Signed, Sealed, Scandalous

Chapter 21

"I didn't... Noah... You've misunderstood me..."

Lily Wilson kept slapping at Noah Kingsley's arm, desperately trying to break free from his grip.

Hearing the commotion, Ethan Kingsley and Liam Kingsley stepped out of their rooms. One glance at the scene told them everything.

Noah had Lily by the throat as he recounted the entire incident. The moment Ethan and Liam understood, their gazes turned icy.

Ethan placed a hand on Noah's wrist, signaling for him to release her. Though confused, Noah obeyed.

"Ethan..."

Gasping for air, Lily nearly burst into tears, ready to express her gratitude,

Only for Ethan to kick her hard, sending her crashing several feet away.

She coughed violently, her pale face twisted in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Liam knelt beside her with the same gentle smile, tilting her chin up as he murmured,

"Do you like us? Or do you prefer Noah? Why seduce only him and not me? Am I not charming enough?"

The award-winning actor, adored by millions of fans, asked this with such genuine frustration that Lily's heart softened instantly, drowning in his feigned tenderness.

"N-No... You're incredibly charming. I just... I thought I could never have you, so I settled for second best. Believe me, I like you more."

The moment those words left her lips, all three men darkened with fury.

Liam's gentle grip turned vicious, his fingers crushing her jawbone.

"You like me? Settled for second best? In your mind, all three of us were just prey, weren't we?"

"If you hadn't gotten impatient today, we might never have seen through you!"

Ethan stomped down, snapping her wrist with a sickening crack. His voice was pure venom.

"Was it this hand that lit the aphrodisiac incense? The scent was strong. But tell me, what gives you the right to pick and choose among us?"

Tears streamed down Lily's face as agony and regret consumed her. She never imagined they would despise her so much, so much that they refused to even touch her!

Especially Noah!

She had used the incense, and he had reacted, so why hadn't he done anything?!

Desperate, she fell back on her last resort, the debt of her "life-saving grace."

"Ethan, Liam, Noah... I'm sorry. I was just confused. I love you all so much that I acted recklessly. I won't do it again. Please... I risked my life to save you. Forgive me this once, okay?"

Her pitiful begging softened Liam, who released her. Even Ethan's fury dimmed.

Only Noah remained unmoved.

Watching his brothers side with Lily yet again, he let out a cold laugh.

"Tch. She's a scheming woman, and you still believe her? How many times has she used that 'life-saving' excuse? We've helped her countless times, isn't that enough to repay her?!"

Silence.

For the first time, Noah understood exactly how Sophia Sterling must have felt.

Clenching his fists, he suppressed his lingering desire and stormed out into the rain in nothing but his pajamas, never looking back.

The icy downpour drenched him, chilling him to the bone.

Before he knew it, he stood outside Sophia's home.

Warm light glowed from the villa's windows, but he couldn't bring himself to knock.

After spending the entire night in the storm, he finally experienced firsthand the pain and despair she had endured, searching for her parents' belongings in the rain all those years ago.