CHAPTER FIVE.
I DID IT.
Lila.
"You okay?" Olivia asked me as she entered my room to find me on the bed brooding. I nodded positively, giving her a weak smile despite finding it hard to move.
It's been months since we left New York City and came here, to Tuscany. Life hasn't been boring. Olivia and her father treated me like an egg, barely letting me do anything while also showering me with love.
I couldn't be more lucky to have them by my side, especially at a moment like this.
"You miss him, don't you?" Olivia whispered as she sat beside me on the bed. I stiffened and hid my face away, not wanting her to see I was growing teary again.
These days, I have been having terrible mood swings. If I wasn't crying, I was lashing out at innocent people, but they all took it gently with me, knowing it was pregnancy hormones.
I placed my hand on my belly, as I felt a sharp kick to my abdomen. I swallowed a groan, my face twisting in pain as I rubbed my belly, which was already so big I feared I was going to have six babies.
My mind drifted to Lucien, and I wondered if he at least missed me. I was watching the news before Olivia came in and turned to face the TV fully, wanting to get my mind off things, but what I saw next made me gasp.
"Billionaire Tycoon Lucien Hunter and his wife spotted outside a boutique, acting lovey-dovey." The news read, followed by a picture of them together, looking so happy and joyful.
"Rumors are that Mrs Hunter could be pregnant. Judging by the bulge on her tummy". The reporter continued, and I noticed Lily truly had a bulge, instead of her usual flat tummy, her face glowing as she clutched tightly to Lucien, who looked at her with adoration in his eyes.
I felt my breath seize, my chest tightening in pain. Olivia's eyes widened as she immediately grabbed the remote and switched off the TV, before turning to gather me in her arms.
I couldn't hold back the tears. I promised myself to move on and start afresh, but I did neither. All I did rather was worry about a guy who had forgotten my entire existence.
I wanted to laugh at how pathetic I was. Another sharp pain hit me, and this time, I screamed, falling off the bed onto my knees, my back aching.
"Argh". I shouted, trying to grab something. Olivia's eyes crossed around the room in panic before she hurriedly came to my side, her hands wrapped around my waist.
"What is it, Lila? Are you going into labor?" She questioned, worry evident in her tone. I struggled to nod, feeling my face covered in sweat as I breathed heavily.
It felt like I was on fire. My body ached as another pain shot through me, my knees trembling on the floor. Olivia instantly got to her feet, ran outside, and began barking orders.
"The baby is coming. Get everything ready and call the driver to get the car around now". She yelled and dashed back inside my room.
"Can you stand?" She inquired gently, as she tried helping me get to my feet, but I couldn't move; I felt numb, my thoughts in disarray.
'Lucien, where are you?' I pondered, needing him, his warmth, his beautiful smile as he tried to tell me to be strong, for us, for our baby.
I wanted him at the moment but he was nowhere to be found. Another tear dropped as I clenched my hands into fists, feeling the urge to scream out in agony.
All I knew was that a guard came in and lifted me carefully into his arms and into the car, with Olivia getting in next to me, her hand holding mine, my head on her lap, as she whispered words of strength to me.
Everything blurred out, my eyelids struggling to flick open. My entire body was weak, almost drifting into unconsciousness, but I knew I couldn't. Another pain hit me and I gripped Olivia's hands tightly, my nails digging into her palm as I bit hard on my lower lips.
We arrived at the hospital in no time and I was wheeled in, with everyone running here and there, trying to get me comfortable. I wasn't surprised, Olivia's dad owned this hospital, and I was known to be his daughter, so everyone trying to please me wasn't a new thing.
"You have to push". The doctor in charge told me, spreading my legs as she stroked my thighs, trying to relieve the ache.
I didn't want to push. All that filled my head were memories of Lucien and Lily together, happy and forgetting my mere existence.
"Lila, please.". Olivia who was allowed in the ward, pleaded, looking at me with tears in her eyes.
My heart ached towards her as I tried to smile.
"Why did he leave me, Olivia? Am I that horrible? Is Lily better than me?" I cried, feeling heavy tears run down my cheeks as I sniffled. It was like a knife was being plugged into my chest.
Every contraction pain that rippled through my body was a reminder that I was doing this alone, without him, after all the promises we made.
