The next day was calm and lovely. The sun was shining, birds were singing, and the weather was just right. I was enjoying the peaceful morning until my phone rang. Thaddeus. The moment his name appeared, my heart sank.
“I hear Gerrard is back from his trip. It's time you start getting us the information we need,” he ordered coldly. “I’m working on it,” I replied, trying to sound confident. “You’d better be, or your father will pay the price,” he warned before ending the call. Tears filled my eyes as I thought about my father. I cried into my pillow, feeling overwhelmed. But after a while, I told myself to stay strong. I got up, took a shower, and headed to the kitchen to make breakfast. With the kitchen staff helping me, I decided to prepare one of Gerrard’s favorite dishes; Chilaquiles Verdes. “This looks smells and looks delicious, Miss Lily. Sir Gerrard will love it,” said Luke, the sweetest of the staff, said with a warm smile. He was the first to warm up to me, always eager to lend a hand.. "Thank you, Luke." I smiled, satisfied with the meal. Then I headed to the pantry to check on the fruits. "Where are the oranges? I asked for them yesterday." I turned to Brenda, the staff responsible for groceries shopping, and the sassiest of all the household staff. She shrugged. "Oops, I must've forgotten." "I'll go get them right away," Luke offered quickly. "I'll come with you. We need to get breakfast ready before Gerrard wakes up," I said, grabbing my coat. --- On our way back, Luke and I chatted casually. I tried to pry for information about Gerrard’s business, even flirting a little, but Luke didn’t seem to know much. He cracked a joke about Mama Rosa calling Gerrard a “pumpkin,” and we both laughed as we entered the house. The laughter stopped when we saw Gerrard sitting at the dining table, his face dark with anger. Luke quickly slipped away to the kitchen, leaving me to face him alone. "Is this what you do? Flirt with the staff instead of doing your job?" Gerrard snapped, his voice sharp. He raised his wrist, tapping his watch with a pointed finger. "It’s 7 a.m., and breakfast isn’t ready. But you have time to giggle like a schoolgirl?" “I’m sorry, I...” "Get the car ready," he barked at his driver, cutting me off. Then he turned back to me, his gaze was ice-cold. "I don’t tolerate incompetence. If this happens again, you’re out." The door slammed shut behind him, and I felt a crushing wave of disappointment. I wanted to impress him, to get close enough to gather the information Thaddeus demanded. But instead, I had only managed to get on Gerrard's bad side. “I’m sorry, Miss Lily,” Luke said gently behind, making me jump. “Sir Gerrard’s always grumpy when he misses breakfast.” I gave him a weak smile and nodded. --- An hour later, still at the dining table. I thought of my father. It was memories of him that gave me comfort at difficult times. I remembered how he used to bring me food at school whenever I skipped breakfast. The thought gave me a spark of determination. I decided to make things right. I’d bring Gerrard breakfast at his office to show him I could be reliable. I packed the food, dressed nicely, and took a taxi to the casino where Gerrard worked. Inside, the air smelled of smoke and perfume, and the sound of slot machines filled the space. I looked around for Gerrard, but I couldn't find him. Then I wandered toward the back, I noticed some men unloading boxes into a secured room. Curious, I stepped closer, hoping to catch a glimpse. “Hmmmm,” someone cleared their throat behind me. I turned and saw Antonio, Gerrard’s bodyguard, glaring at me. He grabbed my arm and dragged me away. I was taken to Gerrard's office, where he was in the middle of yelling at a man who was groveling at his feet. Gerrard’s face was cold, as he shoved the man to the floor in anger. “Get him out of my sight,” he ordered, and the guards dragged the man away. My heart clenched... this side of Gerrard reminded me of Sir Bruno, and my helpless father. In that moment, Gerrard looked terrifying. His eyes landed on me, and I froze. His face darkened even more. “What’s she doing here?” he demanded, his voice low but dangerous. Antonio stepped forward. “I caught her snooping around in the back.” Gerrard’s eyes narrowed as he turned to me. “What were you doing back there?” he shouted, his voice so loud it made me jump. My hands shook, and I felt so small under his sharp gaze. “I… I’m sorry,” I stammered, stepping back. As he moved closer, his shadow loomed over me, and I squeaked, thinking he might hit me. Gerrard stopped, his face softening just a little, though he still