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
“Of course you are,” she scoffed. “Let’s just prepare for the party tonight, Mr. George, then we can talk about your nasty attitude.”With that, she left Axel standing in the middle of the room, his sanity hanging on its last string.Lily walked back to her own personal room, tears streaming down her face. "What in the world came over me." She muttered, running her hands through her hair, shame weighing down on her. Axel's reaction earlier shook her to the core. One minute he's nice and can't stop professing his love for her and the next moment he's hard and treating her like a fucking kid. It's hard though, knowing he's twice her age, but he was the one who wanted to marry her; she didn't choose this. So why treat her like she means nothing to him. Her thoughts wandered.Lily stared at her wardrobe, the feeling of wanting to stay back home gnawed at her. If he treated her this way in private, what would he do in public? Lilly got into her bed, making up her mind to not go. Just as
The one thing he was avoiding was currently gaining in on him. And he knew he had to tell her before it was too late. Axel sighed, pocketed his phone and walked back into the closet. Just then, Lily stepped out of the shower room all dressed up. Their eyes met and she heaved out a nervous breath, her teeth biting into her bottom lip under the intense gaze of Axel. "How do I look?" She asked, turning around in a circle. Axel remained silent, gawking at her, his jaw dropped. Gorgeous was an understatement for how his lady looked right now. The silver dress hugged her body like a second skin, and the moment she did a 360 he could swear he heard his heart rate beat faster than normal. She looked gorgeous, exquisite, and beautiful. "Uhm. . .Baby?" Lily called, snapping her finger. Axel had zoned out while ogling at her body. He blinked twice, coming back from his reverie. "You didn't say how beautiful my dress looked," Lily muttered, walking to stand in front of the mirror. Axel's
Lily walked into the party, hand in hand with Axel. They looked like a perfect couple. A match made in heaven. Just like Axel had promised, he ordered Lily an entire store of designer dresses and a delivery was made while Lily was still washing herself up in the bathroom.And when she came out, they had both collectively picked out the perfect dress for the occasion. Lily felt somewhat out of place, looking at other people and their dates. She was younger than most, almost like a sugar baby. And in that moment, she couldn’t be more grateful that Axel made their engagement public.Axel, as if noticing her discomfort, held her closer to himself. “Relax,” he saidLily smiled dryly. “I am relaxed,” she replied.Axel chuckled. “Not with that tensed shoulder of yours,” he argued.Lily breathed in and they continued moving forward. Lily held on tight to Axel’s biceps, her nerves almost overwhelming her. Of course she belonged to high society, but balls and formal parties of this kind were
Lily looked at Axel with tears spewing from her eyes. She was expecting him to say something, to counter whatever his ex-wife was saying. He remained silent. Pain clawed in her heart as Axel’s shaky hand fell on hers, holding onto her. She couldn't believe he would hide something as big as this from her. Axel, seeing that pain and hurt reflection in Lily's eyes felt his chest constrict even more, to a point where he was almost gasping for breath. He was falling apart on the inside, he was at a crossroads. . .“Tell me what she's lying, Axel,” Lily’s whispered voice fell through his thoughts.Silence.“Tell me everything she said is a lie, a ploy to cause a rift between us,” She demanded, this time, her voice firmer. Still, Axel remained silent. He couldn't think of a way to defend himself in the situation. Alice’s face curled into a sinister smile, which she masked immediately. She walked up to Lily, laughing hysterically.“You didn't think he would be married to a stable, beautifu
Lily walked into the party, hand in hand with Axel. They looked like a perfect couple. A match made in heaven. Just like Axel had promised, he ordered Lily an entire store of designer dresses and a delivery was made while Lily was still washing herself up in the bathroom.And when she came out, they had both collectively picked out the perfect dress for the occasion. Lily felt somewhat out of place, looking at other people and their dates. She was younger than most, almost like a sugar baby. And in that moment, she couldn’t be more grateful that Axel made their engagement public.Axel, as if noticing her discomfort, held her closer to himself. “Relax,” he saidLily smiled dryly. “I am relaxed,” she replied.Axel chuckled. “Not with that tensed shoulder of yours,” he argued.Lily breathed in and they continued moving forward. Lily held on tight to Axel’s biceps, her nerves almost overwhelming her. Of course she belonged to high society, but balls and formal parties of this kind were
The one thing he was avoiding was currently gaining in on him. And he knew he had to tell her before it was too late. Axel sighed, pocketed his phone and walked back into the closet. Just then, Lily stepped out of the shower room all dressed up. Their eyes met and she heaved out a nervous breath, her teeth biting into her bottom lip under the intense gaze of Axel. "How do I look?" She asked, turning around in a circle. Axel remained silent, gawking at her, his jaw dropped. Gorgeous was an understatement for how his lady looked right now. The silver dress hugged her body like a second skin, and the moment she did a 360 he could swear he heard his heart rate beat faster than normal. She looked gorgeous, exquisite, and beautiful. "Uhm. . .Baby?" Lily called, snapping her finger. Axel had zoned out while ogling at her body. He blinked twice, coming back from his reverie. "You didn't say how beautiful my dress looked," Lily muttered, walking to stand in front of the mirror. Axel's
“Of course you are,” she scoffed. “Let’s just prepare for the party tonight, Mr. George, then we can talk about your nasty attitude.”With that, she left Axel standing in the middle of the room, his sanity hanging on its last string.Lily walked back to her own personal room, tears streaming down her face. "What in the world came over me." She muttered, running her hands through her hair, shame weighing down on her. Axel's reaction earlier shook her to the core. One minute he's nice and can't stop professing his love for her and the next moment he's hard and treating her like a fucking kid. It's hard though, knowing he's twice her age, but he was the one who wanted to marry her; she didn't choose this. So why treat her like she means nothing to him. Her thoughts wandered.Lily stared at her wardrobe, the feeling of wanting to stay back home gnawed at her. If he treated her this way in private, what would he do in public? Lilly got into her bed, making up her mind to not go. Just as
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
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
“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
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
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