The morning sun painted the sky in hues of pink and soft gold, casting a gentle glow across the ocean. Waves kissed the shoreline with a soothing rhythm, like a lullaby that had never ended.Lily woke first, stretching like a cat across the bed. She was wrapped in soft white sheets that smelled faintly of salt and Liam. She turned her head to see him beside her, one arm thrown lazily over his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips even in sleep.The sight filled her heart to the brim.She reached out and traced the sharp line of his jaw with the tip of her finger. Liam stirred, his eyes fluttering open to meet hers."Staring at me already, Mrs. Carlyle?" he teased, his voice thick with sleep."You're a sight worth waking up to," she said with a soft laugh.He pulled her into his arms effortlessly, burying his face into the curve of her neck. "If it’s a crime to love you like this, I’ll serve a life sentence."Lily giggled, her fingers threading through his hair. The moment was perfec
The morning sun rose slowly over the horizon, casting a golden light over the island paradise. Liam stirred first, his arms tightening instinctively around Lily's sleeping form. For a moment, he simply held her, his heart swelling with an emotion so fierce, it was almost painful.This woman his wife was the best decision he had ever made.Gently, he brushed his lips over her forehead. Lily shifted slightly, a sleepy smile curling her lips as she snuggled closer into his chest."Good morning, Mrs. Carlyle," he whispered.Her voice, soft and husky from sleep, answered, "Good morning, Mr. Carlyle."Neither moved for a while. They stayed wrapped in each other, letting the peace of the island seep into their bones. It was a rare kind of morning no meetings, no stress, no interruptions. Just them.Eventually, Lily sat up, stretching with a contented sigh. Her eyes sparkled when she looked at him. "What's the plan for today?"Liam smirked. "It's a surprise."Lily raised an eyebrow, her curio
The private jet touched down smoothly on the runway, bringing Liam and Lily back home after their unforgettable island honeymoon. As the engines powered down, Liam turned to her, a smile tugging at his lips.“Ready to start our next adventure?” he asked softly, his hand finding hers.Lily squeezed his hand in return, her heart fluttering with a mixture of excitement and nerves. Their honeymoon had been a dream, but now reality awaited them life, responsibility, and the tiny miracle growing inside her.“I’m ready," she whispered.The door to the jet opened, and the warm breeze of their home city greeted them. As they descended the steps, Lily was surprised to see a small crowd gathered family, friends, and even a few loyal employees waiting to welcome them back.Streamers hung from makeshift banners reading Welcome Home Mr. and Mrs. Carlyle!Lily blinked back unexpected tears.Liam leaned down, murmuring, “Get used to it, Mrs. Carlyle. You’re loved.”The black town car whisked them bac
lThe days following their announcement felt like living in a dream.Lily often found herself pausing in the middle of her activities, hands protectively cradling her stomach, marveling at the new life growing inside her. She and Liam spent lazy mornings planning the nursery, arguing over baby names, and talking about the kind of parents they wanted to be.It was blissful, almost too perfect.And somewhere deep inside, Lily knew life had a way of testing happiness just when it seemed most secure.It was a Tuesday afternoon when the past came knocking.Lily was in the living room, flipping through baby catalogs, when the butler entered quietly.“Madam, there’s a visitor,” Mr. Hawthorne said with a frown. “A woman. She says her name is... Emily.”Lily’s heart froze.Emily Harper.Her estranged sister.For a moment, she couldn’t speak. Memories rushed back Emily’s betrayal, her selfishness, her disappearance when Lily had needed her the most. The pain of taking her place as Liam’s bride t
The air had changed around the Carlyle estate.What had once felt like a sanctuary now felt like a fortress preparing for siege. Every knock on the door, every unknown number on Lily's phone sent a shiver down her spine. She hated living like this—hated feeling like prey.And deep down, she knew the storm hadn't even started yet.It was late afternoon when Emily made her next move.Lily had just finished her prenatal appointment and was resting on the terrace when her phone buzzed.Emily: Can we meet? It’s important.Lily stared at the message, suspicion curling in her gut. Since arranging Emily’s apartment, she had kept her distance, wary of reopening old wounds. But something about the message felt urgent and desperate.After a long moment of hesitation, Lily agreed to meet at a small café near the city’s edge. She didn’t tell Liam. Not because she wanted to keep secrets, but because she didn’t want him worrying even more.Maybe she just needed to put the past to rest once and for a
The clock on the wall ticked with a quiet precision, echoing the heavy silence that enveloped the Carlyle estate. A storm was brewing in the distance, a storm that promised to turn everything upside down. The past week had been a blur of frantic meetings, strategic planning, and constant surveillance.But despite all the precautions, despite the increasing tension, nothing could have prepared them for what was about to come.It all started on a crisp Saturday morning. The day had begun like any other, with Lily preparing for the gala event she and Liam had been invited to. The annual gala was one of the most prestigious events in their social circle, a place where power, influence, and wealth were flaunted without shame.Liam, as usual, was lost in a sea of meetings, handling the affairs of his business empire. The high-profile nature of the event meant that all eyes would be on him, and the last thing he needed was any distractions.But distractions were exactly what came.The gala w
