《Suddenly becoming a mum!》


 Chapter 1 - Promise

    Dissolved, he buried his little head in the hollow between Lily''s neck and shoulder. His chubby arms snaked helplessly around her neck while his tiny little hands clung to Lily''s clothes in desperation.


    He whispered her name over and over again, like a desperate prayer.


    To see him like that, hurt and lost, tore her heart apart.


    Lily leaned over the upset toddler anxiously and wraped his little body even more gently against her body. Lovingly, she stroked his hazel-brown hair and gently whispered his name.


    The little guy hesitantly raised his head and looked at her with watery, big, round eyes. Fear and mourning had settled like fog over his azure eyes.


    Tears were still rolling about his round cheeks while he clung to Lily desperately. "Do not leave me!" Adrien shouted, before burying his face in Lily''s neck bow.


    The girl did not know what she was doing, but she was sure she could never leave him. Carefully, she stroked his dark curls. "I''ll always stay with you" She whispered softly.


    Lily could feel every single tear of the toddler. She could feel every single tear dripping down on her shoulder and rolling slowly over her skin.


    She heard his soft sobbing. She felt his small body stiffen in her arms before cautiously saying again in a shaky voice. "Do not you leave me."


    Lily felt his little heart flutter excitedly, like a butterfly fiercely fighting for his life. And she felt her heart break into a thousand pieces. Like a stinging pain piercing her chest.


    The girl did not know what it was like to be a mother. But at that moment, she wanted nothing more than to hold him in her arms. Protect him and never letting him go.


    She felt as strong as a lioness defending her cub against cruel vultures.


    She would not let anything happen to him.


    "Yes. Promised."


    Soon his tears flooded his round face with relief.


    He knew Lily would always keep her promise before falling asleep from fatigue in the girl''s arms.

 Chapter 2 - Custody

    Agitated, she let her gaze wander to the Youth office employee and Monsieur Fabre, while she were still holding her toddler in the arms.


    It had only taken a minute. A moment that would change everything.


    But she was sure, even if the future seemed uncertain. She would not change her mind because it felt right.


    That''s why she would go that way. She wanted to see him smile, wanted him to be happy. Even if it meant abandoning yourself somewhere. She did not want to change her mind.


    Her whole body trembled, and her stupid heart echoed in her as loud as a whole orchestra.


    It stunned her, her own determination scared her. Lily was always the first one to run away from any kind of responsibility. But this time she could not run, she stopped. She was not sure why she was not running as far as she could.


    But she wanted to stop for the first time. No, she even wanted to break new ground with him. She could not leave him alone.


    Lily was so sure as never before.


    Then she closed her eyes.


    Felt the weight of the child in her arms.


    She tried to suppress the tremor in her.


    The fear and uncertainty.


    She tried to bury everything in herself. Every single spark that smelled of desperation, she tried to choke it.


    Before she opened her eyes again and stared at the people in the room.


    "What ... what are the next steps?" She whispered in a shaky voice.


    Monsieur Fabre, with a flowing hand movement, pushed the spectacle frame back up on his nose, before looking at the young girl with all the kindness he possessed.


    He could still remember the day when the young Madame Elodie de Bourbon, against the will of her husband, insisted that the young Mademoiselle de Clermont should get custody of her son, if the unthinkable would eventually happen.


    He smiled that wonderful smile that made his whole face wrinkle. Before he started talking.


    "Mademoiselle de Clermont, from the legal point of view, Monsieur de Bourbon has cleared all obstacles for you. All you have to do is sign a few papers, and then you can call the young Master your son. "


    Lily nodded briefly and struggled hard with her tears. A dull feeling had spread in her chest. A feeling that Elodie had foreseen it all somehow.


    "Yes, that would be nice." She whispered sadly, before she stood up with the young Adrien in her arms.


    "Shall we arrange the adoption?" The lawyer asked her. But Lily could not say a word, so she smiled hesitantly before following Monsieur Fabre.


    It had taken several hours to get through the paperwork and everything that belonged to it.


    Monsieur Fabre was now her lawyer and financial adviser.


    Lily was now rich again. Elodie had taken care of that in her will.


    And Adrien was her son. Quite officially.


    But she was certain that the de Bourbon family, and of course her own family, would not remain silent as soon as they learned of the disaster.


    It was a game about time that Elodie and Fabien played with the de Bourbon family. Their death would be kept secret for the next 24 hours.


    They had given Lily just enough time to keep Adrien safe from his greedy relatives.

 Chapter 3 - Escape plan

    Lily felt ill.


    She knew she would have to hide with Adrien.


    Somehow disappear, until her twenty-first birthday.


    What should she do? She herself was fleeing from her family and a marriage that would cost her dear life.


    And then suddenly, out of the blue, an immense fury boiled up inside of her.


    Oh, how she hated this book she was stuck in now.


    She hated the stupid author who plays with her life as if it were worthless.


    This damned author who keeps throwing rocks in her way, stones that would drive Lily to her grave if she was not careful enough.


    She still wondered what she had done wrong in her past life to be reborn as Lillian de Clermont.


    A side character whose life could not be more tragic.


    In the book, Lillian was the rich princess of the de Clermont family. She led the perfect life of a rich heiress. If it was not for her jealous half-sister, who sought her life. Nadine and Lillian''s husband Pascal forged a murderous plan and poisoned the poor Lillian. To seize Lillian''s legacy after her death. Everything would have gone well had it not been for Elodie, the main character of ''My loyal hubby'' and best friend of Lillian, who revealed the schemings of the killer duo. Lily''s fate was no more than a step in Elodie''s rise to the beautiful and rich world of the nobles in the book.


    Lily was upset. She wanted to pray, but she did not know how or to whom. She was a single nerve bundle. The fear was like a thick lump in her throat. She did not know where to go. She did not know what to do.


    She pressed her fingers to her throbbing temples and tried to gather all her sanity.


    But where should she start?


    Dame it!


    She knew the time was running through her fingers, but where should she run? She could no longer hide in her old hiding place. It was not the right environment for the toddler. Besides, it was not safe within the borders of Bourgogne.


    She would probably have to follow the advice of Monsieur Fabre. She had to leave the country. Lily swallowed her fear and petted Adrien''s head, who laid calm in her arms.


    "Adrien, we''re going on train now. Is that okay? " Her voice trembled almost imperceptibly.


    "You will stay with me?"


    "But of course I''ll stay with you." Lily tries to smile. It was a hopeless attempt that just had to go wrong.


    She wished that she could keep the promise.


    How much she wanted to keep it.


    But that fear in her grew with each passing second. Meanwhile, various scenarios floated through her mind. How they could grab them. How they could snatch Adrien from her. And how she could just watch.


    Her fear got bigger and bigger. And at the same time she wondered how she could fix everything again. Unless it was hopeless. Because then, she could do nothing. Because then she could only watch silently as everything around her broke down.


    "Then train is okay.", Adrien broke through her thoughts, which slipped more and more into the negative. She could not deny it, she was a little scaredy cat who hid rather than facing his problems. For her, running away was always the first solution.


    Adrien happily looked at her with his big round dear-like eyes, before burying his head in her hair again.


    "Then let''s start our journey." She turned to the road and beckoned one of those black cabs before slipping inside the cab.


    "What''s your destination?" Asked an elderly gentleman in his fifties.


    "To the station, please."

 Chapter 4 - Great catch

    For exactly forty-eight hours, the hunt was opened. The tabloids had only one question: where was Adrien? The press was overturning with speculation and theories. But no one knew where the little guy was.


    While Adrien slept, she read all the news about the deaths of Fabien and Elodie de Bourbon. And, of course, the excited search for the heir of the Bourbon Empire.


    She begged, pleaded and negotiated with the god she knew. Promise him she would never doubt him again, if only the world would forget Adrien.


    But the world would never forget Adrien. Not as long as he had that bunch of money and power.


    "Lily I''m hungry."


    Her heart stopped spinning. She whirled around.


    She shoved the phone under the covers quickly, before she moved beside him. Somehow she manages to bring out a smile.


    "I''m hungry too. What should we eat? "


    Thoughtfully Adrien put his head on his shoulder and looked at Lily with a cute smile on his lips. "Spaghetti?" He whispered questioningly.


    "Spaghetti, then!" The girl chuckled.


    Lily first combed his hazel hair, then helped him out of his pajamas before helping him into his new street clothes.


    She looked out the window. It rained. A gray film had spread across the sky, as if this world was mourning the loss of MC and ML with her.


    Lily decided she would eat at the hotel restaurant and smoothed her gray summer dress before reaching for Adrien''s chubby hand.


    Quickly she threw her bag around her shoulder and left the room with Adrien.


    ?


    "Could we have a table for two, please?" She asked the waiter.


    But before she could take another step further with Adrien into the restaurant, a second of the waiters rushed up. His black and white uniform looked nobler than his colleague''s. He looked like one of those emperor penguins she had seen as a kid in the zoo. He softly whispers something in his colleague''s ear, which Lily naturally could not hear.


    A strange feeling spread in her. She suddenly had a desire to grab Adrien, turn around and run as fast as she could.


    With a fluid movement, the waiter turned back to her. "Miss, please follow me."


    Lily tried to suppress her paranoia. After all, it was against all reason that someone had already found her, that someone was waiting there.


    The waiter took them to a second floor with some private rooms.


    Every alarm bell in Lily shrilled.


    Terrified, she took a step back.


    Even Adrien closed his arms around her leg. Cramp his little hands in the fabric of her dress.


    Lily patted his head reassuringly. Stroke gently over the brown hair.


    "Um ... excuse me ...", the waiter turned questioningly to her. "I think we want to eat somewhere else," she stuttered uncertainly.


    "The waiter gave her a questioning look. "But your husband is already waiting for you."


    A fire bomb exploded inside her. Which husband. She did not have one. Pascal? Had he finally found her?


    She stumbled back a few steps. But behind her she hit a firm breast. As if in slow motion, she stretch out her elegant gooseneck and found the hard-eyed look of the security man whose chest she had hit. "Mademoiselle de Clermont, please. The Master is already waiting for you." Carefully, Lily took another step forward. Behind the bull stood eight more of his men in black.


    A door opened as if in slow motion.


    Her heart was up to her neck. She looked around anxiously. There was no way out. Only this one way to the open door. Protective, she took Adrien in her arms. The little boy suddenly wrapped himself around Lily like an octopus and buried his face deep in the crook of her neck.


    "Lily." Adrien''s voice was quite fragile. His breathing was faster. She had to be strong for both of them. "Everything will be fine," she whispered encouragingly into his little ear.


    She could not be scared now.


    She stomped into the room with her head uplifted.


    A man in a tailor-made black suit lifted smoothly from his chair and arranged a chair for her.


    Smooth, like a panther, Alexandre reached for the chair across from him.


    Not only did his movement resemble those of a predator, but with his gaze he seemed to devour people alive. Like a hungry black panther.


    It took only seconds to caught Lily with his gaze, but it was enough to let Lily know what danger meant.


    An icy shiver ran down Lily''s back.


    There was a smug smile on his lips. "I''ll call you if we want to order." He turned to the waiter.


    Lily''s legs were frozen. She did not know this man. But she knows that he was the most dangerous man she has ever met.


    The young waiter sneakily disappeared from the room and left her alone with this predator. Adrien meanwhile played dead. He lay quite still and motionless in her arms, his bony head buried in her hair.


    "Lily. Can I call you that? Sit down, please. The little one is certainly heavy." His words sounded like a caress and at the same time, like a curse.


    Her mouth became dry. "Only my friends call me that." She blurted out. She stared at him uncertainly. She did not know what had gone into her, which brain cell now danced out of the line.


    "I hope in the future we are closer," he replied coldly and fixed her with his steel-gray eyes. "Come sit down." He pointed at the chair.


    As if on stilts, she stacked up to him and let herself fall on the chair with Adrien. Suddenly she was out of breath.


    Opposite her, he elegantly pulled out his chair and slid leisurely into it. While he was still studying the face of his future wife.


    She looked like a frightened bunny. He liked it.

 Chapter 5 - Villain

    All her senses were on alert. Her heart was beating so hard that she was no longer able to separate the individual blows.


    She felt like a helpless animal under his gaze.


    Alexander looked at the pale face of the girl. She was frozen. But if she did not move, she was more like a life-size porcelain doll. How she stared innocently across the table with her big blue cat-like eyes.


    He leisurely let his greedy gaze wander from her sapphire-blue lakes to her voluptuous lips.


    A cloud of chocolate brown curls snuggled around her heart-shaped face and fell softly over her petite shoulders. The delicate, white skin contrasted sharply with the dark curls and her red lips.


    It was not for nothing that the fine gentlemen had given her the nickname Snow White.


    He did not know a woman who deserved the name more than she did, as if she''d slipped out of Grimm''s storybook.


    "Lillian de Clermont, I''m glad to finally meet you." He greeted her with a cheeky grin.


    Lillian collapsed abruptly. "Who are you?"


    "Alexandre de Valois." He could barely hide the pleasure in his voice. "And that is probably the most wanted Adrien de Bourbon." Lily glared at him in panic. She would not let this man snatch Adrien from her without a fight.


    Here came the villain. The icy, arrogant CEO of a billion-dollar empire. He was a workaholic, the only thing that counted for Alexandre was business.


    After his father had withdrawn completely from the family business five years ago. It was now in the hands of Alexandre to increase the de Valois fortune.


    And Elodie.


    In the novel he was obsessed with Elodie, she was like his only ray of light in the darkness. But she belonged to his half-brother, which is why he was even more eagered to get her.


    But now Elodie was dead.


    And....That was not the only mistake in the whole thing.


    There was no longer a protagonist who could stop the unscrupulous businessman in his rage.


    What did he do here?


    Lily froze into a pillar of salt while questions danced tango behind her forehead.


    Even her carefully scraped courage, along with her sanity vanished directly into a black hole inside of her.


    As if petrified, she stared at him. Motionless.


    Everything she knew.


    She had a problem.


    A huge problem!

 Chapter 6 - Be a lioness

    With a flowing movement, Alexandre reached for the bottle of red wine. He poured a glass and pushed it to Lily. "I think a sip helps to calm the nerves." Before he poured a second glass for himself.


    With a shaky hand she reached out for the glass and sipped it suspiciously. She could barely taste the wine. Her nerves were numb. Adrenaline pulsed through her veins. While her head was empty. She knew she needed to concentrate now. But with each attempt to form a thought, her brain cells refused to work.


    "Lily, you do not need to be afraid." His voice sounded somehow hypnotizing, reminding her of that snake Kaa from the jungle book. "I just want to help you." He looked so cool, calm, and serene . "For days I''ve been looking for you and little Adrien."


    Her expression stiffened suddenly.


    He looked at her. For seconds.


    Without a word.


    He looked at her with that grin that squeezed icy sweat out of her pores.


    Lily''s breath caught.


    What did he mean, he was looking for Adrien and her for days. They hid in Stuttgart only two days ago.


    Alexandre cleared his throat. "I think we should order something. With a full stomach, thinking is much easier." His mouth turned back to that grin. Hard. Mockingly. And somehow amused.


    Lily nodded woodenly and reached for the menu next to her.


    A knot of nausea had been in her throat for a while, actually she was not hungry, but she needed time. Time to think. So she opened the menu and was looking bored for something to eat. Most of the dishes she didn''t even know.


    Suddenly Adrien straightened up in her lap and rubbed his cheek against hers like a tired kitten.


    He looked at her with his azure eyes that reminded her of an innocent puppy. She stroked his tiny back soothingly.


    "Spaghetti." It was nothing more than a whisper, as soft as a single breeze. If she did not know that the little guy was longing for a portion of spaghetti, she would have thought his whispering was just a fabrication of her imagination. Helpless, the girl nodded before the boy could hide his face again. Her heart was in her throat. She knew she had to pull herself together. She was not allowed to bury her head in the ground. She had the responsibility for both of them.


    Now she was his mother.


    She was a mother.


    Mothers were strong.


    Like a lioness if she had to defend her boy.


    She was a lioness now. Not a rabbit.


    All she had to do was find her claws.


    She knew she had them.


    Carefully, she put the menu back on the table, leaned forward a little and drew Adrien closer. She took a deep and slow breath. "Two servings of spaghetti .... Please." But she was shocked by the defiance in her voice. The defiance that reminded her of a little girl''s whimpering because someone had taken her lollipop. But her voice did not sound like that of a strong and independent lioness who would wage her own battles. She would have to practice that, she decided.


    His eyes showed amusement.


    She was like a little kitten.


    He leaned back with a disinterested expression before calling for the waiter.


    As he ordered, he kept glancing over her. His arrogance and confidence dripped from every single pore.


    With skillful hand movements he loosened the silver tie and opened the button on the collar of his white shirt.


    Alexandre was taller and more attractive than any man she knew. Even Fabien, the male lead was not as stunning as his brother.


    He had a face like a Greek god. Breathtaking. With those beautiful sparkling gray eyes that are more reminiscent of liquid silver than genetically realistic gray eyes. His eyebrows looked like night-black lines whose inflection gave him something dangerous. And his nose. God, his nose! Straight. As chiseled! Beneath it was a sensual mouth with that toothpaste smile from ads, revealing his gleaming white teeth. And his hair. Hair through which every girl wants to stroke her fingers. Jet black. Unruly. His haircut gave him something daring.


    Wow! Lily could barely withstand his gaze.


    She took another sip of wine. Still she could not taste anything. But she nearly had a heart attack. This world was not fair. Everywhere she looked there were only beautiful people. Everywhere.


    The problem with the whole thing was that her low self-esteem drifted into nothingness, as if it did not exist when beautiful people were present.


    Sometimes she had problems with looking at herself. Every day, after looking in the mirror, Lily had doubts about her humanity. There was no morning she didn''t have a heart attack.


    This world sucked.


    Secretly, she guessed that the author was some thirty-five-year-old who wanted to overcome decades of sexless life with her work.


    Lily''s thoughts died as she caught Alexandre''s gaze. She tried to resist him and scraped all her remaining confidence together. She lifted her chin a little higher, straightened her shoulders and tried to control her restlessness.


    "May I know why the great Alexandre de Valois has been searching for me and my son for days." Lily tried to sound strong.


    "I wanted to know how my nephew is doing." Alexandre bowed his head and studied the little kitten in front of him before saying another word.


    "And I have a deal in my pocket. Sounds interesting. Right, Lily."

 Chapter 7 - Hubby?

    Deal? Lily flinched. What kind of deal? Astonished, she looked at Alexander with wide-open eyes.


    Actually, his entire visit made no sense to her. By now she had drifted so far from the action in the novel that nothing made sense to her anymore. After all, she was still alive. The side character whose death is mourned in the third chapter.


    She was still alive.


    Lillian de Clermont was still alive.


    But Elodie and Fabien were dead.


    The main character and the male protagonist were dead.


    Was it her fault?


    The main characters had to die just because she wanted to live.


    She felt ill. She needed only this one thought. It was enought to let her feel the pain of an upset stomach. Suddenly she felt so ill. Lily only wanted to live. She did not want to kill anyone. Was it really that wrong to live?


    Everything around her was suddenly so dull and hollow.


    Trembling, she gasped for breath. "What kind of deal?"


    Alexandre leaned forward, like a predator, stalking his prey very slowly. He observed Lily with his steel-gray eyes.


    "Marry me."


    Silence again. But this time it was different.


    Lurking.


    While he was holding her captive with his intense gaze.


    "You agree?" His deep voice broke the spell. Within a fraction of a second, Lily tried to process what he said. MARRIAGE - it shouted in her head.


    Loud. Earsplitting.


    Her stomach contracted.


