That night, Axel showed extra care to Lily. He scooped her into his arms, gentle with his touch, his heart warmed by Lily’s profession of affection.‘I think I’m beginning to like you, Axel. . .” He smiled. That alone was enough for him. It meant that he was slowly getting to her, he was beginning to grow on her, and he was sure that feeling would soon develop into something deeper.Lily nestled against his chest, exhaustion etched on her face, her lips pursed. Axel held her firm while he strode through the quiet halls into their room. In the room, warm lightning enveloped them, causing Lily to stir in Axel’s arms.Smiling, Axel carried Lily into the bathroom before gently setting her down. “Tired?” He asked.“Hm,” Lily hummed her response, her eyes half closed.He nodded and turned on the shower. Steam rose.Water cascaded.Axel's hands undressed her. Gentle. Reverent. Lily's limbs sagged, but he was quick to support her. He held her firm while washing her clean with such precisio
“Alice? Isn’t that your ex-wife’s name?”Axel's smile faltered for a split second. "Alice?" he repeated, chuckling. Awkward. "No, no relation to...my past." He waved his hand dismissively. "Just a colleague from the office."Lily's eyes held his, skeptical.Axel stood, phone still ringing. "I should take this."He turned to leave, but Lily's voice stopped him. "Axel, wait." She called out, her tone low, cautious. "What's going on?"Axel's expression smoothed. "Nothing, Little bird. Just work."Lily nodded, yet her heart wasn’t believing a word that came out of Axel’s mouth. “Just work?” She asked.“Yes, Lilian, just work.” He replied, and without waiting for any more questions, he answered the call, striding out of the room. "You had better have a good reason for ruining my night.”His tone is thick, angry, leaving Lily with more questions than answers.Lily sat motionless, her ears straining to listen to Axel's muffled voice beyond the door.Minutes ticked by, filled with an uncomfor
Morning came by quicker than Lily had expected. She grumbled underneath her breath, cussing out the sunlight peeking through her eyes.Her eyes opened slowly, allowing the morning light to filter through, bathing her in warmth. She stretched, yawning.And then memories of last night flooded. She didn’t remember the things she was saying, but she knew she had been talking a lot. And she knew that right after she finished talking, Axel was touching her gently.She remembered how gentle his touch felt on her skin, how velvety his whispered promises were.Why was he promising never to hurt me?She thought to herself, yet, it didn’t stop a smile from spreading across her face.She wore a smile until she saw him, until she understood that he was in a haste, rushing. With swift movements, Axel shrugged into his perfectly tailored black suit, his hands working fast at securing his tie. Lily sat up, her smile dropping. “Good morning,” she whispered, gaining the attractive man’s attention.
Axel stood by the car, his focus on the anticipation coursing through him as he waited for Lily to walk out.And he was right to have been feeling so much giddiness.Lily was walking towards him gracefully, a smile etched on her lips, her blonde hair dancing as one with the soft breeze, her pink dress hugging and accentuating her curves.Axel stepped forward, his heart going ballistic. He stretched out his hand, reaching for her. She quickly slid her hand into his, a flutter forming in her stomach.“You’re incredulously gorgeous, baby girl,” Axel whispered, his eyes filled with awe.Lily chuckled underneath her breath. “You don’t look so bad yourself,” she responded.Both of them shared a brief moment of silence, their gazes burning into each other’s souls.“We should be on our way,” Lily said, breaking the silence.Axel nodded in agreement and whispered, “we should,” as he led her to the car.He opened the door for her, and once she was seated, he shut the door, rounded the car and g
“Tell me again, Lilian,” Axel hushed, his feet pushing him forward.Lily mirrored him by taking a step back, her bottom lip caught viciously between her teeth. “I love you.”Axel shuddered a breath, “say it again.”“I love you, Mr. George,” Lily repeated.Axel moved forward.She pushed backwards.He moved forward again.She pushed backwards, the intensity of his gaze and his movements threatening to burst through her chest with loud pounding.Her back crashed into a wall, trapping her petite body in-between. One step drew Axel completely close to her, invading her senses with the strong whiff of his cologne.Her heart rose to her throat, beating so raggedly she almost fainted from the dizziness. She didn’t know what to expect. Hell, she didn’t know why she made that confession. It was the excitement. The joy of knowing that her husband-to-be was an exceptional man.Whatever the reason might be, she hadn’t intended for it to come out the way it did.Axel’s thumb slowly ran across her
Axel had never been so terrified in his life. His heart sank into his stomach when he sighted a dark shadow approaching them.It wasn’t just about the dark shadow, but about the events that had been occurring lately and all the threats he had been getting over Lily.Ever since their relationship was made public, enemies had risen from every corner of the world, threatening to take away his new found possession. So, one could only imagine the fear in his eyes when he thought he was about to lose his woman.Axel was quick to set Lily down, pushing her behind him with an arm secured around her waist. With his free hand, he slid out his Glock, immediately unlocking the trigger and pointing it towards the approaching shadow.“Put down the fucking gun, Axel George.”The voice was so awfully familiar. Axel and Lily immediately recognized the voice.“Dad?” Lily exclaimed as she rushed to flick the lights on.“Daniels?” Axel breathed, “what the fuck, man? Whatever the fuck are you doing here a
