The Broken-hearted She And The Icy He (Lily and John) novel Chapter 404

Chapter 404 Ashes and Goodbyes

Chapter 404 Ashes and Goodbyes.

Charles had originally planned to watch Mathilda burn.

But when the rest of the Ginger family woke up and began screaming hysterically, he remembered how skilled the men in that family were. He still had to deal with Susie and couldn’t afford to be caught yet. 56. after setting fire to Mathilda’s bedsheets, he left quickly.

He hoped that by the time they rushed in, Mathilda would already be dead–or at least crippled.

The one who had screamed was Luna.

At the time, Mathilda had been fast asleep. Luna, who couldn’t sleep, had stepped outside the bedroom for some air and caught sight of flames erupting from her daughter’s room.

Panicked, she rushed in and tried to wake Mathilda.

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But a large framed crystal portrait on the wall came crashing down. In her panic to avoid being crushed, Mathilda shoved Luna away.

The blazing hot frame slammed down on Luna.

The floor was already covered with burning sheets, pillows, and other flammable items. She collapsed to the ground, completely unprotected, and was badly burned–so badly she passed out from the pain.

The men of the Ginger family arrived just in time to pull her out and save her life.

Still, the burns were severe enough to make her wish they hadn’t.

The Ginger family incident wasn’t reported by the media, so Lily had no idea Luna had suffered critical burns and been taken to intensive care.

She only knew that Charles and Sharon’s lives had been filled with pain and tragedy.

They had supported each other, encouraging one another all the way into the country’s top university— Imperial University.

They should’ve had a bright future. They should’ve lived happily ever after.

But because of Susie’s selfishness, because of Mathilda’s cruel malice, the light was stolen from their lives forever.

Lily knew that for Charles, staying alive was more painful–more hopeless–than dying.

After avenging Sharon, taking his own life was a kind of release.

Still, when she saw the photos online–of Charles sitting motionless beneath the phoenix tree, cradling Sharon’s ashes–it made her heart ache so deeply she couldn’t breathe.

“Lily…”

James came out of the kitchen holding two plates of food, only to find her like that–still in her hospital gown, pale as a ghost, clutching her phone as fat tears rolled down her cheeks.

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Chapter 404 Ashes and Goodbyes

At first, she cried silently, holding it in.

But the grief swelling in her chest eventually broke her down. She couldn’t hold it in anymore. She to sob, quietly at first, then with a pain so raw it filled the room.

“What’s wrong?”

Seeing her cry like that felt like a knife twisting in James’s chest.

He quickly set the plates down and stepped forward, gently wrapping her in his arms.

“Charles is dead…”

Lily knew she shouldn’t seek comfort in James’s embrace anymore.

But the image of Charles holding Sharon’s ashes, lifeless and still, was too much for her. She couldn’t bear it. She threw herself into James’s arms and let her tears fall freely.

James froze for a second.

Earlier today, Ashton had reported that Susie had been brutally killed. He hadn’t known Charles was dead

too.

From what Ashton said, it was Charles who had killed Susie. James had felt regret–for Charles.

Because killing someone meant paying with your own life. Even if Susie deserved it, Charles had broken the law and would’ve faced punishment.

Still, James understood him.

If he were Charles, he would’ve done the same.

He didn’t want Lily to stay stuck in her grief. Gently patting her back, he spoke in a soft, reassuring voice.

“Lily, don’t cry. From what I’ve heard, these past six years, Charles may have built a successful business, but he never lived well. He worked so hard, made so much money, rose so high–just to gain the power to find Sharon sooner. We may feel sorry he’s gone, but maybe for him, this was closure. He finally gets to be with Sharon.”

He paused.

James had never believed in ghosts or souls before. But after meeting Lily, he wanted to believe. He hoped souls were real. He hoped there was a/next life.

“Maybe… maybe they’ve already reunited in the afterlife. This life was too cruel for them. But in the next, they’ll find happiness. They’ll grow old together.”

“Yes. They will reunite.” Hoping Charles and Sharon wouldn’t have to suffer any longer, Lily wanted to believe in souls, in fate–that loyers torn apart in life would find their way back to each other.

But she was torn.

She told herself souls existed. That love would find a way. But deep down, she also feared that death was simply… the end.

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Chapter 404 Ashes and Goodbyes

She still couldn’t stop grieving for Charles and Sharon.

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James felt the growing dampness on his chest and his heart ached for her. Clumsily, he tried to steer the conversation away.

“Lily, something happened to the Ginger family last night.”

Sure enough, those words made her lift her tear–streaked face. Her crying paused.

Seeing her waiting for more, James continued quickly.

“Late last night, Mathilda’s room caught fire. I think Charles set it.”

“But unfortunately, Mathilda only suffered a few minor burns.”

“Luna, though… she was burned badly. That giant crystal portrait in Mathilda’s room fell and crushed her. She landed in the middle of the fire. Her skin was scorched. She has third–degree burns. Her face is

unrecognizable. There’s barely any unburned skin left. She hasn’t even woken up yet.”

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