She closed her eyes and pushed back the flashbacks threatening to come forth, her eyes filled with tears but she tried hard to push them back as much as she could. She pushed back all of it with a deep breath as she asked him“Why did you help me?” “I-nothing-just, I don't know, actually.” “Did Zared- no- he couldn't have.”“What ? Zared what ?”“Nevermind. You must want something, something from me as well, that is why you helped me, it was a stupid question, I know.”Aaron thought of all the stuff she had to go through to think that a person would never help her out of kindness but to get something in return, his heart clenched as he looked at her, her vulnerable face, the one she was trying to hide, the voice cracks she was trying to cover, she couldn't even be in shock or trauma in front of anyone because she wanted to hide it.“What would I want from you ?” He asked.Lily’s head turned to his.“No-I- what I mean is, why would I want anything from you, I just helped you because
He found himself entranced by her awkward smile, enchanted by her shy eyes, and deeply moved by her consciousness. Though he understood the boundaries that respect for her marriage demanded, he couldn't help but silently cherish every moment he spent in her presence.He kept recalling the moments he had spent with her that day, the talk he had had with her on their way out, the way she looked at him, the way her eyes looked. There wasn't a day in his life after the party which passed without him thinking about her, but what seemed the most strange and annoying for him was the way Zared neglected her though out the party.It seemed as if he was just there with her because he had to, not because he wanted to, the way Zared was enjoying while Lily was being harassed had stung him since the moment he saw it happening, Zared Williams? Who would fire a man if he touched the floor of his cabin without permission, and didn't even care when his own wife was being disrespected? It was unbeliev
"Wha-what? " Lily looked at Zared confused, she was not aware that it was a mere joke, her forehead started sweating and her gaze continued to hold the uncomfortableness in them."He's kidding." Zared said. Lily lowered her gaze releasing a deep breath as if she was relieved it was just a joke?At the time, Aaron hadn't understood the depth of her distress, but now, with the knowledge that she had been kidnapped on the orders of Zared, everything clicked into place.The cold evening air cut through the city as Aaron stepped out of his car. His body raced with a mixture of anger and determination fueled by the article he had stumbled upon that day.He strode towards the address he had managed to take out from a discreet inquiry, it was a secluded mansion on the outskirts of the of London, owned by Alexander Guerra, the G logo on the main door made it easy for anyone in the city to recognize whom this mansion belonged to. Aaron vaguely remembered him as one of Zared's shadowy associate
Lily looked at Aaron, her eyes held amusement in them. Lily felt as if she was being fooled, fooled once again or used, she wanted to believe the honesty and kindness Aaron’s voice and expression held but there was this voice inside her humiliating her on how she is falling for yet another trick and believing a stranger ? She had believed her own family, her own husband and trusted everyone but look at what they had done to her and here she sat, trying to trust the person in front of her, whom she met for the second time.“I know…it won't be easy to believe a stranger, but trust me, I have no other purpose, especially ill ones.”Lily sighed and once again turned her mind to the view outside the window.“I’m not sure but I think you have a hearing problem.” He said to lighten her mood.“What?” Lily turned her head at the unusual comment.“You know, I’ve asked you multiple times if you were okay but you never answered.”“Oh.” She paused for a moment “yeah,I-I’m fine, thanks.”“Are you
The worker came forth with a tray of food, it contained different kinds of foods and was big enough for 10 people to have.“I-I’m not hungry, this is too much-”“I didn't know what you like to eat so I arranged all of them, you can have what you like.”“Thanks, but I’m not hungry.”“When did you last eat ?”“It doesn't matter, I’m not hungry.”“It has nothing mixed in it.” Lily’s head snapped at him, it was like he kept reading her mind again and again. He held a spoon to his mouth and shoved it in his mouth, he continued doing so with each dish, grabbing different spoons at each time.Lily’s mouth hung open as she saw him do this, she tried to stop him but he wouldn't listen to her at all.“See, I had all of it and I’m right here, just as fine as before, now , please, Lily. Don't starve yourself because you think it’s mixed with some kind of drug, it is not, trust me.”Lily sighed and attempted to eat but Aaron sitting beside her while she ate made her uncomfortable. She paused to l
Lily woke up to the sun seeping in from the balcony and hitting her eyes, she stared at the huge glass balcony and the trees wavering outside. She recalled everything that took place the previous day, she was scared to even go to sleep but now that she was safe and sound , it was as if a relief had taken its place in her chest, sighing, she got up from her bed and headed towards the bathroom to freshen up and take a bath. The white foam of soap spread itself as Lily soaked herself in. She inhaled the calming scent of soap as if it were some drug to distract her from the miseries of her life, she sat in there for half an hour, not caring about the time, since she had nowhere to be, no worry to figure out about , she allowed herself to take her time to clean herself and relax. When she finally stepped out of the bathroom and made her way to the closet, a sound stopped her in her tracks. There was someone outside the door, someone was struggling to open the door to the room, her heart
