As Lily and Jake made their way through the hotel, they delved deeper into conversation, exchanging stories and anecdotes that fostered an effortless camaraderie. The familiar joy of exploring new places with a friendly companion eased Lily's initial reluctance and soon gave way to a comfortable rhythm. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, the shadows of malice and intrigue loomed, setting the stage for unforeseen twists in the narrative.The pair meandered through the opulent hotel halls, admiring the intricate architecture, lush décor, and panoramic views. Their idle chatter traversed various topics, from hobbies and passions to fond memories and shared interests. Jake's congenial demeanor effortlessly elicited laughter and sparked engaging dialogue, imbuing the excursion with a pleasant buoyancy.As they strolled, Lily's mind wandered briefly to the events that led her to this point. She reminisced about her arrival with Greg, the tension that had gradually grown between them, and her d
That evening, back at the hotel, Cherry was found in deep conversation with Jake. She lounged on the couch, a satisfied smile playing on her lips as she commended him, "You've proven your worth, so it's time to move on to Plan B. Lily and Greg will be departing tomorrow, and I want you to follow suit the day after. Should my plan come to fruition, I assure you that your loyalty will be richly rewarded. You'll find the tickets on the table – fly back the day after tomorrow so we can proceed. As a token of my gratitude, I've transferred a generous sum into your account. Thank you for your unwavering dedication. Farewell."Following Jake's departure, Cherry's smile grew as she savored a sense of satisfaction, settling into the couch with a glass of wine in her left hand. "You have no idea what's coming, Lily," she murmured, her voice tinged with malice. "This will teach you not to cross me."The next day, Lily and Greg boarded a first-class flight back to their home country, completely u
As May and Louis engaged in a friendly game, their laughter and light-hearted banter filled the air. The tension that had been hovering around them earlier seemed to dissipate, and they appeared to genuinely enjoy each other's company. Lily, meanwhile, finished dishing up her food and took a seat at the dining table, quietly observing the scene before her.Throughout the evening, May found herself appreciating Louis's companionship more and more. She realized that perhaps she had been reading too much into his earlier interaction with Lily and that her jealousy had been unfounded. May began to let her guard down, and as the night wore on, she felt more at ease than she had in a long time.Lily, feeling like an outsider, excused herself from the table once she had finished her meal. She made her way back to her quarters, contemplating the dynamics of the family she had inadvertently become a part of. Although May had initially displayed hostility towards her, Lily couldn't help but hop
That night, as Lily retreated to her room, she received a message from Jake. It was a simple yet thoughtful check-in to confirm their upcoming weekend date. Lily replied, "Yes, of course! I'll be there." Jake, filled with excitement, responded, "We have so much catching up to do, beautiful!" Lily couldn't help but smile at his enthusiasm. Putting her phone down on the bedside table, she laid back on her bed, taking a moment to reflect on her journey. Despite the struggles and suffering she had endured, she felt grateful for how far she had come. Her thoughts then drifted to her foster parents, and she made a mental note to visit them soon, eager to share her recent experiences and express her gratitude for their care and support. The week flew by quickly, and Friday arrived—the day before Lily's much-awaited date with Jake. She woke up, freshened up, and got ready for work. As usual, she would be riding with Greg to the office. While getting dressed, Lily found herself pondering over
Greg walked in with Megan following closely behind him. They found Lily and Louis engrossed in their show. Greg cleared his throat, and the butler arrived to assist with the luggage. The butler felt nervous upon seeing Megan, and Greg took note of this."Prepare a guest room for her upstairs," Greg instructed, wanting to monitor Megan during her stay. He aimed to avoid any drama, as Megan was a spoiled rich princess who didn't care about anyone's feelings. In the past, she had hurt Mrs. Owen with her harsh words and humiliated her, which ultimately led to Greg breaking up with her. If it were possible, Greg would have Megan move into his room, but he didn't want any misunderstandings or drama, so he prepared a guest room closer to his own.Megan noticed Lily and made her way to the living area. "Aren't you his personal assistant?" she asked.Lily stood, nodding a polite greeting, and replied, "Yes, ma'am."Louis greeted Megan, as he was familiar with her face, and said, "Hi, Meg."Meg
Cherry, now annoyed, confessed, "Yes, I said those things to her. But do you know why? Because you don't value me! Greg, I stood by your side during your lowest moments, but you always treat me like trash. Why?"Greg, visibly annoyed, retorted, "I made it clear to you that I never loved you. I just tolerated you because of our friendship. But you just don't listen. Now look what you've done! You tried to kill an innocent person under my roof when she never did anything wrong to you. Why are you so evil, Cherry?"Cherry denied the poisoning accusation vehemently. "I didn't poison her! I swear I didn't! I said those words, but I didn't poison her!"Cherry stamped her heels in frustration, pleading, "Why won't you believe me? I didn't try to hurt her, Greg! Ask Megan how she knew I poisoned her, unless she did it herself."Megan scoffed, "How can I poison someone I don't even know?"Cherry questioned, "Then how did you know about all of this?"Megan explained, "Because I still have a mai
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
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