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.

The music inside the bar thumped like a heartbeat, heavy and relentless, but Lily no longer felt the rhythm. The moment she caught David's cold gaze from across the dance floor, something inside her deflated.

Her steps faltered, the song fading in her ears even though it was still playing loud and fast. There, standing just a few feet away near the entrance, was David. And beside him, arm-in-arm and looking as smug as ever, was Marina.

The sight of them together hit her like a punch to the stomach.

David's eyes found hers almost instantly. His expression didn't change—calm, cold, unreadable. Marina, on the other hand, spotted Lily and immediately tightened her grip on David's arm, as if marking her territory.

Lily stepped back, bumping into another dancer.

Lily's heart pounded in her chest. A thousand thoughts raced through her mind. Did he follow her? Was this a coincidence? Did Marina bring him here on purpose?

David didn't approach.

He simply stood there, watching her like a predator sizing up its prey.

But Lily stood her ground. No, she thought. Why should I leave? This was my night. I came here to breathe, to live.

She looked directly at David, chin lifting slightly, and without breaking eye contact, she turned back toward the crowd and continued dancing. Every move became sharper, freer, louder. She wasn't just dancing—she was declaring something. You can't control me anymore.

With just a sharp flick of indifference, he turned and walked toward the VIP section, Marina clinging to his side like ivy wrapping around a dying tree.

Noa came back with drinks, two tall glasses glinting under the club lights, and saw the sudden shift in Lily's face. "Hey, what happened?" she asked, looking in the direction of Lily's gaze.

"I don't feel like dancing anymore," Lily murmured, taking the drink with both hands but not sipping. Her fingers were trembling faintly.

Noa followed her eyes and grimaced. "You've got to be kidding me," she muttered. "What is he doing here? Can't that witch just fall into a manhole already?"

Lily gave a dry laugh, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I think I need to use the restroom."

"You want me to go with—?"

"No. I'll be fine," she said softly, brushing past the crowd toward the hallway.

The restroom was cooler, quieter—like stepping into a different world. Lily splashed cold water on her face and stared at her reflection. She looked tired. Not in the sleepless sort of way, but the kind of exhaustion that weighed on the soul. It wasn't just about David anymore. It was about everything—being stuck, being unwanted in every job application, being controlled like a pawn in someone else's game.

And David… he had made himself clear. He would eat happily with Marina, flaunt her presence in public, sabotage Lily's job prospects behind the scenes, and still act as if he owned her life.

Pathetic, she thought. You're pathetic.

Lily turned away from the mirror, wiped her hands with a paper towel, and exited the restroom.

As she turned back down the hallway, wiping her lip clean, she didn't expect him to be standing there—leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching her like a lion sizing up its prey.

She had come here to let go, to breathe, to remind herself that life existed outside of David. And yet he showed up like a shadow she couldn't escape.

"Didn't expect to see you here, Lily," he said, his voice low and mocking. "Or is this your new job? Seducing men at bars?"

Lily stopped in her tracks, blinking. The insult cut sharper than expected. "Excuse me?"

David tilted his head with a cold smile. "You were dancing like your life depended on it. Makes me wonder—were you hoping some rich guy would offer you a job... or a bed?"

Her cheeks burned, not from shame but fury. "First of all, I wasn't seducing anyone. And second, maybe if you hadn't gone around blacklisting me, I wouldn't have to be out here trying to forget what a miserable boss you are!"

David's smirk didn't fade. In fact, it deepened. "Why would I let someone I trained walk out and possibly leak everything she knows to a competitor?" He stepped closer, the air between them growing heavier. "Do you think I'm that stupid?"

"You're not stupid," Lily hissed. "You're just cruel."

He leaned closer, their faces only inches apart. "No," he said huskily, "I trained you. Every report, every file, every coffee order—perfect. And... even your performance in bed... You think that was just business? You think I didn't notice how close you stood? How you bit your lip when you were nervous? Or how your voice always softened when you said my name?"

Her breath caught.

Her anger snapped. With a burst of fury, she slapped him. The sound echoed in the hallway like a gunshot. David's face jerked slightly from the force, but his eyes flared, the line of his jaw tightening with rage.

His hand shot out, grabbing her wrist before she could turn. In one swift motion, he pushed her against the wall, his body pressing dangerously close.

"You've got guts, don't you?" he growled, his breath hot against her cheek. "That's twice now. Twice you've put your hands on me."

Lily struggled, but the moment his body pinned hers, a different kind of heat flared between them. Her chest heaved, pressed against his, and his scent—something expensive and musky—flooded her senses.

His grip wasn't just painful but firm, controlling and commanding. His eyes locked with hers, no longer just angry, but intense, searching and burning.

Lily's heart thundered in her chest.

"I don't own you," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"You just keep choosing to test me," he murmured, his lips so close now she could feel them hover above hers.

"You..." she began, but her voice broke.

His hand loosened on her wrist, sliding up to her jaw. "Do you think I'll let my teaching go to waste?" he said darkly.

His thumb brushed her cheek, his body still pressing into hers. Their breath mingled, the air charged and tight, like the world would implode if they moved even an inch closer.

Lily's body trembled—not from fear, but from the electricity humming under her skin. She hated him. She loathed everything he had done. But her body betrayed her—responding to his touch, to his nearness, to the way he spoke like he still had a right to her.

"I hate you," she whispered, voice cracking.

"You do," David said, almost gently. "But it doesn't change anything, does it?"

He leaned in further, their noses brushing now. Her lips parted, caught between resisting and surrendering, her breath shallow as her heart pounded in a wild rhythm.