But it was too late; the reporters had already blocked all the exits of the mall. Even if Lily had the power to disappear into thin air, there was no way she could escape now, let alone run. Even Zelda Bennett seemed surprised at the appearance of the reporters, turning to look at Maxwell in confusion.
"How did the reporters know we were here?"
Before Zelda could finish her sentence, she successfully hooked her arm around Maxwell’s, seizing the unexpected opportunity to let the reporters capture a "tender" moment between them during their shopping trip. Standing before Lily, Maxwell and Zelda appeared to be the perfect couple — a striking pair that exuded charm. In this situation, Lily felt more and more like the intruder trying to disrupt their relationship.
The reporters were quick to surround the three of them, their excitement bubbling over as they captured all three subjects of the current rumors in a single frame. After today, this was bound to be the headline story, both online and in print.
While Maxwell and Zelda stood there confidently, Lily remained committed to covering her face, attempting to find a way out. But a reporter was quick to voice a question that made her freeze.
"Dr. Bennett, did you come here on purpose because you knew Chairman Thornton and Miss Zelda Bennett were meeting?"
Lily slowly moved her fingers aside, revealing her sharp, beautiful eyes that stared directly at the one who asked. I would gladly wish them a long and happy life together, but why do you people insist on throwing baseless accusations at me? she thought.
Out of all of them, Maxwell seemed to be the calmest. He glanced at the reporter with a mocking smile and responded, "What are you thinking? Do reporters usually ignore the central figures and focus on someone less involved? Aren’t you more interested in what Zelda and I are doing here?"
Lily blinked, stunned.
Was he… defending her?
No, that didn’t seem right. Maxwell had never once tried to clear things up with the media. When the reporters arrived, he hadn’t said a word. But now, he had decided to speak up — was he setting her up for something worse? This man always seemed to know how to dig up others’ mistakes and exploit them. Could it be that this entire situation had been orchestrated by him from the start?
All the microphones turned toward Lily after hearing Maxwell's comment. The reporters’ eager eyes gleamed with anticipation, waiting for Maxwell to speak more. Lily looked at Maxwell, her gaze full of suspicion. What was he up to now? Someone as ruthless as him would never say anything kind. Surely, he was about to push her deeper into the storm.
With that thought, a grin formed on Lily’s lips. Before Maxwell could say another word, she decided to speak up, aiming to steer the attention away from him. "How could I ever interfere with their relationship? I’m not that capable. Their love life is none of my business. I came here to pick out a gift for my boyfriend, but I just happened to bump into Chairman Thornton and Miss Bennett." Lily’s smile grew wider. If I’m going to play this game, I’ll play it to the end, she thought. "By the way, I’d like to wish Chairman Thornton and Miss Bennett a lifetime of happiness. May they soon be blessed with a child, and if not, feel free to come see me!"
The reporters barely managed to suppress their laughter. According to Dr. Lily Bennett, the urologist, Maxwell Thornton and Zelda Bennett were indeed a couple, and it seemed they were planning to get married. However, Maxwell had never confirmed any of this!
"Mr. Thornton, is it true you and Miss Bennett are dating? When will the engagement be?"
"Have you made any wedding preparations?"
"Does Dr. Bennett’s comment mean that you and Miss Bennett are planning to tie the knot?"
Maxwell, "..."
Zelda, standing next to him, smiled and nodded modestly as the reporters pressed for more intimate details about their relationship, as if it was already set in stone. Maxwell, meanwhile, shifted his gaze back to Lily, who returned his look with an arrogant, detached expression, almost perfectly mirroring his usual aloof attitude — except hers held an air of playful defiance.
"Mr. Thornton, the reporters are waiting for your response! When’s the wedding? You really should have kids soon," Lily teased, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Maxwell’s thin lips curled into a smirk. He gently pulled his arm away from Zelda’s and, with a nonchalant shrug, replied to the reporters, "Zelda and I are just friends."
Zelda immediately froze, as though she’d just been slapped in the face. While Maxwell had never outright called her his girlfriend, he had also never dismissed her so indifferently in front of the media before. But this time, he had completely denied any relationship.
Zelda stood there motionless, her expression darkening.
Sensing the shift in the story, Lily felt a strong urge to escape, certain that Maxwell was about to turn the attention back to her. As the reporters focused on the drama unfolding between him and Zelda, Lily slowly turned, hoping to sneak away unnoticed. But just as she thought she was in the clear, Maxwell’s hand reached out, grabbing the scarf around her neck and pulling her back. In one swift move, the chairman wrapped his arms around her, holding her close.