Chapter XV

The world slowed down a bit.

Alexander's heart sank as he heard Isaac's message. He knew that his father was in danger, and he had to leave immediately to help him. He turned to Lily, his eyes searching hers. "Lily, I have to go. Urgent family matters," he said urgently.

Lily nodded, her heart heavy with the weight of everything that had just transpired. "I understand," she said softly. "Please be careful."

Alexander leaned in and kissed her softly on the cheeks. "I will," he promised before turning and running towards the exit with his men in tow. Only one man remained and came to stand by Lily.

Lily watched him go, her heart breaking as she realized that she had no idea what would happen next. She felt lost and alone, unsure of what to do or where to turn.

But then she felt a hand on her shoulder, and she turned to see Knox standing there, his gaze tender as he looked at her.

"Let me take you home," he said softly. Sadie appeared perplexed, "Knox, what are you doing?" Taking away his hands from Lily's shoulders, she slowly placed each finger in her mouth, playfully enticing Lily with her sensual motions.

Lily was already bewildered by the fact that Alexander's entourage of bodyguards -was he wealthy or was there another reason?

This episode with Knox and Sadie only deepened her confusion.

What is happening here? more to herselt then for others to hear.

She took a tentative step towards the ballroom, feeling as though her heart had been ripped out of her chest.

As she got closer, she saw her Mom and Dad facing each other in an intense conversation.

Even amid the loud chatter and clinking glasses from the guests, their words seemed to be amplified.

“Honey, we didn’t want you to find out like this, but Knox is a better option for Sadie...He represents our family well and has clear career goals…You just have your head in the clouds too much and should support your sister more,”

Dad said with an irritated edge to his voice. Mom ran her fingers through her hair and sighed. “We always have treated you like family,” she said in a gentle tone.

Lily's heart sank as she heard her parents' conversation. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Her family had always been close, but this revelation shattered everything she thought she knew about them. The realization that her own parents were willing to betray her for the sake of her sister's future was crushing.

She turned to Knox, her eyes filled with tears. "Is this true?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Knox took a deep breath, his expression pained. "Yes, Lily, it is," he said softly. "I'm sorry you had to find out this way."

Lily felt as if the ground beneath her feet had disappeared. She couldn't comprehend how everything could have changed so quickly. Her world had been turned upside down in a matter of moments.

Without another word, she turned and ran out of the ballroom, her heart heavy with grief and betrayal. She didn't know where she was going, but she had to get away

She felt lost and alone, as though she had been abandoned by everyone.

Lily retreated to her dorm room, closed the door, and curled up on the floor in a fetal position. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to make sense of her emotions. She felt lost, alone, and helpless.

With the weight of her emotions bearing down on her, every tear that fell from her eyes, she could feel the weight of her emotions lifting, if only slightly.

The dorm room walls seemed to enclose around her, providing a safe haven from the chaos outside. In this moment of vulnerability, she allowed herself to be consumed by the tidal wave of feelings crashing upon her.

The room echoed with her silent cries, as if it understood the depth of her despair.

Each breath she took felt like an uphill battle against the suffocating heaviness in her chest. But amidst the darkness that cloaked her mind, a flicker of determination ignited within.

She yearned for solace, for a glimmer of hope to guide her through this tempestuous storm.

Burdened by the weight of her past mistakes and overwhelmed by the tumultuous nature of life, with shaky hands and trembling resolve.

She reached out for a pen and an empty notebook lying nearby. With each stroke of ink on paper, she found herself pouring out her heart and soul onto those blank pages.

The words danced across the lines, creating a symphony of raw emotions and vivid imagery.

Lily wrote about the artist who expressed her emotions through vibrant colors on canvas, turning pain into breathtaking beauty. And the wise old woman who imparted her wisdom with an unwavering smile,all simply tests of character. All characters she never met.

She wrote about love lost and dreams shattered, about fear gripping tightly onto every ounce of courage within her.

She wrote until the thoughts in her head became tangible on the page—until they were a mere thought as she fell into a deep slumber.