"He said he would never leave me, no matter what, Olivia, but where is he now?" I yelled with all my strength as Olivia held me tightly, trying hard not to cry.
"Lila, please. Do this for your baby. If you don't push, there will be greater complications. Don't be like Lucien, who abandoned you. Don't abandon your child".
Her words struck something into me, and I came back to reality, pulling my hands away from hers to grab both sides of the hospital bed rails.
I gathered up all my strength despite feeling fatigued, beads of sweat gathering on my forehead, my teeth clenched in determination as the beeping sound of machines filled the silence, the antiseptic smell of the hospital making me want to gag.
I shouted as I pushed with all my might, trying to get what was inside me out, as I panted heavily, my body shaking with each movement.
"I can't do this". I sobbed, after trying for the hundredth time.
"Yes, you can. It's almost out". The doctor encouraged me, patting my leg as Olivia continued to hold one of my hands, showing her support.
I couldn't have done this without her. I gritted my teeth together and gave a very loud, piercing yell as I pushed with all my might before collapsing back to the bed, my heart racing as I shut my eyes.
A sharp cry made me flick them open, the thin lines of my brows jumping up in surprise as I watched my baby being carried out of me. I wanted to laugh at how tiny she was but I scrunched up my face as I felt another pain ripple through me.
"God! She is having another one".
"What?" Olivia shrieked in disbelief, and I wanted to join her but wailed instead as I felt another thing trying to leave my baby. I clenched my fists until my knuckles turned white, the pain almost unbearable as I pushed with effort.
A second cry filled the room, louder than the first, sending warm feelings through me. For a moment, my pain melted away as my heart swelled with an overwhelming mix of relief and love as I watched two tiny, perfect cuties laying in each of the nurse's arms about to be cleansed.
"It's a boy and a girl". Was the last thing I heard before slipping into unconscious, satisfied, letting out a sigh of relief.
I made it. Lucien might not be here to witness all these, but I was and unlike him, I was going to be here for them amd protect them from this cruel world.
CHAPTER SIX.LILA.Lucien.Five years Later.It's been five years now and Lila was still nowhere to be found. It was just like she disappeared from the surface of the earth."I hope you are okay?" I whispered under my breath, my hands under my chin as I let out a sigh, feeling tired. For the past few days now, I have refused to step foot at home.It doesn't even feel like home anymore. All the decorations were suddenly changed, and when I asked why, Lily said her taste had just changed, which was obviously a lie.Another reason to prove she wasn't the one who stood by me in my hardest for a year. The air at home felt suffocating and empty. Countless times, I tried moving on, to pretend Lily was whom I made love to all these years, but nope.Even the sex was terrible. I always forced myself to cum. It got to a point, I couldn't bear to touch her again. I needed my strawberry girl, the woman I couldn't do without putting my nose into her neck every time I gave her little bites that made
Chapter SevenLucienMy shoes echoed on the polished marble floor of the grand ballroom. A dozen faces turned to greet me, but I ignored them, my gaze fixed on the massive chandelier overhead. It felt wrong to be here, smiling, shaking hands, while my mind was lost in a whirlwind of regret and desperation. She was out there, Lila, my strawberry girl. The thought of her drove me to madness. Five years, and still no sign of her. Five years of sleepless nights, replaying every mistake. Five years of watching Lily’s hollow smile and empty words, knowing she wasn’t the one I wanted. I stepped toward the bar, my throat dry despite the expensive wine in my hand. The conversations around me blurred, meaningless murmurs that only reminded me of everything I’d lost. My fingers tightened around the glass as a familiar voice cut through the haze. “Lucien.” My head snapped to the right. Dante Russo. The smug bastard leaned against the bar, his lips curled into a grin that made my blood boi
