5. Lily #3
For three years, I was invisible. For three years, I existed in shadows, shrinking myself smaller and smaller until I almost disappeared entirely.
Let them see me now.
“We should go,” Lucas breathes when we finally break apart. “Before someone calls the press.”
“Too late.” I nod toward a woman across the street, clearly pretending to look at her phone while actually recording us. “We’re already tomorrow’s headline.”
“Does that bother you?”
I consider the question. The old Lily would be mortified - Victoria’s voice in her head, lecturing about propriety and appearances and what will people think.
But the old Lily is dead.
“No,” I say, surprised to find I mean it. “Let them talk. Let them see.”
Lucas’s smile is slow and devastating. “God, I love you.”
The words slip out like he didn’t mean to say them. His eyes widen slightly, like he’s surprised by his own honesty.
I should tell him it’s too soon. I should remind him that we barely know each other outside of family dinners and stolen glances and one explosive night. I should be sensible.
“I think I might love you too,” I say instead. “Is that insane?”
“Probably.” He laughs, pulling me against him. “But I don’t care. I’ve been insane about you for three years. It’s nice to have company.”
We stand there for a moment, wrapped in each other, while the city flows around us.
Then my phone buzzes.
I pull back reluctantly, checking the screen.
A text from an unknown number:
I saw the kiss. Touching. But you should know - Elena just left the restaurant in tears, and Victoria is already on the phone with her lawyers. They’re coming for you, Lily. Both of them.
Watch your back.
-M. Reid
I stare at the message.
“What is it?” Lucas asks, reading the concern on my face.
“Margaret Reid. The lawyer.” I show him the screen. “She says Victoria’s already working the phones. Calling in every favor she’s got, turning every friend I might’ve had against me before I can speak.”
“Already?” Lucas’s jaw tightens. “That was fast. Even for Victoria.”
“She said to meet her tonight. Alone.”
“Alone?” His hand tightens on my waist. “No. Absolutely not. I’m not letting you-”
“You’re not letting me do anything.” The words come out sharper than I intend. “I spent three years being controlled by your family. I’m not trading one cage for another.”
Lucas flinches like I’ve slapped him.
“That’s not-” He stops, takes a breath. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I know.” I soften, reaching up to touch his face. “I know you didn’t. But I need to do this on my own terms, Lucas. Whatever comes next, I need to face it standing on my own two feet.”
“And if it’s a trap?”
“Then I’ll deal with it.” I meet his eyes steadily. “I’m not the woman your family tried to break. Not anymore.”
He’s quiet for a long moment. I can see the war playing out behind his eyes, the urge to protect battling with the understanding that I need to fight my own battles.
Finally, he nods.
“Okay,” he says. “But I’m driving you there. And I’m waiting outside. Non-negotiable.”
“That’s-”
“Non-negotiable.” His voice is firm. “You want to go in alone, fine. But I’m not letting you walk into unknown territory without backup nearby. That’s not control, Lily. That’s partnership.”
Partnership.
The word settles into my chest like something warm and unfamiliar.
“Okay,” I agree. “Partnership.”
His smile is soft, relieved. “Thank you.”
“Thank you.” I rise on my toes to press a quick kiss to his lips. “For being here. For watching out for me. For...”
“What for?”
“For seeing me. When no one else did.”
His thumb stops moving on my wrist. He swallows, and when he looks up his eyes are wet and furious at once.
“I’ve always seen you, Lily.” His voice is rough. “I just wasn’t brave enough to do anything about it. But I’m done being a coward. Whatever comes next - whatever your grandmother needs you to do, whatever the Burtons throw at us - I’m with you. All the way.”
“Even if it means destroying your family?”
“Especially then.” His smile turns sharp. “They stopped being my family the day they decided to destroy you.”
I pull him down for another kiss - slower this time, deeper, a promise of things to come.
When we finally separate, the afternoon sun is starting to fade, painting the city in shades of gold and amber.
“8 p.m.,” I say. “The Maxwell estate.”
“I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“It’s a date.”
He laughs - surprised, delighted. “Is it?”
“I think so.” I smile up at him. “Our first official date. Driving to my grandmother’s mansion to plan the destruction of your family. Very romantic.”
“I’ve had worse first dates.”
“Liar.”
“Okay, maybe not.” He grins, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “But I wouldn’t trade this for anything.”
We walk toward his car, hands intertwined, while the city watches.
Let them watch.
Let Victoria mobilize her lawyers and Elena plot her revenge and Edward scramble to contain the damage.
I’m done hiding. Done shrinking. Done being the manageable little nobody they tried to make me.
I’m Lily Maxwell.
And I’m just getting started.