"I know, mom, you don't have to worry, we just had a small fight and I'll fix it tonight.""You better, she's really precious Zared, she's so young, all this is too much for her to handle, don't shower her with more difficulties, she's alone, you're the only one she has, we already know about her parents, you know how they were. Their behavior and the how they immediately agreed to marrying off their daughter to you, I thanked God she was going to be in better hands now, just don't make me regret my decision alright?""Yeah, mom." Zared's face dropped as he heard what his mom was thinking about him. Zared went to his room where Lily was standing looking out from the window. Zared grabbed her hand and turned her around harshly. "Are you happy now ? You dumbass girl! ARE YOU F**KING HAPPY NOW!? You can't ever see me happy, can you ?! I was talking to my mom so peacefuly and you can't even stand it for a minute....she started lecturing me for 'not being a good husband' I know very well
"Come on, get ready, we'll have breakfast outside and then go shopping" "But, the malls and shops don't open yet.""We can just wander around till then, go to some museums and stuff, get ready!""Okay" Lily smiled widely and went to her room to get ready. She wore a white A line frock with little black hearts all over it with her hair open. She loved modest fashion and always wore something eye catching, though it was not blingy or any thing but simple and cute looking. Clarissa and Lily stopped by at a cafe to have their breakfast and then went to some parks and art mueseums to pass their time. When the shopping malls and shops opened, Clarissa took Lily to all kinds of shops, they went to the biggest brand's shops and Clarissa made Lily try every thing she picked for her, from clothes to bags and heels and make up and what not. All the workers and managers in those shops knew Clarissa and treated her really well. Lily was trying one of Clarissa's chosen pair of skirt and top whic
Clarissa loved the outfit she was wearing, she clicked a ton of pictures in it and this was the first time she clicked her pictures, she's never believed she was beautiful enough to have her pictures clicked. She loved tweed outfits but never had the courage to try it on, she thought it would never look good on her but now that she was wearing it, she loved it. Clarissa and Lily arrived at Knightsbridge and entered the house as they saw Zared standing in the middle of the living room, he haulted his steps when he saw both of them, it was around 5 pm. "Hi, you're home ? ""Yeah.... I needed to get ready for the party, where were you?""Shopping, can't you see" Clarissa said looking at her workers who was placing the shopping bags inside the house. Zared nodded looking at the bags. "Had to give your wife a little makeover, how is she looking? " She asked pulling Lily forward. Zared's eyes widened and his brows raised as he noticed Lily. His gaze was fixed on her face, she didn't l
Before Zared could proceed someone turned him around and pushed him aside, it was Clarissa. "You'll take hours doing a simple thing." She tied the knots one by one swiftly. Zared and Lily's faces were flushed and they couldn't meet their eyes. "Come on dear, let's get you ready.""There's more?" Zared asked paralyzed. "Of course, her make up is to be done, hair is to be made and-""Okayyyy, just let me know when you all are ready, I'll wait downstairs."Zared left the room as the hair stylist and makeup artist entered the room. Soon, Clarissa and Lily were ready, Lily had maroon eyeshadow on, her cheeks flushed and maroon rose like lip shade on. The middle part if her hair was held by a clutcher at the back as the wavy strands hung on either sides of her face. Clarissa wore a classy off shoulder black gown which suited her very well in every way. Both of them faced Zared as they were ready to leave, waiting for him to call the car for them. Zared lifted his gaze from his phone
For the first time, Lily didn't feel ugly or unnoticed or neglected. She felt confident, she felt beautiful and liked it. Every one if the ladies she met complimented her and her exceptional choice of jewelry. "Meet her, she is the only daughter of-""Linchesters" Lily completee Clarissa's sentence, she knew most of the people here since they were so famous and also once upon a time business partners with her father. Clarissa nodded smiling proud of Lily. "Hi, Nice to meet you miss...?" said the Linchesters' daughter."Lily, Lily Williams" Clarissa said before Lily could say anything. "Nice to meet you too, Emily." Lily said smiling at her. Emily's eyes were widened but not much, it would be noticeable for the ones who knew she was after Zared. The colour of her face was now paler than before, she had dark hair and dark eyes, she was wearing a silver dress which ended at her calves and a slit around her chest. Emily looked at Lily up and down, she scoffed and looked away. Clarissa
"Well, neither is Zared a child nor is he attracted to anything, but what can I say about the cheap stuff displaying itself so someone gets attracted." Clarissa said coming from behind Emily straightened and her face tightened, she looked at Clarissa and then Lily. "If you don't mind sweetheart, we would like to have a bit of a family time here." Clarissa scrunched her nose while smiling slyly. Emily turned around and left from there on Clarissa's sharp yet polite request. The party went on with the Williams family and Knight family meeting and hosting every one. It was coming to an end, everyone started to leave wishing the couple and their company well. Everyone left except the Knight Family and The Williams. Zared sighed and turned to Aaron and his mother, Gloria. "It was great giving our friendship another meaning once again." Gloria smiled holding Clarissa's hand. Both of the families knew each other since ages and were very good friends ever since. Clarissa smiled t
