In the heart of New York City, where power is traded like gold and ambition can break you, Lily James is caught between two worlds. By day, she’s the epitome of grace, a picture-perfect heiress to the sprawling James family airline empire, bound by a legacy that stifles her every move. By night, under the cover of darkness, she sheds her delicate persona, becoming a fierce and untamed spirit—a woman who longs to break free from the chains of her family’s expectations. Her carefully curated life shatters when she is thrust into an arranged marriage with Vandaulf Claude Carlston, the cold, calculating CEO of Carlston Architectural Firm and ruthless heir to the rival Carlston real estate dynasty. To him, their union is nothing more than a business transaction, a means to strengthen their family empires. He dismisses Lily as fragile and unworthy of respect. But Lily isn't the meek woman he believes her to be—beneath her exterior burns an undeniable fire. At a Halloween party, fate intervenes. Lily, shedding her refined persona for the night, crosses paths with Vandaulf in the form of a bold, liberated woman he cannot resist. Neither knows the true identity of the other, and a night of passionate recklessness ensues. The consequences are shattering—Lily is pregnant. When she reveals the truth, Vandaulf’s response is cruel and devastating. He denies any involvement, accusing her of manipulation and deceit. His cold rejection cuts deeper than she could have imagined, leaving her shattered but resolute. In this world of power, deceit, and dangerous alliances, Lily and Vandaulf must decide: will they allow their differences to tear them apart, or risk everything to uncover the truth? The ultimate question remains: will Vandaulf ever acknowledge Lily's pregnancy as his own, or will their fragile truce crumble forever?
View MoreVandaulf stood, unmoving, his whole body rooted to the earth as though it had also been frozen there. The morning breeze rustled through the edges of his coat, and he did not feel it. All he felt was the slow, simmering burn beneath his skin. His hands curled into fists at his sides, nails digging into palms as his breath came slow and measured.He should pull her back. Tuck her away. That's what Lily was waiting for, wasn't it? That's what he had always done. Kept her on a string, reminded her of her station, made certain she knew who was in control of this thing between them.He didn't.Not because he had to.Because he didn't know what he'd do if he did.She was dangerous in the way that made him shift his opinion completely; not like that of some girl who threw herself recklessly about, unaware and constantly crossing limits. She changed. And it was even worse—because she was changing him.She wasn't afraid of him anymore.And God, it pissed him off.Because if she didn't fear him
Vandaulf exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening around the empty glass in his hand. His grandmother's words clung to him, unwelcome and intrusive. You will lose her.He scoffed under his breath. Lose her? As if Lily had anywhere to go. As if she could simply walk away from him, from this life. He had chosen her. She belonged to him.And yet…Something about Helena's tone unsettled him. She was rarely wrong.He stood up from his chair and walked to the large window. The morning sun was bathing the grounds in soft golden light, but Vandaulf's gaze was elsewhere - fixed on the path leading to the gates.If she tried to leave at all, would I even see it coming?It angered him. No. Lily was impulsive, but she was not stupid. He had provided her with life, status, protection. There was nothing in it for her to turn on him.A small part of his mind whispered doubt, insidious and hard. He wanted to remind her of her position.Lily had hardly walked into the garden when she became aware of him
The golden hues of morning bled through the tall windows of the grand estate, casting long shadows across the breakfast table. The air smelled of freshly brewed coffee, buttered toast, and something heavier—unspoken tension.Ina was gone. At least, for now.She was Lily again.She sat at the far end of the long dining table, back straight, fingers daintily curved around a fine china teacup. Opposite her, Vandaulf watched, his sharp eyes not once tearing away from her face. The silence between them wasn't comfortable-it was measured and calculated.Helena sat at the head of the table, her fingers curled around a teacup, as if oblivious to the storm swirling just below. The silverware clinked against the plates with soft murmurs as servants worked in silence, refilling glasses and adding a few more dishes.Lily had no appetite.She knew what was coming on.Vandaulf finally spoke, his voice low with an authority he was not accustomed to losing. "You will act like a decent woman from now
The estate loomed dark and silent, with only the first hints of dawn brushing against the horizon. The heavy iron gates looked bigger in early morning stillness, almost menacing. Ina glanced round hastily, checking that no guards or staff were to be seen; she knew the routine of the house inside and out. Everyone would be asleep-or so she hoped.She walked fast; the sound of heels clicking soft on stone announced her approach, then she paused. A pressure was on her chest. That wasn't quite right. The house belonged not to her but to another: she was slipping into a lover's bed as one not desired.Ina shook off the thoughts and slid toward the servants' entrance. It had become her secret gateway, a lifeline to moments of freedom that were fleeting but necessary. Tonight had been exhilarating, and she wasn't ready to let the weight of the estate smother that feeling just yet.She opened the door with a faint creak. Her breath caught, but she moved inside, the heels now muffled against t