The next few days were a whirlwind of public statements, legal meetings, and endless strategies. The storm Liam and Lily had been facing in the public eye was nowhere near its end. The media frenzy over the allegations against their marriage had only intensified, with every outlet pushing new headlines and rumors. No matter what Liam said in his press conference, no matter how many times he reassured Lily that they would fight this, the damage was done.The estate felt different. The usual sense of peace and order was gone, replaced by a heavy tension that seemed to hang in the air like a storm cloud. Inside the walls of the Carlyle home, every conversation was calculated, every decision weighed with care. Even the staff seemed more cautious, their usual chatter now replaced by hushed whispers when they thought no one was listening.But despite the chaos outside, Liam and Lily had to stay focused. They couldn’t afford distractions. Not when everything was on the line.Liam was in his
The video that Marcus had orchestrated to tear down Liam and Lily’s reputation had sent shockwaves through the media. The world watched as the scandal unfolded, as each detail painted an image of deceit and manipulation. The public was torn, divided in their opinions. Some believed the video was damning evidence of Liam’s darker dealings, while others saw it as yet another attempt by Marcus to destroy everything Liam had worked for.Liam sat in his office, his expression colder than usual. The walls of the room felt like they were closing in on him as he reviewed the reactions in real-time. Reports flooded in, detailing the fallout from the video. Journalists from across the globe had reached out for statements. His phone rang incessantly, each call only adding to the pressure mounting in the room.Lily, ever the pillar of support, entered the room with purpose, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She had spent the entire day working with their legal team, and she could feel
The private jet coasted across the Atlantic, leaving the stormy skies of London behind. Liam sat by the window, his eyes unfocused as the clouds drifted below. Across from him, Elias sat in silence, earbuds in, pretending to be engrossed in the music on his phone. But Liam could feel the tension thick and undeniable settling between them like an invisible wall.It was one thing to discover a long-lost half-brother. It was another entirely to trust him.Liam had grown up in a world where loyalty was transactional and trust, a weapon that could turn into a blade. Elias, on the other hand, had lived a life stripped of luxury but anchored in truth or so he thought. Now both stood at a crossroads, each unsure whether they were about to gain an ally or invite in another enemy.“You ever been to New York before?” Liam finally asked.Elias glanced up, removed one earbud, and shook his head. “No. Just seen it in movies. Looks… loud.”A dry chuckle escaped Liam. “That’s one word for it.”There
The silence in the office was thunderous. Liam stood rooted, his mind reeling from the revelations Damien had just laid before him. A hidden heir. A forged will. And a father who had manipulated everything..even Lily. The room felt colder, the walls tighter. Damien leaned against the glass table, arms folded. “I didn’t want to believe it either. But the documents we decrypted… they don’t lie.” Liam slowly sat down, fingers steepled beneath his chin. “So what you’re saying is, my father had a second family?” Damien nodded. “Or at least a child he kept hidden. There are bank transactions brecurring ones made to an unlisted name. And some travel records that suggest he flew to London frequently, always to the same address.” “Do we have a name?” Lily asked, her voice laced with disbelief. Damien opened the tablet again. “Elias Thorn. Born nineteen years ago. His mother, Marianne Thorn, was once Marcus Carlyle’s personal assistant. She resigned under suspicious circumstances and mov
The storm outside mirrored the one brewing inside Liam’s mind. Rain hammered against the windows of the Carlyle estate as thunder cracked through the sky like a warning. But Liam paid no attention to the weather. All he could focus on was the photograph of his father and Emily.It haunted him.He stared at the fire dancing in the fireplace, his jaw clenched, mind racing. How had Emily ended up beside Marcus Carlyle? What did she know? What had she done? More importantly what had his father done?Behind him, Lily emerged from the hallway, wrapped in a silk robe. She hadn’t said much after the revelation. They were both stunned. But the silence between them wasn’t distant. It was heavy with thought and concern.“Liam?” she said softly, approaching him. “I’ve been thinking… if my sister worked with your father, it must’ve been before the wedding was even arranged. Before you and I ever crossed paths.”“That means your sister didn’t just disappear for no reason,” Liam said darkly. “She va
