r 30Lily thanked Nick for everything and decided it was time to leave the hotel. She gathered her belongings and made her way to the lobby, her mind racing with thoughts of her mother. She had to see her and make sure she was okay.The journey to the hospital felt longer than usual. Anxiety gnawed at her insides as she replayed the events of the past few days. She couldn't shake the worry that something else had gone wrong. By the time she arrived at the hospital, her hands were trembling.Lily hurried through the sterile hallways, her heart pounding with each step. As she approached her mother's room, she was filled with a strange sense of dread. She pushed open the door, expecting to see her mother resting in bed, but the room was empty.Panic surged through her. She turned around and saw a nurse passing by."Excuse me," Lily called out, her voice quivering. "Where's my mother? She was in this room."The nurse stopped and gave her a sympathetic look. "Let me check for you. Please w
When Lily woke up the next morning, the sun was streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a warm, golden glow over the penthouse bedroom. She blinked a few times, trying to gather her thoughts and remember where she was. As the events of the previous night came rushing back, she felt a mix of emotions; relief, gratitude, and a lingering sadness.She turned over in bed and saw that she was alone. A pang of disappointment hit her, but then her eyes caught sight of a neatly folded note on the bedside table. She reached out and picked it up, recognizing Nick’s handwriting immediately.“Sorry I had an emergency, I had to go. There are new clothes for you on the table. – Nick.”Lily sighed and smiled faintly, appreciating his thoughtfulness despite his abrupt departure. She slowly sat up, feeling the slight ache in her muscles from the night before, a reminder of the sour thing that happened to her last night. Lily dreads what might have become of her if Nick had not come to h
"Lily, I think you should take a shower," Nick suggested softly, his eyes filled with concern. "It might help you clear your head."Lily nodded numbly, feeling a strange sense of detachment from her own body. She couldn't muster the energy to argue or protest. Instead, she rose from the sofa and walked towards the bathroom, her steps heavy with exhaustion and despair.The bathroom was a sanctuary of marble and glass, immaculate and serene. As she entered, Lily turned on the shower, the sound of water cascading filling the room. She undressed mechanically, her thoughts a chaotic whirlpool of confusion and fear.Stepping under the hot spray, Lily let the water wash over her, hoping it would cleanse not just her body but her tormented soul. The heat was soothing, a stark contrast to the cold, harsh reality that awaited her outside. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't shake the sense of hopelessness that had taken root within her.Tears mingled with the water streaming down her
Nick pulled the crying Lily out of the room, his demeanor shifting from the rage-fueled fury of moments before to something more controlled, though still intense. His jaw was set, eyes fixed ahead as he navigated the narrow hallway, but the harshness that had twisted his features minutes ago had softened slightly. He didn’t say a word as he scooped her up into his arms, carrying her as if she weighed nothing.Lily clung to him, her small fingers gripping his shirt with a desperation that spoke of her lingering terror. Her sobs quieted slightly as she buried her face in his chest, her tears soaking through the fabric. The rhythmic thud of Nick's heartbeat, strong and steady, was a stark contrast to the erratic pounding in her own chest. She could still feel the tremors of fear coursing through her body, each shiver a reminder of the chaos they had narrowly escaped, but there was a small measure of comfort in his embrace, despite everything that had happened.Nick carried her through th
Nick, who was now beyond angry, didn’t give Mr. Agabus any response but rather bounced on him and began to hit him with a relentless fury. His fists came down like a torrent, fueled by a rage that seemed to know no bounds. Every punch landed with a sickening thud, echoing through the room like a drumbeat of violence.Lily's heart pounded with a mixture of fear and desperation as she watched Nick unleash his fury upon Mr. Agabus. Each blow seemed to reverberate through the room, sending shivers down her spine and freezing her in place. Her breath caught in her throat, and she felt a cold sweat break out on her forehead. She could see the fear and pain etched on Mr. Agabus's face, and it tore at her soul. She knew that if she didn't intervene soon, Nick might beat Mr. Agabus to death.Nick, who was now beyond angry, didn’t give Mr. Agabus any response but rather bounced on him and began to hit him with a relentless fury. His fists came down like a torrent, fueled by a rage that seemed t
Earlier...Nick was having a meeting at the lobby of the Royal Hotel when he saw Lily walk in.At first, he wasn’t sure if it was her. The fleeting glimpse he caught from across the crowded room left him in doubt. But then, as he observed her more closely, the unmistakable features began to confirm his suspicions. He couldn’t forget a face like hers, with those striking eyes and the way she carried herself. Nick wondered what she was doing here, in a place that seemed so out of context for her. She looked a bit disoriented, her eyes darting around as if searching for something familiar, and uncomfortable, as if the surroundings were pressing in on her.Nick made a mental note to go and check up on her after his meeting, which he hoped wouldn’t run too long. His curiosity was piqued, and a sense of concern nudged at him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that she might need some kind of assistance, and the thought of leaving her to navigate this unfamiliar environment alone didn’t sit well