Lily's POV. I stared at myself in the mirror and smiled, the foundation did a perfect job in concealing the mark on my cheek. Draco's home but I think I'm safe since he's probably in bed with his girlfriend, I just need to get out of this place before they come down. I only have morning classes today but I think I'll stay till late in the evening, I don't want to face Draco. I adjusted the collar of my shirt and sighed, trying to summon the courage to step out of my room. I didn't have much of a choice, Draco's presence was suffocating, and Isabella's taunting would only make things worse. If I could stay out of sight for the rest of the day, maybe I’d survive another round of their twisted games. As I stepped into the hallway, the heavy silence of the house enveloped me. It was unnerving, almost too quiet, but I brushed it off. I couldn’t afford to let paranoia slow me down. With my bag slung over my shoulder, I headed toward the front door, praying I wouldn’t cross paths with
Lily's POV My heart was beating fast as I headed out of school. This was disastrous. That foolish punk...Daniel...he knows. He knows about my secret affair with Larry. This was bad. Extremely bad. The walls were closing in. And the scariest part? I don’t think telling Larry would help. Who knows, he might even want the secret out. Maybe he’d enjoy the chaos it would cause. I can’t risk that. Not when I’m still trapped in this web with no clear exit. I spotted the car parked where it always was, the family driver standing outside patiently. Just seeing it made my skin crawl. That car felt like a leash, pulling me back to the house, to Draco, to Isabella, to more pain and secrets. No. Not today. I turned quickly, blending into a group of students heading toward the back exit. My head stayed low, heart pounding, praying the driver didn’t catch a glimpse of me. Once I was outside the school gate, I exhaled in relief. I slipped into a quieter street, tugging my hoodie up and my bag
Lily's POV The house was quiet by the time I got home, and for once, I was relieved. That meant I had the whole place to myself...no Isabella’s screeching, no Draco’s mind games, and hopefully, no Larry. But the moment I spotted Larry’s bike parked outside, my shoulders tensed. Great. Just what I needed. Drama with a side of chaos. I hoped he was sleeping. Or out back. Or invisible. Anything but waiting for me inside with that annoying smirk of his and a new set of games. I pushed the door open gently and stepped inside, half expecting someone to jump out from a corner. The house was too silent. Creepy silent. I kicked off my shoes and tiptoed through the hallway like a thief, heading straight to the kitchen. I needed food and a bath. Maybe a nap too. My legs ached from all the walking I’d done earlier, and my head was still spinning from the conversation with Dominic. I opened the fridge, grabbed a soda, and leaned against the counter, exhaling deeply. Dominic. Just thinking
Lily’s POVAfter thinking all the shit in the world, I had just climbed back into bed, still wrapped in my robe, when the door creaked open again.I didn’t even have to look.I felt him.Larry.The air shifted, thickened...charged like static before a lightning strike.“Forgot something,” he said, his voice low, rougher than before.I turned my head slowly, eyes meeting his.He was already closing the door behind him. Again.But this time, he didn’t lock it.He didn’t need to and that's when I knew his mission wasn't any good. “I told you to go to bed,” I said, voice steadier than I felt.“I tried,” he murmured, walking toward me, each step echoing louder than it should’ve. “Didn’t work.”My heart thudded in my chest.“You can’t keep doing this,” I whispered, scooting back instinctively as he neared the bed. “Coming in here like you own me.”He stopped at the edge of the mattress, head tilting. “I don’t own you, Lily.”I let out a shaky breath of relief.Then he added, “Not yet.”My
Lily’s POV“Fuck…” I mumbled, trying hard to move.Every muscle in my body ached like I’d gone twelve rounds with a wild animal and lost. My limbs felt like jelly, my back was sore, and I was pretty sure I wasn’t walking straight for the next decade.I blinked at the morning light filtering through the curtains, groaning as I turned to check the time.Too early.And yet… already late.School. Lessons. Life.I had to get up.Had to.I forced myself to sit upright, wincing as the bedsheets brushed against my skin. My robe was somewhere on the floor, my dignity along with it, and the chaos of last night still clung to the air like humidity. The worst part?I didn’t hate it.I hated that I didn’t hate it.Before I could wrestle with that thought any longer, the door creaked open.My head snapped up.Larry stepped in.Fully dressed this time. Black tee, grey joggers, barefoot...but balanced. Collected. Dangerous in that infuriatingly calm way he had when he was in control of everything.Bu
Lily's POV"Gone?" I asked in awe, blinking like I hadn’t just heard Sasha say something completely impossible.She nodded enthusiastically, her curly ponytail bouncing like it had a mind of its own. “Gone. Like... poof. Vanished. Expelled. Escorted out by two scary men in black suits and a car with no license plate.”My jaw dropped. “Daniel?”“Your fiancé’s work probably,” she added with a sly smile, lowering her voice like we were in some undercover spy film. “Maybe someone told him Daniel was giving you trouble, and bam, he had him removed. From the school. And possibly the state.”Her excitement was palpable. She was basically vibrating.But me?I wasn’t so sure.Draco wouldn’t do something like that.Scratch that Draco wouldn’t do anything for me unless it protected his image, his pride, or that damn inheritance my name carried like a leash around my neck.I crossed my arms and leaned back against the lockers, offering Sasha a tight smile. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe Draco grew a