The following day began with a heavy air at Carlyle Holdings. Everyone walked on eggshells, their movements hushed, eyes filled with nervous curiosity. The tension had become a permanent resident in the sleek hallways, following Liam wherever he went.He entered the boardroom early, before any of the executives arrived. The footage had been secured, and Damien was working on getting a strategic release to the media. But that was only the tip of the iceberg. He needed to know the truth and it started with Emily Grant.She arrived minutes later, perfectly punctual as always. Her ash-blonde hair was tied in a neat bun, and her dark navy suit was unwrinkled despite the storm swirling around the company. Her calm demeanor hadn't changed.“You wanted to see me, sir?” she asked, setting down her briefcase.“Yes. Please sit,” Liam gestured, motioning toward the seat across from him.Emily took her seat, watching him closely. “Is this about the leak?”“It is,” he said, folding his hands. “Our
The following morning, the mansion was unnaturally quiet, despite the chaos unfolding beyond its walls. Liam sat in his private study, poring over the leaked documents for the third time. Lines of numbers and names danced in front of him like ghosts from a time he had tried so hard to forget. Somewhere in these files, someone had planted the seeds meant to destroy him.There was a knock.“Come in,” he said, not looking up.Lily stepped in, a cup of coffee in her hand. “You need to eat something.”He offered a faint smile, taking the cup. “Thanks. I didn’t sleep much.”“Neither did I,” she murmured, sitting beside him. “You’ve been quiet since last night. You okay?”“No,” he answered honestly. “But I will be. Once I find out who’s doing this.”They sat in silence for a moment, the hum of the city beyond the windows muffled by thick glass.“I’ve been thinking,” Lily said softly. “About that photo they leaked… the one of you and your father.”“What about it?”“You said you didn’t go insi
The morning light filtered through the bedroom curtains, casting golden streaks across the wooden floors. Liam sat at the edge of the bed, elbows on his knees, staring at the unread message Damien had forwarded to him at dawn.The headline was bold and damning: “Carlyle Legacy Tied to Financial Crimes: Leaked Documents Surface.”Though the article didn’t mention Liam by name, it danced dangerously close. The Carlyle estate. The offshore accounts. The shell corporations. The web of it all threaded neatly back to the past he had barely survived.He looked at Lily. She was still sleeping, her brow relaxed for once, the faint trace of peace softening her usually guarded face. He hated that this peace would be shattered soon.Liam slid his phone into his pocket and left the room.Downstairs, the house was already abuzz. Sofia, his long-time housekeeper, handed him a tablet. “It’s everywhere, sir. Social media. Business news. Blogs.”He took the tablet and skimmed headlines, each one more s
The following days were quieter, not because of tension, but a newfound softness that grew between them. Lily had not yet given her heart fully back, but she had let down the thick walls she’d built around it. Liam, for the first time in years, was learning to speak the language of vulnerability.They spent their mornings in the garden and their evenings at the dinner table not in stiff silence, but with small conversations, shy smiles, and cautious laughter. It wasn’t a return to what they were, but the first steps toward something new.But even as the pieces began to align, something restless stirred beneath the surface.It started with a phone call.Liam had been in his office when the private line rang. Only a few people had that number his lawyer, his assistant, and Damien.He picked it up.“What is it?” Liam asked, expecting routine business.But Damien’s voice came in low and urgent. “I need to see you. It’s important.”Liam leaned back in his chair. “Can’t it wait?”“No. It’s
The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the Carlyle estate, casting long golden beams across the marble floor. The warmth of the day contrasted sharply with the coldness Lily felt inside. Though she’d asked for time and space, the emptiness it brought felt like a burden she wasn’t prepared for.For days, Liam respected her boundaries. He kept to his study, engaged with work or perhaps simply brooding in solitude. Meals were often quiet. If they crossed paths, they did so silently, a nod or a fleeting glance the only acknowledgment of each other’s presence. Lily wasn’t sure if it was what she truly wanted, but she feared that if they spoke, the rawness of her heart would take control.But life continued outside their strained cocoon.Lily found herself drawn to the garden, the only place where her thoughts could roam free. The blooming orchids and gentle rustle of the trees provided her with a strange sort of peace. She would sit for hours, sketching idly or journaling her
The days following their confrontation were heavy with silence, each passing moment a reminder of the vast chasm that now existed between Lily and Liam. The house, once filled with the soft hum of daily life and whispered conversations, had become a quiet prison. Every corner seemed to hold an unspoken truth, every glance between them a question left unanswered.Lily spent her days walking the halls aimlessly, her mind a maze of conflicting emotions. She hadn’t expected forgiveness to come so easily, nor had she expected the weight of it to feel so suffocating. Each time she tried to think of a way forward, the shadow of Liam’s secrets loomed larger, clouding any hope she had left for their future.She had known from the start that love wasn’t simple, that the path they had chosen would be fraught with challenges. But this... this betrayal was something she hadn’t prepared for. To think that Liam, the man she had trusted with her heart, had kept so much from her, had hidden so many tr