CHAPTER 46 LILY’S POV I slowly opened my eyes, feeling groggy and weak as I twisted a little on the large silky surface I found myself on. My breath hitched a bit and I blinked, confused as I took in the unfamiliar surroundings I found myself. It screamed of opulence and luxury; a grand room filled with golden décor, sky-high ceiling, velvet curtains, and chandeliers that sparkled softly in the dim light. I lay on a silky, king-sized bed adorned with plush pillows and bolsters, far more luxurious than anything my body has ever rested on, and the air that enveloped me felt so crisp and light I could float away. Managing to pull my heavy body up to sit at the edge of the bed, a slight wince escaped my lips as I clutched my throbbing temple to feel a small gauze bandage over it. I also noticed plaster bandages covering various injuries on my body; both sides of my leg, the inside of my elbow and my arms. As I assessed myself, I realized I wasn’t wearing the same clothes as bef
CHAPTER 47LILY’S POVNoah’s words hooked me instantly and I looked at him with a sharp curious gaze. Of course, I wanted to know all that and more. No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t seem to understand how I wasn’t dead and, instead, had ended up here in his house.When that taxi driver was pointing the gun at me, I was sure he pulled the trigger. Even though I looked away because I didn’t want to witness my death, I heard the shot, loud and clear before passing out. Before that happened, I had called out for help and looked around to see if there was anyone nearby but there wasn’t. So how did Noah suddenly appear from nowhere and bring me here?“Please sit,” he sat at the edge of the bed and tapped the spot beside him for me to sit, his brown button eyes so charming and gentle it could melt away the troubles that lingered in one’s heart.Slashing out a breath, I eased up a little and reluctantly sat down but at a considerable distance away from him. Just because I de
CHAPTER 48LILY’S POV“Why are you crying? Please don’t cry…” Noah said and I realized a teardrop had escaped the corner of my left eye.Sniffling a sob and feeling embarrassed for breaking down in front of him, I tried to wipe the tear off with the back of my hand. After all that time with Robert, I had promised myself I wouldn’t cry again. While in prison, Alison had let me know crying was for the weak and faint-hearted and it never fixes any problem. She trained herself not to shed a single tear no matter the situation. I didn’t know how she managed to do it but she did.Despite my attempts to ward off the tears, I couldn’t help crying. It was as if I wasn’t in control of my emotions anymore and the tears had a mind of its own.Before I could wipe them myself, Noah reached out and used his thumb to scrape them away. He cradled my cheeks, my face fitting perfectly into the cup of his palms. We were so close I could feel his breath warm against my face, his eyes boring deep into min
CHAPTER 49LILY’S POV~ “Can I ask you something?” I said with a cautiously gentle tone. “Anything,” he sat on the edge of the bed while holding the empty tray, all his attention focused on me. “Did you have any kids with your ex-wife and have you ever thought of remarrying?” ~A forced, dry smile crossed his face and he took a moment as if thinking of what to say. I knew I had put him in an uncomfortable spot with that question and I was starting to regret it. Fuck. What was I thinking? I shouldn’t be asking such personal questions, especially at a time like this. He might believe I was becoming interested in him or worse, what if his past relationship didn’t end so well and I might just be opening up old wounds?“You know what?” I said, turning to the other side of the bed and adjusting the duvet. “Forget I ever asked that. Thanks again for the meal. Goodnight…”“No…it’s alright,” His hand reached out to stop me from turning away. I looked at him, my eyes widening a bit in sur
CHAPTER 50LILY’S POVSomething intense flared through my entrancement and I didn’t know when I threw myself at him, hugging him tightly. He didn’t retract like I had thought. Instead, he hugged me back, both of us seeking solace in the comfort of each other.I didn’t know how long we stayed that way but it was for quite a long time. I buried myself in the depths of his neck, resisting the urge to break down in tears. His masculine scent, an intoxicating mix of cedar wood and spice filled my senses, distracting the tears from flowing and making me feel better. He had his hands wrapped around the small of my waist possessively like he didn’t want to let go.When I pulled away slightly and met his gaze, all I could picture were his lips, his gentle needy eyes, and the clear-cut lines of his face. We stayed still, observing each other intensely. More like photographing each other, our heavy breaths crashing and mingling.“I should get going now and leave you to rest,” he said with that
CHAPTER 51ROBERT’S POVI paced the length of my office like a crazed scientist while waiting for Frank, restlessness gnawing at me to the bones. It’s been a week since I asked him to help me find Lily. Still, he hadn’t reported any progress he’s made to me so far. We were supposed to meet over half an hour ago but he was nowhere to be found. Plus, his line was unreachable. I don’t know what could be keeping him. Time was dangerously passing away.Three days ago, the remaining clients that had Lily managing their campaigns and projects stopped working with us, having lost their patience. They had no other choice as the delay was hurting their business and drawing them back. The impact was so devastating it nearly drove me to commit suicide. I hadn’t fed well and had a good night's sleep since then. And now, to make matters worse, we’d sunk to the bottom of the top ad agency rankings in the country and were dangerously sinking even lower than that. I never imagined sending Lily away w
