Chapter One hundred and Fourty one – The Unexpected VisitLily's POVThe morning started off like any other.The sun was shining through the window, and the office was quiet. I had just finished talking with Simeon about the new files we needed to prepare for Vincent's team. Nelson was on the phone. Liora was scanning documents on her computer.Everything was normal.Until the elevator rang.I didn't think much of it at first. People were always coming and going. But then I heard Nelson cut off in the middle of a sentence. And I saw the color drain from his face.I turned towards the door.And there he was.Adrian.He walked in slowly, as if he owned the whole building. Dressed in a sharp black suit, dark glasses, and that smile—the sort that doesn't mean he's happy—it was proud, cold, dangerous.My heart skipped a beat.I couldn't breathe for a second. I rose from my seat, hands trembling.Simeon stood up too, but he didn't react. Not even slightly. He just gazed at Adrian as if he h
Chapter 142 – Quiet MovesLily's POVI did not say a word until we got home.Simeon simply acted as if nothing had happened. He came in, took off his jacket, and even smiled at me as he had a glass of water.But I was not able to contain my feelings.My heart kept racing. My hands were cold. The way Adrian showed up before us last time—his smile, his words, the way he glared at Simeon like he was about to destroy everything we had built—it kept ringing in my head."Simeon…" I whispered as I sat on the couch, holding a pillow close to my body. "Are you not worried?"He looked at me with uncomplicated eyes, like the whole affair didn't happen to him. "No."I blinked. "You're saying no what? That was Adrian. He broke into our firm—like that—and delivered a threat.""He did not deliver a threat," said Simeon, sitting down beside me. "He simply displayed his teeth.".I scowled. "That's worse. You see what he means. And the way he glared at me. as if he was threatening you as well. What if
Chapter One hundred and Fourty threeChapter: Lily's Caution and Meeting CamilaLily's POVI had been inside the kitchen, at last doing the dishes which I had cooked for dinner. Stew fragrance filled the atmosphere, and ringing of plates that I set in place on the dining table. Things were just fine, yet my head wasn't well-oriented towards the food. It was onto Nelson's girl, Camila.Nelson had been boasting to me about how great she was. He was ecstatic, but something in me just wasn't working. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but after all that had gone down with Adrian and with our company, I just felt like we needed to be careful. I didn't want to hurt Nelson's feelings, but I couldn't help but say something.Nelson," I burst out, trying to be calm. "Are you sure about her? I mean, I just don't know."Nelson looked at me, confused. "What are you talking about? Camila's a good girl. She's friendly to me.".I took a deep breath and put a spoon on the table. "I don't know. I ju
Chapter One hundred and Forty FourMeeting with Camila:Lily's POV – The Meeting with Camila (Continued)The waiter brought us our beverages first. I thanked him quietly and looked over at Camila. She sipped a glass of orange juice, peaceful face, hands placed on the table. She did not seem nervous one bit. That made me a little angry. If I were introducing people near my boyfriend, I would have been somewhat shy or apprehensive.Not her.She laughed easily at Nelson’s jokes. She looked him straight in the eyes when she spoke. She even asked me questions politely, like she really wanted to know me.“So, Lily,” she said, smiling gently, “Nelson told me you’re very good at cooking. What’s your favorite thing to make?”I smiled back, keeping my voice soft. “I like cooking simple meals. Rice and stew. Pasta. Fried plantains. Nothing too fancy.”"Sounds good," she told me. "Someday I might even get to sample it."I simply nodded, my smile failing to reach my eyes. I observed how she didn't
Chapter One: The Wife No One Knows I stepped into the sleek, modern lobby of Brennan Enterprises, my heart racing with excitement. Today was meant to be a surprise—something I hadn’t done in a long time. I missed the early days of our marriage, when Adrian and I would steal little moments together. Lately, work had consumed him—meetings, business trips, endless responsibilities. But today, I wanted to remind him that I was still here. Still his wife. The lobby buzzed with quiet conversations, employees glued to their phones or hurrying past. A normal morning for them—but for me, this was special. I carried a carefully wrapped gift in my bag: a limited-edition watch Adrian had wanted for months. A small gesture, but one that mattered. I approached the front desk with a bright smile. “Good morning. I’m here to see Mr. Adrian Brennan. I’m his wife, Lily.” The receptionist’s eyes widened for a fraction of a second before she masked her surprise with a polite smile. But I saw it—that