“What arrangements did you make with my father concerning me and this union of ours?”Lily asked, holding Axel’s eyes.He held his breath for a moment, and when he released his breath, it came out as a shudder. He knew he could no longer lie to her or keep her in the dark about certain things.He understood their relationship had taken a different turn especially after her confession of love.Cradling her face, Axel whispered underneath her breath, “I sometimes wish you aren’t such an inquisitive person, that you aren’t so curious.”“Does that mean you. . .” Lily started to speak but Axel cut her off.“That means that I’m willing to tell you all you need to know, but first, we need to get you cleaned up and in bed. You look exhausted.” He said, gaining a warm smile from her.“I am exhausted,” she nodded in agreement, yawning. And then a squeal erupted in her throat when Axel suddenly lifted her fireman style, his hand coming down to gently spank her ass.They were soon in their room,
As Lily watched Axel shut the door behind him, her thoughts swirled. She was attempting to process Axel's revelation. A security company, elite protection, and delicate situations—each phrase formed images of danger, secrecy, and power.Why had Axel kept this hidden? Was he shielding her or himself?Fear and excitement wrestled within her. And she loathed that there was a ping of excitement beneath the surface. She loathed that she didn’t exactly have the outburst she wanted to after discovering that all she was was a job to him.‘But he said this is genuine,’ the voice inside her head whispered.She puffed out a breath and threw herself into the soft mattress.Axel’s vulnerable gaze lingered in her mind, his willingness to risk their relationship by sharing this secret.'Anything to protect you,' he'd said. His words resonated, echoing her own feelings.She pulled her hair, tossed and turned, and continued to sigh in frustration.She needed answers, she knew there was more. She kne
“I’m ashamed.”“What?”“It’s shame,” Lily repeated, chuckling bitterly, “and it’s funny how I’m just realizing this now.”“Why are you ashamed? Can you think of any reason?” Alora asked further, her tone gentler, softer, like a mother caring for her child.She and Lily wasn’t so far apart in age, but motherhood had really made Alora into a more grounded woman, a woman who knew how to nurture those around her. And for the first time since loosing her mother, Lily felt so at peace, so comfortable.Clearing her throat, she began speaking. “I think I’m mostly ashamed of my desperation. Of how I moved from a bad breakup to becoming someone’s fiance. And then I suddenly realized that I didn’t even care to know the man I was marrying, I simply wanted to marry him because he was good to me, because he helped me forget about the pain of betrayal.”“Were you happy? While you were engaged to him, did he make you happy?” Alora quizzed.Lily nodded, a silent sob erupting in her throat, the tears a
“Miss Daniels!”Lily spun around, her curious eyes searching through the space, wondering who called out to her. And when her eyes landed on Mrs. Alora Mount, a smile coated her lips.Both women swerved through the crowd of organizers running around to put everything in order before the guests started arriving, and when they were close enough, they both kissed each other on the cheeks in greeting.“It’s so nice to see you again, Mrs. Mount, you look as radiant as ever,” Lily almost squealed excitedly.Alora chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Please, call me Alora.”Lily grinned. “Not until you start calling me Lily.”Both of them chuckled excitedly.Alora Mount was the wife of Keylor Mount, one of the biggest business men in the city of New York. And she herself as his wife had built herself a big brand in the fashion and beauty industry. One known fact: she built her brand using her husband’s influence and she was unapologetic about it. It was something Lily admired her for.Lily a
Lily slid the key into the lock with trembling fingers, her chest tight from the weight of the evening. Her heels clicked softly against the tile as she stepped inside, the faint click of the door closing behind her sounding final. She leaned back against the door, her knees buckling. Slowly, she slid down to the floor, letting her purse fall to her side. The tears at the brim of her eyes cascaded down her face. She cried silently at first, then it built into quiet sobs. Then into louder sobs. She buried her face in her hands, shoulders shaking as the emotions of the evening spilled out. Everything felt overwhelming. Axel’s sudden return to her life, the unresolved tension between them, and the notification that had shattered the fragile peace of their dinner. That wife of his. . .why is she hellbent on destroying my peace and happiness? Lily wondered, a hand dragging through her hair.“Oh gosh,” she breathed, her breaths shallow, “fuck him, and her, and those fucking bloggers. .
