Forbiddenly Bound To You
Chapter 55: Aqua and Echoes

Chapter 55: Aqua and Echoes

James stepped out with Lily by his side. His phone rang, and as he answered it, the atmosphere grew serious. Lily, noticing the shift, remained silent. When he ended the call, he turned to speak with her, but she interrupted.

"You may go. The call seems important," she said, her voice firm.

"Are you sure? Why don’t I drop you off?" James asked, concerned.

"It’s fine. I can book a cab," Lily replied, waving her hand dismissively.

"Okay. Don’t hesitate to call if you need any help," James said, taking Lily’s phone. A small smile touched his lips when he noticed that his picture was still set as her home and lock screen. He quickly typed his number into her phone before handing it back to her.

"Don’t hesitate to call me, okay?"

Lily nodded, and James quickly left. She booked a cab and, with a sigh, entered it.

"Take me to the nearest bar," she instructed the driver.

At that moment, Lily needed to clear her head. She had had enough for one night. The cab driver nodded, and the car began to move. Not long after, the cab stopped in front of Alley Bar. As she entered, the place was loud, filled with people dancing on the floor, and the air was thick with the smell of sweat and alcohol.

She walked to the counter and took a seat just as the waiter arrived.

"Welcome to Alley Bar, ma’am," he said, his voice barely audible over the noise.

Lily nodded. "I’d like some Aqua," she requested. She had seen James order it earlier and was curious to try it for herself.

"I’m sorry, but Aqua is only available in the VIP lounge upstairs," the waiter explained.

Lily wondered why it was only sold there but nodded in acknowledgment. Determined to find out what made Aqua so special, she stood and climbed the stairs.

As she reached the top, the VIP area was a stark contrast to the downstairs. It was well-polished, with a more refined atmosphere. A few people lounged on the dance floor, dressed in smart, uniform-like attire. Lily was surprised by the exclusivity of the area. Just as she was about to walk further inside, a tall, imposing bodyguard stopped her.

"Your ticket, please," he said, his tone serious.

Lily’s eyes widened. "What ticket?" she wondered aloud.

"If you don’t have a ticket, you’ll need to buy one," the bodyguard explained.

Lily quickly composed herself. "How much is it?"

"For the small lounge area, it’s $100; for the middle lounge, $500; and for the largest, $1,000," he replied.

Lily nearly gasped. How could people be so willing to pay such prices? She was already here, and there was no turning back now. If she had known, she would have ordered the regular champagne downstairs. But now, she was determined to try Aqua.

She nodded and pulled out her credit card to pay for the $100 ticket. "This better be worth it," she mumbled to herself as she took the ticket and headed to the small lounge area.

The VIP lounge was divided into three sections, each larger and more expensive than the last. Despite the differences in size and price, all the lounges had the same view and show, with people in uniforms dancing. Lily settled into one of the lounges, and the waiter arrived promptly.

"Aqua, please," she requested, trying to mask her frustration with a polite smile.

The waiter nodded and left. Shortly after, he returned with a glass of Aqua.

"How many glasses would you like?" he asked.

"Three," Lily replied, trying to act casual.

"That would be $1,500," he said.

Lily gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief. "You’re joking, right?" she laughed, though it was more of a shocked reaction than genuine amusement.

The waiter remained serious. "Just kidding. I meant one glass."

He nodded. "That will be $500."

Lily’s eyes widened further. Was each glass really $500? How much had James spent on this drink? She had only ordered one glass, yet it was costing her a fortune. She smiled weakly as she paid, her discomfort hidden behind the facade of politeness. Her savings were rapidly depleting, all for a glass of so-called Aqua.

As she stared at the clear drink, it dawned on her that it actually looked like water. Was that why it was called Aqua? She took a sip, and the taste was both foreign and sophisticated. If she hadn’t tasted it, she might have thought the waiter had given her just water. The drink had a bittersweet taste, which, while pleasant, hardly justified the exorbitant price.

The drink had an elegant flavor that was both foreign and intriguing.

The waiter arrived once more. "Would you like something else?"

Lily interrupted before he could finish. "No."

She sighed, feeling the weight of her financial decision. Was this really worth it? In a way, it was. Instead of dwelling on her ex-husband and the pain he had caused her, she was focused on the experience of drinking Aqua. She realized that maybe the high price was justified, if only for the distraction it provided.

After just one glass, she was already feeling tipsy. She stood up, wobbling slightly.

"T... thank you for the drink," she stuttered as she began to leave.

As soon as she stepped out of the bar, the cold night breeze hit her, providing a sharp contrast to the warmth of the VIP lounge. She grabbed her phone, intending to call James, though her vision was slightly blurry. Before she could unlock it, a hand grasped her arm.

"Lily," a voice called.

She turned, her eyes filling with tears as she looked at the figure before her. It was Jason, her ex-husband.

"What was he doing here? Was he following her?" Lily thought, her heart racing.

"Let go of me!" she yelled, pulling her arm away from Jason’s grasp.

"You never did that... you never added my picture as your wallpaper before," Jason said, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"My boyfriend has already told you I have nothing to say to you," Lily snapped, her voice cold. She was referring to James, who had used the pretense of being her boyfriend to shield her from Jason, even though they were not actually in a relationship.

Jason sighed heavily, clearly frustrated. "Lily, can we please just put the past behind us... please?"

"No," Lily said firmly, her tone icy.

Jason’s face fell. "You could not even kiss me during our wedding, all because you were too shy. We didn’t even consummate our marriage. How did you expect me not to cheat....."

SLAP!

The sound of Lily’s hand connecting with Jason’s face echoed in the cold night air. The force of the slap left a red mark on his cheek.

"Shut up!" Lily shouted, her anger and hurt boiling over.