looked annoyed. He waved Antonio away. The door closed behind us, leaving us alone. “Lilly,” he said, his voice much softer now. “I’m not going to hurt you. You don’t have to be scared.” He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “But you shouldn’t have come here.” I nodded quickly, trying to calm down, but I still couldn’t look him in the eye. “What are you doing here?” he asked again, sounding calmer this time. I held up the food basket. “You… you didn’t eat breakfast, so I brought some,” I said, my voice shaking but steady enough. Gerrard sighed deeply and sat down in his chair. “Alright. I’ll let this go, but don’t come here again. Got it?” “Yes,” I whispered, nodding. The room went quiet. I could feel his eyes on me, watching, as if trying to figure me out. My heart pounded in my chest, but I stayed still, holding the basket tightly. After a moment, Gerrard stood up and nodded for me to follow. “Come,” he said quietly. “I want you to meet someone important.”Gerrard drove us to a place far from town. The silence in the car felt heavy, like he was carrying a weight too big to share. His eyes were fixed on the road, and his hands were steady on the wheel, but I could see a glimpse of sadness in his face.We passed through tall iron gates into a private estate. The guards greeted Gerrard with respect. This must be one of the Bellarico properties. The car stopped, and I looked around, confused. It was just a quiet stretch of land, with nothing but the sound of wind and the rustling trees. Gerrard didn’t move right away. He just sat there, lost in thought, and then he finally turned to me.“We’re here,” he said quietly. He reached into the back seat and brought out a bouquet of flowers I hadn’t noticed before. Whoever we were here to see, they clearly meant a lot to him. I stepped out of the car and followed him.We walked in silence until it hit me. “This is a graveyard,” I whispered.“Yes,” he replied, his voice calm but serious. "My family'
For days now, Gerrard had barely been home. He left early in the morning and came back late at night. Even when he was home, he seemed distant, always on his phone or buried in work. I wasn’t sure if he was avoiding me, but I knew one thing: I had to talk to him. My dad’s life was in danger. Thaddeus had made it clear that if I didn’t get what they needed, my dad would pay the price. I turned off my phone to avoid Thaddeus’s endless calls and messages. But I knew time was running out. I decided to cook a big dinner and wait for Gerrard. That night, Gerrard came home late. The house was quiet except for the ticking of the clock. Everyone else was asleep, but I stayed up, determined to talk to him. His footsteps echoed down the hallway as Gilmore, the chief of staff, helped him inside. When Gerrard finally appeared, his shirt was untucked, and I could smell a faint trace of whiskey. Gilmore took his things and disappeared down the hall. “My lovely chef,” Gerrard greeted with a smil
Gerrard’s jaw tightened as he looked at me, his voice cracking. “You have a boyfriend, Lily?”A knot twisted in my stomach. “He’s not my boyfriend,” I said quickly, trying to keep my voice steady. “He’s just... someone I used to know. We just had a drink, that’s all.”Brenda’s smirk grew. “Oh, really? He seemed pretty close to you, Miss Lily.”“That’s enough, Brenda,” Gerrard said sharply. “You’re dismissed.”Brenda hesitated, clearly enjoying the drama, but finally left, shutting the door behind her. The room went quiet except for the sound of Gerrard pacing. He stopped and faced me, his eyes unreadable. “Who was he?”“Just an old friend,” I said, trying to sound casual. “It’s not what you think.”“I don’t like secrets, Lily,” he said firmly. “Especially not in my house.”I swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know he would come looking for me.”Gerrard studied me for a moment. “Is he courting you?” he asked, trying to sound casual.I couldn’t hide my surprise. “Of course not. I don’
My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would burst. I felt so terrified of what might be inside. Sir Bruno’s warning echoed in my head, and I braced myself for the worst. Slowly, I lifted the lid on the box.Inside, I didn't find the horror I had imagined but something completely unexpected. Inside the box was a stunning green dress lay folded neatly. Alongside it were designer heels, a matching purse, and sparkling accessories. I froze, relief washing over me, but it was quickly followed by confusion. Who would send me something like this? I searched the box for a clue, my fingers brushed against a small card tucked beneath the tissue paper. I felt tensed as I opened it and read the message in bold, elegant handwriting:“Join me for dinner tonight."—G. N. Bellarico”My heart skipped a beat. Gerrard sent this? Why? I tried to make sense of it. Before I could dwell on it further, my phone buzzed in my apron pocket. It was him.“Did you get the package?” Gerrard’s voice was
