A Place of Refuge

Lily stood and watched Alex walk away with intense pain, her hand on her chest as she considered what to do. 

She felt like if she allowed him to leave, he wouldn't come back to her and just that thought was enough to make her throat go dry.

The silence was overwhelming, broken only by the faint sounds of the night outside Alex’s mansion. 

She hadn’t intended to end up here, but she couldn’t bring herself to face what awaited her at home. Just thinking about it made her stomach twist with anxiety.

The weight of everything—the picture, her broken friendship with Alex, and the looming threat of the twins’ father—pressed down on her, suffocating her. 

Her mind kept returning to Alex as he kept on walking away. 

He was angry, hurt, and she didn’t know how to fix it. 

How could she make him understand that her secret had been about survival, about not letting anyone in for fear they’d eventually turn on her?

She couldn't just stand there and let him leave without trying her very best to make him stay.

She was going to take a risk and she didn't care if things didn't work out well, at least, she tried her best and that was all that mattered to her. 

"I'm not your regular highschool girl and I hate myself for it" She said as she kept her eyes on the floor but she could tell that Alex had stopped walking.

Alex looked at her, his expression guarded. 

He crossed his arms, the muscle in his jaw tensing as he studied her.

“What are you trying to do, Lily?” he asked quietly, his voice a mixture of frustration and concern. “It’s late. You've said all you wanted to say. Shouldn’t you be home?”

Lily closed her eyes, wondering if she should tell him the truth. She gripped her school bag tightly. 

“I… I couldn’t go back,” she whispered, barely audible. “Not after everything that happened today. I just… I didn’t know where else to go.”

Alex sighed, his shoulders dropping slightly. The tension between them was thick, almost tangible. 

“So, you’re here, avoiding your responsibilities. Is that it?” His voice had a slight edge to it, a bitterness that stung more than she expected.

“No,” Lily said, her voice trembling. “It’s not like that.” She swallowed hard, feeling the words lodge in her throat. “It’s just… after everything with the picture, I know the twins’ father has probably seen it by now. He’ll want to punish me, Alex. I’m terrified of what he’ll do.”

"You're afraid of him?" Alex asked, his face showing his curiosity. "Isn't he your father-in-law or something?"

Lily nodded her head.

"He is but he still looks at me like I'm trash, the same way he has for the past ten years and I can't take it anymore" Lily replied. "I'm afraid of what he'll do to me if I return."

Alex’s eyes softened, and a flicker of understanding crossed his face. 

He walked closer, his expression shifting from anger to something more empathetic. 

“Are you serious?” he asked, his voice quieter. “You’re scared of him?”

Lily nodded, trying to hold back the wave of emotion rising within her. 

She felt small, vulnerable, and admitting her fear only seemed to make her feel even more exposed.

“I’ve tried to act strong,” she continued, her voice breaking. “But it’s exhausting. And after today, I know I can’t face him alone. I know what he’ll do to me. He won’t just let this go.”

Alex ran a hand through his hair, clearly wrestling with his emotions. 

His expression softened as he looked at her, the anger from earlier replaced by genuine concern. 

“I understand,” he said quietly, surprising her. “More than you know.”

He exhaled deeply, leaning against the wall as he watched her. 

“My father wasn’t easy on me either. You know, it wasn’t always like this. I had to earn my place, fight for it every day. I know what it’s like to live in fear of someone who holds all the power.” His voice was filled with memories of his own painful past.

The tension between them eased as they shared a moment of silent understanding. 

For the first time, Lily felt seen. She hadn’t expected him to understand, to recognize the fear she carried. 

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “Thank you for… not judging me.”

Alex shook his head, his gaze steady. 

“You can stay here,” he said firmly, his voice carrying a sense of finality. “As long as you need. I don’t care about the whole ‘Luna’ thing, or what anyone else thinks. If you need a place to be safe, this is it.”

Relief washed over Lily, and she released a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. 

She didn’t know what to say. Gratitude filled her, so intense that it almost brought her to tears.

“I… I don’t know what to say,” she managed, looking up at him. “Thank you, Alex. I don’t deserve this after everything I’ve done.”

He gave her a small, reassuring smile. 

“Everyone deserves a safe place, Lily,” he said. Then, he turned toward the doorway and called for one of the maids. “Take Lily to one of the guest rooms and make sure she’s comfortable. She’ll be staying here for a while.”

The maid nodded and gestured for Lily to follow her. 

Lily gave Alex one last grateful look before heading down the hallway. 

The weight on her shoulders felt a little lighter, and for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of hope.

Her plan was that once she has settled into her room, she would lie in bed then stare up at the ceiling. 

The events of the day still played in her mind, a tangled mess of emotions, regrets, and fears. But now, she wasn’t alone. 

Alex’s unexpected kindness had given her something she hadn’t realized she needed—a place of refuge.

As she looked at Alex one more time, her heart felt a little lighter. 

She knew that there were still battles to face, but for tonight, she was safe. And that, she thought, was enough.