Meanwhile, across a few kilometers in Zared's mansion, the morning sun cast harsh light on his troubled features. He stared out the window, his fingers tapping nervously on the polished desk of his study. Guilt and anger battled within him as he recalled the events that had unfolded since he asked Alexander to abduct Lily.His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his phone, he immediately picked it up, eager for some useful news to reach to him.“Sir…” came the rough voice on the other side of the line. It was his man who went to see what was happening in Alexander’s house.“What happened?” Zared responded in a clipped tone“I d- did not find anything else except dead bodies,” said he with some caution. "Someone saved her."Zared's heart stopped momentarily as fear gripped him tight behind that mask."Why would anyone save her ? He might also be dead; look for Lily’s body.”"Your...wife isn’t here, sir, but there are several men lying lifeless on the floor.”“This is not good.
Meanwhile, across a few kilometers in Zared's mansion, the morning sun cast harsh light on his troubled features. He stared out the window, his fingers tapping nervously on the polished desk of his study. Guilt and anger battled within him as he recalled the events that had unfolded since he asked Alexander to abduct Lily.His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his phone. Zared hesitated for a moment before answering, steeling himself for the confrontation he knew was inevitable.“Sir.." came the terse voice on the other end. It was his man whom he sent to check at Alexander’s house."What is it?" Zared replied, his tone clipped.“N-no one is here, only dead bodies." the man said, his voice betraying a hint of caution. "Lily has been rescued."Zared's heart skipped a beat. Despite his composed facade, panic gripped him like a vice. "Rescued? Who would do that? Maybe they were all killed, check for Lily’s body .”“Sir..Mrs.William is not here, there are bodies of multiple me
Lily shook her head. “Who was it?” “It was no one you should worry about, just my friend from college.” Aaron said, reassuring her. Lily suddenly broke down in front of him, tears flooded down her cheeks sobs breaking through her, she could no more have control over her emotions, it was hard to pretend like she was fine, it was hard to pretend and just survive like nothing happened, the unwanted tiring thought, the horrible flashbacks and terrifying nightmares won't leave her alone. She was abducted, raped and rescued and was living at a stranger's house, so much of it in a week, how was she supposed to celebrate her rescue after what she had been through, never in her life did she think she would end up in a situation like this, her life had took unexpected turns, but this was beyond everything that could go wrong. The Lily who once looked towards marriage as something that would change her life completely, had nothing but a wrecked marriage which was far opposite than the heart
Zared suspected it wasn't Alexander’s doing, he didn't trust him but Alexander didn't have the guts to challenge Zared but if he did, he was going to pay a price, he probably got ahead of himself.The morning melted into a beautiful sunny afternoon.“You don't have to, you know.”“I have to, I need to.”“I understand your discomfort, but I’ll have my men body guard you.”Lily looked at him with a look Aaron couldn't explain, it was complicated, awe? Gratefulness? Irritation? "I don't know how to thank you, Aaron. For everything." Gratefulness it was, thought Aaron. It could be awe as well, why did she have to say his name like that ? It would be so hard to let her go if she kept calling him by his name like that. "You don't.... need to thank me, Lily. I'm just glad you're safe."They sat together in silence, the weight of their shared experiences hanging in the air. For a moment, Lily allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe, there could be a future beyond the darkness tha
“I don't have anything else to do, do I ?” “I just-he-,” he sighed “he’s arrogant, we were best buddies when we were younger, he was like the older brother I never had and I always looked up to him, but I just, I didn't like the way dad started comparing me with him, not that he would be harsh on me but just, him being better didn't mean I was any less good right? I didn't like my dad praising him over me, but still, I used to be with him and look up to him because I..I liked him so much but we eventually started disliking each other because of the competition.” “Oh.” “It’s okay, you don't have to feel sorry for me. C’mon, my turn.” He paused for a few seconds before he asked her… “Why didn't you divorce him?” “What?” Aaron stared at her. “I-Why would I ?” “I’m sorry, this is personal, but, I saw the scars on your hands,the other day…” “Oh,no-uh, they were-they were because of Alexander.” “Oh.” “Why do you think Zared did what he did?” “I have no idea.” Lil
Why was she so naive? Why didn't she fight back ? Aaron wished he could hug her right now.“I’m sorry-”“No, you’re right, I know it’s really stupid and I do feel pathetic because of it but I just can't help it, I can't and it makes me mad but still, there’s nothing I can do about it.”“There are a lot of people put there Lily, you can explore, you can fall in love and-and what not.”“I don't want to, I know, I know but I don't want to, I don't feel like it, at the end, he’s the only person I want to be with, even if he has someone else.” Aaron fell silent, he had seen many people in love like this but always thought they were stupid for compromising and sacrificing and choosing to suffer because of it, but now he could feel it, he could feel what Lily felt.“I understand.” He said softly.“What do you want to do then ?”“I don't know how or when I should go back…but, I need to figure out something to tell him so you don't get stuck in between.”“Don't worry about me, you should worr
