As Greg opened the door, Louis entered the study and handed the phone to Greg, giving him a questioning look. Greg nodded, took the phone, and turned away a bit for some privacy."Hello, Theresa," Greg greeted calmly, despite the tension in the room. "How can I help you?"While Greg was on the phone, Lily quietly organized the files on the table, trying to appear as though nothing had happened between them. Louis, however, sensed something strange in the study and looked at both Greg and Lily suspiciously.Lily avoided looking at Louis, focusing on her task. She felt a pang of guilt...As Greg ended the call, he told Louis, "Sophia is coming over in a few days. She called to inform me."Lily suddenly looked up and said, "Isn't Sophia your daughter?"Louis quickly replied before Greg could, "Yes, she is. She's a very beautiful young woman." He added, "But she takes time to warm up to new faces, so don't feel bad if she doesn't act friendly at first."Lily smiled and said, "I don't thin
The day of the trip arrived, and as Lily was about to enter Greg's car, Megan intercepted her, pushing Lily slightly aside and entering before her. This surprised Greg.Megan then turned to Lily, who stood there with a confused look on her face. Greg said, "Megan, what sort of behavior is that?"Ignoring Greg's question, Megan stared at Lily and said, "Didn't he tell you I'm also tagging along?"Greg replied, "But you have a car assigned to you, Megan."She responded, "I'm riding in yours. She should sit beside the driver – that's where an assistant is meant to sit," Megan said rudely.Feeling upset, Lily opened the front door and sat down. Greg was displeased with Megan's behavior, but he didn't say anything further. Megan grinned, happy that she had ruined their plans, and then relaxed in her seat as they drove to the airport.Megan couldn't sit beside Greg in the first-class compartment on the plane because passengers had to sit according to their ticket arrangements. She fumed as
After taking a shower, Greg checked his phone and saw a text from Lily that read, "I sent you some wine. It's a sign of my love for you." He chuckled, knowing it was unlike her to say such things. He replied, "Why not package yourself as the wine and come up?"Megan, who was pretending to be Lily, tightened her fist and typed back, "Megan is still awake. I'll come up later. Wait for me! I'll come up at midnight. Leave the door open." She then deleted the chat history and put Lily's phone back.Staring at Lily sleeping on the bed, Megan said, "You're no match for me!"Megan then called a waiter who worked for her and added a hallucinogenic liquid to the wine. "Make sure he drinks it," she instructed before dismissing the waiter. Sipping her wine, she smirked in satisfaction.At midnight, Megan left her suite and entered Greg's. She noticed the empty wine glass and smiled. Seeing Greg lying on the sofa, she walked up to him in her black lacy pajamas. She sat on his lap and gently pulled
As the door swung shut, leaving Cherry alone in the boutique, her mind raced with a mix of anger, frustration, and fear. The reality of her situation weighed heavily on her shoulders – she was now at the mercy of Megan's demands. The sound of footsteps echoing in the distance signaled the return of the attendants, their worried expressions mirroring the chaos that had just unfolded.Cherry slowly rose from the floor, her fists still clenched and her jaw set in determination. "Are you alright, miss?" one attendant asked tentatively, her voice barely above a whisper. Cherry brushed off the concern, her focus entirely on finding a way to regain the upper hand in this twisted game.The gravity of Megan's actions began to sink in as Cherry replayed their conversation in her mind. This was no longer just a matter of pride or reputation – it was now a battle for survival. If her father were to discover the lengths she had gone to, his wrath would be immeasurable. And with Megan's newfound le
That night, Lily, feeling concerned about Greg's uncharacteristic silence, sent him a text message. "Are you okay? I haven't heard from you all day," she typed, hoping for a response. However, Greg, who had lied about his trip to Orio and was still in Phoenix, couldn't bring himself to face Lily after his encounter with Megan. He had made Megan promise to keep their secret in exchange for her staying longer at the mansion. As he read Lily's message, he couldn't help but whisper, "I'm sorry for breaking your trust."The following day, the maids were diligently cleaning Sophia's room upstairs in anticipation of her return. Megan, upon learning of this, rolled her eyes in disdain. She had never gotten along well with Sophia, whom she derogatorily referred to as a "little brat." Megan's dislike for Sophia stemmed from her being the offspring of Theresa, Greg's first love.As Megan made her way downstairs, she noticed Lily and Louis preparing to leave the mansion. With a fake smile plaster
That night, a soft knock on Lily's door stirred her from her thoughts. "Come in," she called, and May entered the room, her hands fidgeting nervously. Lily, observing her discomfort, sat up in her bed and asked with concern, "Are you okay, May?"May approached Lily, her eyes filled with remorse. "I'm sorry, Lily," she began, her voice shaky. "I accused you and acted rudely towards you. Can you forgive me?"A gentle smile spread across Lily's face as she replied, "It's a matter of the heart, May. I understand how you felt, and I'm not angry with you."May, relieved by Lily's compassionate response, continued, "Lily, I've been observing you, and I can see that you're not a bad person. But please be wary of Megan; she's out to get you."Lily nodded, acknowledging May's warning. "I know, May, and I'm avoiding her, too."May's lips curled into a smile as she said, "That's good. Goodnight, Lily." With that, she turned and left the room, leaving Lily to her thoughts.Lily, her mind racing, s
