Husband With Benefits-Chapter 850: Interruption

"I swear, Lily, the moment I figured it out, I planned to come back to you after handling things. I wanted to tell you everything, to make it right."

Before Cai could explain everything, however, they were interrupted by someone as the door opened. Both of them turned toward the interruption, and Lily’s mother, Mrs. Kingston, stepped hesitantly into the room. Her eyes flickered between them, and anyone could see that she was surprised.. For a moment, no one spoke. Then, with a nervous clearing of her throat, she said, "I’m sorry for the interruption. I’ll..." Her voice faltered as her gaze lingered on Lily, then shifted to Cai, softening with an expression that was equal parts guilt and hesitation. She swallowed hard, as though weighing her next words, and finally finished, "I’ll wait in the other room."

However, before she could close the door, Cai stopped her, "Mrs Kingston, please wait a minute."

"What is it?" Mrs. Kingston asked cautiously, staring at the two of them even as her hand tightened on the knob. All these days, Lily had been ignoring any talks between them but she knew it would only be a matter of time when she would have to talk. It seemed like now was that moment.

"I’d like to talk about the recent incident." Cai began...

Her eyes darted toward Lily, then back to Cai, as though searching for an escape route. But after a moment’s hesitation, she drew in a sharp breath and said quickly, "I... I owe you an apology, Cai. For everything that happened."

Her words fell like a stone in the room, heavy and unexpected. Cai blinked, caught off guard by her sudden apology, and tried to respond, but Lily cut him off before he could say a word.

"Wait—what?" Lily’s voice rang out, sharp and incredulous at her mother’s apology. How could she? It took her a moment but it seemed that she was extremely angry at everyone. Cai had barely escaped her wrath and now it was her mother’s turn.

.She pushed herself off the bed, her arms dropping to her sides as all the repressed emotions burst forward. "You’re apologizing to him? Him?" Her voice rose with each word, crackling with the anger she had clearly been holding back all this time.

"Lily, please," Mrs. Kingston began, but her daughter was already surging forward, her expression a mix of outrage and hurt.

"No!" Lily snapped, glaring at her mother. "He doesn’t deserve your apology—" She threw a glance in his direction before continuing, "not before I do!" She pointed to herself, her voice trembling with the intensity of her emotions. "You used me to create that mess. You coopertated in an entire conspiracy to hurt me and then to hurt him! And now, you’re here, apologizing to him? What am I? Air?"

Mrs. Kingston looked stricken, her mouth opening and closing as though searching for the right words.

"You don’t think I deserve an apology?" Lily continued, her voice cracking as tears welled in her eyes. "After everything you put me through, everything I suffered because of you—" She broke off, shaking her head bitterly. "Of course. Of course, it’s easier to apologize to someone who’s not your daughter, isn’t it?"

Cai stepped forward, his hands raised in a placating gesture as he tried to hold her. "Lily, please. Let’s talk about this—"

But Lily shook his off and marched to the other side of the room, not wanting to hear any more explanations! She didn’t want to understand anything anymore!

Mrs. Kingston, clearly shaken, finally broke the silence that permeated the air. And her words, ended up shocking Lily. "You’re right, Lily," she said softly, her voice trembling. "You’re absolutely right. I owe you an apology—a thousand apologies. I just... I don’t know how to make things right, where to begin with you."

With that, the older woman closed the door and went away, leaving only Cai and Lily.

Cai stood still for a moment, beforE approaching her cautiously,as if afraid she might push him away. Her shoulders were shaking with silent sobs, her arms wrapped around herself like a fragile shield. He hesitated for a moment, then gently placed his hands on her shoulders.

"Lily," he murmured softly, his voice carrying a mix of concern and tenderness.

To his surprise, she turned suddenly and threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest. The dam had broken, and she cried freely now, her tears soaking into his shirt. Cai instinctively wrapped his arms around her, his hand coming up to pat her back in soothing circles.

"It’s okay," he whispered, his voice steady even as his heart ached for her. "It’s okay. Let it out."

They stood there for a long moment, her quiet sobs the only sound in the room. When her breathing began to steady, Cai pulled back slightly, enough to look down at her tear-streaked face.

"I think she’s truly sorry, Lily," he said gently, his tone careful but firm.

Lily’s head snapped up, her eyes narrowing as if his words were a betrayal. "You’re defending her now?" she asked, her voice sharp despite the tears. "After everything she’s done, you’re on her side?"

"No," Cai said firmly, cupping her face with both hands. His thumbs brushed away her tears as he held her gaze. "The only person whose side I am on is you."

She blinked at him, her anger momentarily replaced by confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Cai sighed, his expression softening. "Your mother helped expose Professor Ellis White, the person behind everything."

"What? That doesn’t make any sense." She looked at him and shook her head, the disbelief in her voice evident, "Are you mistaken? She is the one who made me say those words and gave them the ammunition for everything. She is responsible for keeping me away from coming forward to clarify things. How can she have helped with that?"

Cai sighed and nodded," Yes, she did all that. But, she also helped when she realized what she’d done. I had my suspicions about Professor White, "but I didn’t have any concrete evidence to tie him to what he did to us. Your mother... she questioned the man who recorded you and contacted her, the one who set everything up. She trapped him into a confession, Lily. That led me to White and gave me the evidence I needed to bring him down."

Lily stared at him, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to process his words. "She... she did that?"

"She did," Cai confirmed, his voice calm but insistent. "And if you really want the whole story, Lily, you might want to talk to her. I think she’s been waiting for the chance to tell you everything."

"I don’t know if I can," she admitted quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You can," Cai said, his tone filled with quiet certainty. "And when you’re ready, I’ll be here."