Ray stirred as the first light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, golden hue over the room. He blinked, slowly waking from a deep, dreamless sleep. His body was warm and relaxed, the usual tension in his muscles absent. As his senses sharpened, he became acutely aware of the soft, steady breathing next to him and the warmth of another body pressed against his side. Lilly. A wave of emotions washed over him as he turned his head slightly to see her still asleep, her face serene and peaceful in the early morning light. The memories of the previous night flooded back, and a deep sense of contentment settled over him. There was something about waking up next to her that made everything feel right. The chaos of the world outside, the responsibilities waiting for him—they all seemed distant and insignificant in this moment. Ray couldn’t help but reach out, brushing a strand of hair away from her face. His fingers lingered on her cheek, marveling at the softness of h
Helena’s hands trembled as she gripped her phone, her eyes scanning the latest message from her best friend. The evidence was undeniable—a screenshot of a blog post, now deleted, showed the mysterious woman in the same dress Liliana had worn to the ball. But what chilled Helena to the bone was the uncanny resemblance between the woman’s facial features and that bitch. “This can’t be happening,” Helena muttered under her breath, her fingers tightening around the phone until her knuckles turned white. The anger that had been simmering inside her since last night erupted, her chest heaving with each shallow breath. How had she missed this? How could that emotionless corpse be with her Ray, let alone in a relationship with her Ray? She was so caught up with her hubby that she didn’t even notice that bitch. Why, why, why! Helena’s thoughts spiraled into a dark, twisted place. She couldn’t fathom how someone like that bitch —a woman who was supposedly an emotional vagabond and had the em
Helena barely had time to gather herself after her disastrous video when she heard the heavy knock on her door. Her heart pounded in her chest, dread creeping up her spine. She knew that knock all too well—it was her father. And he was furious.The door swung open, and James stormed into the room, his face twisted in anger. Matilda followed closely behind, her expression a mix of concern and forced calm. “Helena!” James’s voice boomed, making her flinch. “What in the world were you thinking?”Helena swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure. “Dad, I was just trying to—”“Trying to what?” he interrupted, his eyes narrowing. “Destroy our family’s reputation? You’ve embarrassed us beyond repair! Using the charity ball as an excuse to drug Ray Manchester, of all people? How could you be so reckless? Your naked picture with my business partner is all over the internet, how I’m I to face the world after this?Helena’s heart raced as she stumbled over her words. “I—I didn’t think it
Matilda could hardly believe what she just heard—Lilliana was the mystery girl spotted with Ray Manchester. How was that even possible? “You need to stop joking about this, Helena. There’s no way in hell that piece of wood is with him,” Matilda scoffed. Helena had expected exactly this sort of reaction from her mother because she felt the same way when Ellen first sent her the news. “My thoughts exactly, Mom, because this is unbelievable. Why is that bitch with my hubby? Do you remember the rumors about her at the party?” “Yes, baby. The news was online for five minutes before it was taken down, which I found unbelievable since the Anderson PR team isn’t usually that efficient. They couldn’t even take your news down until the next day.” “Mom, you’re off track—that’s not what I’m talking about,” Helena whined. “Sorry, baby,” Matilda muttered, though she couldn’t help but think about how suspiciously fast the news had been removed. “She was wearing the same outfit as the whore
James frowned. “And how do you propose we do that? Lilliana’s already in the spot link with Helena video “Matilda’s lips curved into a small, calculating smile. “Better. If we can subtly push that connection further, stir up more rumors, it could work in our favor. Let the public focus on Lilliana been alive. If they’re too busy gossiping about her, they’ll forget about Helena.”James considered her suggestion, his anger slowly giving way to reluctant agreement. It was a gamble, but at this point, he didn’t have many options. “And how do we ensure the rumors spread? We can’t be seen as the ones fanning the flames.”Matilda’s mind raced as she considered her options.** “We need Lilliana to make a public appearance,” she said suddenly.James frowned, his anger momentarily subsiding as he tried to understand her angle. “What good would that do?”Matilda’s eyes gleamed with a cunning light. “Think about it. If we can position Lilliana as the center of attention, especially in a positive
Ray’s playful demeanor flickered with a hint of concern as Lilly’s words sank in. He pulled back slightly, his brows knitting together as he searched her eyes for any sign of discomfort. “Nauseous?” he echoed, trying to keep his tone light despite the unease creeping into his chest. “How long has this been going on?” Lilly blinked, her gaze unwavering. “A few weeks,” she replied matter-of-factly. “It’s not constant, just… sporadic. It’s strange.” Ray’s mind raced, the mischievous glint in his eyes replaced with genuine worry. He tried to mask it with a casual grin, but his thoughts were already spinning. *Could it be something serious?* He quickly dismissed the thought, unwilling to jump to conclusions. “And you haven’t mentioned this to anyone? A doctor, maybe?” “No,” Lilly responded simply. “It’s not a priority. Besides, I thought you might have some insight. After all, you claim to know everything about me.” Ray forced a smile, though his heart wasn’t fully in it. “I do,” he