That evening, Greg returned from his trip. As he entered the living room, Sophie dashed into his arms, squealing with delight. "Daddy!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with adoration.Greg lifted her up, his heart swelling with love for his little girl. "My princess," he murmured, holding her close. "I missed you so much, daddy," Sophie whispered, nuzzling her face against his shoulder.Greg gently kissed her cheek and pulled back to examine her face. "Let me see you," he said, grinning. "You've grown taller, baby!" He noticed a gap in her teeth and chuckled. "And lost a tooth, too."Sophie beamed with pride and exposed her gap teeth for him to see. Just then, Riona entered the room and bowed respectfully. "That's my nanny I told you about, daddy," Sophie chimed in, her excitement palpable.Louis joined them, greeting Greg warmly. "Uncle, you're back," he said.Lily, drawn to the commotion, emerged from another room. Her heart fluttered as she laid eyes on Greg. "Welcome back, sir," s
The following day, Lily found herself unable to ignore the tension any longer. Determined to find answers, she decided to confront Greg directly. With a mixture of trepidation and resolve, she made her way to Greg's study. After taking a deep breath, she knocked on the door and entered upon hearing Greg's voice granting her permission.Greg, surprised to see her, stood up from his desk. "Lily? What's wrong?" he asked, his brow furrowed in concern.Steeling herself, Lily replied, "I believe we should talk."Greg held her gaze, silently assessing her demeanor before responding. "Of course," he said calmly. "I'm all ears." He took a sip of water from a nearby glass, attempting to maintain a sense of normalcy as he closed the distance between them."Is something going on between you and Megan?" Lily asked, her voice betraying a hint of vulnerability.Upon hearing her question, Greg choked on his water, caught off guard by her directness. He coughed, nearly choking as Lily watched with con
Desperation filled the air as Greg and Lily racked their brains for a way to diffuse the volatile situation. They knew that every second counted and that Megan's rage was a ticking time bomb.Greg, summoning every ounce of courage he possessed, decided to appeal to Megan's humanity. "Megan," he began, his voice steady despite the fear coursing through his veins, "I can't begin to imagine the pain you've experienced. Losing a child is a tragedy no parent should ever face."Lily, taking Greg's lead, added, "Your son's life was taken too soon, but taking Sophia's life won't bring him back. It will only cause more suffering, more pain."Lily, her eyes locked on Sophia's terrified face, continued, "Please, Megan, think about what you're doing. This isn't the way to honor your son's memory."A sudden, chilling laughter broke through the silence as Megan regained her composure. "You almost had me there," she said with a smirk. "I almost fell for your tricks, Greg. But you knew how much it hu
The next day, Mason and Greg remained at Lily's side in the hospital, the tension between them thick and bitter. Mason had been furious upon learning of the accident, blaming Greg for putting Lily in harm's way. Despite their differences, both men shared a profound concern for Lily's well-being.As Lily stirred from her slumber, her memories, once lost and scattered, began to flood her mind. She winced in pain, clutching her head as the fragmented pieces of her past began to fall into place. In a panic, Greg and Mason rushed to her side, their concern mounting as Lily's condition seemed to worsen.Mason quickly left the room to alert the doctor, and as he did so, Lily passed out, her head coming to rest on Greg's shoulder. The doctor, upon arrival, carefully examined Lily and advised that further tests be conducted as soon as she regained consciousness.With Mason temporarily away on a client briefing, Greg remained at Lily's side, steadfast in his dedication to her recovery. As the h
The drive to Theresa's apartment was heavy with silence, the weight of their shared purpose hanging between them. As they pulled up outside the building, Greg and Lily exchanged a brief glance before stepping out of the car, their faces set with determination.They made their way to Theresa's door, and Greg reached out, knocking firmly. Moments later, Theresa opened the door, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the sight of Greg and Lily standing together."Greg, Lily," she said, forcing a smile and attempting to maintain her facade of kindness. "It seems you two have patched things up. I'm happy for you both."Greg stared at Theresa, his eyes cold and unflinching. "To think someone would have actually fallen for your pretense," he said, his voice heavy with disgust.Lily remained silent, her gaze fixed on Theresa as she awaited the woman's response."Do what?" Theresa asked, her eyes darting nervously between Greg and Lily as she attempted to maintain her innocence."Why did