Chapter 8: Strangers in the Same RoomLILA My palms were clammy, the leather handle of my handbag slick beneath my grip. I adjusted my scarf, willing my heartbeat to slow down. I couldn’t afford to let anyone recognize me—not now, not here. The bustling crowd of the fashion showcase swirled around me. Designers paraded their collections, models strutted down the runway, and cameras flashed in every direction. It was a scene straight out of a dream, but I wasn’t here to dream. I was here to mark my presence—a quiet reminder to everyone who doubted me, and most of all, to myself. I slipped into the nearest seat, my back stiff and my senses heightened. My eyes scanned the room, but I avoided making eye contact. I could hear whispers floating around me, compliments about the designs and speculations about who might win this year's competition. That’s when I saw him. Lucien Hunter. Even after all these years, the sight of him could still steal the air from my lungs. He wasn’t s
Chapter Nine: The Edge of Discovery**LILA** The soft hum of the sewing machine filled the room, a rhythm I had learned to find solace in over the years. The fabric beneath my fingers was smooth, a deep emerald green that reminded me of the gardens in Tuscany. My boutique wasn’t open yet, but I had plans—big ones. Plans that would make every tear, every sacrifice, worth it. I paused, staring at the delicate lace I was stitching into place. My reflection in the glass window caught my eye. I barely recognized the woman staring back. Stronger, sharper, but still haunted. The bell above the door chimed unexpectedly, pulling me out of my thoughts. My assistant, Maria, was supposed to lock up an hour ago. I turned, expecting her apologetic smile, but froze when I saw who stood there instead. "Olivia," I whispered. Her jet-black hair was pulled into a sleek ponytail, her usually warm brown eyes filled with urgency. She didn’t smile. She didn’t greet me. She just marched inside, shu
Chapter 10: A Crack in the IllusionThe murmurs of the crowd faded as I stepped into the lavish ballroom, my chest tightening at the sight of him—Lucien. He stood at the center of the gathering, effortlessly commanding attention in his tailored black tuxedo. His piercing blue eyes scanned the room, oblivious to my presence, yet I felt his pull like a magnet. I clenched the stem of the champagne flute in my hand, wishing I could blend into the marble walls. Five years had changed me. I wasn’t the naive girl who had clung to his promises or sought his approval. But my heart, the traitor, hadn’t moved on as easily. “I see you still can’t take your eyes off him,” Olivia whispered, appearing by my side. Her emerald-green gown shimmered under the chandeliers, but her expression was all business. “Don’t start,” I muttered, taking a small sip of the bubbling liquid. “He’s been looking for you, you know,” she continued, ignoring my warning. “Obsessively.” “Let him look,” I replied, f
Chapter 11: Echoes of Her ReturnThe moment the sound of heels clicking on the marble floor reached my ears, I turned toward the door, my chest tightening with anticipation. I could tell it wasn’t Lily. She never moved with that kind of confidence. No, this was someone different—someone whose presence carried a weight I hadn’t felt in years."Lila?" I muttered under my breath, almost too afraid to hope.She stepped into the room like a storm about to break. Her long, chestnut-brown waves fell over her shoulders, and those familiar hazel eyes, flecked with gold, locked onto mine. Time seemed to stand still, and for a brief moment, I thought I was hallucinating. But no, she was real. She was here.Her gaze didn’t falter, and her lips curved into a smirk that sent a chill down my spine. "Surprised to see me, Lucien?" she asked, her voice sharper than I remembered.I swallowed hard, unable to form words. How could I even begin to process the fact that she was standing right in front of m
Chapter 12: The TurnI stormed into my office, slamming the door behind me. My heart pounded like a drum, the echoes of Olivia’s words still fresh in my mind. “I’ll help you, Lucien,” she had said, her gaze intense and unyielding. But there was a catch. There always was.She’d hinted at knowing something—something about Lila. And yet, she refused to divulge it outright. Instead, she wanted to meet later, on her terms, at a location she would share only hours before. The secrecy gnawed at me, but if it brought me closer to Lila, I’d play along. For now.Dropping into my chair, I rubbed my temples, trying to stave off the headache threatening to split my skull. Five years of searching and waiting had taught me one thing: patience. But patience was running thin when every lead turned into a dead end.I opened my laptop, scrolling through the photos my investigator had sent. A few grainy images of women in crowded marketplaces, none of them Lila. My fingers itched to throw the device acr
