The Billionaire's Temptation: Love, Family and Revenge-Chapter 47: Jane’s Plot

He wasn’t the only one who noticed. Kelvin’s posture had shifted too. He was standing a little too still, his jaw slightly clenched, as if he was holding something back.

Ford’s eyes flickered between them, suspicion creeping in. Something was definitely going on between them. The tension in the room had changed. It was subtle, but it was there.

Lily was avoiding his gaze, and Kelvin looked almost nervous. Ford couldn’t put his finger on it, but he could feel it.

As she stood there, forcing a smile, she spoke lightly, "Oh, don’t mind me. I’ll leave you two to continue your conversation." Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked out of the room, her steps quick but graceful, as if she was eager to be anywhere else.

"I’ll be back, just give me a few minutes," she added over her shoulder before disappearing down the hallway.

Inside the room, Ford unzipped a bag and pulled out a fresh set of clothes. As he began unbuttoning his shirt, preparing to change, Kelvin suddenly spoke up.

"I’ll be back. Give me a minute," Kelvin said, his tone casual but hurried.

Ford paused, his hands still on his shirt. He glanced at Kelvin with mild curiosity. "Where are you going?" he asked, his brows slightly raised.

Kelvin forced a faint smile, but there was a flicker of unease in his eyes. "Somewhere. Don’t worry, I won’t take long," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady.

Ford wasn’t convinced. As Kelvin reached for the door, he spoke again, this time with a teasing edge to his voice. "You seem to be in a hurry. And lately, it looks like you and Lily are getting along much better than before," he remarked, smiling as he pulled his shirt over his head.

Kelvin stiffened but kept his face neutral. He responded quickly, avoiding Ford’s gaze. "You’re funny. We were always on good terms." His voice was calm, but his body language betrayed his discomfort.

Not wanting to be questioned further, Kelvin turned on his heels and exited the room before Ford could probe any deeper. As he walked away, he knew that no matter how hard he tried to avoid suspicion, the truth would eventually come to light.

Meanwhile, Lily walked away from her brother’s room without looking back. Her pace was quick, almost frantic, as if she was running from someone. The deeper she went into the quiet halls of the hospital the heavier her chest felt.

By the time she reached a deserted corridor, the emotions she had been holding in became too much to bear. She stopped abruptly, glancing around to ensure she was alone. Once she was sure no one was watching, her legs gave out beneath her, and she sank to the floor.

The tears she had fought so hard to contain finally broke free.

At first, they were just silent drops, rolling down her cheeks one by one. She sniffled, wiping at them quickly, but they wouldn’t stop.

Then, as all the emotions she had bottled up for so long came crashing down, the quiet tears turned into uncontrollable sobs. Her shoulders trembled as she buried her face in her hands, overwhelmed by the weight of everything she had been keeping inside.

Lily felt uneasy every time she was around her brother. Fear gripped her, making her absent-minded. It wasn’t like her to lie to Ford, but she had no choice. She knew that if he found out the truth, he would never agree. That thought alone made her feel even worse. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

She despised feeling scared and tense. It wasn’t who she was. She tried her best to calm down, wiping away her tears quickly. The last thing she wanted was to be seen crying, especially by someone who might recognize her. If word got out to Ford, it would only make things worse.

Just as she was trying to compose herself, she felt a warm, gentle hand on her shoulder. Her heart skipped a beat. She turned slowly, dreading the possibility of seeing a nurse or someone who might report back to Ford. But when she saw Elena standing there, a worried expression on her face, she felt a tiny bit of relief.

"Are you alright, Lily?" Elena asked softly, concern evident in her voice.

Lily met Elena’s gaze but didn’t know what to say. Her mind was a whirlwind of emotions. She was happy with Kelvin, yet at the same time, she was sad and terrified of Ford finding out. The conflicting feelings weighed heavily on her, making it impossible to respond.

Elena watched her carefully. Lily’s face was blank, almost expressionless, but the silent tears streaming down her cheeks spoke volumes. It was clear that she was struggling with something deep.

"I know you don’t want to talk right now, and that’s okay," Elena said gently. "But you need to stop crying. Is there anything I can do for you?" She rubbed Lily’s shoulders in an attempt to comfort her.

Lily appreciated Elena’s kindness, but she still couldn’t bring herself to speak. She had too many thoughts running through her mind. If only things were simpler. If only she didn’t have to hide. But reality was different.

