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
Austin was Axel's son. She tipped her head to the side and her eyes connected Axel’s. She was silent, but her eyes asked the one question hanging heavy on her tongue. “Is Austin your son?”Axel didn’t speak, but when a shuddered breath wracked through him, that was all the answer Lily needed to hear.Hysteric laughter erupted in her throat.Lily's head exploded and she bit down on her tongue, an attempt to keep herself from falling completely apart. “You mean you’re acquainted with this girl that broke our family?” Alice’s voice echoed louder than necessary. Of course she’d raise her voice—it was obvious her aim was to embarrass Lily. “Yes. She is the lady I was telling you about,” Austin answered, the corner of his mouth curved up.Lily smiled, nodding. This was their plan after all, to come here and make a mess of her where the world could see. But her anger wasn’t directed at them. She was angry at the man who put her in this situation.Axel. . .If only he was open about everyt
The silence in the room was so loud it almost drove Lily out of her mind. A small whimper elicited in her throat, the sound so low that no one could hear it. But Axel heard it, and he knew what it meant.He sighed, tired, resolved.If unhappiness was his fate, then he was willing to accept it. But he couldn’t stand by any longer and watch his ex-wife and son ruin the life of an innocent girl whose only crime was allowing herself to be swayed by him.“I warned you not to call her a whore again,” Axel said, his eyes intent on his ex-wife. Lily was still dumbstruck, her mind running in circles, trying so hard to understand what had just happened.Axel just hit a woman—her mind kept singing. And then for Alice and Austin, it was a surprise. Especially for Alice. Axel was never a violent man. He had never put his hands on her throughout their years of marriage, he never touched her in any harmful way no matter how many times she crossed the line.And it was in that moment that she realiz
Once Lily and Axel were both out of the door, the journalists came rushing toward them.“Is it true you dated the son of your Fiance?” “How do you feel about being the center of attention in a scandal?” “Is it true you got engaged to Axel George because of his Wealth?” Lily felt the urge to scream her lungs out. What was it with people and insinuating she got together with Axel because of his wealth? She came from money and everyone knew it. But it was a normal thing in society—belittling women and making it seem as though they were nothing without the men in their lives.She wanted to stop and lash out on the journalists, but Axel held her firm, pulling her through the crowd, shielding her from the desperate, hungry journalists. He guided her till they got into their car. Once they were safely inside, Lily immediately withdrew her hand from Axel’s and moved the edge of the seat. Axel sighed, his head bobbing once in understanding.“Take us home, James,” he said to their chauffeu
The stillness of the night seemed heavier now, the air thick with tension and unspoken truths. The faint hum of distant crickets only made the silence between them more unbearable. They still sat beneath the towering tree by the roadside, the soft rustle of leaves overhead doing little to soothe the chaos brewing between them.Lily’s gaze bored into Axel, her hands clenched tightly in her lap. The words she had asked moments ago hung in the air like a storm cloud.“Did you know about my past relationship with your son?”Axel didn’t answer. He couldn’t. The weight of her question, laced with both vulnerability and fury, pinned him down like a guilty verdict.Instead of replying, he glanced away, his jaw tightening, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard.Lily’s heart dropped. She didn’t need a verbal confirmation. The way his shoulders tensed, the way his gaze faltered, told her everything she needed to know.“You knew,” she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief. “You knew, d
It had been twenty four hours since Lily returned to her father’s mansion. Twenty-four hours since she fell apart, and twenty-four hours of crying that left her hollow. “I’ll be in my room,” she had muttered the moment they stepped inside. Her father’s voice had followed, gentle but heavy with concern. “Are you okay, butterfly?” Lily had turned to him, her eyes red and glassy. She tried to speak but couldn’t find the words. Finally, she croaked, “I don’t know, Dad. I don’t even know what *fine* means anymore. Everything feels wrong.” Daniels had stepped closer, his hand resting on her shoulder. “Talk to me, baby girl,” he urged, guiding her to the couch. As they sat, the floodgates opened. “I should’ve known,” Lily whispered, her voice trembling. “The resemblance, the way he spoke, the little things—it was all right there, and I didn’t see it. Twice, Dad. Twice I fell for him, and both times he fooled me.” Her father pulled her close as the sobs wracked her body. “I can’t
Lily woke to the steady vibration of her phone on the nightstand, its soft hum cutting through the silence of the room. Her eyes opened reluctantly, swollen and heavy from the tears of the night before. She stared at the ceiling for a moment, dreading whatever waited for her.The phone buzzed again, and she turned her head slowly, the light from the screen piercing through the dimness. Notifications filled the screen—dozens of them. She reached for the phone with trembling fingers, unlocking it hesitantly. Headlines leapt out at her: "Heiress Lily at the Center of Scandal," "Greedy Gold-Digger or Misunderstood Lover?"She scrolled past quickly, her heart sinking further with each passing headline. Her name was everywhere, tangled in rumors and venomous accusations. She tossed the phone onto the bed, pressing her palms against her temples as a fresh wave of nausea rolled over her. The room felt smaller somehow, closing in on her as the weight of the world’s judgment pressed down.