Chapter 14: Just a Face LILA The clicking of my heels against the marble floors felt heavier than usual. Five years of perfecting the art of walking with my head high, shoulders back, had done little to ease the weight of the memories clinging to me. New York City buzzed around me, but its rhythm only served as a backdrop to the storm inside my chest. I was here for business, nothing more. But the past had a way of showing up uninvited, lurking like a ghost in the corner of my mind. As I reached the doors of the sprawling venue, the glittering lights spilling out into the street, a chill raced down my spine. Not from the cold, but from a presence I couldn’t shake. A gut feeling told me tonight wouldn’t be as simple as attending a design showcase. The doorman greeted me with a smile, but I barely noticed. My heart raced as I stepped inside, scanning the room. The hum of conversation, the clink of champagne glasses—it all felt too loud, too bright. I straightened my posture
Chapter 35: When the Gloves Come Off**Lila** I barely slept. Even with the truth out there, I knew this wasn’t over. Lily wouldn’t back down quietly—she never did. My phone buzzed non-stop with calls, messages, and notifications. Some were supportive, but others were vicious. At sunrise, I sat in Lucien’s office, staring at the headlines flashing across his large screen. **‘Battle of the Billionaire: Lucien Hunter’s Ex-Wife Speaks Out!’** **‘Lily Hunter Fires Back: The Mistress Who Stole My Husband!’** **‘Truth or Lies? Who’s Really to Blame in This Love Triangle?’** I let out a humorless laugh. "They’re turning this into entertainment." Lucien, sitting across from me, looked up from his laptop. "That’s what the media does. But we’re not here to play their game. We need to control the next move." The door burst open, and Olivia stormed in, holding her tablet. "Lily just did an exclusive live interview." My stomach twisted. "What did she say?" Olivia placed the t
Chapter 34: Just itLila The room was still buzzing with whispers long after our press conference ended. My hands trembled slightly as I stepped away from the podium, my mind racing. The truth was finally out, but that didn’t mean the battle was over. If anything, this was just the beginning. Lucien placed a hand on my lower back, guiding me out of the pressroom and into the private hallway leading to his office. Olivia was already waiting inside, pacing anxiously. The moment we entered, she turned to us, her expression grim. "That was bold, Lila," she said. "But Lily isn’t going to take this lying down." I sighed, rubbing my temple. "I know. But what choice did we have? Let her destroy my reputation while I cowered in the shadows?" Lucien pulled off his tie, his jaw tight. "She’ll retaliate. She always does." I turned to him, my chest tightening. "What exactly is she capable of?" Olivia scoffed. "Knowing her? She’s got another trick up her sleeve already." She held up h
**Chapter 33: Uninformed **Lila**I paced the living room, my arms crossed tightly over my chest. Lucien sat on the couch, his elbows on his knees, watching me with an unreadable expression. The weight of everything that had happened in the last twenty-four hours pressed down on me like a boulder."We need a plan," I said, stopping to face him. "If Lily is behind the leaks, then she's not going to stop until she destroys everything."Lucien sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know. And that’s why I need you to trust me." hope you canTrust? That was a word that had lost all meaning between us. I scoffed, folding my arms. "Trust? You think trust is something you can just demand after everything?"He exhaled sharply. "Lila, I get it. I do. But this isn’t just about us anymore. It’s about our kids. And if Lily has even the slightest inkling about them, she won’t just sit back. She will come for them."My stomach clenched at the thought. I had spent years shielding my babies from
Chapter 32: A Game of PowerLilaI had barely stepped into my boutique when Olivia grabbed my arm, her grip tight with urgency. “We have a problem,” she whispered, pulling me into the back office. My pulse spiked. “What is it?” She locked the door behind us and shoved a tablet into my hands. The screen showed a breaking news article, and my heart stopped when I read the headline: **LUCIFER HUNTER REUNITES WITH SECRET WIFE: LILA VITALE SPOTTED IN HIS ARMS** I scrolled down, my hands trembling as I saw the pictures—me and Lucien outside the gala, his arms around me. There was another photo of us in the car, his hand gripping mine. “No,” I breathed, shaking my head. “This wasn’t supposed to happen.” “It gets worse,” Olivia muttered, flipping to another article. **MYSTERY CHILDREN: DO LUCIFER AND LILA SHARE A SECRET FAMILY?** My blood ran cold. The article speculated about the twins, showing blurry pictures of them playing outside my boutique. “They were watching us,” I
