Chapter 23
Lily’s POV
After Keith left, I collapsed onto the couch, tears streaming down my face. The pain in my chest was unbearable, a deep ache that seemed to pulse with every beat of my heart.
I tried to hold it together, but the moment the door closed behind him, I lost all control. My sobs echoed through the empty. apartment, the sound of my heartbreak filling the silence.
Ever since my father passed away, the world had felt off–balance. I had been his little princess, the one who could do no wrong in his eyes. Losing him had shattered me, and returning home had been one of the hardest things I’d ever done. But when Keith came to see me that first day back, there had been a flicker of hope.
He told me that he had divorced Emily and wanted to start over with me. For nine long years, I had carried the weight of our separation, but my love for him had never wavered. It felt like the universe was giving us a second chance.
But tonight had shaken that belief to its core.
I couldn’t understand why Keith was suddenly so invested in Emily. My family had assured me that he had been indifferent toward her
during their marriage, that he had never truly loved her. So why
now?
Why had he bought her a new car, a new phone, and even hired people to protect and care for her? The thought gnawed at me, filling me with doubt and fear.
I wiped my tears, my hands trembling as I reached for my phone. There was only one person I could talk to about this–Nancy, my oldest and dearest friend. She had been by my side through everything, and I needed her perspective more than ever.
“Nancy,” I said, my voice shaky as I tried to keep my emotions in check when she answered. “I don’t know what to do. Keith… he’s acting so strange. He’s doing all these things for Emily, and I just…. I don’t understand.”
“Lily, slow down,” Nancy replied, her tone calm and soothing. “Tell me what happened.”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Tonight, we were out, and we saw Emily with Frank. Keith… he was so angry. It was like he couldn’t stand seeing her with another man. And then he… just ignored me completely.”
Nancy was silent for a moment, processing what I had told her. “Are you sure you’re not overthinking this? Keith could just be trying to make sure Zane’s mother is safe. That doesn’t mean he’s in love with her.”
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“But why would he go to such lengths? Even buying her a new car?” I countered, my voice rising with frustration. “I’ve seen how he looks at her, Nancy. It’s like he’s enchanted by her, like he’s seeing her in a way he never did before.”
Feeling utterly lost and overwhelmed, I let the rest pour out. “He bought her a new car, a phone, and even hired people to protect her. They’re saying she’s become a target for criminals, but I just don’t believe it. As a lawyer, I’ve handled so many cases where ex- wives of some celebrities would go to any lengths to win back. their men. Emily could be doing the same thing, creating drama to get Keith’s attention.”
Nancy was quiet for a moment before she responded. “Lily, from everything you’ve told me, it sounds like Keith might just be trying to do the right thing, to be responsible. She is his son’s mother.“,
“I don’t know, Nancy,” I whispered, my voice breaking. “I’m scared. What if he’s falling for her? What if I’m losing him?”
“You’ve been through so much, Lily. It’s natural to be worried, but you need to think about this rationally. Do you really think Emily would try to take Keith away from you again? Would she stoop that low?”
Nancy’s words made me pause, memories from our childhood flashing through my mind. “She’s done it before,” I said, my voice trembling with old wounds.
“When we were teenagers, she ruined my dates with Keith on
purpose. She destroyed the hair dyes I chose for our meetings,
even put green dye in my shampoo once. She did everything she could to come between us, and eventually, she succeeded. She broke us up.”
Nancy was silent, taking in my words. “Lily, that was a long time ago. People change. Do you really believe Emily would do something like that now?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted, the fear and uncertainty gnawing at me. “But what if she hasn’t changed? What if she’s trying to take him from me again?”
Nancy’s voice softened. “Lily, you need to be careful. If you’re not sure about Keith, you have two choices–you can either let him go or fight for him. But whatever you do, you need to be sure about why you’re doing it. Don’t fight for him out of fear. Fight for him because you truly believe he’s the one for you.”
I nodded, even though she couldn’t see me. “I can’t let her take him away from me again,” I said, more to myself than to Nancy.
“If that’s how you feel, then you need to stand your ground,” Nancy said firmly. “But remember, Lily, you have to be prepared for whatever comes next. This isn’t just about Keith–it’s about what you want and what you’re willing to do to keep it.”
Her words weighed heavily on me. I had always fought for what I wanted, but this felt different. It wasn’t just about winning; it was about survival, about holding on to the one thing that had always
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mattered most to me–Keith.
“Lily, promise me you’ll take care of yourself,” Nancy said softly, her voice laced with worry and tenderness.
“I will, I promise,” I replied, my voice trembling slightly as I fought to keep my emotions in check. “Thank you, Nancy. Really, thank you.”
“Always, Lily. I’m here for you, no matter what,” she said, her words carrying a depth of sincerity that made my chest tighten. “We’ll talk again soon, okay? Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”
“I will,” I whispered, trying to convey the gratitude I felt. After a few more exchanged words, full of unspoken support, we finally ended the call.
As soon as the line disconnected, the room seemed to close in on me, the silence amplifying the weight of my thoughts. I couldn’t let Emily take Keith away from me again. The thought of it made my chest tighten with fear and anger.
I
But if Nancy was right, if I was truly going to fight for Keith, I knew I had to confront the one thing I had been avoiding for so long.
There was a secret I had buried deep, something I had never shared, not even with Keith. I didn’t want to open it.
I knew if they ever found out, they would loose their respect for
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- me. They would realize that I wasn’t perfect. I couldn’t have that, because being perfect was the only advantage l’had over Emily.
