Jerry pressed a hand dramatically to his chest, as if wounded. “Wow. No need to make it sound so criminal. I was being comforting! And, by the way, you didn’t exactly push me away.”Chloe crossed her arms, her glare as sharp as ever. “That’s because I was too shocked to move. For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. You? Comforting someone? That’s about as likely as you taking a vow of silence.”“Now, that’s just mean,” Jerry said, his grin widening. “You know, darling, for someone who pretends to be all tough and unshakable, you’re awfully quick with the sass. Almost like you’re trying to impress me.”Chloe pinched the bridge of her nose, exhaling slowly as if summoning patience from some deep reserve. “No, Mr Manchester. I’m trying to survive this punishment without losing my sanity, and you’re not helping.”He shrugged, clearly enjoying every second of her exasperation. “Hey, if my presence is driving you crazy, that’s not my fault. Maybe it’s a sign.”“A sign of what?” Chloe a
Chloe went out and waited by the car for Jerry, who had just left her for a few minutes while stepping out to give some orders.Chloe was thinking about how to go about this new assignment, but she knew she needed her boss. However, Liliana’s new behavior reminded her of the Liliana that employed her—cold, calculative, and most importantly, emotionally unstable. But that was what made her who she was back then. A few months after working for her, the ice queen in her surfaced, and the old her seemed like a dream of hers.After her almost-death fiasco, Liliana changed to a more rational and emotionally empathetic person. All these changes made Chloe believe her boss might have a split personality, but she decided to go with the flow.The sound of Jerry’s footsteps pulled her from her thoughts. He strolled out of the building, a self-satisfied smirk plastered across his face. “Deep in thought, huh?” he teased, his tone light and playful. “Thinking about me, darling?”Chloe rolled her ey
“Stop staring at your phone. It won’t fix anything,” Lilly muttered, her tone sharper than she intended.Ray glanced at her briefly but said nothing, his eyes returning to the glowing screen in his hand.Lilly folded her arms and leaned against the counter. It had been two days since she resurfaced—two days since Lia disappeared somewhere deep in her mind, leaving behind more questions than answers. She hoped Lia was still in there, somewhere, because she had too much to ask, too much she needed to understand.But that wasn’t the immediate problem. Right now, the internet was ablaze with their lives. A whirlwind of headlines and vitriol had erupted like wildfire.“Trouble in paradise? The marriage was all a pretense!”“Not true love after all—just a business deal?”“Liliana and Ray: A marriage for profit, not passion.”Her phone had been pinging non-stop, her social media feeds flooded with venom.“I knew it was too good to be true!” one comment read.“What a joke! All these rich peop
“Actually, boss, when I was on my way here to see you, I received—” Chloe began, but her words faltered when Lilly abruptly waved her hand, signaling her to stop.The motion was quick, almost imperious, but it was the look in Lilly’s eyes that stunned Chloe into silence. For a fleeting moment, it felt as though her boss wasn’t just looking at her—she was looking through her, like she could see into her very soul.“If you’re here about the headlines,” Lilly said sharply, her tone colder than Chloe had expected, “forget it. I have it under control.”Chloe hesitated, glancing at Jerry before responding cautiously. “Boss, if this isn’t handled soon, it could affect—”“I said leave it!” Lilly’s voice cracked like a whip, cutting Chloe off mid-sentence.The sudden outburst startled everyone in the room. Jerry, who had been lounging against a nearby wall, straightened abruptly, his easygoing smirk vanishing. He stared at his sister-in-law in stunned silence. Lilly Manchester—the Ice Queen—ne
Chloe hesitated, studying Lilly’s face for any sign of deception, but her boss’s expression remained carefully neutral. Lilly’s mind raced. It’s impossible. The woman who had raised her, who had once been the epitome of love and devotion, couldn’t be behind this. Her mother had loved her children too much to harm them—at least, that was the narrative Lilly had clung to all these years. But doubt crept in, unwelcome and insidious. Her mother had abandoned Liliana. She had walked away, leaving her to fend for herself in a world that had only sharpened its claws after her departure. Could that same woman—the one who had once held her close and whispered promises of love—really be capable of something so monstrous? Well she hid the fact the she had a twin sister who are even older than each other, how do you explain that shit. Lilly’s chest tightened, but she forced herself to stay composed. “If there’s even the faintest connection to her,” she said finally, her voice steady but devo
“Young master! Young master!” The maid’s panicked voice echoed as she banged on the study door.Ray’s heart clenched. Something was wrong. Something was wrong with Lilly. Without hesitation, he bolted out of the study, leaving Jerry standing in stunned silence.“Ray!” Jerry called, but his brother didn’t stop, his footsteps echoing down the hallway as he took the stairs two at a time. Jerry cursed under his breath and followed, his mind racing. For Ray to react like this, it had to be serious—life-threatening even.By the time Jerry reached the bottom of the stairs, Ray had already disappeared toward the visitor’s bathroom after hair Lilly voice or rather her vomiting sound from the bathroom.Ray pushed the bathroom door open to find Lilly on her knees, hunched over the toilet, her body trembling as she retched. The sound of her dry heaving tore through him like a knife. He rushed to her side, his worry etched across his face.“Wifey,” he said softly, kneeling beside her and placing a
