Novel & Cerita Lila Murphy

"This is Lila Dubois, our main lawyer for these talks." Lila gave a small, formal smile. Her eyes met mine for just a second. There was no warmth. Only a quick look of surprise, quickly hidden. She was good. Too good. My mind raced. How was this possible? Why hadn’t Sienna said anything? My gut twisted. Sienna was a real mess.

It had become the composure of someone who has understood that the game is over and is now simply waiting for the formalities of the ending to complete themselves. At Lila in the left section, who had looked up from her hands and was looking at the screen, at the river photograph, at the image she had lived alongside for twenty years in the specific, private way of someone who carries the knowledge of a thing they have stolen, and whose face was doing something I had not seen from her before, something without performance in it, something that was simply the face of a woman looking at the evidence of what she had done to the person sitting two feet away from her in this room for the first th

Her skin bore the map of abuse, though the bruises faded to angry purple and the scars telling stories Raven dared not imagine aloud. “You’re Raven,” Lila said without preamble, voice trembling but clear. “I heard you’re fighting them.” Raven nodded, lowering herself beside her with care. “I’m trying. Can you tell me what you know?" Lila’s hands trembled as she clasped and unclasped them, struggling for the words. “It started when I was seventeen. I thought the job was just... work. Dancing and parties, but then it turned. The whispers became screams and the men, they weren’t customers, they were hunters.”

She was stylish, clad in a modern and chic outfit, and she exuded an aura of self-assuredness. “It’s an honor to meet you, Ms. Kayla,” Lila said, shaking my hand firmly. Her voice was confident, with just a hint of excitement. I smiled, intrigued. “It’s nice to meet you too, Lila. What brings you here today?” Lila’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. “I recently attended one of Raven Media’s performance and media workshops, and I heard that you’re the one who can help people make it big. I want to become a famous singer like Adrian, and I’m hoping you can help me get there.”

She is one of the architects who designed the hotel. Even though I only need to make an appearance for the first meeting, I ended up attending every meeting with the firm. Only for one thing. I just want to see her more. But Lila is in a relationship with a lawyer named Taylor Sandford, and she was too faithful to him back on those days. It was hard to have a talk with her out of business topic, she was focused on her work and on her ‘Taylor’. Well, back then. She made sure her wall is high and guarded so no other men will hit on her. And fuck, she is so good. Her walls are too effective that even my playboy side didn’t had the chance.

Lila reached across the table, her hand covering mine, her touch warm and steady. “Hey, stop that right now,” she said firmly, her eyes locking onto mine. “Don’t you dare talk about yourself like that, Serena. You’re not ‘just’ anything. You’re beautiful - inside and out. Fierce, smart, the kind of woman who holds it all together when the world tries to break you. A new pair of shoes and a killer dress? That’s just window dressing. You could have any guy you want, including Daniel Hawthorne. He’s the one who should feel lucky, not you feeling out of place.”

Fire needs stone, pup—she’s yours, revel! Lila stood by the pool, chestnut ponytail swaying, hazel eyes bright, clutching a parchment scroll, charcoal stick tucked behind her ear, courage radiant—the Veil’s end, her maps eternal, her spark blazing. Her tunic was clean, voice lilting, sketching the pool, the twilight catching her joy. Spark, her wolf, yipped vibrantly, tail wagging. You’re their star, Lila—draw, shine, live!

“I’ll make you an aunt soon, don't worry.” “Then what kind of family member are you talking about?” Now, I'm confused and curious. She starts to say “You’ll see when…” “It’s the kind that poops and pees on the floor,” Murphy cuts her off. Now that gets my attention. “Murphy,” I hear a smack and an ‘ouch’. “You just ruined the surprise.” “At least Lila doesn't know yet,” he tries to defend himself. “Youre lucky,” she hisses at him before addressing me again. “Now, bring yourself and my goddaughter over. Quickly.”

This can't be. This can't be true... I'M IN THE BODY OF HILARY!

"What if this is the last time I ever see him alive?" The burden was crushing me. I couldn't eat properly. Couldn't sleep. Couldn't even breathe without feeling guilty. If I stayed silent... Oliver could die. If I spoke... Cole had promised to kill my baby. Tears burned behind my eyes. I blinked them away before anyone noticed. "Lilith?" A gentle voice pulled me back from my trance. I looked up upon hearing the voice. It was one of the younger kitchen staff. Her name was Mira. She had only joined the palace a few months ago, but she was always kind to everyone, although she barely speaks.