Lily’s world shattered like fragile glass, piercing her heart with every jagged shard. Her body stood frozen, rooted to the spot as her mind spiraled, trying to make sense of the scene in front of her.She’s by the door, staring at her best friend and the love of her life as they shamefully attempt to shield their nakedness, their betrayal from her.Her eyes stung with tears but she couldn’t let them fall, there was no way she could’ve let herself break apart so easily. But even without the tears, one could easily spot her pain. Her pain shows in the way her eyes are moving around in rapid motion, in the way her heart hammers her throat like a wild animal, in the way her fists are tight by her sides.Her mind reels back to the loggerheads she’s been in with her father since she refused his proposal, how she was willing to throw away her family for this boy who promised her a future. She had a feeling that he wasn’t worth that much sacrifice, but she allowed her stupid, stupid heart
The grand ballroom is transformed into a wonderland, bathed in colors and lights, as the birthday ball unfolds with elegance and sophistication. Crystal chandeliers refract rainbow hues, casting a glow on the sea of guests, resplendent in their finest attire.The air is alive with the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the soft strains of a live orchestra, playing a mesmerizing waltz that beckons couples to the dance floor. The sound of laughter and gentle chatter fills the room, punctuated by the clinking of champagne glasses and the rustle of silk gowns.A magnificent cake stands tall at the center of the room, adorned with intricate designs and sparkling candles.As the night wears on, the ballroom becomes a whirlwind of movement, with dancers twirling across the floor, their steps choreographed to perfection.In Lily’s room, she stands nervously in front of a mirror, her hand smoothening her dress over and over again.This night is about to drastically change her life.What was I
“Apply sunscreen all over your body, Miss. Lily, don’t leave a part dry. We’ll be at the beach all afternoon and I do not want. . .”Lily’s eyes rolled to the back of her head at the nagging voice of her maid.A little backstory. Axel, Lily’s fiancé and soon to be husband, demanded that she travel with him for a business trip, and she decided not to go on a journey with a man she barely knows without having any company. And since her relationship with her best friend was ruined by her best friend’s betrayal, Lily decided to go along with Kate.Now, they’re in Miami, about to have all the fun in the world.Lily definitely finds an absurdity in the situation. Who goes to Miami for business? Who books out a two room suite for two girls and leaves them to be by themselves?Who brings his fiancée out to Miami on business and doesn’t even give her details of said business before leaving her and going radio silent on her for hours?“Miss. Lily?” Kate calls out to Lily, drawing her mind bac
It didn’t take long before Lily found herself in Axel’s suite. At first, her breath was caught up in her throat, her palm sweaty from all the nervousness she felt. But as soon as she starts forcing her mind into calmness, all of that discomfort disappears, replaced with new found boldness.“You’re not saying anything, little bird,” Axel’s voice broke through the steamy silence.Oh gosh the way he speaks. So. . .Lily could barely control herself. Her eyes closed shut, her mind reeling with imaginations. She imagined herself on all fours, with this buff man behind her, thrusting in and out of her while he whispers dirty words into her ear.She imagined his fingers inside her, pushing and curling around her walls, leaving her teetering on the edge. He was older and the thought of it made it all the more exciting. And to think that for the first time since her attraction towards her scumbag ex-boyfriend, she’s once again feeling an attraction towards another man.But this time is differ
Axel stared at the beautiful girl sprawled out gracefully on his bed, her skin at the edge of quivering from her nervousness.In his heart, his subconscious laughs with pride. He had seen her a little over a year ago when she was just nineteen, and ever since, he has wanted her.It is something he never thought was possible after his ex-wife broke his heart into tiny, irredeemable pieces. But when he saw the young lady who carried herself with grace and poise as she moved around her father’s company, desperate to help out with the work, he knew he had found the one.And then he pushed for her to become his, officially, convincing her father into seeing the advantage that’d come with the union.Now, he has her. And he plans to make the most of their time together.Axel plans to spoil Lily. With love, with affection, with attention, with the kind of luxury she has never experienced before—he plans to show her how beautiful a union can be even if that union isn’t built upon love.While A
Lily’s chest quaked with heaves, her skin quivering as Axel moved his finger in and out of her. It was just a single finger, but the precision of his stroking was taking her places.“Oh gosh, Axel,” she breathes a moan, her eyes rolling into the back of her head.Axel’s response is a groan. He loves to see her like this, he loves that she’s letting him in. His desperation for her grows stronger, but he reminds himself to be patient and wait for the right time. “You like it, don’t you?” He asks on a rasp, his tongue moving slowly over her tight nipple.“Yes. . .” Lily responds, pleasure seeping through her tone of voice.“Do you want more?” He asks again, “tell me you want more, little bird.” Just as the words fill Lily’s ears, Axel pushes another finger into her, pushing both fingers so deep into her until his knuckles disappear into her. And then he curls the fingers.“Oh fuck! Oh my gosh!” Lily screams out in both pain and pleasure, her back arching off the bed.Axel’s firm hand hol
