David had been injured protecting her, and no matter how cruel his words were, she couldn't ignore the pain behind them.

First, she went to the east side of town for some rare mushroom broth. Then, just as she paid, Marina called again.

"Oh, Lily, I forgot to mention David prefers steamed herbal soups now. There's a new place in the west. Can you grab those too?" Marina's voice was syrupy sweet over the phone, hiding the steel underneath.

Lily hesitated, glancing at the heavy bags in her hand. "I already....."

"Don't forget you are his secretary, this is your job," Marina interrupted coldly.

Lily gritted her teeth. "Fine."

By the time she returned to the hospital, her clothes clung to her like a second skin, her arms ached from the weight of the food, and sweat matted her hair to her forehead.

But nothing could've prepared her for what she saw through the slightly ajar ward door.

David, leaning comfortably against the bed, laughing softly as Marina fed him a spoonful of something from a bowl. His expression was relaxed, even fond—a side of him Lily hadn't seen in years.

Her chest tightened. "You already ate?" she asked, stepping inside.

David looked up, startled. Marina's eyes widened not in guilt, but in victory.

"I didn't know you'd take so long," she said flatly. Lily dropped the bags onto the nearby table with a loud thud. "Are you serious right now? You sent me to the east, then called me halfway and made me go to the west. I've been running around town while you two were in here... enjoying takeout?"

Marina put on her best 'guilty' face. "I'm so sorry, Lily. I had no idea his tastes had changed while I was gone. I thought he still liked the old recipes."

Lily scoffed, unmoved. "Spare me the performance."

"Lily," David's tone hardened, "that's enough."

"Oh, please don't be upset," Marina whimpered, tears welling in her eyes. "I won't let your effort go to waste. If you can forgive me, I'll eat it all myself—every bite." She dramatically reached for the container of mushroom soup, unscrewing the lid.

Lily stared at her. Was this woman for real? The theatrics, the crocodile tears—it was laughable. But there was nothing funny about the way David looked at her, as if she were the unreasonable one.

"You don't have to force yourself," Lily said coldly. "I don't care what you do with it."

She turned to leave, her throat tight with anger and humiliation.

Behind her, she heard the rustle of plastic and the clatter of chopsticks.

"I mean it," Marina said. "I'll eat it all...see?"

Lily glanced back just in time to see Marina stuffing food into her mouth, exaggerated and showy. In that moment, it seemed more like a performance than a genuine gesture. Lily narrowed her eyes, the words what is she playing at forming in her mind.

But then, Marina froze.

Her eyes widened. The color drained from her face. One hand clutched her throat.

"Marina?" David's voice rose sharply.

Marina stumbled to her feet, gasping.

"Can't... breathe..." she choked, her face swelling rapidly, red blotches erupting across her skin.

"Call a doctor!" David shouted, already on his feet.

Lily's heart plummeted into her stomach.

"Oh my god..." she whispered, stunned.

A nurse rushed in with a crash cart, shouting orders. David swept Marina into his arms and ran with her down the hallway toward the ER, barking for help.

Lily followed, legs moving before she could think.

But just outside the emergency wing, David turned around and faced her.

His expression was venomous.

"You fed her that," he hissed. "You knew she was allergic to mushrooms."

"What? No... I didn't know!" Lily stammered, her throat closing. "I swear I didn't know!"

"She almost died!" he snapped. He stepped closer. "If anything happens to her... anything... I will press charges. Understand that clearly."

His words hit her like a slap.

Lily took a step back, hands shaking. "You think I poisoned her?"

He didn't answer. He didn't need to.

The raw accusation in his eyes said everything.

The silence between them stretched for long seconds until the sound of nurses and doctors shuffling in and out of Marina's room broke the standoff.

Lily's breath caught. Her hands trembled.

David had already turned away, storming into the emergency room.

She hadn't done anything.

She didn't even know Marina was allergic to mushrooms. It wasn't her who had told Marina to eat it.

Lily closed her eyes and remembered the last thing Marina had said before stuffing the food into her mouth:

"As long as you can forgive me, I'll eat it all."

What kind of person said that?

And who ate something they knew they were allergic to?

Unless...

Unless they wanted something to happen.

A scene. A weapon to use.

A plan.

The idea chilled Lily more than the night wind.

