Chapter Seven: The Revelation of the Truth - Lily's POV My heart was racing in my chest as my fingers wrapped around the cool metal handle and turned it, the door to the law office creaking open. I tried to steady my breath, but my pulse refused to cooperate. I had to do this. I had to finally bring an end to the nightmare that was my marriage to Adrian. But as I stepped inside, I could already feel him behind me. The steady rhythm of Simeon's footsteps echoed in the silence, growing louder, until it was impossible to pretend he wasn't there. Lily," his voice cut through the air, smooth and commanding, yet underlying that was something sharper. I resisted the urge to turn around, to acknowledge him. Instead, I focused on the receptionist, my voice barely a whisper. "I have an appointment with Mr. Coleman," I said, the words coming out far frailer than I had meant them to. Before the receptionist could say anything, I heard it-his voice, low and insistent. "I'll wait right here."
Chapter Eight: A DealLily's POVThe air was thick in the car as I followed Simeon. He didn't say much, his expression unreadable as his hands gripped the steering wheel. I wasn't quite sure what made me follow him. Perhaps it was the curiosity, the allure of answers, or that strange pull toward him.Simeon had dropped a bomb on me back at the lawyer's office. Adrian's lies and betrayals had already wrecked my trust in humanity, and now here I was, driving behind a man who seemed to hold pieces of a puzzle I wasn't even sure I wanted to solve.My breath caught as his sleek black car turned into a gated estate. The iron gates alone looked to cost more than my car. They slowly creaked open, allowing a glimpse of the sprawling mansion beyond them. The house-or rather, the palace-was a masterpiece in modern architecture: towering glass windows, cascading fountains, and perfectly manicured gardens.I parked behind him, getting out of my car a little apprehensively. The cold night air bit a
Chapter Nine: The Locked DoorLily's POVMorning sunlight came through the high windows and delicately beaded on the furniture in a sheen of the most expensive varnish. None of this brought me tranquility. Images from the previous day, the contract, Simeon's incomprehensible behavior, and this house-a prison-end.I couldn't merely sit in my room. The quiet of this house was constricting. It was the kind that always made one have the impression somebody was watching one-even when there really was no one around.I swung into the passage, where I sank into deep carpet and promenaded haphazardly. The corridors were really endlessly long, bathed in eerie quiet-but every little squeak from a floor made me jump.And then I saw it:.A door stood at the far end of a narrow hall, plain and unadorned from all the others I had passed. There was something about it that felt… off. It wasn't just a door but a boundary, and I couldn't help but wonder what lay behind.My hand hovered over the doorknob
Chapter Ten: The Mafia Lord's Double LifeLily's POVThe moment we passed those heavy-duty gates, it was like I stepped into a completely different world-an even more treacherous one. Hard-faced guys with black suits seemed to block each street; others casually grasped arms that were big weapons, which, to me, seemed simply a part of the accessories to carry. Then my tummy twisted, like something started wrong inside me.From the moment Simeon had stepped out of the car, the whole ambiance had changed. All heads turned toward him. The men—they looked like bad news—were already going into bows, some right down almost to their ankles, as if he was some sort of king or something."Welcome, sir," one of them greeted in a deep, respectful tone, his head down.Simeon didn't even acknowledge them. He walked past them with this calm, calculated air, his black suit pristine and commanding in his movements. I followed him hesitantly, legs feeling weak beneath me.What the hell was this?I stuck
:Chapter Ten: The Realization of No EscapeLily's POVI was fuming as Vivian's words hit me."Go to the kitchen and prepare me a meal, you are here to work and I always want to see you do something” she ordered, her voice cold, as if I were no better than an employee-no, not even that. I fisted my hands, battling the scream that wanted to tear from my mouth. Everything in me wanted to stand up to her, to tell her she had no right to order me around. But I couldn't. Not here, not in this world I barely understood.I didn't utter a word. I did a swift turn on my heels to take a walk to the kitchen while my mind replayed everything that had just happened.How could Simeon do this to me? Lie to my face when everything was supposedly okay, when I was just some pawn in his twisted game? And that woman-Vivian? The way she looked at him, touched him, and kissed him just turned my stomach. He had a girlfriend, was living two lives-one as a CEO and one as a mafia lord. And I was supposed to be
Chapter Eleven: The Fight for FreedomLily's POVI had made my decision.I didn't care what it would take-I was leaving.I didn't belong here, and I wouldn't let anyone, not even Simeon, decide my fate. Not anymore.The night was cold, the air thick with an eerie silence as I walked toward what I hoped was the way out. Every shadow felt like a threat, every rustling leaf sent a chill down my spine.I wasn't stupid.I knew this place was dangerous.But what I hadn't realized was how deep Simeon's world ran.Just as I turned a corner, a group of men stepped into my path.My heart stopped.Mute at first, just standing there like statues cloaked in darkness, their presence was suffocating, reeking of danger with black suits and sharp gazes.I knew it in that instant.They belonged to Simeon.I retreated backward.One took a step closer. "Where do you think you're headed?"His tone was composed, almost mocking, as if he knew the answer all along.I swallowed hard and tried my best to have
