He gave a very understated account of the situation. She, however, had triumphed brilliantly. He had nearly been killed, and his bodyguards were so severely battered they could not stand. This explained his reluctance to provoke or confront Lily. He couldn't, of course, discuss his embarrassing experience, but his mother's comments yesterday had helped him overcome his pride.

If she were connected to the Lodge family of Brown City, everything would make sense. Her kickboxing skills and easy transition to Rebirth after leaving MN Inc. would be unsurprising. The Lodge family would likely be her backers, using their connections to facilitate her entry.

Melanie was unaware of his thoughts, let alone Lily's relationship with the Lodge family. She was still grappling with Lily's kickboxing skills. Beyond shock, she felt angry and jealous. Lily was not only a skilled perfumer but also a highly skilled kickboxer.

How could Lily disregard Frank's status and assault him at will, while Melanie had to fear him? Frank had forced Melanie to comply to the point of nearly causing a miscarriage. Why could Lily do as she pleased? The world seemed so unfair.

"I knew Lily wasn't that simple! She may appear a pure and innocent flower, silently sacrificing herself for others, but who knows what secrets she holds? How can a woman be so skilled in kickboxing? It's practically sorcery!"

Melanie continued, convinced of her own assessment: "Now that I think about it, it's fortunate you left her, Nate. Otherwise, who knows how else she might have deceived you!"

He had agreed with Melanie's assessment in the past. However, knowing about Lily's connection to the Lodge family, he saw her sacrifices and tolerance in a new light. Lily could join any major company leveraging the Lodge family's influence. She didn't need his small startup; she didn't need to accompany him in building a business. He knew her capabilities well. Had it not been for his and Melanie's machinations, she wouldn't have been ridiculed and subjected to such frustration and depression. Looking back, Nathaniel realized his profound error. When Melanie accused him of being cheated on, he couldn't help but laugh. He looked at her and asked, "Tell me, what did she lie about?"

"She lied to you"

"Did she steal my money or betray my affections?"

"Nate" Melanie couldn't answer. She hadn't expected Nathaniel to disagree, let alone question her. This caught her off guard. "You've been by my side a long time, Mel. You should know best. When Lily and I started dating, I didn't have this company. MN Inc. wouldn't exist without her perfumes and formulas. The houses and cars came after. Tell me, what did she lie about?"

Melanie was speechless. How could he be so clear-headed?

"What do you mean? Are you saying she was good to you, and I'm the liar?" Unable to refute him, she began to cry. "I know you hate me now. You ignore everything I say; everything I do is wrong. Lily was kind to you and sacrificed a lot. You've seen her good qualities and regret letting her go. You want to go back to her, right? Fine! I'll grant your wish. Go to her! You've been hospitalized for days. Has she visited? Called? She blocked you, didn't she?"

"That's because I hurt her," he sighed.