Jerry burst into laughter again, shaking his head. “Unreal. You’ve officially become the most whipped man on the planet.”Damon groaned, closing his medical bag. “Look, I’m going back to my day off. Don’t call me again unless it’s real—and no, Ray, throwing up is not real.”Ray ignored him, sitting back beside Lilly and holding her hand. “Thank you for coming, Damon.”Damon sighed as he walked toward the door. “You’re impossible, man. But whatever. Call me if you need anything real, okay?”Ray nodded solemnly. “I will.”Jerry waited until Damon was gone before smirking again. “You really think the baby heard all that?”Ray didn’t respond. Instead, he leaned down to press a soft kiss to Lilly’s forehead. The quiet moment spoke volumes, his actions more eloquent than any words could be.Lilly, pale and still recovering, had been silently observing the entire exchange, her expression unreadable. She remained quiet, as if the chaos of the past few moments had nothing to do with her.Jerry
Ray’s grip on the phone tightened. “Why, Grandpa? Why are you suddenly interested in me going to a ball with Ana?”There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before his grandfather said, “If you go tonight, keep Ana company, and ensure she enjoys herself, I’ll back off.”Ray sat up straighter, careful not to disturb Lilly, who stirred slightly but didn’t wake. “Back off from what?” he asked, his voice edged with suspicion.“From trying to sabotage your little… arrangement with your wife,” his grandfather said, the faintest hint of disdain coloring his tone. “You know I’ve never approved of her.”Ray’s eyes narrowed, his jaw clenching. “So you admit it. The stolen product, the whispers in the industry—that was you?”His grandfather chuckled, the sound low and almost amused. “Of course, it was me. Did you think I wouldn’t act when I saw you throwing away everything I built for a woman? But…” He sighed dramatically. “I’m tired of the back and forth, Raymond. Do this for me, and
Liliana’s voice wavered, but her anger burned steady. “What about the girl who grew up feeling unwanted?” she demanded, her hands trembling at her sides. “Do you have any idea what it’s like to be your daughter? To live a life where love was a distant dream?” Her breath hitched, her throat tightening. “Liliana’s life was miserable. Mine was too, growing up with you.”Evelyn flinched, her lips parting in a silent protest, but Liliana didn’t give her the chance to speak.“You said you were trying to protect me,” she continued, her voice thick with emotion, “but your protection felt more like a cage, Mother. Every single day, I felt trapped, suffocated by the life you built around me. I was always seeking, always pleading for freedom, even when I knew it was impossible.”Evelyn’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears, her expression contorted with guilt and confusion. “I—I only wanted to keep you safe…” she whispered.Liliana let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. “Safe?” she spat. “You ca
Liliana’s breath caught, and she took an involuntary step back. “So you didn’t see her—my twin—after that? You didn’t even try to stop him?”Evelyn shook her head frantically, tears spilling down her face. Her shoulders trembled as she clutched her arms, her entire body wracked with guilt. Perhaps she was too caught up in her emotions to notice that Lilly was referring to someone else, her words laced with an underlying recognition that she herself hadn’t fully grasped yet.“I tried, Liliana,” Evelyn choked out. “I begged him to tell me where she was. But he wouldn’t answer. He just kept saying it was necessary, that I wouldn’t understand. And then he disappeared.” She sucked in a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. “He left me alone. With no way to find him. No way to find her.”The air in the room felt suffocating. Lilly’s nails dug into her palms, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. She was shaking, fury and betrayal crashing over her in violent waves.“Yo
Lily felt like her Liliana entire existence was a sham. She had been living a lie, dead believing in a lie and the truth was only now beginning to unravel. The man who had tormented her, whom she thought was her father, was actually not her biological parent. It was a shocking revelation, and she couldn't wrap her head around it. How could this be? How could her whole life be a fabrication?As she grappled with these questions, Lily's emotions were in turmoil. She felt like she was vibrating with anger and frustration, and she couldn't seem to calm down. Her existence, her identity, everything she thought she knew about herself was a lie.And to make matters more complicated, she had just discovered that she had a twin sister, who was somehow seven years older than her. It didn't make sense - how could two people be twins, yet be born at different times? It was a mind-bending concept, and Lily was desperate for answers.She hoped that the explanation she was about to receive would be
