Chapter Title: Stands UnshakenVivian's POVThe scent of wine and victory hung thick in the air of Nelson's lavish estate. I leaned back in my chair, swirling the red beverage in my glass as I watched Nelson across the room. He stood at the tall windows, looking out over the city like a king surveying his kingdom.A slow smile crept onto my lips. "You look like a man who's already won."Nelson half-turned, his dark eyes gleaming with victory. "That's because I have."I let out a low laugh, raising my glass. "Then I suppose this calls for a celebration."He walked over to the bar and poured himself a drink. "Simeon and Lily think they're ready. They think they've planned enough to take us down." He took a drink, his expression unreadable. "But no matter what they do, no matter how clever they think they're being…" He turned fully to face me, a sneer on his lips. "They will always fail."I slowly released a sip of my wine, savoring the taste of victory before I set my glass back down on
Chapter Seventy One: Unbreakable BondLily's POVThe air was thick with tension as I sat opposite Simeon in his quarters. The dark lighting created long shadows across his sharp face, and he seemed even more intense than usual. His jawline was clenched, eyes brooding in consideration.I knew what he was considering.The fight was imminent. The battle that would determine everything.Nelson and Vivian had believed they already won. They believed that no matter what we were going to do, we would not be able to depose them. But they were wrong.I sat forward, elbows on knees. "We can't afford to make errors, Simeon," I said, speaking firmly. "They're waiting for us to fail. They think we're weak."Simeon smiled brusquely, though there was no humor in his face. "Let them think so." He breathed deeply, raking back his black hair. "They have no conception of what's to come."His confidence made my skin crawl. I had seen Simeon fight. I had seen his strength, his power, his lethal precision.
Chapter Seventy Two: The Day of WarLily's POVThe sun had barely risen, but the air was heavy with tension. Today was the day. The day everything changed. The day we lost or won everything.I went to the window, watching as the first glimpse of dawn spread out across the sky, painting the horizon with hues of orange and red. It was practically poetic, like the world itself was setting the stage for the impending battle.Behind me, I heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the room. I did not need to turn to recognize that it was Simeon. His presence was one that I had grown accustomed to sensing without sound or vision—it was in the way the air shifted when he was near, the way my heart reacted to him even in the midst of the chaos that surrounded us."We're ready," he said, his voice even but determined.I turned to face him. He was a king heading into battle. His black suit was immaculately tailored, his broad shoulders squared, his piercing eyes icy and focused. But I could s
Chapter Seventy Three: BattleLily's POVThe moment had finally come.The battlefield stretched out before us, electric and waiting. Our soldiers waited behind us, attired and ready, faces set in determination. Nelson and Vivian's army opposite us waited mirror-like to ours. No words were needed. We all understood what lay in store.The wind was thick with the odor of metal and distant smoke of the explosions that already preceded the war. My hold on the handle of my sword tightened, and to my flank, Simeon did likewise.And in an instant, the silence was shattered.There was a crack of gunfire, and then the thunderous thunder of men charging at one another. The ground trembled beneath our feet as the two clashed, the clash of metal upon metal ringing in the air.I sidestepped as a sword came towards me. My attacker—a large man with a scarred face—wickedly smiled as he swung his sword once more, but I was faster. I dodged under the blow and ran my knife along the top of his thigh. He
Chapter Four: Battle - 2Lily's POVWe clashed again, blow for blow. Each punch we landed was driven by fury, pain, and the festering desire to end this war. Nelson raged like a beast—savage, unforgiving, relentless. But I was not weak. I was not the fragile girl he thought I was.I avoided his blow and bashed my elbow into his ribs. He groaned with pain, but before I could strike again, he struck back, kicking me hard in the stomach. I stumbled back, gasping for air. The coppery taste of blood was in my mouth, but I wiped my lips and again struck at him.Nelson was fast, but I was faster. I turned about at the last second, dodging his sword, and slashed my dagger across his thigh. He roared in pain, falling to one knee, but he still didn't go down."You're wearing thin, Lily," he snarled, gasping for air."Good," I growled. "Then I must be doing something right."I didn't have time to play around. I charged at her, determined to put this one to rest, but before I could strike, someth
Chapter Title: Escaping The FlamesSimeon's POVThe battlefield was a mess of blood, sweat, and broken weapons. The fight had gone on for too long, and both armies were exhausted. I could sense the burn in my muscles, the ache in my bones, but I wouldn't let up. I couldn't let up.Lily was beside me, gasping for breath. Her clothes were torn, her face smeared with dust and blood. She'd pushed herself hard, beyond her limits. I was proud of her, but I could also see that she was on the verge of collapse.Nelson and Vivian were a couple of feet away, gasping. Their wounds were deep, and they were exhausted from their bodies. They did not appear to be able to continue fighting anymore. Nelson staggered slightly, placing one hand on the side of his body where his shirt was smeared with blood. Vivian grasped her shoulder, her white face.Something strange then happened, though.Nelson glanced over at Vivian, and by not saying a word, she nodded. It was a small one, nearly undetectable. I a
Chapter Title: Left AloneLily's POVPain. That was all I could feel.Every part of my body hurt, and I could hardly move. My limbs were as hard as stones, weighed down and immobile. My head throbbed, and even breathing took effort.I attempted to talk, to tell Simeon not to leave me alone, but the words refused to leave my mouth. My throat was dry, my body depleted.Simeon sat beside me, his brow furrowed in concern. "Lily, hear me. We cannot stay here forever. Our men would have come by now, but they have not. Something is wrong."I blinked, my eyes straining to remain open. I wanted to signal my assent, but I couldn't.He pushed a hand through his messy hair and let out a sigh. "I need to go find someone—someone who can talk to our people. If I can get them to send a message, they'll fetch us."I gritted my teeth, suppressing the pain. My body screamed in protest, but I could move my head a little. I did not want him to leave.Simeon noticed my reaction and smiled weakly, strained.
