LOGINLILY The snow hadn’t stopped falling since dusk. It came down in soft sheets, muting the world into something unreal — like the universe itself was holding its breath. Inside the chalet, the fire glowed low and golden, painting the walls in amber. The scent of cedar and smoke filled the air, and somewhere in the distance, a storm rumbled like it couldn’t quite reach us. Jake was by the window, a glass of whiskey in his hand. He wasn’t watching the storm — he was watching me. “I can’t believe we came back here,” I said quietly, slipping off my shoes and curling up on the couch. “It feels like cheating fate.” He turned, his gaze softening. “Maybe. But if fate wanted to stop me, it should’ve tried harder.” "Corky much?" He walked towards me, like a man who already knew how this would end. When he stopped in front of me, he set his glass down and held out a hand. “Dance with me,” he said simply. “There’s no music.” He smiled faintly. “Then we’ll make our own.” I hesitated only
LILY The plane hummed softly, a low, steady sound that filled the silence between us. Jake was seated beside me, his jacket off, shirt sleeves rolled up, one hand loosely clasping mine over the armrest. We hadn’t said much since takeoff. Outside the window, the world stretched in shades of blue and white — clouds rolling like waves, the faint outline of mountains glinting in the distance. Aspenridge. The place where it all began. “I didn’t think we’d come back here,” I said quietly, watching the horizon. Jake’s thumb brushed my knuckles. “You didn’t think I’d let our story end where it started, did you?” A soft laugh escaped me. “You mean in a snowstorm, with me half-frozen and you pretending not to be a billionaire?” He smiled at that. “I wasn’t pretending. I was hiding.” “Same thing,” I said, but gently. “Maybe,” he said, his voice lower now, “but I’m not hiding anymore.” Something in my chest fluttered painfully. I turned back to the window before he could read t
LILY It started like any other afternoon in the office. Until I saw her. Cassandra. She was the woman the board vouched for as the perfect wife for Jake. Her lineage came from money their connection in the business world was something to be envied. She didn’t belong here anymore. And yet, there she was, gliding past reception like the building belonged to them. My throat went dry. “Miss Carter?” one of the interns whispered. “Should I let Mr. Ryland know—” Too late. Jake stepped out of his office. “Cassandra,” he said finally, voice smooth but cold. “To what do I owe this… surprise?” “Oh, don’t sound so formal, Jake,” she said, her smile sweet . “I was in town for the fundraiser and thought I’d drop by. I heard you’ve been keeping interesting company lately.” Her gaze slid and landed on me. Jake caught it. “We’re done here, Cassandra.” “Still as charming as ever.” Her lips curved, but her eyes glinted. “Do try to stay out of the papers, won’t you?” The moment she
LILY By the time I got to the office the next morning, caffeine had replaced sleep, and I was pretending my brain wasn’t still echoing with Jake Ryland’s voice. " Let’s get married. Secretly. " Now, sitting at my desk, staring at a spreadsheet that looked like it was written in another language, I was seriously considering that maybe I was hallucinating from lack of rest. Because no sane billionaire CEO just blurts out “let’s get married in secret” like a line from a bad soap opera. Except Jake wasn’t a soap opera. He was real. “Good morning, sunshine.” Henry’s voice broke through my thoughts . He appeared beside my desk with a paper cup in one hand and an eyebrow already raised. “You look like someone who either committed tax fraud or had a very eventful night. Which one should I congratulate you for?” I sighed. “Neither.” He leaned on the edge of my desk. “Then it’s worse. Spill it.” I pressed my lips together. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” “Lily,” he
LILY By the time I pulled up outside Jake’s penthouse, the city was cloaked in gold . My hands were tight on the steering wheel, knuckles pale, and my heart was running faster than it had any right to. I wasn’t supposed to be here. We’d agreed—slow.But here I was, sitting in my car, staring up at the glass building that had once felt like a dream and now felt like a test. The last time I’d been here, I’d left before dawn. Heart tangled between guilt and want. And even though the world never found out who I was, the risk still echoed in my chest every time I thought about it. I looked down at my phone, at the text he’d sent an hour ago. " Dinner’s ready. Elevator’s open. " I took a long breath and got out of the car, clutching the small bouquet I’d bought along the way — lilies, stupidly on the nose. Maybe part of me was trying to make peace with my own name. The elevator ride was quiet. My reflection in the mirrored walls looked calm, but my pulse betrayed me. Every floor it
LILYI left his office feeling like I’d walked out of a storm and into glass — the air bright and painfully clear, and every shard reflecting a piece of what I’d just done.My legs felt weak and steady at the same time. I hadn’t planned to say yes. I’d gone in determined to protect him, to protect myself. I’d wanted to be the sensible one. Instead I’d let him hold me hard enough for the world to feel smaller for a moment. I’d let him ask. I’d said yes. The word still hummed in my ears like a secret I wasn’t sure I deserved.The hallway felt narrow and absurdly loud. People pretended not to notice, pretending I was just another assistant carrying a stack of reports. I wanted to tell them. I wanted to shout it down the hall — that I’d just promised to be with him, that I’d walked out of his office and belonged to someone who would fight for me. But I didn’t. We’d agreed on careful.One step at a time.Henry was waiting by the elevators, leaning against the marble with his usual lazy grin







