He turned back to Lily again and pulled her into his arms.Lily got startled by his action but she didn't push him away. The moment his arms wrapped around her and her head landed on his chest, it reminded her of the day she kept crying in his arms and he never let go of her. She hugged him back as a sigh of relief mixed with uneasiness escaped Aaron’s mouth.Aaron accompanied Lily as they came back at Zared’s mansion, his presence a silent reassurance. They arrived at the huge mansion where Lily had once lived, but all it looked like to her was plain black and white hellhole where she was hit, beaten to a pulp and left to rot all night long.They looked at the mansion from inside the car.“Lily.” Aaron called at her.She turned around with raised eye brows.“Are you sure you want to go back to him ?”“I am certain." She nodded reluctantly opposing her words.“Why?” Aaron asked in misery.“Because I love him.” Aaron’s breath hitched but he tried not to show that it affected him in an
"I'm sorry, Lily," Zared continued, his voice tinged with regret. "I know what I did wasn't...""You think your apology can make everything as it was before?" Lily interrupted, her tone incredulous. "All I did was love you, Zared. That's all I did, and this... this is what you repay me with? You don't even deserve to be called a human anymore." Pain filled her voice.Zared's demeanor hardened. "Oh, so now you're going to show attitude huh?" he retorted. "I just apologized to you."Frustration and anger surged within Lily, and without thinking, she lashed out, delivering a hard slap across Zared's face. He turned his head down in response, his expression a mixture of hurt and restraint.She remembered the look in his eyes.Similar to the times he would get violent with her. But this time, she sensed a difference. He threw down the spatula, his hand raised halfway as if to strike her, but then hesitated. Lily didn't flinch, meeting his gaze unwaveringly. The veins of his neck popped out
She had hoped that distance would dull the sharp edges of her emotions, but it seemed time was merely a healer of wounds, not an eraser of memories. The city around her buzzed with its usual fervor, oblivious to the quiet turmoil in her heart. Each street corner held echoes of Zared’s and Riley’s laughter, each café whispered fragments of their conversations. She had tried to move forward, to embrace his absence, yet his presence lingered in the shadows of her thoughts. Four months, and she still carried the weight of what could be one day. Nothing changed in her life but herself, the way she acted, the way she talked, she changed everything about her, hoping that she loses feelings for him someday or gains feelings for her someday, none happened. Her love for him had not diminished; it had only evolved into a poignant ache, a testament to the depth of her heart's yearning. She wondered if he ever thought of her, noticed her change, saw how she had grown quiet and doesn't bother h
"Grateful?" she echoed, her voice trembling. "I'm supposed to be grateful that a man was tortured and killed? You don't even care, do you? About what happened to me, about anything other than your own twisted sense of power." He took a step closer to her, his presence menacing. “Watch your mouth, Lily. You're stepping out of line." She stood her ground, a surge of anger and determination rising within her. “No, Zared. I've been out of line for too long. I'm done being afraid of you. I'm done living this nightmare." He smirked, taking a sip of his drink. "And what do you plan to do about it? Run off to Aaron again? He won't save you this time." Lily's heart ached at the mention of Aaron. He had been her savior, her protector. But she couldn't rely on him to fix her life. She had to take control, to find her own way out. She walked back to her bedroom banging the door shut, she picked her phone up and dialled Aaron’s number, not even two rings passed as Aaron picked up the call.
The stark reality was unavoidable,Zared would never love her, and she could no longer sacrifice her sanity and dignity, no longer live as pushover and a people pleaser, no one had pleased her ever but she always cared about them being hurt or disrespected no matter how much disrespect she endured.On the second night, Lily sat by the window, staring out at the moonlit garden. Her mind was made up, solidified by the silent hours of contemplation and the unrelenting pain in her heart. She knew what she had to do. Gathering her courage, she wrote out the words she had rehearsed in her mind a thousand times: "I want a divorce." The finality of the words felt like a liberation, a step towards reclaiming her life and self-worth. She knew Zared would not make it easy, that he would try to manipulate and intimidate her into staying, but she was resolute. She had survived his worst; she could survive his wrath.With a newfound sense of determination, Lily began to prepare for the inevitable c
Riley stood in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the scene. She had clearly heard everything, her face pale as she processed the truth. Zared's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't move. He seemed to realize, perhaps for the first time, that he couldn't control the narrative any longer. "You're making a big mistake." "Just sign them, I'm already done.” He scoffed as if to laugh at her for leaving him. “Sure, with all my pleasure, I'll be more than happy to do so." Lily’s tears fell silently, her face blank and numb. Her breath came in shallow, ragged gasps as she struggled to find strength. She wished Zared loved her, and wished he could see her pain. Wished he would ask her to stop this because he loved her not because this was a contract. Across from her, Zared finished signing the divorce papers and pushed them towards her with a sigh. Leaning back on the couch, he looked at her with an expression of disdain. Lily choked out between sobs.
Ignoring her, Zared lunged at Lily, but she was quick. She dropped her suitcase, grabbed his hand, and twisted it behind his back. “Dare you touch me again,” she warned, pushing him away harshly. Zared turned around, scoffing. “I see where your attitude is going. You’re not free yet, bitch!” He advanced again, but Lily kicked his crotch and slapped him as hard as she could. The shock in his eyes mirrored the rush of blood in her hand. “Just stop it, Zared,” she cried, her voice trembling with a mixture of fury and pain. "What do you think I am? I’m human too, with feelings that can be hurt just like anyone else’s. But you don’t care about that, do you? Fine, don’t care;but don’t you dare touch me. Ever again. I’m not your punching bag. Find someone else who will tolerate your abuse. Do you know who the real headache is? It’s you, Zared. You’re the one who’s useless. All your hard work to become a billionaire means nothing if you have no soul. You’re going to die, and your mo
Zared was shaken to his core. "Riley, this is a joke, right? Tell me you're joking." Clara's eyes were cold and unyielding. "Why would I joke about this? Did you think everything you did to her was a joke? Does all that suffering seem like a joke to you? I don't just use people for money and ruin their lives. I target people whose lives can't be further destroyed by me. And you, Zared, are one of them. But the reason I'm exposing myself now is because your life is already in ruins. The person who truly loved you is leaving, and you'll never get her back. Since your life is beyond repair, I don't want Lily's to be the same." Clara walked briskly toward Lily, taking her luggage from her hands. "Come on, Lily," she said firmly. Lily looked at her, puzzled. "You’re coming with me.” Clara declared, already heading outside with the luggage. Lily followed her, gripping her dress tightly. They walked out of the house together, leaving Zared standing alone in the living room. As the