LOGINLily Thompson The music throbbed through the walls, bass vibrating up my legs and into my chest. The air was thick with perfume, alcohol, and the dizzy swirl of lights flashing across the packed dance floor. Ryan’s hand was on my waist, warm, steady, grounding me even as my body buzzed from the shots I’d already downed. One moment I was laughing at something he whispered, and the next, his mouth was on mine. God. I melted into him, my fingers clutching the front of his shirt, pulling him closer. His kiss wasn’t sweet — it was hungry. Raw. Like he’d been starving for me and finally gave in. And I kissed him back with the same desperation. We didn’t care about the crowd, about the eyes darting toward us. His tongue slid against mine, his hand slid lower on my back, and I swore the whole world fell away. I couldn’t get enough. My lips chased his, my breath came fast, my heart wild. Then suddenly, he pulled back. His chest was rising and falling hard, his eyes dark but stead
Lily Thompson We ended up in a nightclub downtown, lights flashing, music pulsing through the floor. I hadn’t been anywhere like this in years. At first, I was stiff, clutching my drink, too aware of the crowd and the cameras that might lurk outside. But Ryan stayed close, his hand steady on the small of my back, his voice low in my ear. “Relax,” he murmured. “Tonight, no one gets to touch you. You’re with me.” I didn’t know the last time I’d been inside a place like this. The lights flashed pink, blue, gold. Music thumped in my chest. People laughed, danced, shouted over the beat. For a second, I almost turned around and walked out, but Ryan’s hand pressed against the small of my back, guiding me forward. “You’re safe,” he said in my ear. His voice cut through the noise, steady, sure. I nodded, though my legs were stiff, my shoulders tight. He led me to a booth tucked into the corner, away from the worst of the crowd. The leather was worn, the table sticky, but it f
Lily Thompson I thought she would leave quietly. But the next day, she was back. I opened the door and my chest tightened. Part of me wanted to slam it in her face, but something in her eyes stopped me. “Lily, please,” she begged, “Just listen to me. I can explain.” I crossed my arms, blocking the doorway. “Explain how you tried to trick me into signing away everything I just won?” Her face crumpled. “It’s not like that.” “Then what is it like?” I snapped. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks exactly like that.” She twisted her hands together, her voice shaking. “I didn’t have a choice. He said he would ruin me if I didn’t. He promised me everything would be fine if I just… if I just got your signature.” I stared at her, anger boiling under my skin. “He? Who is this he you keep talking about? Dante? Because from what I read you were also in conjunction with Dante to steal my inheritance. I mean you don’t even love me since I was adopted” “But-“ she tried to
Lily Thompson “Lily, enough,” my mother snapped, her voice cracking like a whip. The gentle smile she had plastered on was gone now, replaced with sharp impatience. She shoved the documents closer to me across the coffee table. “Forget what you think you saw. Forget the damn iPad. Sign the papers.” I stared at her, stunned. My chest felt like it was caving in, like the air was being pulled right out of my lungs. “Forget what I saw?” My voice trembled, but it was thick with rage. “You want me to forget that you and Dante were texting? That you were in on this with him the whole time?” She rolled her eyes, folding her arms like I was being dramatic. “You’re overreacting. He tricked me just as much as he tricked you. Those messages don’t mean anything.” I shot up from the couch, my hands trembling as I snatched up the iPad from the table. I unlocked it with shaking fingers and held the screen out toward her. “Doesn’t mean anything?” I screamed, my voice breaking. “You were plot
Lily Thompson I had just slipped the iPad onto the couch cushion when I heard her footsteps. Slow, deliberate, echoing down the stairs. My heart was still racing, but I forced my face into something calm, even warm. Isabella was still curled in my lap, humming softly to herself as if the world hadn’t just tilted beneath me. My mom appeared with a neat leather folder clutched in her hand. Her smile was wide, too wide, practiced. “There we are,” she said lightly, as though she’d simply fetched a recipe book. She held the folder against her chest for a moment before setting it on the coffee table between us. “The papers. I thought it would be best to finalize this now while you’re here.” I tilted my head, keeping my voice soft. “Papers?” She gave a small laugh, brushing imaginary lint from her blouse. “The transfer, sweetheart. Of the company, the assets, the accounts… all of it. We need to move it into my name so you don’t feel overwhelmed. You already have college, and Isab
Lily Thompson Isabella was sprawled on the rug in the living room, her small fingers tapping away at my mother’s iPad like she owned it. “Careful with that, baby,” I warned halfheartedly, sipping my cold coffee. “I’m not doing anything,” Isabella chirped, eyes glued to the cartoon game on the screen. Then the device chimed. A sharp ding—not the sound of her game. A message flashed across the top of the iPad. Isabella frowned, tilting her head. “Aunt Rose’s phone is talking.” She squinted at the words, lips moving as she tried to read. Before I could react, Isabella scrambled up. “I have to give it to Aunt Rose!” she announced, clutching the iPad tight as she dashed for the stairs. “Isa—wait!” I jumped to my feet, but she was already halfway there. Her little socks slipped on the polished floor. She squealed as her feet slid out from under her. The iPad flew from her hands, clattering against the bottom step as she landed hard on her knees. “Isabella!” My heart stoppe







