Recalling her recent call, she turned on her heel and exited the room.

Ultimately, she found herself the subject of ridicule.

The past sweet moments now felt as fleeting as a popped bubble, leaving her heart heavy, her breath shallow with anguish.

As Lilah retreated in a daze, Bexley's lips curled into a smug smile; she was relishing her apparent victory.

Surely, Lilah would not remain with Gerard now.

As Lilah stepped into the elevator, Bexley's smirk grew even wider.

She then retraced her steps back to the room.

Upon entering, she found Gerard stirring from his slumber, massaging his temples, causing her to freeze in her tracks.

Gerard's head throbbed at the sound of the door, his gaze meeting Bexley's figure draped in a loose bathrobe, her fair skin peeking through, tethered only by slender straps at the waist.

He scowled, fixing her with a piercing glare. “What are you doing here?"

"Mr. Harris, you called me to come take care of you, remember?"

Bexley explained hastily, caught off guard by Gerard's abrupt awakening.

“Wrong call. Grab your stuff and get out!" Gerard's voice carried a steely resolve.

Bexley trembled, her complexion paling with fear, and then whimpered, “Mr. Harris..."

“Don't you understand?" He shot her a frigid glare.

He vividly remembered contacting Lilah, not Bexley. How could this have happened?

Bexley dared not utter another word, hastily retrieving her belongings and exiting.

Only after the door clicked shut did Gerard exhale a sigh of relief, sinking back onto the bed with a throbbing headache.

A sudden recollection jolted him, prompting him to reach for his phone to contact Lilah, only to find it switched off.

Furrowing his brow, he powered it on and dialed her number.

“Lilah, are you asleep?"

"Nearly." Her tone was calm yet distant.

She found herself bewildered, uncertain of her next move.

She desired to trust him, yet what she had witnessed had shaken her to the core.

Gerard's admission pierced the tense silence. "I may have had a bit too much to drink tonight and called you, but somehow, Bexley appeared instead."

"And then?" Lilah prodded, her tone betraying her inner turmoil.

Gerard felt a knot of nervous tension tightening within him as he sensed Lilah's distant demeanor. "I awoke to find her here and promptly sent her away. Do you believe me, Lilah?"

An oppressive silence enveloped the conversation, leaving Gerard's grip on the phone white-knuckled as he contemplated the ramifications of Lilah's disbelief. A surge of frustration threatened to consume him, urging him to tear apart the world around him.

After a prolonged pause, Lilah's voice broke through the tension.

"Gerard, I trust you."

Instantly, Gerard felt a wave of relief wash over him, his heart melting toward her.

"Lilah, you're the only one who occupies my heart. I desire to spend my life with you, and I wouldn't give another woman a second glance."

His tender and earnest affirmation anchored Lilah, filling her heart with warmth. She placed her trust in Gerard's integrity and swiftly recognized Bexley's hand in orchestrating the day's events.

Engaging in conflict would only serve to play into Bexley's hands.

“Don't worry, I believe you."

“Very well, I'll return home," Gerard said, rising from the bed.

“You've been drinking; you can't drive. I'll come pick you up."

“Weren't you about to sleep?"

With a smile gracing her lips, Lilah swiftly began to turn her car around. "Can't I get up after lying down? Wait for me there; I won't be long."