Chapter 292: Numbness
Lily felt a strange numbness as she walked through the door of the apartment she shared with Cage. Her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting emotions—confusion, sadness, and anger all rolled into one. She replayed her mother’s words over and over in her head. The shock had yet to wear off. Her real father? How could that be true? And why now, of all times, did her mother decide to reveal it?
She hadn’t even realized she’d left the stove on, her thoughts so consumed by the encounter in the alley. The acrid smell of burning food filled the apartment, but Lily remained in a daze, staring at nothing in particular, her heart thudding heavily in her chest.
Cage arrived home from work, tired but glad to finally be home. The moment he opened the door, he was hit by the unmistakable scent of something burning. Panic surged through him as he rushed toward the kitchen. The sight of a pot on the stove, smoke billowing from it, made his heart race even faster.
"Lily!" he shouted, quickly turning off the stove and grabbing the pot, placing it in the sink. He turned around to see Lily sitting at the dining table, unmoving, staring at the wall with a vacant expression. His heart dropped.
"Lily, what the hell happened?" he demanded, his voice filled with concern and a touch of frustration. She didn’t respond, didn’t even blink. Cage’s frustration immediately melted into worry. He quickly crossed the room and knelt in front of her, gently taking her hands in his.
"Lily?" he called softly, trying to meet her gaze. Her eyes were glassy, unfocused. He’d never seen her like this, and it scared him. "Lily, talk to me. What’s going on?"
At the sound of his voice, something seemed to break within her. Lily’s lower lip trembled, and she blinked rapidly as tears began to pool in her eyes. "I’m sorry," she whispered, her voice shaky. "I’m so sorry."
Cage’s heart twisted at the sight of her tears. "Hey, hey, it’s okay," he said soothingly, pulling her into his arms. She collapsed against him, her body shaking with sobs that she couldn’t control. Cage held her tightly, stroking her hair, trying to comfort her as best he could. But inside, he was panicking. This was so unlike Lily. She was always so strong, so composed.
"Lily, please, tell me what’s wrong," he murmured, his voice laced with desperation. He needed to know what had happened, what had shattered her like this. But she only shook her head, burying her face deeper into his chest.