    MARRIAGE. The taboo word. The word means death. Lillian of the novel died shortly after her marriage. This marriage with Pascal was Lillian''s personal death sentence.


    "Why?"


    Lily could not think clearly. Her brain could only imagine one scenario - Lily + # 1 villain = death.


    For a second Alexandre seemed confused. Why did she ask? Was not it clear? Alexandre banished any doubt about her intelligence.


    "It''s an advantage for both of us." She was still looking at him questioningly with those big puppy eyes. Her head was slightly tilted to the side. Her hair flowed down her like a dark river. She seemed so innocent. And he was hungry.


    "You need a husband to save you from marriage swindlers." His eyes locked with hers. "And I need a suitable wife. You are meeting my criteria. "


    Lily gasped. She felt like she would lose her mind every moment. Things were very different than expected. Everything was completely out of control.


    She opened her mouth to tell him she did not need anyone to protect her ... "What criteria? Maybe I''m the heir to Clermont. Is that a good criterion. Or let me think. Maybe I am the guardian of the heirs of Bourbon. Is that also a criterion? " It broked out of her. She could not explain it. She was angry. Hopping mad.


    "Exactly." He took the wind out of her sails with a single word. "You certainly are''t capable enough to run all the companies under the names Clermont and Bourbon. And I''m sure you won''t be able to compete with all the old power-hungry men, let alone the relatives who want to manipulate and control you. You need an ally. "


    "You want to be my ally? No, you will be my ally. I''m right?" She answered a little sneering. She knew he was right. They lived in a society where men set the tone. They would marry her of if they found her. Because she was no longer just one of the richest heirs of Bourgogne. No, she was now the guardian of one of the richest heirs of Europe.


    "Yes." He let out a amused snort.


    She realized that at the moment the richest men were hunting her and Adrien. Men who wanted power. The power that a marriage with her would promise. Alexandre was only the beginning.


    She was defenseless. Finally, Fabien no longer held his hand over her. She was practically exposed to male despotism. Lily knew Alexandre was still quite friendly. They would do even more terrible things to urge her to a wedding.


    She had no choice. She did not know what was coming or who would come. The future was uncertain and that scared Lily. "I have conditions and I want to talk to my lawyer first."


    Perplexed by her sudden acumen, Alexandre raised his black eyebrows.

 Chapter 8 - Condition

    Suddenly the door opened.


    Lily was annoyed at the bursting in of the waiter, who was apparently specialized in arriving at the wrong moments.


    She was frustrated with his timing of serving the appetizer. As he fumbled with the plates and the salad, he refilled the glasses carefully.


    Finally, Lily had found the right words. But now, her mind was blank. She did not know where she found so much courage. But she was proud of herself. She had to bargain. At least she should try.


    She knew she was in the devil''s kitchen and he would weigh every word on a scale.


    She had to remain alert. She should not be guided by her feelings. She was not allowed to be guided by her fear. Lily just had to keep a cool head.


    Because she knew he was right, they both had only benefits from this marriage. So she could try to set conditions.


    Meanwhile, Lily picked up the fork and speared a tomato.


    "Adrien, do you want a tomato?" Lily lovingly whispered to Adrien, who was still hiding under Lily''s hair. He wrapped his arms tightly around Lily''s neck. That gave him security. Safety he needed. Lily was his safe haven. His refuge. Only with her did he feel really safe. After learning that he would not see his parents again, Adrien barely spoke. He clung to Lily as if she were his last saving straw.


    The strange man was scary. Adrien was afraid he would take his Lily away from. So he clung to his Lily even tighter. Did not dare to let her go.


    Lily rubbed his back anxiously until Adrien lifted his head and opened his mouth. Lily gently pushed a red cherry tomato into his mouth. She wanted to give her little angel a second tomato. But Adrien briefly shook his head before he put his head back on Lily''s shoulder. He was waiting for spaghetti.


    "Do you want a cucumber?" Adrien shook his head again. Before he decided to turn around. He scanned the table with his big puppy eyes. "I want to eat that, Lily." Adrien pointed to the breadsticks in the bread basket with his chubby little fingers. Lily dropped the fork and handed him one of the grissini.


    "Is it tasty?", Alexandre asked dryly and took a sip of wine, before he sent the waiter away with a single glance.


    Adrien''s expression changed as he saw the stranger. He felt threatened.


    The brave toddler bit into the grissini demonstratively, staring at the threat in black with sparkling eyes. The black guy would not get Lily. Adrien nibbled on his grissini, nodded, but never let the unknown man out of his sight.


    Amused of the bunny couple, Alexandre turned back to Lily. "And the conditions would be?"


    Lily straightened up. She straightened her shoulders and looked straight into his eyes.


    "I have three conditions. First, as soon as Adrien grows up he should be entitled to the full inheritance of his parents. Adrien should remain the heir at all times. There will be no changes with this condition. For the time until he grows up, you can manage it. Please don''t screw it up. "


    His self-control was phenomenal. Alexandre did not like her statement at all.


    Don''t screw it up.


    Who the hell was he? Screw it? Ha, how could he mess something up? He, who bought company daily, hired competent managers, designed projects, ruled an empire, like a god. He could ruin something? He did not know. He never experienced it. A deep furrow formed between the eyebrows of the experienced businessman. He could only stare in disbelief at the girl, who continued unaffected.


    "Second, promise me you will not mistreat me, neither physically nor mentally. The same applies to Adrien. Do not get me wrong. I do not know what kind of man you are and I''m not saying this to offend you. "Lily just said it because she remembered her other life. Her father was an alcoholic. And if there was no alcohol, he would beat up her mother and her. Sometimes he beat her because he was in a bad mood. Life was hell. Lily never wanted to experience domestic violence again. That''s why Lily wanted to make sure he never gets violent against Adrien and her.


    Suddenly, his expression darkened. Did she consider Alexandre to be a man who was violent towards his wife or even his child?


    He felt that unpleasant throb in his temples, which he had not felt for a long time. Did she wanted to annoy him, mess with him. Although she claimed the opposite. Did she want to drive him into rage.


    This woman!


    He ignored the disturbing throb in his temples. It felt uncomfortable. "What''s the last conditions?"


    "I want to have the freedom to choose and speak for myself. I do not want to be patronized. "It was important for Lily to decide for herself. She did not want anyone to decide over her head like her grandfather did. She wanted to be asked. Be equal. Because she still remembered how it was to live self-determined. In her last life, when she was that other woman, there was this freedom. This independence. This equality of man and woman. No suppression. No underestimation.


    And after this freedom, Lily often yearned.


    Fascinated, Alexandre leaned back. He tried to look at Lily from another angle. He wanted to know what the hell this little girl was thinking. What was going on in her mind. Alexandre just wanted to look into her head.


    He knew he had the upper hand in this deal. But he was willing to listen to her. Somehow she fascinated him with her strange conditions. Conditions that had nothing to do with a marriage contract. She amused him and annoyed him with her statements at the same time.


    "Ah, I still have a fourth condition."


    Alexandre nodded. "That would be?"


    "If you want to divorce, I would like a severance pay. The amount can be discussed with the lawyers. And Adrien stays with me."

 Chapter 9 - Divorce?

    Divorce? Now Alexandre was losing it.


    "There will be no divorce." Replied Alexandre annoyed. "Only death will divorce us!" He pretended to laugh.


    "I meant just in case, if you think otherwise."


    "I''m not thinking otherwise." He interrupted irritably. "There are no divorces in the de Valois family." His voice became icy.


    "Will you bear me until I''m old and senile?"


    "You have my word" Alexandre frowned as if he had a headache. "By the way, I expect the same from you." Although he did not try to be sarcastic, his statement sparked a fire of anger in Lily. "Then you decided that you would only be faithful to one woman after the wedding for the rest of your life?" He was speechless for a moment. Alexandre would not answer such an absurd question. He could not give her his word. Wouldn''t it be okay to play around every now and then?


    But what Alexandre understood even less, why he was trying to justify himself to this immature woman?


    "That''s not something you concern yourself with."


    "Of course not! Nevertheless, you don''t deny my words. Isn''t it normal to consider divorce? " Lily was a twenty-first century woman. She did not like the idea that her husband would be unfaithful. Although it was common in this society.


    "Divorce is not available. And you should''t even deal with such things. "


    Suddenly it became quiet between the two squabblers. Lily knew she had said some pointless things that were not common to this world. It was so frustrating. She knew she should politely shut her mouth and say yes and amen. But sometimes she just could''t. "Anyway, those are my conditions."


    Alexandre looked at this strange creature in astonishment. Even after reading the report. He had wondered why she had fled from her marriage. After all, she had known the groom since childhood. Pascal Drouet was prepared for his role as later director of all Clermont businesses while Lily was being educated as his wife. They grew up together. Wasn''t it normal to marry afterwards?


    But actually he did not care. After all, he got his chance now. He would use it. "Fine, I understand Mademoiselle''s first three condition. I don''t want to hear about the fourth one anymore. My word will suffice you. There will be no divorce. "


    Never.


    "The exact contract details we''ll discuss with our lawyers as soon as we are in Bourgogne."

 Chapter 10 - Back to the roots

    Lily hadn''t seen so much luxury for a long time. To be exact, since she left home.


    Of course, Elodie wanted to support her monthly, but Lily didn''t want it. She wanted to stand on her own. Even if it meant that life had to be hard. With three jobs, she bravely stayed afloat. During the day she filled the shelves, in the evening she served the guests in a restaurant and on the weekend she mixed the cocktails in a club.


    The whole thing went well for two years. Until this terrible event.


    But Alexandre didn''t miss out on anything.


    After their dinner together, he had sent Adrien and her with a private jet back to enemy territory. She knew exactly what would be waiting there. Lily got a headache. And she wanted nothing more than to bury her head in sand.


    Nervously, she bit her lip. Alexandre had explained all the small details. He explained all the expectations Lilly had to fulfill. After negotiating all contract details with their lawyers, they were on their way to a meeting with her grandparents. There they would drop a bombshell.


    The elegant lady-blue evening gown pinched in some places or it was rather the shapewear underneath. She did not know. After all, it had been ages since she had to pimp up like that. Lily was not perfect, even though everyone else thought so. She was a master of illusions. And only her family knew the real Lily. She had to admit her parents had provided the right genes for Lily to have the perfect mask to maintain her disguise over all these years.


    She looked like a charming nymph rising out the floods in the moonlight. The blue dress fell gently down her graceful silhouette. Let Alexandre guess only what was underneath. It nestled softly, like water around her soft curves and it hid her neck and shoulders under transparent blue lace. Her dress was very simple, but it made Lily all the more mysterious. With her big blue cat''s eyes she peered at Alexandre innocently.


    His eyes automatically fell on her rosy lips, reminding him of delicate sakura blossoms. Which invited him to taste it once. Her face was reddish peach pink. Her whole body radiated a mysterious charm. She looked innocent and sexy at the same time. Alexandre could not help thinking how it would feel if she were underneath him.


    Soft.


    Tender.


    Impressed, he opened the door for his little rebellious goddess. He wrapped his arm possessively around her slender waist, pulling her close to him as he strolled leisurely through the room with her at his side. He felt all eyes on them. How they twisted their necks and wondered.


    Alexandre looked down at his new achievement and saw how beautifully she were fitting in his arms. He took her to a private back room in the Red Mill, one of the finest restaurants in Dijon, the capital of the Archduchy of Burgundy.


    There, her grandparents would be waiting for her.


    Lily''s nerves were raw.


    She would see her grandparents again. After two years. She did not know what to say. Should she try to explain it to them? She was so insecure. Lily loved her grandparents.


    She knew her grandparents had only good intentions. Who could have guessed that Pascal intended to poison her.


    Lily had tried her best. She had spent her entire life trying to establish a relationship with Pascal. And somehow she had loved him.


    Until her nineteenth birthday.


    She had discovered his affair. He and Nadine had thought she would not notice how they always exchanged caresses behind her back.


    He broke her heart.


    Lily knew she could not cling to him anymore. He would kill her, as in the novel. So Lily decided to escape.


    Silently and secretly.


    She still wondered every night how her grandparents felt when they learned of her escape. Were they angry or hurt? She did not know. But she wanted to ask. But never dared.

 Chapter 11 - Grandparents

    Lily was still in shock after her grandmother had pulled her into an embrace. Valerie de Clermont was a timelessly elegant lady. Everything about her was reminiscent of elegance, glamor and charm. Every movement. Every thought. She was an aristocrat through and through, who was born with natural elegance.


    She seemed ageless. There were hardly any wrinkles on her elf-like face. In her gray eyes Lily always found kindness and refuge. Valerie was the epitome of noble taste this evening. She had put her silver-gray hair into a fancy updo and wore a refined white-gold evening dress in the twenties style with long, wide sleeves made of a transparent fabric, embroidered with fine white flowers. Valerie de Clermont renounced much jewelry. She wore only a pair of pearl earrings and her wedding ring.


    Yet this spell lay around her grandmother, who reminded Lily of a magnificent work of art.


    That took a load off Lily''s mind. She was relieved that she could finally put herself in the arms of her grandma again. She smelled that familiar smell of tangerine blossoms that gave her security. And meant home.


    "Lily." Her grandfather greeted her cheerfully and pulled her into his embrace. Then he politely greeted Alexandre with a firm handshake. He had this typical charming smile that Lily loved so much. That smile that made many young Mademoiselle dream of him when he was younger. Albert de Clermont still emitted this special gentleman charm with his royal blue pinstripe suit.


    Lily had the same sapphire blue eyes as her grandfather and her mother. It was somehow a Clermont thing.


    Despite his age of 74, Albert de Clermont was a handsome businessman with graying hair and a well-groomed Bard. He was a loving husband and grandfather.


    Lily had always been his little princess whom he liked to pamper.


    After his daughter''s early death at the age 25, he and his wife had taken in Lily. Since Raymond, his son-in-law, was still in shock after the loss of his beloved wife Therese. He somehow blamed Lily to this day. That''s why he''d never really cared for Lily. The more so are her grandparents.


    The family leaders of the Clermont family were part of the narrow circle of people who cared about Lily''s well-being. She was the princess of the Clermont family. Her grandparents'' darling and that''s why Lily was so happy to be back home.


    Lily did not know what her grandparents thought. But she was grateful to Alexandre for bringing her home. She was afraid to never see her grandparents again and yet she was here.


    Lily sat down. Opposite of her Valerie beamed at her.


    "Looks like your grandfather made a big mistake." Elonore''s eyes widened expectantly as her husband raised his gray eyebrows guiltily. "My dear granddaughter .." Alberrt interrupted his wife with a sharp gaze. "It seems a hothead is part of the family heritage. You didn''t seem to be spared. But my young lady, we should both treat ourselves to a minute''s silence in the future in order to clear our head, before we make hasty decisions. We would surely have found another solution. "Albert de Clermont looked thoughtfully at his granddaughter. She had assumed many of his characteristics over the years. Features he did not like. Outwardly, she may resemble his wife and daughter. But her temperament probably came from him. Albert sighed. "My darling, you have scared us a lot. Something could have happened to you. Your father and Madame Ivonne were utterly frantic after finding your room empty. You were really lucky." His eyes flew excitedly to Alexandre.


    As if on cue, Alexandre grabbed Lily''s hand and pulled her dainty hand closer. "I''m more lucky." Lily had to look up to him. He was such an actor. But Alexandre looked much younger when he smiled so relaxed.


    "I must thank Monsieur de Valois for looking after my granddaughter so well in the last two years. Despite your secret marriage, I wanted to ask you for a formal wedding celebration and a church marriage with family and friends." Her grandfather looked expectantly at Alexandre.


    Alexandre grinned happily. He had achieved everything. Alexandre successfully cheated on Lily''s grandparents and his family as well as the rest of the fine society. Lily could not deny it. Alexandre was thoroughly a cunning villain. Incidentally, he also saves Lily''s reputation and his reputation as a man.


    Lily was again a blank slate without any scandals in her luggage. In the eyes of the fine society, Lily was again the perfect little Lady of the Clermont family. She was perfect for the position as his wife.


    What a diabolical plan!

 Chapter 12 - What a shameless hubby

    "My mother is already preparing for a winter wedding. We thought about the second of December as a possible date. " Alexandre replied.


    He compared his dark skin with her paleness and turned her hand under his. Lost in thought he felt her hand in his. Palm on palm. Her hand was a little colder. He crossed her fingers with his. She had such dainty fingers, her hand was so small compared to his. Alexandre liked that feeling. He pulled her hand to his lips and indicated a kiss. His eyes met hers and suddenly Lily was in a sea of ??tenderness. The cold inside of her was gone. There was only that gentle warmth that closed around Lily''s heart like a blanket.


    Lily''s eyes widened. This shameless actor. She was angry with his charade. Did he have to give the lovey-dovey lover? And why was he so good at it?


    Her grandmother sighed. "Then I have to arrange a meeting with Madame de Valois as soon as possible." Valerie gave her granddaughter a ruined look. Her silly little girl. Lily should have told her about Alexandre two years ago. She saw how much the two loved each other. The yearning glances of Alexandre. His little gestures. How he cared for Lily. Valerie knew that this man loved her beloved granddaughter idolatrously.


    She knew she would have found a way to change her husband''s mind. Lily did not have to run away. Your silly little girl! What was a Drouet against a de Valois? There were worlds between these men. Pascal was fortunate to be the grandson of a good friend of her husband.


    Sullen, Valerie reached for a glass of champagne. Now there were only three months left to plan. She hope Lily''s stomach would not be seen until then.


    Valerie had to arrange a meeting with Madame Isabelle de Valoise for tomorrow. Then create the guest list. Oh, and she had to call her friend Madame Dupin. She had to reserve the Chateau Chenonceau. Valerie loved this chateau with its picturesque character. It would offer itself excellently for the wedding of her granddaughter. If it were still snowing, the spell would be perfect. Like a winter wonderland.


    "Lillian my darling ..." Her grandmother started winged with euphoria. But she never let the groom out of her keen eye. "You remember when we visited my friend Madame Dupin in Chenonceaux." Valerie did not miss the little tenderness with which Alexandre presented her little Lily. Alexandre was a real charmer and Madame de Clermont really liked it. Her granddaughter deserved only the best. "You really liked Chenonceau." Valerie was in her element. "I''ll ask Madame Dupin for it. It would be a lovely location for your wedding." She could not wait to get her grandson.


    Lily suspected evil. She already saw it coming. After her grandmother''s arrival, the small and simple wedding she had wished became a huge and lavish fanfare.


    Her grandmother could not be stopped if her grandfather sat silently beside her.


    Alexandre listened patiently. Madame de Clermont was in her element. Probably she had been planning her granddaughter''s wedding for an eternity.


    There were only changes in the groom.


    The church had been selected for a long time, as was the castle where it would be celebrated. His mother was busy planning the guest list.


    Actually, only the wedding dress was missing, Alexandre noted with amusement.


    Without warning, he reached for her hand, slipped it through his arm and pulled her closer. Alexandre leaned against Lily, beaming as if he was not worried about anything, and Lily foamed inwardly. She looked up at him and looked into his smiling face. She could only pull herself together with difficulty.


    Her grandparents were certainly happy about Lily''s big catch. Nobody guessed what was hidden behind his facade. He not only lured everyone with his little trickery. He also committed real crimes. Such as document forgery.


    Three days ago, he had confronted Lily with fait accompli. With a marriage certificate issued two years ago, the day Lily fled from home. So Lily had been Alexandre''s wife for two years. But that''s impossible.


    The story did not stop there. After all, Alexandre was a brazen man who kept a straight face while lying to the entire de Valois family and de Clermont family with a heartfelt love story in which he and Lily played the lead roles.