Chapter 69Ray's mind was racing as he made his way back to Lilly. He couldn’t help but replay his conversation with his mother, her words swirling in his thoughts. The possibility of Lilly being pregnant was exhilarating, but he needed to be sure before jumping to conclusions. *What if she's really carrying my child?* The thought filled him with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.When he reached the bedroom door, he paused, taking a deep breath to steady himself. He knew he couldn’t let Lilly see how rattled he was. Whatever happened next, he needed to approach it calmly and with care.Pushing the door open, Ray found Lilly still resting on the bed, looking as serene as ever. Her gaze flickered to him, and he could sense the quiet strength she carried even when she was vulnerable."Hey," he greeted her softly, moving to sit beside her. "Feeling any better?""A bit," she replied, her eyes studying him closely. “I heard talking to someone, who was it?Ray nodded, trying to keep his
Chapter 70“This marriage talk again…” Lilly thought, trying to keep her expression neutral as she glanced at the faint line on the pregnancy test. The possibility of being pregnant had already thrown her mind into a whirlwind, and now Ray was pushing for marriage on top of that. She took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts before speaking. Why did most of their conversations end with talk of marriage? She could see that Ray might genuinely feel love for her, but she was still trying her best to come to terms with that.“Ray,” she began, her voice steady, “pregnancy and marriage are two different things. Just because I might be pregnant doesn’t mean we need to rush into getting married.”Ray’s smile faltered slightly, but he held her gaze, his eyes full of sincerity. “I understand that, Lilly. But I’m not suggesting marriage just because of the baby. I’m suggesting it because I love you. Isn’t that reason enough?”Lilly studied him for a moment, her logical mind trying to process ev
Before either man could respond, there was a knock at the door. A moment later, the butler stepped in with a polite bow.“Sir, Miss Ana has arrived. She requests an audience with you.”Grandpa Manchester smirked, already anticipating the tension this would stir. “Let her in.”Mitchell turned to him sharply, eyes blazing. “Father, can you stop using Ana to bother your grandson already? He has enough on his plate without you constantly dangling her in front of him like some sort of temptation.”Grandpa Manchester merely raised an eyebrow, clearly unfazed by her outburst.Mitchell pressed on. “Making him look like a cheat to his wife isn’t going to help anyone. The world already believes he’s divorcing Liliana for Ana. Do you have any idea what that could do to her, especially now?”Andrew crossed his arms, nodding in agreement. “She’s right, Father. If you keep pushing Ana into this, you’re only adding fuel to the fire. Liliana is already dealing with the revelation of her true identity
Mitchell stared at her father in disbelief. “Wait… you know Evelyn Altee?”Grandpa Manchester let out a low chuckle, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest of his chair. “Know her? Oh, Mitchell, everyone in my circle knows Evelyn Altee—though most wish they didn’t.”Andrew, who had been silently processing everything, finally spoke up. “What do you mean by that?”Grandpa Manchester leaned forward, his expression darkening. “Evelyn Altee isn’t just some ordinary woman. She was once one of the most cunning and unpredictable players in high society. Some saw her as a tragic figure, others as a ruthless manipulator. But one thing was certain—wherever she went, chaos followed. And I can one forget the woman who made one of the Russo men break away from his family all in the name of love “Mitchell scoffed, crossing her arms. “Well, that explains a lot. Liliana has been through hell because of that woman. She’s been led to believe her mother was dead for years, only to find ou
Helena turned to her mother, stunned. Even she’s taking his side?Matilda’s expression was unreadable as she nodded. “Stay off the media. Don’t make things worse.”A hot, bitter rage bubbled inside Helena’s chest.Are they not satisfied with what they’ve done to me these past few weeks?She clenched her fists. “Do you guys even care about me?” Her voice cracked with raw emotion. “Neither of you picked up my calls. You just handed me over to the Russo family, locked me away like I was some prisoner!”James’ eyes darkened, his patience wearing dangerously thin.Matilda’s lips curled in irritation. “Helena—”“And now you want to do it again?!” Helena shrieked, her face twisted in frustration. “You want to control me like some puppet? Just say you hate me and be done with it!”Tears burned in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.She knew it.Ellen had been right.They didn’t care.They never had.“You’re both horrible!” she spat, her voice cracking as she cursed them both under her
