"Stop calling me your wife!" Lily snapped, her voice trembling with emotion. "I'm not your wife, Chris. This... this farce of a marriage isn't real!"
She took a step towards him, her frustration boiling over. "And why are you following me everywhere? Why are you torturing me with this contract? What do you want from me?!"
Chris's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing his face before his expression hardened again. "Torturing you?" he repeated, his voice low and intense. "Girl, don't forget that I saved your life. You'd be dead if it wasn't for me."
Lily let out a bitter laugh, shaking her head. "Oh, I know exactly how you got that heart, Chris. You're not fooling anyone. You're some kind of Don or mafia boss that everyone's afraid of, aren't you? You probably killed someone to get me that heart!"
She stepped even closer, her voice dropping to a harsh whisper. "And now you're using it to blackmail me into this contract. What kind of monster does that?"
Chris's jaw clenched, a muscle ticking in his cheek. For a moment, he looked genuinely hurt by her words, but the expression was gone so quickly that Lily wondered if she'd imagined it.
"Is that what you think of me?" he asked, his voice dangerously quiet. "That I'm a murderer? A monster?"
Lily stood her ground, even as a part of her quailed under the intensity of his gaze. "What else am I supposed to think? People get afraid just by hearing your name. Rumors on the internet say you are a very dangerous man and you probably killed someone and brought me this heart. What am I supposed to believe?"
Chris ran a hand through his hair, a gesture that seemed almost... vulnerable. "Lily, you don't know anything about my world, so you shouldn't assume that I'm a monster... Yes, I have power. Yes, people fear me. But I didn't kill anyone for the 'heart' that is beating in your chest."
He took a deep breath, his eyes never leaving hers. "I called in favors. I pulled strings. I did everything in my power to save your life because I wanted you alive."
Lily faltered for a moment, caught off guard by the raw emotion in his voice. But she quickly steeled herself. "If you just wanted to save my life then why the contract?!"
Her eyes narrowed as she gathered her thoughts. "I think I understand your plan now, Chris," she said, her voice laced with bitterness. "This is about the rivalry between our families, isn't it? You're using this contract to blackmail me, to take revenge on my family."
Chris's response caught her off guard. He laughed, a rich, deep sound that echoed through the hallway. Lily felt a flutter in her stomach, momentarily distracted by how devastatingly handsome he looked when he smiled. His blue eyes crinkled at the corners, and his perfect white teeth flashed in the dim light. She quickly pushed the thought away, annoyed at herself for even noticing.
"Oh, Lily," Chris said, shaking his head, amusement still evident in his voice. "You give your father far too much credit. Honestly, I do have enemies – big and deadly ones at that. But no offense to your father, I don't consider him an opponent. He's simply not worth my time or effort for revenge."
Lily felt her cheeks flush with a mix of embarrassment and anger. "If that's true, then why are you even marrying his daughter?" she demanded, her voice rising. "Why go through all this trouble if not for some twisted form of revenge?"
Chris's expression turned serious, his blue eyes intense as he locked his gaze with Lily. "Do you really want to know why?" he asked, his voice low and earnest.
Lily remained silent, assuming he wouldn't give her a straight answer. But his next words caught her completely off guard.
"Because I'm in love with you, Lily."
Lily gasped, her heart skipping a beat as she met his piercing gaze. For a moment, she felt a rush of warmth and longing. No man had ever said those words to her before, not when she was the "ugly duckling" prior to her surgery. A part of her ached to be loved, to be desired.
But reality quickly set in. This was Chris Eaton – how could she trust him? She knew he was the most desirable bachelor in New York City. If she were still her old self, he wouldn't have given her a second glance, let alone profess love.
"You can't be in love with me," Lily said, shaking her head. "You're just trying to do something bad to my family and me."
Chris's jaw clenched, a flicker of frustration crossing his face. "Believe what you want, Lily. But know this – tomorrow morning, you have a choice to make. Either you move into the Eaton mansion with me, as my wife, or if you refuse to honor our contract, I'll tell your parents everything myself."
Lily felt her breath catch in her throat. "You wouldn't dare," she whispered.
"Try me," Chris replied, his voice firm but not unkind. "The choice is yours, Lily. But remember,
Chris's eyes softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. "No matter what choice you make, Lily, you'll end up as my wife. Tomorrow morning, I'll come to your house for breakfast. I'll tell your parents and take you to my mansion."
How dare he? The audacity of this man knew no bounds. Her eyes flashed with fury as she glared at Chris.
"How rude can you be?" she spat, her voice rising with each word. "You think you can just barge into my life and dictate everything?"
Chris raised an eyebrow, seemingly amused by her outburst. This only fueled Lily's anger further.
"Listen here, Chris Eaton," she snarled, jabbing a finger at his chest. "If you dare show up at my house tomorrow morning, I swear I'll let my dogs loose on you. They'll tear you to shreds before you can even step foot inside!"
To Lily's surprise and frustration, Chris threw his head back and laughed. The rich, deep sound echoed through the hallway, making her even more furious.
"Oh, Lily," he chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling with mirth. "You can certainly try. But I doubt your little pets will be much of a match for me."
His casual dismissal of her threat made Lily see red. "You underestimate them," she hissed. "They're trained guard dogs, not some fluffy lap dogs!"
Chris's smile widened a hint of challenge in his eyes. "Well then, I look forward to meeting these ferocious beasts of yours. It should make for an interesting breakfast, don't you think?"
Lily clenched her fists, struggling to keep her composure. "You're impossible," she muttered.
"And you're adorable when you're angry," Chris replied, his voice soft but teasing. "I'll see you tomorrow, Lily. Dogs and all."
With a wink, he turned and walked away, leaving Lily fuming in his wake. As she watched him go, she couldn't help but feel a mix of anger, frustration, and... something else she couldn't quite name. One thing was certain – tomorrow was going to be a day she'd never forget.