Lily opened the door to her suite, exhausted from an excruciating extracurricular activities she and Axel had indulged in earlier. As she stepped inside, her eyes widened in surprise. On the plush couch in the living room, a stunning red gown was draped elegantly, catching her attention. A small note attached to the dress read: "For tonight, little bird. Can't wait to see you shine. -A"Lily's heart skipped a beat as she approached the dress, her fingers tracing the intricate lace details. While she walked out of Axel’s suite, she had thought the date was a joke on his end, something he said to deceive her, but now, seeing the dress, she felt a rush of excitement.“Oh gosh, why am I feeling this way towards a man I barely know.” She groaned frustratedly, feeling like a fool for easily opening up to another man when her heart was just broken.But she couldn’t control what her heart and her body wanted to feel. Although she wasn’t exactly sure about her heart, she knew exactly what her
Lily and Axel walked down the stretched marina, the sound of seagulls filling the air as they made their way to the yacht. The warm sun cast a golden glow over the water, and Lily couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and nervousness.Lily glanced at Axel, noticing the way his eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled to himself. She felt a flutter in her chest, intrigued by this man she was bound to by a marriage arrangement.Axel must've noticed her eyes on him, because he turned to her, his gaze meeting hers for a brief moment before he looked away, his expression softening.The exchange between them was silent and quick, but held a deeper meaning. Axel couldn’t believe how quickly his attraction towards the girl was growing into something deeper and more meaningful than just mere attraction.And Lily couldn’t believe that she was suddenly so drawn to another man barely days after the boy she trusted betrayed her.Her heart was caught up in a turmoil, but she was ready to e
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
The café was warm and busy, with the soft hum of chatter and the smell of fresh coffee in the air. Lily spotted her father immediately, sitting in his usual corner, sipping his coffee and scrolling through his phone like he didn’t have a care in the world.He looked relaxed, even smug. The sight of him so unbothered stirred something bitter in her chest.Of course she loved her father, but they just couldn’t see eye to eye on things sometimes. They had the same stubbornness.She strode over, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. He looked up when she reached the table, a small smirk forming on his lips.“How nice it must be, Dad. You move through life like a king, breaking things and people, and never looking back.” Lily said, her voice sassy as she settled into the seat opposite him.Ignoring her sarcastic remark, Lily’s father threw his head back, laughter, low in his throat eliciting. “It’s been a few days, and you miss me already, kiddo?” he said, his tone light and teasin
The car came to a gentle stop at the parking space of the grand glass structure. The fashion house was everything Lily had ever dreamed of—a modern architectural marvel perched on the edge of a mountain, with sprawling views of rolling green peaks that stretched into the horizon. Her breath caught as she stepped out of the car, the enormity of it all pressing against her chest. This is mine now.Except it wasn’t entirely hers. Not really. Axel had bought this place for her when they were still together, pitching it as the perfect headquarters for her budding brand. He gifted this place to her not just as a house, but as a sign of his faith in her. It was a grand gesture, one that had once filled her with excitement and hope. One that made her realize that she loved him.But now, she wasn’t so sure about that love.She blinked rapidly, willing away the tears at the brim of her eyes. This house felt like a shadow hovering over her, a reminder of everything she had to prove. “Mis
“Since when did you start thinking and talking like my father, Kate?” Kate blinked, caught off guard. “Lily, what are you—” Lily’s voice cut through the space like a blade, low and venomous. “Was it before you fucked him or after you fucked him?”The fear in Kate’s eyes was enough to tell Lily all she needed to know. Smiling, she shook her head, her tongue darting out to wet her bottom lip. “You know what,” she whispered as she walked towards the door, “you don’t have to answer that.”Lily stormed out, her feet padding softly against the floor as she ran to her father’s office. She was ready to rain hell on him for ever putting his hands on her friend, but the moment she saw the raging fury in her father’s eyes, she gulped down her words.Mr. Daniels threw a tab on the desk and Lily’s eyes widened at the image displayed on the screen.“Seventy two hours, Lily,” he breathed, his words laced with disappointment, “within seventy two hours, you’ve done so much damage to yourself and y
The clang of the cell door opening made Lily sit up, her back stiff from the cold, hard bench. An officer stood at the doorway, his expression blank. “Daniels. Barnes. You’re coming with me,” he said, motioning them to follow. Kate groaned as she got to her feet, rubbing her eyes. “What now?” she muttered. Lily shrugged, brushing her hair back and standing. “Let’s get this over with,” she said, her tone tired. The officer led them down a narrow hallway. The air smelled stale, and their footsteps echoed in the silence. At the end of the hall, he opened a door and gestured for them to enter. Inside, the room felt tense and suffocating. The police chief sat behind the desk, his face unreadable. Next to him was Lily’s father, his jaw tight, and beside him, Axel sat with his arms crossed, looking like a storm ready to break. Lily froze for a moment, then let out a bitter laugh. “Of fucking course you had to be here,” she said, glaring at her father and Axel. Her father stood