He took a deep breath before looking down. It looked like he was thinking of something, it looked like he understood what Lily said, every word. It looked like he knew the feeling which Lily was talking about, like he was familiar with it. His mouth almost opened to apologize to her but the ring of his phone distracted him.He looked at the caller id and pulled his brows together. He picked the call up and his eyes widened as soon as he heard what the person on the other side said. A scoff left his mouth as he averted his gaze to Lily. "Take care of it, tell them I have her hostage, make sure they know it's me, Alexander Guerra." He was staring at Lily the whole time and he was still staring at her when he hung up and returned his phone to his pocket.He held her hand and pulled it away from her face harshly. "Stop crying! You think I would believe you and your stupid story ?! The news is out, some man reported you to the cops and everything had already spread on the internet. This
“I need to change.” Lily said, looking straight in to his eyes. “Why didn't you do that when you were inside ?” “I didn't know you'd be here again, move.” Lily attempted to make her way to the bathroom once again when Alexander blocked her way. “What difference does it make?” He said, stepping forward towards her. She moved back as he continued to move towards her. “Just, let me go, stop bothering me for a second and let me breathe.” She held the headboard for support so that she didn't fall backward. Alexander stroked her arm, his hand traveling from her arm then forearm then her hand, he pulled her hand away from the headboard making Lily fall back on the bed. He hovered above her as she struggled to push him aside. “Give up, love. You know you're just wasting your energy, rather use it on something else.” Lily turned her face to the side as he moved his face closer to her’s. Alexander held her face with one of his hands and made her look at him. He crashed his
Two more days passed by, Zared was with Riley in the private bar once again, he sighed as another question popped up about Lily from Riley. “My love, you don't have to worry about her. She is alright, I told you I talked with her on the phone today.” “I know…but, it’s just, nevermind.” “Right, just relax, nothing is going to happen, she is totally fine and safe, you don't have to worry about her so much.” “It’s just- I am trying but I just keep getting this weird feeling.” “How about we go on a long drive to the countryside ? It will be peaceful and you’ll feel fresh.” “I guess.” “Don't think about it too much, she’s absolutely fine, I can-uh video call her for you tomorrow but that will be-” “Weird, yes, very weird, you know what, let’s just forget about it.” Zared nodded and side hugged her as and took a deep breath. Riley having some weird feeling about it made him a bit more conscious and the dread of her getting to know that he was one who abducted Lily was
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
Aaron’s expression sobered slightly as his silver eyes locked onto hers. “You learn because you’ve had to. Because no one was there to do it for you, so you want to do it for someone else." The weight of his words hung between them, heavy but honest. "Empathy." Lily said before sipping the hot chocolate. "Yes, but this is not empathy...it's not just empathy." Aaron's eyes bore into Lily's and she held them for two seconds before dropping her gaze to the mug of hot chocolate in her hand. They sat there for a while, sipping their hot chocolate and letting the warmth settle into their bones. Lily found herself studying Aaron-his sharp jawline, the faint crease between his brows, the way his lips curled ever so slightly when he caught her staring, how he sipped his hot chocolate and how his adam's apple moved when he swallowed it. “Thank you,” she said softly. Aaron looked up, tilting his head slightly. “For looking charming?” Lily's lips curled slightly "Shut up." “For… e
Lily ran her fingers over the worn cover, the leather warm under her touch. “Thank you, it means a lot.” she whispered. Aaron nodded once before leaning back against the alcove wall, his eyes drifting closed as the sunlight warmed his face. Lily stayed where she was, clutching the journal tightly in her hands. For the first time in what felt like forever, the storm inside her didn’t feel so suffocating. Aaron saw her worthy of this journal-last gift from his grandmother. And as she glanced sideways at Aaron-this man who carried his own scars but still found ways to help her breathe-she realized something. Maybe healing wasn’t about finding a cure. Maybe it was about finding someone who made the weight a little easier to carry. Here’s the next chapter, continuing the emotional depth and exploring the growing connection between Lily and Aaron. The rooftop had become a fragile cocoon, shielding them from the noise of the world below. Time felt suspended, the morning sun rising high
"Aaron Knight can." He replied. "It's your's now."Her throat tightened again, but this time, she didn’t look away. “Thank you, Aaron,” she said softly. Aaron pushed himself up from the swing and held out his hand to her. “Come on. There’s one more thing I want to show you.” Lily hesitated for just a second before slipping her hand into his. His grip was firm, warm, and steady-the kind of touch that felt safe. Maybe it really was the truth-she was safe with him.As they walked across the rooftop, side by side, Lily realized something; the storm in her mind hadn’t disappeared, but for the first time in a long while, it felt… quieter, like the voices had gone for a power nap.And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now and she was grateful for it.Lily’s hand stayed tucked in Aaron’s as he led her across the rooftop. His grip was firm and warm. They walked in silence, their footsteps soft against the weathered stone floor, the faint sound of distant traffic blending with the breez
