Part 3Not Blood, Still Forbidden

Lily's POV

Sophia was too enthusiastic. The refusal on the tip of my tongue never made it out.

In the end, I sat in the passenger seat of the Maybach while Payton and Sophia sat together in the back.

"Payton, do you remember the last time we went skiing? I took such a bad fall, and you laughed at me."

"Yeah, I remember. Later at the hot spring inn, you complained all night about your sore knee."

"Don't tease me about that..."

Listening to their conversation from the back seat, my hands twisted together on my lap, my nails digging into my palms.

So he had all these shared memories with someone else too.

That tenderness, that companionship-they weren't exclusive to me.

Halfway through the drive, Sophia seemed to finally remember there was another person in the car. She suddenly asked with a bright smile, "Lily, do you know how to ski?"

I tensed up and glanced at the rearview mirror. The handsome man in the back seat furrowed his brow slightly, a fleeting emotion passing through his eyes.

I forced a curve to my lips.

"Yes."

"Oh?" Sophia sounded interested. "When did you learn? Did you teach yourself, or did someone teach you?"

I'd known how to ski since I was fifteen. And the person who taught me was sitting right beside Sophia.

But after two seconds of silence, I said, "I learned from an instructor at the ski resort."

At those words, the man in the back seat frowned even more deeply, his expression darkening slightly.

When we arrived at the ski resort, I was putting on my protective gear.

Payton walked up to me, his tall frame bringing an oppressive presence.

"Lily, since when did you learn to lie?"

I looked up.

"What?"

"You learned to ski from a resort instructor?"

His handsome face was clouded with displeasure.

"Why lie?"

I lied only to avoid Sophia misunderstanding anything and affecting their relationship.

But I didn't understand-this was such a trivial matter. Why was Payton so upset about it?

Just as I was about to explain, Sophia's voice called from the other side.

"Payton, come help me. I think there's something wrong with my gear."

Hearing that, Payton warned me coldly, "If you lie again and develop those bad habits, see if I don't punish you."

Then he turned and walked toward Sophia.

I watched his retreating figure. Watched him help Sophia with her gear, checking her equipment.

That gentle, careful, considerate side of him-he used to show it only to me.

I forced myself to stop watching them and found a gentle slope to ski on alone.

"Lily!"

Before long, Sophia skied over to me.

I glanced behind her, but she was alone.

"No need to look. Payton went to get us hot drinks."

Sophia stopped in front of me, removed her ski goggles, and revealed a face with delicate makeup.

"Payton really is something, putting all his attention and energy on me and just leaving you here alone. He's being unreasonable."

I stopped as well and smiled.

"It's fine. You're his fiancée. It's only right that he takes extra care of you."

"But watching him treat me well must hurt you, doesn't it?"

Sophia's eyes suddenly carried undisguised scrutiny and provocation.

I frowned slightly.

"I don't understand what you mean."

"Heh."

Sophia let out an extremely soft laugh, one laced with mockery, completely different from her gracious demeanor in front of Payton.

"You understand. You understand better than anyone."

I froze.

"The way you look at him-you can't hide it."

Sophia smiled smugly.

"Too bad it only makes him feel burdened. He told me himself that you're too emotionally complicated, and sometimes he doesn't know how to deal with you."

Emotionally complicated... doesn't know how to deal with...

So when he talked about me to others, that's how he saw me-even as a burden.

"He's just too responsible. Because your families have been friends for generations, and he pitied you for losing your parents, he had no choice but to take care of you all these years."

My fingers curled as I pressed my lips tightly together.

"But it's just responsibility. Lily, do you understand? He takes care of you out of responsibility. Nothing more."

Sophia leaned closer, lowering her voice.

"We're getting married soon. If you're smart, you'll gradually learn to distance yourself from him. Leave yourself some dignity."

I listened quietly, then slowly smiled.

"You're right."