Lily's condition was truly a mess. Her gaze was empty, and she couldn't hold back her tears. The bitter reality she never expected had come crashing into her life. She had done everything—she even got married and sacrificed her own happiness just for the sake of her father's recovery. But it turned out that God had other plans. Roger, who had been under treatment for nearly a year, took his last breath on the very day of Lily's wedding.
Just a day before, Roger had still called Lily, reassuring her to stay calm and relaxed about the wedding.
Lily kept staring blankly at her father's coffin, which had just arrived at her house—her own home. Her hand slowly reached out to touch the coffin, and once again, her sobs broke free.
"Papa, was the pain too much for you that you chose to leave? Were you already missing Mama? Why did you leave me to fight alone in this cruel world, Pa?"
Eliza, Lily's colleague who had also come to the funeral, gently rubbed Lily's shoulder.
"Stay strong, Ly. Maybe God loves your dad more. God knew he was in too much pain fighting his illness. Let him go, even though I know it's not easy."
Lily didn't answer. She hugged her father's coffin as tightly as she could before it was taken away forever. Her chest felt unbearably tight. She never expected to be hit by one cruel reality after another.
"Papa, don't leave me. I'm not a strong woman who doesn't need anyone to lean on. I don't know what my life will be like from now on. Please, wake up for me, Pa."
No one could hold back their tears as Lily poured out the pain she had been suppressing for so long. Even Alger, who had just married her yesterday, felt his eyes misting up as he listened to her heartbreaking cries.
If they weren't in public, and if Eliza hadn't been holding Lily, perhaps Alger would have comforted his wife himself.
Despite the overwhelming sorrow, the funeral proceeded smoothly. At first, Lily refused to let them bury her father, believing it was all just a cruel joke. But in the end, she let go when Helena pulled her into a warm embrace and assured her that everything would be alright.
Perhaps it truly hurt that much. Helena understood it well—especially since she had lost two of the most important people in her life forever.
Rain poured down on the cemetery, prompting everyone to head home—everyone except Lily. She remained seated beside the grave, gently stroking the mound of soil before her.
"Pa, I won't let you stay here in the rain alone. I miss you, Pa. I want to keep you company."
From a distance, Helena watched Lily, then turned to Alger and handed him an umbrella.
"Put your ego aside, Al. She needs someone to lean on right now. Please, don't make her suffer even more."
"I'll be heading home first," Daniel said as he opened the car door for Helena.
The rain was relentless, but Lily paid no mind to her drenched body. Seeing this, Alger shook his head and walked toward her, holding a black umbrella over her.
Lily lifted her head when she no longer felt raindrops falling on her. The moment she realized it was Alger shielding her, she averted her gaze back to the grave.
"Why did you come back here?"
"How long are you going to stay here? It's pouring, and you'll get sick if you stay out in the rain too long."
Lily scoffed and stood up, her expression cold as she faced her husband.
"Why? Are you afraid I'll miss work if I get sick? Worried my unfinished tasks will pile up and trouble you? You know, you're selfish and completely heartless, Mr. Alger."
Alger took her hand, shaking his head. "That's not what I meant. I'm worried about your health, not just work."
"Tch. Hypocrite. Stop pretending to care about my life. Have you not had enough watching me suffer? Or is this pain still not enough for you, so you keep me trapped in your little game, huh? If you're so concerned about my work tomorrow, don't worry—I won't skip. Satisfied?"
"Lower your stubbornness, Ly. It's raining heavily now. Let's go home. Let go of everything. This is fate."
Lily let out a bitter laugh, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
"Let go? Fate? You have never been in my shoes, Mr. Alger. Do you even know how it feels to lose the two people you love the most? Do you know what it's like to suffer through life while pretending to be okay? Do you understand that everything I did was for my father's recovery? You know nothing. So stop telling me to accept 'fate' when all you understand is hatred and resentment."
Alger, whose patience was as thin as tissue, abruptly grabbed Lily's wrist.
"If kindness won't work, then I'll force you to come home, Ly."
"I'm not going home! If you want to leave, then go by yourself! I'm staying here, Mr. Alger!"
Alger completely ignored the protests, dragging Lily by the wrist as she struggled, refusing to go home with him.
