Chapter Seventeen: A Silent StormLily's POVThe heavy thud of the car door closed us into the silent interior. The roaring of the engine didn't distract from the sudden deep chill down my spine.Simeon sat next to me, his hands clasped around the steering wheel to the extent where his knuckles had turned white. His jaw was clenched, and his gaze stared out straight ahead of him as though he wasn't really seeing the road before them. His breathing was slow, yet stiff in his lungs-like a man holding something in, something dangerous that was threatening at any second to blow.I had never seen him this way.Not when Vivian humiliated me. Not when she made me scrub floors until my fingers bled. Not when she made me carry heavy laundry loads while mocking me, laughing at my misery.But now, something was different.He looked… scared.Simeon Moretti, the man who walked into every room with an air of dominance and command, was scared. And I knew it had nothing to do with me.It was Vivian.
Chapter Nineteen: A Deal Vivian's P.O.V.I stood at the entrance of my mansion, arms crossed, eyes locked to the sleek black car pulling up to my driveway. The tires screeched slightly against the pavement as it came to a halt, heavy silence of the night stretching between us like invisible tension.Then the door opened.Nelson stepped out, his tall frame bathed in the dim glow of the porch lights. He adjusted the cuffs of his expensive suit and then looked around sharply before his eyes finally came to rest on me. His face was expressionless—cold, calculating.Just like always.He didn't run toward me, didn't ask any superfluous questions. He merely took his time up the stone steps, his polished shoes clicking against the surface. And when he finally reached me, he stopped just inches away, his presence suffocating."This better be worth my time," he muttered, his deep voice laced with skepticism.I smirked. "I wouldn't have called if it wasn't.Nelson arched a brow but stepped insi
Chapter Twenty: A Brewing StormSimeon's POVThe night weighed heavily on my shoulders as I sat in my study, fingers clenched against the edge of my desk. Dimly lit by the single lamp, long shadows stretched across the room. Yet, even in the darkness of night, my mind seemed to race ceaselessly.Vivian.The name alone could send a cold shiver down my spine.She was not just some woman I had been with. She wasn't any ex-lover hanging on to the past. No-Vivian was dangerous. She knew me better than anyone else in this world, and that was what made her the biggest threat.I'd seen the glint in her eye before I'd left her mansion with Lily. The humor. The triumph. She wasn't angry that I had taken Lily-she was serene. That was what bothered me most.Vivian never remained serene unless she'd already won.And tonight, she'd called Nelson.Nelson.The man who had been flying around me, circling me like a vulture, simply waiting for just the right moment to strike, and Vivian had handed it to
Chapter Twenty One: No MercyVivian's POVThe darkened lounge of my mansion buzzed in quiet tension, thick with pungent fumes of cigar smoke and whiskey, an atmosphere that made men feel invincible.I sat back in my chair, my fingertips dancing upon my wine glass as I considered the men in front of me—Simeon's men.At least, they had been.Now they belonged to me.Loyalty was fragile, easily bought by the right price or broken by the right betrayal. I knew precisely what strings to pull to make these men mine.One of them-a burly man with a scar down his cheek-shifted uncomfortably. The fingers twitched at his side no doubt itching for the gun at his waist.He wasn't stupid. None of them were.They knew this was a direct attack on Simeon. And they knew what it meant if they were caught.But fear wasn't enough to stop them.Money, power, revenge-those things spoke louder.And I had all three.I sipped my wine before placing the glass down gently. "You know why you're here."No one spok
Chapter Twenty At The HospitalSimeon's POVThe house was silent when I entered. Too silent.I placed my keys on the table, releasing a deep sigh. My mind had been racing since I had gone out. I knew Vivian would not take my decision lying down. She was too proud, too vindictive. But I had underestimated just how far she would go.I needed to think. I needed to eat.I went to the dining room. My movements were robotic as I sat and reached for the food my men had set for me. The rich aroma filled the air, but with one bite, the taste turned bitter on my tongue.There was something wrong.It wasn't the food-it was the silence. The absence of something. Someone.I let go of my fork. "Has Lily eaten?My voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet room.The men around the table looked at each other before one of them, Carlos, finally answered."We… we don't know, boss. The maids were supposed to serve her."I clenched my jaw. "Call her."Carlos hesitated for a second before he nodded and re
Chapter Twenty Three: Shattered TrustLily's POVPain. That was the first thing I felt. A dull, aching pain that radiated through my entire body, making it impossible to move.I could hear voices—muffled, distant. Bright light pressed against my closed eyelids, forcing me to stir. My throat was dry, raw, like I had swallowed shards of glass. My body felt heavy, drained, like all the strength had been ripped from me.Slowly, I opened my eyes.White walls. A beeping sound. The sterile scent of antiseptics.A hospital.I blinked, trying to focus, but everything was hazy. My limbs felt foreign, my mind sluggish. Then, like a crashing wave, the memories hit me.The men. Their hands. Their laughter. The pain.A strangled sob rose in my throat, and I swallowed it back down. I tried to move, but even that simple action sent a searing pain through me.Then I felt it-warm fingers wrapping around my own."Lily."His voice was hoarse, full of something I couldn't quite place. Desperation? Guilt?