Evelyn’s voice broke as she began, her trembling hands gripping the edges of the chair she sat on. She couldn’t meet Liliana’s eyes. Her gaze seemed fixed somewhere in the distance, as if reliving the memories she was about to unveil.“When I found out I was pregnant, I was overjoyed,” she began, her tone soft and uneven, every word weighted with emotion. “It felt like my whole world had fallen into place. I was carrying a piece of the love I shared with your father—your father, Liliana. He was my anchor, my safe haven.”Her lips quivered as a small, bittersweet smile appeared, only to disappear almost immediately. “I still remember the tears on his face when I told him. He held me so tightly, like he was trying to hold on to the moment forever. We had so many dreams, plans to build a home, a family. We talked about the little things—what color the nursery would be, what names we’d pick. Life felt… perfect.”Her voice cracked, and she brought a trembling hand to her face, swiping away
Evelyn walked slower when she saw her daughter’s figure from a distance, her voice carrying over, deeper with hurt. “You said you wanted to talk, right?” Liliana’s voice wavered, the tremble betraying the anger she tried to keep steady. She turned slightly, her hands clenched at her sides. “What do you want to talk about? Or are you here just to make sure I’m unhappy?” She laughed bitterly, her gaze falling to the ground for a moment before meeting Evelyn’s. “You know, Mother, if you really care as much as you claim, if you’re really here to make amends like you say, you wouldn’t have done what you did.” Evelyn stayed silent, her chest tightening as she watched Liliana brush at her cheeks roughly, trying to hold herself together. “Even if Ray had done something wrong,” Liliana continued, her voice sharp but trembling, “as a mother, you could have at least tried to hide it. Tried to make it seem like nothing was wrong. Do you know what I did, Mother?” She laughed again, this time s
Ray’s protective instincts flared, his jaw tightening as he turned to Evelyn. “You what?” he demanded, his voice low and dangerous. Evelyn raised a hand, her expression placating. “Relax, Ray. That’s all in the past now. I came here to make amends, not to dredge up old wounds.” Liliana scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. “Amends? Is that what you’re calling this little stunt?” Evelyn smiled serenely, ignoring her daughter’s hostility. “Yes, darling. I’m here to make things right. You’ll see.” She turned her gaze back to Ray. “And as for you, young man, you seem like a good match for my daughter. I’m pleased she found someone who can handle her fire. But why are you cheating on her though.” Ray didn’t respond, his mind racing with questions and suspicions. He could feel Liliana trembling beside him, her emotions barely contained. He placed a reassuring hand on her back, silently promising her that he wouldn’t let this woman cause her any more pain. And that he didn’t cheat
Finally, she swung the door open. There she was. Evelyn Altee stood on the doorstep, her radiant smile as poised as ever, her eyes sparkling with an unsettling calm. She looked utterly at ease, as though she had every right to be there, as though she hadn’t faked her own death or threatened Lilly just weeks ago. “Hello, darling,” Evelyn said sweetly, her voice as smooth as silk. Lilly stared at her, unable to form words. Her mother looked almost exactly as she remembered from the few weeks back, only that this time she looked better and emotional state seems balanced and the guilt and fear from weeks ago was gone. Evelyn’s smile widened, and she tilted her head slightly. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?” Lilly’s lips parted, but no sound came out. A wave of emotions crashed over her—shock, anger, confusion, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal. “Why…?” she finally managed to choke out, her voice trembling with disbelief. “Why are you here? After everything? You—” She broke o
As they walked toward the dining room, Mitchell slowed her pace just enough to fall in step beside Ray, her expression calm but her eyes sharp. When she was sure Liliana wasn’t looking, she tilted her head slightly toward him and mouthed, “Have you told her? Or has she seen the news?”The weight of her question hit Ray like a ton of bricks. His smile faltered briefly before he quickly composed himself, shaking his head subtly in response. No.Mitchell’s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes narrowing for a moment before she returned her attention to Liliana, who was inspecting a vase of fresh flowers near the dining room entrance.Ray inhaled deeply, forcing a smile back onto his face as he guided Liliana to her chair at the head of the table. “Here you go, baby girl. Sit tight, and I’ll get you settled.”But the moment he stepped back, Liliana’s gaze pinned him. Her eyes were sharp now, missing nothing. “What are you two hiding from me?” she asked, her voice cool and measured, devo
Ray chuckled, his hand gently resting on the curve. “I think it has, love. Our little one’s making their presence known.”Liliana’s cheeks flushed as she stepped out of his hold and dashed toward the walk-in closet, her curiosity getting the better of her. She stood in front of the full-length mirror, turning this way and that, examining her figure with wide eyes.“I can’t believe it,” she murmured, a soft smile spreading across her face as she touched her belly.Ray leaned against the doorway, his heart swelling at the sight of her so captivated by the change. “You look beautiful,” he said warmly, his voice full of love.Liliana glanced back at him, her eyes shining. “I’m fascinated. I mean, I knew it would happen, but seeing it… feeling it…” She trailed off, her hand lingering over the gentle curve.Ray stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and resting his chin on her shoulder. “It’s incredible, isn’t it? And it’s only going to get better from here.”She turned her