Upon arriving at the man’s house, Zared was introduced to his new family. The man’s wife greeted him with warmth and kindness, while the man's mother welcomed him with open arms. However, the man’s sister, who lived with them, was another story. Her demeanor was cold and aloof. She never showed genuine happiness for her brother or his wife, instead harboring a deep seated jealousy and resentment. Her spitefulness extended to her own brother's wife, who had been able to marry and start a family while she remained single and bitter. Despite the warmth and care from the man and his wife, Zared’s life took a dark turn. Over the years, his father’s sister’s bitterness turned into evil. The basement, once a place for family gatherings, became a chamber of horror. Whenever Zared’s parents were away, she would summon her men to bind him and subject him to cruel, abusive treatment and would sexually assault him. Her actions were driven by a twisted sense of control and revenge, and she thr
He recalled how he had allowed his fears to dictate his actions. The emotional wounds of his past and the regret of his present intertwined, leaving him with an overwhelming sense of sorrow and helplessness. The possibility of reconciliation seemed as distant as the happiness he had once envisioned, and the pain of his realizations became an unrelenting companion. The days passed in a blur for Lily. Despite her best efforts to immerse herself in her studies, her mind constantly drifted back to Zared. His tear-streaked face, the anguish in his eyes, and his desperate pleas for forgiveness haunted her thoughts. She sat at her desk, textbooks and notes sprawled before her, yet the words seemed to blur together. Each time she tried to concentrate, memories of Zared's visit invaded her mind. She saw him standing at the door, his voice trembling as he asked for her forgiveness. The image of him collapsing in the street, broken and weeping was seared into her memory. It was impossible t
The sea seemed to beckon him, a quiet whisper in the back of his mind. What if he just jumped? Would the world stop? Would Lily come for him? Would she finally feel something for him, even if it was just pity or regret? He stood there for a long time, lost in his thoughts. The idea of ending his misery became more appealing with each passing second. He climbed up onto the railing, his heart pounding in his chest. He balanced precariously, staring down at the dark water below. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, ready to let go of everything. Just as his feet slipped and he began to fall, a hand grabbed his arm, yanking him back onto the bridge. He fell onto the hard pavement, a sharp pain shooting through his head. Dazed and disoriented, he looked up to see who had saved him. "Lily?" he whispered in disbelief. She stood above him, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and concern. Lily had been walking in a daze, lost in her own thoughts, when she saw Zared standing on the
Tears streamed down his face as he nodded, though he didn't feel convinced. "I don't deserve your kindness, Lily. After everything I've done..." Lily's eyes welled up with tears. "I'm not doing this for you, Zared. I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do. Because I don't want to see you throw your life away. You've made mistakes, but that doesn't mean everything is over. You have to believe that."She stood up, pulling him gently to his feet."Now, let's get you home. You need rest, and you need to start thinking about how you're going to move forward."As they walked away from the bridge, the weight of their shared past hung heavy between them. Zared's steps were unsteady, but he felt a glimmer of hope for the first time in a long while. He didn't know what the future held, but he knew he had to try. Lily's heart ached as she guided him. She wished things could have been different, that he hadn't caused so much pain. But she also knew that she couldn't let him back in
As she reached out, their hands brushed against each other. The unexpected contact sent a jolt through her, and she instinctively pulled back, causing the hot coffee to spill all over Aaron. Aaron jumped up, more out of surprise than pain, while Lily's eyes widened in horror. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling. Her heart started to race, and she felt a familiar, suffocating panic beginning to rise. Images from her past flashed before her eyes. She remembered a similar incident with Zared, one that had ended in a shouting match and left her feeling small and terrified. The fear of a similar reaction from Aaron gripped her, and she began to hyperventilate. Aaron saw the panic in her eyes and immediately tried to reassure her. "It's okay, Lily, it's just coffee," he said softly, reaching out to touch her arm. But as his hand made contact, she recoiled, stumbling backward, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. "No, no, no," she whispered, shaking
She was determined to do everything in her power to support Lily. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but she was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. She knew how hard it was for Lily to go through such things when it was so hard for her to watch her go through those, with a sigh she closed her eyes, deciding no matter how disturbing or hard it would be for her, she’d always be by her side through thick and thin.And Lily, though still haunted by her past, found comfort in the fact that she wasn't alone. She had a support system that cared for her deeply, she appreciated that while things might not be perfect for her right now, they were better than enough for her to go through. There was a time when she used to go through tougher situations all alone, without having anyone by her side, but now that she’s learned to handle things on her own, god had sent people for her, who care for her, to be by her side. She wished she had found them when she needed someone the most, when everyt
