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
The next morning, Riona entered the kitchen. As she was cutting an apple to feed Sophia, the knife slipped and sliced through her hand. She winced in pain, and Louis, who happened to be passing by, heard her and quickly rushed into the kitchen.Seeing Riona's bleeding hand, Louis sprang into action. He swiftly led her to the sink to wash away the blood before retrieving the first aid kit from the cabinet. As he gently applied ointment to her wound, Louis remarked, "You need to be more careful. You've been getting into a lot of accidents lately."Riona kept staring at Louis, unaccustomed to someone taking care of her so attentively. Growing up in an orphanage, she never experienced such compassion. Unable to meet his gaze, she looked down, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar sensation of being tended to. Louis noticed her discomfort and smiled reassuringly. "All done." He then helped her slice the remaining apple.As he handed her the plate, Louis advised, "I think it's best if you refrain f
Lily stood rooted to the spot, struggling to process the shocking revelation that had been thrust upon her. Desperately seeking reassurance, she turned to Greg, her voice quavering, "She's lying, right? Tell me she's lying!"Greg attempted to soothe her, his own face a mask of guilt and confusion. "Calm down, Lily," he pleaded, trying to take her into his arms.Megan, sensing an opportunity to twist the knife deeper, interjected with a cruel chuckle. "Do you want to know where we had sex?" she taunted.Greg shot Megan a warning glare. "Shut up, Megan," he growled before turning his attention back to Lily, his brow furrowed in disbelief. "How can I be sure this pregnancy story isn't just another one of your lies?"Undeterred, Megan reached into her bag and produced a folder, flinging it towards Greg with a smug grin. "That's the test result. And if you still don't believe me, we can conduct a non-invasive prenatal test today," she challenged. "Let's see who's lying now."Lily remained
Once they arrived at the mansion, Lily went straight to her room, shutting the door firmly behind her. The click of the lock echoed through the hallway, punctuating the distance that had grown between her and Greg. He stood outside her door for a moment, his hand poised to knock, before deciding to give her the space she needed.As the days turned into weeks, life at the mansion settled into a new routine. Lily kept mostly to herself, dividing her time between her room and the garden, where she would lose herself in her thoughts amidst the blooming flowers and chirping birds. Greg, respecting Lily's desire for solitude, though he couldn't help but steal glances at her during their brief encounters.Carla, true to her word, had remained in town and made occasional visits to check on Lily's well-being. Their interactions were tentative at first, but with each conversation, the ice between them began to thaw. Lily found herself opening up to her biological mother, her anger slowly giving
Lily walked to the car, her annoyance evident in every step. Greg caught up with her, pulling her to face him. "What do you want?" Lily asked, upset by his persistence."Lily," Greg said, frustration marring his features, "can't you forgive me? Can't you let it go?"She stared at him, her voice filled with hurt. "Let go and what? Stay as your mistress? Or what?""Lily, I'll marry you," Greg insisted. "I promised you, and that's what I'm going to do."Her laughter rang out, bitter and maniacal. "Marry me? You can't marry me, Greg! You have Megan, don't you? You enjoyed lying and deceiving me so much, but guess what? Karma always strikes back."Greg grabbed her hand, pulling her closer. "I love you," he said, staring into her eyes."If you loved me, Greg, you would have told me the truth from the start!" she retorted."Lily," he said, still gripping her arm. "What do I need to do to prove I still love you? Tell me!""Let go of me," Lily demanded, trying to break free.Lily demanded, "Le
Greg gently patted Lily's face as he called out her name, trying to rouse her from her unresponsive state. "Lily, talk to me. I'm here," he pleaded, concern evident in his voice. He splashed cold water on her face in an attempt to wake her, causing her to jolt back to consciousness."Greg?" Lily asked, her voice weak and uncertain."Yes, it's me. I'm here, Lily," Greg reassured her, helping her into a sitting position. "What's wrong? Tell me what they did to you."With a sense of urgency, he informed her, "The police are on their way. Come on, let's head out."Lily, still feeling the effects of the drug, replied, "I can't walk. Greg's shock was palpable as he questioned her further, "What's wrong? What did they do to you?" His concern for Lily's well-being grew as he tried to piece together the details of her traumatic experience.Lily, still feeling the effects of the drug, replied, "I can't walk. They gave me a paralysis drug, and it has one hour left before its effect wears off."G
As Greg and Lily made their way into the mansion, they were met by Megan's icy glare, her disapproval palpable. With slow, deliberate steps, she approached them, her hands clasped in a gesture of forced composure. "You two don't even bother to hide it anymore, do you?" Megan exclaimed, her voice laced with bitterness. "Romancing in broad daylight?"Her hurt was evident as she turned her attention to Greg. "You left me all alone at the hospital yesterday, knowing full well that I'm carrying your child. And yet, you were out chasing after her," she spat, jabbing an accusatory finger at Lily. "You don't even care about your own flesh and blood."Greg, sensing Lily's discomfort, stepped forward, shielding her from Megan's venomous words. "First of all, she has a name – Lily," he asserted, his voice unwavering. "She's the one I love, Megan. I made it clear to you ever since you came back that you had no chance with me. But what did you do? You went behind my back and plotted this," he said
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