Chapter Title: The Truth in the DarknessNelson's POVEvening was quiet, too quiet. The only sound was the faint rustle of leaves as the cold wind continued to blow through the trees. The war had made its scars, and the ground stank with blood and smoke. But now there was silence.I walked slowly, my boots thudding into the ground, my body aching from wounds I had given. My side ached from where I had been struck previously, but I pushed it away. My thoughts were on the woman in front of me.Lily.She was lying still on the ground, her body lifeless, her breathing so faint it was barely noticeable. Her sharp and fierce eyes, which had been bright and blazing, were half-open, unfocused and dull. Her lips were slightly parted, but she didn't utter a word. She was too weak to even raise her head.A smile played on my lips as I folded my arms across my chest."So this is the great Lily?" I thought, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "The woman who promised she would never fall?"She didn't fl
Chapter 155: The Surprise KissPOV: LeoraThe house was quiet that evening. I had just come home from work, but my mind wasn't quiet at all. Everything felt strange nowadays. Camila's message, her deceit, and this wonderful scheme we were all cooking up—it was all so much to handle sometimes. I was tired, but I couldn't get Nelson out of my head. He worried all day long. I knew his heart was soft, and no matter how hard he tried to be macho, I could see through him.I went to the kitchen and made him a hot drink—ginger and honey tea, his favorite way. I did not know why I was doing this, but something inside me told me he needed comfort. Maybe I also needed a reason to sit next to him, just this once. I told myself that it was nothing serious. I just wanted to talk.When I opened the door, he was over at the foot of his bed. His face was crumpled downwards, his hand grasping his phone. I noticed that he was re-reading Camila's message. I stood quietly at the entrance for a moment."Ne
Chapter Title: She Must Not ComePOV: LilySimple English | Very Long | Emotional & SuspensefulI was in the living room, laughing with Leora. We were talking about a movie that we all watched the night before. It was funny and confusing at the same time. Nelson was in the kitchen, trying to warm up the leftovers. Simeon was reading something on his phone and drinking tea.Leora smiled and continued, "That time when the man stormed into the wedding with the incorrect trousers still makes me laugh!"I laughed too. "And the woman fainted! I did not even know if she was pretending or not!"Simeon smiled but did not say anything. He was subdued.Then Nelson's phone beeped. He looked at it and stiffened right away. His smile disappeared. He stared at the screen for a long time.Simeon noticed. "What is it?"Nelson didn't answer. He just handed the phone to Simeon.I turned back to look. "What happened?"Simeon read slowly from the message."Hi Nelson. I'm fine now. I've missed you. I want
Chapter 154 : The Picture That Changed EverythingLily's POVThe afternoon sun cast a warm glow through the windows as we remained in the living room. Simeon was on the phone, fingers moving quickly. Nelson was across from him, looking at the floor, while Leora had a sip of tea in silence next to me.Simeon's phone suddenly buzzed. He looked at the screen, and his face immediately altered."Deji just sent something," he said, voice tight.He opened the message and we all clustered in silence. The picture revealed a woman at the hospital reception speaking to the receptionists. My heart jumped."That's… Camila," I gasped, recognizing her immediately."What? Let me see," Nelson's head snapped up.He grabbed the phone from Simeon and looked at the photo. "No, it can't be. She told me she was at home the entire time."Leora leaned in closer. "Are you sure it's her?"Simeon nodded. "Deji explained to me that she was attempting to convince the hospital staff to report Camila was taken in if
Chapter One hundred and fifty three : The Hospital ClueDeji’s POVI ventured out in the early morning. The message we had gotten last night did not escape my mind. Camila was supposed to be at the hospital. Redhill Hospital. But we all knew that it was a trap. Nelson had come very close to going, but we discouraged him. Now it was my turn to check out the facts.I just wore jeans and a shirt. I did not want to be noticed. My phone was charged, and I had a small camera in my backpack in case. I rode a bike to the hospital so I could go fast and unnoticed.Redhill Hospital was massive. Very clean. Nurses hurried in and out, patients wandered about, and there was a hint of medicine in the air. I walked straight to the reception desk. There was a woman in her late forties at the desk. She wore glasses and was weary-looking but pleasant."Good morning, ma," I said to her with a grin.She looked up and smiled at me. "Good morning. How can I help you?"I tried to remain calm. "Please, I'm l