“I know, I know and I feel really really ashamed of this fact, but,I-I want to be with Lily okay, I support her, I am with her and I’ll always be with her, I’ll not let go even if Zared offers me a gazillion pounds.I revealed myself and left him the moment I got to know about what he did with Lily.” “That’s good.” “That’s it then? That was how you know Lily and this was how I know her.” “Yeah, I guess.” “You guess?” “I mean yeah.” “Is there anything you’re leaving out ?” “What? No, why are you being so weird?” “Because,Aaron.” She shrugged at him. “What?” “You stayed with Lily, in your dad’s house, I mean-” “Nothing happened, Clara.” Clara raised her brows as she stared at Aaron knowingly. “I’m being honest, nothing happened between us, I had just got her away from a rapist, she was raped, I wouldn't take advantage of her weakness.” “Oh…” Aaron nodded looking at his coffee. “She doesn't deserve Zared.” Clara said, looking into the distance. “Oh she de
“Glad.” Aaron said.”I never saw you at the campus.” “I haven't been able to attend for a few days.” “Oh, that’s fine.” “I’m gonna go from next week, I hope I haven't missed much.” “I can collect and provide you with the notes, if you want?” “That’d be great, thank you so much, you know anyone in my department?” “Oh, I know everyone in every department.” “Very social.” “I am, actually, I used to go up to everyone and make them my friend when I first joined, so that I never feel lonely on campus, if my best buddy doesn't come, I have plenty of people to pass my time with.” “That’s a good idea.” Lily laughed. “Do you have any friends there?” “Quite a few, but I don't know anyone very personally, just buddies.” “You hang out alone at the university then?” “Yeah, most of the time.” “We can hang out together, you know? I’m bored of my old friends anyways, I would love to keep you company.” “Sounds great, we can do that. But, just so you know, I hang out alone by choice." She
"I can forgive you, I guess. People have done worse than this." She admitted. "Did he do anything to you? What did he come for?" Lily's eyes narrowed. "I’ve had...Damian keeping an eye on you ever since he revealed himself to you...." Aaron admitted, "I didn’t want you to be blindsided by him.” For a moment, she didn’t know whether to be angry or grateful. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, her voice quiet. “Because I didn’t want to scare you,” he said honestly. “I wanted to make sure you were safe, but I also wanted to respect your space. I wasn’t sure if hearing it from me would help or just...make things worse.” Her emotions overwhelmed her, and before she could stop herself, tears welled up in her eyes. Aaron, without hesitation, reached across the table and took her hand. “It’s okay,” he said softly. “You’re safe now. That’s all that matters.” For the first time in what felt like forever, Lily let herself break. She leaned across the table, and Aaron
Lily was sitting in her living room, her mind a whirlwind of the confrontation with Zared and Aaron stepping in, having her back-as always. After all that happened, she wondered if her pushing Zared off was selfish of her. While Lily had grown more mature these years, she had also become cold and made sure to keep herself first at any cost-but this Lily...it was the old Lily...who wanted to think that she was wrong for mistreating Zared-maybe her was disturbed, what could have possibly been the reason for him to fake his death-how big the problem must've been? A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts. Frowning, she checked the time-it was late, far too late for visitors. Cautiously, she approached the door and looked through the peephole. It was Zared. Her breath caught, and her hand instinctively tightened on the doorknob. Part of her wanted to ignore him, but the other part-the one still grappling with the guilt of his supposed death-compelled her to open the
Lily sat across from Clara in her cozy apartment after the massive shock she had, the glow of the city lights filtered through the windows. Clara had invited her over for an evening of conversation, sensing something was weighing heavily on her friend. As Lily sipped her tea, her fingers fidgeted with the rim of the cup. “Clara,” she began hesitantly, “something happened yesterday.” Clara raised an eyebrow. “What is it?" Taking a deep breath, Lily placed the cup down and looked Clara in the eye. “Zared is alive.” Clara froze, the mug in her hands suspended mid-air. “What?” “He came to my office. I didn’t recognize him at first, but it was him, Clara. He’s alive, and he... he apologized for everything.” Clara placed her cup down, her expression a mixture of shock and confusion. “Zared? As in Zared Williams?The same man who k*lled himself? How is that even possible?” Lily shook her head, her voice shaky. “I don’t know. He said it was complicated and that he was tryin
