Broken promises: When the smile fades

William “Will” Anderson's heart thrummed with anticipation as he waited for his beloved wife, from the first light of dawn to the endless night. Unbeknownst to him, the woman he steadfastly loved lay buried in a hidden, decaying grave. His heart felt stifled, constricted by an invisible force, so much so that he couldn't breathe properly. No matter how hard he searched, he couldn't find any trace of her. As dawn approached, there was still no news... Lily Thompson awoke, feeling as if she lay on a bed of ice. She found herself in a dark forest, barely able to see anything. The last thing Lily remembered was lying by the roadside, waiting for death to take her. But now, at least, she was alive. Lily tried to move, but her legs had been broken long ago. Each attempt brought searing pain to her heart. The sound of "thud, thud, thud, thud" signaled the demon's approach. As the footsteps grew nearer, Lily instinctively trembled and crawled forward, seeking refuge in a cold, dark corner. He appeared, his gaze as sharp as a sword, filled with ferocity and bloodlust. The visitor found Lily immediately. An invisible weight pressed down on her, her heart felt frozen, and all hope seemed to vanish. Xavier Chen was close, lunging ferociously at Lily and yanking her out with unrelenting force. Her body was like that of a weak lamb, manipulated at his will. "Why, why! William “Will” Anderson loves you so much, yet he doesn't care if you live or die?" Xavier's voice was filled with anger and disbelief, as if he wanted to tear Lily apart to release the resentment in his heart. Lily Thompson's heart pounded wildly as she faced the prospect of endless pain and suffering. She closed her eyes and silently prayed for her Mr. Ye to appear and wake her from this nightmare. Her cheeks burned from Xavier Chen's slap, but she acted as if she couldn't feel the pain, staring at him silently, her eyes filled with helplessness and sorrow. She knew she couldn't change anything now. After Xavier Chen had vented his anger, he suddenly fell to his knees before Lily, gripping her hands tightly, his eyes filled with desperation and plea: "Lily, you must help me. I can't live without Sarah Johnson. I can't lose her. As long as you help me, I can give you anything." Lily sighed softly, knowing Xavier had completely lost his mind. She tried to calm him, but before she could speak, Xavier descended into madness once again. He began to frantically search the room, as if looking for something to control Sarah Johnson. Lily's injuries worsened, but she remained conscious. She knew she couldn't die like this. She hadn't become Mrs. Ye yet; she hadn't waited for William “Will” Anderson to get over his anger. Xavier watched Lily's suffering, and a tidal wave of guilt and self-blame crashed over him. He was trapped in a demonic barrier of his own making, just as Lily was ensnared in a hell named William “Will” Anderson. Xavier Chen looked at Lily Thompson's painful appearance from the side, the guilt and self-blame in his heart came like a tidal wave. He went crazy in the demonic barrier of guilt and self-blame, just as Lily Thompson went crazy in a hell named William “Will” Anderson. Lily Thompson pulled the corner of her mouth with difficulty and managed a laugh. "It's useless. William 'Will' Anderson won't let Sarah Johnson come over..." The name Sarah Johnson was like a magic spell, binding both Lily and Xavier Chen. He descended into madness once again, slapping Lily hard across the face repeatedly. "Shut up! Shut up!" "I want Sarah Johnson to die! I want her to die!" "Xavier Chen, calm down," Lily said weakly. "William 'Will' Anderson likes Sarah Johnson so much, it's useless for you to be like this." Xavier stopped when he heard Lily's words, a moment of clarity flashing in his eyes. But soon, it was overwhelmed by madness and despair. Lily, beaten to the point of dizziness, lay motionless on the ground, her breathing barely perceptible. Xavier grabbed Lily's cell phone and dialed the only number saved on it. For three whole days, there was no response, like a stone sinking into the sea. Just as Lily lost all hope, a man's lazy, low voice came through the speaker. "What's wrong? Lily Thompson, you don't have to act anymore. I won't believe you again." The voice on the other end made Lily's heart sink. She had thought William 'Will' Anderson would be her last hope, but at this moment, he was so cold. "William 'Will' Anderson!" Xavier Chen yelled with bloodlust. The man on the other side seemed to hear his voice and smiled indifferently. "So it's Mr. Chen, what can I do for you?" Xavier choked Lily Thompson's neck and shouted like an evil spirit, "Lily Thompson is now in my hands. If you want her to live, use Sarah Johnson to exchange..." "Beep beep beep..." The phone was hung up before Xavier could finish his threatening words. He got up anxiously, spinning in place. As Lily watched the scene, she suddenly laughed, her laughter broken, hoarse, and piercing. "Xavier Chen, it's useless. He's long since stopped being my Mr. Ye, much less hurting Sarah Johnson for me." "You shut up!" Xavier was like a paranoid maniac replaying it over and over again, but a whole night passed, and William 'Will' Anderson didn't pay any more attention to him. "Look, this is the William 'Will' Anderson you've been pining