Chapter Two: The Truth Hurts I sat in the dim living room, my body trembling, my chest so heavy it felt like I couldn’t breathe. Tears kept falling, no matter how hard I tried to stop them. I thought I was strong. I thought I could handle anything. But nothing had ever hurt like this. Adrian. The man I loved. The man I trusted. The man I had built my life around. Had been lying to me all along. I went to his office today to surprise him, to remind him that we were still a team. That after everything, we were still us. But I was wrong. The name Sophia wouldn’t leave my head. The way they called her Mrs. Brennan. The way everyone knew her—but no one ever told me. I had given up everything for Adrian. I sold my father’s land, the last piece of his legacy, so Adrian could build his company. I stood by him, supported him, believed in him. I thought we were building something together. But now… I realized I was building a dream alone. The front door opened, snapping me back to rea
Chapter Three I sat at the kitchen table, gripping the edge as I watched Adrian get ready for work. He moved quickly, as if nothing was wrong, as if last night’s conversation never happened. After our talk, I had called his sister, hoping she would remind him of the family we once dreamed of. I could barely look at him, but I had to try. “Adrian,” I said, my voice unsteady. “Your sister called yesterday. She wants to see us. She said it’s been too long since we visited.” Adrian paused, his hand stopping mid-air as he adjusted his tie. His face darkened, and he narrowed his eyes at me. “What did you tell her?” His cold tone felt like a slap. I swallowed the hurt. “Nothing, Adrian. I didn’t say anything about… us. She just wants to see you. Is that so wrong?” He turned to me fully, his jaw tight. “Don’t involve my family in this, Lily. Whatever is happening between us stays between us. The last thing I need is you running to them with your emotions.” His words cut deep. I tried t
: Chapter Four The sun rose too fast, dragging me into a day I wasn’t ready for. My eyes were swollen from crying, my heart hollow from the pain Adrian had caused. His smile at her, the way he kissed her hand, his voice declaring his love for Sophia—it all played in my head, over and over, like a cruel joke I couldn’t escape. I sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the divorce lawyer’s number on my phone. My fingers trembled as I pressed the call button. A polite voice answered. The assistant scheduled my appointment for the afternoon. It was done. I was filing for divorce. I should have felt relief. Instead, a crushing sadness settled over me. I had given everything to this marriage. I had fought for Adrian, sacrificed so much of myself—only for him to destroy me without looking back. He wasn’t worth my tears anymore. But still, they fell. I gripped the steering wheel, listening to the rain hit the windshield. The city blurred past me as I drove, my mind tangled in too many th
Chapter One hundred and Forty FourMeeting with Camila:Lily's POV – The Meeting with Camila (Continued)The waiter brought us our beverages first. I thanked him quietly and looked over at Camila. She sipped a glass of orange juice, peaceful face, hands placed on the table. She did not seem nervous one bit. That made me a little angry. If I were introducing people near my boyfriend, I would have been somewhat shy or apprehensive.Not her.She laughed easily at Nelson’s jokes. She looked him straight in the eyes when she spoke. She even asked me questions politely, like she really wanted to know me.“So, Lily,” she said, smiling gently, “Nelson told me you’re very good at cooking. What’s your favorite thing to make?”I smiled back, keeping my voice soft. “I like cooking simple meals. Rice and stew. Pasta. Fried plantains. Nothing too fancy.”"Sounds good," she told me. "Someday I might even get to sample it."I simply nodded, my smile failing to reach my eyes. I observed how she didn't
Chapter One hundred and Fourty threeChapter: Lily's Caution and Meeting CamilaLily's POVI had been inside the kitchen, at last doing the dishes which I had cooked for dinner. Stew fragrance filled the atmosphere, and ringing of plates that I set in place on the dining table. Things were just fine, yet my head wasn't well-oriented towards the food. It was onto Nelson's girl, Camila.Nelson had been boasting to me about how great she was. He was ecstatic, but something in me just wasn't working. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but after all that had gone down with Adrian and with our company, I just felt like we needed to be careful. I didn't want to hurt Nelson's feelings, but I couldn't help but say something.Nelson," I burst out, trying to be calm. "Are you sure about her? I mean, I just don't know."Nelson looked at me, confused. "What are you talking about? Camila's a good girl. She's friendly to me.".I took a deep breath and put a spoon on the table. "I don't know. I ju
Chapter 142 – Quiet MovesLily's POVI did not say a word until we got home.Simeon simply acted as if nothing had happened. He came in, took off his jacket, and even smiled at me as he had a glass of water.But I was not able to contain my feelings.My heart kept racing. My hands were cold. The way Adrian showed up before us last time—his smile, his words, the way he glared at Simeon like he was about to destroy everything we had built—it kept ringing in my head."Simeon…" I whispered as I sat on the couch, holding a pillow close to my body. "Are you not worried?"He looked at me with uncomplicated eyes, like the whole affair didn't happen to him. "No."I blinked. "You're saying no what? That was Adrian. He broke into our firm—like that—and delivered a threat.""He did not deliver a threat," said Simeon, sitting down beside me. "He simply displayed his teeth.".I scowled. "That's worse. You see what he means. And the way he glared at me. as if he was threatening you as well. What if
