“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
Axel stood still, his eyes locked on Lily's, the slap still resonating in the air. The sound still echoed in his mind.Everyone has their breaking point—Axel had just realized that Lily’s breaking point was her mother.She had painted a perfect picture of the woman who birthed her and it drove her insane that anyone would speak Ill of her character.Surprise clouded his face.Lily's face twisted in pain, her eyes burning with betrayal. "How dare you," she whispered.Axel didn't flinch. "I'm only telling you the truth. The truth you’ve been seeking for a while now.”“You’re a fucking liar,” she spat, her teeth grinding.Axel shook his head. “Why?” He asked, “because I’m simply providing answers to the questions you’ve been asking for weeks?”“Liar!” She yelled in his face.“No, I’m not,” he whispered.Tears filled Lily's eyes. "You're a monster."Axel's voice softened. "That, I am,” he agreed, his jaw ticking. “I’m a monster who’s loyal to the people he loves.” Lily laughed, despairin
“Don’t!”A familiar voice rang through the air, startling Lily and her father. Their heads snapped to the door, the eyes going wide in surprise as they stared at a disheveled looking Axel.His chest was heaving quick breaths, his eyes moving frantically.He shook his head at Lily’s father and mouthed, “please don’t. . .”Mr. Daniels heaved a shuddered breath, his head tipping to the side. “We shouldn’t keep these things away from her anymore, George,” he said, his tone firm.Axel nodded. “I understand. She’ll know, but not like this. . .”“You shouldn’t be here, Axel,” Lily’s harsh tone sliced through his surprisingly vulnerable heart. “You have no right to be here, and you have no right to stop my father from telling me what I should know!”The room fell silent for a fleeting moment, both couples staring into each other’s souls with pain in both their eyes.Lily felt a pang of regret in that moment. ‘Maybe I’m pushing too far,’ she thought to herself. “Axel. . .” She whispered, hopin
Lily’s father’s voice stopped Axel in his tracks. "When do you plan on telling my daughter that you have a son, George?" He asked, his voice a growl.Axel turned sharply, his eyes narrowed.Mr. Daniels’s face reddened with rage as he began striding purposefully towards Axel. Axel's eyes narrowed into tiny slits, his jaw clenched. "What?"Daniels's voice rose. "When do you plan on..."Axel's hands shot up, palms facing Daniels as though surrendering. "I heard you the first time, Daniels!"Daniels's fists trembled with an enraged twitch. "When are you going to tell her?"Axel's expression turned cold, his jaw ticking. "She'll know when she needs to know."A scoff breezed through Lily’s father’s parted lips, his face twisting in disgust. "Don't fucking tell me that!"Axel's eyes flashed, his feet moving him forward. “Tell you what, dearest friend?” He asked, "You want me to burden her with this information when she's still struggling to process the truth of who her mother was? Do you re
Axel reached a hand into his pocket and slid his phone out, immediately swiping the green icon. “Axel George,” his thick, frustrated voice echoed.He listened carefully as the person on the other side of the phone spoke. His eyes shifted to Lily for a fleeting moment before shifting towards another object. “Hm,” he hummed as though in thought. “It’s purely business, yes? And she won’t be there?” He asked the person on the phone.“Okay, I’ll be there.” He finally answered and hung up.“Who was that?” Lily asked.“Just a business partner,” Axel replied, “there’s a get together of the members of the Billionaires Club tomorrow and we’re invited. Would you like to come?”Lily smiled warmly, her head bobbing in a nod.Axel chuckled, “words, little bird.”“Yes, I'd love to come.” She answered, her tone excited. “But first, what was the thing you were about to tell me before. . .”Her curiosity was getting the best of her, but Axel cut her off by placing a palm over her thigh and squeezing ge
“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