Chapter 8

Lily's POV

The police cars roared away. The originally lavish wedding of the century instantly became a farce.

I didn't look back once. I walked straight out of the estate. The wind grew stronger and dense raindrops began to fall from the sky. I drove to the wilderness skydiving facility in the suburbs. Today would be my last jump. I wanted to leave all the Payton family's taint from these seven years in the wind.

When I reached the facility, heavy rain had already fallen. The meteorological station issued a thunderstorm warning. Skydiving in this weather was tantamount to suicide. But I didn't care. I put on that pure black skydiving suit without any sponsor logos and shouldered my original old parachute pack.

The helicopter pilot gripped the cabin door tightly. "Lily, you're crazy! In this weather, if you encounter strong wind shear, the chute won't open at all!"

"Let me fly once." I looked at him, my eyes as hollow as a dry well. "Just this once. If I don't jump, I'll suffocate."

The helicopter climbed with difficulty through the wind and rain. I sat by the cabin door, looking down at the city shrouded in dark clouds and rainstorm. My phone vibrated frantically in its waterproof bag. It was Payton's number. He must have been released on bail.

I pressed the answer button.

"Lily! Where are you!" On the other end, Payton's roar almost pierced through the wind and rain. "You dared to give that evidence to the police! Do you know how much Payton Corporation's stock price dropped today!"

"Isn't this what you wanted?" Facing the violent wind pouring into the cabin, my voice was oddly calm. "You broke the law for Sophia's sake. I just helped you wake up."

"Come back right now! Tell the media that evidence was forged by you! Otherwise, I'll make sure you never touch a parachute again in your life!"

"Payton." I interrupted his ranting. "Do you remember what you said to me seven years ago? You said I belonged to the sky, that I shouldn't be held back by mud. But these seven years, you personally dragged me into the filthiest swamp."

"What do you mean? Lily, don't change the subject!"

"Payton, let's divorce. I've already signed the agreement and mailed it to your lawyer."

"No way! You can't just leave me, Lily. You owe me..."

"I owe you nothing!" I screamed into the phone. "I paid for my mother's life with seven years of my youth. With all my championships. I even got revenge for the facility. Payton, after today, we're done. Forever."

I violently threw my phone out of the cabin, watching it tumble through the air, finally disappearing into the rainstorm. "Open the door!"

The cabin door opened. The violent wind instantly enveloped me. Without a moment's hesitation, I leaped into that pitch-black thunderstorm.

The moment the weightlessness hit, I closed my eyes. My body tumbled violently in the strong air currents, completely losing control. I didn't pull the main chute. Memories of these seven years flashed through my mind.

The altimeter was frantically alarming: 1000 meters... 800 meters... 500 meters...

Just as I was about to give up struggling and let myself fall, a dark shadow suddenly swept down from above at high speed, breaking through the rain curtain, precisely grabbing my reserve chute ripcord.

"Bang!" The reserve chute was forcibly deployed. The massive pull made my vision go black, my shoulder sending tearing pain. Two bodies collided violently in the strong wind.

I barely opened my eyes. Through my blurred goggles, I saw a pair of deep, anxious eyes. It was Jace. He'd actually jumped down after me.

"Lily! Do you have a death wish!" He roared at me through the wind and rain, holding me tightly, using his own body to shield me from the raging wind.

We glided with difficulty through the strong wind, ultimately deviating from the landing point and crashing heavily into a muddy forest. The massive impact made me completely lose consciousness.

When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed. My right shoulder was in a thick cast.

The hospital room door opened. Jace wore a black shirt, his face somewhat pale, his left arm also wrapped in bandages. Seeing me awake, joy flashed in his eyes. He quickly walked to the bedside. "Lily, you're finally awake."

I looked at him, my voice hoarse. "Why... did you jump after me?"

"Because I can't lose you again." Jace gripped my uninjured left hand tightly, his gaze intense and stubborn. "Seven years ago, I was one step too late and let Payton take you away. You suffered for seven years. This time, I absolutely won't let go."

I was stunned, my eyes gradually reddening.

Just then, the hospital room door was violently kicked open. Payton charged in, his eyes bloodshot like a crazed beast. When he saw Jace holding my hand, his rationality seemed to completely snap.

"Jace! Let go of her!" Payton rushed over and grabbed Jace's collar. "You dare touch my woman!"

Jace sneered and pushed him away.

"Your woman? Payton, do you deserve that?"

He pulled out a stamped document from his pocket and threw it in Payton's face.

"Look carefully. The court has officially accepted the divorce lawsuit. From now on, Lily has nothing to do with you."

Payton stared at the document, his face deathly pale.

He turned to look at me, his voice trembling with a hint of panic.

"Lily... is this true?"

I looked at him, my gaze as calm as if looking at a stranger.

"Mr. Payton, please leave now. I need to rest."