.Chapter Thirty-Seven: The Deal Lily PovThe taxi ride to Mr. Carter's estate felt endless. Each mile that passed made my stomach churn harder, my fingers curling into my dress as I stared blankly out the window. The city lights blurred past, casting strange shadows that danced across my trembling hands.I had made my choice.I kept telling myself that.Over and over.But my body knew otherwise.I had a dryness in my throat, my palms were clammy, and however many deep breaths I'd taken, there was a quiver coiled inside me-a snake ready to strike. I should turn around. I should tell the driver to change direction, to take me somewhere- anywhere-that wasn't this place.But I didn't.Because I couldn't.Because this was for Simeon.And if this was it, what it would take, then so be it.The car slowed, and I looked up just in time to see the massive iron gates of Mr. Carter's mansion looming ahead. The driver said nothing as the gates slid open smoothly, allowing us inside as if I was e
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Love She Can't AcceptLily's POVI sat on my bed, staring into the mirror as I gazed back at me. My hair was a slight mess from the shower I took, but no amount of hot water could take off the stench of last night. My skin still had the feel of his touch; it was as if I could feel it clung to my skin like an unerasable stain.Mr. Carter.I squeezed my eyes shut, my breath hitching sharply. I had done what had to be done. For Simeon. For the man that I loved.But at what cost?It twisted and coiled inside me like a snake, tighter with every second that reeled by. I didn't know how to face him, how to look into his eyes and pretend as if nothing had happened. What if he could tell? What if he knew already?The sudden knock at the door made me freeze.I felt my heart stop for one moment, then hammer wildly within my chest. I curled my fingers into the sheets as I sat there unmoving, hoping—praying—whoever it was would just leave.Another knock.Then his voice."Lily
Chapter Thirty-Nine: A Toast to RuinVivian's POVThick smoke wafted in the air from the high-class cigars, with heavy-smelling whiskies: this darkly lit lounge gleamed with soft gold color everywhere and resonated with tinging glass-ice rings touching in salutation. A cool tone of smooth jazz sounds sat at the core, yet this was blurred out by a wave of loud peals of laughter falling out as Nelson relaxed backward in his couch, the amber liquid dancing around his glass.“To us," he grinned, raising his drink. "To the fall of Simeon."I smirked, lifting my own glass to meet his in a satisfying clink. "To us," I echoed. "To the fools who dare stand in our way."Sweet was the taste of victory mixed with the burn of whiskey as it slid down my throat. I crossed one leg over the other, settling into my seat with satisfaction."You should have seen the look on his face, Nelson," I said, continuing with a wicked curl of my lips. "The mighty Simeon brought to his knees, his empire cracking un
Chapter Forty: Drag Him to His KneesNelson's POVDimly lit, the shadows were long across the room as I leaned back in my chair, staring at the men in front of me. Smoke and whiskey thickly laced the air, overlaid by something far more dangerous-anticipation. My boys, my most loyal and ruthless men, watched and waited for my command.I swirled the whiskey in my glass, setting it down with a deliberate clink against the wood."It's time," I said, my voice slicing through the silence like a blade. "I have been watching him for too long and That ends tonight."A slow, wicked grin stretched across Marco's face as he cracked his knuckles. "What's the plan, boss?"I leaned forward, my fingers steepled together. "We're gonna hit his mansion hard. I want every one of his men dead or so badly broken they won't be able to stand. Wound them. Make 'em bleed. Let 'em know what crossing me looks like.My vision dimmed further. "But Simeon? He is mine. I want him dragged here, on his knees, in front
Chapter Forty-One: Trapped in the Shadows(Lily's POV)The air in this small, dimly lit room was so thick with unspoken fear, uncertainty, a feeling of hopeless despair. Thick silence—yet loud with just our breathing, fast, irregular, desperate.I crouched, with my head between my knees, hugging myself, as if somehow this would shelter me from this nightmare playing itself out beyond the cold walls of my cell. My heart reverberated thunderously, pulsating its consistent beat against the wall of my throat and pounding against my rib cage. My palms were sweaty, my fingers cold, shakily balling my hands into fists.Somewhere beyond this hidden room, the battle raged. The gunfire that had echoed down the halls stopped, and an eerie silence filtered through, sending a shiver down my spine. Something had happened. Something terrible.I turned to Simeon.He sat beside me, his back against the wall, his legs stretched out before him. His head was thrown back, eyes closed, yet I knew instantly