    No wonder her grandparents behaved so strangely and seemed to have completely forgotten her little escape two years ago. Lily secretly wondered what stories he still told behind her back. She was speechless about Alexandre''s shamelessness. After all, Lily had heard no scandalous rumor about her from the good society. No one gossiped viciously about her.


    It was the first time Lily had met such a shameless person. She wanted to cry as he gently stroked the back of her hand. He shamelessly exchanged small caresses in public, even before her grandparents. But her lips narrowed to a polite smile, as she watched as her hubby lied cheekily into her grandmother''s face.

 Chapter 13 - Diamonds are a girls best friends

    She reached out her hand as he put the ring on her finger. Lily knew it was all part of the show.


    His scary smile that never reached his eyes. This gaze, which meant complete devotion for an outsiders, but cold calculation for Lily.


    "Do you like it, sweetheart?" His voice sounded as melodic as if he were sitting on clouds. That damn actor, Lily thought furiously.


    "I think that''s not the right thing for us," She replied sweetly. She decided she would play his stupid game. "Don''t you have a pair of rings that fit together? I thought, I saw something like that. My friend''s wedding ring had a pattern that was fitted into the pattern of her husband''s wedding ring. I think that would be very sweet." She whispered dreamily to the jeweler and jewelry designer. Today she would waste his time. That''s what Alexandre hated the most. A revenge for the circus of the last days and the cheesy stories he liked to tell in public.


    The jewelry designer leaned forward. She stroked a golden brown strand of hair behind her ear. The designer was young, but she was famous in the industry and knew the trends. Why she was quickly reclaimed by Chaumet. "Yes, these rings are currently a la mode, but you definitely want something personal?" Lily nodded. "What do you imagine, mademoiselle?" Asked the chief jeweler as he heard the cash register ring in his head. He knew Alexandre de Valois well. He always spent a lot of money on his lover''s jewelry. For his wife, he would certainly spend a small fortune. Hugo had been the branch manager of Chaumet in Dijon for 25 years and Alexandre was one of his VVIP clients. His wife Lillian de Clermont would now be among his new priorities, the 45-year-old store manager happily decided, smoothing out his black suit.


    Lily looked down at the display. She spent a lot of time studying the rings as she fished out a filigree ring. "Somehow like that." She pushed the ring into the middle of the table. "I thought the ring would be shaped like a rose and .... I think we''d better take that kind of pink diamonds and arrange them like a rose."


    Lily turned to Alexandre with a charming smile. Alexandre already guessed what his kitten had in mind. "As a symbol of our first meeting. Do you still remember the rose garden three years ago?" Her eyes glittered with enthusiasm, but Alexandre could also see the tease in it. He liked it. He grinned and pulled her closer. "Of course, my lamb." Only for a second, shame and surprise flashed up in her deep blue eyes. A soft blush stained her white cheeks. She wanted to free herself from his grip. But he only pulled her closer. He kissed her shoulder gently before leaning back into the brown leather couch. As if burned, she moved away from him after he finally released her. Meanwhile, her face was tomato red and that gave him an inner satisfaction. He wanted more. "You looked so beautiful, my honey." He wanted to tease her further.


    "And your ring ..." She interrupted Alexandre hastily. Lily still got diabetes from this shameless man. She just wanted to sink into the ground. "... should then fit the rose tendrils. Wouldn''t that be nice." She whispered meekly. Oh, how she condemned herself.


    "What a lovely idea!" The designer whispered enthusiastically and quickly drew a draft. She went to great lengths because the couple was so adorable. They were so adorable. She also wanted to find such a prince. She decided to tell her colleges. There was still hope for the prince on the white horse. She had seen it.


    "Something like that?" She pushed back the sheet of paper to Lily with the draft on it.


    Lily nodded. "That''s perfect." She didn''t even look closely at the design. Everything she wanted was to get out of here.


    But Alexandre had other plans and picked up the draft. Looked at it slowly, before leaning back to face Lily. He rested his head comfortably on her shoulder. Of course, his kitten wanted to shake him off, but he did not allow it. "You''re right. It''s perfect." He stroked her cheek, gave her a smile that could turn her world upside down. Then he lowered his face until he was so close to her that she found it hard to think.


    "You need an engagement ring." He whispered near her lips. Her face was on fire. Never had a man been so close to her.


    "We still want an engagement ring. In white gold, like the wedding rings. A sapphire, the same color as her eyes. Shaped, like a rose." If only he would not look at her like that! The blood was roaring in her head. "A symbol of our fulfilled love." Slowly he runs his thumb over her soft lips. She was still trapped in his eyes. He refused to free her from his spell.


    Even the designer looked bashfully at her sketches while she drew her design on paper. "Something like that?" The young jewelery designer asked.


    "Decorate the ring a bit like this." Alexandre reached for a ring in a filigree vintage style engraved with fine spirals that wound like a vine around the top and side of the band.


    The young designer looked up briefly. Looking fascinated at the ring. Then she smoothed her black dress before returning to her sketch.


    Lily did not know where to look. She was disturbed. It bothered her how the manager looked at her with those knowing eyes. Knowledge that Lily did not have.Embarrassed, she looked at the display cases, which were filled with numerous pieces of jewelry. Lily wanted to die out of embarrassment.


    Alexandre confidently put a dark curl behind her ear. Immediately Lily''s attention was back on him. He was as close as before. Lily wanted to turn her head away, but he quickly reached out after her chin. Looked at her with that gaze. "If you like something you just have to say it."


    With a wave of his hand he gestured to the jeweler to show her other pieces of jewelry. Lily sighed as the employees entered the private room in their black uniforms. In their hands they carried varied pieces of jewelry.

 Chapter 14 - Shopping

    After leaving Chaumet with a truckload of fine jewelry that Lily did not really want but Alexandre had urged on her. Lily was dog-tired after the whole charade and wanted nothing more than to go home into her bed. She missed Adrien''s warm hugs as he curled up in her arms. He was so cute. But that junk beside her was a cursed nuisance.


    "Let''s go home." Lily asked expectantly. Behind her, their crew of bodyguards gathered. They followed her wherever she went. She was never alone. Every step was observed. The second point, why she preferred to crumble up at home than to show herself in public. She knew Alexandre was right. They had to do publicity work so everyone would believe them. But that was so terribly exhausting.


    Alexandre pulled Lily into his arms and guided her to his black Bentley Mulsanne, who was waiting for them in front of Chaumet. He had other plans. He liked to play with his little kitten, so he decided to go shopping with her. But he preferred to be silent. She would realize that the journey was not over yet. Galant he opened the door for his little lady and watched until she slipped inside. Before he told the driver his next stop.


    It was only ten minutes before they reached a narrow lane containing all the shops that made a billionaire''s heart beat faster. The driver brought the black Bentley to a halt next to the old cobbled sidewalk. Even his little kitten did not seem to have missed the change of direction, he stated in amusement. "Why are you glaring at me?" "I''m hoping you''ll spontaneously explode." Lily immediately replied. The hint of a smile played on his lips. Alexandre leaned forward and gently pressed his hand on her back. "It''s a good thing you''re cute when you''re angry." He whispered into her ear with a warm baritone. Before he opened the car door and went out. He completely surprised Lily. Pardon! Lily must have misunderstood something. Stunned, she remained seated. The car door opened next to her.


    "Are you coming?" He asked kindly and handed her his hand. She watched his hand for a second, then glanced skeptically at his grinning face, before grimly grabbing his hand and allowing him to help her out of the Bentley. A stiff breeze played with her skirt hem as she got out of the car. With his muscular arm, he grabbed Lily''s waist and pulled her close.


    The sunset was already visible, but many passersby were on the way. Most of them were tourists. Since many of the major international designers with boutiques and showrooms were represented here on the Rue de la Chouette, this address was perfect for luxury shopping.


    Alexandre glanced at a brand logo that was completely unknown to him. However, the clothes worn by the few mannequins in the window display, pleased him. He wanted to see her in it. "Hmm, let''s go inside and take a look." The in-house bodyguards opened the glass doors of the shop. They entered.


    "Welcome." A young shop assistant greeted after seeing the incredibly beautiful couple. After seeing the clothes of her new customers, she immediately realized that this pair belonged to the VIP category and led them into a private showroom with shining eyes.


    The man was incredibly handsome. She knew many man models would kill for such a face. He looked as if carved out of stone with his striking features, his high cheekbones, his straight nose. As if Michelangelo had lent a hand himself. His hair was as black as it would absorb any darkness around him. He looked so handsome in his gray suit. He was tall, gorgeous, and thoroughly charming.


    Even the girl he held in his arms radiated nothing but little rich lady. Probably she has been spoiled since she was born only with the best of the best. Clothes, jewelry, everything was read from her lips. Every wish fulfilled. In her dictionary the word rejection did not exist. "Are you here to buy clothes for mademoiselle?"


    She glanced at the girl in her navy blue swing coat with a round collar, a blue velvet panel, long lantern sleeves with silver trim buttons and a bow at the back. The coat was tightly cut at the top, but from the waist down, the skirt was flared and gave her a graceful silhouette. She looked elegant and cute at the same time. The shop assistant knew that she would be able to find many clothes for the little lady.


    "No, no ... we need shirts for him." She called quickly. Alexandre turned her in his arms and began leisurely unbuttoning the silver buttons on Lily''s coat before taking off her coat and handing it to the saleswoman. Lily was dumbfounded. He was too close. Again. This strange intimacy. A light blush spread across her cheeks as she realized how familiar he was with her.


    "So I need shirts?" He laughed. Alexandre knew that his kitten was not like other women of the upper-class . She loved all the things that a upper-class women should avoid. She loved to stuff all sorts of desserts and sweets into her. He even knew from certain sources that her grandmother, Madame de Clermont, had to impose sanctions on the main house of the Clermont family. Any import of sweets was prohibited. The staff carried out extensive bag checks. So Lily wouldn''t succeed in getting the illegal substances into her room.But all those battles in the house of de Clermont were unknown to the fine society. Lily also spent a lot of her time playing video games, reading manga and novels, and watching anime and dramas. On the other hand, she hated gala evenings, parties, social events for upper-class Ladies, shopping tours and sport.


    No amount of money or jewels could woe her. Maybe, that''s what he liked most.

 Chapter 15 - Showroom

    Leisurely, Alexandre stripped off his black pea coat and sat next to Lily on the white suede couch. "Can you show us some basic shirts and some sweaters?"


    "Alright, give me a moment. Do you want something to drink while you wait? "Asked the sales assistant.


    "Do you want something?" Alexander asked Lily. She only shook her head. "I don''t need anything, thanks." She hoped to speed things up a bit. She felt visibly uncomfortable, as Alexandre pressed against her. He held her tightly in his arms. She felt his body heat drift toward her. Escaping through the openings of his clothes and slowly closing around her. Even his scent of sea and sandalwood wrapped her like a soft blanket. Lily felt dizzy of his closeness. Since the early morning he pulled her back in his arms. Again and again. Because of him, her blood boiled until she could no longer think clearly.


    "We do not need anything, thanks." He signaled the shop assistant before shop assistant quickly left the room.


    "Help me pick." He calmly stroked a fold out of her moss-green skirt of er swing dress. Alexandre felt how Lily stiffen.


    It took her breath away. He was close to her. Again. Way too close. Again and again he broke her protective distance. Shamelessly.


    There was a spark in her eyes. Warning. When she looked up at him. A thick wreath of black eyelashes framed her beautiful cat- like eyes. She wore no makeup and yet she was so much more beautiful than any other women he knew.


    He leaned toward her. His smile wider. Complacent. "You also need a dress for the dinner with my family." His breath touched her ear, sending a shiver down her spine.


    "Don''t I have enough?" Lily mumbled discontentedly, thinking of the room in his house filled with glamorous clothes, accessories, jewelry and shoes. All for her alone. She did not need a new dress, she had a room full of new clothes! What does this nonsense mean?


    "Not at all." Lily rolled her eyes. "I definitely did not eat enough cookies for this." It burst out of her foggy brain. She had got too much Alexandre for today, but he just did not stop.


    Alexandre threw his head back in his neck, loud laughing. He had not laughed so much for a long time. She amused him, was like an ongoing catastrophe. A cute, innocent catastrophe. And that''s what he liked about her. She never tried to get his attention. She just took it. Even if she did not want it most of the time. He shook his head sighing, amused, but also a little desperate.


    The door swung open and a man with a youthful face stepped into the showroom. He was wearing a mouse-gray pair of chinos, a loose-fitting white shirt and a gray vest on it. He looked elegant and fashionable. The man looked familiar. The blond shoulder-length hair and the boyish face that barely betrayed his age. He could swear he had seen him before. But Alexandre could not assign him.


    The man introduced himself as George Blair, chief designer and store manager for Paradise Kiss. His name did not tell him anything. Alexandre shook his hand and introduced himself. Meanwhile, the sales assistants rolled in with three clothes trolleys. It featured various types of men''s shirts in a variety of colors and fabrics. But also pants, jackets, vests, sweaters, polo shirts, ties and bow ties. And an extra wagon with men''s shoes was rolled in.


    "Could you please show my wife some dresses?" Alexandre said satisfied with the selection. He did not miss it when Lily blinked several times in rapidly. Her mouth slightly open. She still was not enthusiastic about his idea. That amused him. This expression and her naivety.


    He was able to play with her and never got tired of her. With the other women he dated. After a few hours he usually gets bored. Everyone had fascinated him in the beginning. But after a short while he gets bored. He did not know what was so different about Lily. She was beautiful. But that was the others too. She was naive. But she was not the first naive woman he had met. A little strange. Crazy. In her own way. She was not the sweet little lady she pretended to be in public. Time after time he saw her fa?ade crumble. She was from a difficult nature. And she could not hide this for a long time. If you only watched her over a little while, you could see the girl behind the mask. The true Lily, who simply did not live up to her reputation.


    It did not take long for Alexandre to find out.

 Chapter 16 - Price tag

    Lily peered inconspicuously at the price tags. She knew she would have a heart attack after seeing too many zeroes. She hoped to proceed inconspicuously. Like a ninja. Silently, like a shadow. She pushed one hanger after the other on the rod to the side. The high quality fabric fluttered with every movement. The unpleasant squeak of the hangers was heard. She felt as if all eyes were on her. But. Where were the price tags. She wanted to make the whole thing inconspicuous. She knew little rich ladies did not look for price tags. If her grandmother knew what she was doing. She would be dead. Ohhh, her Granny would kill her. Yeah, she would definitely be dead meat, if her granny know! This kind of experience she had already as a child.


    "How is it." Alexandre came out of the fitting room with a cinza colored double breasted jacket with a glenurquhart pattern and matching suit pants. Under the jacket he wore a white shirt and a black silk tie.


    "Elegant and posh." Lily tried to hold back with complements. He looked far more than just elegant and posh. She just did not want to let this ego grow to a Mount Everest.


    Alexandre was not satisfied. "Anything else you want to add?"


    Lily looked at his smug grin. She was speechless. "You¡­you are ¡­"


    "Handsome, stunning, a genius, immensely talented ...."


    "Um ... yeah ... I can''t tell... mhh¡­only from the suit." Lily interrupted him. "But with handsome and stunning, I agree." She nodded eagerly, forgetting that she wanted to fence his ego. Lily''s big eyes were filled with honesty and innocence. In vain, she bit her lip as she realized what she was saying.


    "Don''t I look good in it?" Alexandre teased his wife.


    "Look in the mirror!" Lily could not stand the boastful glow in his eyes. She wanted to cry.


    "I want to hear it from you."


    "That''s disgusting. You''re lucky you''re the most handsome man I''ll ever get to know." Lily rolled her eyes. She gave up. His arrogance and shamelessness was a disease.


    "Great, let''s get this."


    Lily bared her teeth after her hubby disappeared back into the fitting room. She hardly dared to look up. How could she ever look into the employees'' eyes without blushing?


    She turned back to the clothes which the staff had chosen for her. She really did not want to buy a dress. But, Alexandre ... this shameless man would certainly come up with a cheesy scenario to persuade her to choose a dress. Lily was tired. She just wanted to go home. She was too tired for the bickering with Alexandre.


    That''s why she wanted to try to find a simple dress. She did not like this pompous style. Which usually the upper class ladies preferred. Some ladies thought that if they spend a lot of money on clothes, their clothes should sparkle. Like a disco ball. Best embroidered with gemstones.


    Lily liked simple clothes. Elegant and refined. They had to be comfortable and fashionable.


    It was not easy to break old behavior. In the past, when she was that other girl, she came from a worker''s household. They had middle-class incomes, with which they barely got by in a rich industrial state. The rents were high, as well as the cost of living. The salaries of workers were pressed. In addition, her father succumbed to alcohol and often spent more than the family owned. Therefore, she and her mother had to be economical with the monthly money. Even after she got a job, she had to pay wisely for her salary. Even after getting a job, she had to spend her salary wisely. It was only natural to be petty.


    Add to that came the two years without the support of her grandparents. And Lily realized how difficult it was to make money to live without having to go to bed with an empty stomach.


    Why did Alexandre just have to throw his money out of the window. Lily thought furiously. Didn''t he leave several million with the jeweler today? If only he knew that he would be broke in the near future.


    Lily always looked for the price tags, though she did not have to. Heaven, she was probably as rich as Croesus! But she was always afraid to wake up one day and return to her old life. Without wealth. Without luxury.


    Bad habits could not be easily discarded.

 Chapter 17 - Deal with the devil

    "Oh, that''s really excellent, really excellent!"


    Lily was sure that was just a sales pitch. She tugged a bit on the dress. Actually, she was''t in a mood. She swung unhappily in front of the mirror. It was already the fourth dress she had to wear.


    She looked exhaustedly at the seven other dresses Alexandre had chosen for her. And in every dress she would look good.


    Lily was sure that the sales assistant would not just sing the same slogan for every customer. No, she would repeat it for every single dress, like a broken recorder. Lily was tired of the compliments.


    The situation wouldn''t get easier. Damn it! Why would everyone start to stare when she came out of the fitting room? That just made her more nervous.


    She did not want to step out of the dressing room. She already knew how they would look at her. She didn''t like it. She would have loved to hide here. She never wanted to leave the dressing room.


    Once again she looked in the mirror. Spotted her pale reflection in a long lavender A-line dress. It had a tattoo lace high collar and long airy sleeves that were separated by a slit in the middle and held together at her wrist by a lilac ribbon. The same lilac-colored ribbon emphasized her narrow waist and tied to a butterfly bow at the back.


    Actually, the dress looked okay. She did not have to worry about anything. The author really did not spare her beauty, even though she was just a side character. The dress nestled like a glove over her breasts and gently followed her curve of her waist and hips in a perfect line and fell silky to the ground. The fabric was some kind of silk blend, Lily guessed. That''s why it fitted so perfectly in the right places and at the same time flowed down her silhouette.


    "You must buy it!" The sales assistant fluted and looked down over her shoulder at her reflection. Lily nodded. She could also put on a sack and still would look good, she thought morosely. Lily looked at her reflection. The dress was pretty. She looked good in it. What was holding her back? Even if she would try on other dresses she would not find satisfaction today. It was her mood. The clothes wasn''t at fault.


    It was like pulling off a plaster. Fast and painless. She stepped out of the fitting room.


    "Could you buy my this dress?" She looks at him with puppy eyes. She had perfected it when she was little. She had stood in front of the mirror and had practiced for hours. Until she mastered her puppy eyes perfectly. No one could refuse her if she looked so cute. She was so damn cute. This cuteness was irresistible. Only a few were immune. Even her granny had difficulty resisting her puppy eyes.