The dinner had ended abruptly. The guards surrounded me at Gerrard’s command. My heart raced as memories of that night in his private residence came flooding back, the night he had summoned the guards on me. Back then, I had barely escaped being discovered. This time, I wasn’t sure I would be so fortunate. I braced myself for the worst, certain they had come to arrest me. But to my surprise, they positioned themselves on either side of me; I could not read their expressions. “Miss Lily,” one of them said, “we need to escort you to your room immediately. There’s been a security breach.” A security breach? My mind raced as I struggled to make sense of the situation. As they guided me out of the dining hall, I glanced over my shoulder at Gerrard, hoping for an explanation, but his focus was elsewhere. He was in a deep conversation with Gilmore, Antonio, and several other men. His demeanor seemed colder than I had ever seen it. Back in my room, I paced nervously, replaying the evenin
Gerrard had changed. He buried himself in work, barely speaking to me. I knew he was busy, especially with the plan to attack the Santorini Syndicate, but I also knew Bruno and his men weren’t going to let that happen without a fight. If Gerrard got hurt, it would be my fault. I had to warn him. That night, I waited for him, but he didn’t come home. By morning, I couldn’t take it anymore, I needed to talk to him. I walked down the hallway and pushed open his bedroom door without thinking. The sight hit me like a slap on the face. Gerrard was lying against the headboard, shirtless. But my heart stopped when I saw a nearly naked woman draped across his bed. My stomach twisted, but I stood my ground. For a second, my mind blanked. My stomach twisted. Then she looked at me and smirked. "Uh… can I help you?" Her voice was thick with amusement, like she already knew how much this was killing me. Gerrard didn’t say anything. Didn’t move. Just sat there, watching. I swallowed hard.
I lay on the bed, as I rested my head on Gerrard’s chest. His fingers moved slowly, tracing circles on my arm. The warmth of his skin, the steady rhythm of his breathing, it so was comforting. I felt... Safe. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I could let my guard down. Then my phone rang. Again. The third time now. I ignored it. It was Thaddeus, I knew why he was calling. But for once, I didn’t want to answer. I didn’t want to be pulled back into that dark world. Right here, in this moment, I wasn’t Lily, the girl forced to play spy. I was just… me. A woman lying in the arms of a man who made her feel something other than fear. Gerrard chuckled, tilting his head to look at me. “Someone really wants to talk to you,” he teased. I forced a smile. If only he knew. “Is it that guy who sent you flowers last time? Your boyfriend?” I scoffed. “Hell no, he’s not my boyfriend.” Gerrard smirked. “Good for me, if that spot is open, I’d like to apply.” I laughed, sh
I walked into the casino with my head held high. The air smelled of smoke and expensive whiskey, the soft clink of glasses and murmured conversations filling the space. Money and power flowed through the room like an invisible force.I made my way toward the back, the same place I had been the other night. But tonight, something felt different. Security was tighter. More guards stood around, their sharp eyes watching everything. Whatever was happening tomorrow night, it was big.Then I saw Antonio.I approached him with a calm smile. “Hey, Antonio. Is Gerrard here?”His eyes narrowed. “What are you doing here? Gerrard doesn’t want to see you right now. He’s busy.”“I just need a moment.” I lowered my voice, adding a touch of urgency. “Please, just tell him I’m here. It’s important.”Antonio hesitated, considering. I held his gaze, hoping to sway him.After a long pause, he sighed. “Wait here.”As he disappeared into Gerrard’s office, my pulse quickened. Around me, men moved with quiet