Elena, seeing that Lily wasn’t ready to talk, didn’t press further. Instead, she just stayed by her side, offering silent support. Lily knew she wasn’t alone, but the weight of her fears still remained.

Hearing Elena’s gentle words of encouragement made Lily want to cry even more. It was as if someone finally understood her, even without knowing all the details. Elena felt like a sister—someone she could lean on. But who else could she really talk to? The only person she had was Ford, and she knew he wouldn’t understand.

Elena was about to say more when, suddenly, Lily hugged her. The action took Elena by surprise. She hadn’t expected Lily to be comfortable enough to seek comfort in her arms. For a moment, she hesitated, unsure of how to react. But then she felt Lily trembling slightly, her silent sobs escaping despite her efforts to hold them back.

Elena’s heart melted. She wondered what was truly bothering Lily—what was hurting her so deeply that she couldn’t even put it into words. Without thinking, Elena raised her hand and gently patted Lily’s back in a soothing motion.

"Lily, it’s going to be okay," Elena said softly. "You need to stop crying, alright?" Her voice was calm, yet filled with concern, as she tried to comfort her.

As they remained in the embrace, Elena suddenly noticed movement in the distance. She lifted her head slightly and saw Kelvin walking toward them. But the moment he saw them together, he stopped in his tracks.

Kelvin didn’t say anything, but Elena could see something shift in his expression. His eyes held a mixture of emotions—pain, sadness, maybe even guilt. Was he hurting because Lily was crying? Elena couldn’t quite understand, but she could tell that it affected him deeply.

She was about to step away from Lily when Kelvin subtly shook his head and gave her a small, appreciative nod, silently asking her to continue comforting Lily. His quiet gratitude spoke volumes.

Understanding the unspoken request, Elena bowed her head slightly in acknowledgment. After a few more moments of watching them, Kelvin turned and walked away, giving them privacy.

Lily remained in Elena’s embrace for a while longer, finding warmth and reassurance in the hug. When she finally pulled away, she wiped at her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.

"I’m sorry if I surprised you," Lily said softly, her voice still slightly shaky. "And... thank you. I really needed a hug."

Elena gave her a reassuring smile. "You don’t have to apologize. Sometimes, a hug is all we need."

Lily nodded, feeling a little lighter than before. She wasn’t sure how long she could keep everything bottled up inside, but for now, at least, she had a moment of comfort. And for that, she was grateful.

"It’s alright. I’m happy I could help," Elena said warmly. She wanted to tell Lily that Kelvin had been there, watching over her, but she hesitated. The way he had quietly left made it clear that he didn’t want Lily to know he had seen her in that vulnerable state.

Before either of them could say anything else, the driver approached in a hurry.

"Miss Elena, Miss Lily, we are about to leave. Sir Ford has been asking for both of you," he informed them, slightly out of breath.

"Really? Let’s go then," Elena replied with a reassuring smile before glancing at Lily.

Lily, feeling a little better, took Elena’s hand in hers, returning the smile. The two of them walked out together, their steps light but unhurried.

As they neared the entrance, Elena suddenly remembered something—she really needed to use the restroom. She hesitated for a second before deciding she couldn’t hold it any longer.

"Wait a moment," she said, stopping in her tracks. "I really need to ease myself. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Tell Mr. Ford to wait a little, alright?"

Lily nodded. "Should I escort you?" she asked, smiling playfully. She was already growing fond of Elena’s presence.

Elena let out a small laugh. "You’re funny, Lily. Don’t bother yourself. I’ll be out before you know it," she said, waving as she walked off.

When she reached the restroom, she pushed the door open and knocked lightly, just in case someone was inside. After confirming it was empty, she stepped in, letting the door close behind her.

Once she had finished, she moved toward the sink, washing her hands thoroughly. As she dried them, she glanced up at the mirror.

For a moment, she simply stared at her reflection. There was something peaceful about the moment—seeing herself, away from the worries and conversations of the outside world. A small smile formed on her lips as she took in her own expression.

Despite everything that had happened today, despite the emotions running high, she felt content. Maybe, just maybe, things were going to be alright.

Remembering how Lily had hugged her filled Elena with happiness. It had been a long time since she had a real friend, someone who made her feel comfortable and cared for.

Still smiling at the thought, she adjusted her hair, smoothing it down before fixing her clothes. Just as she was about to leave, the door to the restroom suddenly pushed open.

At first, Elena didn’t bother looking. She assumed it was just another woman coming in. But when she finally glanced up, her eyes met with a familiar and unwelcome face—Jane, her stepsister.