    She had chosen only this one dress. She did not want to try any more. She used her cuteness as a weapon to enforce her will.


    "Is that all?" Asked Alexandre. Lily nodded. Her eyes wide open. Pouted. Head slightly inclined to the side. Fingers played lost with the cloth.


    She gazed softly at Alexandre. Lily was so confident of her victory. Nobody could resist her puppy eyes. But Alexandre''s look remains hard. Examining, he let his eyes wander over Lily.


    "If you do me a favor, we leave it at that." His lips twist into a beaming smile. Lily almost suffocated.


    "A favor?" Lily looked at him hesitantly. "What kind of favour?"


    "In three days, you must accompany me and do what I say." Lily groaned. She got a stomachache at the mere thought of it. Nevertheless, she nodded. She wanted to get out of here. She knew she danced Tango with the devil. He would get her to accompany him anyway. So she gave up before the fight could even begin. Alexandre was a cunning businessman. She never had a chance against him.


    Alexandre took his black credit card from his wallet and handed it to manager. ?We take everything we have tried." Lily keeps her mouth open before hurrying back into the fitting room to change.

 Chapter 18 - New home

    "Lily" Adrien shouted, throwing himself into her arms. "Where have you been so long?" He sniffed. His eyes were completely swollen and red. Did he cry a lot? Lily glanced unhappily over to Alexandre, who calmly handed over his cloak to the butler. Why did he have to go shopping with her?


    Gently she stroked Adrien''s dark hair. "We still had to buy something. I''m sorry, cutie pie."


    "But you have been away so long." Adrien rubbed his head against her chest. His little arms closed around her waist.


    "I''m sorry. It took us a bit longer." Lily affectionately explained and took the toddler into her arms.


    Adrien had become even more affectionate after the death of his parents. Lily knew him well before the death of his parents. She knew he had always been a shy child who was rather reserved among strangers, but devoted to people he trusted. Elodie had overwhelmed him with her love, which made it hard for him to bear the loss of his dear mother. So he clung even more to Lily, who was now his only confidante. To the rest of the Bourbon family, the child never had much contact, as the Bourbon family had never really accepted Elodie in the family.


    Fabien had shocked his family with his secret marriage to Elodie Perrin, who had neither the capital nor the right familybackground to be welcome in the de Bourbon family.


    Elodie was such a simple girl who Fabien has to hold safely in the palm of his hand, to sustain the storm that had started in the Bourbon family because of her.


    But after the birth of Adrien, the whole situation had relaxed a bit.


    Nevertheless, she was still observed with eagle eyes by the members of the Bourbons.


    That''s why Fabien kept his treacherous relatives far away from his little family.


    Calmingly, she stroked Adrien''s little back. "I promise, tomorrow I''ll stay with you all day long."


    "Really?" Adrien raised his tear-stained face. Anticipation glittered in his eyes.


    "Yes! And you decide what we play. You Agree?" Lily carefully stroked the tears from his flushed cheeks. His skin was so tender, so soft. She wanted to bite his little cheeks, but he did not like it. He was a big boy after all!


    "You have to promise! You can''t break promises! "


    Lily put her hand on her chest. "Cross my heart and hope to die!" And smirked at Adrien.


    "Lily, you are the best."


    Suddenly Alexandre reached for Adrien and sat him on his shoulders. "And what about me? Did you forget me?" Alexandre asked with a playful tone. Adrien chuckled.


    "Lily is the best, you''re the second best, Alec."


    "Ah, I''m only number two. Is there room for change? "Alexandre strolled comfortably with Adrien on his shoulders to the dining room. Although Alexandre was reserved most of the time, Lily really had to admit that the bossy president really cared for Adrien. He always tried hard.


    After the little guy and Lily moved into Alexandre''s vila. Alexandre gave everything that Adrien and Lily needed to live. He was generous and spared no circumstances.


    He had set up a room for Adrien, which reminded more of a toy store than the nursery of a three-year-old child.


    He had hired two nannies to take care of the toddler when she needed to take care of appointments with Alexandre. He also insisted on a dinner together and sometimes they even had breakfast together when Alexandre had time.


    The evening was officially registered as a family time, in which Alexandre and Lily played together with Adrien.


    Lily was grateful to Alexandre that he did not leave her alone in this difficult situation. He even helped her with the upbringing. Who would have thought that this first-class villain fit so well into the role of a father.


    Lily quickly took off her coat and slipped into her red pair of slippers before running after the men''s duo.


    "Do you know which dish is served today?" Lily aked Adrien, who was already sitting in his baby chair. Adrien grinned. "Spahgetti!" Lily suppressed a moan. The mighty little man had already wrapped the staff around his little finger. Every second day his favorite dish was served.


    "Mhh, yum." Inwardly, Lily prayed that the head chef had once again come up with a sophisticated twist on the Italian pasta dish. She was sure that Alexandre groaned inwardly too. But his expression remained unmoved. Lily had to smile.


    "Will we play Memory later?" Asked Adrien Alexandre.


    This whole situation was so idyllic and Lily hoped that it would remain so idyllic. Adrien and she had gotten used to the new life with Alexandre quite quickly.


    Lily was a pretty pragmatic girl. She took things as they came. She packed them into small boxes and stowed them in a dark room somewhere in the back of her head. Then she forgot it. She was never slowed down by her emotions. She was not a brooder. She did not over-analyze anything. She took things as they came and tried to live with them. When she fell, she immediately got up and kept walking.


    It has always been like that.


    She did not cry when she woke up one day as a rich side character of My loyal hubby, who was meant to die early. Instead, she tried to find a way out.


    She did not cry when Pascal broke her heart.


    She did not cry when she had to run away.


    She did not cry when Adrien was left to her and she knew they were being hunted. Only for a short while she had secretly cried in the bathroom to mourn Elodie and Fabien. After all, they were her friends. But she has not shown her tears in front of Adrien.


    And she had not cried when Alexandre blackmailed her.


    All the disaster in her life was packed in small boxes and stowed away in a corner of her brain, where they became dusty and forgotten.


    She did not grieve over emotional baggage, she tried to live with it. Lily had always believed that crying wasn''t helpful, and she needed to act to keep things moving.


    And so she did it again.


    She lived with Alexandre. It worked pretty well. At the same time she wondered how she could earn enough money until her husband''s bankruptcy. She just needed enough money to raise Adrien. Lily could live without luxury. She adapted to her circumstances scarily fast. After all, she was a survival artist.

 Chapter 19 - Bedtime

    After dinner together, they played some kids games until Adrien got tired. Adrien looked up and reached out for Lily. He wanted her to carry him.


    "Tired?" Lily asked, stroking the yawning Adrien over his soft curls. Adrien nodded. Lily gave him a kiss on the cheek and picked him up. Adrien instantly snuggled his face into Lily''s warm neck and wrapped his little arms around her neck. Alexandre packed up the game, then followed Lily and Adrien into the bathroom.


    Lily placed Adrien on a small stool in front of the sink and helped him to wash the chubby little hands. Then she handed his green toothbrush to the little toddler before placing a bit of toothpads on it. Adrien started brushing his teeth, then handed the brush to Lily so she could help him with the places he did not reach. Then she washed his face before the little guy jumped off the chair and walked to Alexandre.


    Alexandre stood loosely in the doorway and watched the evening routine. "Ready?" He asked Adrien. Adrien nodded and rubbed his tired eyes. Alexandre handed his hand to the toddler and led him to the bed where the toddler''s pajamas lay.


    Meanwhile, Lily got ready for the bed, in the bathroom, and then scurried to Adrien''s bed. Alexandre looked down grimly at his wife as she made herself comfortable under the covers. He had no wife, rather two children. How annoying. She slept in the little guy''s bed every night and did not even think about sharing the bed with him.


    "What are you looking for?" Lily then asked innocently, which annoyed him even more. Feeling unhappy with Lily''s attitude, Alexandre was even more determined to change this circumstances. A mischievous smile played around his seductive lips. Before he opened the children''s book and sat down on the bed.


    "And suddendly, the monster cried ...." He began to read.


    It took less than twenty minutes for Adrien to fall asleep. Alexandre closed the book, put the book down on the bedside table and turned on Adrien''s night light.


    Alexandre got up. Glanced at Lily, who was snuggling beside Adrien. "Good night." She murmured softly. But before she could react, he got up. Went to Lily with big steps and stood up next to her. An mysterious glint glimmered in his eyes. He leaned down to her. Then he put a hand under her back and closed his fingers around her waist. The other hand he pushed under her knee bends and lifted her up.


    Terror was in her eyes. "What do you think you''re doing? Put me down!"


    He bent over to her. She felt his warm breath brush against her cheeks. A shiver ran down her spine.


    "Shut up!" He whispered in her ear and looked down at the sleeping Adrien. He left the room with the stunned Lily in his arms. There was a glow in his eyes. Wild. Consuming. A glow in which one could lose oneself. In which Lily lost herself.


    He entered a dark room, threw her in the middle of a bed, ran his hand through his dark hair, and stared down at her. His hair fell over his forehead.


    He had her where he wanted her for weeks. Since the day he first laid his eyes on her. Slowly he opened his shirt. He looked more handsome and more humane then she had ever seen him.


    "I guess I''m asking you to trust me?" He said, leaning down to her. She gasped and looked at him with wide eyes. Suddenly he was over her. He was so close to her that she could even smell his aftershave.


    "Trust you?" Lily did not know what was happening. His closeness clouded her brain. Every thought seemed to blur before her eyes, to dissolve into smoke.


    She tried to move away from him. But he held her, pulling her closer. There was a depth in his eyes. Eager. Hot.


    Slowly as in slow motion his head sinks forward. Only millimeters separate them.


    And then his lips were already at hers. Hot and greedy. He devoured her. He pressed gentle kisses on her lips. He knew he was home when his lips touched hers.

 Chapter 20 - First Kiss

    He felt her stiffen, he assumed that she was only shocked by the sudden kiss. Alexandre shoved his hand into Lily''s brown hair, stroking her ear gently, trying to release her tension. So he continued to kiss Lily''s firm and immovable lips. Tenderly, he sucked on her lower lip, gently stroking her curves and pressed his heavy body softly on hers. Her breath became heavier. Then he bit her lower lip very gently and immediately stroked his tongue over the place. She moaned out of shock, opening her lips slightly. So far that his tongue could explore her mouth. His tongue glides over hers.


    She tasted so sweet. Like vanilla ice cream, which melted softly on his tongue.


    That''s how Lily has never been kissed before. Not in any of their two lives. Lily was in a kind of a trance. Overwhelmed by this first kiss.


    Suddenly the kiss changed and intensified. She shuddered, but did not elude him. Timidly her tongue touched his. A hesitant, shy caress.


    Quietly, he stroked her, tried to encourage Lily to more. Her timid, awkward movements excited him. Alexandre escaped a throaty, deep moan. Then he leaned closer to her, instinctively shoving his legs between her thighs. Immediately he felt her stiffen under him and her shaky hands pressed against his chest.


    He raised his head questioningly and looked at her flushed face. She was so beautiful as she was lying there with her disheveled hair, her red wet lips and the shyness in her eyes. Coyly, she looked to the side, gasping for breath. He watched as her chest rose and fell quickly.


    He wanted to kiss her immediately again. But he held back. He knew she was not ready yet. He could wait.


    He cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Everything okay?"


    She stared at him with wide eyes. Uncertainty was hidden in her gaze.


    "If you don''t stop staring, love, I my just kiss you, again."


    "Stop, stop ... what are we doing here?"


    "Kissing." Alexandre carefully stroked her hair out of her lovely face.


    "Um ... y ... yeah ... b ... but why ... why are you doing that?" Surprised, she looked up at him. He had to resist a laugh.


    "Doing what?"


    "K...ki .. kissing me?" Her face darkened a shade more. Redder. He enjoyed it.


    "Lily, you are my wife!"


    "Ah ... but .."


    He leaned on his elbow. His eyes became more serious. "I know that''s all new to you. But you are my wife. You can''t sleep Adrien''s room forever. The employees are talking. You''re going to sleep here from tonight. He gently ran his thumb over her swollen lips. "We will do it very slowly. Step by step. "


    "What do you mean by step by step?"


    "We only go as far as you want. You set the pace." He quickly pressed a kiss on her cheek.


    Then Alexandre got up from her, got out of bed, opened his belt and took off his dark gray pants. He grabbed the white shirt that lay on the floor and put it with his pants on a chair next to an ebony commode. Then he went to the adjacent bathroom and turned on the light.


    Lily blinked in the light of the bathroom lighting. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the bright light that lit the room out of the bathroom. She heard the tap running and straightened up.


    Looking curiously at Alexandre''s room.


    Her brain was still trying to process what had just happened. There was chaos in her head. She wanted to have something sweet. To calm the nerves. He had kissed her! Timidly she felt over her lips. Her first kiss! She did not know what she should think about it. She was his wife. He was right there. But .. she never thought that ... hastily she shook her head.


    Alexandre stepped out of the bathroom. He seemed like enlightened by the lights in the background. Wow! Like a fucking sex god! One more time that evening Lily''s mind went down. "So ... um ... you''re kinda....naked. Is that intentional?"

 Chapter 21 - A hot half-naked man!

    Alexandre had to laugh. A warm, liberated laugh that echoed through the room. Lily''s cheeks were hot because of shame. She and her big mouth. She bit her lips.


    He was a poem of Adonis. The bronze skin tightened tightly over the finely defined muscles. For the first time in two lives, she was so close to a man. An almost naked man. Shirtless. With a sixpack. She had never seen a sixpack. So far, she had only seen a sixpack on television or on billboards. But it was real. Lily just had to stare at him. Every woman would have done that! She simply could not do anything else! Alexandre had a great torso full of hard muscles. He only wore a blue boxer shorts. But hell, this man was so hot!


    If still possible, she blushed even deeper and gave a small embarrassed moan. Lily tore herself away from the moment and turned around, dropping her face into the pillow.


    She tried to calm down, took a deep breath. Then she heard a rustling next to her. Feeling the blanket being pulled aside. Alexandre lay down next to her. For a few seconds their eyes met. He laughed. "I wanted to show you why you should sleep in my bed. Every night!"


    Then he gently pulled her into his arms. Lily squeaked in surprise. He rested her head against his chest. It felt wonderful.


    But then she tried to move away from him again. She pressed her filigree hands against his broad chest. He knew she was shy. But that made the situation all the more exciting for him. "Come here." Playfully he moved his hand under the hem of her negligee. He was glad that the stylist had equipped her with fine negligee. Then he slowly moved his hand over her thigh. She gasped sharply and narrowed her eyes. Her full lips quiver like a pouting child. "Do not challenge me!"


    It was even harder to suppress his laughter at that sight. She was so entertaining. At first she was like a shy bunny hiding from him and then she suddenly became a hissing kitten. He liked that. She did not try to impress or charm him, like other women. She was completely natural. She did and said only what she wanted. And that attracted him. "Challenge you?"


    "I know exactly what you are doing here! And I don''t think it''s funny. You just said, in bed, I''ll set the tone. And I need a meter of legroom!" She struggled in his arms, trying to loosen his firm grip. Unsuccessful.


    "Stop struggling! Look we don''t know each other that well, but I''m still your husband. And we should start to know each other better." He said with a mischievous grin on his lips, before gently kissing the corner of her mouth and softly caressing her lips with his. Her breath caught and in her eyes lay helplessness. "I''ll keep you warm." His tone sounded amused. Alexandre wanted to kiss her over and over again. Her hair, her ears, her forehead, her cheeks, her shoulders, her neck, her clavicle, her chest, her stomach, her hands. All over. Every inch of her soft skin he wanted to explore with his kisses. But she was not ready yet. He could accept that. Alexandre would give her time. As much as she wanted. He knew the best came in the end. He could wait for it. It would then taste all the sweeter. Reluctantly, he released her. Snorting, she moved away from him. "Stop teasing me so much!" Snorted Lily. Then she hurriedly pulled the blanket over her scarlet red head to hide under it. She felt her stupid heart beat wildly under her breast. Lily was flustered.


    Then he suddenly pulled down the blanket again. He laughted at her discomfort. "Relax, love, I''m not going to jump on you." That calmed her somehow. Until he added. "Not until you beg me." Then he kissed her on the forehead and let himself sink back into his pillow. He moved slightly towards her, so she did not notice.


    "Sleep Lily!" Lily could not sleep right now, not after this show.


    She was trying to figer it all out. All these emotions and feelings. These thoughts that haunted her mind. The words he had said. But her head was a mess. She no longer understood herself.

 Chapter 22 - Grumpy kitten

    Alexandre stretched out on the bed with his hands clasped behind his head. A flowery smell was in the air, like a soft spring breeze. A small, satisfied smile was on his lips. He looked at the clock. It was time to get up. He had to sift through a few more documents before the meeting. He was somehow tired, did not want to get up yet.


    Satisfied, he looked at the figure who had wrapped tightly around him. She had wrapped herself around him like an octopus at night, her arms around his chest, her head buried under his arm. Her dark hair lay scattered over his chest. One of her legs was wrapped around his waist and the other was buried between his legs. She was so soft.


    Her long eyelashes cast seductive shadows on her white cheeks. He eased her slightly away and laid her gently on the soft mattress right next to him, careful placing her head on the pillow. Curious, he leaned over her. Looked at her beautiful face. His dark shadow fell on her, shielding the morning sunbeams that had just danced across her face. She looked so peaceful when she slept. A sleeping beauty, as if she was expecting a kiss that would wake her from a long sleep. Her lips drove him crazy.


    He stroked tenderly with the back of his hand over her soft cheeks. Lily flinched briefly, mumbled something incomprehensible and then slumbered on calmly. It was still early, just before seven o''clock. He would not see her until evening.


    He did not know why, but in the short time she had been with him, he was stunned by her. He enjoyed her presence. Her lightness.


    Soft and slow, he kissed her shoulders. First a kiss, then another kiss. He covered her shoulders with kisses. But Lily just groaned. She did not wake up. He did not stop, kissed her further, slowly moving from her shoulder to her collarbone. He knew she was a morning muffle. But he wanted to pick up his daily dose of Lily. So he kissed her. He worked his way up her neck slowly. Again and again she frowned and wanted to roll away. But that excited him even more. He gently planted countless kisses on her cheek until he reached the corner of her mouth. Where he only planted one single kiss. An ill-mannered thought pulled his mouth angles up. Suddenly he bit her lower lip.


    She woke up. Startled. Her wild curls played around her face like an unruly storm. Her eyes were wide open, flashing tired in the light of the sun. With her full lips she gasped like a koi carp for air. Again and again.


    "You''re so cute when you''re half asleep like this." His deep voices roared in her brain. She still needed some time to wake up properly. Before she understood where she was and who had woken her. With a tired moan, she let herself fall back into her soft pillow and curled up again.


    But Alexandre did not give up so fast. "I''m here for my daily fix of hugs and kisses," He murmured softly into her ear before biting her earlobe with a laugh. Lily drew in a sharp breath and looked at her annoying husband with narrowed eyes. A sudden lust for blood flowed through her.


    She wanted to hit Alexandre with her hand, as if she wanted to scare off an annoying mosquito, but he caught her hand in mid-air and crossed his fingers with hers. Then he pressed a hard kiss on her lips and bite again into her soft lower lip. Alexandre left Lily with a throbbing pain on her lower lip and got up. "I should go," He mumbled and went to the bathroom.


    "You ass!" She screamed.


    Grinning, he closed the door behind him. Alexandre had to stop laughing. Now he knew that his wife was far more than just an ordinary morning grump.


