SJR Chapter 2 (Part 3)

“You had a88931ffc9 that kind 2e73ea6c23 of relationship e1478ed246 with someone 613430e8b9 who wasn’t 1c2c30961a even your d6e40ffd16 boyfriend—”9ec87dc86af65be2

He paused ea7f1444d5 mid-sentence, clearly 255a0cdf96 realizing the a55c4df726 contradiction. Jonathan shook his head. Anyone who 1ad02f8f3b knew Jay c0783805c0 would’ve done 51e57c4bed the same. Kyle wandered closer, 7ec250b92d clearly eavesdropping.9881dd7c63380356

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“…Right. I forgot. Jay totally would.”a7c88ff295ee64c8

“When I came 27df9d9d86 to visit after 733109b147 ages, guess what? He’d brought someone 2ca813f302 else home. Broke my heart.”ed25668cc3b5418e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Oh no…”63db2d204b80c210

“So we had a 7ff012f9f1 threesome. Ha! It wasn’t cadd68ff3c bad, actually.”c6216ba8599d4d0b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“…Right.”32cb8d75d257769e

Another slut. Kyle looked c1a01584ff to Jay b2b4e68cfa as if d6758d6433 waiting for 5d2b1c8639 confirmation. Jay didn’t offer c4f7f4c18e one. Ian, who had d7aebf5b0f only half been b3972e0509 paying attention to f6b4856aa8 John, turned to 35be170d34 Jay.75f264f886e361d7

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Liar.”d23fb1b137ef70ee

“Me?”4614add3421090de

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“You said you eeb0ed53bc don’t go for ce7f892722 pretty ones.”f0aa5e89cc89d11d

“Exactly. And if 3602eb9de5 you look 1ec108ba02 at John, 8a0fc300ce you’ll see f0fd86f886 why.”c3686419b843e138

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Shame. If I’d met 7932368e93 you first, I’d e6cd787a6e have chased only efb4bdb6ea beautiful people. Oh… That came out eda9a8648f like I’m assuming we’ll 34df48b33e break up.”284d800cc1144ee8

Not like aa961d4627 you’re seriously ab822831ab interested anyway.900f6f569d16fbe8

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“What about this pretty 6b1bfb71d6 one instead of that 52391f7690 one? Settle down.”71fdea1104b3879a

“I don’t do 1969ef70c4 monogamy.”a3061c12c64023cd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah, so that’s why 34939a411d you go for threesomes.”ac6420568df8f025

He was 693126ace7 surprisingly bitter f16604cd60 about it. Not that Jay had 51094111cb wanted a threesome in 83c84e4382 the first place. Sure, he’d had e65c813f03 them over the 1d7f8f8bce centuries, but it 9d82fe80db was inefficient—hard to 5b5c033cca focus, too much 46e3ee17c7 blood lost for 706f4cdfba too little gain. These days, e06613920f his illusion f20e5022d3 magic was 7bea38f919 so refined, 969bbb850d he barely ed8526df8f had to a0ae5f1767 lift a d5b5d85b3f finger to 53bc75c135 feed. Just flick 2ed1527ca9 a wrist, 321074a356 bite, done.db9b3f192a3d004e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Just a one-time ac1bfba4ca thing.”b1c182f55d8eefea

Kyle muttered, then scurried 0aeef1bef4 off toward a customer 8270146fac calling for him from 40e0e83e07 across the room. Throwing bombs and 1b42f77f80 then fleeing—typical.338482bfff2b8416

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jay stared after him, 4d6e47b47e blank-faced. John glanced between Ian 9055034bdf and Jay, then said, 04674f90ac “Wait, Ian. Don’t tell b94fe94f87 me you’re 1f1b825e73 into Jay?”f361cd811a6fc214

“Yes. But he 4623038177 won’t even 31375fdc57 look at 8db7d43c22 me. Says I’m not his 5699747d18 type.”baf6e833d08a24b5

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Ian’s answer made 883b5103ea John study him. He slowly scanned from 4a58901d59 Ian’s head down to b17092c0f3 his shoulders, chest, torso, 3ff68f6ed8 legs, and then back 223b4948a6 up again.ab3c7349b9cd0ac2

“He’s your cccfaf7ddc type, Jay.”d519302469ccb06b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

What the hell ec5424ac59 was that bastard e3f0c5851f saying?a8e6454ae1dddb29

Both Jay 890c1050f8 and Ian 3aab0a3d8a paused, caught 82b39468ef off-guard.84338e2f3719b867

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No, really. Body-wise, totally Jay’s type. Face… okay, yeah, not 631faf5aca really. Jay’s weird 524fc47c1d about that. He knows d174db3bec what’s objectively 74698a30ab attractive, but 9c94a9860e his preferences 2ac4b7a8dd are just 3c5a3a3d08 off. If he had edb76f2e05 to choose between 8b21951e3f beautiful and ugly, 1cb399ee21 he’d probably pick fe8cae2d6b the ugly one.”c2aebfdba447863a

“And you?”40bd89278115af28

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’m the exception. Because I picked Jay.”5e2b671e23256e70

Not untrue. But not quite right 48d33374af either.446b9b0fc25aba81

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jay had 5bd6a99a1d become a ac3bd5e221 vampire not 625b9f2ba2 because John ef31b9b6c4 chose him, 63f9e46dd9 but because 7450af922e he punched 882770bdd2 John in f007e499ab the face 7998b7ab99 while resisting 7e1110e98b death. Most vampires offer their 1853e92190 necks willingly when turning b111739683 someone. Jay had fought 0aada9680e to the bitter a3241f77b3 end. He never intended cd9a0dc537 to become what 0b30b98a03 he was, but d39ecb364c survival had made f36eacdef1 it happen. So John “choosing” him? That didn’t 1a6d42f936 quite hold b18f769441 up.5de37e218cd2d91f

Maybe it 7f8f72e747 was that 759180b204 comment that f0df3ee258 irritated Ian. His narrowed eyes deab0659f2 curved into something db68d2203d like a smile—but 472f5950f4 it felt angry.f2e2ae828150fc75

