The next morning, Cherry awoke to find her maids diligently cleaning and replacing items in her room. She grabbed her cellphone and made her way to the living room. She attempted to call Jake, but he didn't answer. Frustrated, she sent him a text message, "I told you to come see me yesterday. Why didn't you come?" However, Jake read the message and didn't reply.Growing more agitated, Cherry added, "Don't do anything funny. Stick to my plans." To her shock, Jake blocked her number.Enraged, Cherry immediately called the man who had connected her with Jake. "What's going on with the guy you linked me with?" she demanded. "The bastard blocked me. I've been trying to reach him for a few days now!"The man on the other end of the line sounded just as bewildered. "I've been trying to contact him too, but it seems he's blocked me as well."Now on high alert, Cherry asked, "Do you know anyone we can contact to reach him? Or where he lives?"The man confessed, "I don't know him personally. I
As Greg oversaw the preparations for the model shoot, he glanced at his watch, noting that Lily should have returned with the documents by now. Growing increasingly concerned, he tried calling her cellphone, only to be met with her voicemail. A sense of unease washed over him as he wondered what could be keeping her.Greg, his worry mounting, decided to call his home, hoping she might have gone there. However, they informed him that she hadn't arrived yet. He continued dialing her number, each unanswered call only heightening his anxiety.Meanwhile, Lily regained consciousness in a dimly lit, unfamiliar room. Her head throbbed as she scanned her surroundings, realizing with a surge of fear that she was alone and held captive in an unknown location. Panic began to set in as she struggled to piece together what had happened.Back at the office, Greg paced the office repeatedly trying to reach Lily with no success. His worry morphed into a sense of foreboding, and he knew he had to take
The first rays of morning sunlight filtered through the curtains of Greg's study, casting a warm glow over the exhausted figure slumped over his desk. Greg had spent the night poring over any information he could find that might help locate Lily, his eyes bloodshot and his face etched with worry.Megan entered the study, carrying a tray with coffee and a light breakfast. Setting it down in front of Greg, she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You need to keep your strength up, Greg. Lily needs us to stay strong for her."Greg nodded, taking a sip of the hot coffee and grimacing as the bitter taste hit his tongue. "I just feel so helpless. We have no leads, and the police haven't come up with anything yet."Just then, the doorbell rang, echoing through the mansion's quiet halls. Megan glanced at Greg, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "Maybe that's them now."Making their way to the entrance hall, Greg and Megan found Officer Daniels waiting on the doorstep, his face grave. "We've
Jake left the dock in his sports car and drove into the street. Cherry's private investigator spotted him and informed Cherry. She told the investigator to keep following Jake and to text her the address where he stops. After hanging up, Cherry drove quickly to the location her investigator gave her, but by the time she arrived, Jake had already left.Angry, Cherry called her investigator and said, "He's not here! Why did you waste my time? Are you still following him?" The man on the other end of the phone sighed and apologized, "I'm sorry, ma'am. We lost him." Frustrated, Cherry hit her heel against her car tire and drove away. Unbeknownst to her, Greg's investigator was secretly following her.Jake returned to the dock and dragged Lily to his bedroom on the cruise ship. He brought in two maids and ordered them to clean Lily up for him before leaving. Lily, feeling weak and unable to resist, sat like a doll while the female maids undressed her, gave her a bath, and brought her food.