The bass of the music vibrated in Lily’s chest as she stepped into the club, her face hidden beneath the brim of her cap. She stuck close to Kate, whose confidence seemed to shine even brighter in the dim, flashing lights. “Are you sure about this?” Kate asked, giving Lily a side glance. Lily nodded, gripping her jacket tightly around her. “I just need a break, Kate. One night.” Kate smiled, squeezing her arm. “Alright, but remember, I’ve got your back.” The club was alive with color and movement. The flashing lights lit up the crowd, and the music made conversation almost impossible. Kate guided Lily to a small corner table. “Wait here. I’ll get us some drinks,” Kate said, disappearing into the crowd. Lily sat still, her hands gripping the edge of the table. Every laugh and glance around her felt like a spotlight pointed her way. She tugged her cap lower, trying to blend into the shadows. Kate returned with two glasses, setting one in front of Lily. “Here, drink this. A
Lily’s cheeks were still flushed as she stepped out of the car when they arrived at Axel’s estate. Axel’s hand rested on the small of her back, leading her into the manor while her legs still trembled from the exerting activity they’d indulged in aka their passionate rendezvous in the office and car. She could feel the heat on her skin, a mixture of embarrassment, shyness, and exhilaration. Her hands smoothed her dress down as if attempting the evidence of what transpired between them. Axel walked beside her, his face smug with a satisfied expression. His lips twitched into a knowing smirk whenever he glanced her way, and it only made Lily blush harder. The heavy door shut behind them with a resounding thud. The quiet of the manor wrapped around them, an almost tangible reminder that they were completely alone now. “Where’s everyone?” Lily asked, as she fidgeted, her fingers playing with the hem of her dress. She felt vulnerable under Axel’s intense gaze, like a butterfly pinned
Lily's legs still trembled as she and Axel strolled through the hallway and entered the elevator, leading them down. The tension between them thickened with every second that ticked by and Lily continued gulping down the lump forming in her throat.Her mind rang with Axel’s promise. He said he’d take her home and make her crawl to him, then make her beg for all the stress he’d put her through.Her cheeks flamed. It’d been a while since they were intimate, and anticipation shook her to the core. She gasped as Axel’s hand rested possessively on her lower back, guiding her toward his sleek car, her heart beating raggedly on her ribcage, making her chase her breath.When they reached the car, Axel opened the passenger door for her and she slid in, flashing him a soft smile. Why was he so quiet?What was going through his mind?His movements were stiff, robotic, as though holding himself back took every ounce of his willpower. Lily settled into the seat, shifting to get comfortable as her
The kiss was slow at first—just gentle kisses, testing, tasting as though rediscovering each other after months of separation. Almost like Lily and Axel were afraid of letting themselves go. Axel cupped Lily’s face, his thumb grazing the curve of her cheek, and she sighed softly against his mouth. The sound stirred something animalistic in him, and he tilted his head, deepening the kiss.Lily’s hands found his chest, her fingers tracing over the hard muscles beneath his shirt. She clung onto his shirt, her lips parting to let Axel’s tongue in. His fingers dug into her hair as he titled his head further to the side, deepening the kiss even more.“Fuck,” he groaned into her mouth, straining as his cock thickened in his pants, fighting to be let out. In the moment, every string of control flew out the window, the switch flipped. His fingers tightened into Lily’s hair painfully hard, so painful it drew a whimper from her throat.Axel growled at the melodic sound, his teeth nibbling Lil
Lily and Axel continued exploring the facility, moving through hallways filled with laughter and the vibrant energy of children. Axel loosely held her hand as they walked, guiding her from one room to another. Every now and then, they stopped to play with the kids, their conversations filled with giggles and wide-eyed admiration.“I think whatever you told Mia has spread like wildfire,” Lily teased, watching a group of kids blush and whisper as they passed. “They can’t stop staring at us.”Axel smirked, his eyes warm with mischief. “It’s fine if they know, but you? You’ll never find out.”Lily rolled her eyes dramatically, letting out a groan. “You’re so. . .impossible.”Their tour finally led them to the children’s drawing room. They settled at one of the small tables, joining a group of kids who eagerly handed them paintbrushes.As Lily dipped her brush into the vibrant colors, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. She wasn’t thinking about the past, the pain, or even the uncer