CHAPTER 52ROBERT’S POV~ “So…?” I asked in a gruff, impatient tone. “Did you find her? Where is she?” ~Frank heaved a sigh and his shoulders fell. “I’m sorry boss but I don’t have any lead on her yet.”“What?” I lashed at him with gritted teeth. “How can you tell me that after all the time I gave you and all the money I’m putting into this?”“Boss, I just need a little more time. This isn’t an easy task...” He tried to say but I brought a hand forward to cut him off with a stern expression on my face. “Don’t tell me that! You have proven to be incompetent. Not only did you waste nearly an hour of my time, but you returned empty-handed with not even a single piece of information or clue. It’s obvious you don’t want your job back…”“No, I do…” As if that struck a cord in him, he said quickly with a pleading expression on his face.“Well too bad!” I snapped. “Because you just lost it forever. I’m taking you off this case. Leave my office and refund my money before the end of today or
CHAPTER 53 ROBERT’S POV ~ I froze. “Mother… who is this?” My mother smiled proudly and breathed out like she’d accomplished something huge. “Meet Rosaline, your soon bride-to-be.” ~ “Isn’t she a lovely sight to behold?” She mused. “What?” My eyes bulged in disbelief as I stared at her she was still staring dreamily at Rosaline like she was the answer to all her prayers. “You arranged a bride for me…with …without my consent…?” I struggled to find my words because of the shock. “Yes,” she nodded enthusiastically, seeming unperturbed and proud of her actions. “I decided to come to your rescue and arrange the perfect bride for you since all the women you end up with turn out to be barren deserts, heartless murders and stupid whorish bigamists.” Anger dripped from her words, palpable in the atmosphere between us though she tried to conceal it and maintain a spurious expression of everything being fine obviously because of Rosaline’s presence. From what she said, it wa
CHAPTER 73 ROBERT’S POV~ As I tucked my phone back into my suit pocket and headed back inside, I saw that Frank had the lady all tied up and immobilized as if she were some dangerous criminal. As my gaze settled on her, I couldn’t help but ask, “Scarlett is dead. She committed suicide last night. Tell me, did you have a hand in her doing this?” ~Frank gasped from where he was standing beside the lady, his features distorting from intense shock on hearing that. “Scarlett is dead?” He stared at me with wide eyes and a slacked jaw, saying the words like one learning to talk. But I didn’t pay attention to him as all my attention was focused on the lady. I wanted to hear from her because, from the way I was seeing it, she just might be responsible for Scarlett taking her own life.She was shocked too, even more than Frank.“Don’t lie to me or else I’ll kill you here with my bare hands,” I threatened in an attempt to make her spill the truth.“No…!” She blurted out, grimacing in bewild
CHAPTER 72ROBERT’S POV~ “Just pass the phone to her,” I insisted, becoming impatient and angrier.“I can’t.”“Why?” My brows pinched in sharply.“Because she’s dead.” ~Noah’s words hit like a thunderbolt, leaving me confused and speechless. Blinking repeatedly, I brought the phone down from my ear and checked the screen to make sure I was speaking with the right person. And yes I was, Raphael Walsh – the same man Scarlett left for me, Jake’s biological father.“This is some serious talk, Raphael,” I said as I brought the phone back to my ear. “Are you being serious right now or is this some trick…?Did Scarlett tell you to do this so she can escape me and what’s coming for her? I know she’s there with you. Pass the fucking phone to her or else I swear I’ll come over there and make you regret it.” Anger lit up my tone as I vented my frustration on him.“I’m serious, Robert,” he said, his voice heavy and trembling, as if he was on the verge of tears. “I’m telling you the truth. Scarl
CHAPTER 71ROBERT’S POV~ I resisted Frank, swinging my elbow back as it connected with the side of his face. I tightened my grip on the poor thing’s neck and she gasped desperately for air that was fast eluding her system, her skin turning scarlet red like a swollen tomato. I wanted to squeeze the living breath out of her and watch her die that slow painful I wanted. ~But in the wake of the moment, I remembered Frank’s words and realized I was letting anger cloud my judgment. I wasn’t a bloody murderer like her and will never be.With a disgustingly defiant expression on my face, I released my grip on her neck and looked away from her pale face with a conflicted heart. She cradled her neck and coughed violently to regain her lost breath, looking at me like I was a monster straight out of the pit of hell. But I was only a monster she made. Before she killed my grandpa, I don’t think she bothered to conduct a background check on him to know the kind of family he came from. If she di