Chapter Twenty Four: Unsaid YearningLily's POVThe silence of the hospital room was eerie, except for intermittent beeps on the monitors at my side. The white walls felt too stark, too blank, and in the air lingered the pungent odor of antiseptics. Outside the window, the flickering city lights were cold, so very, very far away. Hours had passed since Simeon had left, yet I could still feel his presence right around me, suffocating me in so many ways that I am not familiar with.I should have felt relieved. After all, I had stood my ground. I had told him I wouldn't go back, that I couldn't. And he had respected that. He had left without forcing me, without demanding I change my mind.But now, lying here alone, I couldn't shake the hollow feeling inside me.I shifted a bit, wincing at the dull ache coursing through my body. My fingers swept across the sheets, and for a moment, I could almost pretend they still carried the heat of his touch. The way he'd taken my hand earlier, the gen
Chapter Twenty Five: Embracing the ShadowsLily's POVAntiseptic disinfectant-sterile-hung in the air, further reminding me of my fragility. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound that companioned my lonely solitude. Hours had passed since Simeon had left me, insisting this was for my safety, and his absence still felt like a bleeding wound.I shifted a little in the hospital bed, wincing as pain radiated through my body. The physical wounds were healing, but the emotional scars ran deeper. Memories of the attack haunted me, but intertwined with them were thoughts of Simeon—his protective gaze, the warmth of his touch, the way his voice softened when he spoke to me.I closed my eyes and let the memories cascade over me. I could almost hear the deep reassuring laughter, see the rare tug of a smile at the corners of his lips. Outside, there was so much in darkness surrounding him; still, for me, there was only a reserve of light. It was in the way he cared, the unspo
Chapter Eighty NineTorn Between Love and BloodLily's POVThere was an aura of tension around me as I sat alone in the darkened room, my heart heavier than ever. I had locked the door, thinking that I could shut out the world and hence ease the pain inside me. But nothing could quell the raging tempest in my heart.I had only learned that my brother, Nelson—the sole survivor of my family—existed. I had long believed him to be dead, then suddenly he appeared and reversed my world. And now, I was being required to make a decision between him and the man I loved—Simeon.A soft knock against the wooden door, a knock accompanied by a voice I had long tried to quell."Lily, please. open up."Simeon.His voice was taut, the sound of it ready to crack. I closed my eyes, putting my palms over my ears as if that would be sufficient to block out the anguish in his voice. But it was useless. I could feel his pain even through the door.Another knock. Harder this time.Lily, if you don't want to
Chapter Eighty Eighte: Broken and LostSimeon's POVThe moment Lily turned her back on me, a part of me broke that I didn't realize it could.I stood there, frozen, staring at the emptiness she had left. My heart was raging so fiercely it ached, my chest tightening as if someone had stabbed it with a knife. The room was suffocating, crushing down on me with the weight of her words."I love my parents too much to let this pass.""I can't be with you, Simeon."Her words echoed in my head, each one cutting deeper than the last.I was a fool.Everything that we had, everything that we shared—it meant nothing to her?No. I would not believe it.Lily loved me. I knew she did. I could see it in the way she looked at me, in the way she held on to me in the evenings, in the way she whispered my name like it mattered.But now, she was gone. And she had chosen her brother. Chosen revenge over love.My fingers curled into fists, my nails digging into my palms. I had to leave.Without uttering a w
Chapter Eighty Seven : Broken HeartLily's POVWhen the second Simeon walked out that door, I felt like I had lost a part of my soul.I stood there, frozen, my body trembling with the weight of what I had just done. My breathing was in short, pained gasps, and my chest ached as if someone had stabbed me through the heart.I had let him go. I had told him that I was not interested. I had put my past, my family, ahead of the love of my life. And yet… why did it feel like I had destroyed myself in the process?Tears forced me to blink, but I did not break—not yet. I stepped back from the door, not wanting to go running after him, even when every part of my body was screaming at me to run, to scream at him to return, to take back every awful thing that had escaped my mouth.Nelson stood by my side, looking at me with an impenetrable expression. For a moment, he didn't say anything, simply studying my face as though he wished I would change my mind."You did the right thing," he said at l
Chapter Eighty Six: A Love Broken by WarLily's POVThe air between us was thick with tension, so dense I could barely breathe. My heart pounded within my chest, my rib cage aching under the weight of my own speech. I'd just told Simeon—the man I loved, the man who had stood as my foundation—that I could no longer be with him. That I couldn't be a traitor to my parents' memory.Simeon just sat there, his black eyes staring back at me, hoping for something—anything—that would make him think I was kidding about what I had just said. But I wasn't kidding. Not one word.I needed to mean it.He blinked once, his jaw tightening as if he were trying not to break. I had never seen him like this before. Not even in battle, not even when his life had been on the line. He was always so tall, so powerful, so in command. But now, he looked. broken."I don't want anything to do with you, Simeon," I repeated, my voice shaking. "I love my parents. I love them more than anything. I won't let this pass
Chapter Eighty Five : A Line DrawnLily's POVThe quiet between us was as sharp as a knife pressed to my throat.Nelson was before me, his chest rising and falling in ragged breaths, fists clenched at his sides. His face burned with rage, his jaw locked so tightly I feared it would break."You love him?" His voice was low, but the rage underlying it was unmistakable. "You love Simeon?"I swallowed hard. My hands trembled, but I steeled myself to incline my head. "Yes."It was barely louder than a whisper, but it was enough to provoke him.Nelson's face twisted with pure rage. "How dare you, Lily? How dare you betray our family in such a manner?""Don't!" he bellowed, his voice slicing as a knife. "Don't you dare even say you didn't betray them! Our parents are dead! Do you hear me? Dead! And those responsible are the very people who gave birth to that man you claim to love!"I swallowed hard, but refused to look away. "I know," I whispered barely above a breath. "Do you think I don't?
