LILY POV
The sound of Caleb's laughter echoed through the apartment, but I couldn't bring myself to join him. His voice, once comforting, now grated on my nerves like nails on a chalkboard. Every time he spoke, I found myself watching his lips, wishing I could forget the way Damien's had felt against my ear. The thought made me dizzy, like the very air in my lungs was wrong. I shouldn't be thinking about Damien, shouldn't be comparing him to Caleb. But it was hard not to.
I was sitting on the couch, absently flipping through a magazine as Caleb made himself at home in the kitchen. I could hear him clattering around, opening cabinets, humming to himself as if nothing was wrong. He was so comfortable in his own world, so confident in the routines he had established. And yet, with every passing minute, I felt farther from him. Like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, one foot hovering over the edge, and I wasn't sure how much longer I could hold myself back from the fall.
"Babe," Caleb called from the kitchen, his voice filled with warmth. "You want some wine with dinner?"
I didn't answer immediately. I was too lost in my thoughts, too caught up in the weight of my own confusion. Finally, I shook my head, trying to push everything down, trying to keep the facade intact.
"No, I'm good. Just… not really in the mood tonight."
There was a brief pause before he poked his head around the corner, his brow furrowing in concern. "You sure? You've been quiet all day. Something on your mind?"
I forced a smile, the kind that didn't quite reach my eyes. "I'm just tired, Caleb. Work's been stressful."
He didn't seem convinced, but he nodded anyway, retreating back to the kitchen. I didn't blame him. I wasn't even sure I was convinced myself. I hadn't been sleeping well the past few nights, and it wasn't because of work. It was the constant churn of thoughts, of doubts that I couldn't silence. My body was exhausted, but my mind? It was wide awake. It was constantly replaying the same scene—the way Damien had looked at me when I tried to leave his penthouse, the way his voice had sounded when he'd told me to stay. I could still feel the tension in the air, the power he exuded even when he wasn't speaking. And his words had lingered long after I'd walked away.
"You're not as innocent as you think, Lily."
Those words had wrapped themselves around my mind, slithering like a poison I couldn't rid myself of. They weren't just a warning. They were a promise, a challenge I wasn't sure I could resist.
Caleb returned a few minutes later, carrying a glass of wine in each hand. He handed one to me, but I didn't take it right away. Instead, I watched the way his fingers brushed against mine, and I couldn't help but think of Damien's touch—cold, calculating, yet somehow thrilling in a way Caleb's never had been.
"You sure you're okay?" Caleb asked again, his eyes searching mine.
I nodded, taking the glass from him, though it felt heavy in my hand. "Yeah. I'm good Caleb its just been a long day"
He didn't push me further, but I could tell he was watching me, waiting for me to open up. He thought everything was fine. He didn't see what was happening under the surface. He didn't see the storm brewing inside me.
---
Dinner was a quiet affair. Caleb tried to make conversation, but it felt forced, like the words were coming from someone else. He kept asking if I was sure I didn't want to go out, do something fun. But I couldn't bring myself to pretend. Not tonight. Not when everything inside me felt like it was unraveling.
When we finished, he suggested we watch a movie. Something light, something to distract me. But I couldn't shake the feeling that I was suffocating. I needed space. I needed air. I needed to escape the heavy weight of my own thoughts before they crushed me completely.
"I'm just going to go for a walk," I said, standing up before he could protest. "I need some fresh air."
Caleb didn't stop me, but I could see the way his eyes darkened with suspicion. He didn't say anything, though. Just nodded, probably assuming it was just another one of my moods. He didn't know the truth.
I grabbed my coat and slipped out the door before he could ask any more questions. The cold night air hit my skin, and for the first time in hours, I felt something other than the suffocating pressure in my chest.
I didn't know where I was going. My feet carried me aimlessly through the streets, past glowing storefronts and empty sidewalks, until I found myself standing in front of a park bench. The moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow across everything. The park was empty, and the world felt miles away from the suffocating reality I had left behind. I sat down, pulling my coat tighter around my shoulders, and closed my eyes.
The silence was comforting. But only for a moment.
Then, just as I had started to breathe again, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Slowly, deliberately. My heart skipped a beat as I turned, half-expecting to see Caleb, but the figure that emerged from the shadows wasn't him.
It was Damien.
I stood up before I could stop myself, my pulse quickening. How had he found me? Why was he here?
His lips curled into that familiar smirk as he stepped closer, his dark eyes studying me like a predator eyeing its prey. "Lily," he said, his voice low and smooth. "You're hard to keep track of. Running away from something?"
I swallowed, unable to find my voice. I wanted to scream at him to go away, to leave me alone, but instead, I found myself rooted to the spot, unable to move. His presence was like a storm—calm, yet destructive.
"Damien, what are you doing here?" I finally managed, my voice trembling more than I wanted it to.
He took another step toward me, his gaze never leaving mine. "I could ask you the same thing. But I already know the answer."
The words hit me like a slap, and I flinched, my heart hammering in my chest.
"Leave Damien" i said
Damien's eyes flickered for just a moment, something darker crossing his expression, but it was gone almost instantly. He took another step forward, the distance between us closing with each passing second.
"You're not the one who belongs with Caleb, Lily. You belong with someone who can truly see you." He stepped into my personal space, his hand brushing lightly against my arm, sending a wave of heat coursing through my veins. "Someone who knows you better than you know yourself."
I froze, his words wrapping around me like chains. My heart raced. He was right. I knew he was right, even if I didn't want to admit it.
"Damien, please," I whispered, my voice breaking.
He tilted his head, his lips curving into something that was not quite a smile. "I can't let you go, Lily. Not now."