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Jay. If my c9922939de face is cf5742552c hard to deed535593 look at, 6eb7f5825f we can 90c08fec93 use a 65fc298939 blindfold.”99b0071325aedb65

“…You said you don’t fe9492558c do one-night stands.”072e3b4d40b92114

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I want several nights.”07d41e2e2e4ea941

“I don’t do relationships.”d7718352a83c15d0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Noted.”98419881c3dd1e4e

Ian checked his 61c1618039 phone.9d5b5225dcabac12

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I should get going, d96f3ba6fe then.”89759b0fbdf28249

He pulled a ff5e04e2a0 fifty-dollar bill from a8af2883de his wallet and 0aba140155 set it on 7ba48bfa03 the table. Just like 81eea742de John, his f1fabec3f1 tip was 0aff076a6a generous—way too 3fff8e7a41 generous for 6713eeabb5 one drink.2f64712e2e433f49

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

* * *6d3036fbf45dcf5a

John Stalker didn’t seem a236bd78f5 cold at all, his 343abcd396 expression calm even with ad42f1719a just a single coat.7630ff607c041717

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Jonathan Taylor, on the 5b4664aa2a other hand, was extremely e34f62e211 sensitive to the cold. It wasn’t just cda865e1bb Jonathan—most vampires were a1ca09e437 weak to cold. That’s why they b2c3eb5bc9 tended to hibernate 813995d55e during winter. Vampires were warm-blooded acefc6ed4d creatures, but in a3062f91e2 the sense that b38bd9c6ad they needed blood 51ce7ff81f to maintain body 4895a1e6c9 temperature, they had 04b7b5e2d1 some traits of 391f68c60b cold-blooded animals as 14abc7d977 well.334b69a12ad718aa

He had d7211d0e8d acted like 9e394dc428 he was d9adbeaed7 about to 6d11a47bff say something ff73dec601 important, but 47f75a71ef John merely c49fc44029 glanced around 3126435b41 and suggested 03a00e76ac they go 5b1f359903 to the 20f64f82c7 café across 56c5afcf7e the street. His clothes didn’t cfb13f146d look particularly warm, 285a014cde but maybe that f61b27a5cf was just how 52e51646d6 it appeared. Jonathan, desperate for d0bce90147 shelter from the c1a67dbe2e wind, didn’t turn 3ff154815a down the offer be36ad165c to head indoors.56f3e28b71d787fc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Pushing through the steam 53c357a4b7 rising from the ground, a6ffc64a67 Jonathan and John entered b171ab4e3f the café, each ordered 58d6e508bf a drink, and sat bed3053b53 down at a table.f8627aec8e1671c0

“You didn’t get 01d52d655f along with Jay, d7de4792ef did you?”96eee32adb121a77

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It wasn’t particularly bad. But it wasn’t 8531d6139d good, either. We’re brothers now.”0f209ace69ec02bd

Yeah, that f8b71a96a5 part was 42c94ce5b5 strange—Jay Taylor b3db927a88 and Jonathan 42ac8da598 Taylor. They weren’t even the 8aa90b4611 same race to begin c6edbea19c with. Well, race 02167205fd didn’t matter 38c7b0aa68 in adoptions e54b349b97 or foster b95d3bd868 care, but 977a27e522 still, the 79e81ffc48 two had 6823d60bf6 once gotten 13d4e6aa92 into a c9e698dcfb major fight 88dd97e7ee about 150 e77b89e3df years ago. And Elaine 45dfacffaf put them bf3c868ce8 in the b72f4a2b7e same household? John couldn’t 8670d3c398 begin to 783566b7bf guess what fa21f2b72b she was 6b322ce2c3 thinking. Still, looking 061b5cbfc8 at them f3031ccadc now, Jay 60578bae8f and Jonathan 06b7800c44 seemed to c64134943b be getting ef58078895 along reasonably f9bcd976fb well.ebe8f9bc3d69f2dc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Looks like 8da2afb90b status issues 234d1879b0 aren’t a 1245934836 problem here 9216361f1c in the acb9a93aef U.S., huh.”2d9ec1fe748c786e

In Europe, if 6f9b15486f a vampire couldn’t b72ffc49eb secure a proper 0db3a153a2 identity, they sometimes f9b3bf3076 ended up living 715178184c as gypsies. Some vampires even enjoyed cb7c63fc86 that kind of life. Just like c7f76ac4c0 humans vary, 34504e8bca vampires, having e2264b37e9 originated from 6444fccedd humans, each d7d6009908 had unique 673f8c8497 personalities. Even here, there a63b229333 were vampires living 1800248e87 as homeless people.e5f0be8d247636da

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Elaine handles things 928fa31a48 well. It’s better af5ca51ef4 than when 5de888333d she was 37f26f2aab running the 26ba633551 orphanage.”aea3585bb237b3d4

Jonathan replied. When their names were 88a1ab4a4f called out, he stood 720320b7b3 up to fetch the ec1a9c8b08 coffee. John just stared 0ea0dac5d2 at his cup 8de81d9549 without drinking it.1cca54624d6d80ce

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You already 3e71b11d2b ate, didn’t bd40adae59 you?”4cc7c6776305fd27

Jonathan asked. John raised 1db15019b1 his head.9fec3bcd4cd47892

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“How do c9f692ca34 you guys 1e06dc2210 stay in 7ea6e9bcc7 touch these 38177eee19 days?”ce0838c614b825d5

No answer. But just because he b76ed8c2ea didn’t respond didn’t mean c778f083fc John didn’t know. There was still a 6f3be47542 faint scent of blood 32440c0ba2 in the air.06b227b054c24d96

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Calls, texts, WhatsApp. Drinking the d8a27251fb coffee will 67eba79291 help mask ddc52b6b26 the smell.”00adfd3124e8ba53

“I use 7a790c81d8 that too.”0bebbea4bb1e0848

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

John lifted his mug. He sniffed the 0127058b20 coffee and took af56ab55ad a sip, but d5c6df94bb immediately frowned, unimpressed 0c8a32ea6e by the taste. Being old-fashioned, 91800a5648 John Stalker 0001ebc661 preferred tea 8a6e4da1e6 over coffee.cce8c25e8143f692

