"Chris Eaton," the officer said, his voice firm but not unkind. "It's not your place to dispense justice. You can't take the law into your own hands, no matter what Avery Sterling has done."
Lily turned, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of men in brown uniforms filing into the cabin. The emblem on their shoulders marked them as Nysorian law enforcement. A middle-aged officer stepped forward, his weathered face set in grim determination.
Chris's grip on the gun tightened, his knuckles white. "You don't understand," he growled. "She tried to kill Lily. She doesn't deserve to live!"
Lily felt a wave of conflicting emotions wash over her. Part of her understood Chris's rage, his desire to protect her. But another part recoiled at the violence, at how close he'd come to crossing a line there was no coming back from.
The officer shook his head. "I understand your anger, Mr. Eaton. But Avery Sterling is too important to Nyrosia. Her family's contributions to our nation can't be ignored. We'll conduct a thorough investigation and bring her to justice if she's found guilty."
Chris let out a bitter laugh. "Investigation? She confessed! She gloated about trying to kill Lily!"
As the argument intensified, Lily found herself caught in the crossfire of emotions. Relief battled with a strange sense of disappointment. She was glad the violence had been stopped, but a small, dark part of her had wanted to see Avery pay for what she'd done.
"Mr. Eaton," the officer's voice grew stern. "Lower your weapon now, or we'll be forced to arrest you as well."
For a tense moment, Lily feared Chris might refuse. But slowly, reluctantly, he lowered the gun. As he did, two officers moved in to release Avery from her restraints.
Avery's eyes, still burning with hatred, locked onto Chris and Lily. "This isn't over," she spat as the officers helped her to her feet. "You think you've won? I'll destroy both of you."
Chris whirled back to the officers, his face contorted with rage. "Did you hear that? She's threatening us again! Isn't that enough evidence to take her down right now?"
The lead officer shook his head, his expression stern. "Mr. Eaton, threats alone aren't grounds for lethal force. We'll add it to the charges, but we need to follow proper procedures."
Avery's lips curled into a cruel smirk. "You hear that, Chris? You can't touch me. Why don't you be a good boy and obey the law?"
Something snapped in Chris's eyes. With lightning speed, he raised his weapon again, pressing it against Avery's forehead. "I'll show you what a 'good boy' can do," he snarled.
Chaos erupted. Officers shouted, hands reaching for their own weapons. Avery's smirk never wavered, her eyes gleaming with malicious triumph.
Lily's heart pounded as she watched the scene unfold in horror. Without thinking, she lunged forward, grabbing Chris's arm. "Chris, stop! Please, let it go. I don't want her dead like this!"
Chris turned to her, his ocean blue eyes waving with a fury she'd never seen before. "This is exactly why you get bullied, Lily. You're pathetic! Can't you see she'll never stop unless we end this now?"
Lily recoiled as if she'd been slapped, tears welling in her eyes. The angry young-man before her seemed a stranger, so far from the Chris she thought she knew.
"Mr. Eaton," the lead officer's voice cut through the tension. "Lower your weapon immediately. Don't force us to arrest you alongside Ms. Sterling. You're breaking the law."
For a moment, Lily feared Chris might actually pull the trigger. But then, with a roar of frustration, he hurled the gun to the floor. The clatter of metal on metal echoed through the cabin.
"Fuck this," Chris spat. "Fuck all of you."
Lily stood frozen, tears streaming down her face. She felt hollowed out, caught between relief that bloodshed had been avoided and devastation at Chris's cruel words. How had their reunion, which should have been joyous, turned into this nightmare?!
As the officers began to lead Avery away, she turned back, her eyes locking with Lily's. "I told you, didn't I?" she said softly, her voice dripping with venom. "I always win in the end."
Lily watched, numb, as Avery was escorted off the plane. Chris stood rigid beside her, fury radiating off him in waves.
….
Chris and Lily were back in the luxury private guest house of Nysoria.
Lily lay on the luxurious bed in the mayor's guest house, her body exhausted but her mind racing. Tears silently rolled down her cheeks as Chris's words echoed in her head: "This is exactly why you get bullied, Lily. You're pathetic!" The harsh statement cut deep, reopening old wounds she thought had healed.