James’ patience was hanging by a thread.“Woman, have you lost your senses?!” His voice echoed through the room, laced with sharp disbelief. “Or are you seeing things that aren’t there? Who the hell is this Master you keep calling me?”James looked at her like some lunatic, what up with her?Matilda’s breath hitched. The moment the words left his mouth, it felt like ice water had been thrown on her.James took a step forward, staring at her as if she were a stranger. “I don’t remember promising you any of those things. What are you even talking about?” His fingers curled into a fist at his side. “Matilda, I swear, if you’ve gone crazy, now is not the time for it.” What does she has do be a bitch when not needed.For a moment, Matilda only stared at him, disoriented. The pounding in her head grew worse. The name had slipped out so easily, so naturally—had she really lost herself that much?James exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. “What happened to my wife? The woman who loved me? Wh
“They would have what?” Ellen cut in smoothly, arching a brow. “Fought for you? Demanded your freedom?” She tilted her head. “Then why haven’t they?”Helena’s throat felt dry.Ellen sighed again, shaking her head. “Sweetheart, you need to understand… They’re done. They don’t know what to do with you anymore. You’re a problem they can’t solve, a burden they’d rather not carry.”Helena’s nails dug into her palms.No.That’s not true.But hadn’t she already asked herself the same questions? Hadn’t she felt that quiet, suffocating doubt creeping in every time another day passed without a visit?Ellen watched her, eyes glinting with satisfaction as the walls of Helena’s resolve began to crack.“You know I’m telling the truth, don’t you?” she murmured, reaching out to trail a finger along Helena’s jaw. “They left you to me, Helena. Because I’m the only one who truly knows what’s best for you.”Helena clenched her teeth, shaking her head. “That’s not—”Ellen gripped her chin firmly, forcing
Helena stretched her arms above her head, a lazy smile tugging at her lips. The realization that she was finally going home filled her with relief, but there was something else—something unsettling. A weight in her chest that she couldn’t quite place. Over the past week, she had rediscovered herself in ways she never thought possible. Ellen had opened doors she never dared to approach before, and now… could she really just walk away?The thought of returning to her old life—where she was ignored, treated like a fragile inconvenience—made her stomach churn. Here, in this confined space, she had felt something new. Something exhilarating. Something dangerous. And if to be sincere she has never noticed that her parent treated her in such manner, this is all thanks to Ellen opening her eye and making her see the reality of things.I shouldn’t feel this way, she told herself. Ellen kept me locked up. She took my choices away.And yet… hadn’t she also given her something no one else ever h
The search was relentless.Every street. Every alley. Every backroad and hidden passageway in the city.Nothing.It was as if Lilly had disappeared into thin air.Ray stood at the edge of an empty intersection, his hands clenched into fists. His chest rose and fell in heavy, ragged breaths.Five hours.Five agonizing, tormenting hours.No leads. No clues. No sign of her.Ray pressed his fingers against his temple, trying to stop the pounding headache threatening to split his skull.His mind raced with worst-case scenarios.What if she was hurt?What if she crashed?What if someone else found her before they did?His heart clenched painfully. No. No, she’s strong. She’s smart. She wouldn’t let anything happen to herself or the baby.But then again…Lilly was in control.And Lilly was reckless.Goddamn it, Lilly. Where the hell are you?Just as Ray was on the verge of losing his mind, his phone rang.Jerry.Ray snatched it up so fast, he nearly dropped it.“Tell me you found something,”
Ray’s heart dropped the moment he saw her.Lilly stood beside the car, her back to him, her hands clenched at her sides. The trunk was still open. And inside—An unknown stranger that he couldn’t recognize but he wasn’t seeing his face properly.Ray felt his breath hitch.What the hell am I looking at?“LILLY!”His voice cut through the eerie silence of the empty road, but the second Lilly—or rather, Lia—heard him, her body stiffened.Then—she bolted.Straight for the driver’s seat.Ray’s eyes widened in pure disbelief.“LILLY, STOP!”He ran.His feet pounded against the pavement, the rush of adrenaline surging through him like wildfire. Too fast. Too reckless.He barely made it to the car before the door slammed shut.She was leaving.Ray banged on the window, his voice desperate. “Lilly, don’t do this! Open the door!”But she didn’t.Her hands trembled on the wheel. Her breathing was uneven.And then—she floored it.The tires screeched as the car lurched forward.Ray barely jumped ba
David had felt fear before. He had studied it, manipulated it, made it his weapon. He had seen it in countless eyes—victims, test subjects, even his own colleagues when they realized what he was truly capable of.But this?This was different.A moment ago, she had been trembling. The fear had been thick, suffocating. It had been delicious.But now—Now, the woman standing before him was nothing like the fragile thing he had expected.Her eyes burned with something primal. Something wrong.The bloodlust radiated off her in waves, curling around her like a living entity. Her lips were curled, not in fear, not in pain, but in something far, far worse.Rage.David had always considered himself the puppeteer. He pulled the strings. He dictated emotions, controlled his creations.But the thing before him?She was not under his control.And she knew it.Lia’s lips parted, her voice a whisper—low, sultry, dripping with a wicked amusement that sent a shiver down his spine.“Come on.”David’s b