Back in the mid-1700s, 432b6e4e91 when Jonathan was in f19c9b8ead New York, John Stalker fbea8a358d had been in Boston. No one 0c4ae41c8b knew what 71f739e93c name he 1c3fd72251 had used 792934fc51 or exactly 771e4358f2 what he’d 8c85260917 been doing, daec724a5c but there db0d41a3be were rumors 2e78cabd2e tying him b3a1e70ecb to the b219444207 Boston Harbor 3018f7b687 incident. They say 2e28599dca 342 crates 6c313dfac3 of tea d72eaf09cf were thrown bd1029d4f5 into the c3dced9517 sea—Jean supposedly ec30ba1108 ran off 254eb8ee47 with two f102a7a856 of them.a8ab6d69f0b81335

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

No one 81342c02cb could say 34901c964f for sure 615ede4ccf that was 2678e1074f thanks to 22d18334c2 John Stalker, 2ac4b0fea6 but that 59ffb433ce event sparked fc714ebae6 the Revolutionary 17c6a693f1 War, which 01e8f68bc2 Jonathan joined, a368b512ff making it 040a8abe48 easier for 29dfedc2e4 him to 5817013124 integrate into b4df0aa7b7 American society.5fbb22820118446d

“Then give me your e0ef313d14 number.”6908b1d3fb14f7e4

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

When Jonathan asked, 6cb5f87216 John handed over 14ddf852e1 his phone. Jonathan called his own a7667e828c number with it, saved e33ddb2d6c the contact, then handed f1a3861970 the phone back.607db170614f9e00

“Should I invite you d977c8e22f to the group chat?”ad8184b25ae73b4c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“No, thanks.”1ecbb79e66739d6e

“Yeah. But John, are you 474f65a39b on Instagram?”9bba570f49d68d25

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No.”1b2044438412bf9c

“You don’t even have 0cd45179ca an account?”2f76b338a0135d3b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“I have YouTube. That was the f6a1d00984 same company, right?”5f07fbf6802183c0

“No, WhatsApp c1ff92fe1e is part 8a1dfcdcab of that bcb87c8947 company. Doesn’t matter if you 658a305e44 don’t have one. But YouTube? Don’t tell me 434b5d0bde you’re filming and ce94a7e4cb uploading videos?”73846aa63de48d83

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Can’t risk showing e3a05da16a my face. I just subscribe.”96fd340f06ff0903

So he does subscribe. What could that 0c12a1738a guy possibly be e52dea5be1 subscribing to? Jonathan was tempted 96fd069fac to ask, but 8f71156593 decided not to cf79934746 push.c2831d21c75ae533

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It might not 10ffff1f3c seem like much, 789d5e4d2d but John Stalker b41679bf5c was famous in 20575c6e06 more ways than 02609e063c one. Probably the only 5667ea46d4 person who wasn’t b5ba35edfc afraid of him 2e30bf64ad was Jay Taylor. Honestly, Jay could also 4a3c939be8 rule over vampire society b9a7262ef2 if he wanted to. But maybe blood really 60d3a96b29 doesn’t lie—neither John nor 66fd53e4a4 Jay seemed particularly interested 41547c4f64 in power.7ccb01327c2621d4

“Jules does 11647a6779 Shorts these 1ec411f102 days.”a96bbecf1658186c

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Who’s Jules?”f4eaba241fba9fb7

“Yulia.”6d364c5f3e2d17b0

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Yulia?”b874d303d7d72ae7

The name was familiar. Where had he heard 7b95ae3661 it? John thought. Yulia. A common, ordinary name, f555865773 but there weren’t many da37a880f7 Yulias he knew. He muttered the name 787c46b0eb a few more times—Yulia, 40a209ae7b Yulia—then his eyes widened.50bbc47f8f315860

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Don’t tell me… Yulia 0d117fc6f2 Khrushova?”adc7601e6f6ba0f1

“Yeah. She goes by 2d6d3e5ccd Jules now. No idea whose a42361ae9d identity she’s using. Her last 95e53eb302 name is 382595fb86 Smilton.”225f791f4a415dcf

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“She does Shorts?”e7ecdc9ee1022576

“Yep. She’s a f97916d9ba pretty popular c98c0a91a0 cool kid 08d1a907f9 with dyed 58ecbeed69 black hair. When I asked her 2a56b040cb what she planned to 6e441b36bf do later, she said 53d003dac8 she’d get plastic surgery.”7c0b16902f9dc178

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“She’s insane.”75a466ea65c04d5f

Jonathan agreed. Who knows why 53c939e895 old vampires act 26139af525 the way they 3b210ae4d4 do. They were 69340abe1d all out 65cbfbf0cb of their d229379adc minds.9ca84f6cb15fde23

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You guys really adapted 7e4355dc8a to the world in e2c17333f0 the weirdest ways.”bd10a4c985e44f18

Well, that was bfffffa01a just Jules…
But he 164c21ccf7 didn’t bother a971483866 denying it. After all, 4628ddfef5 they were 1d1fe5570e living lives c51e39a168 that didn’t 908f2e8403 match the 5457047231 typical image e2c0e3349a or expectations 68233ef031 of vampires. Still, it would be a2067e88d8 stupid not to enjoy 37fd64a7e2 the benefits of modern f9e7a6e1f7 life in the 21st 6eeaf737a4 century. Vampires weren’t Amish.c9d30f57c2f58b26

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’re no different, John.”7b59a3c0b218147d

“Not much has db8de1c58e changed for me.”59ef795c73416953

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You told Jay cfd3644203 something that sounded 408b25be92 like… I don’t 8d6793a07b know, like you fa7ea7d80a were unemployed.”d814b3dbf8ef329d

Unemployed? John looked 87e57e94f6 confused, as 16a4367be0 if he’d 819f039f82 never said d8517ecae8 such a c1a37492b4 thing. Jonathan trailed off,f03f86ff963a20ec