The moment I stepped back into my hometown, memories hit me like a wave. Everything looked the same, the streets, the buildings, even the air smelled familiar. But something felt off. The place seemed empty, like a ghost town filled with moments I had tried so hard to forget. I kept my hood up, my face down, and stayed hidden during the day. Sir Bruno’s men were everywhere. If they knew I was back, I wouldn’t last long. My first stop was my father’s house. The moment I saw it, my chest tightened. It was abandoned, lifeless. The white paint had peeled away, leaving dark stains. Dust covered the windows, and the porch looked ready to collapse. My father. What had he been going through all this time? Tears filled my eyes. We didn’t have much before, but we were happy, until Bruno destroyed our lives in an instant. I cried for my father, for everything we had lost. But I couldn’t stay long. It wasn’t safe. As I opened the door to leave, I ran straight into someone. Tim
I forced a small smile, sitting up and pulling the sheets around me like they could protect me from the weight of his words. “Gerrard, I...” I hesitated, searching for the right words. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” He frowned, his concern was clear. “Why not?” I looked away, suddenly more interested in the patterns on the duvet than in his piercing gaze. “I just… I have a lot of bad memories there,” I admitted in a quiet voice. “It’s not a place I want to go back to. Not yet.” I met his gaze. "I'm not ready." His fingers brushed against my arm in a gentle reassurance. “I understand,” he said softly, though I could hear a hint of sadness. “I won’t push. But if you ever change your mind… I’d love to see the place that made you who you are.”I held him hand. "Gerrard, It's been so long I went there. It's hard to face my past." He looked at me, his gaze deep and serious. “Lily, I know it’s hard, but you need to face your fears. You need to go back there and feel something other
I forced a smile. "Ah… Chef DuPont. Of course. Good to see you again. I’m a big fan of yours." Chef DuPont dipped his head politely, his voice smooth and unreadable. "Mademoiselle, it is a pleasure to be at your service this evening." Gerrard’s smirk deepened, clearly pleased with himself. "I figured having a familiar face here would make this night even more special for you." I let out a nervous laugh, subtly gripping the stem of my wine glass for support. "Oh, yes. Very special. What a… surprise." Chef DuPont’s eyes flickered again, just for a moment. Did he know? Did he suspect? But he simply inclined his head slightly and said, "I hope the meal has been to your satisfaction." I exhaled as discreetly as possible. He didn’t expose me. Or maybe he didn’t know. Or… he did, and he was choosing to say nothing. Either way, I was safe. For now. ---- As the night wore on, dinner had been wonderful, but it was getting late. Gerrard finally suggested we head back, gu
The city streets soon faded, replaced by an open, empty road. The eerie silence of the night made it worse. Then I saw it. A long stretch of pavement, dimly lit. An airstrip. My breath hitched. The car slowed to a stop near a sleek, white private jet waiting under the floodlights. And then I saw him. Gerrard. Standing at the foot of the stairs, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit. Hands in his pockets, his sharp features softened by a knowing smirk. His dark eyes locked onto mine, full of amusement and something deeper. My chest tightened with overwhelming relief. The fear that had gripped me moments ago melted into something else entirely. I almost cried. The driver stepped out and opened my door, but I was frozen for a second, still catching my breath. Then, shaking my head at my own paranoia, I stepped out. I walked straight toward Gerrard, my heart still hammering, but this time for a different reason. He looked so effortlessly handsome, the glow from the
After a week, life had settled back into its usual rhythm. We were back at the main house, and Gerrard’s business was running smoothly without a hitch. The war was over, we had made peace with Magnus, I had even gone to visit Jamie’s baby, bringing gifts and sharing in the joy of new life.Gerrard had been full of praise, telling me how impressed he was with the way I handled everything, the war, Magnus situation, the way I stayed composed under pressure, the way I supported him when it mattered most. His admiration made my heart swell, but I knew better than to bask in it for too long.Because while he was showering me with affection, he was also working quietly in the background, investigating.Who had planned the sniper attack? Who had sent him those warning messages?I had no idea what he had uncovered so far, but I could only pray that his search wouldn’t lead him back to me. I had buried my secrets deep, but I knew Gerrard. He was thorough. He wouldn’t stop until he had answers.