CHAPTER 70 ROBERT’S POV ~ I wasn’t thinking clearly. An unquenchable rage filled every part of me, driving my thoughts and control. In a swift move, I grabbed the knife from the floor and aimed for her left breast where her heart lay, right where she had stabbed my grandpa twenty times. ~ Frank came from behind to restrain me just in time before the tip of the blade could connect with the woman’s chest. Skillfully, like one trained to do so, he held my right arm where I held the blade and twisted my fingers a little in a way that made the blade fall off, and kicked it under the bed. The woman’s eyes bulged, as though they were about to fall out from their sockets, her face etched with the terrific expression of someone watching their life flash before them. Paralyzed by fear, she gasped and panted like one having a panic attack. Instinctively, she began cowering back until she reached the edge of the bed without knowing and tumbled off, hitting the floor with a hard cras
CHAPTER 69ROBERT’S POV“Grab a knife and cut the remaining ropes restraining that woman,” I ordered Frank with a firm tone. “We can’t be holding her here against her will when she has a life out there to live.” I turned and started making my way down the hallway to leave. I wanted to leave immediately for the hospital Lily’s mum was admitted. There wasn’t enough time as I still had other important business matters to attend to before the end of the day. But Frank said something that stopped me.“Boss, I can’t let her go,” he said a bit hesitatingly, his voice carrying a note of apprehension as if something bad was going to happen if he let her go.My brows pinched in bafflement as I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at him. “Why?”“If we do, she won’t think twice about going to the police to report us,” he explained.My brows furrowed even more as I looked away in deep thought. Frank was right. I didn’t even think of that. What do I do about this now? I had already too much o
CHAPTER 68 ROBERT’S POV ~ I shot Frank a furious glare and slashed out a sharp breath, not saying anything. I returned my attention to Lily and took off the small sack bag covering her face only for my jaw to drop on seeing her. ~ “Please I’m sorry…” she pleaded desperately with eyes that were red and swollen from too much crying and dishevelled hair that plastered on her face due to sweat. “Spare my life… Don’t kill me…I didn’t mean to do it…” My brows furrowed deeply in confusion as I stared at her, scrutinizing every inch of her features. After giving her a thorough look, I concluded that the woman shivering and whimpering before me wasn’t Lily but someone else. Though she shared some sort of resemblance with Lily especially in terms of facial structure as they both had a delicate heart-shaped face that could easily fit into the cup of my hands, she was anything unlike Lily. The Lily I knew, my Lily had thick ebony black hair that always tumbled carelessly along her ba
CHAPTER 67ROBERT’S POVThe noisy buzzing of my phone disrupted my sleep as I groaned loudly in frustration upon waking up. I usually switch off my phone before going to bed to avoid disturbances such as this. But last night I was so tired and forgot to do that. Now my sleep was ruined, and it wasn’t even 7 a.m. yet.Who could be calling at such early hours of the morning? I just hoped it wasn’t Carrey. At this point, I don’t think I can take any more devastating news of the company losing another client or learning we’d gone lower in the ad agency rankings.Blindly, I reached across the bed for my phone which was on top of the nightstand, knocking down a few things as I did. Not bothering to check the caller ID, I answered the call and with a frustrated, sleep-deprived tone asked, “What is it?...”“Boss I finally found her!” Frank’s overexcited voice boomed through the phone speaker.“What?...” My eyes widened, the drowsiness in them suddenly vanishing like it was never there. As i
CHAPTER 66 LILY’S POV As I stared at that figurine, the gory image of me grabbing it and driving into the side of Noah’s neck over and over again before burying it there as blood flushed out filled my head, darkening my thoughts. I wanted to hurt him back. To retaliate most brutally. I wanted him to feel the tremendous amount of pain his betrayal had caused me. But in the wake of the moment, I realized I couldn’t do it. No matter how much I wanted to, how badly I wanted to force myself to grab the figurine and get this over with, I just couldn’t. I was helpless against him. The memory of all he had done for me, the good times we shared with my kids lit up in my mind, engulfing that dark thought. All I could manage to do was push him away which seemed easy because he wasn’t using much effort to hold me back. I landed a slap on his right cheek before yielding to the compulsive sobs that shook me like a violent earthquake, the tears in my eyes falling in torrents down my cheeks
CHAPTER 65 LILY’S POV ~ I looked back at him with my brows furrowing deeply in suspicion but worse, with tears stinging at the back of my eyes. “Noah… How did you manage to find me and know I was in danger?” ~ Noah scratched the back of his head and his diamond-shaped face quivered with a nervous smile as if he was finding it difficult to give me an answer. This only added to my fear and suspicion, a confusing mix of anger and heartbreak but mostly heartbreak making my heart quake in my chest. If Noah turns out to be behind these attacks, I don’t think I could bear the pain of the betrayal. Moving to this part of the country, he’s the one person I’ve come to trust and rely on in almost every situation. Without him, I don’t know where I’d be right now. Because of him, I was able get a quick high paying job that has enabled me take care of my kids. Because of him, the scars I sustained from my past relationship were healing. Because of him, I was gradually learning to love ag