Lily felt a chill run down her spine as Jake glared at her, but she didn't look away. In that moment, she experienced a mix of emotions – fear, anger, and a sense of victory. She had survived Jake's terrible actions, and now he would face the results of what he had done.Feeling Greg's strong hand holding hers, Lily took a deep breath and allowed herself to relax. The scary things Jake did would stay in her memory.As the police took Jake out of the room, Lily watched him leave her life. She realized that she was in control again, and Jake couldn't hurt her anymore. She turned to Greg, her eyes filling with tears of relief and thankfulness."Thank you," she whispered quietly, even with all the noise in the room. "Thank you for never giving up on me."Greg hugged her tightly, his eyes also tearing up from his emotions. "I will always be here for you, Lily," he promised, his voice filled with love.Megan was watching them from a corner, looking annoyed by their show of love. She stepped
Lily, shocked, asked, "What do you mean, engaged?"Greg explained, "What I mean, Lily, is that if your parents were still alive, we would be married by now."Lily stared at him in surprise. Greg continued, "Our parents arranged our marriage to form a stronger alliance before their untimely death." Greg chuckled, pulling his hair back. "Such a coincidence."Lily, still confused, said, "Sir..."Greg corrected her, "Call me Greg."Lily then asked, "How come you didn't recognize me if we were engaged?"Greg explained, "Because we never actually met. I was only told that I was engaged to the Wilson's daughter."Greg, who was 35 years old and had a 5-year-old daughter, couldn't hide his grin after discovering that Lily was from the Wilson family.Lily said, "Well, apparently, I can't remember any of this, so it doesn't stand, does it?"Greg replied, "We never officially called off the engagement, so technically, you're still my fiancée."Lily argued, "Wait! It's not valid. It's been a long
After Greg had dropped Lily at home, ensuring she was safe and sound, he couldn't ignore the nagging urge to confront Jake. His hands gripping the steering wheel tightly, Greg made a beeline for the police station. There, he demanded to see the perpetrator who had caused such turmoil in their lives.The air was tense as Greg took his seat in the visitation room. Moments later, Jake appeared, a sly grin plastered on his face as he settled on the other side of the glass partition. His nonchalant demeanor grated on Greg's nerves, but he maintained his composure as Jake spoke first."Well, well, well," Jake began, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "To what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"Greg's eyes narrowed, his annoyance evident. "Cut the crap, Jake," he retorted sharply. "Why did you kidnap Lily? Who ordered you to do it?"Jake let out a low, humorless laugh. "Who said anyone ordered me? Maybe I just wanted to teach that bitch a lesson."At Jake's crude remark, Greg felt his anger r
Megan glared at Greg and remarked, "We used to be deeply in love, but you've changed." Without making eye contact, Greg responded, "People change with time." He then stood up and left the dining room.Lily, having overheard the conversation, stepped out of the kitchen. Megan turned her attention to Lily and inquired, "Aren't you going to Andrew's dinner party?"Lily asked for clarification, "What dinner party?"Megan continued, "Oh, apparently Greg needs to bring a plus one to the party. He's not taking Bella, and he's not taking you either. I'm already a guest, so who is he taking?"Lily shrugged and said, "I wouldn't know. I'm not his assistant anymore, so I don't keep tabs on his schedule."With a raised eyebrow, Megan asked, "So, what's your job now, Lily?""I'm yet to be reassigned, Miss Megan," Lily replied.Megan chuckled. Sensing an underlying reason, Louis interrupted, "She's yet to fully recover, Meg, and you know it."Megan eyed Louis suspiciously before chuckling again and
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
As Lily stood up, Carla looked at her with concern and asked, "What are you going to do now?"Lily gazed at her mother and replied, "I'll be back," before getting into a taxi and leaving. Carla watched her daughter depart, her heart aching for all that Lily had been through, and she silently prayed for her daughter's healing and peace.On her way back to the mansion, Lily fought back tears, her hands clenched into fists. When she arrived, she stood in front of the mansion for a while, taking in the sight before heading inside. She began packing her belongings into a suitcase, leaving behind the dresses and gifts Greg had bought for her. She only packed the clothes she had brought with her originally.After finishing packing, Lily sent a text message to Greg: "Can you come home? We need to talk." Then, she made her way to Sophia's room. She played with the child and hugged her, feeling a wave of sadness wash over her as she realized how much she would miss Sophia. The young girl, unawa
That night, Lily lay in Greg's arms, recounting the day's events to him. When she mentioned what Theresa had told her, Greg stared at Lily and said, "Don't listen to Theresa. Believe me when I say you don't want to cross her. She's pure evil."Lily sat up, surprised, and asked, "What do you mean she's pure evil? Wasn't she your first love? Are you saying you fell for an evil person?" She then stared at Greg and continued, "Are you hiding anything from me, Greg?"Greg replied defensively, "What do you mean? I'm not hiding anything!"Realizing she might have overreacted, Lily said, "I was just joking." She noticed Greg's tense demeanor and asked, "Are you okay? Why are you so tense?"Greg shook his head and said, "Just tired from work stress.""I should let you rest, then," Lily said, giving him a quick peck on the lips before leaving the room.Later that night, Lily texted Theresa, asking where they could meet to discuss her past. Theresa, smirking, sent her the location of a restauran