Determined to set the record straight, Blake knew he had to clarify the truth. Taking a deep breath, he spoke, "Jake, I need to make something clear. I never used your sister, nor did I ever abandon her. It was Greta who made the decision to leave me, against my wishes. I never expected or wanted that outcome. Let's not confuse Lily with false accusations." Blake's voice held firm conviction as he asserted his innocence.With a firmness in his voice, Blake emphasized his point. "Jake, you need to understand this clearly. I may forgive you this time, but if you ever put Lily through something like this again, my forgiveness won't come as easily." Giving one final push to create distance between them, Blake shifted his attention to Lily, his concern etched deeply on his face. He approached her gently and asked, "Lily, are you alright?"Relieved, Lily's voice carried a sense of gratitude as she replied, "Yes, I'm fine. But what about you? Are you hurt?"Blake's response came swiftly, fil
Before the first rays of dawn illuminated the room, Blake's weary eyes fluttered open, his body feeling remarkably refreshed. The remnants of fatigue clung to him, urging him to seek solace in the warmth of a shower. With gentle steps, he left the study, careful not to disturb the tranquil stillness that enveloped the house.As he approached his room, a flicker of relief washed over him when he discovered that Lily had not locked the door from the inside. Swiftly and silently, he turned the doorknob and slipped inside, entering the sanctuary of his personal space.With a sense of anticipation, Blake ventured straight into the inviting embrace of the bathroom. There, he shed his clothes, each smelled with the evidence of his arduous fight, releasing the accumulated tension from his fight-fatigued body. The pungent scent of sweat dissipated as he allowed the cascading water to envelop him, its warmth acting as a balm, easing the soreness in his muscles.Under the soothing stream, he clo
“Oh no, Anne's been trying to reach me. She left me several missed calls and sent me a message,” Lily said, her voice shaking with worry. She finished her coffee and went to the sink to wash the cup. Blake followed her. “What's wrong?” he asked. He noticed the concern on Lily’s face.“I’m not sure. The message is alarming, and I can't seem to reach her back,” Lily replied, her voice trembling. “I think I need to head home now. Do you mind if we go now?”“Of course not, let's go,” Blake said, placing a comforting hand on Lily’s shoulder. Lily’s mind raced with worry about Anne’s well-being, and she hoped they would find her safe and sound.Lily burst through the front door with Blake following closely behind. She immediately called out to her mother, who was sitting on the sofa, visibly trembling with nerves. Anne’s eyes widened in surprise when she saw Lily with a handsome man by her side, but her concern quickly overshadowed her curiosity.“Mom, what’s wrong? Where’s Dad?” Lily ask
Working at his desk, Blake's phone rang, interrupting his concentration. He sighed and picked it up. It was Andrew, reminding him once again of the pack meeting that was happening that night.“Alright,” Blake said, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Listen, I’m planning on bringing Lily to the meeting with me. I want to make sure that the pack knows she is welcome and accepted. I don't want her to feel rejected or out of place.”“Of course, Blake,” Andrew replied. “I’ll make sure to inform the pack beforehand.”With a renewed sense of purpose, Blake stood up from his desk and went to find Lily. She was sitting at her own desk, typing away at her computer. When she heard the opening of Blake’s office door, she stood up and asked if he wanted anything.Smiling, he said, “Yeah, come over here. I have something to tell you.”After that eventful night, Blake underwent a profound change. Their time in the office was more than just work. With Lily, the office rules were disabled. She coul
“Talking about me, Andrew?”Lily’s heart skipped a beat as she turned around to face Blake, who had apparently snuck up on them without them noticing. She felt a flush rise to her cheeks as she took in his chiseled features and broad shoulders. It was impossible to deny that the man exuded power and charisma in equal measure.Andrew didn't seem fazed by Blake's sudden appearance. “Yeah, I was just filling Lily in on your legendary reputation,” he said with a grin.Blake raised an eyebrow, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. “I see. And what did you tell her?”Andrew shrugged. “Just that you're a bit of a wild card. But don't worry, I assured her that you're not as scary as you seem.”Blake chuckled softly. “Well, I’m glad to hear that you're looking out for me, Andrew. And Lily, don’t worry - I promise I won't bite...unless you ask me to.” He winked at her, and Lily couldn’t help but feel a flutter of excitement in her chest.Andrew moved away from them and went towards Jes
Emily, sensing Lily's distress, quickly reassured her. "No, Lily, nothing to worry about. Blake called me early this morning and asked me to come over here and accompany you while he's gone. That's why I thought you already knew he had an emergency business trip," she explained in a soothing tone.Lily let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, I see. Thank you, Emily," she said, her voice filled with gratitude. She then remembered something important. "Wait, has Blake left me a message?" she asked, hoping that he had left her some sort of explanation.“Perhaps you should check your phone,” Emily suggested with a smile, knowing that sometimes the simplest solution is the best.Lily quickly made her way back to her room. As she reached for her phone on the side table, she noticed a piece of paper stuck to a computer on the reading nook desk. The computer was not there last night. She made her way over to the reading nook, and saw a note that read, “Hey, Lil. Sorry I'm not there. Something came up,
Blake knew full well that venturing into this meeting, in response to Matt's cryptic late-night call, could very well be a perilous trap. Yet, he had no choice but to confront him. Twenty years had elapsed, and every single moment since the tragic loss of his parents, Blake had relentlessly pursued the truth. Now, standing face to face with the perpetrator, he must not under-estimate Matt."Look at you, Blake, growing up to resemble your father," Matt remarked, his voice tinged with a surprising blend of surprise and sentiment, as if he had not betrayed him in the past. “You looked much like me when I was your age,” he went on. A casual grin danced upon his lips, and Blake was wary of Matt concealing the treachery he had inflicted upon his sister and brother-in-law with some of his father's pack.Blake's gaze narrowed, “You must have ruined your brain from the torment of your guilt, and forgotten that I am your aggrieved nephew,” he told him, cautious of the facade Matt presented. "My
"Blake," Lily interjected, her voice filled with concern and her eyes displaying a mix of earnestness and worry, "I truly believe in his sincerity. But have you ever thought about detaining him for further investigation? We shouldn't underestimate the possibility that he might be revealing something genuinely important. What if we dismiss his claims now and later regret it deeply?"Blake's brow furrowed as he pondered Lily's unexpected interruption. Typically, he would become irritated when someone dared to suggest how he should handle a situation. In his mind, he questioned why she felt the need to interfere in his dealings with the traitor. His anger simmered like a hot iron suddenly doused with cold water, and he silently wished that Andrew would whisk her away from him at that moment. Blake, however, managed to suppress his frustration, opting not to express it, mindful of potentially hurting her feelings unintentionally. Surprisingly, her voice had a soothing effect on him, easin