**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
As Lilly and Ray stepped out of the room, they were immediately greeted by the playful banter of Ray’s friends were lounging on the couches in the living room, grinning like a pack of mischievous wolves and Chloe sitting quietly at a corner on her phone. Jerry was the first to speak, unable to resist the opportunity to tease his brother. “Wow, that was quick! Didn’t think big brother was such a lightweight,” he quipped, feigning shock with a dramatic gasp.Felix snickered, nudging Damon. “Looks like Ray’s losing his touch. What happened to the guy who could go all night?”Ray rolled his eyes, though a smirk tugged at his lips. “Maybe I’m just efficient,” he shot back, pulling Lilly a little closer. She stood beside him, her expression as composed as ever, but the subtle way she leaned into Ray didn’t go unnoticed by the group.Damon chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Or maybe it’s Lilly who’s calling the shots now. You seem pretty whipped, Ray.”Lilly raised an eyebrow, gla
Lilly's eyes scanned the room, waiting for someone to recognize the faces in the photograph she had uncovered. The woman looked so much like the younger version of her birth mother from her past life that it shook her to her core, but she kept her composure. Ray remained close to her, sensing the gravity of what she had found.Felix was the first to speak. His brows furrowed, and he leaned in closer to get a better look at the image. “Wait a minute... I know her,” he said slowly, as if trying to recall a distant memory. “That’s aunty Ava, one of my mother’s old friends. They were close before she vanished from the public eye. I haven’t seen her in years.”Wait? Her birth mother is named Ava, how come Felix knows her name and called her in such an intimate manner. Something is off.Chloe, who had been silent up until now, glanced at the photo and her eyes widened in disbelief. “That’s Evelyn Altee?” she echoed, shock lacing her voice. “But she’s... bosses, she’s your mother. Miss Ander
Ray’s grin lingered as he gently pulled Lilly closer, his hands resting lightly on her hips. The weight of the evening's revelations hadn’t shaken him, and he seemed determined to keep their connection at the forefront, even amid all the chaos.“So,” he asked“think we can finally have our wedding night now?”Lilly blinked at him, not surprised or flustered, just calm and mildly curious. Her expression was neutral, as though she were considering something ordinary. "Ray... are you serious?" she asked, her tone even, lacking any real confusion or irritation.Ray’s grin broadened, amused by her lack of reaction. “What? We’re married, aren’t we? I thought we deserved one moment of normalcy after everything and you promised me earlier besides it not like you are tired”Lilly tilted her head slightly, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "Normal is relative," she remarked, leaning her forehead gently against his chest. "But if this is your idea of normal… I suppose."He chuckl