Lily.As I walked away from Noah, his words echoing in my mind, I couldn't shake off the feeling of betrayal. How could he snap at me like that? After everything we've been through together, all the laughter, the shared secrets, the late-night conversations, we managed to sneak in... It felt like a punch to the gut. I thought I knew him, trusted him, but now it seemed like I didn't know him at all."I can't believe he said that," I muttered to myself, kicking a pebble along the sidewalk. "He never even bothered to tell me about his girlfriend. How long has he been hiding her from me?"The more I thought about it, the angrier I became. Noah was supposed to be my best friend, the one person I could always rely on, the one person who had taken an interest in me asides his mother. But now, it felt like he had been keeping secrets from me all along and to top it off, he had the nerve to lash out at me when I simply asked him about it.As I reached the hallway, I found a bench and sank down
LilyAs I was setting the dinner table later that night, arranging the silverware with a deliberate precision, the quiet hum of the evening was suddenly interrupted by the soft creak of the door. Mrs. Donovan entered the room with a warm smile gracing her features, her presence instantly filling the space with a sense of comfort. As her eyes met mine, she moved closer, enveloping me in a brief but heartfelt hug."Lily, dear," she said softly, her voice carrying a gentle warmth, "would you mind going upstairs and calling Noah down for dinner? It's almost ready, and I'm sure he's buried in his books again."Nodding in response, I couldn't help but feel a subtle tension prickling at the edges of my consciousness. Noah and I had a complicated history, one that left me constantly on edge whenever we were in close distance. I knew I couldn't fail her since Mrs. Donovan trusted me to fetch her son, unaware of the uneasy tension that simmered beneath the surface.Reluctantly tearing myself aw
LilyAs I stirred from sleep the following day, a heavy weight seemed to press down upon my chest, exacerbating the persistent ache in my heart. I tried to shake off the gloom that clung to me like a stubborn dog, attempting to coax a semblance of cheer into my morning routine. Yet, no matter how brightly the sun streamed through my window or how sweetly the birds chirped their melodies, the shadows within me refused to dissipate.With a resigned sigh, I sat up in bed, running a hand through my tousled hair as I stared blankly at the wall before me. It was another day, but it felt no different from the one before it, or the one before that. Each morning seemed to blend into the next in an endless cycle of monotony and melancholy."I need to snap out of this," I muttered to myself, though the words felt hollow and devoid of conviction.But deep down, I knew the truth. No amount of forced positivity could fill the void that Noah's absence had left in my life. I longed for his presence,
LilyAs I stood in the kitchen, my hands busying themselves with washing the dishes but my mind elsewhere, I heard the familiar sound of a car pulling into the driveway. Instinctively, I glanced out of the window, and there it was, Noah's car. My heartbeat quickened, a mix of anticipation and frustration washing over me. I knew that soon, he would come looking for me, wanting to talk, to sort things out but I wasn't ready. Not yet. Not after what had happened.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. The argument we had earlier still lingered in my mind, the harsh words exchanged, the raw emotions laid bare. I was still mad at him, angry at how things had escalated. But beneath that anger, there was hurt, disappointment, and a hint of longing for things to be right again.I heard the front door open, followed by the sound of footsteps approaching. I tensed, bracing myself for the inevitable confrontation. Noah appeared in the doorway, his expression a mix of concern and appre
LilyThe next couple of days went by in a blur. I felt like I was moving through molasses, everything sluggish and heavy. Chris and Monica were doing their best to pull me out of this depressive fog that had settled over me like a suffocating blanket. They'd invite me out for coffee, suggest we go for walks in the park, or just sit with me in silence, hoping their mere presence would bring some solace to my aching heart but despite their efforts, I remained lost in my own thoughts, unable to shake off the feeling of emptiness that consumed me from within."I know it's hard, Lily," Chris would say, his voice filled with genuine concern. "But you can't keep dwelling on what could have been. You have to focus on the present and the future.""I'm trying," I would murmur in response, but it felt like an empty promise even to myself. How could I move on when every moment felt like a reminder of the love I had lost?Monica would chime in, her eyes soft with sympathy. "You're allowed to be sa
LilyThe morning sunlight streamed through the frosted window, casting a warm glow across the tiled floor of the bathroom. I sank into the bathtub, letting the soothing warmth envelop me, easing the tension in my muscles. As I closed my eyes and leaned back, a gentle fluttering sensation stirred in my stomach, like tiny butterflies dancing within me. My hand instinctively went to rest on the curve of my belly, feeling the life growing inside me."Oh, there you are, little one," I whispered, a tender smile playing on my lips. "Are you saying good morning to mommy?"The sensation grew stronger, tiny kicks and nudges against my palm, as if in response to my words. I chuckled softly, feeling a wave of love and wonder wash over me. Each movement was a precious reminder of the life blooming within me, a bond that transcended words.But amidst the joy, a pang of sadness tugged at my heart. I traced the outline of my belly, my mind drifting to thoughts of the father of my child. The man whose