Then, suddenly, Lily collapsed again.
"Lily!" Alger shouted.
He immediately threw his umbrella aside and carried Lily into his car. Fortunately, the car wasn't far from where she had fainted, allowing Alger to quickly get her inside and leave the cemetery.
The atmosphere inside the car was silent—no words, only the faint sound of raindrops tapping against the windows.
Alger glanced at Lily and removed his suit jacket. He carefully draped it over her, as her soaked clothes clung tightly to her body, revealing not only her figure but even the undergarments beneath. Alger wasn't the type of man to take advantage of a situation, but he also couldn't bear to see her like that. Besides, he had no idea where their marriage was even headed.
"When you're like this, you make me feel terrible, Ly. But why were you so cruel before?" he murmured softly.
With that, he started the engine and drove off, heading straight to his apartment to call a doctor.
Lily's condition was a mess—she remained unconscious for half an hour, making Alger panic, even though the doctor assured him that it was just emotional stress and that she would be fine.
The moment Lily stirred, Alger instinctively leaned back, putting distance between them. He sat on the couch, casually scrolling through his phone, looking indifferent.
Lily blinked as her vision adjusted to the light.
"Papa," she whispered. "So this isn't a dream."
"Eat, then take your medicine. You have a fever," Alger's voice cut through the silence.
Hearing him, Lily abruptly sat up, narrowing her eyes at him.
"What are you doing in my house, sir?"
Alger smirked and gestured toward the room's decor. "Take a look around before making assumptions. Is this my room or yours?"
Lily scanned her surroundings, realizing that the luxurious space was far too extravagant to be hers. Then, her eyes widened in shock—she was now dressed in Alger's sleepwear.
"You—don't tell me you were being a pervert! What did you do to me?!" she accused, her breath quickening as she clutched the blanket tightly to her chest.
Alger raised an eyebrow, his smirk deepening. "Whatever I did, wouldn't it be fine? We are legally married, after all."
"So, you did that while I was unconscious?" Lily asked innocently.
"If I could do it while you were awake, why would I wait until you passed out? Do you think playing with an opponent who doesn't move is fun?"
Lily reflexively threw a pillow at the man who was legally her husband. "Shut up, sir."
Alger shook his head as he stood up. "Don't be spoiled. I don't want my work to be delayed even more just because I have to take care of you."
Lily just stayed silent, mimicking Alger's words with her lips. Without realizing it, Alger smirked slightly—so slightly that Lily didn't even notice.
As soon as the door closed from the outside, Lily exhaled sharply, staring at the bowl of hot soup on the table.
"So, he does have a heart after all," she muttered.
Meanwhile, outside, James and Park Yang, Lily's uncle, were already waiting in the living room. It seemed Alger had intentionally not told Lily that her uncle was coming—he didn't want to see her fall apart again.
"Mr. Alger? You're Lily's husband, right?" Park Yang asked, bowing his head slightly.
Alger remained silent and sat down in his chair.
"What do you need?"
Park Yang took out a phone from his pocket and handed it to Alger. "Please give this to Lily. Is she okay? Is she really in bad shape?" he asked, glancing toward the upstairs area where Alger had just come from.
"A little, but she's fine now," Alger answered briefly. "This phone?"
"It belonged to my brother, Lily's father. He told me to give it to her if anything happened to him."
"I'll pass it on later."
Alger's gaze shifted to James. "Buy some women's clothes and send them to this apartment—Lily's size."
"What's Lily's size?" James asked, confused.
A second later, he nodded and stood up when Alger gave him an irritated look.
"Okay, I'll find clothes suitable for a professional secretary. Excuse me then, Mr. Yang, I'll take my leave."
"Not just work clothes—buy casual clothes as well. I'll transfer the money later."
"Understood, sir."
James held back his smile. It seemed like Alger was truly planting the seeds of love for his ex, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, only to marry her the moment they reunited.
"Why are you grinning like that? Are you crazy?"
James immediately wiped the smile off his face and looked at Alger in annoyance.
"Good thing you're my boss, or I'd have something to say."
Park Yang chuckled softly. Behind Alger's serious demeanor and expressionless face, he was capable of throwing out casual remarks that could actually make people laugh.
"I hope he is the right person for Lily," James thought to himself.