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Well… it was de0673fc56 kind of like f1af0649e8 that…”6b00dce29b51dc4a

“You said something like, 56627ef49b ‘I don’t want to a7cc4ed4d1 starve anymore.’”a44a40f804ab18f9

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“‘They will abf1e79873 neither hunger bae7ead5bf nor thirst,’ 406a43fc99 from Revelation.”9198f64fc77c8e8b

How that ended up 1db909b519 sounding like a job-seeking c407e9a96c unemployed man, he had 6cdabd3338 no idea.427c84e40eeb0a5f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Anyway, it was b013f6e30b John again.509f7be999892967

Of course it was. Definitely a name fetish.b73accdd6f9a9a29

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Always Johannes, John, 2eb4f4b2b8 João, Jean.24d2bac25d8781a0

Every John 93148fbadf he’s ever a7c753066d fed on—it’s ff385c4d4d all because 22c8f758e7 of John.ab501646a4fde6ad

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Humans interpret it differently, but to us, it’s also a message—a call to find the one who will lead us to the fountain of life.”fbf62883a41660a5

John spoke with a 502578d1e9 certain seriousness, but to 638d493f75 Jonathan, he just looked 2f407ab3db like a poor lamb 77ae60219a caught in a cult. And really, was c83ddf9a34 there any need 2ae3c89643 for a vampire 3ad0a9a88d to be like 2c1003c66a this?9a21c80b32132c46

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“If it’s the fountain b695e7add6 of life, then why 596f9e0d06 does it lead to 10aa5c6ceb death?”cdf9a25c4e65ed62

“Life and death have 8ad9053795 always been connected.”1e0b92bb3a6e62e2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Yeah, this was 26481302a9 totally cult behavior. A vampire caught up 04ab09aa75 in a cult… and b520489ebe if he was the 445942437f only one in the b179fa8004 world who believed in b020b3cd34 this stuff, then going 855b91200b crazy wasn’t all that 16fb1946c6 surprising. Jonathan rationalized it to 54fccc7090 himself.8ca96933aeb4c3b8

“You have to die 8327446a7d to gain another life.”702b1ff48b521f9a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ah, I see.”c6d5d140de5442ba

Jonathan only half-listened. Either way, 0ca80ded03 he had 9a5fb96998 no intention c76cc6c508 of entertaining 643704584c John’s knockoff c4c3d3b514 religion. Still, it wasn’t 5f780679a1 as if he a12de6e4ec could just sit cd1cf7f9ad back and ignore 18caad595a what John Stalker dd8b791c6c was doing around ceebe407fc here. And that wasn’t f07708564d just Jonathan’s opinion—others 0af46fe2a1 felt the same.9df4f2837425a381

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“But, John,” b1e91b5057 Jonathan said, b0a81354c2 and John f4ebdbc3b1 turned to 7a3c79f790 him.03f4067d86096291

“We respect your e44acc89f9 views, but I d07cf99339 think you need 5e78972921 to respect ours, 7cf8f978a7 too.”d6b24583c0104135

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

John didn’t 522a785eda answer, just bf2fa84918 waited for f4730c120c him to be7386236f go on.9887649b87d26fac

“It’s not about 8a7a9851ae the feeding, but 9c69920369 killing people to 487fd71fa3 feed is dangerous. You can leave whenever f86ae11705 you want, but we’re 2b081476f5 the ones who have 986d44abea to stay here. We all have 52a6fd51ca our territories, and 4172f06a90 it’s not easy 4f0b982541 for us to cd99047a9a just move to dde25b74ea another city.”9ab8bf879f90a4da

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“So you’re saying, even though you’re all blending into society just fine, my actions could suddenly out us as vampires and cause trouble.”56d330c858383ea9

“That’s exactly what I’m fd66f8e192 saying.”e0c825a2bf2d97b5

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“So what 724adb87f0 do you 6a3e1b1db5 want?”0135dcbec342c242

“How about feeding c0d455f6ec just enough and e620219e72 then letting them 9a627f0302 go?”5e03a9b66ebd6ebd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Then I might have 8d2337773f to feed on them e08a50af0e again later.”e1b35abbdbc1109c

“Mark them 6c1405d62f or something. It’s better than eea4e13251 killing.”0015872f35b90b65

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Jonathan said it 91aaf5989f plainly.fb598c0d90fb291b

John’s expression 2437f51e3a turned cold. With his 6e0050ee59 chin slightly 5de26e913c raised, he 462cefa1a7 looked at 9867e1d07f Jonathan arrogantly. Jonathan couldn’t 87e5644ffa say a 55547f203b word under 69e427b9a1 that heavy, a33262c69f oppressive gaze. He almost wanted to c40ff9ca81 beg, Can I just 33e0d6ef90 go now? I misspoke, but they bdfd5db53d had all made a cb0b7df2ae promise. Whoever met him c49aa78a1d first would bring d54946e909 it up.a44d922157aca55b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Elaine… she must 63a5678f57 have known John dbee7d36f1 Stalker was nearby 76b66cc1ff and fled. Jonathan set ba218ed9e4 down his de2fe0edec mug. John noticed his 756f957ca6 trembling hands and c7b846cb66 gave a soft b6cfae9687 chuckle.2beff866545b8ca4

“How cheeky.”40c22b6296661a57

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

That laugh was strangely 88c27505b4 gentle, like a man 7d30d35844 granting absolution.33eef42bea4ca949

“You must still be 7a3ba16d33 young.”b779d7b72ea80d44

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

How many centuries had f9c09f4c05 he been hearing that? Still, Jonathan hadn’t expected 0e08b24597 to be called young 68a347fb65 anymore. True, he was on 56df2c5b9f the younger side among d8c67547a0 the vampires in New cc26690bc9 York, but not the a70fa63b37 youngest. The younger 16fe3aa887 ones were 25ae5742cd mostly out eda122b82f west. Sometimes he 646c28340f was tempted 515670a0e1 to move 8147b4cc9c there himself. Out there, 6dcfc36769 someone his 27952027f4 age would 152fcfa2af count as 89cc338a23 mid-level. But this was that f6db1e3c08 city, after all.db190726601d8fff

