The Red Rose of Manhattan Chapter 4

When Lily woke up, she was in the hospital.

A nurse was adjusting her IV, and seeing her awake, said: "Miss Sterling, you're finally up? Your injuries are serious. You need to stay for observation. We also need to contact your family to cover the medical bills..."

Lily stared blankly at the ceiling, showing no response.

The nurse repeated: "Miss Sterling..."

"I already paid the medical bills."

A deep, painfully familiar voice came from the doorway.

Lily's head snapped around to see Ethan in a black suit, standing tall and composed at the hospital room door.

The nurse, reading the room, quietly excused herself.

Ethan walked in, his eyes scanning her bandaged wounds before reaching out, as if to touch her forehead.

Lily turned her head away: "Why is Mr. Frost bothering with a stranger?"

Ethan's hand froze mid-air.

"If I don't come, who else will?"

One sentence—a knife aimed straight at her deepest wound.

Right. Who else did she have?

Her mother was dead, her father played favorites, her stepmother was fake, and that house had stopped being her home long ago.

She could only disguise herself with arrogance and rebellion, pretending she didn't need anyone, didn't care about anything.

These three years, it was Ethan who kept showing up when she needed him, making her dependent on him, making her think she'd found a safe harbor.

But now, he was the one pushing her back into the abyss.

Lily's heart ached until it went numb: "Even if no one comes, I don't need you. You said it yourself—we're done! Mr. Frost, I'm not pathetic enough to keep throwing myself at you after you've made it clear you don't want me!"

She took a deep breath, clinging to her last shred of pride with cutting words: "You didn't actually think I was serious when I said I'd fallen for you, did you? I was just saying whatever. You treated me like a bed partner, and I treated you like a vibrator. Your technique is mediocre at best! Once I'm better, I'll find younger, better options!"

Ethan watched her fierce act—eyes red despite the bravado—his brow furrowing slightly.

Just then, a nurse rushed in: "Mr. Frost, Miss Serena's tests are done. She's asking for you."

Lily immediately bristled like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "Go be with your precious princess. I don't need you here!"

Ethan looked at her silently for a few seconds before finally speaking, his tone distant: "I'm not here out of the goodness of my heart."

"You're Bella's best friend. She asked me to look after you."

Lily finally couldn't hold back a laugh.

She laughed until her whole body shook, pulling at her wounds, but the physical pain was nothing compared to what she felt inside.

"Don't worry, Mr. Frost..." She stopped laughing, lifting her tear-stained face, her eyes cold and shattered. "I'm not that delusional."

Something flickered in Ethan's eyes—too fast to catch.

This was the first time he'd seen Lily cry.

Even when he'd been rough with her in bed, she'd only get red around the eyes, stubbornly biting her lip, never letting tears fall.

Now, seeing the clear tear tracks on her face, his frown deepened, his Adam's apple bobbing as if to say something. But in the end, he said nothing, turning to follow the nurse out.

Watching his retreating figure, Lily finally collapsed against the hospital bed, letting silent tears soak her pillow.

She thought she'd cry for a long time. Strangely, the tears dried up quickly.

All that remained was a dead, cold emptiness.

Over the next few days, she was alone in the hospital, taking care of herself.

Changing bandages hurt so much she broke out in cold sweats. Food tasted like nothing.

Occasionally, she'd overhear nurses in the hallway gossiping about the VIP room next door—how lucky Miss Serena was, how attentive Mr. Frost was, personally feeding her and staying overnight. He treated her like precious porcelain.

Once, passing that room, through the crack in the door, Lily saw Ethan sitting by the bed peeling an apple while Serena leaned on his shoulder, smiling gently.

That image was like a red-hot nail driven into her eyes. The pain made everything go dark, her heart spasming with agony.

But she didn't cry.

If there was one thing Lily Sterling was good at, it was letting go.

From now on, she wouldn't shed another tear for Ethan Frost.

After being discharged, the first thing she did was apply for a visa.

She couldn't stay in this city another minute.