Chapter 20
Lilly woke up to the sharp scent of cologne mingling with the lingering traces of alcohol. Her eyes fluttered open, and she found herself face-to-face with a storm-an irate Alexander Kane, his intense gaze fixed on her like a blade ready to strike.
"Good mor-"
"Save it," he growled, cutting her off with a venomous edge. His voice was tight and controlled, but his eyes burned with fury. "Let last night be the first and last time you change my clothes. Understand?"
Lilly's pulse quickened. She wasn't sure what shocked her more: his anger or the inexplicable tension curling between them. She was caught off-guard,her words stumbling out. unfiltered. "It wouldn't have happened if you hadn't come home drunk, Mr. Kane."
"Don't push me." His jaw clenched, and he turned toward the door,but Lilly, her hand trembling slightly, reached out to grab his arm.
He froze, his sharp gaze flicking down to where her fingers had curled around his sleeve."What is it?" His voice was low, almost dangerous.
"Alexander, I..." Her breath caught in her throat, unsure of how to make him understand. "I just want to say... I'm here for you. Even if our marriage is temporary, if you need to talk, I'm here. You don't have to bottle everything up and drown it in alcohol."
His eyes narrowed unreadable, dark pools that made her feel as if she were standing at the edge of a precipice. He didn't move for a moment, the silence suffocating. Then, with a sharp exhale, he pulled his arm away and gave her a cold, final look. "I've been warned," he muttered, his voice as sharp as a knife, before turning and walking out without another word.
Lilly remained rooted in place, her heart thundering in her chest. She felt the sharp sting of his rejection-familiar, yet so much more intense than anything she'd experienced before. She was left alone, the air thick with unanswered questions and a growing ache for the man she couldn't quite understand.
By the time Lilly arrived at the coffee shop later that morning, she was barely able to mask the storm of emotions swirling inside her. Sarah noticed her tense posture immediately.
"Good morning, stranger!" Sarah called out, her voice warm, but Lilly could hear the concern beneath it.
"Look who's here!" Sarah exclaimed, hustling over to Lilly and leading her into the storeroom where she was about to change. "You didn't call yesterday.What happened?"
Lilly exhaled slowly, her mind still reeling from the morning's events. "I'm sorry. I had to go to the Kane family residence."
"Really?" Sarah raised an eyebrow. "I thought he said you'd never go there.What changed?"
Lilly's expression hardened as she recalled the solemn day. "It was his father's anniversary of death. He sent me to be with his grandmother...and I found out something I wasn't expecting."
Sarah's curiosity was piqued. "What did you find out?"
Lilly hesitated, then spoke in a low, measured voice, as if still processing everything. "Hlis mother... she was unfaithful. It led to his father's death.Alexander found them together, and his father died in a reckless accident afterward."
Sarah's face went pale. Her lips parted, but no words came out at first.Finally, she gasped, "Oh my god... With a mother like that, no wonder he's wary of women."
Lilly nodded, the weight of the revelation heavy on her chest. "I hope he changes," she whispered, though her voice lacked conviction.
The two of them remained in silence for a moment before Lilly's stomach turned uncomfortably. The smell of coffee, usually her favorite scent, now made her feel queasy. She rushed to the restroom, her head spinning.
Once inside, she barely made it to the sink before she doubled over, her body rejecting everything she had eaten that morning. Her hands trembled as she wiped her mouth, staring at her pale reflection in the mirror.
Something was wrong.
Sarah knocked gently on the door, concern lacing her voice. "What's wrong?"
"I think I'm pregnant," Lilly saíd, her voice barely above a whisper,the words sinking into her like a weight she couldn't escape.
"Are you sure?" Sarah's voice was tentative.
Lilly's heart raced as she mentally calculated her period. It was late. "I was supposed to get my period yesterday, and now I'm throwing up."
Without another word, Sarah rushed out, returning with a test strip. Lilly used it, her hands shaking. The seconds stretched into an eternity before the two lines appeared.