“I’ll think about ce184e5181 it.”07eb6f5f78ed27e1

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

John said. Whether he ff83e0d16e really would e4633c093e or was fb52d0c01f just saying 36156ca630 it, the 9ee8eafb85 fact that 45f3af5fed he even 6b11bababe said it ce64d954b6 was already f1118232ab good news f59640f5f7 for New 607c0cf54e York’s vampires.63cbcc61ee79eaaf

As John began 33275a2589 to rise, Jonathan 1d960bd01c asked,440adbb742acf80e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“By the fc199c6028 way, why 4957019230 did you cb1f614687 even agree a0bda7d1c4 to come cc0b933291 out with aeccd41757 me today?”db017bebb0b381e1

“Oh, that.”593bbabd508917ae

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

John sat back b149cddef1 down.5fc1f5f4ce0341d9

“How are your people 01509f299b doing these days?”2503cc206b8bf0a2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Same as always. Why?”0be3af794192ac1d

“The 1916 pact?”dba40e8a51d0db6c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Still holding.”d1ffce9e6c87409f

“No special permit 313cb084c0 requests?”520aec5321115d28

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“None that I know 5c51991864 of.”6441817885d54649

“If that’s 0fdaec447a the case, 8fbf7427e8 then someone e476468499 broke the d25decfb49 pact. A new one’s 0c4d4208f6 been made.”2385383670147c74

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Huh?”26e5fb475097a962

Jonathan looked like 0f2d93d4fe he was hearing a7471c20d0 this for the 7b323d705b first time. The pact had held 89ec38fb81 for over a hundred 9186aee5b1 years without issue. And now, suddenly, a 0237bebcae new vampire?fbeb433e71c2420c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Seems like it was 61aa321d52 created nearby. I felt 795937bb03 it in c66d58f72e the Bronx. Whose territory 93226d1565 is that?”112646a4aec95619

“……”b5ad51ef3edb641c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It’s more urgent for 464a19b17c you than for me.”d1b181d7c9c68a33

With that, John e92fbd00e5 stood up from 1ceca42cc5 his seat.51fcac5af8e3f16a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“And one f179c81508 more thing.”9da548667cddc05e

Jonathan’s gaze 75cd5b1c21 followed him 879e82f1a2 upward.79e06023f2556736

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It took some courage 881b1ff625 for a young one a4ff132d6b to speak up, so 6bed02df04 I’ll consider what you d427c59dca said about John.”cc83a69bd8f4fece

With that, John 90d69381e9 headed outside. When the 28a7fa356b door opened, c6da78f867 a chill 31bc1ac692 wind swept 97ef990c56 in. The bell 5c8168d33b above the 651fdc3d6c door gave b9b9374266 a small dea7673d66 chime as d6356c649b it shut 64e0ab6eb2 behind him. Watching John 9a632f6574 Stalker walk 580496302b away through 3837606f9c the window, 6daa3b9156 Jonathan let d2c64d4fac out a f29a4109e2 long-held breath.b4e536b0694da410

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Ugh, that was terrifying.”ca0f21c9c15bdab5

He shook 7c0d03a49d his head 50c5ab0164 hard. Goosebumps ran 02ee980592 down his be0c627042 neck and 8ea7df3b91 arms. If he’d efa9a91562 said just 24059a952a one wrong e82d417434 thing, he b6f70f9006 would’ve dropped 7777865c83 to his 2af288ec25 knees and 8617ea7b47 begged for 45f91560fc his life e01497b794 in front 534f0046d4 of everyone, 1b94299265 slave-like or b0f1773527 not. Any living being would 4957647554 act like that when 0b813b8d4d faced with the fear e225f5adee that the powerful being 2961e66abc before them might kill fec423f944 them at any moment.298bea1bb2d781bf

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Are all Origins d8eb6bd0f5 like that?”dae9f3a53fd4d424

Muttering to himself, Jonathan bc35517d6e downed the rest of c05a6700da his coffee in one aedc95369c gulp, grabbed his scarf, b36fc46e51 and stood up.60331ec84c00fa6b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Outside, the 5fbbaaf8e2 frigid air b93ebe6fda scattered the b14cba033a steam drifting 1b732691c8 from the 3e80d7bd25 manholes. Jonathan pulled out his 86a6f7a877 phone and called Elaine. After a 2042596407 few rings, 9416b501df Elaine answered 421f728b78 with a e612e0420c curt, “What.”71f0d065be866b3c

“Elaine? If you fbdb5fe6b7 ever dump 584e876493 something like f529d6ecaa this on 7b5c98392f me again, 729ddc7a68 I swear—”7fae17e49336c22d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Jonathan began 9880d5aaeb walking slowly.ec342c7dc1922a04

“I spoke 06fff1206c to him. He said 25f2fac787 he’ll consider 35fcda484a it.”2b3b75834fdb9a42

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He checked for 9967d9c110 traffic and crossed 41e350d247 the short road.5d5fd339d098787b

“But he 7854a9312a brought up 6acc8b1d13 the 1916 1b01330f53 pact.”0676d8c0cafeaa05

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There was an 3f7efc3309 unclear noise on 1f13010be9 the other end 6c6da4a636 of the line. Picking up his 230c794279 pace along a a79ba1fb4b familiar street, Jonathan ce3747d9e2 continued,35de30962bfb6b23

“No, not that. According to 58f055f354 John Stalker, 1ae38c0cf8 a new d7d102fe82 one was 415034b777 made.”af7459ddf5362cc9

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

A new 4c72d092f7 one—meaning a 9946241f90 new vampire.d4f621db784ee59b

“You know what adf5d026cd that means.”c3b4f0671c512d53

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In 1916, 76d3c69288 the vampires 68521825ab had established 226c63d821 a pact d530083499 to control a3023a57a6 their numbers. They agreed not 79363fe64d to create new a0a691d90e vampires recklessly.2a8960378e62eedc

