New York, with its endless possibilities, was a place where they could dream without limits. One night, as they stood on the observation deck of the Empire State Building, looking out at the city lights that stretched as far as the eye could see, Lily felt a sense of clarity. The city had given her a new perspective, a reminder that life was vast and full of potential. Clara, standing beside her, squeezed her hand. "You know, Lily," Clara said softly, "New York might just be the start of something amazing for you." Lily smiled, feeling a warmth in her heart. "I think so, I spent too long working on others, maybe it's time I should start writing my story." Their vacation was a whirlwind of excitement and discovery, but it also provided the space Lily needed to reflect and heal. She realized that while the past had shaped her, it didn't have to define her future. New York was a reminder that she had the strength to move forward, to find happiness on her own terms. One cr
He quickly followed Zared while making sure to keep a safe distance. When Zared entered a nearby hotel, Aaron noted the name and decided he needed answers. He couldn’t let Zared disrupt the fragile peace Lily was beginning to find. Aaron spent the next few hours digging for information, using his contacts and the internet to track down Zared’s hotel room. His anger simmered beneath the surface, ready to erupt. By the time he reached the hotel, his resolve was steeled. He wasn’t going to let Zared hurt Lily again. He marched into the hotel lobby and headed straight for the elevators, bypassing the front desk with a determined stride. Once he reached Zared’s floor, he took a deep breath and approached the door. Without hesitation, he knocked, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway. He knocked a few more times before noticing a response. Zared opened the door, his expression shifting from surprise to recognition and then confusion. “Aaron? What are you doing here?” Aaron didn’t was
The atmosphere was pleasant, filled with the soft murmur of conversations and the clinking of cutlery against plates. As they perused the menus, Aaron couldn't help but steal glances at Lily. The way she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, her soft smile as she read the descriptions of the dishes, even the subtle way she drummed her fingers on the table, all of it captivated him. He felt a pang of awkwardness every time she caught his eye, her gaze questioning but kind. "So, what are we thinking?" Clara asked, breaking the silence. "I hear the seafood here is fantastic." Lily nodded, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "I think I’ll try the lobster ravioli. It sounds delicious." “I thought you didn't like seafood.” Clara asked, amazed. “I don't, but I want to try this.” Aaron cleared his throat, forcing himself to focus on the menu. "I’ll go with the steak. Medium rare." Clara chuckled. "Classic. You and your steaks." As they waited for their food, the conversatio
It gave him hope and made him feel that, despite everything, there was a chance for something more between them, just maybe. Even as he lay in bed, the memory of her voice lingered, bringing a smile to his face. The simple act of hearing his name from her lips was enough to make his heart soar, and he fell asleep with a sense of contentment, dreaming of the possibilities that lay ahead. As he walked away, Aaron couldn’t shake the feeling that his life was at a crossroads. He knew he had to tread carefully, but he also knew that he couldn’t ignore his feelings forever. For now, though, he was content to be by Lily’s side, supporting her in any way he could. The night drew to a close, and the city of New York twinkled outside their windows. Tomorrow, they would return to London, but the memories of this trip would stay with them, etched into their hearts like the vibrant lights of Times Square against the night sky. Returning to London brought a sense of familiarity and routine
She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the genuine remorse, but the wounds he had caused were still fresh. She remained silent, allowing him to pour out his heart, each word a step towards his own redemption. "I understand if you can't forgive me," Zared continued, his voice breaking. "But I needed to tell you how much I regret my actions. You deserved so much better, and I failed you." When he finished, there was a long silence. Lily finally spoke, her voice steady but cold. "I appreciate your apology, Zared. I can see that you're genuinely sorry, but it's not that simple. The pain and mistrust you caused don't just disappear because you say you're sorry." Zared's shoulders slumped, a look of defeat crossing his face. "You've given me a lifetime of trauma and it is never ever going to disappear." "I know. I don't expect you to forgive me right away. I just wanted you to know how much I regret everything." Lily nodded, her eyes hardening slightly. "Thank you for telling me
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
Aaron and Clara's faces were etched with helplessness. Lily took a shaky breath, her voice dropping to a whisper. “And then… then there was the car. I stepped forward… I thought if I just let it happen, the pain would stop-""You what?!" Aaron's voice rised without control. His voice was like a heavy metal bottle dropping in the pin drop silence of a class, making Lily and Clara, both of them flinch. "What were you thinking Lily? Huh? That you will leave just like Zared did, give in and leave us alone? Are you even listening to yourself right now?" "Aaron." Clara's soft voice indicated warning, "She's not in the stat-""Are you even aware of what she is saying right now? something must've happened to her, we wouldnt be here like this if she-""I'm sorry, for...causing the both of you to panic. But nothing happenned… someone pulled me back. I felt hands grabbing me, strong hands, pulling me out of the way. But I never saw their face. Everything went black after that, and when I woke
The person who still won't let go, but everything felt heavy-her limbs, her head, even her eyelids. The edges of her sight turned black, her body giving in to the weight of exhaustion, fear, and something she couldn’t quite name. And then: nothing.Lily’s eyelids fluttered open and her gaze unfocused as the dim light of her bedroom filtered through her vision. The soft weight of her blanket was tucked snugly around her. Her caramel hair splayed across the pillow, strands sticking to her damp forehead. For a moment, she simply lay there, staring at the ceiling, her chest rising and falling in slow, uneven breaths. How did I get here? She turned her head slightly, glancing around the room. The curtains were drawn halfway, letting in the muted glow of what seemed to be the street light? The house was unnervingly quiet-no faint hum of Clara’s cooking in the kitchen, no muffled voice of Aaron speaking on the phone in the hallway. She pushed herself up on shaky arms, her head throbbi
“Lily… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make this harder for you. But please, just… don’t shut me out. Don’t shut us out.” For a long moment, Lily said nothing. Her gaze was far away, lost in a sea of emotions once again, too tangled for her to process. But then, slowly, hesitantly, she leaned forward, her forehead pressing against Aaron’s shoulder. Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling and fragile. “I’m so tired, Aaron. I don’t know how to stop feeling this way.” Aaron’s arms wrapped around her carefully, pulling her into a gentle embrace. “You don’t have to figure it out alone, Lily. We’ll take it one step at a time. I’ll be right here, every step of the way. Don't worry." He once again had the urge to call her 'love'. But he couldn't. For the first time in weeks, Lily let herself lean into him fully, her frail body trembling against his as silent tears soaked into his shirt. And Aaron held her-held her like she was something fragile and precious, something he would nev
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