“The only crime I ever committed wasn’t murder, Robert. It was simply loving you. I don’t think anyone has ever loved you the way I did. I loved you to the point I was willing to sacrifice myself for your happiness. But not anymore. I’m over all that shit now. Sooner or later, you’ll regret what you’ve done, and you’ll realize what a huge mistake you made. And by then, it might just be too late.” Lily had once believed she could endure anything for love—even a loveless marriage. Bound by a contract to her high school crush-turned-husband, Robert, a cold and distant billionaire, she sacrificed her dreams, her desires, everything for his success. But when she became pregnant—a violation of their marriage agreement—her world shattered. Betrayed by Robert, who chose his ex-lover over her and accused her of a crime she didn’t commit, Lily was sentenced to years in prison, losing everything, including her freedom and even giving birth while in prison. After escaping her past, Lily fought to rebuild her life, creating a future for her children far away from Robert’s shadow. Just when she thought she had found happiness, Robert reappears, desperate for a second chance. Now, Lily faces an agonizing choice: forgive the man who broke her heart to a thousand pieces or protect the new life she’s worked so hard to build without him. Will love be enough to heal the wounds of the past, or will her scars run too deep to ever truly heal?
Lihat lebih banyakCHAPTER 1
“Congratulations Mrs. Wilson,” the nurse said with a soft smile. “The test came out positive, you’re a month pregnant.” I felt a cold wave of shock wash over me as though someone poured a bucketful of ice water on me. My heart jolted painfully in my chest and my lips parted involuntarily as the memories that led to this unexpected event came rushing back at me like a violent wind. Robert, my childhood crush and husband who I was in a contract marriage with returned that night drunk and overjoyed, the reason being the advertising company landed a huge advertising deal with one of the biggest luxury establishments in the city. I knew he was drunk. I knew he wasn’t in control of his actions. I shouldn’t have let that night happen. But I have loved him dearly for a very long time and was unable to resist him. I was willing to do anything for his satisfaction and happiness. For a long time, I have craved to have such intimate moments with him. Since we got married two and half years ago, that was the most intimate he’s been with me, so I lost myself in that thought. Lost myself in the heat of the passionate moment, both of us forgetting to use protection. “Here,” the nurse said, handing me the test reports. I swallowed a lump that formed at the back of my throat, my hands trembling as I reluctantly collected it, still struggling to believe it to be true. “Are….are you sure this is correct?” I tried to confirm as I said to the nurse awkwardly, unable to keep myself from stuttering. “Perhaps there was a mistake somewhere….maybe the test wasn’t properly conducted?...” A single night of mistaken passion couldn’t have led to something as life-changing as pregnancy. It was just a quick one-time something. Perhaps this was another woman’s pregnancy report mistaken as mine. But my name, Lily Wilson boldly inscribed on it as I took a quick peep at it betrayed that little hope. “Yes,” the nurse said, nodding firmly. “The pregnancy test was properly conducted. Every health worker here is a professional. We do not joke with something as serious as this.” On hearing that, the remaining pieces of my heart dropped in my stomach. The day started as any other, but now everything has changed. This pregnancy will change everything. “Good luck on your pregnancy Mrs. Wilson,” the nurse said, holding my shoulder and giving me a small smile. “You are in a delicate state now. Don’t overwork yourself and make sure to be coming regularly for your prenatal checkups.” She said before leaving me to roast in the flame of misery and despair she ignited. Jane, my best friend since childhood who had come with me to the hospital for the checkup burst into the room and took the reports from me. Going through the contents, she gasped as she looked at me, her eyes widening and sparkling with excitement. “Oh my God, Lily! This is wonderful news! A baby! It’s just what you and Robert need. A new beginning! I’m so happy for you!!” Jane’s smiles reached her ears. Her joy was infectious but I couldn’t bring myself to share in it. I managed a smile, stiff and unnatural. My mind was elsewhere, grappling with the harsh reality of this situation. My marriage to Robert wasn’t built on love; it was a contract, a cold, formal agreement with clear and strict terms. One of which explicitly forbids children. As Jane continued to gush about baby names and nursery decorations as we stepped out into the hallway of the hospital, my mind drifted to the harsh cold words of the contract the day I signed it “NO BABIES NO MATTER WHAT.” Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes but I quickly blinked them away, forcing myself to keep smiling as I maintained a happy demeanour. This wouldn’t have happened if Robert hadn’t returned home drunk that night. Now I’ll have to pay the price for it. I couldn’t let Jane see me in such a miserable state. She’ll raise a brow and feel bad because she was caring and always shared in my emotions. She didn’t know my marriage to Robert was based on a contract. I never told her. And I didn’t plan to anytime soon. She kept assuring me that this pregnancy would bring an end to my unhappy marriage and make Robert finally love me as I deserve. Little did she know this pregnancy would produce the opposite effect. Little did she know it would be the bane of my existence. I was breaching the contract agreement with this pregnancy and if Robert finds out, I will have to suffer severely for it. I must not tell him. He must not find out. I will keep it from him for as long as I can no matter what I have to do. Halfway through the hallway, we unexpectedly ran into Robert. I was shocked to see him with another woman who was in a hospital gown as if also going for a medical check-up.LILY’S POV5 years later… The wedding bells rang softly in the cathedral and everyone rose to welcome me, the bride as I graced the aisle in my wedding gown which flowed like a river behind me. My face was covered with a veil, and in my hands was a delicate bouquet of white roses and baby’s breath. My arm was entwined with Frank’s who escorted me down the aisle, to the altar. After I came back to New York, he confessed to helping Scarlett sabotage me at Robert’s company fifteen years back which led to me being sacked. He asked for my forgiveness and I granted it. If he hadn’t brought up the incident, I don’t think I would have remembered because it’s been long. As sign I had truly forgiven him and my intentions towards him were good, I couldn’t think of any other person asides him to walk me down the aisle. We became closer than we were years back after that happened.. The guests were extravagantly dressed, beaming with smiles as their head turned and gazes glued to me in adm
CHAPTER 172LILY’S POV All my life, I don’t think I have ever felt this much hatred radiate from a person. I thought Scarlett’s was intense and overbearing. But Noah’s was on a whole different level. So cold, so menacing, so consuming it chilled my spine. Just how can someone harbour this much hatred to people related to him? He had gagged me, and tied my wrist because I wasn’t making it easy for him with all my persistence and reluctance in going to which ever place he wanted me to go with him. I once heard him say we were going to Fiji, a quiet luxurious island country far from US. Not to mention he had me caged in his brutal dominance. I couldn’t move a single muscle as he pressed the muzzle of that gun against the side of my head, the cold metal reminding me that the slightest move would end it all in a heartbeat. Being at the forefront of all these, I bore the brunt of all that angst, hatred, malice, anger rolling off in waves from him and crashing against me as he shout
CHAPTER 171 NOAH’S POV ~ You might be a lot of things son but you’re not a murderer,” father said, drawing my attention. He’d been torn and shaken to the core after I pointed the gun at his beloved wife, not knowing what to do. “You’re good,” he continued gently, careful with each word that left his lips as if afraid not to provoke me further. “I can see it in you. Just put down the gun, let’s talk things through. We have a lot of things to tell you. A lot of explanations to make. I know you think we abandoned you but we never did.” ~ He attempted to come close, taking slow cautious steps to me. “If you could just let us…” “Don’t come any close or else I’ll put a bullet through your mouth hole!” I snapped like one possessed, pointing the gun at him, my fingers gripping the handle so tight my knuckles turned white. "Did you watch me grow? Do you have any idea what I endured as a child?" I shouted, throwing the words at him like daggers, each one more vicious than the last.
