Chapter 18- Rewritten Bond

The silence in the mansion had become unbearable.

Lily stood at the edge of the staircase, her hand resting lightly on the ornate railing, her mind drifting. The walls around her, once strangers to her presence, now echoed with memories that refused to fade—whispers of heartbreak, betrayal, and loss.

Earlier that morning, she had gone to William to collect a few final things and return the spare key he had given her long ago. Though she had technically been dismissed from the mansion, there was something left unsaid between them, and she couldn’t leave without at least confronting it.

William had been seated in the lounge, flipping through some documents, when Lily approached with her bag.

"Leaving for good this time?" he asked casually, without even lifting his eyes.

She held her chin high. "Yes. I think this place has seen enough of me."

He finally looked at her, the corner of his lips twitching with a smirk. "What will you do now? Find another rich man to annoy?"

Lily blinked, then scoffed. "You already fired me. I’ll go job hunting like a normal person."

William leaned back into the sofa, crossing one leg over the other with deliberate flair. "You seem like a hardworking employee. I’ve seen your work stats. Efficient, detail-oriented. Quite impressive."

Her eyes narrowed. "Then why did you fire me?"

"Because you were becoming... inefficient at staying away from trouble."

She crossed her arms. "So what’s this? An apology wrapped in sarcasm?"

He chuckled. "No, Lily. It’s a job offer."

"Excuse me?"

"You’re joining my company. I’ve already forwarded the contract to HR. You’re expected at the headquarters on Monday."

Her jaw dropped. "You can’t just decide that for me!"

"Too late," he said, sipping from his cup. "You’re already on the team."

Lily glared at him, stunned. "You really are impossible."

"And you, Miss Lily, are too stubborn to see when someone is offering you a chance."

She spun on her heels, bag in hand. "You know what? Keep your mansion. And your sarcasm. I’ll think about it."

William smiled faintly as she walked away, her footsteps echoing down the marble floor.

A Week Later

The office building stood tall and polished in the heart of the city. Lily stepped out of the elevator, clutching the file she had been reviewing since morning. Her heels clicked against the marble flooring as she passed rows of glass-walled offices.

The job offer had come through William’s assistant two days after she left. Not from William himself. But the terms were better, the role elevated, and the salary respectful.

She was not the same Lily.

She wouldn’t allow herself to be.

“Coffee?”

Lily looked up to see a young woman with honey-brown curls and an awkward smile. “Yes, please. Black, no sugar.”

“On it, ma’am.”

She exhaled and glanced at her inbox. The day’s schedule was tight—meetings, presentation drafts, and two internal reviews. She welcomed the distraction.

That afternoon, Nany sat alone in a café nestled between two tall buildings, her laptop open, documents scattered. She was finalizing her proposal for a peace initiative she had been working on for months. The café was a blend of wood and warm light, the scent of espresso hanging in the air.

A familiar figure entered—the confident stride, navy-blue blazer, and air of authority unmistakable.

Justin.

He was finishing a business meeting at the opposite end of the café. Once his clients left, his gaze met Nany’s. She gave a faint, polite smile. He nodded, returning the gesture.

A few moments later, he approached her table.

"Well, fancy seeing you here again," he said, his tone friendly.

"Apparently, we both have good taste in coffee shops," Nany replied, closing her laptop slightly.

He chuckled and leaned on the chair. "Mind if I join you for a bit?"

"Go ahead. I could use a break."

They talked, gently, like two people testing waters. No grand gestures, no flirtation—just the comfort of casual conversation. There was something calm, even grounding, about their meeting.

Meanwhile, Lily sat on her office balcony, sipping her coffee, unaware of the quiet moment unfolding between her best friend and her former almost-employer.

Back at her apartment, Lily opened the window and let the cool air brush against her skin. It had been a long day. But something about the week—William’s mocking offer, her new team, and her growing independence—had given her a strange sense of balance.

She was building again.

Rebuilding.

And somewhere inside, the past hadn’t been buried—it simply waited.

The next morning, she returned to her routine. As she passed the glass corridor leading to the executive section, she saw William standing near the conference room. He was surrounded by directors, yet his eyes met hers instantly.

A slow nod.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

They hadn’t spoken since she joined back. Their encounters had been cold, professional, sharp-edged. But under that silence, Lily sensed something fragile.

A thread not entirely broken.

Later that evening, Lily returned home and found an old box she had forgotten about. Inside was Selena’s diary—still worn, still intact.

She sat on her bed and flipped through the pages. They were bright, cheerful, sprinkled with ink hearts and smiling faces.

No pain. No fear.

Just a girl in love.

"He called me his star today. Said I light up his dark days. I’m going to tell William soon. He’ll understand. J is not like the others."

Lily frowned slightly at the letter "J." She wondered. Was this someone William knew?

Before she could read further, her phone rang.

She groaned.

William’s assistant again.

“Mr. William has called for an internal strategy session. You’re expected to attend.”

“Noted.”

She hung up, her eyes still lingering on the letter J in Selena’s diary.

Somehow, even after all these years, the mystery around Selena hadn’t dimmed. But Lily didn’t want to dwell.

Not yet.