**Chapter 73**Lilly hung up the phone, her expression as blank as ever. Across the room, Ray Manchester observed her carefully, searching for any sign of what she might be thinking. He knew her well enough to understand that reading her emotions was almost impossible—her face remained impassive, her eyes cold and calculating. Still, he couldn’t help but try.“Lilly?” Ray ventured cautiously, hoping to gauge her mood. “Who was that?”“Well, it was my amazing father,” she answered sarcastically.Ray looked into her eyes, trying to make out her train of thought. It was always hard to pinpoint what each of her expressions meant, which made understanding her quite difficult. “What does he want?” he eventually asked.“Control,” she replied flatly, setting her phone down on the table with a soft click. “He always wants control.”Ray nodded, sensing there was more she hadn’t said. She seemed to be up to something, and he had overheard her earlier speaking to her assistant about a press confe
**Chapter 74**Helena’s eyes flicked over the screen of her phone, and her face twisted into a mask of rage as she read the latest news. Her manicured nails gripped the device tightly, her knuckles white with anger. The headlines screamed about Ray Manchester’s unexpected marriage to Liliana Anderson, and it was more than she could tolerate.“What the hell is this?” Helena screeched, her voice echoing through the opulent living room. She flung her phone onto the couch, sending it skittering across the cushions. “Liliana Anderson—married to Ray Manchester? How dare she!”Her voice rose in pitch as she tried to comprehend the reality before her. “How is that even possible? How in the world would he marry that… that piece of shit?”Helena’s rage boiled over, and suddenly, she snapped. Her hand shot out, grabbing the nearest object—a crystal vase sitting delicately on the coffee table. With a guttural scream, she hurled it across the room. The vase shattered against the wall, shards of gl
**Chapter 75**Helena’s fury was far from quelled as she paced through the wreckage of her living room. Her rage had simmered into a cold, dangerous intensity. As she glanced around at the shattered remnants of her possessions, a dark idea formed. She grabbed her phone from the floor where it had landed during her tantrum and dialed Ellen’s number, her fingers trembling with residual anger. Only Ellen could help her now—her mother wasn’t reliable.The call connected quickly, and Ellen’s calm, sweet voice greeted her. “Baby, what’s wrong?”“Ellen,” Helena snapped, her voice tight with frustration. “I need your help. Liliana is married to Ray, and I can’t stand it. I want her gone. I need you to take care of her.”Ellen’s voice, though steady, held a hint of something deeper. “I see. You want me to… take care of her?”“Yes!” Helena’s voice was sharp with desperation. “I want her out of my life. She’s made a fool of me, and I want her to pay.”There was a pause on the other end of the li
**Chapter 76**Words couldn't capture the whirlwind of emotions Ray was experiencing. The reality of Lilly being his, completely and irrevocably, was nothing short of fascinating."So, Mrs. Manchester," Ray murmured, his voice thick with affection, "what do we do now?"Lilly looked up into his eyes, her gaze meeting the warmth and love that radiated from him. It was a feeling so foreign to her, yet undeniable. She didn’t need anyone to tell her that the man standing before her was deeply in love. Maybe she had been wrong earlier to question his feelings for her—reading those relationship books was a good idea. Now she knows how a man in love behaves."Mr. Manchester, you tell me what you want," she replied softly.Ray’s grin widened. He was enjoying this playful exchange more than he anticipated. "Can I want anything?" he asked, his voice teasing as he moved closer, his arms itching to wrap around her, to merge their bodies and souls into one."Well, hubby," Lilly began, attempting a
A few hours later, Lilly’s estate was buzzing with an energy that hadn’t been felt in quite some time. Ray had called his closest friends, and true to their word, they arrived in no time, eager to meet the woman who had finally captured their friend’s heart. Lilly stood by the window, watching as cars pulled up the driveway. She felt a flutter of calmness in her chest. This was new—being surrounded by people who were close to Ray, who cared for him. It was daunting, yet she knew this was a necessary step. She had spent far too long isolating herself, keeping everyone at arm's length. It was time to let them in, even if it was just a little. This gathering was a new experience in her life, meeting people, and she was going to be drinking and laughing with them. Ray walked up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to her temple. “You okay?” he asked, his excitement rising. Lilly nodded, leaning back into his embrace. “Yes… You are happy, right?” she aske
Chapter 78 Jerry was the first to recover, letting out a nervous laugh. “Well, I guess that makes two of you with a twisted sense of humor,” he said, trying to ease the tension. The others quickly followed suit, laughing along, though their eyes still lingered on Lilly with a mix of curiosity and wariness. The world really was right about her—she truly was an ice queen, frightening people with even the slightest hint of emotion. Ray, still beaming, looked at Lilly with a soft expression. “Why don’t we all sit down? We have plenty of catching up to do,” he suggested, guiding Lilly to the couch. As everyone settled in, Felix spoke up. “So, Miss Anderson, how does it feel being married to our Ray?” he asked, clearly curious about her thoughts on the matter. Lilly paused for a moment, considering the question. “It’s... the same, I guess. I don’t really know yet,” she said, tapping her finger on her cheek as she pondered the best answer. “It feels like before. But I suppose I’ll kno
