Lily didn't know what was wrong with her. Maybe it was the flash of something raw in his eyes, but she found herself nodding before she could think better of it.

She thought he was taking her home, but his car pulled up in front of a hospital.

As if sensing her inner turmoil, a wry, almost teasing smirk touched his lips as he stepped out. "What did you think I wanted you for?"

Shame flushed Lily's cheeks. 'God, what were you thinking? Do you really believe he wanted a farewell sex? His Marina is back. He doesn't need a stand-in anymore. Get a grip, Lily.'

"To get your arm stitched up, obviously," she said, too quickly. "I'm not a coward. Once we're done here, my obligation is over."

The procedure wasn't complicated, but the wound was deeper than she'd thought, aggravated by an old scar. Lily's stomach twisted. Guilt, confusion, and something softer-something terrifyingly close to affection-churned in her chest.

The sterile smell of the VIP room was sharp. David sat perfectly still, not even flinching when the tweezers dug in to remove a shard. Lily stood a few feet away, arms wrapped around herself, teeth worrying her lower lip. She couldn't decide whether she hated his stubborn silence or respected his ironclad control more.

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 no words came out.

"She is," David answered coldly before she could respond. "Make sure she knows the aftercare."

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 fractured. She wasn't stupid. She'd seen the panic in his eyes when she stumbled, the way he hadn't hesitated for a second. That wasn't just instinct. 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.

"How cozy," she drawled, her voice dripping with venom.

Lily instinctively took a step back.

"Marina," David warned, his tone 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. "You don't? Are you defending her now, David? Do you have any idea how it tears me apart that she played my part beside you for five years?"

"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 David some proper meals. All organic, prepared by his nutritionist. I. I'm not familiar with the area near the hospital. Could you pick them up for me? I would go myself, but I'd hate to get lost."

Lily stared at her.

Seriously?

"Do I look like your errand girl now?"

"Just do it," Marina shrugged, offering a fake smile. "You're already here. And you did admit he got hurt because of you, didn't you? It's not too much to ask."

Lily glanced at David.

He wasn't looking at her. He leaned back against the pillows, his eyes closed, as if distancing himself from the entire scene.

But she understood. He was endorsing this, too.

Remembering the raw wound on his arm, she let out a slow breath and nodded. "Fine."

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

Marina handed her a slip of paper with the address. "Don't be long. David hates cold food."

The city was sweltering under the streetlights when Lily stepped out of the hospital.

Her first stop was a boutique bistro on the east side for the rare mushroom bisque Marina insisted David needed. The order took nearly forty minutes to prepare. As she was finally paying, her phone buzzed.

Marina's voice was syrup-sweet, masking the steel beneath. "Lily, darling, I completely forgot. David's been craving a specific steamed herbal broth from that new place in the West Village. It's essential for his recovery. You wouldn't mind, would you? And maybe pick up some gluten-free sourdough from that bakery on 5th? You know how particular he is."

Lily hesitated, glancing at the heavy, warm bag in her hand. "I already have the bisque."

"And as his former secretary, you understand the importance of following through," Marina cut in, her tone cooling. "I wouldn't want to have to tell David you refused such a simple request when he's injured because of you."

Lily clenched her jaw. "Fine."

An hour and a half later, she trudged back toward the hospital. Her clothes clung to her like a second skin, her arms ached from the weight of multiple bags, and sweat plastered strands of hair to her forehead.

But nothing prepared her for the scene through the slightly ajar door of the private suite.

David was propped comfortably against the pillows. Marina was perched on the edge of his bed, feeding him spoonfuls from a bowl, a soft, intimate laugh escaping her lips. His expression was relaxed, almost tender-a side of him Lily hadn't seen in years.

A sharp pang shot through her chest. She pushed the door open wider. "You've already eaten?"

David's head snapped up, startled. Marina's eyes widened, not with guilt, but with triumph.

"We didn't know you'd be so long," David said, his voice neutral.

Lily dropped the bags onto a side table with a heavy thud. "Are you serious? She sent me on a wild goose chase across the city. You could have just ordered in if you were hungry."

Marina adopted a wounded look. "I. I honestly didn't realize. I've been gone so long, I forgot how traffic gets. I thought he still preferred the old recipes."

Lily let out a cold, disbelieving laugh. "Spare me."

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

"Oh, please don't be angry," Marina whimpered, her eyes welling up with theatrical tears. "I truly didn't mean to. I won't let your efforts go to waste. If it'll make you feel better, I'll eat it all myself-every last bite." She reached for the container of mushroom bisque with exaggerated care, 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.

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

She turned to leave, anger and humiliation tightening her throat.

Behind her, she heard the rustle of plastic.

"I mean it," Marina declared. "I'll finish it all. See?"

Lily glanced back just in time to see Marina take an exaggerated, overly large bite, her movements performative. In that moment, it looked less like an apology and more like a stage act. Lily's eyes narrowed. What game was she playing?

But then, Marina froze.

Her eyes flew wide open, her face draining of color in an instant. One hand flew to her throat, clutching it.

"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.

"Get a doctor in here!" David barked, already on his feet.

Lily's heart plummeted to her stomach.

"Oh my god." she whispered, horrified.

A nurse rushed in with a crash cart, barking orders. David swept Marina into his arms, carrying her down the hall toward the ER, shouting for help as he went.

Lily followed, her legs moving before her mind could catch up.