Aaron led Lily through a narrow hallway, up a metal staircase, and finally to a door with faded paint. He pushed it open and stepped aside, his hand lightly touching her lower back as he guided her forward. Lily froze in the doorway as her breath caught slightly. The rooftop garden stretched before her, wild and unkempt but undeniably beautiful. Overgrown ivy clung to the railings, and clusters of flowers-violets, daisies, roses, peonies, sunflowers and something yellow she couldn’t name-poked through cracks in the stone floor. In one corner hung a double seater swing, sun-bleached and inviting. Beyond the edge of the roof, the sprawling city skyline glittered in the sunlight, a sea of glass and steel shimmering under the morning glow. “It’s…” Lily trailed off, words failing her as she stepped closer. “Peaceful?” Aaron offered, his voice low but steady. She nodded faintly. “Yeah.” Aaron’s lips twitched into a faint smile as he stepped forward. “Come on.” They walke
“I meant what I said, Lily. I won’t push you into anything you’re not clearly ready for. But if you’re asking whether it meant something to me-then yes. It did. It was a distraction for your sake, not mine.” Lily’s breath caught, her hazel eyes wide as she stared up at him. With that Aaron got up and made his way out the door.Lily sat still, the warmth of the blankets wrapped around her shoulders, her gaze lingering on the spot where Aaron had sat just moments ago.His words echoed in her mind: "If you're asking whether it meant something to me-then yes. It did."Her chest tightened, and her fingers clutched the fabric of the blanket as if it could anchor her to the moment. The vulnerability in his voice, the honesty in his eyes-it all lingered, pulling her deeper into emotions she wasn’t ready to name, it should feel like too much-too much happening too fast, but it didnt. It felt like what was happening should happen.But even now, her mind waged war with itself. One voice remin
It wasn’t just a distraction. It couldn’t be. At least not for her. Maybe she should wait till her mind cleared, she told herself, maybe she was too high on stress and emotions. But then she closed her eyes for a brief second, swallowing the pang of disappointment that threatened to rise. It was just a distraction, she told herself again, trying to convince her heart to accept the truth. But no matter how hard she tried, the feeling that there was something more-something deeper between them-lingered. Yet, she didn’t say a word. She only nodded again, trying to mask the confusion and longing stirring within her. The room had settled into a fragile silence, the air still charged with the remnants of everything that had passed between them. Lily sat on the edge of the bed, her knees pulled up to her chest, arms wrapped tightly around them. Aaron had stepped away, giving her space, but he lingered nearby, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed over his chest, he got up s
He could only be there, glued by her side.Lily’s voice cracked as she finally spoke between gasps for air."Make this go away...please just make it all go away, make it go away. Please."The words broke off, lost in the next wave of sobs. She clung to him as though she were afraid of being swept away by some storm that was after her, but even in his arms, she couldn’t escape the the voices from within her.As Aaron held Lily, her breath slowly began to steady, but the weight in her chest didn’t seem to lift. The suffocating thoughts, the relentless voices that had been haunting her for so long, refused to let go. She could feel them creeping back into her mind, threatening to drown her again. But Aaron-his steady presence, the softness of his touch-was a welcome distraction. A distraction that was more than welcomed by Lily because at this point...she would aaccept anything just to let go off these voices.He gently cupped her face, pulling back just slightly to look into her eyes.
Across from the bed, a white study table stood neatly arranged. Her laptop rested on one side, while another vase of tulips and a matching candle mirrored the bedside arrangement. A small tabletop mirror reflected the faint light, and beside it sat a framed photo-a captured moment of happiness from one of their picnics. In the picture, Lily, Clara, and Aaron smiled brightly, frozen in time amidst sunlit grass and laughter. Beside it was the door to the washroom and the bathroom.On the other side of her bed was the door to the walk-in closet. Beside it was a mirror on covering half the wall. This was the real life room from her Pinterest board. Even though she had a huge room back at her father's mansion, she never got to style it how she wanted to. Aaron had done so much for her-for her happiness. Lily appreciated and even teared up a bit at the realisation of what lengths he had gone to just to make her happy and protect her. As someone who has never had anyone do things for her, s
Aaron stepped closer towards Clara, his voice firm but gentle. “I’ve already arranged everything. We’re leaving for the penthouse today-in the afternoon. It’s secure, private, and no one will be able to get near her there and its not safe for you to stay here either, we all must move-today.” "What? Wait-" "We have to do this, Clara," Aaron cut her mid sentence, "we have to take practical action for what's happening. And I know you won't want Lily hurt any less than me." "Alright," Clara admitted in defeat, she knew this was to be done, whether or not sudden but it was no longer safe for Lily-or any of them. "But how will I pack in a day?" "You dont need to worry about that, I have hired a team, they will do it-it wont take much of our time." Clara nodded slowly, setting her mug down with trembling hands. “Does Lily know about this?” "Yes," Aaron admitted. “I didn’t want to scare her any more than she already is. But she agreed to the move." Clara sighed, her shoulders sa