    Lily grimaced. She was sick because she had not got enough sleep last night because of this man. He also had the audacity to wake her up. She looked frowning at the clock. It was seven o''clock! Lily thought she had to explode!


    "I''ll remember that!" She screamed, throwing her pillow against the bathroom door. Then she let herself sink into bed. She rolled uneasily in bed for a few minutes. She felt run over, but her tiredness was gone. She could not fall asleep again. So she crawled out of bed and looked around the room. That was really spartan furnished.


    The room was decorated in simple shades of gray. In the middle stood this huge king-size bed. That reminded more of the bed of a bachelor. But what should she have expected? It was aligned to the wide window front. On the wall to the left of the windows was an ebony sideboard that ran the length of the wall and ended in a small reading corner. There were two gray wingback chairs, a round table and a floor lamp that looked more like a modern work of art than a lamp. Opposite the window front was the bathroom door, on which Lily glared angrily.


    Lily changed into the dark blue dressing gown she had found on the gray wing chair. The fabric was soft and supple, felt light on her skin. She rolled up the too-long sleeves and wrapped the belt around her waist. Then she went down to wait for him.

 Chapter 23 - Good morning, love

    Lily sat at the dining table with a cup of coffee in her hand as Alexandre entered the dining room. He looked so good in his indigo suit. This time he wore no tie. His collar was a button wide open. He looked more casual than usual. Challenging, she looked at him. She had not forgotten how he had woken her up. This scoundrel!


    "I hope sameday you get a taste of your own medicine." She hissed.


    "Mornig love." He greeted her over-friendly and sat down to her at the table. Immediately he noticed that her plate was empty. "Don''t you have any appetite?" He asked. Lily shook her head. "I''m not hungry yet. It is too early!"Again she glared at him with narrowed eyes. She wanted to let him know that he was to blame. She carried a grudge against him, he noted in amusement. But she looked so cute when she was angry.


    He picked up his fork and knife and began calmly cutting his egg Benedict as she sipped her coffee. The liquid egg yolk mingled with the hollandaise sauce as he cut open the egg and poured down onto the english muffin below. " Don''t forget we have dinner with my sister and her fiance tonight."


    "But I promised Adrien that I would stay home for the next few days." She said with hesitation.


    "Just take him with you." Replied Alexandre casually.


    "But I did not think anyone should know that we adopted Adrien?" Lily asked, puzzled. It was his instruction that no one outside this house should learn of Adrien''s whereabouts. So it was safest for the little boy and Lily wanted to protect him. She could not forgive herself if something happened to Adrien because of her carelessness.


    "My sister''s fiance is one of my closest friends. The meal takes place at his home. He and Louise pose no danger." His features were completely relaxed, there was even a certain lightness in his gaze as he mentioned the two.


    She nodded and sipped at her milk coffee again. She would trust him. She had no choice. She hoped he would keep his word and do everything in his power to protect Adrien. She hoped so much. She wanted to trust him. But there was always that voice in her mind that admonished her. That voice that said she should be on guard and she shouldn''t trust easily. Anyone! After all, her trust was once betrayed. In the beginning her life was as it was described in the lines of the novel. She was part of the novel. And that was what she feared most. A character who should die. She feared death. But death lurked around every corner. And Alexandre was the villain of My loyal hubby.


    She felt helpless. As if she had to fight against Fortuna herself. She was so sorry. All she wanted was a normal life. No balancing act. She wanted to trust him, trust that he would be her safe haven. She did not want any more. Security and trust.


    "Is the little guy still sleeping?" He broke into her thoughts. His look was strange. She nodded. "Yes, he usually wakes up around eight or eight thirty."


    "We have to start slowly choosing a preschool for Adrien. He needs access to peers and a well-regulated routine to develop well." Alexandre said gently. "It''s not good if he clings too hard to you. I asked my assistant to look for good facilities. Starting next month, we''ll visit some facilities with Adrien and see what he likes best. "


    For a moment, Lily did not know what to say. She was afraid. She knew it would not be easy to get Adrien enthusiastic about this idea. Like Lily, Adrien did not trust anyone so easily. To put him suddenly in a completely foreign environment with completely strangers. Adrien would not take it easy. But Alexandre was right too. In the long run his fixation on her was not good for the toddler. In this condition, he could not learn to deal socially with peers.


    "Do not worry!" He stood up and circled the table with big steps. Then he slid his long fingers under her chin so that their eyes met. "We will do what he feels most comfortable with. You can stay with him in the daycare until he settles in." He suggested, kissing her on the forehead. This small gesture managed to instantly calm the troubled storm inside her. He radiated so much peace.


    She nodded. "I''ll pick you up after work. Be ready." He stroked her curly hair to say goodbye and then disappeared.

 Chapter 24 - Goddess of love

    It was 5pm when Alexandre picked her and Adrien up from home. She wore a simple forest green swing dress with long puffy sleeves, and she wore a pair of nude Mary Janes with a 5 cm heel, on which she felt comfortable. Subtle makeup and a casual updo. Like her grandmother, she likes to forego jewelry, but today she decided on a pair of pearl earrings and a matching bracelet.


    Adrien, however, looked limitless cute in his outfit. He wore black shorts, a classic checkered shirt and a light blue sweater. He wore a pair of navy knee socks and a black pair of leather oxfords. His dark hair was slightly combed back, so he looked like a little gentleman. He was so adorable! Quickly she put on her little darling a comforting coat and wrapped a dark red scarf around his neck. It was getting colder in the evening at this time of the year.


    "Where are we going?" Asked Adrien Lily curiously as Lily picked him up and put. Alexandre stood outside the door, holding the car door open for her and Adrien. Lily nudged the toddler lovingly with her finger on his little snub nose and replied. "We visit Alec''s sister and his friend." Then she took her coat from the maid and threw it over her arm before going out.


    Arriving at the Bentley, Alexandre picked Adrien up so Lily could get into the car more easily, before she took the toddler again and put in his child seat. Then she pulled out the black seat belt and buckle Adrien up. After they all sat in the car, they did not drive more than 5 minutes to stop in front of a mansion.


    They lived in a special villa area of Dijon, where most of the well-heeled citizens of the city lived. The price of the land was very high. Only the top one percent of the rich citizens of the Archduchy of Bourgogne could afford a property in this area. This part of the city was famous for its old mansions that had been the property of noble families for generations. Most of the properties had a very ancient history dating back to the 18th century.


    Of course, Alexandre''s friend came from the same circles as Alexandre, so his estate was near Alexandre''s villa.


    The driver opened the door for them and helped Lily to get out. Alexandre handed Adrien over to Lily before he got out of the car himself. An elderly man in a butler uniform received the young family at the entrance and escorted them to the old mansion. In the large entrance area, a young lady received the newly arrived guests. Her black hair flowed down her shoulders like dark silk. She had the same silver eyes as Alexandre. But there was a sparkle in it that made her features softer and friendlier. Yet she surrounded this noble air of a true aristocrat of Bourgogne. As she stood there in her old pink sheath dress that was tight fitting and emphasizing her slender waist and her voluptuous curves. She looked like a cool goddess of love in her dress. The dress seductively presented her milky shoulders, framing her dainty shoulders with cascading ruffles.


    "Welcome." She greeted her guests with open arms. A sunny smile played on her red lips. "As always you are too late."


    "That''s probably in our blood, sister. After all, I can''t remember that you were ever on time."


    "You''re getting old and forgetful." She grinned challenging. She reminded Lily all the more of Alexandre. Louise had the same mischievous smile as her older brother. Lily tilted her head slightly to one side. His sister was the more charming version of Alexandre. Not only was she beautiful, she also radiated that lightheartedness. Laxity mixed with joy. And Lily liked that and added another 10 points to her favorite human scale, which is why Louise quickly overtook her brother. But that she would keep to herself. Lily did not want to think about what Alexandre would do to her if he could read her mind.


    Suddenly her attention fell on Lily. Her eyes pierced Lily. Curiosity passed through her friendly features. Suddenly Alexandre wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her and Adrien closer. "May I introduce my wife and son."


    Lily''s mouth felt dry. And her knees softened. Lily felt terribly embarrassed. "So you are his little sweetheart?" Louise chuckled calmly. "I have to say you seduced Alec pretty well. Nice to meet you. Just call me Loulou, little sister." Her rose gold pumps rattled on the floor as she gave Lily a welcome kiss on her left cheek and one on her right cheek. Then she looked at Adrien curiously.


    "I am also pleased. Please call me Lily." Lily first introduced herself. "And that''s Adrien."


    "He is so cute. He looks so much like you." Lily''s breath caught. Adrien looked like them? She looked questioningly at Alexandre, but he just shrugged.


    "I agree. Didn''t it work out well?" He deepened the misunderstanding with a grin on his smug face.


    "Aha ...!" Louise raised one of her curved eyebrows and curiously looked at her brother. "If Maman finds out about it, you can tell your assistant to schedule an appointment for your funeral." A big grin appears on his face. "I hope you can keep a little secret for yourself. We do not want to stress Maman anymore. Now she is in middle of wedding preparations anyway. "


    Lily slowly began to understand what her witty spouse was doing. And immediately she was sorry for Loulou. Strange that she was not mentioned in the novel.


    "Little secret is truly the understatement of the century. I''ll keep it to myself, you know my price." Replied Luise sweetly.


    "That you still expect bribes from me, even though you have a rich fianc¨¦. Really strange. Is Phillipe stingy? Where is he actually? Or has he already left you. I would not blame him."


    "I wrapped your friend around my little finger. He is still stuck in the office. An emergency. Take off your coats and let us enjoy an ap¨¦ritif in the blue salon."


    Alexandre handed his coat to the butler next to him, while Lily put Adrien on the floor and helped him to take off his coat and scarf. As she was about to straighten up, Alexandre suddenly stood behind her and helped her take her coat off.

 Chapter 25 - Prince Charming

    Curious Loulou sat next to Lily on the royal blue baroque sofa. In her right hand she held a ros¨¦ wine with raspberries and a sprig of rosemary. Her right hand she had put around Lily''s shoulder and grinned challenging at her brother, who poured himself a glass cognac.


    Loulou was cool and funny. She somehow had the charisma of these power women in her old world. If women in this world had more rights and could work, then Loulou would surely be a CEO who could hold a candle to Alexandre. Lily was sure.


    But now they lived in a patriarchal world. In which no female revolution existed, no suffragettes who had fought for the rights of women and no feminism.


    She lived in a Europe that was not marked by two world wars. And democracy had prevailed only in very few countries. Most of the countries were ruled by a monarchy or dictatorship, as was the Archduchy of Bourgogne. Bourgogne was ruled by a king who was firmly convinced of ancient traditions.


    In this world, mankind had technically arrived in the twenty-first century, though they were not quite as advanced as in Lily''s old universe, but far enough to have invented the Internet, the computer, and, of course, the first versions of game consoles.


    Although Lily regretted that there were no smartphones. But after all, the phones already had integrated cameras with which photos could be sent. And so Lily desperately waited for someone, who would invent the smartphone over the next five years.


    Sometimes she even prayed for it.


    But she did not only miss her smartphone, she even missed Alexa and her PS4 with VR. She had first realized how comfortable and free her life was in her other universe, after she had lost it.


    Now life was harder. It was harder to really be free as women. Being able to decide for yourself, because there was always someone who could decide for her.


    She lived in a golden cage.


    Ladies of the upper class lived all the more like in a golden cage.


    Louise leaned forward. "You have to tell me how you made this ice block melt." She obviously could not wait for it. She had recognized immediately how happy her brother was in her presence.


    "All people in Dijon knows how we met."


    "I need the details, sweetheart. Every detail! That''s gold value." She winked at Lily profusely.


    Suddenly the door opened and a fairy-tale prince entered the room. He was a few inches shorter than Alexandre, but at least as good looking as him. Nevertheless, you could not compare the two men, because they were of different types. Alexandre was more of the dark, daring type. The perfect rogue. While this man definitely belonged to the category Prince Charming. Clearly. He had this charm paired with the sunny boy look. With his slightly longer golden hair, the warm chocolate brown, Lily assigned him to the category daring prince.


    "Phips!" Loulou cried with a touch of dander, yet the affection in her undertone was unmistakable.


    Phillipe de Louvois stood at the threshold and received his fianc¨¦e kindly and gently in his arms. "I probably arrived later than Alec."


    "That''s no great artistry." Alexandre replied dryly.


    "Maybe now, but I can still remember a time when you were practically stuck to your desk chair." Louise winked at Lily. Lily''s cheeks soon began to colour. In the corner of her eye, she noticed Alexandre twisting his eyes in annoyance.


    Another pair of eyes stuck on Adrien and Lily. Friendly eyes and a heartwarming smile which a showed fine laugh lines around his eyes. Lily also answered him with a smile, although she was a little nervous.


    "Lillian de Clermont, nice to meet you."


    "The pleasure is all mine."


    "And who is the little man?"


    "My son, Adrien." Alexandre retorted as he panned his glass of cognac and watched the golden liquid.


    "Your son?" In vain, Phillipe tried to hide the shock in his voice with a serene expression.


    Loulou clapped her hands enthusiastically. "Now that everyone is there, we should go slowly to the dining room."


    "Would you please go ahead with Lillian and our little guest?" Phillipe asks his fianc¨¦e and tried to keep his composure. It was difficult for him to keep his peace. Suddenly there were those questions in his mind that he did not want to express when ladies were present. But he would still throw the book at Alexandre.

 Chapter 26 - You should have trusted me

    Phillipe counted in his head to three. He always did that when he struggled for composure. Then he took off his gray jacket and hung it over the baroque chair next to him. With wiry fingers, he then loosened his navy blue tie, which he also hung over the back of the chair.


    He made sure the door was really closed before he opened the bottle of cognac and generously poured the golden liquid into his glass.


    "A son?" Tired, he sat down on one of the royal blue chairs in Baroque style. His eyes were iron. "How old is he? How long does this been going on between you? She must have been a child?"


    "He''s two." Alexandre lied calmly. Although Adrien was three, he was small and petite. Alexandre could spend him well as a two-year-old. He knew his friend was a true moral apostle. Gentleman through and through. Such men were rarely encountered. He was honest and righteous. "She was five months pregnant before I abducted her. She is very petite, so that the belly was really visible only at the end of the sixth month." He poured oil into the fire. He heard Phillipe gasp. "She was only seventeen!"


    "And incredibly beautiful."


    "If that had come out. She would be ruined!" He laughed hard.


    "She is not ruined. I married her." Alexandre took a long sip. The alcohol burned down his throat.


    "He really is your son?"


    "Yes! Do you want a DNA test?" He lied in a rough voice. He did not like it. He did not like to lie in front of his friends and family. But now it was his best choice. He had faked documents. Alexandre would do anything to use his lie skillfully. He would do anything to pay this old bastard back.


    "And Danielle?" That name, it was so sweet and yet so painful. Although he did not try to relive the horror of those days, there were days when the terror overtook him. It devoured him. He would not forget. Her face was still buzzing in his mind''s eye. Her smile. But he knew he would never be able to touch her again. Now she was cold.


    "It''s been five years, Phillipe."


    "You loved her."


    "I cann''t grieve for her my whole life. She is death." Lies about lies. Did he even say the truth, he wondered. Lying somehow became a habit. A lie was so easy on his lips. As if they were flying out of his mouth.


    "Did you seduce her because she will inherit?"


    Alexandre hesitated. He no longer dared to look into his friend''s face and looked out into the darkness. Was the evening always so dark in autumn? "That was one of the reasons." And because she was Adrien''s guardian, he added in his mind.


    Phillipe sighed. "Promise me you''ll be good to her."


    He was not proud that he would use her. But he needed her or rather what she owned. He needed her power to get his revenge. And he wanted revenge. He could not forget and certainly would not forgive. He had taken Danielle away from him. This man had snatched his light from him. His grief almost killed him. And revenge burned him, ate him up from within. "I will fulfill her every wish."


    Phillipe got up. "I hope so." His tone was gentler. He hoped so much that Alec would let go. "Why did you hide her for so long?"


    "She was promised to another man and she was pregnant ..." Alexandre raised his head and looked at his friend. "... with my child." A tense silence was in the air.


    "But you could have introduced her as your wife a year ago or even earlier?" Phillipe asked after agonizingly long minutes. Alexandre frowned annoyed. Sometimes Phillipe was worse than his mother. Every detail had to be analyzed by him. Yes he was a good listener and an even better friend. A loyal friend. Sometimes too good-natured for his own good. But he was Alexandre''s friend. He told him a thousand lies. A thousand lies Phillipe believed. With each question Phillipe posed, Alexandre became entangled even more in his network of lies. And he hated that. He hated lying to him. But he had to. He had to lie. He would even lie to heaven if it meant coming closer to his revenge.


    "She was afraid. She was engaged before that. A man her grandfather had chosen. They were childhood friends and had known each other for almost their entire lives. Her family had a lot of expectations in her and she was just afraid to disappoint her grandfather. You have to understand she has a close bond with her grandparents. It was understandable that she needed time until grass had grown over it. "


    "You should have told me about it. I would have helped you. You should have trusted me. "Disappointment overshadowed his face. Alexandre approached him, placing his hand on Phillipe''s shoulder. "I''ll do that now. Sant¨¦! My friend." And nudged his glass to that of his friend.

 Chapter 27 - Evening among friends

    At the sight of the dining room, Lily thought of the dining room in her grandparents'' house. The tastes obviously resembled each other. A sumptuous crystal chandelier above the dark mahogany table.


    A cool landscape painting in shades of gray and blue adorns the ice-blue wall, to the left and right of the painting hang two mirrors that are reminiscent of silver suns.


    The table is already set and looks just breathtaking. Everything is coordinated to the smallest detail.


    Only the huge crystal vase with the pink peony blossoms stands out from the rather cool color concept. Nevertheless, matching the rather creamy colors in the room.


    "Please, sit down." Loulou assigned Lily one of the beige upholstered chairs beside which a butler waited.


    "Does Adrien need pillows to sit?" She asks curiously.


    "No, that''s alright. He usually sits on my lap. "


    "Isn''t it uncomfortable for you? There are plenty of pillows in this house, so he can sit down comfortably. For the next time I just ask Phips to get a baby chair."


    She looked at Lily and then sighs. "My brother can be a real idiot sometimes. He could have told me a little earlier. Then we would have the right chair for Adrien. I''m so sorry." Loulou smiled politely, but Lily could see the curiosity in her eyes sparkle as well. She felt unwell. Loulou would ask some questions tonight and Lily would have to shake a pair of lies from her sleeves to keep Alexandre''s house of cards alive. Couldn''t he have warned her?


    Restless, she bit her lip. She did not want to lie. Loulou and her fianc¨¦ seemed so nice. She did not want to lie to her anymore.


    "I have to apologize to you sooner. That was more of a spontaneous action. You know how children could be." She stroked quietly over Adrien''s soft hair. The little one was very calm in her arms. That''s how it was always when he met strangers. He made no pips and just clung to Lily, burying his head in the crook her neck. "Besides, I do not mind. Adrien is more of a shy child. He would not want to sit in a chair, " Lily explained meekly.


    "I would love to get to know him better. You both! Could I visit you in the next few days." Her voice was full of curiosity.


    Lily did not know how to answer.


    But at that moment, the two men returned to the dining room. "Of course, you are always welcome." Alexandre replied with a deceptive friendliness.


    Alexandre adjusted the chair for Lily before sitting down next to her. "Is everything okay?" He asks softly. She nodded. "A few prior warning would have been nice."


    "Spontaneous Change of Mind." The corners of his mouth twisted into a cheeky grin.