Chapter One hundred and Fourty one – The Unexpected VisitLily's POVThe morning started off like any other.The sun was shining through the window, and the office was quiet. I had just finished talking with Simeon about the new files we needed to prepare for Vincent's team. Nelson was on the phone. Liora was scanning documents on her computer.Everything was normal.Until the elevator rang.I didn't think much of it at first. People were always coming and going. But then I heard Nelson cut off in the middle of a sentence. And I saw the color drain from his face.I turned towards the door.And there he was.Adrian.He walked in slowly, as if he owned the whole building. Dressed in a sharp black suit, dark glasses, and that smile—the sort that doesn't mean he's happy—it was proud, cold, dangerous.My heart skipped a beat.I couldn't breathe for a second. I rose from my seat, hands trembling.Simeon stood up too, but he didn't react. Not even slightly. He just gazed at Adrian as if he h
Chapter: Unspoken TrustLily's POVThe moment the door shut behind Nelson, I recognized something was off. His light footsteps were replaced with a pause I had not previously seen. He came in, his gaze on me with a mixture of determination and uncertainty. Simeon leaned against the kitchen counter, his usually calm expression not quite as sharp tonight, behind him.Nelson's eyes locked on mine as he walked towards the couch, the tension between us heavy. My chest was aching just to glance at him, wondering what news he'd brought."Lily," he began, his voice uncertain, "I have to talk with you and Simeon about something."Simeon didn't move, simply sitting there with a quiet attention. I stayed in the doorway to the kitchen, glancing over at the two of them, waiting. My hands were still wrapped around a glass of water that I hadn't even known I'd picked up. I put it down hastily."What is it?" I snapped more harshly than I intended.Nelson took a breath and brushed a hand over his hair
Chapter 140 – Her True FaceNelson's POVIt was a mellow afternoon. The sky was pale blue, and the sun was not too intense. I sat at an outside café, waiting patiently. The street was not busy, just a few cars driving by and pedestrians. I lazily drummed my fingers on the table, my mind trying to stay calm.I hadn't seen Camila in a couple of days. Lily had cautioned me to be cautious, and Simeon had cautioned me too. They didn't believe that something was amiss with her. But I wasn't sure. Camila had never provided me with a reason not to trust her.But I was being cautious.Then I saw her.She came up the sidewalk, her bright red hair flowing in the gentle breeze, a soft smile playing on her lips. She wore a simple blouse and jeans, nothing fancy, and still, she looked. serene. Ordinary. Innocent."Hey," she said, breathless, as she reached the table."Hey," I stood to greet her, pulling out a chair for her to sit.She smiled a little and sat down, sweeping her hair back from her fa
Chapter 138 – Be Careful, NelsonLily's POVIt was a quiet afternoon, and for once, the house did not feel like a battleground. The air was peaceful, and the tension that had been present for weeks appeared to have taken a wee break. The deal with Vincent was going smoothly. He had called only two nights prior and told me that he would be in touch soon with the final papers.I had just cooked lunch—rice and hot chicken with fried plantains. The smell wafted through the house, inviting and warm. Simeon and Nelson were in the living room, both staring at their phones. Liora was out on an errand, and I took advantage of the moment to sit between the two men now that I considered them the best pillars around me.Simeon appeared relaxed, one arm draped over the back of the couch, his other hand scrolling through his phone . Nelson sat on the edge of the cushion, tapping something on his phone with a small smile on his face.I rested my head and smiled. "You've been smiling at your phone fo
Chapter 136 – The Morning After VictoryLily's POVI awakened to the warm heat of Simeon's body next to me. His arm was draped across my hips, his breathing slow and steady. I didn't move for a while. I simply lay there, listening to the quiet of the morning, the warmth of his body against me. It was peaceful—like the calm after the storm.Last night was one of the most incredible nights of my life. Vincent had called with his decision, and he was going to go with us instead of Adrian. The resulting excitement was nearly too much. We had laughed, danced, celebrated, and for the first time in ages, I felt free.I leaned slightly to look at Simeon. Even while asleep, he looked so powerful, so in control. His black hair was a bit mussed, and his features had a vulnerability that he never showed when awake. I smiled, reaching up to brush a strand of hair off his forehead.As if sensing my touch, his eyes fluttered open. His lips spread into a slow smile as he pulled me closer. "Good morn
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