Chapter 13Simeon's POVThe door slammed behind me.Lily froze.She stood in the dimly lit room, her back stiff, her breathing unsteady. The way she hugged herself, the way her body stiffened-it told me she already knew why I was here.I took a slow step forward, watching the way her shoulders tensed. She was always like this. Resisting. Even when she had no way out, she still fought.I enjoyed that about her.She turned to me, her face pale, but her eyes were sharp, burning with unspoken rage."What do you want?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.I exhaled, dragging my gaze down her trembling form. "You."Her breath caught.I stepped closer, closing the distance, forcing her to tilt her head up to look at me. "You should have read the contract carefully, Lily," I murmured, my voice low. "You belong to me now."Her lips trembled. "No," she whispered, shaking her head. "I—I'm just a maid."I laughed. "That's what I told Vivian. Not what's in our contract."She took a step ba
Chapter FourteenSimeon's POVThe room was silent but for the soft tinkling sound of Vivian's laughter. She lay beside me, propped up on one elbow, her fingers tracing lazy circles on my chest. The silk sheets pooled at her hips, the soft light from the lamp casting a golden glow over her delicate features. She was beautiful, seductive even, but I barely noticed.Vivian had been talking about something-I wasn't really listening. My mind was elsewhere, tangled in thoughts I couldn't quite shake off.Lily.The way she had moved. The way she had fought back.I had underestimated her. That much was clear. She wasn't some helpless woman tossed into my world. No, she was something else altogether. The precision of her attacks, the instincts in her movements-it was trained, refined. She wasn't some weakling caught in the storm of my life.She had a past. A hidden one.And for some damn reason, I wanted to know more."Simeon," Vivian's voice drew me out of my thoughts.She was staring at me,
Chapter 135: Vincent's DecisionLily's POVThe warmth of the night surrounded us as we gathered in the living room. The smell of freshly cooked food filled the air—my efforts at cooking something that everyone could enjoy. Something that I barely ever got to do anymore, what with the chaos and tension that went into closing business deals, but I was eager to make this night a little more normal. Looking around at the friendly faces of those I loved—Simeon, Nelson, Liora—it was comforting to have them all in one place, as if nothing else in the world mattered for a little while.Liora and Nelson were chatting something softly in the room corner, laughing at a joke they'd just told each other. Their laughter, so free and light, was a rare blessing. It made me smile as I set the table, setting the last dish of salad before them."Is that all?" I asked, trying to push down the little bit of nervousness I felt, even though I knew they'd be happy with the work.Liora grinned. "Lily, this is
Chaprer 135Chapter 135 – The Meeting with Vincent Moore(Lily’s POV)The car ride to meet Vincent Moore was quiet, but it wasn’t a peaceful kind of quiet. It was the kind of silence that came before a big storm. I could feel the tension in the air, thick and heavy, as Simeon drove, his hands firm on the wheel.I stole a glance at him. His jaw was clenched, his eyes sharp and unreadable. He was thinking, planning—getting ready for the battle ahead.I shifted in my seat. “Are you nervous?”He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. “Nervous? No. Focused? Yes.”I nodded, but my hands were slightly sweaty. This meeting wasn’t about convincing Vincent Moore to reject Adrian. No, we were here to show him something better. Something more promising. If we succeeded, it would change everything.Simeon reached over and squeezed my hand. “Relax. Just follow my lead.”I let out a slow breath and nodded. “Okay.”****We arrived at a private lounge inside a luxury hotel. The atmosphere was excl
Chapter 134 – The Power Play(Lily's POV)The house was alive with activity, each of us immersed in our own work, but there was a strange sense of togetherness in the air. We were all working towards the same goal, though each of us was doing it in our own way.I was in the kitchen, my hands chopping rapidly as I cut vegetables, my mind wandering to everything that was happening around me. The air was thick with the scent of garlic and onions, combined with the warm spices that I had added to the pot. Cooking was always a means of clearing my head, of doing something productive, but today, it was a necessity.If we were going to fight this battle, we needed to be strong. And strength started with a full stomach.I could hear Nelson clacking away on his laptop in the living room, his fingers moving so fast over the keys that the sound was like raindrops hitting a windowpane. Occasionally, he muttered a curse under his breath, his eyes narrowed intently at the screen as he researched mo
