She had hoped that distance would dull the sharp edges of her emotions, but it seemed time was merely a healer of wounds, not an eraser of memories. The city around her buzzed with its usual fervor, oblivious to the quiet turmoil in her heart. Each street corner held echoes of Zared’s and Riley’s laughter, each café whispered fragments of their conversations. She had tried to move forward, to embrace his absence, yet his presence lingered in the shadows of her thoughts. Four months, and she still carried the weight of what could be one day. Nothing changed in her life but herself, the way she acted, the way she talked, she changed everything about her, hoping that she loses feelings for him someday or gains feelings for her someday, none happened. Her love for him had not diminished; it had only evolved into a poignant ache, a testament to the depth of her heart's yearning. She wondered if he ever thought of her, noticed her change, saw how she had grown quiet and doesn't bother h
"Grateful?" she echoed, her voice trembling. "I'm supposed to be grateful that a man was tortured and killed? You don't even care, do you? About what happened to me, about anything other than your own twisted sense of power." He took a step closer to her, his presence menacing. “Watch your mouth, Lily. You're stepping out of line." She stood her ground, a surge of anger and determination rising within her. “No, Zared. I've been out of line for too long. I'm done being afraid of you. I'm done living this nightmare." He smirked, taking a sip of his drink. "And what do you plan to do about it? Run off to Aaron again? He won't save you this time." Lily's heart ached at the mention of Aaron. He had been her savior, her protector. But she couldn't rely on him to fix her life. She had to take control, to find her own way out. She walked back to her bedroom banging the door shut, she picked her phone up and dialled Aaron’s number, not even two rings passed as Aaron picked up the call.
The stark reality was unavoidable,Zared would never love her, and she could no longer sacrifice her sanity and dignity, no longer live as pushover and a people pleaser, no one had pleased her ever but she always cared about them being hurt or disrespected no matter how much disrespect she endured.On the second night, Lily sat by the window, staring out at the moonlit garden. Her mind was made up, solidified by the silent hours of contemplation and the unrelenting pain in her heart. She knew what she had to do. Gathering her courage, she wrote out the words she had rehearsed in her mind a thousand times: "I want a divorce." The finality of the words felt like a liberation, a step towards reclaiming her life and self-worth. She knew Zared would not make it easy, that he would try to manipulate and intimidate her into staying, but she was resolute. She had survived his worst; she could survive his wrath.With a newfound sense of determination, Lily began to prepare for the inevitable c
Riley stood in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the scene. She had clearly heard everything, her face pale as she processed the truth. Zared's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't move. He seemed to realize, perhaps for the first time, that he couldn't control the narrative any longer. "You're making a big mistake." "Just sign them, I'm already done.” He scoffed as if to laugh at her for leaving him. “Sure, with all my pleasure, I'll be more than happy to do so." Lily’s tears fell silently, her face blank and numb. Her breath came in shallow, ragged gasps as she struggled to find strength. She wished Zared loved her, and wished he could see her pain. Wished he would ask her to stop this because he loved her not because this was a contract. Across from her, Zared finished signing the divorce papers and pushed them towards her with a sigh. Leaning back on the couch, he looked at her with an expression of disdain. Lily choked out between sobs.
Ignoring her, Zared lunged at Lily, but she was quick. She dropped her suitcase, grabbed his hand, and twisted it behind his back. “Dare you touch me again,” she warned, pushing him away harshly. Zared turned around, scoffing. “I see where your attitude is going. You’re not free yet, bitch!” He advanced again, but Lily kicked his crotch and slapped him as hard as she could. The shock in his eyes mirrored the rush of blood in her hand. “Just stop it, Zared,” she cried, her voice trembling with a mixture of fury and pain. "What do you think I am? I’m human too, with feelings that can be hurt just like anyone else’s. But you don’t care about that, do you? Fine, don’t care;but don’t you dare touch me. Ever again. I’m not your punching bag. Find someone else who will tolerate your abuse. Do you know who the real headache is? It’s you, Zared. You’re the one who’s useless. All your hard work to become a billionaire means nothing if you have no soul. You’re going to die, and your mo
Zared was shaken to his core. "Riley, this is a joke, right? Tell me you're joking." Clara's eyes were cold and unyielding. "Why would I joke about this? Did you think everything you did to her was a joke? Does all that suffering seem like a joke to you? I don't just use people for money and ruin their lives. I target people whose lives can't be further destroyed by me. And you, Zared, are one of them. But the reason I'm exposing myself now is because your life is already in ruins. The person who truly loved you is leaving, and you'll never get her back. Since your life is beyond repair, I don't want Lily's to be the same." Clara walked briskly toward Lily, taking her luggage from her hands. "Come on, Lily," she said firmly. Lily looked at her, puzzled. "You’re coming with me.” Clara declared, already heading outside with the luggage. Lily followed her, gripping her dress tightly. They walked out of the house together, leaving Zared standing alone in the living room. As the
"So you weren’t good in studies?" "Nope." "Your parents still loved you?" "It’s not like your parents don’t love you if you’re not good in studies,” she chuckled “Did you use to get scolded for not studying? Is that why you’re asking this?" "Uh... yeah. I always ranked second in school, but my parents wanted me to rank first so that they would be popular." "Girl, I was not even near that, anyway, it must’ve been years since you went to school, let's forget it.” "It’s just been a year." Clara frowned. "It’s only been a year? What were you studying? You must really like studying?" "No... I turned 19 this year. I didn't study after marriage because my parents said I shouldn’t study after getting married. It would distract me from handling the house." Clara’s jaw dropped "What’s your age again?" "19." "That’s why you look so young! I always wondered how you looked so young! I assumed you were 25 or something." Lily awkwardly chuckled. Clara looked at Lily w
Yet, in the end, she had shown a strength he had never acknowledged. Her departure, her willingness to leave him, spoke of a resilience he had underestimated. Was it possible that he had been wrong about her all along? Three months had passed since Lily left the confines of Zared's mansion and started living peacefully with Clara. On the surface, her life had taken a remarkable turn. Clara, who had revealed her true self in an unexpected twist of fate, had opened her home and heart to Lily, offering her a fresh start which she gratefully accepted. Lily had settled into Clara's spacious, elegant home, a far cry from the suffocating walls she had known before. She had even secured admission into the top university in London. Lily's days were now filled with the vibrant hues of opportunity and freedom. She attended lectures in grand, historic halls, engaged in lively discussions with new friends, and found solace in the bustling energy of the city. Clara, too, became more than a pro
"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