Chapter 31 – The ReckoningLILAI never thought I’d step foot in this city again. The memories alone were suffocating, but I had come back stronger, smarter. This time, I wasn’t the naive girl who let love blind her. I adjusted my sunglasses as I walked through the airport, my heels clicking against the polished floor. Olivia walked beside me, pushing the luggage cart, her expression unreadable. "You sure about this?" she asked for the hundredth time. "Positive." My voice held no hesitation. "It’s time to face them." I wasn’t here for closure. I wasn’t here for Lucien. I was here to take back everything that was stolen from me—starting with my career. But deep down, I knew it wasn’t just business. My heart still carried the weight of betrayal, the echoes of his voice when he called me a liar, a gold digger. I clenched my fists. I wasn’t that weak, lovesick girl anymore. The moment I stepped outside, a cold gust of wind hit my face. New York hadn’t changed, but I had. I h
Chapter 30: Leave now or you regret itLila“I’m sorry, ma’am, but you can’t enter.” The burly security guard’s words sent a chill down my spine. I stood at the entrance of Lucien’s building, clutching my purse so tightly that my knuckles turned white. This wasn’t the first time I’d been turned away, but tonight it felt different. Urgent. I glanced up at the towering structure, its lights piercing through the foggy night sky. “He’s expecting me,” I lied, my voice firm. The guard’s expression didn’t waver. “Mr. Hunter left strict instructions not to allow anyone in. Especially—” He stopped, his gaze flickering over me. “Especially me,” I finished bitterly, stepping back. My heels clicked against the pavement as I turned away, my heart sinking. I had spent the entire day piecing together the fragments of the note I’d found yesterday. Each word felt like a slap, a reminder of how far someone was willing to go to destroy everything I had built. The message was clear: stay away
**Chapter 29: It's Not Over YetLilaI gripped the steering wheel tightly, the chill of the leather biting into my palms as I navigated the quiet streets. The silence in the car was deafening, broken only by the occasional hum of the engine. My mind raced as I replayed the last few hours over and over, each memory hitting me like a tidal wave. I shouldn’t have agreed to this. Bringing Lucien into my life again felt like opening an old wound, one I’d tried so hard to heal. But as much as I wanted to run, I couldn’t ignore the reality staring me in the face. The twins were in danger. And as much as I hated to admit it, Lucien was the only person I could trust to protect them. His voice echoed in my head: *“We’re stronger together, Lila.”* Was that true? Could we put aside the wreckage of our past long enough to fight this battle together? Or would the ghosts of what we’d lost consume us before we even had a chance to begin? The sound of my phone vibrating jolted me from my tho
Chapter 28: Threads of DeceptionLila“Lila, stop!” Lucien’s voice chased after me as I stormed out of the house, the letter clutched tightly in my trembling hand. I couldn’t stay in that suffocating space any longer. His excuses, his half-truths—they were driving me insane. I didn’t look back as I stepped onto the driveway, my heels clicking loudly against the cobblestones. My chest burned with anger, and my mind was in a fog, replaying every moment that had brought us to this breaking point. “Let me explain,” Lucien called again, his footsteps quickening behind me. I spun around, the wind catching my hair. “Explain what, Lucien? That you’ve been keeping secrets? That you’ve known this entire time?” He froze, his jaw clenching. “I didn’t want to involve you until I was sure.” “Sure of what? That someone is playing games with us? That our lives are nothing more than pieces on a chessboard?” My voice cracked, but I refused to let the tears fall. He ran a hand through his ha
Chapter 27: A Dangerous PropositionLila“Why now, Lucien?” I asked, my voice trembling as I stared into his piercing blue eyes. The room felt too small, too suffocating, with him standing so close, his presence dominating the space. He reached out, his hand brushing against my arm, and I jerked back instinctively. The betrayal of five years ago still burned fresh in my memory, no matter how much I tried to bury it. “Because I can’t let you go,” he said, his voice raw. “Not now. Not ever.” I scoffed, folding my arms over my chest as I tried to steady my breathing. “You already did, Lucien. You let me go the moment you chose Lily over me.” He winced, as though my words had physically struck him. “You don’t understand—” “No,” I cut him off, my tone sharp. “You don’t understand. I gave you everything, Lucien. My trust, my heart, my body. And you threw it all away like it meant nothing.” His jaw tightened, and for a moment, I saw the cracks in his façade. The confident, unshak