The Genius Ex-Wife’s Revenge Portfolio novel Chapter 308

Lilly heard the man swearing and glanced over at Jace.

Under the faint glow of the streetlights, his face looked even sharper, cool and distant. Up close, she noticed a trace of boyishness beneath the maturity he usually wore. He acted older than his age, but they were both just freshmen, barely adults.

Jace kept his face blank, silent as ever.

Lilly opened her mouth to say something, but before a word came out, he let go of her shoulders. “You forgot your stuff,” he said, his tone indifferent.

He was holding the gifts she brought.

She shook her head. “It’s okay. Those are for your mom, to help her feel better. And… thanks for saving me.”

Jace didn’t reply. He just picked up the gifts and strode off.

Lilly hurried after him, quickly catching up. He led her out of the damp alley onto the busy main street. Without a word, he waved down a taxi, opened the back door, and put her gifts inside. Then he turned to her. “Go home. Don’t come back here. I got your thank you.”

Something warm and soft tugged at Lilly’s heart. For all his icy looks, there was something fiercely protective about him.

He’d pretended she was his girlfriend to get her out of trouble. Now he was making sure she got home safe. It was the kind of thing a boy did for a girl he wanted to protect.

Didn’t he think she was ugly?

Lucas never cared about her safety. He always said she was too plain to attract trouble.

Lilly slipped into the car. “Bye, Jace.”

He didn’t look back as he walked away.

She leaned against the window, watching as his tall, cool figure turned a corner and vanished into the shadows of the alley.

“Dad, if Lucas doesn’t like me, there’s no point forcing it. I don’t like him anymore either. I already gave back their family bracelet. The engagement is off. We’re done.”

Mr. Lynch didn’t agree or disagree. “Allie, we’ll talk about this when I get home.”

After they hung up, Lilly decided not to go back to the dorm. She went to her bedroom and sank into a milk and rose petal bath, letting the warmth soak away her worries.

But her thoughts drifted back to Jace. She heard his dad died when he was in middle school, his mom lost her sight, and his little sister was still a kid. Did he really take on all that responsibility so young, carrying his family on his own?

Compared to that, her birthmark didn’t seem like such a big deal.

So many girls liked him. What kind of girl did he like?

She remembered the way he looked at Victoria. The way he smiled at his sister was so gentle, so full of love.