Chapter 19 #3
I snickered and, admittedly, was shocked she hadn’t already burst her way through the suite like a tornado.
Jaxon: Lily’s exhausted, but she’s resilient. She’s going to be okay! We had a long talk, and everything is out in the open between us. I can’t share details, as it’s not my place, then again, maybe you already know? Could you thank everyone for their help and support last night?
I’d just pushed send to Arizona when Lily emerged from the bathroom.
How was it possible she was even more beautiful? She quietly padded across the room toward the bed.
“Come here.” I patted my thigh, relieved when she didn’t shy away. “I love you so much, Lily,” I said, wrapping my arm around her back while my other hand cradled her cheek softly. “That will never change—”
“But?”
“There’s no but. Not now. Not ever. My love for you isn’t conditional.”
“I love you too.” Her smile was heartfelt and radiant, just like her.
I pressed my lips to hers, needing her like the air in my lungs. Our connection was a lifeline, gentle and sincere. A reassuring promise, a declaration of our love and respect, and our trust and faith in the other.
“I’m so sorry, Jaxon.”
“Hey.” I leaned back so she could see my eyes. “You’ve got absolutely nothing to be sorry for. The hardest part is over.”
“Is it really gone?” she asked in a broken whisper.
“Yes.”
“And . . . and you saw it?” Her brows furrowed with shame.
“No. I was honest when I said I didn’t know until you told me. Cameron didn’t say anything, just that he’d taken care of whatever it was.”
“I feel sick,” she said, putting her hands on her stomach and chest. “But at the same time, relieved.”
“I think that’s a natural response.”
“How’d he even know?”
“He’s a cyber genius, that’s all I can offer.” I half-shrugged.
We both then heard a noise from somewhere else in the suite, and Lily quickly got up from my lap and headed for the bedroom door with me hot on her heels.
“Lily.” Jenna gasped in surprise, dropping her purse on the couch. “Good morning, how are you feeling?”
“Better than last night. Thank you for helping to bring me back here.”
“Of course.” They pulled each other in for a quick hug before Jenna stepped back and continued the conversation.
“I can’t quite explain it, other than to say I feel a connection with you.
Like we’ve both walked through a kind of darkness that most people couldn’t begin to understand.
And maybe because of that, we see parts of each other that others never could.
” She tilted her head and offered Lily a soft smile.
“That being said, if you ever need someone to talk to, please know you can reach out to me anytime.”
“Thank you, I really appreciate that.” Lily nodded, and I couldn’t help but notice that her posture had straightened, as if a newfound conviction had been released and flowed through her, changing the way she carried herself. “Is Cameron still here? I’d like to thank him too.”
“Yes, he should be—oh, perfect timing, honey.”
Cameron emerged from the opposite hallway carrying their bags, and without second-guessing its appropriateness, Lily rushed him and threw her arms around him. The bags hit the floor with a heavy thud as he froze for a moment before returning her embrace.
“I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to repay you for what you’ve done.
I still have to live with what happened, but knowing the images and videos are gone, that no one else will ever be able to see it .
. . that means more than I could ever express.
” She stepped back and wiped her cheeks, having left a damp spot on his dress shirt. “Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome. As I mentioned to Jaxon, I was happy to use my skills and make this right for you.”
“You’ve done more than that; you’ve given a piece of myself back that I didn’t think was possible.”
He gave her a sincere smile. “I imagine it felt like justice wasn’t properly served, but I hope this brings you peace.”
“It does. Yes.” She nodded. “Thank you.”
“And for added peace of mind, I’ve got safeguards in place for when your ex is released from prison. I’ll make sure he isn’t a problem for you ever again.”
Lily inhaled sharply. “How?”
“That’s for me to take care of. The less you all know, the better.” He met my eyes with a subtle nod.
After Cameron and Jenna left, eager to get back to their kids, Lily and I stood alone in the middle of the penthouse suite. I knew better than to think the years of mental anguish would simply vanish overnight. Lily needed time to process everything, but this felt like one hell of a good start.
A substantial turning point.
The final step in her healing journey toward reclaiming her life.
Now that everything was out in the open, Lily was free to step into her light and embrace her worth without giving her past any control over the present. She survived an egregious betrayal and emerged stronger, shedding the ghost that weighed her down and haunted her with silent what-ifs.
That alone felt like a huge victory, and I was just so damn proud of her!