As the ceremony ended and the newlyweds made their way to the entrance , Lily tried to shake the feeling of disconnect. But it lingered, like a shadow over her heart. She wondered if it would ever go away.
The reception was beautiful, with twinkling lights and the smell of fresh flowers. But as the evening wore on, Lily found herself feeling more and more uneasy. She tried to focus on the people around her, but she felt like she was trapped in a glass bubble. She could see and hear everyone, but she couldn't connect with them.
She made her way to the bathroom, desperate . As she stood in front of the mirror, she looked at her reflection. But instead of seeing herself, she saw a stranger. She felt a sudden rush of panic. Who was this person? What was happening to her?
As she stood there, frozen in fear, she heard a voice. "Lily, are you okay?" It was Chris, standing in the doorway of the bathroom.
She turned to face him, and she could see the concern on his face. But she still felt like she was looking at a stranger. "I... I don't know," she said. "I feel... disconnected. Like I ...like I'm not really here. Like I'm watching myself from the outside." Her voice was shaking, and she could feel tears starting to form in her eyes.
Chris came over to her and took her hand. "Lily, I know this is a lot. I know you're feeling overwhelmed. But you're not alone. I'm here for you. And we're going to figure this out."
She looked into his eyes, and for the first time since the wedding, she felt a spark of connection. "Thank you," she said, her voice soft. "I don't know what's happening to me..."
He scooped her in his arms and headed towards the Limousine.
*******
So Lily was at a loss for words. She had so many things she wanted to say, but they all got stuck in her throat. Finally, she found her voice. "How can you be so... so... indifferent?" she asked, her voice breaking. "This is supposed to be a partnership, isn't it?"
Chris looked at her, his face expressionless. "I'm just being realistic," he said, his tone dismissive. "This is not a partnership, it's a business arrangement. And it's important that we both remember that."
Lily felt tears welling up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "But... but don't you feel anything for me? Even a little bit?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Chris stared at her for a moment, his eyes unreadable. Finally, he spoke. "I'm sorry, but I don't. I never have. I'm just doing what's best for my company, and this arrangement is what's best for both of us." His words were cold and calculated, and they cut deep into her heart.
She felt like the ground had been pulled out from under her. She had hoped that maybe, just maybe, there was a chance that Chris might feel something for her. But his words made it clear that there was nothing there. "I see," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "So this is just... a transaction, then?"
Chris nodded, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Yes, that's exactly what it is," he said. "There's no need to get emotional about it. It's just business." His words were like a knife to her heart.
"Oh, please," Lily said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Don't act like you're doing me a favor by being 'clear' about this. You've treated me like a pawn in your little game from the beginning. So don't pretend like you're doing me a favor by telling me the truth now." She was seething, and she could feel her anger building up inside her.
"I'm not trying to be cruel," Chris said, but his words were empty. "I'm just being honest. This is the way it is. There's no point in pretending otherwise."
Chris remained impassive, his face a mask of indifference. But Lily's emotions were bubbling over, and she couldn't hold them in any longer. "You're a cold-hearted bastard," she spat, her voice shaking with anger. "And I'm done letting you treat me like a piece of property. I'm done being your pawn." She turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, her heart pounding in her chest.
Chris watched her go, his expression unchanged. But deep down, a part of him felt a twinge of something. It was small, but it was there.
But he pushed the feeling down, refusing to acknowledge it. He didn't want to feel anything for Lily. He didn't want to care about her. So he forced himself to focus on his work, on the things that he could control. He would not let her emotions affect him. He would not let her feelings matter. He had to stay strong, no matter what.
Meanwhile, Lily was fuming as she stormed down the hall. She couldn't believe how callous Chris had been. She had thought there was something more between them, but she was clearly wrong. He didn't care about her at all. He had only ever seen her as a means to an end, a way to further his own agenda. She had been foolish to believe that he could ever care about her. She was a fool for letting herself get so wrapped up in him. She needed to get away from him, to get some distance from this mess. She needed to focus on herself, on her own needs.
As she walked out of the building, she felt a rush of wind on her face. It was like a breath of fresh air, clearing her head. She took a deep breath, and she started to feel like herself again. She was strong, independent, and capable. She didn't need anyone else, especially not someone like Chris. She was going to move on from this, and she was going to be just fine. And she was going to do it without him.
The next few weeks were hard, but she made it through. She threw herself into herself and her mother, well not until he came up with his schemes.