Read Novel Full Chapter 427: Lily and Caleb
Chapter 427: Chapter 427: Lily and Caleb
Grace looked up at her, eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Help me!"
The words fell like a familiar refrain. Lily let out a slow sigh, rubbing the bridge of her nose. "I don’t know what more I can help with."
The relationship between Lily, James, Caleb, and Grace had long since twisted into something suffocating.
Once upon a time, Lily and Grace had been inseparable, best friends who shared secrets, laughter, and dreams. Then they both fell for James.
At first, James refused to choose, hovering indecisively between them. In the end, he chose Grace.
Lily had swallowed her feelings and stepped aside, forcing herself to move on.
She got together with Caleb soon after, hoping that time and affection would dull the ache James had left behind.
But after just one year, Lily and Caleb parted ways. They weren’t meant for each other, and pretending otherwise only made things worse.
Then everything flipped again.
James began to like Lily.
Grace began to like Caleb.
Their relationships crumbled.
James tried to confess to Lily again, but she ignored him completely.
Even if her relationship with Caleb hadn’t worked out, she wasn’t desperate enough to accept someone who had once rejected her.
Caleb, on the other hand, had never liked Grace. Not even a little.
Yet Grace lingered around him constantly, using Lily as an excuse to stay close.
"Lily is going to come too; you should join us!" she would say, smiling sweetly. Lily had allowed it for a long time. After all, Grace was her best friend.
Or so she used to believe.
After Eva and Mia arrived, Lily finally saw the truth.
Grace was selfish by nature.
Maybe she did see Lily as a friend, but she loved herself more. She never once considered Lily’s feelings while relentlessly pursuing Caleb.
Hearing Lily’s weary response, Grace pursed her lips and tugged at Lily’s clothes again.
"Don’t you have some other way?" she whispered. "Like... some method? The way you seduced Caleb back then?"
That was the final straw.
Lily’s eyes darkened. She pointed at Grace, her voice sharp. "You’re crossing a line."
Grace immediately panicked. "No... no, that’s not what I meant!" she blurted out, apologizing again and again. "I really didn’t mean it that way!"
Lily felt a wave of disgust rise in her chest.
"Then what did you mean?" she demanded. "If you didn’t want to offend me, why would you even ask something like that?"
Grace turned her face away, her voice trembling.
"I just wanted to know what you have that attracts Caleb. I thought... if I imitate you, maybe he’ll notice me too. That’s all. Please don’t get offended."
She forced a smile. "After all, I’m your best friend."
Lily laughed softly, but there was no warmth in it. "Best friend?" Her voice was calm, almost detached.
"Grace, you’ve already explained to me in a thousand different ways why we can’t be best friends anymore."
She took a step back. "It would be better if we parted ways. For now, let’s just put this so-called friendship aside."
With that, Lily turned and walked away, her back straight, her steps resolute.
From a distance, Caleb had heard everything.
He couldn’t help but smile faintly.
’At least she still cherishes what we had,’ he thought.
Lily hadn’t exposed the little habits, the small tricks she used during their private moments. If she had, he would have truly been disappointed.
The truth was simple. He still loved Lily.
The breakup had been her decision. He had only agreed because he saw how unhappy she was.
She had entered the relationship to forget James, and once she had finally moved on, she chose to give herself space... even though she still had lingering feelings for Caleb.
So she ended it. And he accepted it.
He had been waiting, hoping she would one day figure out her heart. But then Grace appeared.
The only good thing Grace ever did was bring Lily along whenever she tried to create opportunities for herself.
Caleb always agreed... not because of Grace, but because he wanted to see Lily. Without her, there was an emptiness in his chest that refused to fade.
He knew Grace was using Lily.
But he never opposed it.
Now, Lily had finally seen everything clearly and was distancing herself from Grace.
That... was good.
Far away, James watched the scene unfold, remorse etched deep into his face.
He had chosen Grace over Lily because he thought Grace was more feminine, more suited to him.
He liked it when people boosted his self-esteem, when they admired him openly.
But reality had hit hard.
Once they were together, he realized Grace was expensive... reckless with money, spending as if it flowed endlessly. There came a point where he transferred his pocket money directly into her account just to cover her debts.
Compared to her, Lily had been so much better.
She paid her own expenses. She never once looked to him whenever she wanted to buy something. Her principles were quiet but unshakable.
He regretted his choice.
After breaking up with Grace, he tried to pursue Lily again... but by then, she had already moved on. The realization burned painfully in his chest.
His gaze shifted to Mia.
She stood a short distance away, chestnut-colored hair tied into a messy bun, laughter still lingering at the corners of her lips.
She looked so warm, so alive, that he almost had the urge to pull her into a hug.
After Lily, Mia became his new target.
But Mia, after learning about his past, had developed a clear aversion to him. Ava didn’t help either... she constantly positioned herself like a wall between him and Mia, blocking every attempt.
Sometimes, James couldn’t help but wonder, ’Are those two lesbians or what?’
If Ava could hear his thoughts, she would have burst out laughing and snapped back that they were indeed lesbians.
Lily, besides Ava and Mia, hearing their conversation, asked, "Have you heard about the newly opened base?"
Ava glanced at her, confused. "What base?"