Few days later, Lily and Mason made their way to the hypnotherapist's office for their scheduled appointment. However, as they approached the building, they couldn't help but notice that something seemed amiss. The windows were shuttered, and a "Closed" sign hung prominently on the door.Exchanging a worried glance, they ventured inside, only to find the waiting room empty and the office in disarray. Files were scattered across the floor, and the furniture was in disarray, as if someone had left in a hurry.Apprehension growing, Lily and Mason sought out the building manager, who informed them that the hypnotherapist had abruptly packed her belongings and fled the country. The cryptic nature of her departure left Lily and Mason with more questions than answers, and a gnawing suspicion that something was seriously wrong."This can't be a coincidence," Lily murmured, her eyes scanning the chaotic scene before them. "Someone didn't want us to continue these sessions."Mason nodded in agr
"You're back?" Louis finally broke the silence, his voice tinged with a mixture of surprise and concern.Riona nodded in response, her eyes never leaving his. "Yes, I brought Sophia for a short stay with her dad."As Louis studied Riona, he couldn't help but notice a change in her demeanor. The once vibrant and outgoing woman now seemed troubled and distant, as if something heavy weighed upon her heart."It's been a while," Louis said softly, trying to bridge the gap between them. He hesitated before asking, "How have you been?"Before he could finish his question, Riona cut him off abruptly. "I should rest up; I'm a bit tired from the long flight." Her words were clipped, and her tone seemed to suggest that she was eager to end the conversation.Without another word, Riona turned and walked away, her steps echoing in the now silent room. Louis watched her retreat, a sense of unease settling in his chest as he pondered the growing distance between them. It was clear that Riona was avo
In Theresa's apartment, her assistant entered and informed her that Lily had returned to town. The assistant happened to be a spy that Theresa had planted in Greg's team to keep tabs on his daily activities and report back to her.Upon hearing the news, Theresa was taken aback. She stood up, shock evident on her face. "She's back? Where? Did you see them together?"The assistant replied, "No, ma'am. They didn't meet, but Lily is in charge of the new mall construction in town."Theresa's expression grew calculating as she processed the information. She then asked, "Did they make contact? Did they talk?""No, ma'am," the assistant said, maintaining an obedient stance.With a dismissive wave of her hand, Theresa said, "You're dismissed for today. Make sure not to miss out on any details from now on."As the assistant left the room, Theresa's expression darkened, a hint of malice in her eyes. "Now, what is that bitch after?" she muttered to herself. "I guess I have to escort Greg everywhe
As Lily and Mason made their way out of the cozy café, Lily's foot caught on an uneven tile, causing her to stumble forward. Before she could hit the ground, a pair of strong hands grabbed her by the shoulders, steadying her. She looked up to thank her rescuer and found herself staring into a familiar pair of eyes – it was Greg, her ex-boyfriend.Lily's heart skipped a beat as she took in his appearance. Time had been kind to Greg, and he looked as handsome as ever. Her mind raced with a thousand thoughts and emotions, but she managed to compose herself enough to utter a meek, "Thank you."Greg smiled, his eyes filled with concern and a hint of nostalgia. "You're welcome, Lily. Are you alright?"Lily nodded, her gaze shifting to Mason, who stood beside her with a look of surprise on his face. She quickly regained her composure, remembering that Greg was a part of her past, not her present. "I'm fine, thanks. Mason stepped forward, placing a supportive hand on Lily's shoulder. "We sho
A year had passed since Lily left Oakside, returning with her mother to rebuild her life. The time away had given her a chance to heal, reflect, and grow. Although the scars from her past remained, she found solace in focusing on her career and spending time with her family.Lily took charge of the family business with the help of her elder sister Elisa, who Lily had once believed to be her cousin. They reconnected and worked together, while their parents retired and stayed home. Lily had become a changed person – no longer as cheerful as she used to be. She now entered the company wearing luxurious attire from head to toe, reminiscent of her past life. She was back to a life of luxury, as her mother Carla had visited the foster family who had taken her in after the incident and generously compensated them for their care. Lily was now her own boss, determined not to let anyone bring her down again.On the other hand, Greg had returned to his usual cold demeanor. Theresa decided to sta
Greg arrived at Carla's apartment, his heart pounding in his chest. He knocked on the door, and Carla opened it, her face cold and unwelcoming. "What do you want?" she asked.Greg pleaded, "Please, is Lily with you? I need to talk to her."Carla, protective of her daughter, replied, "She doesn't want to talk to you."Greg begged, "Please, just a minute."Lily emerged from inside the apartment, her arms crossed. She asked, "What do you want, Greg?"Greg replied, desperation in his voice, "Let's talk things out. Please don't leave like this."Lily scoffed, "What's there to talk about? The damage has been done."Greg cut in, "Lily, I love you, and I'd never hurt you. Please let me explain."Lily's annoyance was evident as she said, "I don't need your explanations. Just leave me alone. You don't deserve my love, Greg."Before turning to go back inside, Lily warned him, "I don't ever want to see you again, or I'll call the police and report you for stalking." With that, she stormed back in