"Either she’s not aware that the hotel belongs to me," Aaron continued "or she has a crush on me that’s why she ran away ?”“So full of yourself, aren't you?”“Always, now tell me, why did she suddenly run away from home ?”“That’s none of your business, it’s about my wife and my personal life.”“Then why is your wife not with you if she's in your personal life?”“You don't have to worry about that, she’ll soon be.”“A lot of confidence there, Williams. I haven't given her back to you yet.”“What do you mean you've not given her back to me-"“I met with her, had a talk, she is my hostage for now, why should I let her go ?”“What did you talk to her about ? What did she tell you ?”“Nothing much.”“I’ll get her-”“You can’t.”“What ?” “I will only let her go once you give me whatever I ask you of.”"This is not the time for jokes, Aaron.""You should let me decide that."“What is that you want ?”“I’m not sure….if you’ll be able to provide it.”“What do you want ?”“Guarantee.”“What
He turned back to Lily again and pulled her into his arms.Lily got startled by his action but she didn't push him away. The moment his arms wrapped around her and her head landed on his chest, it reminded her of the day she kept crying in his arms and he never let go of her. She hugged him back as a sigh of relief mixed with uneasiness escaped Aaron’s mouth.Aaron accompanied Lily as they came back at Zared’s mansion, his presence a silent reassurance. They arrived at the huge mansion where Lily had once lived, but all it looked like to her was plain black and white hellhole where she was hit, beaten to a pulp and left to rot all night long.They looked at the mansion from inside the car.“Lily.” Aaron called at her.She turned around with raised eye brows.“Are you sure you want to go back to him ?”“I am certain." She nodded reluctantly opposing her words.“Why?” Aaron asked in misery.“Because I love him.” Aaron’s breath hitched but he tried not to show that it affected him in an
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
Lily didn’t respond to Clara. She stared out the window, her mind replaying every second she’d spent with Zared, searching for answers that would probably never come. She thought about what thoughts must have consumed Zared when he decided to end his life. Was he thinking about her? Was he blaming her? Was he guilty of what he did? Or he just couldn't bear the thought of her leaving him? But again, why would she hold so much importance in his life for him to give it all up. His family, the company, his friends-though Lily knew none. Maybe it was a punishment? From god ? Maybe he wanted Zared to die in exchange of Laurent, maybe because he killed him? Maybe this was his revenge? She shook her head shooing all the thoughts away. The three of them were now back at Clara's house, the silence was comfortable, no one wanted to talk, Aaron, however wanted to comfort Lily, make her believe that it wasn't her fault. He knew she must be blaming herself, she was the last person to t
Lily, Aaron, and Clara walked briskly down the sterile, cold hallways of the hospital, their footsteps echoing, at the end of the corridor, where Zared’s parents and Aaron’s parents were standing together, faces etched with grief. The moment they approached, Lily saw Zared’s mother, her tear-streaked face crumpling further. “He’s already been moved,” Zared’s father said, his voice hoarse. “To the freezer. They’re preparing him for the funeral.” Lily froze mid-step, her heart sinking. She hadn’t realized how desperately she’d wanted to see him one last time. Her lips parted, but no words came out. “Why so soon?” Aaron asked, his voice laced with disbelief. “It’s the procedure,” Aaron’s father said, his voice heavy. “Once the body is declared and cleared, there’s no waiting.” Lily clenched her fists at her sides, overwhelmed by a mixture of grief and frustration. The chance to say goodbye was ripped away. All she had now were the memories-and the haunting, unanswered qu
A single tear rolling down his cheek before he collapsed back onto the bed, lifeless. "No,no,no,no." The news anchor’s voice filled the silence. “Zared Williams, known for his innovative contributions to technology and his efforts towards hi company, was pronounced dead at 10:47 p.m. Doctors have confirmed that his death was caused by the disconnection of critical life-support machines. Despite being close to a full recovery, it appears Mr. Williams made the decision to end his life. What the doctors are calling an apparent suicide." Tears welled in Lily’s eyes as her chest tightened painfully. She turned to Clara, who was still frozen in place, her hand trembling against her lips. “This…this isn’t real,” Lily murmured, shaking her head as if trying to wake herself from a nightmare. “It can’t be.” Clara finally looked at her, her eyes glistening with tears. “It is, Lily,” she whispered. “He’s…he’s gone.” Lily stumbled back, her legs weak beneath her. The weight of the news c