“Plans?” Lily asked him as confusion lined her brows. “For the day….I mean, do you study ?” Aaron sensed her unease but knew they needed time to process everything that had happened. “No…. I would like to… someday again.” “Not right now ?” “I don't know, I want to go to college and study but the marriage was so sudden and….and it distracted me from everything else.” “It was sudden, I don't understand why…anyway, till where have you studied ?” “I’m done with my 12th grade.” “What?” Aaron asked her, smiling, “you’re messing with me right ?” “No…I actually am just a 12th grade pass out.” Lily looked down embarrassed seeing how he was probably laughing at her, he would probably insult her just like everyone does every time. Aaron’s face softened as he noticed the embarrassment taking place on Lily’s face and her voice dropping to the lowest one. “It’s-I’m sorry, I didn't mean it in that way, I-I just, I just thought you were older than me, it's fine, you can still study, righ
Lily’s expression screamed that she disagreed and thought this was all bull because nothing was this easy.“Aaron, I know what you mean, but it’s too sudden, I need time to process and think about it as well.”Aaron may not have heard what she said after his name, “Aaron” he played it in his mind again and again, her voice calling his name felt so sweet, no one had called him in this way before but even if they did he probably didn't feel like this.He had fans all over his campus but he never thought of dating any of them or the girls that were genuinely interested him as well, all he did was politely refuse them when they confessed, he had a few girlfriends earlier but his relationships never lasted, he hadn't been in a serious relationship ever since his last one, he wanted time for himself after he broke up so he could focus on himself rather than somebody else.But right now, he was lost. His heart would stir with a mixture of tenderness and concern. Lily was a delicate soul, una
There she was-sitting on the floor by the window, knees drawn to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around them. Her caramel hair was unkempt, strands falling over her pale face. The moonlight washed over her frail figure, making her look even smaller, more fragile. “Lily…” Aaron’s voice was soft, cautious. She didn’t move, didn’t look at him. He stepped inside, his chest aching at the sight of her. Slowly, he lowered himself to sit beside her on the floor, his shoulder barely brushing hers. His heart ached, ached that the man who had caused her nothing but pain is still continuing to do it even after his death and Aaron couldn't do anything about it. “You don’t have to say anything,” he murmured, staring out at the same moonlit view she seemed fixated on. “But I’m here. I’ll always be here. I just want you to know." For a moment, it seemed like she might respond, her lips parting slightly, but then she closed them again, her gaze dropping to her knees, it made Aaron tak
He couldn’t shake the feeling, couldn’t silence the voice in the back of his mind screaming that Zared wasn’t gone. Zared was sharp, calculating, a man who wouldn’t fall so easily. But Aaron had no proof, no real reason to believe it-only a gnawing instinct buried deep in his chest. "He’s alive," the thought whispered again. But Aaron forced the thought away, shaking his head slightly before turning his attention back to Lily. She was still sitting there, small and fragile in the dim light, and he realized she needed comfort more than he needed answers to the questions clawing at his mind. “Hey,” he said softly, nudging her knee with his. “How about some hot chocolate? It won’t fix everything, but it might make this night feel a little less heavy.” Lily looked up at him, a ghost of a smile flickering across her lips for the first time that night. “Sure, thanks.” Aaron stood, his movements careful as if not to disturb the fragile calm that had settled between them. A few
For one fleeting moment, Lily felt him there-with her, surrounding her, a warmth that would linger in her heart long after she walked away from his home for the last time. "Oh, what have you done Zared." She said aloud. "Why did you have to do it, it was all your fault for turning your fate, why make me suffer by doing this." She sat on the couch with her head in her hands. Clara's home was dim when Lily returned, the faint glow of a lamp spilling light into the hallway. Her steps were slow, almost hesitant, as she pushed the door open and stepped inside. Aaron was pacing near the window, his phone clutched tightly in his hand, while Clara sat curled on the edge of the couch, her head snapping up the moment the door creaked. “Lily!” Aaron’s voice cut through the silence as he rushed towards her. “Where have you been? Do you have any idea how worried we’ve been?” Clara stood, her eyes wide with concern. “You didn’t answer your phone. We thought… we thought something happ
