Chapter 262: Unanswered
Lily stared at her phone, her heart racing in her chest. She had been trying to reach Cage for hours, but to no avail. Every call went unanswered, every text message unreplied. Panic and frustration welled up inside her. She needed him now more than ever, and his silence was unbearable.
She sat in the dimly lit living room of her apartment, the curtains drawn tightly to keep out the prying eyes of the media. Ever since the scandal broke, reporters had camped outside her home, their cameras and questions a relentless reminder of the chaos her life had become.
"Lily, are you okay?" Alice’s voice came from the other end of the room, filled with concern. She had come over to keep Lily company, but even her presence couldn’t quell the anxiety that gnawed at Lily’s heart.
"No, I’m not okay," Lily snapped, immediately regretting the sharpness of her tone. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "I’m sorry, Alice. It’s just... Cage isn’t answering my calls. I don’t know where he is, and I need him. I need to talk to him."
Alice walked over and sat beside her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I’m sure there’s a good reason why he hasn’t answered. Maybe he’s just as overwhelmed as you are. This scandal is affecting everyone."
Lily shook her head, tears of frustration welling up in her eyes. "But I need him, Alice. He’s the only one who understands what I’m going through. I feel so alone."
Alice squeezed her shoulder gently. "You’re not alone, Lily. I’m here for you, and so is your mom. We’ll get through this together."
Lily wiped away a tear, her fingers trembling. "I just don’t understand why this is happening. Everything was going so well, and now... now it’s all falling apart."
Alice looked at her with sympathy. "Scandals have a way of doing that. They tear apart everything you thought was solid. But you’re strong, Lily. You’ll get through this."