Chapter 61
After washing her hands, Lily returned to the living room and sat on the sofa to drink some water. She glanced at the tablet beside her, paused, then picked it up and turned it on.
Opening Twitter, she lowered her head, resting her knuckles against her lips, and focused on the breaking news. She didn't read much—her relationship with Alexander made it unnecessary—but she knew it was likely about her, Nathaniel, and Melanie from their college days. The tweets were out of context and wildly inaccurate.
However, she was more interested in the source. It wasn't Nathaniel or Melanie, but rather someone misusing the identity of a third-party bystander—fellow classmates or so-called "mutual friends."
Initially, Lily felt angry, but her anger quickly subsided. She found it ridiculous. The names were vaguely familiar, and she barely recognized the faces.
Given her temperament—neither withdrawn nor gregarious—Lily spent most of her time off-campus conducting experiments and collecting data. She had little time for meaningless socializing. Yet, these people, suddenly appearing as witnesses, claimed to know her intimately.
They vividly described Melanie and Nathaniel as a perfect college couple, destined to be together, then painted Lily as the intervening mistress. Their narrative portrayed Nathaniel and Melanie as too kind to hurt her, hence their continued friendship.
The story continued: During a difficult time, Nathaniel supported Lily, despite his suspicions. However, in the intervening years, she had repaid his kindness by stealing company data and Melanie's work as revenge.
This was their version of "The Ungrateful Woman"—a dramatic fabrication.
Lily, initially annoyed, gradually calmed down. She almost detached herself, viewing the situation as an outsider watching others spin a tale. She wasn't the person they described, and she hadn't done the things they alleged.
"It's time to eat."
The aroma of food wafted from the kitchen. Alexander placed the soup on the table, called her, then returned to serve the rest of the meal. Lily wanted to help, but Alexander's firm gaze stopped her. "Go to the table and sit down. Don't touch anything else."
She obeyed, watching him work, a picture of domestic efficiency. He thoughtfully arranged the utensils and plated her meal.
Lily mused that if a reporter or La Beauté Group employee saw him now, they'd be stunned. No one would expect the powerful Mr. Russell to be so caring. His natural attentiveness was unexpectedly approachable. "Eat. Why are you looking at me?" Alexander glanced at her, placing a fork and spoon in her hands. After a moment's thought, he got up and placed the soup before her before sitting down.
"I'm a little flattered by your pampering," Lily said, propping her chin in her hand.
"You call this pampering?" Alexander glanced at her again. "Then I think you should prepare yourself for more."
Alexander's sweetness melted Lily's heart. She found him incredibly alluring.
The food was delicious. In addition to the chicken noodle soup and mac and cheese she'd made earlier, Alexander had prepared roasted vegetables and potatoes. He spooned vegetables into her bowl. "You're too thin. You need to eat more." "I didn't expect you to be able to cook," she said. The food was beautifully presented, a feast for the senses, rivaling a five-star restaurant. "I was always the best home cook."