Lily’s POV"Shop... shopping?" I repeated, blinking at Draco like he’d just announced we were going on a romantic cruise to hell.He nodded with a grin that could melt ice or more accurately, scorch skin. “Yep. It’s my birthday party tomorrow, and you need to look good for me.”He actually cackled. A full, villain-in-a-B-grade-movie cackle. My jaw practically dislocated from how hard I clenched it.Great.Just great.Tomorrow was his birthday.Which also meant... It was Larry’s birthday too.Oh, the universe really was a comedian.And now I was supposed to play the perfect fiancée at Draco’s big mafia bash while pretending I wasn’t limping from last night’s mistake with his twin brother?This was peak madness.“Wait,” I muttered, still catching up. “So that’s why you came to school and picked me up like some celebrity boyfriend?”Draco smirked like I’d just complimented him. “Of course. My girl deserves special treatment once in a while.”I laughed under my breath. Not with him. At hi
Lily’s POV“Damn, this place is hot. And you… you look beautiful.”Draco’s voice was smooth like whiskey, burning down my spine as he pulled me against him. I didn’t dare resist. Something in his tone made it clear...resisting would only make things worse.His arm draped lazily around my shoulders, but the grip was possessive. Like I was already his.“How about a thank you for the shopping?” he said, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “You should learn how to appreciate your fiancé.”My stomach twisted.He said it so casually. So confidently and he reminded me of Larry. I looked up at him, and the resemblance was devastating. That same wicked smirk. That same sharp jawline. The same eyes that could burn through every wall I built.He was Larry’s mirror.“How… how do I thank you?” I murmured, heart pounding. “I don’t have money or...”“Shhhh.”He cut me off with a finger on my lips.“I don’t need money,” he whispered, his voice lowering into something far more sinful. “I need yo
Larry’s POVLily…That was the only name in my head as I blinked into consciousness, face pressed to cold, damp concrete. I groaned, slowly rolling onto my back, my muscles screaming in protest as pain cracked through my skull.What the hell happened?Right. The party.The chaos. The screaming. Father’s rage. Mother’s voice. Lily’s face.And then, darkness.I cussed under my breath, sitting up slowly as memories crashed over me. The guards. The fists. The humiliation.And Lily.Her eyes. Her voice. The way she stepped toward me like she actually gave a damn.Why the fuck was her name still in my head?It should’ve been Jessica.It’s always been Jessica.Even after all these years. After she died in that fire. After the betrayal. The silence. The lies. No woman ever got past that wall. No woman even dared.Until now.And that was the problem.Because Lily wasn’t supposed to matter.She was Draco’s.Fiancée. Property. A pawn in our father’s empire.Not mine.And yet...I remembered the
Lily's POVThe morning light poured in through the sheer curtains, soft but unforgiving. My eyes cracked open slowly, the sting of exhaustion dragging across every muscle. My throat felt dry, my lips swollen, and my entire body… ached.Everywhere.My wrists burned from where the belt had been tied too tight. My inner thighs were sore. Hickeys peppered my neck, my collarbone, even places I didn’t want to check. My body wore last night like a map of war...raw, bruised, and aching.I blinked up at the ceiling, trying to remember how I even made it back alive because the last thing I remembered was collapsing onto his mattress, too drained to cry.Slowly, I turned my head.And there he was.Draco.Asleep beside me.Shirtless. Arms wrapped around my waist. One of his legs thrown lazily over mine like he’d anchored me to him in his sleep.I froze.Shit.He was holding me like I was something precious. Like I was his peace. Like he hadn’t ruined me just a few hours ago.His face, in sleep, l
Lily’s POVI barely had time to breathe before his hands were on me.The belt hit the bed with a soft thud, but it might as well have been a whip. He crawled onto the bed, the mattress dipping beneath his weight, eyes locked on mine like a predator about to devour.And I was already his prey."Hands above your head," he ordered.I hesitated, only for a second and that second cost me. He grabbed my wrists, yanked them above my head, and before I could fight, he looped the belt around them and tied it to the iron headboard. My back arched instinctively, my towel now fully gone, and the chill in the air kissed my bare skin."You don’t get to disobey me anymore."His voice was low, dangerous, thick with restraint and drunkenness. "Tonight, you’ll learn the difference between being my fiancée... and being my possession."He reached into the drawer beside the bed, pulling out a silk scarf and a thin riding crop.I went cold."Draco..."“Silence.”The scarf came next, wrapping tight over my