LilyAs Monica dropped the bombshell news, the air in the room seemed to thicken with a mixture of shock and disbelief. I could feel the weight of it settling over me like a heavy blanket, suffocating any coherent thought that tried to rise to the surface. Noah’s girlfriend was here? It was inconceivable, yet the evidence of a car driving through the main gates was right there, staring us all in the face.Amidst the murmurs and gasps that filled the room, Mrs. Donovan's voice cut through the chaos like a sharp knife."Lily," she called, snapping me out of my daze. I blinked, tearing my gaze away from Monica's earnest expression to meet Mrs. Donovan's stern one."Yes, Mrs. Donovan?" I replied, my voice a little shaky as I pushed myself to stand and face her. But even as I did, my mind was racing with questions, each one more urgent than the last. Who was this mystery girlfriend? How long had Noah been seeing her? And why hadn't he told me she would be coming today even though we weren’
NoahAs Natalie stepped into my mother's house, I felt a pang of apprehension. It wasn't just because of the strained relationship between Natalie and my mother, but also because I realized bringing her here might have been a grave error. My mother had never been particularly fond of Natalie, and as soon as she caught sight of her, her expression soured, her lips forming a thin line of disapproval."Hello, Mrs. Donovan," Natalie chirped, her voice too cheery, too forced, as if trying too hard to impress. I winced inwardly, knowing that Natalie's over-the-top demeanor was only going to exacerbate the tension.My mother's response was polite but distant. "Hello, Natalie. It's been a while."Natalie launched into a torrent of words, her sentences flowing together in a rapid stream. "Yes, it has! Noah has told me so much about you! Your garden looks lovely, by the way. Oh, and I adore what you've done with the curtains in the living room. Such a nice touch!"I shot Natalie a warning glanc
LilyThe moment I walked up to the front door, a strange but exciting feeling bubbled up inside me. It was like my whole body was tingling with anticipation, even though I had no idea why. There was no reason for this giddy feeling, or at least none that I could see but something told me that I was about to walk into the most pleasant surprise of my life. I paused for a second before opening the door, letting the sensation wash over me, wondering what could possibly be waiting on the other side.As I stepped inside, the first thing I noticed was the soft, delicate petals of my favorite flowers—lilies—scattered all over the floor. They formed a beautiful, fragrant path leading further into the house. My heart skipped a beat as I took in the sight, my eyes wide with amazement. This was all too perfect, too magical. I followed the trail, my breath catching in my throat, my mind racing with possibilities.And then, I saw him—Noah, my love, my heart, my everything. He was there, at the end
NoahI knew it was time. I could feel it in every beat of my heart, in the way my breath caught whenever Lily walked into the room, and in the way her laughter filled the empty spaces in my soul. We'd been through so much together—every trial, every challenge had only strengthened the bond we shared. There was no doubt in my mind that she was the one, my other half, the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. I had thought about it for a long time, turning the idea over in my mind, imagining the look in her eyes when I finally asked her that all-important question. But today, as I sat in the quiet of the morning, I knew there was no better time than now."Ethan," I called out, my voice trembling slightly as I walked into his room. He was sitting on the edge of his bed, scrolling through his phone, but he looked up at me immediately, sensing the seriousness in my tone. I hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words to say. Ethan had always been my rock, my confidan
NoahI walked into my mother’s house that morning, the scent of freshly brewed coffee lingering in the air as Monica and Charles were engaged in their usual morning routine. Their eyes lit up when they saw me, a subtle reminder of how my presence could break the monotony of their workday.“Good morning, Noah!” Monica greeted me with a bright smile, her enthusiasm evident even before she glanced up from her paperwork.“Morning, Monica. Charles,” I said, acknowledging Charles with a nod. “I’ve got some important news. Lily and our daughter are coming back soon.”The room buzzed with a sudden wave of excitement. Monica’s eyes widened, and she quickly straightened her desk, the anticipation clear on her face.“Really? That’s wonderful news!” she exclaimed.“We’ve missed them so much. It’s been too long.”Charles, who had been quietly organizing files, looked up with a grin that spoke volumes. “It’s about time, Noah. We’ve been eagerly waiting for their return. The house isn’t the same wit