for. He doesn't care about you at all." Xavier's voice carried a hint of mockery. He squatted down and gently stroked Lily's cheek. "Lily, why can't you just look at me? Why can't you love me like you love William 'Will' Anderson?" No matter how deranged Xavier Chen appeared in Lily Thompson's presence, by day's end, he reverted to his normal self. He confined the broken-legged Lily Thompson within the decaying walls of the building and resumed his ordinary life in the outside world. The fourth day arrived. Lily Thompson had neither eaten nor drank for four days. If she continued in this manner, she would succumb to thirst before Xavier Chen returned. Perhaps death would be a merciful release. With such bleak thoughts, Lily Thompson drifted into a deep slumber until night once again enveloped the surroundings, bringing Xavier Chen back like a haunting specter. However, this time, he refrained from delivering blows. Instead, he merely watched her... silently, profoundly. His eyes held a glimmer of pity. Lily Thompson was immobilized by the realization of her own pitiable state. How wretched must she be to evoke sympathy from a man consumed by madness? Her lips, parched and chapped, strained to form a smile. "What's the matter?" "William 'Will' Anderson and Sarah Johnson got engaged today." With those words, Xavier Chen rose and departed, leaving Lily Thompson to endure the frigid solitude of the night... She must have journeyed to the polar ice fields, wouldn't you agree? Why else would she be gripped by such an intense chill... Her body, her heart, her blood, even her very breath, all froze in unison. The coldness was so pervasive, she couldn't bear the thought of burying herself in the mud, letting the frost consume her body, mind, and soul. A longing to weep clawed at her, yet not a single tear would come. Her life slipped away, leaving her devoid of even the strength to cry out. Late into the following night, Xavier Chen returned. Once more, before her, Xavier dialed William "Will" Anderson's cell phone, only to be met with resounding silence. And so, on the sixth night, the call was finally answered. The voice on the other end was as piercingly cold as the arctic winds. "Is there anything else?" Xavier's gaze fell, weighed down by an unfathomable burden. His voice trembled as he spoke, "William "Will" Anderson, have you truly resolved not to leverage Sarah Johnson for Lily Thompson's freedom? Can you bear to stand by and watch Lily Thompson succumb to peril without lifting a finger?" William “Will” Anderson furrowed his brow slightly, a hint of impatience flickering in his eyes as he responded casually, "Xavier Chen, tell Lily Thompson to cease these childish antics. Individuals like her, even if there were a thousand of them, wouldn't match a single strand of Sarah's hair. And as for you, Xavier Chen, if you truly intend to act, demonstrate some real prowess. Kidnapping Lily Thompson? Heh, it's truly laughable..." A bitter smile tugged at the corner of Xavier Chen's mouth, his voice dripping with coldness and calculation. "You think I'm joking? You think I'm deceiving you?" William “Will” Anderson shot him a cold glance, his tone devoid of emotion. "Whether you're sincere or not, it matters little to me." Xavier Chen's heart sank as he continued, bitterness evident in his voice. "Lily Thompson once confided in me that you ceased to be the Mr. Anderson in her heart long ago. She gave everything for you, yet you wouldn't even lift a finger to protect her from Sarah Johnson. I once doubted it, but now, I believe it..." On the other end of the phone, William “Will” Anderson lit a cigarette, tilting his head back as if seeking refuge in the smoke. He inhaled deeply, the tendrils of smoke obscuring his already cold demeanor further in the darkness. "Well, is there anything else?" His voice, filtered through the smoke, carried an unusually low and enticing quality. A spark of anger flared in Xavier Chen's eyes as he retorted, his voice trembling with intensity. "William “Will” Anderson, you know full well that Sarah Johnson is the driver who killed my sister! I've already lost my only family member, and my sister was my only solace! Why do you continue to shield her? Just because she resembles the Lily Thompson of the past. She's nothing but..." "Shut up!" William “Will” Anderson coldly interrupted him. Although his voice was light, the coldness in it sent shivers down one's spine. Xavier Chen seethed with rage at William “Will” Anderson's indifference, his voice quivering as he spoke, "William “Will” Anderson, this is your last chance! Do you truly have no regrets? Are you really willing to abandon Lily Thompson for a Sarah Johnson?" William “Will” Anderson raised an eyebrow slightly, the light from the window casting a faint glow on his face but failing to pierce the darkness in his eyes. He spoke icily, "Regret? I've never known it. As for Lily Thompson, I've grown tired of her hypocrisy and selfishness. She's no longer the kind and lovely girl I once knew. Like you, she's become nothing but scum, willing to stoop to any depths to achieve her desires!" Xavier Chen's heart sank to its lowest depths. He looked at his former brother before him, disappointment and anger swirling within him. He understood that, regardless of what he said now, he would not be able to sway William “Will” Anderson's resolve...