He nodded, taking a sip of his drink. "Sort of. I just moved back to the city, and Alicia's been introducing me around. She mentioned you might be someone worth meeting."Ina raised a brow, intrigued. "Moved back? So, you're not new to this scene after all."Jeff shrugged, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Let's just say I've been gone long enough to feel like a stranger,Ina."There was something in his tone - an undertone of mystery that Ina couldn't quite put her finger on. She leaned in slightly, interested. "And now you're back. Why?"Jeff met her gaze, unreadable. "Maybe I missed the chaos.Jeff's lips twisted into an asymmetrical smile, one of hints of mysteries and tales still locked away in them. His glass leaned against Ina with an almost inaudible salute as he tilted it, but still never withdrew his gaze while slowly drinking its contents."Chaos suits you," he said after a moment, his tone light but his eyes probing, as if he were trying to piece her together. "But you do
The ride home was heavy with silence, punctuated only by the occasional hum of the car engine. Vandaulf sat beside Ina, his jaw tight and his eyes fixed out the window as though trying to find solace in the passing scenery. Ina, however, was at ease, her head lightly resting against the car seat. The dinner had been a small victory—not in the words exchanged but in the subtle power she had claimed for herself. Brenna's quiet support gave her the strength to weather the tension that seemed to hang over the evening like a storm cloud. As they pulled into the driveway of the grand estate, Vandaulf finally broke his silence, speaking low but dripping with warning:. "Whatever games you think you're playing, I'd advise you to stop. My patience isn't infinite, Lily."Ina turned to him, her face soft but her eyes unyielding and steady. "I wasn't aware I was playing any games, Vandaulf. Maybe you're just imagining things." He snorted, his sharp eyes narrowing as the car stopped. "Don't test me
The question was innocent enough, but Ina felt the shift in the room. Helen and Vandaulf exchanged brief glances, curiosity flickering across their features. Ina's hands tightened on her napkin under the table, but her smile didn't waver. "Of course, Grandmother," she replied, her voice light and agreeable.The board members, too, must have felt the shift in the atmosphere; Helen was quick on her feet in refocusing them on what they were there for. Brenna stood, smiling, signaling for Ina to go before her out onto the balcony over the gardens.She straightened her spine and lifted her chin as the night air snapped crisp in the doorway as Ina moved out. Waiting for Brenna to say something, she wouldn't give her that advantage of being weak."Do you feel alright, my dear?" Brenna said softly. She leaned over the railing on the balcony with sharp features made softer by moonlight. "Living here. With them."Ina blinked at the shock, momentarily speechless. "What do you mean?Exactly what
It was quiet, with just a hum from the car's engine, which to me, was deafening against the weight of unspoken words.Ina kept her eyes on the window, the city lights passing by to paint fleeting patterns across her face. Her reflection stared back at her—a woman who had played the part of sweet, subservient Lily for too long. But in the quiet glow of her own defiance, this was something Ina saw a whole lot better: a flicker of liberation.A faint smile pulled at her lips, one that Vandaulf caught from the side of his eye. His jaw clenched and he shifted in his seat, the leather creaking beneath him."You think this funny?" he said, his voice low and cutting.Ina didn't look at him. "Funny? No," she replied softly, calm but edged with a subtle challenge. "Liberating? Maybe.His knuckles went white as he clasped the armrest. "Liberating?" he repeated, his voice vibrating with shadows. "Don't play games, Lily. This isn't liberation. This is you playing a very dangerous game.".She turne
She hauled herself up against the cold wall, her breaths shallow as she tried to calm her racing heart. Vandaulf's words haunted in her mind, sharp and venomous, but this time, something within her refused to give in. For the first time, she stood up to him, defied him, and though that sent her shaking, it left her with an unfamiliar flicker of power.She ran her fingers over the place on her arm where he had dug his fingers into her, leaving a dull ache. He had done this before; his dominance and reminder that she had her place in his world. But tonight, somehow it felt different. It was not pain; it was a reminder that she wasn't something to be owned. She was free now.She blew slowly, jerking her feet away from the corner to lead herself towards the bedroom. The dark passage stood out, so quiet aside from the slow movement of her shuffling pace. Then came Ina's voice ringing inside of Lily's mind sharp and electrified."That's the spirit," Ina declared with that triumphal gleam Li
Activity and noise reigned over the James estate. Bustling servants and glittering decorations surrounded Lily James, the smallest person in that grand ballroom. She pushed at the hem of her pale blue dress, a color chosen by her deceased mother and insisted upon by her grandmother—a hue meant to highlight the supposed innocence and beauty that Lily was believed to possess. She despised it.The air was electric with tension as the two families gathered to cement the union—an arranged marriage that resembled a corporate merger. The James family, airline moguls, required the funds from the Carlston real estate empire, while the Carlstons desired the prestige of the James name. Love was not invited to this equation.Lily stood nervously, her hands clasped tightly when he entered.Vandaulf Claude Carlston, the CEO of Carlston Architectural Firm, exuded an icy, calculating power that made everyone else seem infinitesimally small. He was tall, perfectly dressed in a tailored black suit, and...
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