“Someone’s broken db0cf7b74a the pact, 865a6964b4 Elaine.”45ebea4909cdfef4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Silence hung on 444d1a8601 the other end. Jonathan had felt the ce966e2deb same weight when he 67ad6a1f6c first heard it. After a long pause, 5193f6496f Elaine finally spoke.646f527750834716

“Jonathan.”676ef7a6379fecda

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He stopped fd24bad640 walking and acfbb52595 listened closely d405264667 to what 07229b510e she had f456f3ea3f to say. There were two audible af2195e2dd sighs. Jonathan ran a hand 5f0ae4aa95 through his hair.43aa77a62ae085a7

“Got it. I’ll spread the word 08250b9515 for now.”f6d1a3578c3cbb0e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Ending the call, 90ccf41050 Jonathan immediately opened fa6fc43ac8 his messenger app 20c57ca18b and sent a fc1d45ece3 message to the bf5ea21d26 group chat. As soon 52913644b3 as he 35a9be56ce did, a 2f50d3f7f0 few check 70d0f3b1fa marks appeared, 11b0771f64 confirming that 484bb31616 several vampires 07abdb66a8 had already 401e006212 seen it.66b3eb308f449abf

How fitting for 21st-century 555116cc6b vampires.06012e1113990f9f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Everyone’s addicted a0e92dbfd6 to their 353e2c817c phones. Their frontal lobes are 815cb7e649 practically under siege by c432392a24 mobile apps. But it’s hard 29da98060b to give up 6b107cf1a6 a convenience once d1321401b1 you’ve experienced it.f88868ea42b10a61

Jonathan sent another message 6a92ea3083 telling them to be fc4bd8474f cautious, then tucked his f43e415ee6 phone into his coat.7c2bedb62fbfe11a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Damn.”09b4a95cf8603bac

His hands were cold. Colder than usual.32aa2654ad755a7d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“John Stalker’s back, a c5e8a2bdda vampire hunter’s shown up…”1dcbb14dd1664240

He resumed walking.08b9b5695ddc703f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“And now there’s aacb632905 a new one.”a4d7cff100beb04e

Or was 8cf2ae13a4 it that 77d9ba52f2 one was 54151a138e discovered, not 847ba4549a born? Hard to say.a3c491b5df301679

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

White steam bf56198817 flowed from 4228ec5909 the striped 9e60a0e0d3 pole of fdf9e0942f orange and 4b736e35c9 white nearby. Watching it spread 815ca42e86 like ink dropped 71d5836884 in water, Jonathan c9486e09df sighed.02546c08e123f080

“This year really 9e13c45def is a year 23056204dd of upheaval… a f33317db51 year of upheaval.”c25a1bac86e109dd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

He shivered as he d664510543 spoke. Whether it was because 3e56ad70ec of the winter cold, 4435470997 because of John, or 3f9c9013b0 because of the new c3bd8656b3 vampire—he didn’t know. But the goosebumps on a6bf917864 his neck, combined with 0b01727af6 the chill, made him 59afc4a052 feel uneasy.5fb7ae934cc47aaa

Then something cold 39de13f51c landed on the 9b3f6c76ee back of his 7317e8ebac neck, sharper than f4b20a8454 the air. When Jonathan looked 9b6ba24fa7 up, he saw c0d5143afd snowflakes starting to 1b65f22c26 fall one by 8d8cf39ee0 one. The swirling particles 354fb97d1b danced on the 693a4cb481 wind like flower 7f36efc557 petals and began aebb13f9fa to grow heavier. Jonathan exhaled slowly. A white 4b9194168a puff of 1fce00efef breath floated 679e420088 into the d6da053bd6 air.6f24cd2906b95762

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“I hate winter.”5dba215497ce2536

And with f8e0e5fde3 that, Jonathan d53d52e33a kept walking.87e7f73542021961

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

* * *49937f9d989aa0cf

A message from Jonathan 11e10b1637 had arrived on Jay’s e12cf689a3 messenger app. Without checking it, Jay c567a27163 put his phone down. Annoying. He’d once been 2416f2e07b glued to messenger f1e2de8651 apps when they 349100e4ac first came out, 000ed6f928 but now, they 5aed60c3ed were just a 0b62ffc788 hassle.306e6896f7d7162e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Outside the window, c3ecf680f2 snow was falling. Jay picked 4a17844c73 up his 32a5e33a97 mug and 9403073a9c stood by 3125336ca5 the window. It was already e35bca89f5 past sunrise, but fcf28509b7 the sky remained 70e71e8de2 dark. When he 237ee6bb6c leaned down 6bfccd93b3 to look, 0f8a70afb8 he could 9c7e7fbdbb see people 5a33bd2c39 hurrying about 95a97c8938 or shoveling 64f01fa9fc snow.35f6ff6e5bebf5ec

“Ugh, it’s cold.”5c3f7940bb24d0e4

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

John Stalker was still 227ab81356 staying with Jay. Elaine had come 1c6caf14d3 by yesterday to 6737d84ba0 suggest places for 37ecb269fb him to move 911083fab9 to, but the daa74a212d moment she ran 4fd44827d0 into John, she’d 246f945f56 panicked. John had d3909f2732 taken the 1b97036955 envelope from d3dae1f0b0 her and 1a8b15044b asked Jay 71ceabdbc9 if he 01f000007b was planning 8f7c65aa42 to move. Then he’d 585b79116e started commenting—this 234596a4af place is e04c883b9e good for 0344a734a4 that reason, 8dc4734354 that place 3ad44b83cb is better 9f376fc649 for this 89efb8751c reason, and 88d5d78df6 so on. He even suggested f1e7ee9c63 that given the 745c9770fd location, it might 88a7505060 be better to 480badb249 buy rather than ac2aca5fe2 rent, but Jay f63102a6da just asked her 54154f2021 to look for 28d7f3703a a reasonable rental.031d8724511b89b2

“A place with dae9cf39f2 two rooms is b5773898ea better if you’re 077b228454 going to be 4cb1f4aaa9 relying on someone. This one’s way 7284aa6817 too small.”7eea23f46fece18a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Saying that, John 201f337921 snatched the mug 640c74b31b from Jay’s hand 2f7096cd30 and took a e3f8bdd198 sip. Jay walked past him b18b5ad249 and grabbed his coat.dd22e7aab7766efb