LilyThe evening sun cast a warm, golden glow across the room as I sat by the window, my hands resting on my swollen belly. The baby kicked softly, a gentle reminder of the life growing inside me, a life that would soon be born into a world of peace and safety—thanks to Noah. I couldn’t help but smile as I thought about how much he had done for us, how he had moved mountains to ensure that I never had to face the nightmares that had once haunted my every waking moment. I knew I was safe, and that knowledge was a comfort I clung to with every fiber of my being.“Noah,” I whispered, my voice barely audible, as if saying his name would summon him. I could almost feel his presence, his unwavering strength, and the way he always seemed to know exactly what I needed, even when I didn’t know it myself. “You’ve given me everything I never knew I needed. How did I get so lucky?”It hadn’t been easy. I knew that. There were days when I could see the exhaustion in his eyes, the weight of the wor
Noah The moment I stepped into the police station, the air felt thick with tension. The fluorescent lights flickered slightly, casting a cold, sterile glow over the room. My heart pounded in my chest, but I forced myself to remain calm. I knew what I had to do, and I wasn’t about to let my emotions betray me. As I approached the front desk, the officer on duty barely glanced up from his paperwork. "Name?" he asked in a monotone voice, as if he had done this a thousand times before. "Noah," I replied, my voice steady. "I'm here to speak with Detective Carter about Natalie." The officer finally looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he recognized the name. "Wait here," he muttered before picking up the phone and making a quick call. Moments later, a tall man with graying hair and a stern expression emerged from a side door. Detective Carter. He gave me a once-over, his eyes lingering a little too long as if trying to read me before I even opened my mouth. "Noah," he said, his
Lily As I rocked my baby to sleep, the rhythmic motion of the chair seemed to lull not just the little one but also my restless thoughts. The night was quiet, save for the soft, steady breathing of my child against my chest, but my mind was anything but calm. There was this gnawing feeling at the pit of my stomach, an unease that I couldn't shake off no matter how much I tried to convince myself that everything was fine. I hadn't heard from Noah in hours, which wasn't entirely unusual—he was a busy man, after all. But tonight, the silence felt different, more profound, like an omen hovering over me, warning me that something was off. I looked down at my baby, their innocent faces so peaceful, so unaware of the turmoil swirling inside me. I should be focusing on them, on this perfect moment, but instead, my thoughts kept drifting back to Noah. "He’s fine," I whispered to myself, almost as if saying it out loud would make it true. "He’s always fine." Yet, the words felt hollow, like
Ethan I was lounging on the couch, trying to unwind after a long day when my phone buzzed in my pocket. The screen lit up with Noah’s name, and a knot tightened in my stomach. We hadn’t spoken in a few days, and I could sense the urgency in his voice the moment I picked up. "Ethan," he said, skipping any formalities. His voice was steady, but I could hear the underlying tension. "Did you do what I asked? Did you hide all the evidence of Natalie’s disappearance?" I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice calm and reassuring. "Yeah, Noah. I took care of everything. I made sure there’s no trace left behind. No one’s going to find anything." There was a brief silence on the other end, and I could almost picture Noah running a hand through his hair, a habit he had when he was deep in thought or worried. "Good," he finally said, though he didn’t sound entirely convinced. "But we’ve got a problem. The police... they’re snooping around. They’ve been asking questions, poking into pl
Noah I was sitting in my office, the warm glow of the afternoon sun filtering through the blinds, casting long shadows across the room. The paperwork on my desk seemed never-ending, a constant reminder of the chaos Natalie had unleashed on my life. I had been trying to focus, to push all thoughts of her out of my mind, but the gnawing anxiety was hard to shake. My pen hovered over a document, the ink pooling at the tip as I paused, lost in thought. Just then, the door creaked open, and my secretary, a woman who rarely showed any emotion, stepped in with an unusually tense expression. I looked up, catching the tightness in her jaw, the way she hesitated for a fraction of a second before speaking. "Boss" she began, her voice steady but laced with something I couldn't quite place. "There are some policemen at the reception. They’re asking to see you in connection to the disappearance of... Natalie." The mention of her name sent a cold shiver down my spine, but I forced myself to rema
Lily It had been a long day, and the quiet of the evening settled around me like a heavy blanket, reminding me of just how much I missed the familiar buzz of the office. With a sigh, I reached for my phone, my fingers instinctively finding Monica’s number. As the line rang, I felt a pang of homesickness wash over me, stronger than I had anticipated. The warmth of her voice when she answered immediately brought a smile to my face. “Lily! It’s so good to hear from you! We’ve all been missing you so much around here,” Monica’s voice was full of genuine enthusiasm, and I could almost picture her bright smile on the other end of the line. “Chris was just saying the other day how quiet the place has been without you.” I couldn’t help but laugh softly, the sound of her voice easing the tightness in my chest. “I miss you guys too, more than I can even say. It’s strange being away for so long. Sometimes I feel like I’m missing out on everything happening back at the office.” “We’re just c