Chapter 133 – A Hidden Threat Lily's POVThe night was heavy with silence, the kind that pressed upon my body and made my mind sound louder than it was. I sat at the table in front of Simeon, my fingers closed around the burning mug of tea I hadn't even taken a sip of within the past ten minutes. The room was dim, shadows dancing on the walls, but the real weight in the air wasn't from the shadows—it was from the conversation we were about to have.Liora had just returned from work, her face expressionless, but I could tell by the way her hands were clenched in her lap, the way her lips pressed into a thin line as if she was holding something enormous in.Nelson, standing next to me, said something first to break the quiet. "You seem to have something to say."Liora jerked her head and caught her breath and then at last said her words. "I overheard them talking about this big investor. His name is Vincent Moore. He's deciding if he will invest his money in Adrian's business."My grip
Chapter 132 – The First Foot into the Enemy's Camp (Liora's POV)There was tension in the air that morning.I sat at the end of my bed, staring down at the simple clothes Lily had laid out for me to wear on my first day working for Adrian's company. Blah, professional—nothing flashy. But however plain I looked on the outside, inside my belly was a twisted ball of nerves.Today, I was on enemy territory.Simeon and Lily had been very clear about that—I was not there to do any work. I was there to listen, observe, to learn anything that would help them in taking down Adrian. But as I thought about it, a tiny piece of doubt crept into my mind.Could I really do this?I folded my hands, driving the thought out.I had no choice.Final Instructions from Lily and SimeonDownstairs, Simeon and Lily were already waiting for me. Nelson was present too, reclining on the couch, browsing his phone.Lily examined me from top to bottom, nodding in agreement. "You look ready."I wasn't as certain, bu
Chapter 131 – A Test of Loyalty(Nelson’s POV)1. Digging into the PastTrust was dangerous in our world. And right now, we were trusting a woman we knew nothing about.I didn’t like it.The moment Lily and Simeon brought Liora back, I knew my next task—I had to find out exactly who she was and if she had any ties to Adrian.Simeon didn’t need to say it directly, but I knew him well enough. Before he even gave the order, I was already preparing.So, the next morning, I left early, heading straight back to the village where we found her. The road was just as rough, and the stench of smoke from burning firewood still hung in the air. The people here had nothing.And yet, something about Liora had seemed different from the others. She wasn’t just desperate—she was determined.That could mean she was ambitious. Or it could mean she had a hidden agenda.I was going to find out which one.2. Searching for AnswersI parked the SUV outside a small market where people sold dried fish, vegetabl
Chapter 130 – A New Plan(Lily's POV)The tension between Simeon and me still lingered after the fight about the workers, but we both knew we needed a break from it all—the stress, the brawling, the endless fighting against Adrian. So, when Nelson mentioned a struggling village outside of the city, I saw a chance.We must leave," I told Simeon that morning, eating breakfast. "Those people are needy. You have resources, and this would be a good thing."Simeon folded his arms, sat back in his chair. "Lily, this is not the time for altruism. We have more critical problems to fight."."I know," I said, my tone calm. "But this isn't about giving food or supplies. We need help, and right now, people believe Adrian more because he gives them work. If we help them first, we might be able to find someone useful."Simeon exhaled a harsh breath, rubbing his temples. "You always have an idea, don't you?"I shrugged. "I learned from the best."There was a long silence before he nodded at last. "Fi
Chapter 129: Temptation and Regret(Damon's POV)The moment the door groaned open, my head snapped toward it, my brows knitting as I saw her standing there—Cara.I hadn't expected her to show up here. Not after all of this. Not after I had made it so clear that I had picked Sophia.But there she was, standing in my doorway, eyes dark and inscrutable, lips twisted into a small, knowing smile. A dangerous smile.I stood up, pushing away from my desk where I had sat with my mind off in space. "What are you doing here?" My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn't care.Cara took a slow step forward, her hips angling ever so slightly, her eyes locked on mine. There was something unnerving about the way she walked—like an animal stalking its victim."I came to see you," she said simply, her tone as smooth as honey.I clamped my jaw. "You shouldn't have come here, Cara. You know why."She let out a soft laugh, tilting her head and smiling. "Why? Because of Sophia?"My heart ached to h
Chapter 128 – Lily's POVPeaceThere was a crackling tension in the air.I stalked around the room, crossing my arms tightly over my chest, my irritation brewing just below the surface.Nelson sprawled on the couch, his arms stretched over the backrest of it, but even he did not seem settled, his gaze flicking from me to Simeon.And Simeon—he sat behind his desk, crossing his ankles, his fingers idly drumming against the highly polished wood as if he were not the man who had taken the company down.The silence grew, dense and heavy.I could no longer contain it."You had no right to do that."Simeon raised a brow, his dark eyes barely lifting to meet my own. "No right?" His voice was too even, too restrained, and it served only to further infuriate me."Yes, Simeon. No right!" I threw my arms up in the air. "You let go of an entire team of employees today! You didn't even stop to think! Do you have any idea what that's going to do to the company?"Simeon sat back, his expression unyie