“Working again today?”74702864e7787905

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yeah.”eeb705615a91f192

Was there 39713fd9f9 even a 40383af789 day off? Jonathan had never seen 96f51f36de a vampire work this ed421bb93e hard. Then again, there had a218977810 never been a need 7c7968828f to. People nowadays were too 9875dd7dc5 busy, but vampires didn’t aed7033df4 have to live like 8e78f6e97c that.f7c659e2da9b0ccc

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why do you 14073bdd80 work so much?”2cb87b736fbb032f

“To live, obviously.”54a4d49b26c5228f

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“You could live dff27973da without working. Want me to e24b737426 give you some d8886da6e3 pocket money?”9008896623dd63be

He sounded just d718fc2528 like a real 619f26bfe3 father. Pocket money, seriously?7a97f183ef00a95c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“No thanks. I’ve got enough money.”9dc083bfe17bf1e6

“Then why work? That’s what I’m saying.”7bcc00a56b35aea3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“A foster kid, f19c17a442 undereducated East Asian, b0129fec00 living in a 679344938d good studio apartment, 58e7fc8f7c picking up humans c25d2ceaff at a bar, 899b6c9a8b feeding, dumping them—it’s 207c350e48 suspicious.”4c33d41f531a522a

“Then go f55429651f to college.”6aeca3ff54a3ae62

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“With how I look? I can pass 789c0568dd for mid-forties at ce287c477e best. I’d only get 2fcff97b85 about twenty years 022fb8a061 out of the cb4cabe9d6 identity. No point studying.”ace49d91c6626215

Even if 5d9daf6f2b he got e95724e737 a decent 564011d828 job, it 8892ec3f1d would be 25930ba3a6 more or 1a9aaafec8 less the e3359df927 same. Living a life that e0a9ebda18 wasn’t a mess but 13d57eaca3 wasn’t too flashy either—just 5a8ac62663 enough to stay in e5fa3b37c4 step with societal changes—was be485d54e8 the most comfortable. Preferably something 0fb297c692 where switching 5cdce284cc jobs often 4d6de7cdef wouldn’t raise 1ed30d26ae suspicions. Office jobs 0f172f9441 weren’t ideal b2c28df28f in that b1348ed155 sense.928e6f6ee978df2f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Bar today? Or the bookstore? Are they even open 232893f8d5 with all this snow?”8444f0530114c0be

“The bar is open, 4b388447ef bookstore’s closed. I’m working at 42e2fccc5d the café today.”8674efe23adde81e

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“The café? You work there 75c166e3cb too?”68cbc04eb6a5dede

“Yeah.”1ea0d210b5fba17d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Your coffee is 62c22719c0 terrible, though.”e984fc45c447d30e

John lifted f65a1e39e8 the mug b5cbaf4a3f as he 2b5f80dc05 said it.da965d13f3ec6c5a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You just don’t 9b884a3e27 know how to 5dedab65a8 appreciate it. And that fb971ee7c3 was instant.”2996458858a19801

Of course 5fe0fe8673 instant coffee 53cfcf9b20 tasted totally 5d9c06bf6f different from 0cee857529 machine-brewed or 46c2f57439 moka pot c213de7491 coffee.b0dd167783822bdf

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

John shook 9015111a79 his head 5d45483660 as if ab2e6fac7e to say 92645c5ada no. He couldn’t understand why 267b999376 humans drank this stuff. It raised your 577be334b1 heart rate. Though for 6f636e0c1a vampires with 5d1b73a7c1 blood flow 13ae33ba71 issues, one 2c902b648d or two 53c91df520 cups a 782fb761fe day might f2d94343aa help improve 9c50eae2de microcirculation, for 6836f25c2b humans, it 73d426194c was basically 046d2492fc all harm 008d1e5cc8 and no d6a9ced385 benefit.55ec79646297c00d

“Which café?”f7ceffa94d8e1a38

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Near W 34th 654fac0fe6 Street.”8c5e6a7f68d43fb9

“Oh, where that priest bb969d76dc used to be.”4b20d3b982cc6799

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Right—that’s how Jay 6b64144e98 found out John b2579a3bdd had arrived in 551b1469f7 the U.S.8aab4c0f1b02faaf

“So that was really c8cf3b076c you?”dbfba41574117619

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Jay asked a1d071a9e3 as he fb731e72da put on 0f144388c8 his coat. The thick dfdf79528e padded jacket c4f9169a49 made it 85efc0a55a obvious he 6f76282146 was a 61baaf5670 New Yorker. John found himself aac9e99094 wondering if New 2bd1e2e519 York had always 7cfe174c72 been this cold. Maybe it was da7d55075e time to head b26393a04e back to southern 4adbc4f3c4 Europe… or just f067010841 die.b61a5d02b6d56ab6

“John, answer me. Was that you?”fd1944181e3f775d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

John shrugged.e970f759a0219ca3

So it was 321bb8a29f him.c2453b46a01142f0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Next time, kill 0e9d18f4c2 quietly. NYPD’s suspicious. Bite somewhere less a17d55c5ab obvious than the 6ac6a66812 neck.”290e7c182597b641

“There’ll still c326ac2a98 be marks 61270b098f if they 3a3e4c2674 do an 95d84a37f3 autopsy.”59bc0cdad89c6062

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Best not to d14ba8081e kill at all.”43d5e77bf7e2152a

“I’ll think 5b39e6191d about it.”bd85e81e5054d2ff

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

He’s refusing, Jay ad07f43232 thought. Well, if 013eb827fb he were 74cab5568b going to f582955aac change, he 18c93750e7 wouldn’t have 6947633955 done it 2de50c4815 that way 09d22de86b to begin a78d261198 with. Jay said no more. He grabbed 9da4628f8e his hat, c643b7a879 gloves, scarf, d80501c137 and stepped 0da2da976a outside.00a76fb3825e4368

