The Secret
It had been only a month since Lily was forced out of Nicholas's estate, but every day felt like a lifetime. She found a small room in the city, far from the golden gates of the Moretti mansion. She worked quietly, trying to forget his touch, his promises, his voice.
But then the sickness came. The dizziness. The missed days. The trembling truth.
Lily sat alone on the wooden bed with the doctor's slip in her hand. Pregnant.
Her breath hitched. Nicholas's child.
For one wild, dangerous moment, hope bloomed inside her. Maybe this was her tie to him, the proof of their love. Maybe… maybe he would fight for them.
But then Aunt Lola arrived.
The older woman's eyes, sharp as glass, swept the small room. "You foolish girl," she hissed when Lily whispered the truth. "Carrying his child? Do you realize what this will do? Nicholas is engaged. He has responsibilities. His empire cannot be tainted by a servant's womb."
Tears welled in Lily's eyes. "But he loves me…"
"Love?" Lola's laugh was cold, without mercy. "Nicholas doesn't know what love is. And you will not ruin him with this mistake. Get rid of it."
Lily froze. Her hand instinctively covered her stomach. Her baby. His baby. The last piece of him she had.
"I won't," she whispered, voice trembling but firm.
Aunt Lola's gaze hardened, but she did not argue further. Instead, she turned, her heels striking against the floor. "Then pray Nicholas never finds out. Because if he does, everything will burn."
When the door slammed shut, Lily pressed her hand over her belly and wept. She had never felt more alone, and yet, never more determined.
She would protect this child — even if it meant protecting it from Nicholas himself
Lily had been living quietly under the roof of her ex-lover, Daniel, who swore to protect her and the child. He promised to raise the baby as his own, to give Lily a respectable life.
But no matter how kind he was, Lily's heart refused to move. Nights were long and restless, haunted by Nicholas's touch, by the fire of his voice.
And then… he found her.
Nicholas stood at the doorway, broad-shouldered, eyes blazing with both relief and fury. "You thought you could hide from me?" he growled.
Lily froze. Daniel stepped forward to protect her, but one glance from Nicholas silenced him. Nicholas's world had been torn apart in her absence. He had searched, hunted, destroyed every obstacle until she was back in front of him.
"You are mine, Lily," Nicholas said, his voice low and unshakable. "And no one will ever take you from me again."
Before she could speak, Nicholas swept her away — back into his world of wealth, secrecy, and obsession
A month later, the city buzzed with headlines: Nicholas Moretti Marries Socialite Francesca Rossi.
The world celebrated the union of wealth and power. Aunt Lola smiled proudly. Francesca basked in her role as Mrs. Moretti.
But inside Nicholas's mansion, the truth was darker.
He never touched Francesca. Not once. Her room was cold and empty, her bed untouched. She was a wife in name only, a pawn in his game.
Because every night, Nicholas went to Lily.
He held her. He worshiped her. He claimed her again and again, as if reminding her — reminding himself — that no matter what the world saw, she was the only one he loved.
Lily's tears mixed with her laughter in his arms. She hated the deception, hated being hidden away like a secret… but when Nicholas kissed her, when he whispered, "You are my world, Lily. Everything I own, everything I am, belongs to you," she melted into him.
What she didn't know was that Nicholas had already written his will. Every estate, every company, every fortune — signed over quietly in her name.
Because to him, Francesca was a mask. But Lily… Lily was his forever.
But secrets like theirs could not stay hidden. Francesca began to suspect. Aunt Lola grew restless. Daniel, betrayed and broken, plotted from the shadows.
And Lily… she feared the cost of Nicholas's love. His passion was endless, but so was his ruthlessness.
Every kiss was both a promise and a warning.
Every touch reminded her: Nicholas would never let her go.
Not even if it destroyed them both
Lily had been living quietly under the roof of her ex-lover, Daniel, who swore to protect her and the child. He promised to raise the baby as his own, to give Lily a respectable life.
But no matter how kind he was, Lily's heart refused to move. Nights were long and restless, haunted by Nicholas's touch, by the fire of his voice.
And then… he found her.
Nicholas stood at the doorway, broad-shouldered, eyes blazing with both relief and fury. "You thought you could hide from me?" he growled.
Lily froze. Daniel stepped forward to protect her, but one glance from Nicholas silenced him. Nicholas's world had been torn apart in her absence. He had searched, hunted, destroyed every obstacle until she was back in front of him.
"You are mine, Lily," Nicholas said, his voice low and unshakable. "And no one will ever take you from me again."
Before she could speak, Nicholas swept her away — back into his world of wealth, secrecy, and obsessed
A month later, the city buzzed with headlines: Nicholas Moretti Marries Socialite Francesca Rossi.
The world celebrated the union of wealth and power. Aunt Lola smiled proudly. Francesca basked in her role as Mrs. Moretti.
But inside Nicholas's mansion, the truth was darker.
He never touched Francesca. Not once. Her room was cold and empty, her bed untouched. She was a wife in name only, a pawn in his game.
Because every night, Nicholas went to Lily.
He held her. He worshiped her. He claimed her again and again, as if reminding her — reminding himself — that no matter what the world saw, she was the only one he loved.
Lily's tears mixed with her laughter in his arms. She hated the deception, hated being hidden away like a secret… but when Nicholas kissed her, when he whispered, "You are my world, Lily. Everything I own, everything I am, belongs to you," she melted into him.
What she didn't know was that Nicholas had already written his will. Every estate, every company, every fortune — signed over quietly in her name.
Because to him, Francesca was a mask. But Lily… Lily was his forever
But secrets like theirs could not stay hidden. Francesca began to suspect. Aunt Lola grew restless. Daniel, betrayed and broken, plotted from the shadows.
And Lily… she feared the cost of Nicholas's love. His passion was endless, but so was his ruthlessness.
Every kiss was both a promise and a warning.
Every touch reminded her: Nicholas would never let her go.
Not even if it destroyed them both.