Lily’s POV“Discipline your fiancée, Draco. Don’t make me regret ever making you my heir. She’s your property, and the earlier you keep her under control, the better for the family. Her behavior at the party was not okay.”Mr. Raven’s voice was sharp, heavy, and final. Each word slammed into me and though he wasn’t yelling, the quiet rage behind his tone was worse. So much worse.I stood hidden behind the curtain upstairs, heart thudding in my chest, staring out the narrow crack of the window. The garden below was nearly empty now. The party, or what was left of it, had ended in awkward silence. The once-lively garden was scattered with shattered glasses, ruined flowers, and the ghost of everything that had gone wrong tonight.Draco stood by the family convoy, nodding stiffly as his father gave him the last of the night’s public humiliation. He didn’t say anything back. Not in front of the elders. Not yet.But I knew better.That stillness was a mask.He was simmering.And I… I was th
Lily's POV"You look stunning, ma'am," Agnes said, her soft voice tinged with admiration as she stepped back to examine the final touches of my look.I stared at my reflection in the mirror, lips parted slightly.The black gown clung to me like it had been poured onto my skin, satin, backless, sleeveless, and slit dangerously high up my thigh. Bold. Dramatic. A statement piece made for a mafia bride-to-be. My hair was styled in loose, glossy waves that framed my face. My lips painted blood-red, eyes dark with shadow. I didn’t look like me.I looked like someone else's fantasy."It's what your fiancé requested," Agnes added, as if sensing my discomfort. “He wanted it personally approved by the designer.”Of course he did.Draco always wanted to show me off like a trophy.“Master Draco is really lucky to have you, miss,” she beamed, helping me with the diamond necklace, probably worth more than my soul at this point.I gave her a faint smile, not trusting my voice.Because while she was
Lily’s POV“Damn, this place is hot. And you… you look beautiful.”Draco’s voice was smooth like whiskey, burning down my spine as he pulled me against him. I didn’t dare resist. Something in his tone made it clear...resisting would only make things worse.His arm draped lazily around my shoulders, but the grip was possessive. Like I was already his.“How about a thank you for the shopping?” he said, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “You should learn how to appreciate your fiancé.”My stomach twisted.He said it so casually. So confidently and he reminded me of Larry. I looked up at him, and the resemblance was devastating. That same wicked smirk. That same sharp jawline. The same eyes that could burn through every wall I built.He was Larry’s mirror.“How… how do I thank you?” I murmured, heart pounding. “I don’t have money or...”“Shhhh.”He cut me off with a finger on my lips.“I don’t need money,” he whispered, his voice lowering into something far more sinful. “I need yo
Lily’s POV"Shop... shopping?" I repeated, blinking at Draco like he’d just announced we were going on a romantic cruise to hell.He nodded with a grin that could melt ice or more accurately, scorch skin. “Yep. It’s my birthday party tomorrow, and you need to look good for me.”He actually cackled. A full, villain-in-a-B-grade-movie cackle. My jaw practically dislocated from how hard I clenched it.Great.Just great.Tomorrow was his birthday.Which also meant... It was Larry’s birthday too.Oh, the universe really was a comedian.And now I was supposed to play the perfect fiancée at Draco’s big mafia bash while pretending I wasn’t limping from last night’s mistake with his twin brother?This was peak madness.“Wait,” I muttered, still catching up. “So that’s why you came to school and picked me up like some celebrity boyfriend?”Draco smirked like I’d just complimented him. “Of course. My girl deserves special treatment once in a while.”I laughed under my breath. Not with him. At hi
Lily's POV"Gone?" I asked in awe, blinking like I hadn’t just heard Sasha say something completely impossible.She nodded enthusiastically, her curly ponytail bouncing like it had a mind of its own. “Gone. Like... poof. Vanished. Expelled. Escorted out by two scary men in black suits and a car with no license plate.”My jaw dropped. “Daniel?”“Your fiancé’s work probably,” she added with a sly smile, lowering her voice like we were in some undercover spy film. “Maybe someone told him Daniel was giving you trouble, and bam, he had him removed. From the school. And possibly the state.”Her excitement was palpable. She was basically vibrating.But me?I wasn’t so sure.Draco wouldn’t do something like that.Scratch that Draco wouldn’t do anything for me unless it protected his image, his pride, or that damn inheritance my name carried like a leash around my neck.I crossed my arms and leaned back against the lockers, offering Sasha a tight smile. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe Draco grew a
Lily’s POV“Fuck…” I mumbled, trying hard to move.Every muscle in my body ached like I’d gone twelve rounds with a wild animal and lost. My limbs felt like jelly, my back was sore, and I was pretty sure I wasn’t walking straight for the next decade.I blinked at the morning light filtering through the curtains, groaning as I turned to check the time.Too early.And yet… already late.School. Lessons. Life.I had to get up.Had to.I forced myself to sit upright, wincing as the bedsheets brushed against my skin. My robe was somewhere on the floor, my dignity along with it, and the chaos of last night still clung to the air like humidity. The worst part?I didn’t hate it.I hated that I didn’t hate it.Before I could wrestle with that thought any longer, the door creaked open.My head snapped up.Larry stepped in.Fully dressed this time. Black tee, grey joggers, barefoot...but balanced. Collected. Dangerous in that infuriatingly calm way he had when he was in control of everything.Bu