Lily's heart raced as she glared up at Chris, her fingers still clutching his shirt. But as their eyes met, the world seemed to slow down. His ocean-blue gaze captured her, making her forget her own name and purpose.
For a moment, it was just them—like fire and water, stubbornness and calm, locked in an endless dance.
Then, the spell broke.
The door swung open, and Lily's jaw dropped. There, larger than life, stood Liam Eaton—Chris's dad, the alleged Mafia king of New York City. The man who was rumored to have killed thousands of people.
Lily blinked, her brain short-circuiting. She was standing in front of Liam freaking Eaton, and all she could think was: 'Oh god, did he see me manhandling his son?'
Her eyes widened in horror.
Not only because of fear—but also it was like seeing double. Liam was the spitting image of Chris, only... more. His suit probably cost more than some countries' GDP, and he carried himself with the confidence of a man who could buy and sell the whole building without breaking a sweat.
As Liam approached, Lily couldn't help but stare. How was it possible for someone his age to look so... good? He could've passed for Chris's older brother, not his dad. It was almost unfair.
Liam's eyes twinkled as he took in the scene—Lily with her hand still fisted in Chris's shirt, their bodies almost pressed.
A knowing smile passed between father and son, as if they were sharing an inside joke.
Mortified, Lily snatched her hand away from Chris's shirt and stumbled backward. Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.
Liam's eyes twinkled mischievously as he glanced between them. "Looks like I interrupted something," he said, his voice laced with amusement.
Chris, ever the smartass, replied with a smirk, "Yes, you did." He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall with an infuriating casualness. "Though it's not the first time, is it? Seems to be a habit of yours, Dad."
Lily almost gasped. It wasn't the first time?! It only showed how many girls Chris had been within the past… of course, men were men.
She tugged at the hem of her Valentino dress, wishing she could disappear from there.
Liam chuckled, a deep, rich sound that filled the room. "What can I say? Seems like you weren't able to introduce your wife to me in a more appropriate manner than this."
"Actually," Chris interjected, his tone softening slightly, "Lily's was feeling under the weather yesterday. That's why, you know Dad… I couldn't introduce her in a formal way."
Liam's expression shifted to one of concern as he turned to Lily. "I'm sorry to hear that. Are you feeling better now, my dear?"
Lily swallowed hard, trying to find her voice. There was something about Liam that both intimidated and fascinated her. He exuded the same mysterious charm as Chris but with an added layer of... something. Power? Authority? Whatever it was, it made her heart race in a mix of fear and admiration.
"Y-yes, thank you," she managed to stammer out. "I'm feeling much better now."
Liam nodded, seeming satisfied with her answer. Then, a mischievous glint returned to his eye. He cocked his head to the side, regarding Lily with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. "You know," he said, his tone light but probing, "I have to ask... How on earth did you manage to convince my son to tie the knot?"
He spread his hands dramatically, like a king addressing his court. "Many have tried and failed – even I couldn't talk him into it. So tell me, what's your secret?"
Lily felt a small bubble of laughter rise in her chest, despite her nervousness. There was something disarming about Liam's playful interrogation. For a moment, she almost forgot she was talking to one of the most dangerous gangsters in the world—the man who probably killed thousands.
But as quickly as it came, the lightness vanished. Panic set in as she realized she didn't have a good answer to his question. How could she? The truth about their contact marriage was so complicated to say out loud—especially to Liam freaking Eaton.
Lily's mind raced, searching for a simpler plausible explanation that wouldn't hurt the truth of their agreement. But what could she possibly tell Liam Eaton that would explain how she'd supposedly won over his notoriously commitment-phobic son - without sounding completely ridiculous?
She glanced at Chris, silently pleading for help. His face was a mask of cool amusement, but she caught a flicker of something in his eyes. Concern? Anxiety? Whatever it was, it was gone in an instant.
Lily took a deep breath, forcing a smile onto her face. She had to say something, anything, to break the growing silence. In fact, if the silence lasted any longer, Liam Eaton would get suspicious.
Just as she opened her mouth, Chris's voice cut through the tension. "Dad, Lily did nothing special to me except for being herself."
Lily's head whipped to her side, her eyes wide with shock. What was he doing?
Chris continued, his voice soft but steady. "She might look tamed and innocent to the world. But I know her heart, Dad... Her heart..." He paused, and Lily found herself blinking rapidly, hanging on his every word.
"She has a lot of courage in her heart. I once saw how instead of cowering down, she decided to stand up and transform herself into a version better than her rivals. Instead of trying to sabotage them, she showed them she could be better than them. And that's when I fell for her."
Lily felt her heart melt. She knew exactly what he was referring to – her decision to get plastic surgery to transform herself. But did he really mean every word he said? The sincerity in his voice made her wonder.
Liam's expression softened. "She sounds like your mom," he said to Chris. "She too had a lot of rivals but stood up to them all without sabotaging them physically, defending them in her own way."
"Yes, Dad," Chris replied, his eyes never leaving Lily's face. "She is..."
Lily stood there, mesmerized. The way Chris spoke about her, with such warmth and admiration, made her feel seen in a way she never had before.
For a moment, she almost forgot this was all supposed to be an act. Almost.