Lily sat at her desk in her company, her fingers hovering over her keyboard. The day had been long and draining, but there was still a stack of work to get through. She sighed, rubbing her temples, when a soft knock interrupted her thoughts. “Come in,” she called not lifting her head up. The door opened and closed behind. “Do you need anything, ma'am?” "No, thanks." "Would you like some coffee?" "No, you can go." Lily said, her tone cold as her eyes remained on the screen. “Some tea?" he asked Her brows furrowed but her eyes remained on her paperwork. "I dont need anything, leave before I fire you." There was a pause, but the person in front of her didn’t leave. Instead, he took a step closer. “Are you sure? I can fetch you tea, coffee... water, maybe?” Lily looked up briefly, irritation flickering across her face, though she still didn’t focus on him entirely. “No, thank you. And I think you should go.” But the man didn’t move. “How about I help you
It had been two weeks since the gala, and life had settled back into its usual rhythm for Lily; or at least, that’s what she told herself over the weeks. The days were packed with meetings, client calls, and deadlines, leaving her little time to dwell on anything else. But no matter how busy she was, Aaron’s presence lingered in the back of her mind like a stubborn shadow. She hadn’t expected to see him again so soon, and certainly not like that-standing across a room, looking at her with a mix of longing and regret. Lily shook her head as she sat at her desk, trying to push the memory aside. He doesn’t matter anymore, she reminded herself. You’ve moved on. Your life is yours now. But the truth was harder to face. A part of her was still drawn to him, to the man who had once made her feel like the center of his universe. Later that evening at her apartment, as she stepped into the kitchen, her phone buzzed on the counter. She picked it up to see Clara’s name flashing on
Aaron was already making his way toward her, his steps purposeful but hesitant. “Do you want me to distract him?” Clara asked, noticing. “No,” Lily said, surprising even herself. “I’ll handle it.” When he finally reached her, he stopped just short of invading her space. “Lily,” he said, his voice a mix of relief and uncertainty. “Aaron,” she replied, keeping her tone neutral. Clara took that as her cue to slip away, leaving them alone. “You look...” Aaron trailed off, his gaze softening. “You look beautiful.” “Thank you,” Lily said, her walls firmly in place. There was an awkward silence before Aaron spoke again. “How have you been?” “Busy,” Lily said simply. “You?” "Same. Busy." He said, his eyes boring into her's. Aaron Knight had never been one to doubt himself. His confidence, honed over years of navigating ruthless boardrooms and mastering impossible deals, was unshakable. But now, sitting in his empty penthouse with the city lights stretching endlessly b
The 4 years that followed were a whirlwind of success for Lily. As the founder and CEO of her own fashion brand, she had become a name synonymous with innovation and elegance. Her designs graced international runways, and her name carried weight in the business world. She was confident, composed, and exactly where she wanted to be. It was a crisp evening in the city, and Lily sat in her office overlooking the bustling streets below. She tapped her pen against the edge of her notebook, her mind wandering. A knock at the door broke her thoughts. Clara walked in, looking radiant as ever in a sleek jumpsuit. “Your PR team says you need to approve the final list for the charity gala tomorrow,” she said, placing a folder on Lily’s desk. Lily smirked. “You didn’t need to bring this yourself. What’s the real reason you’re here?” Clara feigned an offended look. “What, I can’t check on my dear friend? Fine, maybe I just needed a break from my office. Paperwork is soul-sucking.”
The penthouse felt lifeless. Every step Aaron took echoed through the empty rooms, each sound reminding him of what he’d lost. He couldn’t stop himself from wandering to Lily’s favorite spots-the kitchen where she used to hum softly while brewing tea, the couch where they would argue about what to watch, her corner of the bedroom where her books were still stacked neatly, her pink and white bedroom-the one she always dreamed about. He stood by the window where Lily once leaned against his chest, watching the city lights together happily. Now, those same lights felt distant and cold. On the coffee table lay a scarf she’d left behind, forgotten in the rush of her departure. Aaron’s hand trembled as he picked it up, the soft fabric bringing back the faintest trace of her perfume. He closed his eyes, clutching it tightly as if it could somehow bring her back. Aaron couldn’t shake the memory of her face when she left, her tear filled eyes, the hurt in her voice as she said goodbye.
The penthouse felt cavernous in her absence. Lily’s steps echoed faintly against the polished floors as she carried a small bag down the hall. She had packed only the essentials-clothes, documents, and her favorite book-a conscious decision not to look back. The thought of leaving the home they'd shared stung, but staying felt like drowning. Her mind replayed the scene in Aaron’s study, the damning photographs and the file with her name etched at the top. Every piece of information about her, laid bare-her family, her childhood, her fears. She’d trusted him, and in return, he had dissected her life like a puzzle to control. As she neared the door, the faint scent of his cologne lingered, and her grip on the bag tightened. This was the only goodbye she could give. Aaron had been out since the incident-a small mercy-but as Lily turned the handle, she heard the elevator hum to life. Her heart plummeted. The doors slid open, and Aaron stepped out, his suit slightly dishevel