Chapter 84Richard's Pov The events of yesterday—the confrontation with Sam, Lily’s involvement, and Mark’s public outburst—had left me tangled in a web of confusion and doubt. The pain Lily had endured in the wake of it all was a direct consequence of my love for her. Every moment of anguish she had faced, all the public humiliation, the judgment—it stemmed from a relationship I had fought so hard to build. My intentions with her had always been pure. Yet, despite all my efforts to protect her, it seemed our connection had only brought more turmoil into her life.I couldn’t help but reflect on the gala incident. I had worked tirelessly to keep Lily out of the spotlight, to shield her from anything that could harm her reputation. But Mark had gone too far. I couldn’t just stand by and watch him destroy her. And yet, as we arrived home, I saw the toll it had taken on her. Though she hid it well, I could see the pain in her eyes. She had defended me—slapping Mark across the face in fro
Chapter 83Lily's PovI stood in front of the mirror, letting the steam from the shower evaporate around me. It had been a long, restless night filled with doubts, but I knew I couldn’t let myself sink into despair. I couldn’t let the weight of the world take me down. Today, I would face it all with my head held high. I wasn’t going to let Mark, or anyone, define me.I quickly shook off any lingering thoughts of the previous evening’s chaos. I wasn’t going to waddle in self-pity. Not today.I grabbed my outfit for the day: a crisp white suit trouser, a red camisole, and red vintage shoes that Richard had bought for me. The matching earrings and necklace—a gift from him, one of many he had given me—sparkled in the soft light of the bedroom. As I slipped them on, I couldn’t help but think about how much he meant to me. He was always thoughtful, always there. The jewelry, the gifts—it wasn’t just about material things. They were a reminder of his love for me, of the bond we shared. And I
Chapter 82Lily's Pov"I couldn’t believe my eyes. Standing in front of me, hands on his hips with that familiar smug expression, was Mark. I blinked several times, trying to process the shock of seeing him there.“Mark, what are you doing here?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. The sight of him caught me off guard, and I noticed how different he looked. His usually neat appearance was now disheveled, and there was something wild in his eyes. Something unpredictable.He smirked, eyes narrowing as he sized me up. “I see nemesis is catching up to you,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “What did you think? You leave me for my boss because of his wealth, and you walk freely? It’s time to face the music, Lily.”A cold shiver ran down my spine. The last thing I needed was to cause any more problems for Richard. He was already dealing with so much at the company, and I couldn’t bear the thought of adding to his burdens. But it seemed fate had other plans for me.I looked o
Chapter 81Lily's povIt’s Monday morning, and I woke up to an empty bed once again. I should have felt used to it by now, but I didn’t. I stood up slowly, the weight of the weekend still pressing down on me. The sun was just beginning to creep through the curtains, but even that didn’t bring me the usual peace. Instead, it only reminded me of the battle that awaited me outside this room. The world outside had become so much harsher in just the span of one day.I wasn’t feeling up to the task of going to the office today. Not after the public embarrassment I’d suffered yesterday. No one had warned me that the simple act of being with Richard—being in love with him—would turn me into a spectacle for the world to watch, dissect, and criticize. I had always imagined the worst scenarios, but the reality had surpassed even my most dramatic fears.I could still hear the laughter, the sneering comments, the flashes of cameras from yesterday. The entire day had felt like I was under a microsc
Chapter 80Lily's pov“"That's strange," I said out loud, still staring at my phone screen."What happened?" Mia asked, shifting beside me on the garden bench."The call just… went dead," I replied, frowning. "Could it be bad reception?"“There’s only one way to find out. Why don’t you call him back?” she suggested gently.Without hesitating, I redialed Richard’s number. My heart gave a tiny leap when it rang again—and then he picked up.“Lily, are you okay?” His voice came through, slightly muffled but clear enough to hear the concern.“Richard, is everything alright?”“Yeah. Don’t worry, there’s just really poor reception where I am right now.” He paused for a moment. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”“You didn’t scare me,” I lied.There was a pause. “Listen,” he said softly, “don’t let the news get to you.”“So you’ve seen it?” I asked, my voice quieter now.“Yes. I’ve seen it,” he confirmed. “But honestly? I don’t care what they say. They don’t know anything about us. You’re with me,
Chapter 79Lily's Pov.The week went by so fast it felt like a blur—mostly because Richard was hardly ever home. He came back late and exhausted almost every night, the weight of something unseen pressing down on him. Some mornings, he was already gone before I even opened my eyes. Still, he never left without a note—short, handwritten ones with “I love you” tucked in like a whisper of reassurance. I clung to them, needing the reminder more than I liked to admit.Something about him had changed lately. It wasn’t just the long hours or his silence. It was the look in his eyes when he thought I wasn’t watching—distant, preoccupied. And though he claimed everything was fine, deep down I knew he wasn’t telling me everything about the situation with the stolen materials from the company. I could feel it in my bones.Today was Saturday, and I had hoped we’d finally have a few quiet hours together. Maybe brunch in the garden, laughter in the kitchen, or just lying on the couch like we used t