Zared knew no amount of regret could undo the damage. His phone buzzed on the desk, breaking the silence. He hesitated before picking it up, his heart sinking when he saw the name on the screen. It wasn’t Lily. It never was. “Zared Williams,” he answered, his voice sharp and professional, masking the turmoil beneath. “Mr Williams,” the voice on the other end said. “We have a development regarding-" Zared pinched the bridge of his nose, his patience thin. “I don’t want to hear about work right now. Handle it yourself.” “But sir—” He hung up, Zared had never been one to skip work, he wasn't the one to leave work for even if someone close to him died. Back at the house, Lily and Aaron sat on the porch, the night air cool and refreshing. Aaron leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head, a cocky grin on his face. “I’m just saying,” he began, “if it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have passed that exam.” Lily rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You barely studied yourself.
"Please...please-please." The limp body whispered. The man standing in front crouched down at his level. "Was that how she begged ? Was that....how she pleaded you....to let go off her?" He said, fury instilled in his eyes, "Did you think of how all the women must be suffering Alex ? Did you leave them when they pleaded you like this ?" Alex looked up at him. "I just did what...I was t-told." He whispered, barely managing to take his words out. "Nothing can ever change what you have done with every one of them, and none of them can live the same again, you stole her innocence, you stole the life in her, you don't deserve anything but pain, but unfortunately, today is your last day, I promised her I would kill you today, but it's just 9:30, I can do whatever I want with you till midnight, Alex." "I-I'll do whatever you-ask, Knight, please." Aaron stood up, towering over Alex’s frail, trembling form, his face an unreadable mask of fury and disgust. "Whatever I ask?" A
Aaron sat in his dimly lit study, the faint glow of the city skyline streaming through the windows. His mind wandered back to the events of the previous night-the way Alex had begged, pleaded, and crumbled before him. It wasn’t Alex’s cries that lingered in his mind now; it was Lily’s voice. He had asked Lily when did she want Alex killed and she said "tomorrow?" She’d said it so casually, as though she trusted him implicitly. It wasn’t her demand that haunted him-it was her words. "Tomorrow" Alex had stolen her innocence, the person who saw good even in the ugliest of hearts and he would never forgive him. Aaron wasn’t a man who cared much for deadlines unless they served his goals, but this time, he’d made sure Alex took his last breath before the clock struck midnight. Not for Alex. Not even for justice. For her. Lily hummed softly as she moved around the kitchen, preparing coffee. She didn’t seem tense, didn’t seem to carry the weight of what she’d asked him to do. If any
Lily's lips parted as if to say something, but no words came. She wasn’t sure what startled her more-the revelation of his darkness or the way he seemed to anchor it all in her. Why for her ? It's not possible that he has feelings for her is it ? The last thing she would want right now was another man. Aaron moved back, giving her space, but his gaze remained intense. “You wanted details. Now you have it.” "About Alex." Lily said, hesitantly. "This is the only one you get." Lily nodded slowly, her heart still pounding. “And the side I see…the one you say is just for me?” “That’s the only part of me that feels alive,” he admitted, his voice softer now but no less intense. “Don’t ask me to be anyone else, Lily. Because if you do...you might not like what you find.” He got up and walked away, leaving her rooted to the spot, her mind swirling with questions she wasn’t sure she wanted answers to. As the night grew deeper, the tension between them seemed to shift. She stoo
"The side you see of me every day is just for you, and the ones close to me." The weight of his words lingered, heavy and unshakable. She couldn’t ignore the shift in his demeanor-the way his usual warmth and lightheartedness had vanished, replaced by something darker, something she didn’t recognize. Her heart raced as she thought back to the look in his eyes. It wasn’t just anger or frustration. It was controlled, calculated intensity. It was as though for a brief moment, she had glimpsed a side of him he kept locked away from the world, a side he had chosen to reveal to her today. But why? Was he not who she thought he was ? She didn’t understand. Why had he said those things? What was he trying to prove or warn her about? Leaning back against the headboard, she hugged her knees to her chest, her thoughts spiraling. Aaron had always been an enigma, someone who hid as much as he showed. But until today, she had thought she understood him-or at least the parts of him he al
Aaron adjusted and she shifted again to make room for him, their knees brushing. The contact was accidental, but it sent a jolt through both of them. Lily froze for a moment, her eyes darting to his before quickly looking away. “Sorry,” she murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear once again, the action not going unnoticed by Aaron. “It’s fine,” Aaron said quickly, though his chest felt tight. The room felt smaller now, the air between them charged. Aaron’s gaze drifted to her again, taking in the faint flush on her cheeks and the way her fingers fidgeted with the corner of her notebook. He knew he should look away, make some joke to break the tension. But his thoughts betrayed him, swirling with confusion and a sudden, overwhelming pull toward her. His eyes wouldn't tear apart from the sight in front of him, no matter how hard he tried, like they were stuck with glue or something. “You okay?” Lily asked, her voice quieter now. Aaron hesitated, his throat dry
A couple of days passed, Lily and Aaron's exams were now over, the last one was yesterday. They didn't talk much since their kiss, Lily avoided Aaron at all times but he was barely around the last few days and she was thankful for it. She wondered why he disappeared after coming back from the university, was he avoiding her as well ? Or was he too hurt because of Lily? Apparently, Aaron had tried to approach Lily several times: before the exams, after them, and even during breakfast. But every time, Lily either changed the subject or snapped at him without meaning to. She hated how rude she sounded, especially to Aaron, but she didn’t know how else to deal with the storm of emotions inside her. She was confused. For Aaron, he had started going to therapy, ever since Lily had started avoiding him, her avoidance felt like a knife to the chest. He had been wracking his brain over what went wrong, over whether the kiss had ruined everything between them. He decided she could use some
Lily’s heart raced as she listened, her emotions swirling in confusion. She didn’t know how to respond. The kiss had been unexpected, yes, but it wasn’t just him-it was her too. She’d stayed in that moment for a reason, though she couldn’t figure out why. “Aaron,” she finally said, her voice quiet, “it’s okay.” He blinked at her, his brows furrowing. “It doesn’t feel okay, Lily. You’ve been avoiding me ever since, and I-" He ran a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “I miss talking to you. I miss us.” Her breath hitched, and she looked away, unable to meet his eyes. “I don’t know what to say,” she admitted, her voice was barely above a whisper. “I’m... confused.” His chest tightened, but he forced himself to nod. "I get that. And I don’t want to pressure you or make things harder. I just needed you to know that I didn’t mean to hurt you. That’s the last thing I’d ever want, Lily, I hope you know that." The sincerity in his voice made her stomach twist. She cou
"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