THE TRUTH UNTOLD

Lily's breath got stuck in her neck. The room seemed to shrink, the air was thick with stress.

"what did you just say?" She whispered, her voice was barely audible.

The man who was standing long, his sharp jaw was held, the dark eyes were boring with him. "You heard me. She is engaged to me."

Lily stumbled back. "No! I don't even know you!"

Liam did not flinch. Their silver-gray gaze moved between them, between the cold and the calculation. His expression was unmatched, but it was impossible to face the storm in his eyes.

"Interesting," he said softly, his voice like silk on steel. "You claim that you don't know him, yet he is making adventure claims here. Care to explain, Lily?"

"I don't know what he is talking about!" Lily gasping, moving towards the window. Her heart came in his chest. "I had never seen him before in my life."

The stranger's gaze became harsh. "Don't lie to me."

"Who are you?" Liam demanded, moving forward, his entire frame was threatened.

The man became straight. "My name is Adrian Carter."

Lily froze.

Carter.

No.

No, no, no.

His heart drowned. The last name was familiar - actually so.

"I am here on behalf of the Carter family ," Adrian continued, her eyes are narrowing on the lily. "This woman is my fiance. We were married years ago."

Lily violently nodded her head. "This is not true! My family never arranged anything-"

"Was he not?" Adrian's voice intensified. "Your mother didn't tell you?

The words echoed like a death in Lily's head.

Her father?

His father's memories were flooded - his hot smile, the promises he made before the stories told before the bed. but this? A systematic wedding?

No, they would never have done this. voice lowered, almost a growl. "She’s tied to me by blood promise. Our families’ futures depend on this union."

"And my empire depends on this marriage," Liam shot back. "You think I care about some outdated family arrangement? The world already sees her as mine. I won’t let her go."

Lily’s knees buckled.

Two powerful men arguing over her as if she were property.

This couldn’t be her life.

"No," Lily whispered, backing away. "This can’t be happening."

Adrian’s eyes softened, and for a brief moment, his tone gentled. "Lily, I know this is a shock, but I’m here for you. I can protect your family. You won’t have to marry a man who sees you as a business deal."

Lily looked up, startled.

Was he… trying to help her?

But before she could respond, Liam’s hand shot out, grabbing hers.

"Don’t listen to him." Liam’s voice was low, dangerous. "He’s manipulating you. He showed up the moment news of our engagement hit the tabloids. Convenient, isn’t it?"

"Let go of me!" Lily yanked her hand free, her chest rising and falling with rapid breaths.

Her gaze flicked between the two men.

Liam's ruthless, cold, yet offering a way to protect her sister.

Adrian..familiar in name but a stranger in truth, offering freedom laced with uncertainty.

Her head spun.

What was the truth?

"Lily," Adrian stepped forward, "choose me. You don’t have to tie yourself to a man like him. I can help your family."

Liam’s silver eyes flashed with warning. "The only choice she has is to walk down that aisle with me. Or watch her family crumble."

Lily’s breath hitched.

Her family. Emily.

The weight of responsibility crushed her chest.

"I—" she began, her voice shaking.

Suddenly, Liam’s phone buzzed.

He glanced at it. His expression shifted—his cool mask slipping for the first time.

Lily frowned. "What is it?"

Liam’s jaw tightened. "The media’s outside. Dozens of them. They know you’re here."

Adrian smirked. "Looks like the whole world is watching."

Liam’s gaze darkened. He turned to Lily, his voice like ice.

"Decide now. Walk out there by my side as my fiancée—or everything you’re fighting for burns."

Lily stared at the two men, her mind a whirlwind of confusion, fear, and impossible choices.

The door creaked open.

A maid stepped in, her face pale.

"Sir… the media’s reporting something urgent."

Liam didn’t turn. "What?"

The maid swallowed.

"They say… they say Lily Harper isn’t who she claims to be."

The room went silent.

Lily’s heart stopped.

"What?" she whispered, turning toward the maid. "What are you talking about?"

The maid looked down. "They found something. About your past. About who you really are."

Liam’s silver gaze locked onto Lily, cold and searching.

"Explain. Now."

Lily staggered back, shaking her head.

"I… I don’t know what they’re talking about!"

But even as she spoke, a memory faint and distant stirred at the edges of her mind.

A secret she thought had been buried forever.

And this time, there would be no running from it.