    "You aren''t one of those people who are spontaneous." Angry, she sparkled. Why could he never initiate her into his plans?


    "Wine, Lillian?" Asks Phillipe.


    She broke away from Alexandre''s captivating gaze. "No thanks, I do not drink alcohol." She would not touch a single drop. She had seen what alcohol could do to a human being. This drink she was afraid of. "But please call me Lily." His eyes reflected goodwill and joy. "What can I offer you?"


    "A glass of water, please."


    "And for Adrien?"


    "An orange juice, please."


    "Paulette, would you please." Phillipe instructed one of the maids. The maid approached Lily with a carafe. Carefully, she poured the juice into a glass. A sweetish scent of fresh oranges floated through the air. Even Adrien did not seem to have missed this delicious smell. Although he ignored all conversations in the background and the evening partly indifferent endured. He was still hungry.


    The toddler tugged expectantly on Lily''s sleeve.


    "Do you want to drink?" Lily asked softly as the conversations continued in the background. Although she felt that Louise kept looking at her curiously. Louise said nothing, and she just watched Lily and Adrien carefully.


    Adrien nodded eagerly. Without hesitating she reaches for the glass and handed it over to her little toddler, who began to sip it greedily.


    "Where did you meet Lily at all?" Loulou then asked her brother curiously. While the service staff began to serve dinner. Adrien wrinkled his nose when he realized it was not spaghetti. For the first course there was a fine onion soup.


    "Didn''t you already read that in one of your gossip magazines?"Alexandre asked with mock politeness his curious sister.


    "They write what they want. Far from any truth." Lily choked on her water. "What are they writing?" She asked carefully, then she took the empty glass from Adrien''s hand. Nevertheless, her attention was on Loulou. Perplexed, Lily grabbed the spoon for the appetizer and dipped it into the clear broth. Louise watched Lily like a predator. Before she answered with a mischievous grin on her red lips. "The usual." Her answer was brief and meaningless and Lily sat like on hot coals. "The usual?" She repeated slowly and began to feed Adrien. The toddler reluctantly ate. But he ate because his Lily fed him.


    Looking for help, she peered at Alexandre. What does Louise mean by that? Lily tried to convey Alexandre with her eyes. A mysterious smile appeared on his lips. Lily got a bad feeling in her stomach. She suspected something bad. Lily''s hands itched. Never had she felt such a desire to beat someone. Why did he have to hide so much from her? Couldn''t he just warn her? But her husband was no help to her. He seemed more delight to enjoy her helplessness. What made her even madder? "What do you know about it?" Lily asked sweetly her beloved husband.


    "More than you, apparently."


    This man drove her crazy with his games. And that grin. This smug grin. What was his problem? Lily narrowed her eyes and tried to recollect herself. "What have you done?"

 Chapter 28 - Unpleasant questions

    "I am innocent. That''s the gossip press, love. "


    Lily eyed him suspiciously. He was not for nothing the greatest villain of the book. He was clever and cunning. Always on guard. "We both know that you are not an innocent lamb. Nothing happens just like that. Spit it out. What''s going on here? What are you trying to hide? "


    Louise smelt a rat. "Ah, so Alec worked with the tabloids?" Her eyes lit up with curiosity. She enjoyed it when someone revolted against her brother. Otherwise, the usual women threw themselves into Alec''s arms and begged for his attention. First, Louise thought Lily was such a woman too. She seemed rather quiet, reserved and obedient. She had thought her brother had married the girl because of the child. But then she had seen that light in his eyes. Now he teased her so freely and enjoyed her attention. He had regained his good mood and that pleased her.


    Besides, she was also sensationalist. The conversation seemed to be moving in an exciting direction.


    "And what do the tabloids write about?" Lily now asked with discomfort. She took a deep breath and fought the onset of anger. She suspected something bad. He hid something. But she did not really know how to classify his behavior. She knew that her public appearances had only one purpose. To make his little story of lies believable. Since she knew him, he dragged her to fine events to present her. Lily also understood his motivations.


    "What''s the problem?" Alexandre shrugged innocently. Lily frowned. What the problem is? She asked herself sarcastically. She found some points very critical.


    First, How could she trust him if he never included her in his plans? He always kept everything to himself. Played his stupid games and left her at the outside. She often felt she was just one of his pawns, and that hurt her. She wanted to trust him. But how could she trust him if he pushed her into the cold water? She always felt so stupid when the whole world knew what was going on in her life. But she didn''t.


    Lily''s eyes fell on Louise. She decided to ignore him and obtain information from other sources. "Louise can you recommend some magazines for me? I think I also want to know more about my life! "


    "Of course!" Louise answers sweetly. "Ah, I have a better idea!" She winked at Lily. Slowly, she liked this little dinner party better and better. While Phillipe frowned beside her, she decided to join her sister-in-law against her arrogant brother. "I will gladly send you my collection. Since Alec does not like to talk about his private life, I had to access other sources and therefore collected and documented everything I found. But since the articles only from the perspective of my brother, I would like to hear your opinion in return." Loulou giggled maliciously.


    "Why are you so sure it''s just my perspective?" Ask Alexandre slightly sourly.


    "Mh, maybe ... because it has grown only on your crap. I can remember, in some articles there were interviews. Lily does not seem to know about any interviews."


    Lily blinked. Interviews? She became quite dull in the stomach. Here she came to the second point, which she found to be super, super critical!


    The upper class was flighty, and he needed a woman with a one-way reputation. If someone was ruined, the fine society would not forget easily. And when the fine circles broke with someone, it was synonymous with social death. It was fast to ruin both socially and economically. Because you lost not only acquaintances, but also business relationships. Everything was interwoven. Why a good reputation was even more important. She played along because he promised to protect Adrien.


    But that he also collaborated with the gossip press. She had known nothing about that. Not only did the upper classes know about their private affairs. No, now every jerk knew about her life. She did not even want to imagine what was being talked about.


    "Louise, that''s the gossip press. They do not care about the truth and like to be inventive. "Phillippe tried to soothe his fianc¨¦e. He knew she was often, very spirited. Especially towards her brother. But he liked that about her.


    "They will not pull some interviews out of the nothing. Especially not several different magazines. There''s something up in the air and you know that!" Loulou smiled smugly.


    Lily stares at Alexandre, stunned. How far had he gone? What was he trying to hide?


    She had always tried to stay out of the gossips. Her life was discreet and uninteresting. And now she was topic number one. She already pictured the worst headlines. Bold and oversized printed on the cover image. With a reference - you can find more on page 23!

 Chapter 29 - Calm before the storm

    After the appetizer, the waiters appeared to discreetly clear the plates. Lily took a deep breath and fought the onset of anger.


    She knew she could not keep up with Alexandre in a verbal battle. He was a shrewd speaker. A cunning villain. His answers were often nonsensical. But he was so convincing. Always gave the appearance of pure logic. So she had to give up.


    Lily laughed. "Thank you, Louise. I''ll probably have to read some articles first. Then I will tell you immediately what is true and what is wrong!" Lily had no desire to discuss her private life before strangers. Which is why she gave in.


    "I''ll send you my collection immediately!" Smiled Loulou.


    The main course was served. The waiter presented a fantastically prepared plate of poached deer fillet on a brussels sprouts salad with black roots and pear ravioli.


    "This conversation is not over yet." She whispered coolly to Alexandre as the plates were set down on the table. At home, she would confront him. She would have to draw her limits.


    Loulou did not want to give up that fast, until she felt how Phips pinch her side and whisper softly. "That''s enough." And then louder said. "Let''s enjoy the main menu of our chef. I let the chef fly in from Paris for tonight. Good Appetite."


    The food tasted delicious. Adrien also seemed to have found favor with the pear ravioli. Which is why Phillipe had once again ordered a plate only with ravioli for his little guest.


    The conversations at the table splashed calmly, spiced with loving teasing by Loulou.


    After dessert was served, a fig and pure leaf chai treacle cake, Lily noticed that the toddler on her lap had to struggle more and more with the fatigue. She stroked Adrien lovingly over his soft hair while the toddler curled up in her lap.


    Sighing, Lily threw Alexandre a questioning gaze.


    "I should take my sister with home." Alexandre took the sleepy Adrien in his arms and caringly carried him to the entrance. Where the butler was waiting with their coats.


    "Why?" Loulou asked innocently and winked lovingly with her eyes.


    "Maman would rip your head off." Alexandre snorted.


    "What would she do with you then?" She whispered mischievously in his ear. "I''m sure you dragged that innocent angel to your bed. Poor little thing, did not even know which wolf she came across." Her whisper was as soft as a breeze, and yet he was worried that Lily had heard something. His eyes sought her. Fear held his heart clutched. Fear that it could hurt Lily. Fortunately, she talked to Phillipe and had not heard anything of the conversation with his sister.


    "Get your coat." He then snapped at his little sister. "We''re leaving!"


    "You aren''t funny to tease." Loulou chuckled and Alexandre rolled his eyes annoyed. Sometimes his sister crossed the border uncontrollably. He knew that she meant well. But if he did not stop her, she would get into uncomfortable situations.


    "See you again in two days?" Phillipe asked, who had noticed the tension between his Loulou and Alec.


    Alexandre grabbed Lily''s little hand and squeezed it tenderly. "Naturally."


    "Lily, we can count on you too?" Louise asked in amusement. Confused, Lily looked up at Alexandre. Did he mean that evening? Lily remembered the deal at the boutique and nodded hesitantly. She would have to ask Alexandre again, she decided. Otherwise, he would not tell her again, anyway. This time she would start an inquisition. She did not want to be left in the dark again.


    "Nice!" Loulou clapped her hands before she stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss on the cheek of her fianc¨¦.


    On the other side, the little group said goodbye to their host. Alexander carried the sleeping Adrien and led the way to the car. While Louise at the doorstep boldly exchanged kisses with her fianc¨¦.


    As soon as Lily dropped into the soft leather seats, She felt an inner tension escape from her body. She felt physically exhausted, as well as emotionally exhausted.


    But she knew the really exhausting part of the evening had not started yet. After all, their conversation, which had started at the dining table, had not ended yet.

 Chapter 30 - Villains dont listen

    Lily had sat down on his bed while she waited for Alexandre. She heard the water bounce off the floor in the shower as she braced herself for a confrontation. She would not let it go. Otherwise, he would continue to treat her like a puppet. Pulling on her strings as he pleases.


    Suddenly the door swung open. Lily could not help but stare. He looked like a god that had come down from Olympus to temp mortals. He wore only a towel loosely wrapped around his waist. Only a towel. Stressed her brain just before the collapse. Tiny drops of water were scattered on his stunning body. Lily''s mouth was dry. She probably looked like a jerk. But there was clearly too much bare skin. Her innocent brain just could not handle that. The black hair was disheveled from drying with the towel and gave him that wild bad boy look. Then her eyes stuck to his bare torso. His broad chest was well-trained and clean-shaven. Each part of his muscles showed under his bronze-colored skin, the slightly rounded biceps, the broad flat pectoral muscles, and the ribbed abdominal muscles, which disappeared under the towel in a V-shape.


    Lily''s brain had declined once again. There was too much bare skin at once! Her wildly throbbing heart cried desperately. While blood shot into her cheeks. Automatically, her hands went over her burning face, obscuring her field of vision so that her treacherous brain could think straight again. She had an assignment! She could not forget this easily, because of a bit of bare skin.


    "Do you like what you see?" Alexandre teased. He was aware of his effect on her.


    "I vote today be a pajama day! Put on something!"


    "I saw that. You just checked me out." He stood in front of Lily and grabbed her hand and pressed it against his chest. "You can touch me."


    Lily looked at him for a second from a tomato-red face, which became redder with each second. Until she squeaked, pulled away her hand, and fell backwards into bed.


    Alexandre started to laugh loudly and Lily could not shake off the feeling that he was enjoying her misery a bit too much.


    "You! You aren''t supposed to laugh! I''m so embarrassed!"


    To Lily''s astonishment, she recognizes that familiar sparkle in his eyes. His eyes sparkle with amusement! Before he went to the adjoining dressing room. Lily could not believe what had just happened and tapped lightly with her little fist against her stupid head. She took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on her target.


    Alexandre stepped out of the dressing room. Still wearing only a boxer shorts. Lily looked at him with a scowl. "Why are you still half-naked!" She snapped at him.


    "You think I''m dumb enough to fall for that stupid move, twice? I''m still mad at you. And we need to talk." Angry, she engulfed her arms in front of her chest and blew up her red cheeks. Now he could take her even less seriously. She looked more like a sweet squirrel than serious conversationalist.


    He laughed. "Talk to me, love. We have to communicate if we want this to work." He then approached her. Automatically, her eyes widened. She looked so innocent and pure. It only made him want to corrupt her all that more. He put his big hand around her cheeks and squeezed her chubby cheeks. Air escaped from her puffed-up face as if a pin had burst a balloon. He could hardly resist a laugh.


    "I''m so far gone I actually think this is cute."


    She stared at him. His remark hurt her a little. She wanted to talk to him seriously. And this rogue? He only played with her! He knew exactly which buttons he had to press with her and that annoyed her. Anger stirred in her, seething in her inner. She narrowed her eyes and clenched her hands into fists


    "Oh so you think I''m cute when I''m angry? Well get ready because I''m about to be gorgeous!"


    But before she could say another word, he was already above her. Press his hot lips on hers.

 Chapter 31 - Goodnight kiss

    He silenced her with a kiss.


    Lily shoved him back. "What was that?" She asked him angrily.


    Alexandre looked into her eyes. He was seeking for the fascinating sparkle in it. Her eyes were as deep blue as the ocean. Sometimes he had the feeling of drowning in it. Nevertheless, he was fascinated by this blue. Her eyes fascinated him. Again and again he searched for it. He did not know what was wrong with him. But it tempted him to tease Lily. And if he found that sparkle in her eyes. This unique sparkle. Then he felt as if someone had put a lever in him. Then there was this urge. He felt this desire to kiss her.


    To cover her lips with his. He could not think of anything else since their first kiss. Only on her lips. Sweet Lips. It had only been 24 hours, but there was this heat in his body. This hunger thirsting for her lips. His lip on hers. That urge got even worse after she had stared at him at the dining table. And now? He wanted to put this need into action. He wanted to kiss her. "I kissed you to shut up, love." He replied proudly.


    "You .... you idiot!" She beat against his hard chest with her pale fists. He leaned forward again and whispered. "Well, it seems to work ... didn''t?"


    Her mouth fell open. But she couldn''t find a word. He was such a shameless jark. And he knew it.


    He pressed his mouth against hers again. The touch wafted through her like an electric shock. His tongue pushed into her mouth. Wild and hard. His tongue stroked the inside of her lips, conquered every corner of her mouth and caressed stormily her tongue.


    She was astonished at first and then tried to pull her head back. Since it was almost too much. More than she could stand. But he did not allow it. With a growl, he grabbed her by the waist and pulled her closer. He bent her back as he pressed his arm against it. Together they fell into the mattress. Lily felt his body pushing her heavily into the mattress. She felt his body so clearly. Only the thin silk fabric of her negligee separated their bodies from each other. She felt the heat he radiated.


    Suddenly everything seemed to be forgotten. As if his wild kiss took her will, he robbed her of any resistance.


    But at the same time it woke something in her. She replied. Timid. But she replied with her body. She did not really know what to do. But her hands moved to his back and stroked tenderly over his shoulders. He let his hands go down her arms. A wave of tremendous sensations rolled over her. He dominated her in every way, while his hands and lips attacked her. She replied almost desperately. Her second kiss was wild and overwhelming. They kissed for several minutes. Actually, Lily had already lost all sense of time.


    When Alexandre retired, he gasped.


    He looked down at her. Her face was red. Her lips swollen. He wanted to kiss her again. But then stroked her soft cheek.


    "Are you okay?" Suddenly he smiled. That smile that gave her soft knees. She nodded, completely out of breath. No word escaped her. Since she suddenly did not know any words. Then he kissed her on the forehead and pulled her close. He wrapped her under the blanket.


    His eyes were heavy. Dark.


    As if his eyes devoured her.


    Frustrated, his hand went through his hair. He did not want to scare her. It was so hard to control himself. He had to muster all his willpower. But he was only a man. She stared at him, from those two wonderful eyes. Eyes that looked like the ocean. It was so easy to lose yourself in it. And the promise of more tempted his appetite. Alexandre lay down next to her. He leaned his elbow beside her to look at her beautiful face even longer.


    Only now, her mind seemed to start up again. Only very tedious and slow. Like an old computer that needed hours to be useful again. So was her mind. Slow and cumbersome. Now she realized for the first time what it meant to lose one''s mind after a kiss. But then she remembered what she wanted.


    She sought his look. "We have to talk." She whispered into the silence.


    Alexandre groaned. A sad smile was on his lips.


    "Whatever you want to tell me. That can wait until tomorrow." He buried his head in the crook of her neck and sniffed her. She smelled so good. After a refreshing spring meadow. After flowers and wind. He had to find out what kind of fragrance that was and get her even more of it, he decided.


    "But.."


    "We''ll talk tomorrow." He interrupted her. "I''m so tired." He ran his hand through her hair in confusion. He enjoyed her warmth in his arms and understood why Adrien always liked to bury his head in her crook of the neck.


    Confused, she stared at the ceiling. As she listened to the steady breathing beside her ear. She felt his warm breath stroking her neck and him holding her tight in his arms. She could not even move. Too tight was his grip, which tied her to his side. She did not even know what had just had happened. Well, actually. He had kissed her! For the second time! But¡­


    What was that?


    As if a flood had fallen on her. Like a force of nature. Devouring everything.


    She was angry somehow. But then again not. She did not know what she wanted and that confused her even more.


    What was that again? She kept her feelings in boxes?


    He had shaken the shelf. Some boxes had fallen out and in the end there was a terrible mess on the floor. A jumble of her feelings.

 Chapter 32 - She was completely unexplainable

    "I need flowers, chocolates and jewelry. The price does not matter. I only need it until the end of work." Alexandre looked disapprovingly at the documents in front of him on his desk. He remembered her face flushed with anger. Alexandre clasped his hands over his head and tried again to focus on the documents in front of him. One of his newly acquired companies was already in the red. When Alexandre read the sobering account of this company, his mood was right in the basement. He should hire new managers. Managers who were worth the salary he paid them.


    "This is turning out to be a bad morning." He mumbled to himself. But his assistant escaped nothing. Nicolas looked like a reserved little guy, he reminded Alexandre rather to one of these young, arid scientists who preferred to entrench in a laboratory. But Nicolas was competent. Alexandre had to admit that. He would never find a better assistant, who could be a CEO himself and was repeatedly wooed by other companies. But his assistant was loyal.


    "How''s that?" His assistant asked and handed him two new folders. Alexandre frowned and was reminded of her face. His good mood was spoiled. He was fed up with her and many other things.


    "Wives are exhausting!" It slipped bitterly out of his mouth.


    This bitter taste was still on his tongue when he remembered this morning. He did not understand what the problem was. Alexandre had fulfilled her every wish. He had married her. Not entirely out of charity. But they were contract partners, true to the motto - one hand washes the other. He played a good husband for her. While she gave him power.


    He bought her expensive clothes, jewelry. He gave her protection. And the most important! He had restored her reputation. She had gotten more than she could. With her reputation, she would never have had a husband. He had read the report about her. The last two years of her life. She would not have found a man of her class with this CV. She had worked in some dubious places, had lived without a male guardian.


    But he had married her. What did she want more?


    He did not understand her.


    Alexandre knew some women could become angry out of the blue. His friends always put it jokingly on the female hormones. He had never thought that Lillian belonged to this kind of women. She had always been so calm. She was a good girl. Easy to control. The private investigator''s reports had portrayed her like this. A typical upper-class lady. Restrained and modest.