The clock on the wall ticked loudly, each second stretching longer than the last. Clara sat on the couch, clutching her phone tightly in her hands, her thumbs hovering over the screen as if another call might suddenly bring an answer. “Aaron…” she said quietly, her voice trembling. “It’s been hours. She’s not picking up. Where could she have gone?” Aaron stood by the window, his back to her, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached. His phone was already gripped in his palm, the screen blank after too many unanswered calls. “She wouldn’t just disappear like this,” he said, his voice sharp, his frustration barely contained. “Not without telling someone. Not after everything that’s happened.” Clara’s eyes shone with worry as she whispered, “What if something happened to her, Aaron?” Aaron turned, his expression softer now as he looked at her. “Don’t think like that. She’s okay. She has to be.” But even as he said the words, doubt gnawed at him. Without another word, Aaro
Lily hesitated but eventually said, "Did you see how he did it?" She looked up at Aaron. "Did you see how he was found ? Laurent, the pictures on the news, they were so disgusting, he had...you must've seen." "I did." Aaron noticed the disgusted look on her face. He once again recalled how he had done it. How he had screamed like the goat when it is sacrificed, how his eyes went rolling behind showing only the white part. How he had joined his fingerless hands in front of him in order to be forgiven. "Maybe he deserved it...Zared, for what he did, Karma, they say?" She asked. Aaron nodded in response but remained silent. He knew he was betraying her, betraying her trust, taking advantage of the situation she was in, the trust she had at this vulnerable stage of her life. In the quiet of the room, Aaron’s guilt festered, hidden beneath the surface. Lily didn’t need to know the truth-not tonight, and maybe not ever. But that was for him to decide after. Aaron's mind was in t
His hand moved to the doorknob, twisting it slowly until the latch clicked open instead of knocking in case she was asleep. Peeking inside, he expected to see her resting, maybe curled up in the blankets. Instead, he found her awake, sitting stiffly on the edge of her bed. The moonlight cast a silvery glow across her features, making her appear ethereal and distant. She was staring out the window, her expression blank yet hauntingly sad, as though she were lost in a memory she couldn’t escape. She didn't deserve this, didn't deserve such a tragedy, she was way too nice for this world, for Zared. He didn't deserve her agony, her tears, her sleepless nights. Aaron hesitated again but finally stepped inside, giving a soft knock on the door to announce himself. The sound made her blink, breaking her trance. She glanced at him, her gaze piercing for the briefest second before it dulled again, returning to the view outside the window. Without waiting for an invitation, Aaron move
Lily didn’t respond to Clara. She stared out the window, her mind replaying every second she’d spent with Zared, searching for answers that would probably never come. She thought about what thoughts must have consumed Zared when he decided to end his life. Was he thinking about her? Was he blaming her? Was he guilty of what he did? Or he just couldn't bear the thought of her leaving him? But again, why would she hold so much importance in his life for him to give it all up. His family, the company, his friends-though Lily knew none. Maybe it was a punishment? From god ? Maybe he wanted Zared to die in exchange of Laurent, maybe because he killed him? Maybe this was his revenge? She shook her head shooing all the thoughts away. The three of them were now back at Clara's house, the silence was comfortable, no one wanted to talk, Aaron, however wanted to comfort Lily, make her believe that it wasn't her fault. He knew she must be blaming herself, she was the last person to t
Lily, Aaron, and Clara walked briskly down the sterile, cold hallways of the hospital, their footsteps echoing, at the end of the corridor, where Zared’s parents and Aaron’s parents were standing together, faces etched with grief. The moment they approached, Lily saw Zared’s mother, her tear-streaked face crumpling further. “He’s already been moved,” Zared’s father said, his voice hoarse. “To the freezer. They’re preparing him for the funeral.” Lily froze mid-step, her heart sinking. She hadn’t realized how desperately she’d wanted to see him one last time. Her lips parted, but no words came out. “Why so soon?” Aaron asked, his voice laced with disbelief. “It’s the procedure,” Aaron’s father said, his voice heavy. “Once the body is declared and cleared, there’s no waiting.” Lily clenched her fists at her sides, overwhelmed by a mixture of grief and frustration. The chance to say goodbye was ripped away. All she had now were the memories-and the haunting, unanswered qu
A single tear rolling down his cheek before he collapsed back onto the bed, lifeless. "No,no,no,no." The news anchor’s voice filled the silence. “Zared Williams, known for his innovative contributions to technology and his efforts towards hi company, was pronounced dead at 10:47 p.m. Doctors have confirmed that his death was caused by the disconnection of critical life-support machines. Despite being close to a full recovery, it appears Mr. Williams made the decision to end his life. What the doctors are calling an apparent suicide." Tears welled in Lily’s eyes as her chest tightened painfully. She turned to Clara, who was still frozen in place, her hand trembling against her lips. “This…this isn’t real,” Lily murmured, shaking her head as if trying to wake herself from a nightmare. “It can’t be.” Clara finally looked at her, her eyes glistening with tears. “It is, Lily,” she whispered. “He’s…he’s gone.” Lily stumbled back, her legs weak beneath her. The weight of the news c