CHAPTER 170 NOAH’S POV ~ Once the kids were settled and ready to fly, I returned my full attention to the rest of the family. I pointed my gun straight to Juliana’s head. “Now, for the final rites.” ~ “Now, for the final rites,” I said with a crooked smile curving my lips, the cold metal clicking as I cocked the gun, ready to take the shot when suddenly, Martin lunged forward, throwing himself in front of her. “No!” he shouted, voice cracking with desperation as his chest rose and fell heavily. “Don’t do this please…! If you have to kill someone, kill me instead!” Fear and panic was written all over their faces. I could even pick out the heavy, disturbing sound of their breaths as it gushed out from the lungs. Did they think the gun was for fancy? Think I won’t shes blood before I left? I whiffed out a frustrated fume, facepalming internally. This Martin was a fool indeed. Was that his genius plan all along, to step in when I wanted to kill someone so he could take the sho
CHAPTER 169NOAH’S POV ~ “The kids now!” I returned my gaze to Juliana with a scowl. She quickly ran into the car and brought them out. ~ As Juliana brought them forward, they cowered in fear, almost on the verge of tears seeing the gun I had to the side of their mum’s head. Liam was in crunches and could barely walk properly while Lila was nervously fiddling with her hair. At the sight of them, Lily jolted as if triggered by their presence, almost freeing herself from my grip. Her muffled cries as she struggled grew louder, more disturbing and unbearable as she desperately tried to break free from my hold. “Keep quiet, woman, or else I’ll hurt them!” I snarled at her, and she became calm like a puppy, her eyes red and puffy as tears mixed with sweat dripped from her eyes and stained her cheeks. She was easy to control. All I had to do was threaten to hurt Robert, the kids, or anyone else close to her, and she’d comply. She was selfless, willing to sacrifice herself for ot
CHAPTER 168NOAH’S POV At the hangar… Lily and I waited at my hangar for Juliana to arrive with the kids so we can be on our way. My private jet was ready and the pilot was inside waiting for us. The kids were the only ones keeping us. If it weren’t for them, I would have left with Lily hours ago. We will be leaving for a quiet luxurious island country far away like I wanted, where no one will ever find us. It’ll be like going on a vacation only that the vacation will last forever. I doubt Lily even told the kids about the idea when I first mentioned it to her because she never liked it in the first place but pretended she needed time and their permission. Juliana, how much I hate calling her name and remembering her stupid face, was already five minutes late. Over the phone while she and Lily was speaking, I made it clear to her I don’t condone lateness. It seems she wants to taste my patience. I brought a gun along. After I take the kids from her, I’m going to kill her. Fi
CHAPTER 167 LILY’S POV I woke up feeling all groggy, like I had been out for days. Whatever sedative he injected me with must have been very strong for me to be feeling this way. Every part of my body ached and throbbed including the part between my legs as I brushed my thighs together to ease the pain and discomfort. Cradling my head, I let out a slight wince as I slowly pulled up from the bed. My vision blurred for a moment before adjusting to my surrounding. I didn’t know how long I’d been unconscious. It was hard to tell because the windows were shut, the room filled with bright, artificial lights, leaving no space for natural sunlight to come in. Then I saw him. Noah. He stood at the foot of the bed, completely unclothed with his member on full display. My breath caught in my throat, the shock of seeing him that way sobering me up completely. My brows knitted deeply, different questions racing through my head. Why was he naked in front of me? What was he planning on d
CHAPTER 166 LILY’S POV ~ A painful trail of tears left my eyes and stained my cheek. I wiped it and looked away, not wanting him to see me in such a state. Even if he did, it wouldn’t change anything. It won’t have any effect on him. The Noah I knew was gone, replaced by a cold, heartless monster of a man. I was too dazed by this discovery to think clearly. I found it so hard to believe. I could have sworn he was good. It felt real. I was sure I wasn’t dreaming. When did he turn into this? ~ “Why are you doing this?” I choked out weakly. “What did he ever do to you?…” “He took everything from me, Lily,” he said, his expression twisted with hatred so deep it made my skin crawl. “You’ve never been in a position where someone takes everything from you without even lifting a finger. So no, I don’t expect you to understand. I’m just returning the favour.” “What could Robert have possibly taken from you for you to want him dead? I mean look at you… you’re perfect. Your life is p
CHAPTER 165 LILY’S POV Arriving at Noah’s place, I quickly made my way to his room only to see him seated on his bedroom chair, his legs crossed on top of the table as he played with a lighter, flicking it on and off. I was shocked to see him like that. But worse, my lips thinned in exasperation as my gaze burned into him. I left everything else I was doing and drove to this place like a mad woman, almost running into a truck only to see he was in perfect condition. “How could you play with my feelings like that?” I shot at him, my expression filled with anger. “You told me you were dying. I left everything else I was doing… I nearly had a heart attack from…” “What exactly were you doing?” He cut me off with a cold, nonchalant tone, not bothering to spare me a glance as his eyes were fixed on the flame. He was looking into them with a ruthless expression as if he wanted to vent his anger by setting something ablaze. I couldn’t help but scoff in a mix of disbelief and
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