But just outside the ER doors, David turned on her.

His expression was savage.

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

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

"She could have died!" he snarled. He took a step closer. "If anything happens to her. anything. I'll sue you for everything you're worth. Do you hear me?"

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 a long, painful beat, broken only by the frantic sounds of nurses and doctors rushing in and out of Marina's room.

Lily drew in a sharp, shuddering breath.

David had already turned his back, storming into the ER without another glance.

She had done nothing.

She hadn't known about the allergy. She hadn't forced Marina to eat anything.

Lily closed her eyes, recalling Marina's final, dramatic words before shoving the food into her mouth:

"If it'll make you feel better, I'll eat it all myself."

What kind of person said that?

Who would willingly eat something they knew they were allergic to?

It was such a clumsy, transparent ploy. The most ridiculous part was that David Hardison-a man renowned for his ruthless clarity-couldn't see through it. Or did he choose not to? Was he. in on it?

A cold dread slithered down Lily's spine. She was ready to bow out. So why wouldn't they just let her go?

The soft click of the door closing behind her did nothing to quell the storm raging in Lily's chest. Her hands shook as she toed off her shoes, the hospital scene replaying on a loop in her mind-Marina's choking act, David's frantic shout, the cold fear of the accusation, and worst of all, the icy fury in David's eyes as he pointed the blame at her.

"You're back," Noa said, emerging from the kitchen, drying her hands on a dish towel. She frowned, taking in Lily's pallor. "What happened? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"I might as well have," Lily murmured, sinking onto the sofa as if her bones had turned to water.

Noa sat beside her, waiting in patient silence.

Lily told her everything.

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 delulu!" she snapped. "She knew exactly what she was doing, playing the victim card as always. And David." She ground her teeth. "What a monumental ass. After everything you've done for him, he points a finger at you? Screw him!"

Lily's fingers dug into the cushion on her lap as if it could anchor her sanity.

"There's an even more terrifying possibility," Lily said, her voice low and hollow. "Maybe. maybe they want this pinned on me. A jealous, scorned secretary trying to poison the boss's true love? It's a much juicier headline than 'Socialite's Scandal Sinks Stocks.' It would perfectly divert public attention from Marina's mess."

A bitter laugh, dangerously close to a sob, escaped her. Noa's expression softened with pain. "Lily, don't. Maybe he's not that. you were his wife for five years."

"Five years," Lily echoed derisively. "Did he ever truly treat me as a wife? To put it bluntly, I was just his exclusive whore-"

"Lily!" Noa's voice sharpened. "I won't let you talk about yourself like that! You're nothing like those gold-diggers. You agreed because you loved-"

"Did that love matter?" Lily looked up, her eyes frighteningly empty. "He never cared. I shouldn't have hoped for love that was never mine. Maybe this. all of this. is just my punishment for being a fool."

"But the humiliation ends here," she whispered, the words a vow. "Now, I have to leave him. For good."

Noa seemed to wrestle with something, then finally nodded. "Then that's what we do. Find a new job. Start fresh. I'm with you."

That night, Lily fell asleep with tears and a shattered heart, but when the sun rose the next morning, she woke as someone new.

After breakfast, she tied her hair into a neat bun, sipped her coffee, and opened her laptop. She began sending her resume to every company she could find-small firms, startups, even multinationals in far-flung regions. She poured energy into each application, tailoring cover letters, tweaking her CV, and even reaching out to old industry contacts.

But as the days passed, a chilling pattern emerged.

*Dear Ms. Collins, we regret to inform you.*

*Unfortunately, we are not proceeding with candidates associated with Hardison Corp at this time.*

*While we value your experience, we have decided not to move forward.*

Rejection after rejection.

After three straight days and over a dozen applications, the truth was undeniable.

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

Noa was pacing the room, running a hand through her already messy hair. "Unbelievable! He pushes you away, then blocks your path! 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 whispered. "But I can't stay stuck like this."

That night, Noa slammed her hand on the table with a force that made the mugs rattle.

"Right. We're going out."

Lily blinked at her. "What?"

"You heard me. We're going to a bar. Drinks, dancing, forgetting David Hardison exists. You've been moping for days. It's time to blow off some steam."

A weak smile touched Lily's lips. "You just want an excuse to party."

"I want you back," Noa said, her voice softening. "You deserve that."

Surprisingly, Lily agreed. David had been radio silent, Marina was likely recuperating somewhere lavish, and there was no reason to sit at home drowning in self-pity. She had every right to move on.

Noa chose a trendy bar in the heart of downtown-one she claimed had "good music, people making bad decisions, and excellent cocktails."

By the time they arrived, the place was already pulsing with life. Neon lights flickered overhead, a deep bass thrummed beneath their feet, and the air smelled of citrus, perfume, and spilled liquor.

At first, Lily stayed by the bar, sipping a fruity cocktail and watching Noa work the room, chatting and laughing. A small, genuine smile touched her lips at her friend's vitality. After a second drink and a few more nudges from Noa, she finally let herself be pulled onto the dance floor.

The music vibrated in her bones, a wave she surrendered to. For a while, she forgot everything-the accusations, the betrayal, the invisible chains David seemed to still have around her. She lost herself in the rhythm, the laughter, the glittering world where nothing mattered but the present.

Until her gaze drifted toward the entrance and she saw them.

David and Marina.