    But over time he had noticed that the reports had to be incomplete. He had to admit, the girl could pretend well. But it had not bothered him. Sometimes she was a bit loud, a little crazy, funny. He even liked that she was so ruthlessly honest.


    She was honest.


    And he would never know what she did next. Sometimes she was completely unexplainable.


    Astonished, Nicolas glanced over his glasses. "Exhausting? But the young Madame is always so charming?" He knew his assistant still from university days. The rather slender boy at that time had always been one of the best of the year. Which is why Alexandre had cast his eye on him early on. At the university, it was all about making contacts that were relevant to the future. And Nicolas Rameau was not only competent but also loyal. Alexandre has been trusting this guy for years. Although he sometimes annoyed Alexandre, like now.


    Lily had not been charming this morning. He remembered the sparkle in her eyes. Those eyes that drove him insane.


    Actually, he did not care why they had argued. He did not even know the reason of her anger. And since he did not care, he would not be hurt. He would not feel sadness.


    Nicolas thoughtfully removed his glasses and folded them before putting them in the breast pocket of his white shirt. The brown-blond hair fell loose in the boyish face. "My father always said. Men should never start to study women, they would never graduate." His assistant laughed mischievously and put the same documents on his table. "I should probably make an extra effort with the jewelry selection." Nicolas admitted delight, before he left the office of his boss with a small grin.


    ?


    At 16 o''clock, he looked at the clock once again. The day had gone by at a snail''s pace. Again and again his thoughts slipped to her. It didn''t go with her the way he wanted, and that fact disturbed Alexandre apparently.


    Was it too much to cling to his arm? She should worship him and in no case question him. But she did the complete opposite. She always asked questions. She was worse than his sister. A master of the Inquisition.


    He had to admit he knew little about women and solid relationships. His former lover was quickly satisfied with expensive jewelry and the latest fashion. Women already begged him when he pulled out his black credit card. They threw themselves in rows in his bed. He never had to do much. A smile, maybe a dinner.


    Even Danielle was always eager for his goodwill. His relationship was never exhausting him. She fulfilled all wishes in bed and outside. Danielle clung to him and gave him that feeling of warmth and affection. Her eyes always reflected her admiration for him. As if he were the most perfect man on earth. He liked it. Which man would not like it?


    But Lily was like riding a roller coaster. Nothing was obvious.


    She was beautiful. Beautiful as fire. Somehow uncontrollable. Unpredictable. Explosive.


    She questioned him and that bothered him.


    Tired, he operated the intercom on his phone. "Madame Brullon, please let the car drive up and prepare everything for my trip home."

 Chapter 33 - Are you my new maman?

    Lily leaned Adrien''s little head slightly back. The scent of chamomile rose in her nose. Carefully, she massaged the child''s shampoo into the dark hair of the boy, who sat in front of her in the bathtub. The water was warm. Only the sounds of rippling water were heard in the room.


    "Lily?" Asked Adrien sleepily and fiddled with his action figure. The little red-and-blue figure was one of the superheroes that the toddler admired so much. Lily did not know exactly which of the many superheroes it was. Adrien had many of them and Lily was almost certain that Alexandre had bought the toddler all the superheroes and the right villains. Alexandre. Anger still rose in her as she thought about this morning. This man was crazy. Not only did he not let her finish. No, he also smashed her down with words. He did not care what she thought, but wanted her to tell him. But in the end he did not listen to her. This man was a single paradox for her. She did not understand him.


    "Yes." The girl looked down at the toddler. Love lay in her gaze.


    "Lily are you my new maman now." Lily''s heart got heavy. Her hands stopped in her motion. She was afraid to hurt him. What should she tell him? "Do you miss your maman?"


    Adrien nodded. Foam dripped into his face. Hastily, Lily wiped it from his face. She was afraid there would be foam in his eyes. Before she reached for the shower head.


    "Your maman isn''t here, but your parents told me to send you their love." Adrien smiled, seemingly satisfied with her answer.


    Warm water ran out of the iron shower head. Carefully, Lilly ran the water over Adrien''s hair. Slowly the water washed the white foam from the boy''s chocolate brown hair.


    "Lily?" Adrien stifled a yawn.


    "Yes, Adrien?" Lily asked carefully. She knew Adrien was getting very tired after a bath.


    "Lily. Alec said that you are my maman." His big round eyes looked at her innocently. Slowly, the girl put the shower head back to the side. Her heartbeat struck louder. She wanted to protect him. But she knew words could be painful. Words that were said without a thought. She was afraid to hurt him with her words, although she wanted to keep him from all the pain. Somehow she was speechless. For seconds, she lost herself in his innocent eyes. Worry drew herself on her face.


    She gently put a kiss on the wet hair of the toddler. "Do you want me to be your maman?"


    Adrien turned to her. The water sloshed along the white tub walls. Small foam floated on the waves. "Maman is gone. But Lily stays with me." Adrien put his little head in her hands and rubbed his soft cheeks against her palm. His little fingers gripped her hands tightly.


    "I''ll always stay with you." Lily promised. Adrien looked up at her again. The dark brown hair clung to his round face. His chubby cheeks were slightly flushed. Lily saw relief in his eyes. The toddler''s innocent smile broke every wall in Lily. "I am who you want me to be."


    "Alec will stay with me, too?"


    A bell-like laugh danced from her lips. "Alec and I are always with you." Carefully she stroked a wet strand from his face. Satisfied, Adrien nodded. "Alec did not lie." Shy, he looked at his small hands, which still clutched Lily''s hands tightly. He felt safe if he could hold her hand. He felt safe as she hugged him and held him like his mother. Lily was very similar to his maman. She loved him. Unconditionally. He could feel it.


    "Lily is my new maman." Boundless joy resonated in his words. It almost seemed like a heavy load had fallen from the little guy''s shoulders. He seemed genuinely relieved. "Alec is my new papa."


    Lily looked at the toddler with a heavy heart. She did not want to force herself into Elodie''s position. She wanted Adrien to remind his wonderful mother.


    But at the same time she understood that Adrien was looking for a secure bond. He needed a secure hold now. More than that. So he could build trust, make new relationships and confidently explore his new world. Lily wanted Adrien to have everything he needed. "If you want me to be your new maman, then I like to be your maman." She stroked the toddler''s round cheek lovingly. Adrien chuckled. "And Alec is your new papa. If you want it. We will always be there for you."


    Adrien looked in delight at his new maman. "Are you going to sleep with me today?" The little guy asked expectantly.

 Chapter 34 - Sapphires and diamonds in the bath water

    "Where is your madame?" Alexandre asked one of the maids. "She''s taking a bath with the young master, monsieur."


    With great strides Alexandre climbed the stairs and hurried towards the bathroom. He did not think long. Again and again her face appeared in his mind''s eye. All day long. He had thought of her. He remembered her face. The sparkle in her eyes. Like a ghost, she haunted his thoughts. She made him restless.


    Damn it!


    Panting, he stopped in front of the door. His hand was already on the door handle. But he hesitated. Only a month ago, he thought everything was fine. But now the whole thing got out of hand. And he knew it.


    He took a few steps away from the door. Everything in him screamed. Then he threw the bouquet on the bed. Red rose leaves fell off. With wiry fingers he fumbled at the jewelry box. The jeweler''s emblem was reflected on the velvety box. With a click, the lid jumped open, revealing the precious contents. He should definitely increase Nicolas year-end bonus.


    Alexandre liked what he saw. The big royal blue sapphires would look exciting on her pale skin. Stunned, he fetched the fascinating necklace with a large sapphire which was surrounded by countless diamonds out of the jewelry box. The white gold felt cold and heavy in his hand. Before he reached for the door handle without thinking.


    He opened the heavy wooden door with a jerk. Before he entered the bathroom. Steam came to meet him.


    Lily''s eyes grew big at the sight of him. She looked at him with a mixture of bafflement and shame. Hastily, she crossed her arms over her chest. Her cheeks suddenly blushed red. In this gorgeous way! She looked at him shocked. Motionless. Like a deer staring at the threatening headlight of a car as the threat grew closer and closer.


    He liked that expression. He liked when she glared at him, but also when she stares at him. When her eyes widened in amazement and her mouth caught her eye. She looked so cute. She then seduced him into thinking that involved the bed, she and him.


    This woman acted like catnip on his tense mood.


    Beside her, Adrien continued to play in the water. "Hello Alec." He greeted him with red cheeks.


    Alexandre sat down on the bath tub edge. His eyes sank. It was hot and cold at the same time. "Hello, Adrien." He said in a dark voice. He pushed her wet hair aside and put the cool necklace around her neck. The gems shone seductively on her d¨¦collet¨¦. The sensual curves of her breast disappeared under the water. He could only guess what was hiding under the white foam blanket. Lily stiffened even more as the precious metal touched her skin. She looked like she wanted to run away. Her breasts rose and fell quickly under his light touch.


    Suddenly she reached for the yellow bath sponge and threw it jerkily.


    The wet item landed in the middle of Alexandre''s face. With a splash the sponge fell back into the bath tube together with the necklace. He opened his eyes in surprise, as well did she.


    "Out!" Her voice was shrill and squeaky.


    Alexandres just stared at her. Which was very strange. She had never seen him speechless before.


    "Lily, why can''t Alec bathe with us?" Adrien asked innocently.


    "Yes, why can''t I bathe with you?" With a mischievous smile he untied his tie and quickly opened the first button. Lily''s head seemed to steam. She tried to push him away from the bathtub rim with both hands. But he was immobile. His eyes were still on her chest.


    "The bathtub is too small for the three of us." She muttered completely confused.


    "I think there''s still room for me." Alexandre persisted. Lily gasped in astonishment. This man! This shameless villain!


    "Why are you behaving like that?" Her voice was icy, but there was fear and shame in her undertone.


    "Did I embarrass you?" He liked that. He wanted to know what she was thinking.


    "Why are you being so mean?" She tried to protest. As she watched him open one button after the other. Pleasured. Is he acting like this just because he is good looking? Damn this good-looking-male-vernatic author who created this annoying villain! She wished she could give her opinion to this hormone-controlled woman.


    He put his hand under her chin and wanted to tease her a little more. But Lily slapped his hand away as soon as she realized his intentions. She could barely resist his attacks as she tried to cover her nudity with foam. But her anger grew. Her cheeks were puffed up again like those of a hamster hiding nuts in his cheeks. She always did that when she got angry. He chuckled.


    He did not know why, but this woman made his blood boil. Never before had he been so spontaneously inflamed for a woman. Women quickly bored him because they were all the same. All except Danielle. But then there was Lily with her openness. He could read her like an open book.


    "Get out!" She grated with her teeth. He laughed, obviously unable to take her seriously. Then he reached for Adrien and pulled him out of the water. The little boy trembled just before Alexandre wrapped him in a towel and began to dry him. His eyes lay heavy on her. He was reluctant to pull his eyes away from her.


    Lily sank deeper into the warm water. "Do not forget to dry off his hair!" She instructed him petulant.


    He took his time in each of his movements, watching as she fumed in the bathtub.


    Then he put Adrien his bathrobe. "You have to put him into his pajamas. He''ll get sick otherwise." She yelled after him as he carried the little boy out of the bathroom.


    Alexandre threw his head back laughing.


    "What''s funny?" Asked Adrien curiously. Alexandre ruffled the toddler''s wet hair. "Your Lily!"


    Adrien looked questioningly at Alexandre, he did not understand what his new dad meant. He yawned and laid his head on Alexandre''s shoulder.

 Chapter 35 - Behind every angry woman stands man who has absolutely no idea what he did wrong

    Lily fumed with anger as she entered the living room.


    "Alexndre!" With trembling fists she stood across from him and stamped. She felt like a little kid. As he loomed up in front of her and looked down at her. Suddenly everything seemed so cramped.


    She remembered finding a bouquet of red roses and chocolates on the bed. When she left the steaming bath. Had he wanted to apologize to her? She did not know. But why did he act that way? It did not make sense. He did not make any sense! He behaved so contradictory. She did not understand his signals. Lily crossed her arms over her chest.


    "Just tell me what it is you want from me." Alexandre forced himself to say. Actually, he did not want to argue with her. It just was not supposed to bother him how she felt.


    Actually, she should have smiled at him, happy about his presents. She should have thanked him and should have invited him to an adventure between bed sheets. He had expected that from her. But she was nobody else but Lily. He had understood that by now.


    Her noses fluttered slightly. It took all her self control not to start to yell. His arrogant words irritated her, only more. "Alexandre, you said yourself I''m your wife ..." she started calmly. "But I don''t feel like you treat me like your wife. How am I supposed to trust you when you keep things from me and I need to hear it from others?"


    "What are you actually trying to debate with me?" Alexandre acted as if he was ignorant.


    "Maybe if you listened, I wouldn''t have to keep telling you."


    Lily snap, forgetting herself as every emotion seems to pour out of her. "Did you ever stop to think that I have feelings too?!" Tensions kept rising on.


    "Are you upset now? Why are you like this?" Alexandre asked in astonishment. He felt overwhelmed in this situation. Uncomfortable. He has never been hit with words like that before. He was angry with her. Why did she make a scene? He did not understand it. After all, he had not done anything wrong.


    He did not want to get expressively mad. He wanted to argue, but he found himself speechless. Why could not she accepted his gifts and let it go? He knew that she had feelings. He was not an idiot. But he did not understand her feelings. Alexandre''s insecurities hit its peak. A reserved look was in his eyes.


    "I am angry! How sharp-witted, Sherlock!" Lily''s lower lip trembled, she could barely hide her bitter undertone. "You think I can just forget what you did?!"


    "What I did?!" His voice sounded unnaturally calm. "I fulfilled all your demands. I bought you jewelry and clothes. Married you. Although you certainly did not deserve it." He looked at her in disgust.


    "Yeah! You are so great. The great Alexandre de Valois has lowered himself to this unworthy woman and taken her as his wife. You are so generous."


    "We both had our benefits of this marriage!"


    "If we both had our benefits of this marriage, why the hell are you show me of, like your latest achievement. You forge your own plans and don''t ask about my opinion."


    "What do you expect from me!" He slightly raised his voice. But he did not yell, did not make a fuss.


    "I expect you to tell me about your plans!" She gasped. "I want you to talk to me and not let me be thrown in at the deep end. I do not want to hear from others what you should really tell me."


    Alexandre looked at her calculatingly. "Why are you angry with me?"


    "Do you even listen to me?! I''m angry that I had to hear from your sister that you let the tabloids write some stories about. You didn''t even bother to tell me about it!"


    "Where is the problem?" He did not understand her. Why was she making such a drama about nothing? Why could not she obeyed him? Anger rose in him once again.


    "The problem is, people are talking about me. Because of you! And you can''t tell me!" She hissed.


    "You knew that from the beginning. That''s why we''re hosting this ridiculous wedding show."


    "Yes! For the upper class. But I didn''t know about the tabloids!" She turned on her heels towards the door, wanting to leave. She suddenly felt breathless. Suffocated if she stayed any longer in this room.


    Alexandre snatched her wrist. A low growl erupted from the depth of his chest. "I did not say you could leave."

 Chapter 36 - Tears were beating his stony heart softly

    "How dare you..." Lily struggled against his firm grip and tried to push him away. Her hands drummed on his chest. Suddenly her eyes became glassy and slowly round tears dripped down her cheeks.


    Anger and something that Alexandre could not recognize was reflected in her gaze. In Alexandre''s chest spread this inexplicable heaviness. He stared at her in silence for a moment.


    He wanted to keep his levelheadedness. But her glassy eyes threw him completely off track. All his anger disappeared, as if it didn''t even exist in the beginning. He did not know why he even was angry. Everything seemed forgotten. But when she sobbed loudly, his chest tightened. A tightness that made him fight for every breath. Something broke in him.


    Alexandre pulled her close and pressed her to his chest. She tried briefly to fight him, writhing in his arms. But he held her until she gave up. Until she accepted his closeness. It was a strange feeling, but not a bad one. He had never consoled a woman. Usually he did not have to. Women were comforted by his nice gifts.


    He felt guilty after he thought she was crying because of him. "Lily."


    He stroked her soft hair timidly. It smelled of peonies. Delicate and sweet, like her. Her body was soft. She looked so delicate in his arms, as if she could break under his hands. He closed his eyes to stop yearning for her beautiful body. He felt helpless. Lost. "Please, look at me." Alexandre put his hand under her chin and gently raised it. Tears glistened on her red cheeks. The throbbing in his chest became heavier. She shook her head, wanting to shake off his hand. Shame were hidding in her eyes. "Let go of me."


    His grip tightened. "I don''t want to. I want to talk to you right now." His voice sounded desperate, almost helpless.


    "I ... I .." A fresh barrage of tears rolled down her face. "What ... what do you want?" Her voice trembled.


    "Please, talk to me."


    "I''ve already said everything." Lily bit her trembling lips, "I don''t know how to trust you anymore."


    "Trust me. I swear I''ll do things different this time." He felt tired. Desperate and confused. Alexandre did not know where, these feelings came from. But at that moment, he felt like trying to promise her everything, just so he would not have to feel guilty anymore. But the flood of tears only became denser. Her sobs gained strength.


    Suddenly the door swung open and his second little roommate entered the room. His little hands rubbed over his red eyes. "Lily ?!" Adrien sniffed. Round tears streamed down the toddler''s face as he approached uncertainly.


    Adrien pressed his small palm on Alec''s leg. "A..Alec ...?" He cried. "Don''t hurt Lily." He looked silently at the little guy. "I won''t!" Alexandre protested desperately, before pulling the little boy into his arms and holding Lily in his other. He heard the desperate sobs of his little family and felt helpless. He could not act, as usual. The two were not a business partner. He could fire or calm down with a bonus. He looked lost at the two figures in his arms. He had never been in a similar situation before. How was he supposed to comfort two people? He was lacking in words. Unable to withstand their cries, he pulled her closer to his chest.


    "Shh .." he kissed them quietly on the forehead. He wanted to console them.


    "Alec ...?" The word came out sounding like a sob. Alexandre looked at Adrien with a gentle gaze, giving a sigh before carrying them to a sofa nearby.


    Lily curled up next to him. His shirt was wet with tears. He gently stroked her hair and patted Adrien''s small back, hoping that the tender motions would eventually get them to calm down.


    "I''m sorry. Everything will be alright" He promised. Adrien wrapped his little arms around Alexandres neck and was holding onto him firmly.


    He did his best to hush the cries that continued to fill the room. While Alexandre was a powerful businessman, he had never learned to care about his fellow human beings. Everything was always served on a golden plate in front of him.


    After ten minutes of failed attempts. He was sure he''d tried everything. Pacing. Comforting. Rocking.

 Chapter 37 - Dangerous feelings

    After an ostensible eternity, Lily raised her head.


    "Let''s go to bed." Alexandre looked at her expectantly. Her eyes were swollen after crying. He wiped away the remaining traces of her tears with his thumb. Tenderly.


    Embarrassed, she looked to the side. "Everything is okay again?" He asked uncertainly.


    "I am sorry. I''ve ... I''ve been crying ... " Her voice sounded throaty.


    "It''s okay." He smiled shyly at her and stroked her cheek. "Let''s go to sleep. We''ll talk about it tomorrow when we all have a clear head again." Next to him, Adrien had fallen asleep, while sobbing. He was aware now that he had misjudged himself and this situation they were in. The plan got out of hand. He had not counted in humanity. That was his mistake. He had too many expectations of the two. His wife was only twenty, practically a child, and Adrien had lost his parents. Alexandre wondered if it was just the tip of the iceberg.


