Everest's Guardian Hubby Watched Me Freeze My Ghost Knows Where He'll Burn novel Chapter 57

Chapter 2

“I’ll bring you something when I get back,” Julian said before ending the call.

I sank down onto the balcony chair, my gaze drifting over the sprawling cityscape glittering under the night sky. That enigmatic stranger from the chat kept replaying in my mind like a persistent fog I couldn’t seem to shake off. Just as I tried to make sense of it all, a gentle tap on my shoulder startled me.

“Aurora.”

Turning around, I found Lilac standing there, already dressed up. Her hair was perfectly styled, makeup flawless. The tomboy I’d grown up with was now wearing a sleek, figure-hugging dress, fully transformed into a glamorous version of herself. I barely recognized her. Still, I couldn’t hold back the question burning inside me.

“Lilac…”

“Are you seeing someone?” she asked abruptly.

I wanted to warn her, to say that the guy seemed suspicious, that she should be cautious. But somehow, my words must have struck a nerve. Her face hardened instantly, icy and closed off.

“Aurora, we’re best friends, right? But you can’t just live your perfect little life and then try to control mine,” she snapped, voice sharp as a blade.

“You can’t stand to see me happy, can you?” she added bitterly.

I felt a stab of guilt mixed with hurt. “I shouldn’t have taken time off work to help you with this wedding nonsense. You’re such a disappointment.”

Without another word, she grabbed her bag and stormed out.

I hurried after her. “Lilac! Wait—”

“I didn’t mean—”

But the elevator doors slid shut before I could finish.

By the time I reached the parking garage, she was already gone. I stood alone in the empty lot, completely disoriented. I didn’t even understand what I’d said wrong. All I knew was that I couldn’t lose her. Panic surged through me, and suddenly I remembered the hotel address from that chat—the place where the mysterious guy had said, *Tonight, let’s do something wild.*

A cold dread settled over me. What if she was being manipulated? What if she was cutting me out of her life for good? She was the closest person I had—closer than my parents, closer than Julian. Without thinking twice, I grabbed my keys and dashed out the door, not even bothering to put on a coat against the chilly night.

Pulling up to the hotel entrance, my eyes immediately locked onto her car. My heart hammered wildly as I reached for the door handle—

And then I froze.

There, standing right in front of the hotel, was Julian. Wearing the coat I had bought him. He was supposed to be out of state.

But there he was, pulling Lilac close, pressing his lips to hers. Right there in the open, as if no one else existed. Their kiss was deep, urgent, as if they couldn’t get enough of each other.

My chest tightened as if being crushed under an invisible weight. I couldn’t catch my breath. The two people I loved most were wrapped up in each other, oblivious to everything else. Then Lilac’s expression shifted into something smug.

“Easy,” she said with a sly smile. “I just threw a little tantrum. That’s all it takes.”

She bit down gently on his neck, her lips brushing against his throat.

“You know how much Aurora cares about me, right?”

“I bet she’s freaking out right now. Scared I’m mad. Scared I’ll stop talking to her.”

I stared, stunned, at the disdain etched across her face. The way she said my name like it meant nothing—like I was nothing.

I thought about how I’d panicked, how I’d driven here like a madwoman, terrified of losing her.

How deeply I cared.

And to her? I was just a joke. Something pathetic to mock.

My heart shattered, breaking wide open.