Chapter 23

On the other side of the office, Lily was buried in a mountain of paperwork, her brow furrowed in concentration. She had been working tirelessly all day, fueled by a mix of determination and caffeine. The task assigned to her by her new boss, Lewis Evans, loomed large—an extensive set of account reports that needed to be completed by morning. With the office nearly deserted, the silence felt heavy, broken only by the faint sounds of the cleaning staff moving about in the background.

The overhead lights were dim, casting a soft glow over the empty workspace, but Lily’s cabin remained illuminated, a small island of light in an otherwise darkened office. She squinted at the computer screen, her eyes tired but resolute. The clock ticked steadily, reminding her that time was slipping away. She needed to finish this report, not just for her own sake, but to prove herself a hard worker in front of her new boss, who looked familiar to her.

Meanwhile, Lewis Evans was on a call with his mother as he stepped out of his cabin. He had been deep in thought, discussing family matters, when he decided to go home. As he walked through the quiet office, he hadn’t expected to find anyone still working at this late hour. The sight of the empty desks and the muted ambiance usually signaled the end of the day, but as he passed by Lily’s cabin, he noticed the light spilling out from under the door.

Curiosity piqued, Lewis paused. He had known Lily for years, harboring a secret admiration for her since their School days. They had crossed paths often, but he had never found the courage to approach her, always too shy to reveal his feelings. Now, as her boss, the stakes felt even higher. He knew she didn’t remember him—not really—and the thought filled him with disappointment.

Flashback

The school buzzed with energy, students bustling between classes, laughter and chatter filling the air. It was a crisp autumn day, the leaves crunching underfoot as they turned vibrant shades of orange and gold. Among the throngs of students, Lily could always be found trailing behind Ethan, her eyes sparkling with admiration as she hung on his every word.

Lewis stood a few paces away, leaning against a tree, arms crossed tightly over his chest. He watched the pair with a mix of frustration and longing. Lily was intelligent, driven, and had a spark that drew people in, yet she seemed utterly oblivious to the way Ethan treated her. Lewis had always admired her from afar, but the sight of her chasing after Ethan made his blood boil.

“There she goes again,” he muttered under his breath, watching as Lily laughed at something Ethan said, her smile radiant. “Can’t she see he’s not worth it?”

His friend Jake, sitting nearby, raised an eyebrow. “You’ve got it bad, man. Why don’t you just tell her how you feel?”

Lewis shook his head, frustration bubbling to the surface. “It’s not that simple. She’s always right there, following him like a lost puppy. And Ethan? He treats her like she’s nothing.”

Jake leaned back, intrigued. “You care about her, don’t you?”

“Of course I do! I just hate seeing her get hurt. She deserves someone who appreciates her,” Lewis replied, his voice rising slightly. “Ethan’s a jerk. He doesn’t deserve her.”

ust then, Lily and Ethan approached, their interaction taking a sharp turn. Lewis clenched his jaw,

“Why are you always so annoying, Lily?” Ethan suddenly shouted, his voice echoing across the courtyard. He pushed her back with a rough shove, causing her to stumble slightly. “Can’t you take a hint? I don’t want to be around you!”

Lily’s face fell, confusion and hurt flickering in her eyes. “Ethan, I was just trying to—”

“Just trying to what? Make me look bad?” he interrupted, glaring at her. “You’re such a loser. Just leave me alone!” With that, he turned and stormed away, leaving Lily standing there, stunned and visibly shaken.

Lewis felt a surge of anger boil within him, but he quickly approached her, concern etched on his face. “Lily, are you okay?”

She forced a smile, though her eyes betrayed her pain. “I’m fine, really. Ethan’s just stressed about his match.”

Lewis could see through her brave facade but knew better than to push. He respected her feelings and understood that she didn’t want to hear anything negative about Ethan. “Alright, if you say so,” he replied gently. “How about we focus on the study group later? I could really use your help with the material.”

Lily nodded, her smile returning, albeit a bit strained. “Sure! I’d love to help.”

“Great! Let’s meet at the library later,” Lewis said, relieved to see her trying to lift her spirits. “And if you need anything, I’m here for you.”

Lily nodded again, her expression softening. “Thanks, Lewis. That means a lot.”

Later that day, as the sun dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows across the campus, Ethan and his group were practicing football on the field. Laughter and shouts echoed as they kicked the ball around, but Lewis felt a storm brewing inside him. He walked alone toward the field, his anger simmering just below the surface. He couldn’t let anyone see how furious he was about Ethan’s treatment of Lily, but he needed a reason to confront him.

As he passed by, Ethan kicked the ball with all his might, and it soared directly toward Lewis, hitting him squarely in the chest.

“Watch where you’re kicking that thing, idiot!” Lewis shouted, glaring at Ethan, who simply laughed.

“What’s the matter, Lewis? Can’t take a little friendly fire?” Ethan retorted, smirking as he sauntered over.

The tension crackled in the air. Lewis clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his anger. “You think it’s funny treating people like that? You’re a bully, Ethan.”

Ethan stepped closer, his expression turning cold. “And what are you going to do about it? You think you can stand up to me?”

Lewis took a deep breath, adrenaline coursing through him. “Yeah, I do. You need to learn a lesson.”

The argument escalated quickly, voices rising as they exchanged heated words.