"Have you. . .legally divorced her yet?" Lily’s voice resounded with demand, her voice shaking.Fuck—Axel screamed internally.Why was this happening? Why now?He wanted to speak to her about it, but he needed to secure the perfect time before doing so, and now. . .why, why, why?His jaw locked in an instant, the hesitation in his expression cutting Lily more than she expected. He let out a heavy breath, his hands dropping to his sides. "It's in the works," he admitted, the words measured, his tone strained. Lily’s throat tightened, a lump forming. "In the works?" she repeated, her voice rising, the pain in her chest too much to handle. "What does that mean, Axel?"“I’ve served Alice the papers,” he said, his voice strong, and yet so quiet, as if trying to calm the anger growing in her. “She won’t sign them. She’s making this hard, Lily.”Lily laughed in a bitter way, the sound empty, hollow. It sent fear down Axel’s core, because he knew what that laughter meant. It was a sound s
Lily Daniels had gone to many fancy dinners, walked on red carpets in designer clothes, and enjoyed the love of wealthy people. But when the shiny black car stopped at a simple brick building in the center of the city, she became curious."This isn't a restaurant," she said, looking at Axel, who was sitting up beside her, completely calm.A little backtracking: The driver had gone to Axel’s company to pick him up.Axel smirked, his confidence maddening. "It's better than any restaurant."The driver opened her door, and Axel got out first, reaching back his hand to her. Lily waited just a moment, contemplating before putting her hand in his. The warmth of his hand made her feel a tingle up her arm."Where are we?" she asked, stepping onto the sidewalk. The building had no sign and no clue as to what was inside."You will see," Axel said, his voice quiet and playful.He escorted her through the doors, where a well-dressed concierge nodded at them. Lily's breath caught as they stepped in
Tomorrow arrived quicker than expected and Lily couldn’t contain her nerves.She stood in front of her mirror, smoothing the soft fabric of her emerald-green dress. It fit her perfectly, the neckline modest but with a hint of allure. She reached for a gold necklace and fastened it around her neck. Her hands shook slightly, and she told herself it was just the excitement of the evening.Axel afterall promised to blow her mind away and she couldn’t wait to see what he had instored for her, considering that he was the king of surprises. From the doorway, Kate leaned casually against the frame, her arms crossed and a teasing grin on her face. “So, you’re really going through with this?” Lily turned to face her, raising an eyebrow. “What do you mean by ‘this’?” Kate stepped into the room, her heels clicking softly on the floor. Lily couldn’t help but notice the elegance Kate exuded especially since becoming a law student at a prestigious school.And honestly, she felt truly happy fo
One week later. . .The lights dimmed, and a soft golden glow bathed the runway as the final model made her way down the platform. Lily followed close behind, her gown flowing in perfect sync with her graceful strides. The crowd erupted into applause, the flash of cameras bright against the dusky backdrop. But Lily’s focus faltered for a heartbeat. In the front row, Axel sat among the elite, his sharp suit and relaxed posture making him stand out. His eyes weren’t on the models, the designs, or even the spectacle of the evening. They were on her. His gaze was steady, unwavering, and intense, like he could see right through the mask of confidence she wore. Like he was studying her.Lily’s breath caught, and she almost stumbled on her feet.Why did she feel so excited to be watched like a prey? She wondered, a gulp forcing down her throat. The pride in Axel’s expression was undeniable, but it was the hunger in his eyes that sent a ripple of warmth down Lily’s spine. She quickly loo
Axel woke to the dull throb of pain in his head and the uncomfortable tug of something taped to his hand. He blinked against the harsh light filtering into the room, his throat dry and scratchy. Slowly, his eyes adjusted, and he noticed the IV drip attached to his hand. The stark sterility of the room around him confirmed he wasn’t in his penthouse.Confused, he shifted and a groan escaped him. His muscles were stiff and his body sore.His head lolled to the side, and that was when he noticed her. Lily.She was sitting beside the bed, her hands clasped tightly on her lap. Her posture was tense, but her face was soft, almost hesitant. She looked exhausted, dark circles under her eyes, but her presence alone brought a sliver of warmth to his chest that he hadn’t felt in months.Of course she had to come. It had been two months since they saw one another, and when she got a call that he had collapsed in his penthouse, she just couldn’t stop herself from seeing him.“Lily?” Axel’s voice
Two months post-separation from Lily had been Axel’s nightmare. He couldn’t sleep, he couldn’t eat, he couldn’t operate like a normal human being. He simply craved the one person who made him feel whole.His Lily. His little bird.She had been his breath of life. And then she left. And then darkness fell upon him again.A thick darkness he couldn’t find his way out of.He buried himself in work during the day and submerged himself in alcohol at night.Do you know what’s laughable? The fact that he couldn’t even manage his work anymore. He couldn’t run his empire. He was crashing from the inside out.And now, it was another night, and he had lost count of how many bottles he’d downed. His vision was already blurred, his words slurred, and the ache in his chest didn’t ease, no matter how much he drank.“Axel,” one of his closest friends grumbled, grabbing his arm, “we need to get you home, man. You’ve had enough for one night.”Axel chuckled darkly, pulling his arm free. “Enough?” he sl