Lily woke up early, her body tense and her mind racing. She had only been living in Aiden's mansion for a few weeks, but it felt like a lifetime. There was a quiet kind of luxury in the house, one that often made her feel out of place. The silence was thick, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves outside the window or the distant clink of silverware being placed by the house staff downstairs.
She stretched and took a deep breath, trying to ease the tension that had settled into her shoulders. Today was going to be important. She had a check-in meeting with Michael in a few hours, and she hadn't been able to shake the feeling that she was losing her grip on this whole situation. She was playing a dangerous game, caught between two powerful men—both of whom had secrets, and both of whom she was growing increasingly wary of.
She glanced at the clock on her bedside table: 6:15 a.m. Too early to head downstairs, but too late to go back to sleep. She slid out of bed and padded toward the bathroom, the cool marble floor against her bare feet reminding her just how foreign this life was. Every day here was like walking through someone elses dream—luxury clothes, gourmet meals, polished floors. It all felt surreal.
As she stared at her reflection, she couldn't help but notice the changes. The slight dark circles under her eyes. The tension etched into the corners of her mouth. This was not the carefree college graduate she had been just a few months ago. Now, she was neck-deep in lies, deception, and betrayal.
And Aiden… Aiden was at the center of it all.
Hed been surprisingly distant lately. Polite but detached, as if he was constantly calculating something just beyond her reach. The days of small, casual conversations seemed like they were behind them, replaced with brisk, business-like exchanges. Lily wasn't sure whether that was a good thing or not. She knew she should be focused on her mission—reporting back to Michael, keeping her head above water—but there was something about Aiden that intrigued her, that pulled at her.
She splashed her face with cold water and reminded herself of the deal.
You're in this for your father. Keep your head in the game.
An hour later, Lily found herself downstairs, sipping coffee at the kitchen island. The sun was streaming through the wide windows, casting a golden glow across the room. She scrolled through her phone absentmindedly, trying to focus on the upcoming meeting with Michael.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Aiden's voice.
You're up early.
Lily nearly jumped out of her seat. Aiden stood in the doorway, dressed in his usual crisp, tailored suit, looking every bit the part of a billionaire. His hazel eyes were sharp, observing her with a hint of curiosity.
She smiled, trying to keep things casual. Couldn't sleep.
Aiden crossed the room, pouring himself a cup of coffee and leaning against the counter across from her. You should try the guest house if the main mansion is too noisy.
Lily chuckled softly. I don't think the mansion is the problem.
His eyes flickered with amusement before returning to their usual unreadable state. Anything bothering you? he asked, his tone casual, but there was something beneath it, something probing.