He felt ashamed of himself, and he knew that he needed to make things right. He couldn't keep living with this secret, and he couldn't keep living with the guilt. He had to come clean someday.
But even as Chris tried to convince himself that he didn't feel guilty, he knew deep down that it wasn't true. He could feel the guilt gnawing at him, like a rat chewing on his conscience. He tried to push it away, but it kept coming back, no matter how hard he tried to ignore it.
He realized that he couldn't go on like this. He needed to make things right, no matter the cost. He just didn't know how to do it.
As Chris lay in bed that night, he replayed the events of the day over and over in his head. He tried to figure out what he should do next, but he couldn't come up with a solution. He was trapped, and he didn't know how to escape.
He tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The hours passed slowly, and the night dragged on. Finally, the sun began to rise, and Chris knew that he had to face the day ahead. But he still had no idea what to do.
He got out of bed and went to the window, staring out at the world beyond.
Lily was still half-asleep when the door to her bedroom burst open, and three maids rushed in. They were followed by a woman who looked to be in her late fifties, her face full of energy and excitement.
"Lily, dear!" the woman exclaimed, running to the bed and throwing her arms around the girl. "Oh, I'm so happy to see you!"
Lily sat up, confused and disoriented. "Who are you?" she asked, trying to clear the sleep from her eyes.
"I'm Chris's mother, of course!" the woman said, smiling widely.
As Lily sat up in bed, she saw that the three maids were carrying armloads of clothing and other items. The first maid placed a tray on the bedside table, and Lily saw that it was laden with cosmetics and toiletries.
"We're going to get you ready for the wedding, dear," Chris's mother said, her tone brisk and businesslike. "It's going to be a busy day, so let's get started."
Lily looked around the room, trying to take in what was happening. She didn't understand what was going on. "But I'm not getting married," she said
"You don't have a choice, dear," Chris's mother said, her tone firm. "You're going to be married to Chris, whether you like it or not. So, it's best to just accept it and get on with it."
Lily was shocked. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "But I don't love him," she protested. "I can't marry someone I don't love!"
"That's not important," Chris's mother said, brushing her off. "What's important is that you do as you're told. Now, let's get started."
Chris's entrance into the room was like a dark cloud passing over the sun. The room seemed to grow colder, and the air became heavy and oppressive. Lily felt a shiver run down her spine.
She didn't want to comply, but she knew that she had to. Chris was in charge here, and she had no choice but to do as he said. She felt like a prisoner, trapped in a gilded cage.
"Thank you for complying," Chris said, his voice emotionless. "Now, we can get started on making you look your best for the wedding."
Lily was led to the bathroom, where the maids began to help her wash and dress. She felt like a doll, being manipulated and dressed up for someone else's pleasure. She felt humiliated and degraded, but she knew that she had to endure it.
The process seemed to take forever. She was scrubbed, massaged, powdered, and painted until she hardly recognized herself. Finally, the maids stepped back and gave her a critical look. "You're almost ready," one of them said. "Now, we just need to do your hair."
As the maids began to brush and style her hair, Lily felt a sudden urge to run. She wanted to escape, to run away and never look back. But she knew that it was impossible. She was trapped here, and there was no way out.
She closed her eyes and tried to imagine herself somewhere else. She imagined herself in a faraway place, free and happy. But no matter how hard she tried, the image wouldn't take hold. She was here, and there was nothing she could do about it.
The maids led Lily out of the house and to the waiting limousine. She climbed inside, feeling like a prisoner being led to the gallows. The car started to move, and she looked out the window, watching the world pass by. It was a beautiful day, but she couldn't enjoy it. All she could think about was what was waiting for her at the end of the journey.
As the limousine pulled up to the church, Lily's heart started to pound. She felt like she was going to throw up, but she fought down the feeling. She had to be strong.
Lily got out of the limousine, and the maids led her up the steps of the church. She could hear the organ playing inside, and she felt a sudden urge to run. But it was too late now.
The door opened, and she was led inside. The church was filled with people, all dressed in their finest clothes. She felt like a fish out of water, dressed in a beautiful gown that didn't belong to her.
Then, she saw Chris standing at the altar, waiting for her. His face was expressionless, and his eyes were cold. She felt like she was walking to her doom.
Lily forced herself to take one step, and then another. It felt like she was moving in slow motion, as if time itself had slowed down.