One thing had become clear.

Marina had orchestrated this to turn David against her, and she had succeeded.

Lily stood frozen in the hallway as the door shut behind him. Her chest ached, but this time it wasn't from fatigue.

It was from the sharp realization that no matter what she did... she would always be the villain in David's eyes.

Lily stepped into Noa's apartment, the soft click of the door closing behind her doing little to muffle the storm inside her chest. Her hands trembled as she removed her shoes, her mind replaying the scene at the hospital on a never-ending loop—the moment Marina's body jerked in reaction to the allergen, the panicked shout from David, the sheer terror of being accused, and worst of all, the cold fury in David's eyes as he pointed at her.

"You're home," Noa said, emerging from the kitchen, wiping her hands with a dishtowel. She frowned as she looked at Lily. "What happened? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I might as well have," Lily murmured, lowering herself onto the couch as if all the energy had been drained from her bones.

Noa sat beside her, waiting quietly.

Lily told Noa everything: the wild goose chase across the city to buy specific dishes, the discovery that David and Marina had already eaten, the theatrical performance Marina put on, and finally, the allergic reaction that landed her in the ER. She left nothing out, including David's harsh words and his threat of criminal charges.

Noa leaned back slowly, a stunned silence filling the space between them. Then, as if someone had pressed a switch, her face contorted in disgust.

"Marina is a damn drama queen!" she barked. "She knew exactly what she was doing, playing the victim as always. And David..." Her jaw clenched. "What a shameless scumbag. After everything you've done for him, he throws that kind of accusation in your face? Screw him."

Lily didn't respond. Her fingers curled around the throw pillow on her lap, clinging to it as if it might anchor her back to sanity.

"I need to leave," she finally whispered. "I can't take this anymore. I need to get away from him. Completely."

Noa nodded without hesitation. "Then let's do it. Find another job. Start fresh."

And she did. The very next morning, Lily pulled her laptop into her lap and began submitting resumes to every company she could find—small firms, start-ups, even multinationals in far-off districts. She poured her energy into her applications, tailoring cover letters, adjusting CVs, and even reaching out to former acquaintances in the industry.

But as the days went by, a chilling pattern began to emerge.

We're sorry, Ms Collins. At this time, we are not considering applicants affiliated with Hardison Corporation. We regret to inform you that your candidacy has been declined. We value your experience, but unfortunately, we are unable to proceed.

One after another—rejections.

After three straight days and over a dozen applications, the truth became impossible to ignore.

"They're scared of him," Lily said hollowly one evening, staring at her inbox. "They're scared of David. No one wants to poach his secretary and face his wrath."

Noa was pacing the room by then, running a hand through her messy hair. "Unbelievable! He's blocking your path even when he's the one who pushed you away! He doesn't want you, but he doesn't want anyone else to have you, either! What kind of twisted game is he playing?"

"I don't know," Lily said quietly. "But I can't live in this limbo. I need to breathe."

That night, Noa slammed her hands on the table with enough force to rattle the mugs.

"That's it. We're going out."

Lily blinked at her. "What?"

"You heard me. We're going to a bar. We'll drink, dance, and forget David Hardison exists. You've been moping for days. It's time to live a little."

A reluctant laugh escaped her. "You just want an excuse to party."

"I want you to feel like yourself again," she said, softer now. "You deserve that much."

And surprisingly, Lily agreed. With David silent these last few days and Marina likely recovering in comfort somewhere, she had no reason to sit at home wallowing in misery. She had every right to move on.

Noa chose a trendy bar in the heart of the city—a place she claimed had "good music, bad decisions, and excellent cocktails."

When they arrived, the place was already buzzing with energy. Neon lights flickered overhead, the bass thumped beneath their feet, and the scent of citrus, perfume, and spilled alcohol hung in the air.

At first, Lily stayed close to the bar, sipping a fruit-flavored cocktail while Noa mingled and cracked jokes. But after her second drink and a little coaxing, she let Noa drag her onto the dance floor.

The music vibrated through her bones, washing over her like a wave. For a while, she forgot—forgot the accusations, the betrayals, the invisible leash David still seemed to hold around her neck. She lost herself in the rhythm, in the laughter, in the glittering world where nothing mattered but now.

Until she saw him.