Chapter 167

The door clicked softly behind her, leaving the room quiet except for the faint beeping of the monitor and Lily’s slow breathing. David exhaled heavily and ran a hand through his hair. The tension in the room seemed to thicken even more now that they were alone. He looked at Lily. She was staring out the window, her face unreadable. “Why does she hate me so much?” he finally muttered, half to himself. Lily didn’t answer. “She barely knows me,” he continued, his voice low and tired now. “She looks at me like I’m some kind of villain.” Lily turned her head slowly, her eyes meeting his for the first time since Noah left. “You really don’t know, do you?” she asked quietly. David frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “You hurt me,” she said, her tone calm but heavy. “You didn’t need to lay a hand on Noah to make her hate you" Her voice cracked slightly. “So, no. She doesn’t have to know you personally to hate you.” David’s jaw tightened. He wanted to defend himself, to say she was exagge