Chapter Forty-Two: Manipulation (Vivian's POV)News hit me like a knife to the chest.Carter was working with Simeon again.After all I had done for him—everything I had sacrificed—he still had the audacity to crawl back to that man? My fingers curled into fists as I paced my office, my high heels clicking angrily against the marble floor.It was the fire of betrayal, hotter and far stronger than the rage that boiled in my veins. How dare he? After all the power, influence, and fortune I had put at his feet, he had still dared to deal with my enemy. This was intolerable.I reached for my phone on the desk and dialed Carter's number. Once. Twice. Three times.He didn't answer.Coward.Fine. If he wouldn’t come to me, I’d go to him.I grabbed my coat and stormed out, my mind racing with fury. Carter would regret this decision.—His empire was still as grand: tall glassy windows, high ceilings, security guards at each corner, none allowing anyone near the building unless they had the r
Chapter Forty-Three: Betrayal Unveiled(Simeon's POV)The fatigue crowded my shoulders when I rolled down the sleeves of my shirt to retreat into my chair. Warring with Nelson had exhausted me. But at least now, I felt some hope. Once more, I could breathe. I could go back to my room, wait for Lily there, and see those big, childish eyes. She was going to give me a reason to fight even harder.But peace was never an option ever given to me.The gentle ring of my phone snapped me out of my reverie. I looked at the screen. A message from Carter.My jaw clenched up right away. That bastard never called me unless he had something to win. Against my better judgment, I clicked on the message.And then the world came crashing down.A picture loaded onto the screen.Lily.Carter.Together.I stared, my blood congealing with ice. It wasn't they were standing alongside one another but laughing, actually smiling, very close.Way too close.Carter had his arm draped over her, his hand posed posse
Chapter Forty-Four: Out in the Cold(Lily’s POV)The night air was cold.Colder than I had ever felt before.I stood in front of the large iron gates, unable to move, but it wasn't the cold wind nipping at my skin that froze me. The heavy resonance of Simeon's words echoed in my ears, suffocating me from the inside out.“Get out.”I had begged him. Pleaded. Looked into his eyes hoping to find a glimmer of the love he once had for me.But there was nothing.Just coldness.Just anger.Just disappointment.And now, I stand outside his house the big mansion with my bags at my feet, utterly deserted.I swallowed the lump in my throat and raised my phone, trembling hands, dialed him again. No answer. I called again. Still nothing.I tried texting. Message sent. Not read.My hands gripped the phone tighter as I stared at the dark screen. My heart was in such a despairing state, torn each moment, piece by piece. How had it come to this? How had I lost him so completely?I could hold back the
Chapter Ninety OneChapter Title: A Brother's DilemmaNelson's POVThe silence in the room was oppressive, the air thick with unspoken words. My men were gathered around me, their gazes trained on me, waiting for commands. We had always been a well-oiled machine—swift, ruthless, and precise. But now, everything was different.Lily.My little sister. The one I believed was dead. The one I'd spent my entire life seeking revenge for. Now here she was, alive, in the middle of my world, telling me to let go of all I'd fought for."What's next, boss?" one of my men finally broke the silence and asked.I didn't answer immediately. I glanced instead at Lily, who was seated on the couch, arms folded across her chest, watching us cautiously. I could feel that she was waiting, seeing if I would continue in the same vein or if I would change for her.I had to be careful.I held up a hand briefly, a gesture for my men to be silent. Not now. Not in front of her. They understood immediately, shiftin
.Chapter Ninety : Torn Between Them(Lily’s POV)The room was quiet. The weight of my decision pressed down on me like a rock, crushing me. I had decided to leave Simeon, to stand with my brother, to honor the blood that coursed through my veins.Why did it have to hurt so much that I felt like I had ripped out my own heart in doing it?I sat on the cold floor of the dark room, legs pulled tightly into my arms. Nelson had stepped outside for a moment or two, but even when he stayed with me, there was that awful tension between us. He thought I'd made my decision, that I'd accepted his war as mine.Inside me, I was breaking.My mind was a battlefield of emotions—grief, guilt, yearning, and a pain so raw it was as if I was being pulled apart from within.I missed Simeon.Every breath I drew in his absence was tense. I tried to hold back the memories—the weight of his arms wrapped around me, the calmness of his voice telling me everything would be all right, the gaze in his eyes like I
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