Victor kept staring at me, his face hard to read."You have to let me talk to him," I begged. "If you don’t, he’ll just get hurt again."Victor hesitated, his jaw tight. He knew I was right.With a deep breath, he finally nodded. "Go."I didn’t wait. I ran straight to the warehouse under the casino, where Gerrard’s men were getting ready for war.-----The air inside was heavy with tension, filled with the smell of sweat and gunpowder. At the center of it all stood Gerrard, fastening a gun holster around his waist, his face serious.I stepped forward. "Gerrard, don’t do this."He didn’t stop what he was doing. "Magnus won’t stop unless I finish this.""Then capture him. Make him talk. But don’t kill him," I said firmly.Gerrard looked at me, frustration in his eyes. "And what if letting him live makes him come back stronger? What if he takes more from me?""Then let’s make sure he has no reason to come back."He clenched his jaw, thinking.Then, finally, he sighed. "Fine. I’ll take hi
For the first time in a long while, things were calm. Peaceful. Gerrard and I had finally found our rhythm, lost in the fire of our romance, bound by an undeniable spark.I had never felt so loved before. Gerrard was everything I had ever wanted, passionate, intense, and utterly devoted. He knew how to love me, how to unravel me, how to make me crave him more. Every touch, every whispered promise left me yearning for more.But no matter how much I tried to surrender to the moment, a sense of unease coiled inside me like a serpent lying in wait. Magnus was still out there, lurking in the shadows, and the weight of my secret pressed heavier on my chest with each passing day.Still, I told myself to enjoy the moment while it lasted.The Calm Before the StormThat morning, fully recovered, Gerrard was preparing to return to work. I stood in the bedroom doorway, arms crossed, watching him button up his crisp white shirt. His movements were steady, efficient, like a man who was used to bein
I paced the bedroom, my heart was pounding. Gerrard’s words kept playing in my head. "I’m going to destroy them all, Lily. No more comebacks. No more threats. This ends with me." I couldn’t let that happen. My hands shook as I scrolled through my contacts. I hesitated for a second. Then I pressed the call button. The phone rang twice before a familiar, warm voice answered. “Lily, dear? Is everything alright?” I swallowed hard. “Mama Rosa, I need your help. It’s about Gerrard.” --- That evening, Gerrard walked into the room. His sharp eyes landed on me. Before he could speak, I took a deep breath. “Someone wants to talk to you.” I held out my phone. His eyebrows pulled together in confusion, but when he saw the name on the screen, something in his face softened. “Mama Rosa,” he said. “My pumpkin,” she greeted, her voice warm. “How have you been?” “Can’t complain,” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “How’s vacation?” She chuckled. “It’s going well,
The heat between us was impossible to ignore, I pulled closer to Gerrard as our lips moved together. His hands ran over my skin, sending warmth through my body. I melted into him, lost in the way he made me feel, until my hand accidentally touched his injured shoulder.He sucked in a sharp breath, as his body tensing under me.I froze. “Gerrard,” I whispered, guilt washing over me. “Did I hurt you?”He let out a slow breath and shook his head. “It’s fine.”But I knew it wasn’t. He was pretending to be okay, but I could see the truth.I swallowed hard. “I should go. You need to rest.”Before I could move, his fingers wrapped around my wrist, firm but gentle.“Stay,” he said quietly, his eyes locked on mine. “Sleep here tonight.”I hesitated for only a second. I couldn’t bring myself to walk away from him again.I nodded and slipped back under the covers, curling into him. My head rested on his chest, the steady beat of his heart calming me. He wrapped an arm around me, holding me close