Jerry blinked, utterly surprised by his brother's sudden display of jealousy and possessiveness. Ray was not the type to let his emotions show, especially not in front of an audience. Yet here he was, staking his claim on Lilly in a way that left no room for doubt. For a moment, Jerry wondered if he should be worried about how deeply Ray had fallen for his new wife.Ray’s friends were equally taken aback, their teasing expressions fading into ones of surprise and mild discomfort. Mark, who had always seen Ray as the composed, level-headed one in their group, found himself at a loss for words. He exchanged glances with Felix, whose usual confident demeanor faltered as well.Chloe, standing a few feet away, felt her cheeks flush at the intimate scene unfolding before her. Though she prided herself on maintaining a professional demeanor at all times, she couldn’t help but feel a bit flustered. Watching her boss in such a vulnerable, human moment was jarring, to say the least. She had nev
Chapter 80Lilly nodded, though uncertainty flickered in her eyes. She wasn’t sure why, but she trusted Ray’s judgment, even if the nuances of social interactions often eluded her. “If you say so,” she replied, her voice devoid of the warmth Ray might have hoped for. Despite that, she allowed herself to relax in his embrace, feeling the tension slowly ebb away, though she couldn't quite identify what was different about this moment.Ray guided her into the room, closing the door behind them. The click of the latch sounded final, almost ominous in the quiet, and it stirred something faint within Lilly—perhaps a sense of anticipation, though she struggled to name the emotion.As they stood alone in the stillness, Ray took both of Lilly's hands in his. He drew her closer, his gaze intense but soft. There was something in his eyes—something Lilly often struggled to interpret but was learning to recognize as affection. “I’m serious about what I said earlier,” Ray began, his voice calm yet
Fairy tales didn’t exist. Ray had always known that. And yet, he had let himself believe. Believe that after everything, he could finally have his happy ending. That Lily would come back, that they would put all the chaos behind them and just… be. But four months had passed. Four months, and she was nowhere to be found. And in those four months, she had caused more destruction than she probably even realized. The Anderson family was gone. The Manchester family had been silenced. The power structures that once dictated everything had crumbled beneath the weight of her actions. And yet, the world had gone eerily quiet. The media barely spoke about it. There were no reports, no scandalous headlines, no outrage. It was as if the universe had conspired to erase all traces of her, making her untouchable. He couldn’t reach her. He couldn’t speak to her. He couldn’t even see her. It was hell. And the worst part? It was starting to feel like the version of hell he had
The silence stretched between them.Lilly and Jerry—two people who had seen death, caused death, lived among death—now sat here, unable to make sense of the one loss that actually hurt.Lilly swallowed the lump in her throat.“I thought I could tell you that time would heal this. That one day, you’d wake up, and the pain would be gone.”Jerry gave her a hollow stare, waiting for her to continue.“But that would be a lie.”Her voice broke slightly, but she pushed through.“The truth is… you won’t wake up one day and magically feel okay. You’ll carry this pain with you. Every damn day.”Jerry’s jaw clenched. He knew that already, he knows deep down he will never get over losing his love right before it could even blossom.Lilly reached out and placed a hand over his.“But you’ll learn to live with it,” she whispered. “Because that’s what Chloe would have wanted. She didn’t fight this hard, endure this much, just for either of us to fall apart when she’s gone.”Jerry let out a ragged bre
Ray stared at her, his heart pounding in his chest.“One… m-m-month?” His voice cracked. “That’s too much, wifey.”His grip on her hands tightened, as if afraid that if he let go, she would disappear before his eyes.Lilly’s lips trembled, but she held her ground.“At least this way, you won’t be married to a woman who is mentally unstable, Ray,” she said softly. “And worse—a woman who shares her new body with her dead twin’s split personality.”Ray’s body stiffened.“Split what?” His brows furrowed, convinced he had misheard.Lilly sighed, wiping the stray tear that escaped her eye. “I’m sure you’ve already guessed it, Ray. You’ve seen it. You’ve felt it. Lia and I… we aren’t just one person. And I need to do this—for myself, for you, and for our baby.”Her voice wavered.“I need to be able to give you the same love you’ve given me. To birth our baby in a safe place. Please, Ray… please.” She squeezed his hands, her tears falling freely now.Ray felt something twist in his chest.Lil
