As the clock struck 11 PM, Lily found herself standing at the threshold of her parents' posh bedroom. The soft glow of the TV illuminated the space, casting dancing shadows on the walls. Her father, Maxwell, was engrossed in a sports game, a glass of some health drink in his hand. Beside him, her mother absently flipped through a glossy fashion magazine.
Lily's heart raced, her palms clammy with nervous sweat. She knew it was time to confess, but fear gripped her throat, choking the words before they could escape.
"Mom, Dad?" she began hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you know Chris Eaton? What's the deal with him? Why exactly are we rivals with the Eaton family?"
The effect of her words was immediate and startling. Her father nearly choked on his drink, sputtering and coughing as he turned to face her. Her mother's magazine slipped from her fingers, landing with a soft thud on the plush carpet.
"Lily," her father's voice was low, tinged with suspicion, "Why are you asking about 'him?"
Caught off guard by their reaction, Lily scrambled for an excuse. "I... I just saw some rumors online. People say he's dangerous. And apparently, our family is his rival? What's that all about?"
Maxwell's eyes narrowed, his posture stiffening. "It wasn't Chris Eaton, but his father, Liam Eaton, who was my rival," he began, his voice grave. "Liam Eaton—that man ruled the entire drug cartels of Northern America. He had probably killed thousands of people in his life. And his son? He's just continuing the family business."
Lily felt her blood run cold as her father continued, "That's why I never sign any business contracts with him. If we do, we're done for good. It's equal to death to deal with the Eatons."
The words echoed in Lily's head, each repetition feeling like a hammer blow. "Equal to death to deal with Eatons." She managed a nervous smile, her mind reeling.
At that moment, the weight of her secret threatened to crush her. The marriage contract she'd signed with Chris Eaton, the very man her father was warning her about, suddenly felt like a noose around her neck. If she confessed now, she feared her father might have a panic attack on the spot.
Lily stood frozen, the truth burning on the tip of her tongue. But as she looked at her parents' concerned faces, she made a split-second decision. She couldn't tell them. Not now. Not like this.
"Thanks, Dad," she managed, her voice surprisingly steady. "I was just curious to know about Chris Eaton. Good to know."
As she retreated from the room, Lily's mind raced. Tomorrow, Chris will be coming for breakfast. She must stop him, somehow.
Closing her bedroom door behind her, Lily leaned against it, sliding down to the floor. But how was she going to stop Chris Eaton from entering her house tomorrow?!
….
As Lily slid down her bedroom door, her mind raced. How could she stop Chris Eaton from entering her house tomorrow? She tossed and turned all night, finally hatching a plan as dawn broke.
…
Early the next morning, Lily rushed to her parents' room, feigning panic. "Dad! Mom! There's an emergency at the company!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with fabricated urgency.
Her father, Maxwell, sat up instantly, his brow furrowed. "What's wrong, Lily?"
"I just got a call from your assistant," Lily lied smoothly. "There's some issue with the new merger. They need you there immediately."
Maxwell, CEO of his multi-billion dollar empire, didn't hesitate. Within minutes, he and Lily's mother were dressed and heading out the door.
As their car disappeared down the driveway, Lily collapsed onto the living room couch, relief washing over her.
She'd done it. She'd diverted the crisis.
But her victory was short-lived.
"Naughty girl!" a deep, familiar voice resonated through the room. "You sent your parents out of home hearing that I'm coming."
Lily's heart stopped. She turned slowly, her eyes widening as they fell on Chris Eaton. He stood in the doorway, looking like a handsome devil himself, a smirk playing on his lips.
"Tell me, my wife," he purred, taking a step closer. "You wanted alone time with me, didn't you? I'll give you just that."
Lily shuddered, a mix of fear and something else - something she didn't want to name - coursing through her veins. She watched, transfixed, as Chris slowly removed his tie, bending it over his knuckles with a seductive grace that made her breath catch.
"Chris," she managed to stammer, "how did you get in here?"
His smirk widened. "Oh, Lily. Did you really think a locked door could keep me out?"
He moved closer, each step deliberate and predatory. Lily found herself backing up until she hit the wall, trapped between it and Chris's imposing figure.
"What do you want?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Chris leaned in, his breath hot against her ear. "I thought I made that clear yesterday. I want you, Lily. As my wife."
His proximity was intoxicating. Lily could smell his cologne, a heady mix of sandalwood, and something uniquely Chris. She felt her resolve weakening, her body betraying her as it responded to his nearness.
"This isn't right," she protested weakly. "You can't just blackmail me like this."
Chris pulled back slightly, his blue eyes boring into hers. "Blackmail you? Lily, I'm giving you a choice. But I think we both know what you really want."
As if to prove his point, he brushed his lips against her neck, causing her to gasp. Lily's mind screamed at her to push him away, to run, but her body remained frozen, caught in the spell of Chris Eaton.
"Tell me to stop," he murmured against the pale skin of her neck. "Tell me you don't want this, and I'll walk away right now."
How lame of her to drool over him again?!
Lily's mind snapped back to reality, shame washing over her. How could she be so weak, so easily swayed by his charms? She mentally scolded herself for her carvings for intimacy.
With a sudden burst of strength, she pushed Chris away, her hands flat against his chest. "No!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling but determined. "I won't let you manipulate me like this!"
She turned on her heel and ran, her heart pounding in her ears. "I'll definitely call 911 now," she shouted over her shoulder, fumbling for her phone.
But in her haste, Lily's foot caught on the edge of the rug. She felt herself tripping over the furry white rug that her mother brought just last week. A scream caught in her throat—just as she braced for impact, a strong arm wrapped around her waist.
Time seemed to slow as she found herself falling, not onto the hard floor, but onto something... someone. Chris had somehow maneuvered himself beneath her, cushioning her fall with his own body, causing their chest to collide - with their lips just inches apart.
Lily lay there for a moment, stunned, her face mere inches from Chris's. His blue eyes gazed into hers, a mix of concern and something else she couldn't quite name swirling in their depths.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly, his arm still around her tiny waist.
Before Lily could respond, a shocked gasp from the doorway made her blood run cold.
"Lily, what are you doing?!" Her parents' voices, filled with disbelief and horror, cut through the air like a knife.
Only then Lily understood how deeply she was screwed….