The sun was yet to rise when Axel arrived at Lily’s home. Today, he drove himself, in a way to give him and Lily more private time to bond.He was dressed in a casual attire—grey sweatpants and a black T-shirt, then a baseball hat on his head.Without wanting to disturb Lily’s sleep, he sat in his car and waited for hours until the sun began to rise. And to his greatest surprise, he spotted Lily gently jogging back to the manor after her morning run.His mouth pulled apart, pupils dilating as he watched her move so smoothly, sweat trickling down her face, a few strands of her hair matted over her forehead.Beautiful. . .so fucking beautiful.His head voice kept whispering as he opened the car door and stepped out. Lily’s steps slowed to a stop the moment she spotted him getting out of his car and she almost stumbled. Axel was quick to reach her side before she crashed, his firm hands holding her up.“Axel?” Her voice was breathless, partly from her run and partly from the shock of se
Axel weaved the lunch bag’s handle through his fingers, the other hand formed into a fist and steepled underneath his chin, his eyes observing the city light outside the window of his office.It was dark into the night and yet, Axel’s mind was nowhere near ease. “Fuck. . .” He grumbled, fingers diving into his hair, his head dropping low, shaking.He rose to his feet and approached the window, staring at his reflection as though it were a stranger.“You had to mess it up, didn’t you?” He asked himself as he massaged his temples with his fingers.He was unnerved by the thought that he might’ve ruined his chances at repairing his relationship with Lily, that his pride and slightly loose tongue might’ve cost him his last chance at having this love he craved so much.But he shut her out for good reason.All these weeks that turned into a full month of no communication with Lily, he had taken his time to plan out the perfect apology.He wanted to be the one to beg her, he wanted to be the
The next day, Lily found herself walking through the lobby of Axel’s establishment. She had a bouquet of white roses in one hand, and in the other, she carried a small bag containing a lunch box.She was afraid of the outcome of her visit especially as her mind replayed the events of last night. The way Axel sent her out of his house, the way he looked down at her with so much anger and resentment.It terrified her to be here in his workspace, but she was a woman on a mission. She needed to repair the relationship she ruined and nothing was going to stop her.When she arrived at the private floor, she approached the receptionist with a warm smile. “Hi, I’m Lilian Daniels.” She said.And that was all that needed to be said for the receptionist's smile to widen. Everyone knew Lilian Daniels—not just as a fast growing fashion mogul, or even the only daughter of a powerful business man, but as the woman who has Axel George’s heart.“You’re here to see Mr. George?” The receptionist asked.
When Axel walked into his home in the dead of night, the aroma of something delicious—of his favorite meal wafted through his nose. He stopped dead in his tracks, his brows pulling into furrows as he remembered instructing his chef not to make dinner.He began approaching the kitchen but then he stopped at the dinning. The dining is perfectly set up. With soft candles burning, rose petals scattered across the silk cloth covering the dining table, and elegant dinnerwares sprawled out.Do I have a visitor? He wondered.But he didn’t dwell too long in his thought when Lily walked out of the kitchen with a serving spoon.She quickly noticed Axel’s presence and that made her stop in her tracks, a gasp falling free from her throat.Both their eyes locked and they stared intensely for seconds that could pass for hours.In Axel’s heart, he was confused and happy all at once, but he couldn’t bring himself to show her his excitement even if he wanted to and he didn’t know why.“Hey,” Lily final
One month later.Lily paced her room, thumb between her teeth, phone pressed to her ear as she listened to the person speaking on the other end.A business partner—no, a major business partner.“Of course, Mrs. Baldwin, I understand what you mean. You trust me to deliver a good job and be punctual about it too, don’t you?” Lily asked and quieted herself once more until she heard a response.“Good. Now rest your mind. I’ll make sure my team gets to you before the weekend,” Lily assured her, finally removing the phone from her ear and letting her body collapse onto the couch. She groaned, running a hand through her hair in frustration.Kate, who was already sitting beside her the entire time with a bowl of ice cream in hand, chuckled softly. She nudged Lily with her elbow, a proud smile playing on her lips. “Look at you,” Kate said, a teasing lilt in her voice. “Who would’ve thought you could expand your brand this much in such a short amount of time, especially with everything you’ve b