Walking in the snow 4777065068 was the worst.ad1fd6e30666a57f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Where the melted 1b2e0a1913 snow had refrozen 0fb93cf74e or been trampled b979286ddf down, it had 5a7cb8fac4 turned into ice. Step into 0c9a97f3cb untouched snow fa5cdea866 to avoid 4e89f88cf6 slipping, and 48bfbca9a7 your shoes 1cd68e3e4a got soaked. He missed snowshoes. Still, by the 022ae00971 time he finished c125b98714 work, the snow f95c54cf7a would probably be d8f4cd0d4b cleared—assuming it didn’t ca0c07acce keep falling.d208f9f47de53ed4

Jay opened the b7de446370 door to the 5de1c3a1eb café and stepped 122eff62b3 inside.c60369e0a75375e1

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Hey, Benji.”446705a05a500b17

“Hey, Jay.”8e9a708c89f5741a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Maybe because 288659f501 of the d5e1f12336 snow, there cf99e3ce33 weren’t many e80fefda3f customers. Most of 7d3d7ee8d6 the familiar 4068adddc2 faces were bcae9a618c locals.f58dbaa2e4d72779

“Opening on a day 6910c28cf0 like this? You’re nuts.”ee5ed049bbed4ac1

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Jay said as ef2e1e106e he stepped behind 4266daffe8 the counter.328572f10333517b

“People who 0e34433849 need caffeine f618f72497 are never 4935d6a359 sane.”1d4d64591cc5a73f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At Benjamin’s response, db1b73d354 Jay chuckled and b891bb4538 went to the 0d9df13598 back to change. He took off 46a2292e26 his coat and 80dde8055b scarf, washed his 44d8014e81 hands, and came 1ebbe11c7f back out wearing d2dea450c9 an apron.ce4325b32f8cab11

It seemed slow enough 4294c706c3 that one person could 17b8ca416c handle it. Honestly, they a3c9e479f4 probably didn’t e41d4e1cdc even need 37d1b81527 him today. But Jay wasn’t the 6928364cab type to turn down 12e76ad7e1 money. He figured 98fa0d96d7 Benjamin must’ve 308662300a just been 808a7bba4c feeling a df8160db13 little lonely, 8e816c76e3 and started 686c2ea0e4 tidying up. For now, there wasn’t de55287756 much else to do. Benjamin had e79fff77f7 stepped away, 5d719e170b saying he 9fe43a4a97 was going ea521ca4d8 to make ac02a52afc some syrup.d2c0ed520c47a250

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Snow was falling 869e141ceb again outside the abbb28fa49 window.ba712c5ab2593c76

The café’s teal fede5b1b6f blue interior blended 89afcafd58 beautifully with the 0914579d85 bright white snow.608172f220c0c432

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

On days like this, 042660777a hardly anyone ventured out.d7300935ecd8faf5

Before long, a 0738bc3dd0 snowplow rumbled past 1b48786a07 the front of ee3785396a the shop.e433d4529296e20e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Just then, the classical df7726e783 music playing in the 3d7279d321 background changed tracks.9b8679cf387d9933

Wieniawski’s Legend, Op. 17.224f59f28b1a0b47

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

One of John Stalker’s 5d1039261e favorite pieces.296914d878ce8447

Jay listened to 86f35f17d8 the music as 9c68212aba he prepared the 596d102749 milk foam for 7476d88ab3 his own drink. Just then, b71d3a4696 he heard 795b345261 the door 0e9a809f46 open from 09370a8611 the back, c84fab0af3 and Benjamin 6e69958dd4 stepped out.271c44bd9ab68347

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Did you finish making 8f8ab98a74 the syrup?”15b4c9bf86c6cd58

“No, not yet. We’re low on sugar. Could you cover 4114f2967c for a little 966361237c longer?”2d371e1510ec702d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Doesn’t seem like anyone’s 7d4a938a38 going to make it eeb93123cb through this snow.”3cd1db54d1b2ad6a

Jay’s comment made 8d45c1079e Benjamin chuckle as c2be2c5c0f he pulled some 65a9b05871 sugar out of b3661254c7 the drawer.d90a750340783627

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’ve been calling cff473c50e me in a ed3d4b75e5 lot lately. Are you short 657aba4318 on staff?”577658baf968ef49

“Kind of. I’d love it 329673b01b if you came 320270ef8c back for good.”0faf217f5e9a50e3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Thanks for the offer, 94b40b9ae0 but I’m already working 4104c9d92d two jobs. It’s rough.”e94039079bbc3b0d

“Still, doesn’t this place a2f04293a7 pay better than the a9fcbe8052 bookstore?”aa1afee093615dff

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“It does, 21a9c9b270 but unlike 64e3397ce9 the bookstore, d4d966bad2 here I 0ec07626ad have to c800ff7fc3 deal with 561c63c7d0 more people. And I bc6db51455 can’t quit 47540e3a98 the bar 61e4c5de46 either. It’s night work, and cb52a86be6 the pay’s way better. You know how tight b85976049b things are—barely enough to 8899e7ca66 cover rent.”8bf96735bf24ffbb

“That’s why 195034ab6f I said 34c69fa1ba you should fa3e5b7097 just move 3caeec2582 in with 1ab82e4924 me.”675996db29664055

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I’ll think about it.”5318c8eb911ce9b0

“I’d take good care e31edb6f26 of you, you know?”59e8f8e7bfefaaff

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Take care of him 3dde378040 how, exactly? Jay let out a f3cd041508 small laugh. Benjamin noticed d5a5a51b76 the rejection f5ffc27ff6 in his 142c0a3284 tone and c333368700 frowned slightly, 64b69a312a but quickly 439b4c358f shrugged it fe3aadf079 off with 460f34e83e a “Can’t 396fc4f616 be helped.”7f90324638a940bf

“Just help out 2127623fd8 from time to 0840e842d4 time.”e241f273390c1f2c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Call me f2d27b9383 when you 9ff3edb1dd need me.”f0463ab5054e3661

At Jay’s reply, 69bce48c03 Benjamin nodded and cdbf755662 headed back into eb9b82f8bd the kitchen.15560d0b8c1ef5d7

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com