Chapter 170 Lilian Baker

Chapter 170 Lilian Baker

For a few blissful seconds, I had no idea where I was.

The unfamiliar ceiling.

The cream-colored curtains swaying gently in the morning breeze.

The faint scent of coffee drifting in from somewhere downstairs.

Then everything came rushing back.

The storm.

The panic attack.

Andrew's arms around me.

Sabrina's house.

And… Last night's conversation with Andrew.

My chest tightened instantly.

"I like you."

"We can't be together."

"Try looking at Lewis the way you've been looking at me."

I squeezed my eyes shut.

"No,” I whispered to myself. "I'm not thinking about that."

I climbed out of bed before my thoughts could trap me again. By the time I got downstairs, Sam was already in the kitchen humming to himself while making breakfast.

He looked up with his usual cheerful smile.

"Morning!"

"Morning."

"Sleep well?"

"I think so."

"You think so?"

I laughed softly. "I slept eventually."

"That's good enough."

He slid a plate toward me.

"Eat first. I don't want Sabrina turning you into a model on an empty stomach."

"Is she that scary?"

He pretended to think about it.

"When deadlines are involved? Absolutely."

I laughed.

A few minutes later, Sabrina appeared carrying a notebook under one arm and several rolls of fabric under the other. She looked far too energetic for someone who had arrived home so late the previous night.

"There you are!"

She smiled brightly when she saw me.

"Ready?"

"I think so."

"We'll find out,” she said, winking at me.

After breakfast, she led me upstairs into what could only be described as paradise for anyone who loved fashion.

The room was enormous. Dress forms lined one wall. Large mirrors covered a part of it. Bolts of fabric rested neatly on shelves from floor to ceiling.

There were sketches pinned everywhere. Some were finished, Some were half-coloured, some were covered with handwritten notes.

It felt less like a room and more like stepping inside someone's imagination.

Another woman was already inside arranging dresses on a clothing rack. She looked to be in her late twenties with curly hair tied into a loose ponytail.

"Caroline,” Sabrina called. "This is Lily."

Caroline looked up and smiled warmly. "So you're the famous Lily."

"Famous?"

Sabrina laughed. "I've mentioned you."

"I'm starting to worry about how many people know me."

Both women laughed.

Sabrina checked the time on her watch. "I need to make a quick phone call." She pointed toward Caroline "She'll help you until I get back."

Then she disappeared.

Caroline folded her arms with an amused smile.

"You've survived the famous Sabrina fitting."

"I haven't even started."

"Exactly,” she laughed. "That's the hard part."

She handed me a measuring tape.

"Hold this."

I obeyed.

For the next several minutes, we chatted while she sorted through fabrics. She was easy to talk to. Nothing like the intimidating fashion assistant I'd imagined.

"Andrew gives you too much trouble?" she asked casually.

"Depends on the day."

"Sounds like him," she said.

"You've known him long?"

"Since he was little,” she smiled fondly. "He used to hide under cutting tables whenever Sabrina tried making him wear matching outfits."

I burst into laughter.

"He hated dressing up,” she added.

"I need photographic evidence."

"I'll see what I can find."

I was still laughing when she casually changed the subject.

"What do you think of his father?"

The smile disappeared from my face.

Derek?

Immediately, last night's image flashed through my mind.

Him leaning toward Martha inside the car.

The kiss.

Then Susan's strange warning.

I forced my expression to remain neutral.

"I don't really know him."

Caroline shrugged. "I've always thought he was a little... weird."

I almost laughed.

Weird didn't even describe what he was.

If only she knew… If only anyone knew what I had seen or suspected.

"I suppose everyone has their quirks,” I said instead.

She nodded. "True."

Then she continued arranging dresses.

"What about Susan?"

I looked at her.

"What about her?"

"I've always liked her. She's so calm and somehow mysterious."

"Mysterious?"

Caroline grinned. "Don't tell me you haven't noticed."

I thought about Susan's words again. About the way she'd somehow orchestrated this entire trip. About the way she seemed to know things before anyone else.

Mysterious?

That was certainly one way to describe her.

"Maybe a little,” I admitted.

Caroline laughed. "Exactly."

Before I could answer, she suddenly clapped her hands.

"I left the accessory box downstairs."

She pointed toward a mannequin. "Try on that dress while I'm gone. I'll be back in two minutes."

I nodded.

The moment she left the room, silence settled around me.

I walked toward the mannequin she had pointed at.

The dress was breathtaking. Soft champagne satin with delicate embroidery across the shoulders.

I carefully slipped it over my head. It fit surprisingly well.

I turned toward the mirror.

"Wow..."

There was only one problem.

The zipper.

It sat halfway up my back.

I reached behind me but I couldn't zip it.

I tried again, but the fabric shifted awkwardly.

Just as I was preparing to give up, I heard soft footsteps behind me.

"Oh, Caroline," I said without turning. "Can you help me with the…"

Before I finished speaking, I felt careful fingers take hold of the zipper.

Slowly… Gently… It slid upward.

I froze.

Those hands didn't feel like Caroline's.

They were warmer and strangely familiar.

My heartbeat quickened.

I looked into the mirror.

Andrew stood behind me, his eyes met mine through the reflection.

Then I remembered everything he'd said. Everything he'd chosen.

Immediately, I stepped away from him.

The movement was so sudden that he instinctively let his hands fall to his sides.

"Don't,” I said quietly.

He looked startled.

"Don't come near me."

The words came out sharper than I intended.

His shoulders dropped slightly.

"I'm sorry."

I looked away.

"I wanted to apologise for last night."

I laughed.

The sound surprised even me.

"Last night?" I turned back toward him. "What happened last night?"

His expression changed.

"What?"

I shrugged lightly. "I don't remember anything."

"Lily..."

"I slept." I smiled politely. "I woke up. Now I'm trying on dresses. I don't know what you're talking about."

He stared at me.

He knew exactly what I was doing.

I knew he knew, but I refused to give him anything else.

He had asked me to pretend.

So I would.

His voice dropped almost to a whisper. "You don't mean that."

"Mean what?"

"You remember."

I smiled again. "I remember the storm. I remember Aunt Sabrina. I remember Sam's hot chocolate." I looked at him with deliberate calm. "But last night?"

I shook my head. "Nothing important happened."

The words hurt me as much as they hurt him.

I could see it in his eyes.

He took a small step toward me.

"Lily…"

I immediately took one step back. "I asked you not to come near me."

He stopped.

The room became quiet.

For the first time since I'd known Andrew, I watched him struggle for words. He looked as if he wanted to cross the distance between us and undo everything.

Instead, he simply stood there. Exactly where he'd chosen to stand last night… On the wrong side of the line he had drawn himself.