Zared warned Lily to not open her mouth since she always used to say "Goodnight" to Zared before they slept. Lily sighed and turned the other way hearing Zared. A few days went by and it was the day Clarissa was going to leave. Clarissa was bidding Lily a good bye hugging her. She approached Zared. "Take care of her, I'll be calling every day to check up on her and if I get to know you haven't been taking care of her, you'll regret it." Clarissa warned Zared as she was leaving. Zared nodded smiling at her. She left leaving Lily and Zared alone in the room. Zared turned to Lily. "I can't believe this." Lily looked at him. "You've made my mom go against me....and to the extinct that she didn't even ask me to take care of myself while leaving, but did remember to ask me to take care of you.""I didn't do anyth-""I didn't do anything Zared, I didn't tell her to do it, I didn't ask her to buy it, I didn't do it on purpose, I love you, I care about you, oh please Lily, for God's sake
Zared started approaching Lily, his ocean blue eyes were now a shade darker than before. His steps were slow. Lily was finding it hard to stand still at one place, her period cramps kicked in and she closed her eyes in the pain but couldn't make it obvious. She forwarded her steps in order to lighten her pain through the movement in her body. He didn't break the eye contact he was holding with Lily. She was confused, she didn't know why he was coming towards her, she tried to recall everything she did during the day, thinking what would make him angry this time, what did she do. He stopped right in front of her, she felt a sharp pain in her scalps as he pulled her hair and dragged her by it behind him. She screamed, asked him to leave, asked what did she do this time, but, nothing, not a thing worked on him, not a thing she said or asked made him utter a word.Her eyes were wet, the tears didn't leave her eyes, they were not of sorrow but out of pain, the pain caused in her scalps b
"Chocolate." He showed her, his now chcolate covered thumb."Thanks." She said before breaking the eye contact."It was a pleasure." when Lily looked up at him, he was already staring at her-like he was piercing his gaze into her's. There was something about it.Clara began clearing some of the mess, humming softly to herself.For a brief moment, everything felt...simple. Like the outside world and its looming threats couldn’t reach them here.But outside the window, hidden beneath the overcast sky, a car rolled slowly past the building. Its tinted windows concealed whoever sat inside, watching.And just as quietly as it had appeared, it disappeared down the street.But not unnoticed.Damian’s sharp eyes followed it until it was out of sight, his hand tightening subtly around the edge of the counter.The peace was temporary-a fragile bubble on the edge of bursting.But for now, inside the warmth of the kitchen, laughter still lingered in the air. Not for long though.The sun dipped lo
Clara rolled her eyes. “If he hasn’t already reorganized the spice rack alphabetically, I’ll be shocked.”A soft chuckle escaped Lily’s lips despite the heaviness in her chest, and Aaron offered his hand to help her up. She took it hesitantly, her smaller hand fitting into his larger one."Dont you think he's a bit robot like?" Clara asked scrunching her nose."A bit?" Lily asked raising her brows at Clara.In the kitchen, Damian was leaning against the counter, a steaming mug of coffee in hand. He glanced up when they entered, his usual stoic expression softening just slightly. Clara marched in ahead of them, opening the refrigerator door. “Alright, chef Aaron, what’s on the menu?”Aaron walked over to the stove, his tie slightly loosened now. “Damian, did you cook anything or just stand there intimidating the toaster?” Damian raised an unimpressed brow. “I made coffee. You’re welcome.”Clara let out a snort, pulling out a carton of eggs. “Alright, coffee king, move aside. Aaron, y
The walk to the bookstore was shorter than she expected. Nestled between two larger buildings, its faded sign read "Willow’s Nook.” A small bell chimed as they stepped inside, and the scent of old paper and polished wood greeted them. The librarian was a small lady with a bob cut and cat eyed glasses, probably in her fifties.The space was cozy, with narrow aisles lined with overflowing shelves and dim lamps casting a warm glow. It felt like stepping into another world, one untouched by time.Aaron guided her to a section near the back, where mismatched armchairs sat tucked in a corner. “This is the best spot,” he said with a grin. Lily wandered over to a nearby shelf, running her fingers along the spines of old books. Aaron watched her. Minutes passed, but the silence wasn’t uncomfortable. Lily finally pulled a worn poetry book from the shelf, her eyes scanning the faded gold lettering on the cover. When she looked up, Aaron was watching her from across the aisle, a faint smile pl
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