Lily Collins Book Novels & Stories

His hand finds mine on the console. I hold it and don't say anything and he doesn't either. Lily comes Saturday as promised. She arrives with Daniel and a bag of things she's decided I need. Ginger tea, plain biscuits, a small jade plant she read is good for indoor air quality, and a book about pregnancy that she hands over with the expression of someone who has done research. "I know you've done this before," she says. "But this one's different." "I know." "So I got you the book."

But then I saw it. A dress on a mannequin. Soft pink. Subtle detail work. Balanced. Clean. I don't know why, but I knew. I glanced back. Lily was standing in front of the mirror, frowning slightly. Unsure. Overthinking. *"Lily,"* I called. *"Try this one."* She turned, clearly surprised. She didn't expect me to participate. *"Hurry up."* She looked at the dress. Her eyes widened just a fraction.

Lily? 3rd post, "Breaking News: Dr. Lily Jayden, the so-called 'dedicated doctor,' accused a top sponsor of harassment. Her charms have been said to have helped her move up the ladder in more than one way. #fakelily #shamesless." As I watched the hateful comments and posts flash across the screen, my blood was boiling and my vision got blurry with anger. These weren't just whispers; they were a full-on attack on Lily's character meant to break her up.

It wasn’t mine, it was Lily’s. She stepped forward, her body radiant with a glowing energy that filled the air around us. It was as if the storm had found its true force in her. Her eyes were fierce, a burning light in them that reflected the very power she had unleashed. “Let him go,” Lily commanded, her voice echoing with an authority that sent ripples through the air. The ground trembled beneath her, and for a moment, I thought I saw the very fabric of reality shift in response to her words.

Instead, it seemed to intensify. The girl looked down at the laundry in her arms, her fingers twitching as if she were debating whether to drop everything and run. “You... you touched the book,” the maid whispered, her voice barely audible. "The witch’s spell book. You shouldn’t be... near me.” Lily froze. The words sent a shockwave through her, as if her entire world had tilted on its axis. Lily swallowed hard and shook her head, trying to gather her thoughts. “What are you talking about?” she asked softly, trying not to scare the girl further. “I didn’t do anything with that book. It’s not what you think.”

I have been doing that a lot lately. We step inside and the house smells like coffee and something sweet, maybe cookies. It’s warm, safe, nothing like the clubhouse where we reside. Chloe is in the living room, sitting cross-legged on the floor with Lily. They seem to be coloring books spread out in front of them. Crayons are scattered everywhere, the colours bright against the soft rug. Lily is bent over her book, her small hands clutching a crayon. Her tongue is poking out. It's something she does when she focuses.

___________ Lily — Choosing the Ground Lily sat alone an hour later, laptop open, notes scattered around her. Not talking points. Memories. Dates. Documents Elara had once waved away. She wasn’t preparing a rebuttal. She was preparing ownership. Sebastian watched quietly. “You don’t owe them anything.” “I owe myself clarity,” Lily replied. Her phone buzzed again. A private number. This time, she answered. “You’re calm,” a woman’s voice observed. Lily’s spine stiffened. “I’ve learned how,” Lily replied. A soft laugh. “Good. Panic would have been disappointing.”

I broke rule seven on a Wednesday. In my defense, I didn't mean to. Lily had found a book, a small hardcover with a blue spine that she'd pulled from somewhere and was very proudly showing me, except she'd clearly gotten it from somewhere she wasn't supposed to, because when I asked her where she found it she suddenly became very interested in Gerald's ear and stopped making eye contact. "Lily." "Hmm?" "Where did you get the book?" "...Daddy's room."

“I… don’t know. She was always so private about her stuff. Even when I asked to borrow her notes, she would rather send them than give me access to her screen.” Lily sighed. “Nothing at all? Maybe a hint? A nickname, a favorite number? A pet's name?” “She didn’t have pets. But…” Cassidy bit her lip. “She was weirdly obsessed with that old book series… you know, the one about the warrior wolves? Moonshade Pack Chronicles, I think?” Lily perked up. “Yeah! She used to talk about it all the time.” “Sorry I can’t help more.” “No—it’s okay,” Lily said, her smile fading. “Thanks for trying.”