As she tossed and turned, unable to find comfort, Lily couldn't help but draw parallels between Chris and her father. Both men, quick to anger, lashing out at those they claimed to love. The realization sent a chill through her body. Was she destined to repeat her mother's mistakes?
The creak of the door startled her from her thoughts. Chris entered, his face a mixture of remorse and uncertainty. Lily quickly wiped her tears, refusing to meet his gaze.
"Lily," Chris said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed and reaching for her hand. "I'm so sorry. I was... I was furious that I couldn't kill Avery. That I couldn't protect you completely."
Lily pulled her hand away, her voice barely above a whisper. "You have a bad temper, just like my father. I hate you."
Chris flinched at her words but didn't back away. "Only sometimes I get this angry, but why can't you understand why I did it? I could have lost you, Lily. The thought of that..." His voice cracked with emotion.
Lily remained silent, her eyes fixed on the intricate patterns of the bedspread.
"Please, look at me," Chris pleaded, his voice soft and vulnerable. "I love you, Lily. I'm in love with you. What happened today... it was all because I can't bear the thought of losing you. You know how it felt to know that you were captured by that cruel Avery?!"
His words stirred something in Lily's heart. She recalled how close she'd come to death, how Chris had saved her with nothing but his voice and quick thinking. His anger, as frightening as it was, came from a place of love.
Slowly, she raised her eyes to meet his, fresh tears spilling over. "You're a real genius, Chris," she whispered. "I've never met anyone like you. The way you saved me today..."
Chris's face brightened, a hint of his usual charm returning. "And so," he said, a playful glint in his eye, "what are you going to do about it?"
For a moment, Lily hesitated. Then, making her decision, she whispered, "You know what?" and pressed her lips to his.
The kiss was electric, filled with all the fear, relief, and passion of the day. Chris pulled her closer, one hand tangling in her hair as the other traced the curve of her waist. Lily melted into his embrace, all her doubts and fears momentarily forgotten.
When they finally broke apart, both breathless, Chris rested his forehead against hers. "Go to sleep," he murmured softly.
Lily's heart raced, her body tingling with a newfound boldness. "But I don't want to sleep," she whispered, surprising herself with her own daring.
Chris pulled back slightly, his eyebrows raised. "Why not?" he asked, his voice low and husky.
Lily hesitated, her cheeks flushing crimson. She bit her lip, gathering courage before finally admitting, "Because... I want you." The words came out barely above a whisper, but they seemed to echo in the quiet room.
Chris's eyes widened in surprise. "You do?" he asked, his voice a mixture of disbelief and desire.
Lily nodded, her fingers intertwining with his. She blinked, shocked at her own forwardness. Was this really her making this move? This wasn't like her at all. Then she realized – this was what Chris did to her. He pushed her boundaries, made her do things she never thought she was capable of.
Gods, what was happening to her? But as she looked into Chris's eyes, dark with longing, Lily decided to go with the flow. "Don't go, Chris," she said softly. "I want you here."
Chris looked utterly stunned, his usual confidence momentarily shaken. He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again, seemingly at a loss for words.
Lily held her breath, her heart pounding in anticipation. In that moment, balanced on the edge of something new and exhilarating, she felt more alive than ever before.
Chris's expression suddenly shifted, a wicked glint dancing in his eyes. His lips curved into a sensual smile that made Lily's breath catch in her throat. He leaned in close, his warm breath tickling her ear as he whispered, "I'll give you everything and even more than that, Lily darling."
He pulled back slightly, his gaze intense and filled with desire. "But tell me," he purred, his voice low and provocative, "What exactly do you want?"
The question hung in the air between them, charged with electricity. Lily's heart raced, her mind spinning with possibilities. She knew that her answer would change everything, pushing them past a point of no return.
"So I was just your contract wife, but not a real one. But now I am ready to be your real wife and fulfill the duties that I'm required to do to my husband... You know..." Lily trailed off, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
She realized that for once in her life, she knew exactly what she wanted – and she wasn't afraid to ask for it.