Chapter Eighty Four : The Man I LoveLily's POVI sobbed as I hugged Nelson. My brother. My blood. The man whom I had thought I had lost forever. The only one whom I had cried for in the dark, wondering if he was alive, if he even remembered me.And here he was now, hugging me just as hard as I hugged him. But it did not take away the years of suffering, the loneliness, the torture."I have suffered so much, Nelson," I wailed between tears. "You don't have any idea what I've suffered. You don't have any idea how much I missed you."Nelson eased his grip a bit, his arms wrapped around my shoulders as he looked into my eyes, his eyes filled with pain. "Lily, I—" He broke off, his voice cracking. "I thought you'd died."It shattered me once more to hear him say that."I thought I was dead too," I breathed. "Every night I wept myself to sleep wondering if you were out there somewhere. Wondering if you were alive. But I had no one. Had nothing. Had to fight for everything, Nelson. Had to b
Chapter Eighty ThreeLily's POVThe room was silent. My heart pounding against my chest, my breathing rapid. I could still feel the warmth of Nelson's embrace, his body vibrating against mine. The weight of his words, the truth of who he was, slammed into me like a tidal wave, covering me in emotions I couldn't even categorize.Nelson Williams.My brother.A name I had long suppressed in the depths of my mind. A name I never thought to hear again.I leaned back slightly, my hands still on his arms as I looked at him—really looked at him. My eyes were wide, taking in his face, hoping to see the boy I once knew.The little boy who played barefoot, chasing butterflies in the garden. The boy who took my hand when the nights were too dark and the thunderstorms too loud. The boy who promised to protect me.And here he was now, a man hardened by time, by war, by a fate that neither of us had planned.Tears streamed down my face, and my lips trembled as I took a soft breath, "Nelson… how?"Hi
Chapter Eighty Two : The Family Lily's POVThe dimmed lighting of the hospital room glimmered briefly, sending the quiet shadows wallward. I was still hurting from my body and had a dull headache but sat up regardless. Simeon sat beside me, crossed arms, unforgiving expression. The silence between us felt taut despite neither of us uttering anything for a lengthy period.I knew he cared about me. I could sense it by how his fingers grasped the chair arm. I could feel it by how he kept looking towards the door, as if he expected something nasty.And I knew exactly what—or rather, who—was bothering him.Nelson.That he had come all the way here only to see me was unbelievable. We had been fighting each other for years. We had been enemies. I had spent so much of my life hating him, rehearsing how to fight him, and now. he wanted to talk? It wasn't adding up.But while my head told me to push the thought of him away, my heart was still uneasy.Why did he need it so badly?Why did he loo
Nelson's POVI was standing outside of the hospital room, my fists at my sides. My heart still pounding from what had happened. Lily opened her eyes, looked at me, and told me to go away. She didn't even give me a chance to speak. She didn't even let me say a word.I believed my entire universe had come to an end. Lily was my sister. My own sister. And I had been fighting her for years, attempting to kill her. How could I not have known? How could destiny be so cruel?I leaned against the wall, gasping for breath. My head reeled, images flashing by my mind's eye. The necklace. The tat. Bits and pieces of a forgotten past that had somehow become lost to me now clicking together like a never-before-realized puzzle.The truth confronted me now, clear as day. Lily was my lost sister.And I'd despised her all these years.I shut my eyes, trying to suppress the feelings rising inside of me. All the battles. All the dead. And she, the whole time, my sister.How was I to tell her?Would she e