Lily felt drained, lacking the energy to argue further. As for right and wrong, the heavens knew. The alcohol in her system made her feel weak and unsteady. Slowly, she pulled herself up using the towel rack, wanting to escape this place. She realized that continuing this confrontation would only give him more opportunities to hurt her. Being naive once or twice was forgivable, but persisting in it was simply irredeemable.Julian watched her pale face intently, his voice deep and resonant. "And what about me? How do you feel about me?"Lily turned away, evading his question. "Mr. Sterling, you're naturally Ethan's friend. Helping me is a favor, and not helping is understandable. You've assisted me several times before, and I'm grateful.""Mr. Sterling," he mused, the formal and distant address grating on his nerves. He almost wished she'd shout his name in anger instead. The thought startled him. Had he gone mad?"Aren't you still seeking my help? That student of your father's, what's

He looked down at her arrogantly, his eyes devoid of warmth. His towering presence cast her in shadow, and the overpowering aura he exuded sent her into a panic, prompting her to scream. However, her cries only seemed to excite him further. With a swift motion, he grabbed her by the shoulders and pinned her against the wall. In a defiant move, she slapped him hard across the face.He paused for a moment, then a cold smirk spread across his lips. Holding both her wrists above her head, he pressed her firmly against the wall. The burning sensation on his face from her slap seemed to fuel his aggression, and he bit down on her lips, showing no mercy. She whimpered in pain, her eyes wide with terror as she stared at the menacing man before her. Her struggles only seemed to heighten his sense of conquest. Yes, at that moment, all he wanted was to dominate her, to have her completely subdued beneath him. His gaze was as fierce as a wild beast's, and his heavy, heated breaths fell upon her e

Lily felt as if she had been thrown into a blazing fire. The scorching flames seemed to consume her, the searing pain attacking every nerve, every inch of her skin. The pain was unbearable, yet she couldn't scream out. Her mouth tasted bitter, a sensation that spread from the tip of her tongue down her throat and into her very core, making it hard for her to breathe.She struggled desperately, resisting with all her might. Just when she thought she had escaped the abyss, she found herself plunging into the depths of a vast, bottomless ocean. The surging waves crashed against her, one after another, and the icy coldness seeped into her warm body, bringing with it a bone-chilling despair.Suddenly, a glimmer of hope appeared in the distance. Using all her strength, she swam towards it, only to find Ethan standing on the shore. But why was he looking at her with such cold eyes? Just as she was about to call out to him for help, in the blink of an eye, the figure transformed into Julian.

Lily screamed, glaring at the man so close to her. How could he be so audacious? Wasn't he afraid she'd expose his deeds?As if reading her thoughts, he chuckled coldly. Holding her wrists tightly with one hand and gripping her chin with the other, he calmly said, "Just stay with me. What can't you have if you're on good terms with me? Don't waste your time on pointless endeavors. You probably don't even know which way the courthouse doors open. Don't make a fool of yourself."Upon hearing his words, Lily, with eyes blazing in fury, managed to push Julian to the ground. She sat atop him, her fists flying as she struck him repeatedly, her actions wild and unrestrained. She cursed and hit him as if possessed by madness. Yet, Julian remained motionless, watching her with cold eyes as she took out her anger on him. For a long while, he observed her. Her punches and slaps felt more like playful taps to him, not causing any real pain. He could have dismissed them as a lover's playful quarre

Receiving no response from her, Julian's patience finally wore thin. Pulling the blanket, he coldly said, "It's still dark outside. Sleep a bit more." His arms encircled her like iron bands. After a while, she heard his steady breathing. The tension in her body eased a little, and she finally succumbed to sleep. She was exhausted, both physically and emotionally.Close to noon, as he stepped into the bathroom to freshen up, she got out of bed. Hearing her movements, he emerged, looking into her eyes, asking, "Where are you going?"Lily averted her gaze, softly replying, "I'm going back to school. I have classes." She pushed all her resentment deep into a corner of her heart, trying to calmly face this man who had treated her worse than an animal and acted as if nothing had happened. If she had a choice, she'd send him straight to hell.Julian chuckled lightly. Going to class was just an excuse, wasn't it? She was truly trying to avoid him. He buttoned up his shirt, "Alright then, I'll