The room felt unbearably heavy.Jerry sat still, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands.And then, without warning—A sob tore through him.“Haaaaaa~~~” he yelled out. For the first time in life he felt like someone was trying to zap life out of him.The kind that clawed out from the depths of his soul, ripping past the walls he had spent years building.Tears streamed down his face. He didn’t even bother to wipe them.This wasn’t grief.This was devastation.This was an unbelievable moment, it was only aFew days ago that he realized the extend of his live for Chloe and now she dead.Dead just like that.This was the feeling of watching the one person who made life feel like more than just blood and war—slip through his fingers.He had lost Chloe.And now, what was left of him?Nothing.Nothing but this unbearable silence, this emptiness that no amount of vengeance could ever fill.He clenched his fists.He had always thought himself untouchable, someone who laughed in the fa
The room was too quiet.The kind of silence that made the air feel heavier, pressing against their chests like an unbearable weight.Lilly sat frozen, her eyes staring into nothing.She wasn’t crying. She wasn’t speaking.She just sat there, lost in the void.Ray was right behind her, not touching, not speaking just there.Because what could he say? What could he do?There were no words for grief like this. No bandage for wounds that cut this deep.On the other side of the room, Jerry knelt beside Chloe’s bed, his hands gripping hers with a desperation that made his knuckles turn white.His lips moved, whispering something under his breath.A prayer.Jerry Manchester the man who had never feared death, who had laughed in the face of danger—was now begging.To a God he didn’t even believe in.“Please—”His voice cracked, his fingers tightening around Chloe’s.“Please, don’t take her.”Tears burned at the corners of his eyes, but he refused to let them fall.He didn’t cry. Not Jerry Man
The scent of iron was thick in the air.Lilly’s eyes, cold and unyielding, swept across the men standing by. Their hesitation irritated her.“What the hell are you all waiting for?” Her voice cracked through the tense silence, sharp as a whip.The men snapped to attention.“Get him out of there. Now.”She didn’t need to say it twice.Two men rushed forward, reaching into the trunk and dragging David Deluca’s battered body out. His weight was dead, limp, his blood smearing against their gloves.“Take him to Damon.”Her tone left no room for argument.The men moved swiftly, disappearing into the building with their barely breathing cargo.Lilly stood still, her breathing measured, her fingers clenched so tightly her nails bit into her palms.She should feel satisfaction.But for some reason—She didn’t.Inside, the air was suffocating.The rhythmic beeping of the life support machine filled the room—until suddenly, the sound changed.The sharp, rapid BEEP—BEEP—BEEP sliced through the ai
Lilly inhaled sharply.Ray cursed under his breath.Jerry looked up, his expression wild, desperate. “We need to stop the bleeding!”But his hands were unsteady, his mind a mess.Lilly took over.“Move,” she ordered, her voice firm.Jerry hesitated, unwilling to let go, but Ray grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back.“Let her work.”Lilly worked fast, grabbing supplies from the medical kit. She cut away the fabric around the wound, assessing the damage. The bullet hadn’t passed through it was lodged inside.“Shit.”With gloved hands, she cleaned around the wound, applying pressure to slow the bleeding. Her movements were steady, precise years of training kicking in.Jerry could barely breathe.“Is she going to be okay?” His voice cracked.Lilly didn’t answer immediately. She grabbed a hemostatic gauze and pressed it firmly against the wound.“This will slow it down until Damon gets here,” she murmured.Ray kept his focus on Jerry, who looked like a man on the verge of breaking.“She’l
The shockwave rattled the car, and Chloe instinctively ducked.“What the fuck—?!” Jerry shouted, glancing at the rearview mirror.One of the enemy vehicles was now a burning wreck.And behind it—The Alpha Team had arrived.Meanwhile, in the Shooter’s Car…Matt watched in horror as one of their vehicles went up in flames.He gritted his teeth, his fingers digging into the seat.“Stop shooting!” he roared.His men hesitated, confused.But one look at Matt’s expression—twisted with fury and frustration—was enough to make them obey.Clark, sitting beside him, turned with a scowl.“Boss, I thought you said they wouldn’t have backup until we reached the city.”Matt’s jaw clenched. His hands balled into fists.“Well, are you fucking blind?” he snapped. “Or just too dumb to realize we’re already in the city?”Clark stiffened.“They own this place,” Matt muttered, his voice low and furious. “This is their fucking territory.”Clark exhaled sharply, running a hand down his face.“Then why the h
Jerry’s hands gripped the steering wheel tighter, his knuckles turning white. His mind was spinning, Chloe’s words echoing in his head.“You never miss a chance to make me feel like an object.”“But guess what, Jerry? I’m not an object.”His jaw clenched.“When have I ever treated you like an object?” he asked, his voice unusually quiet—almost confused.Chloe scoffed, rolling her eyes.Jerry, however, wasn’t done.His mind raced, trying to piece together where the hell he had gone wrong. Is that why she won’t give me a chance? Does she really think I see her that way?For the first time in his life, Jerry Mancini found himself questioning his own actions.And in doing so—He completely forgot they were being followed.A loud bang erupted behind them, and the car jolted violently to the side.Chloe snapped her head around, eyes widening as she saw the dark SUV gaining on them, its headlights like glowing eyes in the night.“Jerry, focus!” she shouted.Jerry’s head whipped back toward t