Chapter 178
+8 Pearls
Mia cleared her throat, her expression reflecting surprise as she observed Lily’s candid question. It struck her as unusually personal, and it made her wonder if Lily was more familiar with Pedro than she had let on.
Pedro, caught off guard, raised an eyebrow. “My relationship?” he echoed.
Lily nodded with an encouraging smile.
After a moment of thought, Pedro smiled softly, his gaze meeting hers. “I’m not in a relationship right now,” he admitted. “But there is someone I love.”
“Oh?” Lily’s interest piqued. “Then why aren’t you with her? Haven’t you confessed your feelings yet? You seem like a great guy, and with your good looks, I’m sure any girl would fall for you.”
Pedro chuckled lightly, the corners of his lips lifting. “You think I’m good–looking?” he teased, though her compliment warmed him more than he expected.
Lily nodded confidently. “Of course! Don’t you agree, Sister Mia?”
Mia gave a noncommittal shrug. “I guess,” she replied, though her tone was far less enthusiastic.
Pedro turned back to Lily, his smile fading slightly. “The girl I love… she’s already with someone else. She’s in love with him, and she doesn’t even know how I feel.” His voice softened, tinged with sadness. “The problem is, the man she loves isn’t a good person. He betrayed me once, and I’m terrified he might hurt her too. I want to protect her, to tell her how much I care, and make her the queen of my heart. But I’m scared. If I try to take her away, she might hate me forever. What if, in trying to save her, I lose her completely?”
Lily sighed empathetically. “That sounds really complicated,” she murmured.
Pedro chuckled bitterly. “It is. If you were in my shoes, what would you do?”
Before she could answer, the bright headlights of an approaching car lit up the scene. Shielding her eyes from the glare, Lily smiled brightly. “He’s here.”
Pedro’s expression turned unreadable as he glanced at the car. He didn’t need to see the driver to know who it was–Ethan. Though the dim lighting obscured Ethan’s face, Pedro could feel the weight of his stare.
Inside the car, Ethan’s sharp eyes were fixed on the man standing beside Lily. The darkness masked Pedro’s features, but the intensity in his gaze was undeniable. Ethan’s chest tightened with a strange mix of emotions he couldn’t quite name. The man seemed familiar somehow, yet no clear memories surfaced.
Something about Pedro’s posture and confident demeanor suggested he was someone of significant standing, someone who could rival Ethan on every level. However, Ethan didn’t feel the hostility he might have expected. Instead, a strange, overwhelming emotion coursed through him–an emotion he couldn’t explain.
Did he know this man? And why did his presence feel so unsettling?
Ethan sat in his car, his eyes fixed on the man standing beside Lily. A strong urge to step out and confront him welled up inside him, but he hesitated. If he revealed himself now, their relationship might come to light. What if there were paparazzi lurking in the shadows? Lily had made it clear she wasn’t ready for their relationship to be public.
Although her heartfelt confession of love earlier had filled Ethan with joy and reassurance, he couldn’t deny
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Chapter 178
+8 Pearls
Pedro, on the other hand, struggled to keep his emotions in check as he glanced toward Ethan’s car. Turning to look at Lily, he noticed the radiant smile on her face. It wasn’t just any smile–it was one filled with love, a light in her eyes that he had never seen before. Even though Ethan remained out of sight, her entire demeanor lit up with the thought of him.
Mia’s voice interrupted the moment. “Lily, he’s here. We should go,” she reminded gently.
Lily nodded and turned to Pedro. “If I were in your position,” she said with a kind but firm tone, “I would do whatever it took to protect the person I love, no matter the cost. But now, I really have to leave. Goodbye, Pedro. I truly hope you find all the happiness you deserve.”
Pedro managed a faint smile and nodded. He stood motionless as he watched her walk away, step by step, until she reached Ethan’s car and got inside. His gaze followed the vehicle as it drove off into the night, long after it had disappeared from view.
Mia glanced back at him briefly before heading to her own car and leaving as well. Alone under the pale light of the moon, Pedro remained rooted to the spot, his thoughts swirling. A hollow laugh escaped his lips, a sound laden with sorrow and unspoken grief.
Tonight had not gone as he had planned. He had come with the intent to take Lily away, determined to separate her from Ethan, even if it meant earning her hatred. His mind had been made up–he was ready to fight for her, regardless of the cost.
But then he saw her smile. That one moment of pure happiness, the way she laughed so freely, and the calm joy he felt simply being near her made him stop. It was as if that single, fleeting moment had washed away all the dark thoughts in his mind.
He realized he couldn’t destroy her happiness, even if it meant sacrificing his own. She saw him as a good man, and for her, that’s the image he wanted to maintain.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, Pedro turned and walked toward his car, each step feeling heavier than the last. As he drove away into the quiet night, his heart carried the weight of unspoken love and a sorrowful acceptance of what could never be.
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