Chapter 8 Lily had long forgotten her past with Victor and resolved to let him go completely . Whoever he loved or married now had nothing to do with her . Hearing those words stirred nothing within her . She quietly joined in singing the birthday song . When she looked up , her eyes met Victor's . Spotting her , he frowned and whispered something to Emma , who then squeezed through the crowd toward her . Lily hugged her gently , handing over the birthday gift with a soft " Happy birthday . " Emma , who'd waited all evening for her , tried pulling her toward the cake , but Lily shook her head . " It's too crowded and noisy . I'll skip it . You go ahead - I'll wait in your room . There's something I need to discuss later . " Emma agreed , worried seeing Victor might upset her . Lily slipped away from the crowd and headed straight to Emma's third- floor room . She dozed off on the sofa after half an hour , only to jolt awake at the sound of the door opening . 11 : 4500 Chapter 8 But it wasn't Emma - Sophie stood there instead . Her expression was stormy , eyes blazing with unfriendly intensity . " Didn't you claim you'd given up ? Why keep showing up around Victor ? 1288 ( Vouchers Let me make this clear : he only has eyes for me . No amount of attention- seeking will make him like you . You'll never win against me! " Caught off guard by the confrontation , Lily took seconds to collect herself . " I'm here to give Emma her birthday gift . I'll leave shortly . " Sophie's suspicion only deepened , laced with disgust . " All these years you've shamelessly clung to Victor , using Emma as your pathetic excuse . Honestly , he's cursed with a sister who can't tell right from wrong - always siding with outsiders . " Lily could endure insults aimed at herself , but the moment Sophie targeted Emma , her eyes instantly turned cold . " Does Victor know you trash - talk his own flesh and blood like this ? " Sophie snorted coldly . " He'd forgive me anything . So what if I insult her ? Besides , you and Emma deserve each other - two shameless , disgraceful " Seven years ago , " Lily snapped back , " you abandoned him overnight and nearly destroyed him . Emma never once blamed you , even while watching her brother suffer . Now you crawl back wanting to marry him , yet trash 11:45 3 Chapter 8 her behind his back ? Tell me who's truly vile here ? " He Sophie , enraged by the retaliation , slapped her across the face . Lily struck back instantly with a stinging blow of her own . 17 288 Vouchers Clutching her burning cheek , Sophie lunged forward with tears of fury , and they tangled together in a violent struggle . Lily grabbed her hair , fighting back with every ounce of strength . Amid their heated argument , they knocked over the aromatherapy burner on the table . The flame ignited the bedsheet , then spread to the carpet , soon engulfing the room in roaring fire . Thick smoke billowed everywhere . By the time they noticed , the entire room had become an inferno . Lily struggled toward the door but Sophie shoved her straight into the flames . Scorching tongues of fire licked at her skin , the searing pain making her tremble uncontrollably . As she desperately tried to smother the flames , the bedroom door burst open with a crash . Victor charged inside , stopping barely half a meter away . Yet his gaze swept over her for only an instant . His eyes immediately locked onto Sophie instead . He sprinted toward her , crushing her in a protective embrace . Choking smoke flooded Lily's nostrils , her breathing growing fainter by 114500 apter 8 he second . kan ifting her reddened , blistered hands , she clutched at Victor's leg . 1288 ( Vouchers He merely glanced down , then callously yanked his leg free and strode Avay . Watching his silhouette vanish into the smoke , her consciousness faded s she passed out ...