Chapter One hundred and fifty two : Just the Two of Us(Lily's POV)I had just cooked. The aroma filled the whole kitchen—grilled chicken, spicy sauce, and fried rice, Nelson's favorite. I had observed he was quiet of late. He did not laugh as much, did not smile as much. Since that message regarding Camila and the faked emergency, I knew he was troubled. Maybe food could get him to open up.I laid the food daintily on a tray and entered the living room where he sat on the couch, looking at his phone. The TV was on but he wasn't watching it. "Hey," I spoke softly with a smile. "I made your favorite."He looked up and a small smile appeared on his face. "Thanks, Lily. You always know what I need."I sat beside him and gave him the tray. He started to eat slowly.We didn't say a word for a couple of minutes. Just the muted sound of the spoon and the quiet hum from the TV. Then I took a good look at him. He looked weary—not just physically, but also in his heart."Nelson," I said slowly
Chapter One hundred and fifty one— A New PlanWe all sat in the lounge, quiet and thinking. The message still echoed in my head:"Camila is in Redhill Hospital. Emergency. Come quick."But we knew something was wrong. Simeon had checked. Camila hadn't sent it. The number was hidden. It was a trap. And now we had to think carefully.Simeon stood by the window, arms crossed. Nelson sat on the sofa, head bowed, deep in thought. I placed a cup of tea in front of them. No one touched it.I broke the silence."So… what do we do now?"Simeon turned round slowly. "They think we're stupid. That we'll charge into danger without asking questions."Nelson raised his head. "But it could still be true. What if Camila is really hurt?"I sighed. "I know. But we did look. The hospital did not have her as a patient. Simeon's contact said no one with her description was admitted."Nelson rubbed his face. "This is all too much."Simeon moved closer and sat beside me. "Nelson, you like her. That's okay. B
Chpater Pne hundred and Fity : A Message That Changed EverythingLily's POVI went to clear the plates after we ate. Everybody had loved the food. I had cooked peppered chicken and served with fried rice and served it with cold drinks. Leora helped clear the table as Nelson and Simeon sat in the living room, chatting softly.The house was quiet, warm, and peaceful. For the first time in a very long while, I felt relaxed. I even smiled a little when washing the plates. But that peace didn't last."Lily!" Nelson's voice cracked.I rushed to wipe my hands and followed him out. I saw him standing with his phone, his face with worry. Simeon was standing next to him, gazing at the screen as well."What's happening?" I asked, my heart starting to thump."It's a message," Nelson said. His voice was low. "Someone sent me this."He gave me the phone.I read it out loud:"Camila is in danger. She's been kidnapped. If you love her, go to Redhill Hospital. Alone."My chest tightened.Leora stepped
Chapter: The Emergency MessageI had just prepared the food. The smell of fried rice and chicken with pepper filled the kitchen with a savory aroma as I gingerly placed the final plate on the dining table. It was a peaceful night—one of those rare moments when we could all sit together and have a meal without stress.Simeon was already seated, his sleeves rolled up as he leaned back in his chair. Nelson was scrolling through his phone, and Leora had just come down from her room, looking tired but smiling.“Wow, Lily,” Leora said, sitting beside me. “This smells so good. You’re really spoiling us.”I smiled, wiping my hands on a napkin. “You all deserve it. It’s been a long week.”We all sat down and started eating. The food was hot, and everyone appeared to be in a calm mood. Even Simeon, who was always preoccupied with something, appeared to be enjoying a moment of peace."This is great," Nelson said, his fork stabbing into his chicken. "You've done a great job, Lily."I smiled gentl
Chapter 148: A Quiet Evening TogetherIt was an odd moment. Nelson and Liora were out, and the house was quiet. The normal business chaos, the plans, and the anxiety were all forgotten for the sake of a moment. I had been cooking for my day, something that I no longer had time for. I prepared a simple dinner—nothing fancy, merely some pasta, some salad, and some bread. But the smell of cooked food permeated the house, and I couldn't help but feel a little proud of the meal that I had prepared.I put on a loose dress, one that I usually reserved for times when I needed to unwind. Soft and unadorned, it was the perfect dress for an evening in. I had no idea why, but tonight felt different. Maybe it was because we were alone, the two of us. Maybe it was because, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, I could breathe.I walked into the living room where Simeon was, organizing some papers. His usual composed self was there, but his gaze was on me when I walked in. When eyes met,