"So?" Sarah asked her voice tight with anticipation.
Lilly looked down at the strip and felt her stomach twist. "I'm pregnant."
Sarah didn't hesitate. She rushed forward and enveloped Lilly in a tight hug."Congratulations!" she said, her voice warm and excited,but Lilly could only nod numbly.
The news felt like a double-edged sword-joy and fear swirling inside her,both equally overwhelming. Would Alexander push her away now that she was pregnant? The thought made her heart ache with uncertainty.
Later,Lilly arrives at the Kane family residence, her mind still reeling from the pregnancy revelation. Camila greeted her warmly, leading her to Grandma Helen, who was sitting in the upstairs living room, flipping through a photo album.
"Grandma," Lilly greeted, her voice soft with respect.
Grandma Helen smiled and gestured for her to sit."I've been going through some old photos. Would you like to see pictures of Alexander when he was younger?"
Lilly smiled, her curiosity piqued. "Yes, I'd lovre to." The two women spent the next hour flipping through the pages,laughing at the innocent, carefree photos of Alexander as a child. But Lilly couldn't ignore the shift that occurred when they reached the photos from when he was fourteen. That was the age his father had died, and Lilly could see the unmistakable change in his expression-a loss so deep it was still etched in his features. Grandma Helen's voice brought her back to the present. "Really? You're pregnant?" Her eyes lit up with genuine joy, and for a moment. Lilly felt a warmth that she hadn't expected.
"Yes," Lilly said, her heart heavy with the weight of her newvs. "But I still need to confirm it with a doctor."
"I'm so happy for you, dear. I can't wait to be a great-grandmother,"Grandma Helen said, enveloping Lilly in a hug.
Lilly felt a strange pang of uncertainty. "He knows?" she asked, her voice soft.
"I'll tell him when you get home," Grandma Helen assured her.
Lilly nodded, but something gnawed at her. She didn't know what would happen next-only Alexander could decide whether she would stay in his life after their contract ended. That thought hung over her as she reluctantly left, accepting the chauffeur's offer for safety.
At home, Lilly was greeted by Clara and another maid. "Thank you, Clara."
"Would you like something to eat, ma'am?" Clara asked, her tone polite.but Lilly's mind was elsewhere.
"No, I've already eaten," Lilly murmured. "I'll retire for the night."
"Good night,ma'am." She used the elevator to avoid the stairs, her steps heavy as she approached the bedroom. The door creaked open, and there he was-Alexander, seated on the edge of the bed, his gaze icy,his presence suffocating. "Why did you go to the family house?" His voice was cold.cutting through the silence like a blade.
Lilly's heart raced. "To visit Grandma and see how she's doing."
"I don't recall giving you permission."
Lilly's pulse quickened, but she stood her ground. "Didn't,know I needed to ask."
His face darkened, and she could feel the tension crackling between them."Just because I sent you there yesterday doesn't mean you can go whenever you want. You are not to develop any relationship with my family.When our one-year and six months are up, you're out. Understand?"
Her chest tightened, but she forced herself to remain calm. "You've made that clear.But my relationship with your grandmother has nothing to do with our arrangement. I care for her."
Lilly turned to leave for her room, but he blocked the door with a single step. "Where do you think you're going?"
"To my former room."
"No,you're not. Not until you're pregnant."
Her breath hitched. "I am pregnant."
His eyes darkened, and the words he spoke next held a dangerous weight.
"Why didn't you tell me?" The room fell silent, the tension unbearable. Lilly swallowed,trying to steady herself."Ijust found out today." "Can I go now?"
Alexander's gaze flicked to the suitcase in her hand. He didn't move, but his silence was like a trap closing in.
Lilly took a step forward, but then his hand shot out,gripping her wrist with a force that sent a shock through her body.
"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"Don't leave."
The words echoed in the silence of the room, and Lilly stood frozen,the weight of his touch grounding her in place. Was this a warning-or something else entirely?