    But for him, too, this kind of life was new.


    He looked at her thoughtful. Alexandre knew although she looked naive and credulous. She would not easily change her mind once she made a decision. She had a strong character. He had known that before he married her. Which girl of the upper-class would flee from a wedding. Although, she had grown up in a well-guarded environment and actually was kind of defenseless and clueless.


    But this girl was even able to make a living independently. Almost without the help of others.


    Alexandre knew of the fact that his half-brother had always protected her from a distance. Because Lily was a close friend of his sister-in-law. This friendship was probably the reason why his wife could live alone for two whole years unscathed. If he had not found her so soon ... he did not want to imagine what would have happened.


    Lily nodded. Alexandre then carried her and Adrien into their bedroom.


    ?


    Lily woke up in his bedroom. Adrien had curled up next to her. The bed was empty. She had not even realized he had left.


    Alexandre had already left! A long time ago. The spot where he had lain was cold. She did not know why, but she felt disappointed. What was she hoping for? What had she expected after yesterday? She narrowed her eyes tiredly as the memories of yesterday evening came back.


    "I was crying." She said in disgust. The last time she had cried was when she had discovered Pascal''s and Nadine''s relationship. That night, for the first time, she allowed feelings to overwhelm her. Actually, she hid her feelings well. At least she always thought so. Feelings were dangerous. She hated to show her inner self. To let people too close to herself, she feared the most. In two lives she hadn''t witnessed any good experiences with feelings. People hurt each other more often than they were aware of.


    Yesterday she had cried for the second time in this life. She had allowed feelings to flood her heart. Now Lily was certain, she had to distance herself from her feelings. Put them back in small boxes and hide them in a dark room. Until she forgot that they even existed. She did not want to be guided by emotions like her mother. She needed a clear mind to survive in this world.


    She felt inflexible and heavy as she pushed the blanket aside. Lily was about to get out of bed, then she saw a white note on Alexandre''s pillow. She grabbed the sheet and unfolded it.


    Lily,


    As promised, we will talk about our problems.


    Unfortunately, I had to go to a meeting that can not be postponed.


    I''ll call you later.


    -Alec


    The letter was written in a beautiful, curved handwriting. The sentences were brief, but they came straight to the point. Somehow, she was happy about it. She felt lighter and relaxed, but also surprised. After all the chaos yesterday evening, Lily found it difficult to crawl out of bed. Actually, she wanted to continue to hide under her blanket. She wondered how much the staff had heard. Their quarrel was pretty loud, she assumed. She had completely lost her composure. Lily stared at the wall, embarrassed. "Why did I have to howl?" She was startled by her own emotional outburst that came so suddenly, like a tidal wave, it had surprised her and just swept her away. She wondered about herself.


    Lily pressed her hand to her forehead and let herself fall back into bed, groaning.


    "Lily?" Asks Adrien sleepily and rubbed his fists over the still closed eyes. He shivered slightly and pressed himself against her.

 Chapter 38 - Crêpes

    For the little one, the evening must have been just as hard as it was for her. His eyes were swollen and reddish from crying. Carefully, she stroked his soft cheek. "Morning." She greeted him cheerfully, swallowing the lump of guilt in her throat.


    She wanted to hit herself. She was too overwhelmed by her feelings, getting carried away and forgetting everything around her. She was such an idiot.


    Adrien put his little arm around her waist and pressed his face against her chest.


    The argument between her and Alexandre had startled Adrien, she could feel it, see in all his gestures.


    Lily could imagine the argument roused the fear of losing someone else who was important to him. It had only been a few weeks since his parents'' death.


    One more reason for Lily, to be especially gentle with him. She was afraid that he would completely isolate himself from others, withdraw and not allow anyone to come too close. That''s what Lily wanted to prevent. She wanted him to enjoy his life. She wanted to give him security. Adrien needed that more than anything else. So that he could get involved with others.


    "Lily?"


    "Yes, Adrien."


    The toddler hesitated, lifting the sleeves of his pajamas to his mouth. It took a long time for him to say something. "Lily, you will not leave me?" Lily found anxiety in his eyes. She shook her head. "I''ll be always there for you."


    "And Alec?"


    "Alec will always be there for you. We will always stay together. I''ll promise!" Carefully, Lily rubbed his trembling back and Adrien pressed himself even deeper into Lily''s embrace.


    "It''s alright, Adrien. I''ll always hold you." Lily whispered tenderly.


    Lily did not know what was going through his mind. She felt anxiety. But she knew Adrien was a silent kid. That sometimes made it even harder for Lily. Often it was not easy for her to take on the role of a mother for Adrien. But she was trying her best to take care of him, but it was hard when he wouldn''t tell her what he needed. Sometimes he didn''t even point or gesture to anything and only clinging to her silently. Lily knew he needed time. The situation was just too extreme for such a small child to handle emotionally.


    All that Lily could do was trying to take care of the toddler and hope for the best. She hoped he would eventually build up enough confidence in her that he would become freer in his actions. She did not fail to notice that Adrien was very insecure. Again and again he was afraid to be abandoned.


    Lily often didn''t even know why he was sometimes so anxious. She often wanted to know what her little toddler was thinking. If she would know, it would make everything a little less challenging, plus maybe it would help the child feel more comfortable around Alexandre and her.


    "So ... what do you want for breakfast?" Lily asked lovingly and gave him a feathery kiss on his hair. Adrien raised his little head and just looked at her for a long moment.


    "You can wish for everything." Lily tried to encourage him.


    "C-Cr¨ºpes¡­?" Adrien answered in a tiny, shaking voice. She didn''t know why he was so nervous sometimes.


    "You want cr¨ºpes, you said?" Lily smiley brightly at the little boy. "We can eat as many cr¨ºpes as you''d like."


    ?


    Adrien devoured his cr¨ºpes with a chocolate cream while Lily enjoyed her cr¨ºpe suzette. The sour, sweet orange flavor carried Lily rocket fast into the gourmet sky. At such moments, Lily celebrated being Alexander''s wife. Who else could afford a French pastry chef, if not the villain of ''My loyal hubby''. Lily loved to eat well. She was a true food fanatic. Even when she was poor, she had always saved money to enjoy good food.


    "Is it tasty?" Lily asked, wiping the chocolate cream off Adrien''s cheeks.


    Adrien nodded with glowing eyes and led the fork greedily back to his mouth. Lily had to resist to grin. He was so cute.


    "Eat slower. No one will steal something from your plate." Lily sighed in relief about the healthy appetite of Adrien.


    Lily flinched. As the sound of a telephone ringing echoed through the rooms.

 Chapter 39 - His voice

    "Madame, Monsieur wants you on the telephone." One of the maids had come to the dining room and held out the phone. Reluctantly, Lily picked up the phone and held it near her ear.


    "Hello?" She spoke indecisively in the telephone receiver. She heard a noise on the other side. "Lily?" Her heart started to flutter after hearing his voice. It almost felt like he was whispering right in her ear. She sat up straight.


    "Yes?" She responded, as she brushed her index finger across the edge of the cup. She suddenly felt so nervous, burdened. She did not know why. This morning, she had not felt that way, so burdened. She knew she had to deal with this situation like an adult. But she always liked to run away when she knew she too had made mistakes. She did not like conflicts. Lily knew she had to be strong. She could not just be carried away by old instincts. She was a mother and a wife. Although she had no experience with these roles, she wanted to try hard. She wanted to be strong for Adrien. He needed a safe environment. A footing. Security. She could not afford it alone. That''s why she needed Alexandre''s help.


    "It''s me. Can we talk?" His voice sounded hard and worried at the same time.


    "I''m glad you called." She smiled, trying to suppress her discomfort.


    "Me too." Her heart jumped.


    "I''m sorry about yesterday. I didn''t want to cry ... really. "Lily absentmindedly chewed on her lower lip. Her eyes were glued to rest of her breakfast. Her plate was half empty. But suddenly she was not hungry anymore.


    He laughed. But it was not that liberated laugh. It sounded heavy. Sad. "It doesn''t have to. I''m somehow thankful for that." He sighed. Why did he sound so depressed? She wanted to know what he was thinking. But she was grateful that he was not angry anymore. At least she thought he was not angry anymore. He was depressed. His voice betrayed him.


    "Lily, how are you?" Alexandre asked, breaking her out of her thoughts.


    "I''m fine." She mumbles, glancing at her coffee cup.


    "Are you sure? You don''t sound fine."


    "You too." She heard his breathing close to her ear. His breath felt heavy in the second-long silence. Until his voice broke the silence. Seriously. "Why can''t you just believe me?" He asked.


    Lily pushed the plate further away from herself. Suddenly there was this tension. He was right, she did not trust him. That had only one reason! Her prejudices against him. He was the ruthless villain of a clich¨¦d romance novel, Lily had read in her last life. She did not trust him because her trust had been broken too often. She remembered Pascal. He had behaved as it was written in My loyal hubby. He followed the instructions of the book step by step. Lily was afraid to make the same mistake again. To trust. She was suspicious. That''s why she wanted to know everything. Although the content of the novel had changed, but it did not mean that the characters had changed. But there was a second reason. "Because you lied."


    "I lied? So you mean I did not tell you about the interviews in the magazines?"


    "Yes." Her mouth was too dry. She could not form more than one syllable. Her fingers trembled as she clutched the cup tighter.


    "What can I do to win your trust?" There was a heavy inhale.


    She did not know it herself. After all of her experience, she became naturally suspicious.


    "Maybe you''re going to inaugurate me into your plans?" She bit her lower lip. "At least in the plans in which Adrien and I are involved." She exhaled hard. Suddenly Adrien grabbed her arm. A squeaking sound escaped her lips as they startled. The phone almost slipped out of her hand.


    "What happened?" Alexandre asked alarmed.


    "Everything is okay. Wait a minute." She pressed the phone against her chest. "Adrien do you need something?" The toddler extended his arms, expectant. Lily understood immediately what he wanted. She quickly wiped the traces of his breakfast from his face and then pulled him onto her lap. "Have you had enough?" She asked worriedly.


    "Yes!" Adrien nodded vigorously with his head, his dark hair hopping up and down before he rested his face on her shoulder. "Wait a minute, I''ll talk to Alec quickly. If you want, you can talk to him, too."


    "Can ... Can I say hello?" He asked sheepishly, his cheeks turning red.


    "Of course." Lily handed the toddler the phone. Adrien gripped it with both hands and put it to his ear.


    "Hello, Alec." He mumbled into the phone. Before he fell silent. Lily did not understand what Alexandre said to Adrien. But she could see the clear smile on the little guy''s face that even made her smile. Suddenly, this heaviness was gone.


    Adrien looked up again. "Alec wants to tell you something else."


    Lily clamped the phone back under her ear while Adrien played with her fingers.


    "It''s me again." She said into the silence.


    "Lily!" His voice sounded stunned. "I can not always promise that I''m doing everything right." He groaned. "But I want you to trust me."


    "I can''t ..."


    "Let me finish, please." Alexandre interrupted her. "I will try to tell you the important matters. Do you agree?"


    "I want to have a say in plannings which involves me and Adrien!" She heard him moan. "It''s important for me!"


    "Will you trust me then?"


    "It''s a good start." She grinned.


    "You have really strange conditions. As always!" He chuckled, his deep voice making the phone vibrate. "All right then. I''ll try it."


    "You can start right now. What kind of event are we going to this evening?"

 Chapter 40 - Glamor and games

    Loulou grabbed Lily''s arm and pulled her away. "We don''t have to listen their boring business talk."


    She winked at Lily.


    Louise grabbed two champagne glasses with an orange liquid in it and pushed on of it in Lily''s


    hand. Lily eyed the glass suspiciously. "Loulou thank you, but unfortunately I do not drink


    alcohol." She tried to protest.


    "There''s no alcohol in there." Louise chuckled. "Only orange juice. Try it! "


    Lily sipped the orange liquid for a moment. A sweet, almost hedge-like taste of oranges spread in


    her mouth. She took another sip of the drink.


    "See..." Loulou said self-satisfied. Then she pulled her sister-in-law to a group of upper class ladies.


    Lily guessed that they were about their age. At least, Alexandre had said that this ball was meant for


    the younger generation of the upper classes. Most of the guests were between the age of seventeen


    and thirty-five.


    Lily knew such kinds of events served more as a marriage market for the young debutantes. But it


    was also a place to develop business relationships, make new acquaintances and cultivate old


    acquaintanceship. The top motto was ''to see and to be seen.''


    She had hated such events. Her grandmother had often taken her along. But each time Lily felt like


    a cattle to be sold to the highest bidder. She was dressed up and presented. Just so she could be


    judged by old matrons. Today she did not feel different.


    "It almost seems like an eternity." Louise welcomed her friends exuberantly. "I brought you a gift.


    This is Lillian de Clermont. The woman who forced my brother to his knees. I ask for applause."


    The elegant group of ladies dressed in velvet and silk watched enviously at Lily.


    With a graceful head movement greeted one of the ladies Lily. "I am very happy to make your


    acquaintance. Mademoiselle de Clermont." Her smile seemed frozen. Her eyes staring at her with


    murderous intend. Lily would have done anything to listen to the business talks of the gentlemen at


    this moment than to endure this silent war.


    Lily, however, held her gaze. She knew that this Lady did not follow women''s social rules. With


    etiquette, her grandmother had always been meticulous. A lady should never act like a


    blabbermouth!


    "I''m happy to meet you as well. Could you please be so kind and introduce yourself,


    Mademoiselle?" Lily already knew this woman by sight, but she has never been introduced to Lily.


    Lily knew she was three years older than herself but of lower social status. Her grandmother had


    been indignant by the behavior of this woman.


    "Ah, I would like to correct you." Lily''s laughter did not reach her eyes. "Please do not call me by


    my maiden name anymore. After all, Alexandre and I are already married. It would be more


    pleasant to call me duchess de Valois. "With a fine smile, she raised her glass to her lips,


    unobtrusively presenting her wedding ring. The pink diamonds flashed in the light of the


    chandeliers.


    Alexandre had put the wedding ring on her finger. He had grabbed her hand in the limousine before


    he then gently pushed the jewel over her finger. Then he passed her his wedding ring and gave her


    his hand.


    Lily had wondered why the pair of rings was already finished. But then she had thought of her


    husband''s bursting purse. She immediately felt sorry for the jewelers of Chaumet, who spent the last


    three days in night shifts to finish the wedding rings.


    "Oh!" Called Loulou next to her. "What a nice ring. Is it true that it was forged in memory of your


    first meeting? "


    "I also read about that. I am pleased to welcome duchess de Valois. I hope I can inspire her for one


    of my tea parties. If I may introduce myself, Cl¨¦mence Sasseau. "


    "I am very pleased to make her acquaintance Mademoiselle Sasseau."


    Lily knew this game too well. Words were like sharp weapons to these women. Politeness and


    etiquette could determine one''s social position with certain. A debutante could fall from grace if she


    did not meet the ideal of the matrons. But she could also lift herself in her social status. The matrons of society paid special attention to the behavior of a young debutante. This small group of older


    aristocratic ladies determined the trends of the season. They paid attention to the etiquette. But they


    also determined who was granted access to the selected circles and who was denied access.


    Lily always found these games at the royal court tiresome. This illusion and deception. This world


    that at first seemed like a glittering wonderland, but in reality was nothing more than a social battlefield.

 Chapter 41 - What is it like to be the wife of the most popular bachelor?

    "Lily!" A bright voice called in surprise. The girl immediately recognized the voice and felt old familiarity grew in herself.


    "Nelli?" The girl muttered in surprise, scanning the full dance floor. Countless debutantes swirled up and down in elaborate ball gowns through the huge ballroom, captivating Lily''s gaze. Before she recognized a fiery redhead weaving between the dancing couples. The taupe-colored dress hem swirled around her ankles, like sea foam. The muslin fabric danced with each of her quick steps. Lionelle wore a sprawling ball gown in a peach shade. It was the color that matched her friend''s light skin perfectly. Her d¨¦colletage was just so deep to be seductive, without being vulgar. Nelli had always known how to play with her charms. She was petite but had a voluptuous breast. Which is why the eyes of her many worshipers always followed her. But Lily had always tried to be inconspicuous. At that time she was probably the only debutante who liked to be a wallflower.


    Lionelle de Carvoisin, came up to her with a smile.


    "I see you are today''s main attraction." Laughed her old friend. Lily gasped. She longed for the old times as a wallflower.


    "I have to apologize to the ladies, but unfortunately I have to kidnap the Duchess de Valois." Said Lionelle. Her face took on an expectant expression, her beautiful eyes sparkling like two deep green emeralds.


    "I can not allow that!" Louise snarled indignantly and grabbed Lily''s hand. Lily put her hand on Loulous soothingly.


    "I may trouble you, but..." Nelli giggled. "Lady de Valloise I''m reluctant to steal your sister-in-law. But you know yourself how well your brother hides his wife. It really isn''t easy to meet my old friend." Nelli smiled and put her finger adorned on her cheek and looked thoughtfully into the round.


    "Ladies, if I may apologize." Lily squeezed Loulous''s hand reassuringly and leaned closer to her sister-in-law. "I''ll be right back. Countess de Carvoisin is an old friend of mine. I just want to exchange a few words with her." She whispered in Louise''s ear.


    Lily looked at the lively girl beside her. Lionelle was not just an old friend. She was one of the few people Lily trusted. Truly trusted. She had known this tomboy since she had learned to speak. From that time they were as close as sisters. Nelli was two years older than Lily. But Nelli had always been there since Lily could think, and Lily had a good memory. Even as an infant, she had perceived and understood the world around her more clearly than other infants. She was always smarter than her peers. Her grandfather had encouraged her early and taught her how to read, to write and to calculate when she was only two years old.


    But only at the age of five, she understood the reason behind her early intelligence and wished, she had known earlier of her talent and the to doom behind her secret.


    Lily was always the youngest. In kindergarten, at school. Just everywhere, where her grandfather had taken her to promote her talents. The surrounding children were always two to three years older. But Lily still learned faster than her peers. She understood better and knew more. The adults had admired her as a child, but her peers had expelled her of the group. Only Nelli was always at her side. She protected her and stuck to Lily like chewing gum. A friend Lily never got rid of. A friend who knew almost all of Lily''s secrets.


    Lily turned her face to the empty balcony area where Nelli seemed to lead her. "Yeah, you sneaky little lady." Nelli gasped as she stopped in a dark corner. From there, they could still watch the events in the ballroom, but no one could see what the two friends would do in the dark.


    Nelli leaned against the marble balcony railing and gave her friend an interested look. "It''s interesting what stories I''ve heard about you lately." Nelli sighed in frustration. "But I do not recognize you in any of them." She and Lily exchanged serious gazes. "What a romantic you have become and without anyone knowing about it."


    Lily gnawed on her lower lip and groaned. "I wanted to tell you. Believe me. But I didn''t know how to reach you."


    "I know. I have been in your apartment after Elodies accident. You left everything behind."


    "I had no time and choice."


    "Adrien is with you?" Lily nodded. Her friend understood her without words. Sometimes it was pretty scary. But Neli knew her better than anyone else. Lionelle''s understanding smile brought out her white teeth. A smile full of sincerity and compassion.


    Nelli''s eyes widened expectantly. "But I just can''t understand why little Adrien and you have been taken in by Alexndre de Valois. What is it like to be the wife of the most popular bachelor?"

 Chapter 42 - Damn wealth

    "No!" Nelli gasped in mock indignation. Lily tried to hide her smile. She loved this coquettish side of her friend. Bluntly, Nelli asked Lily questions that looked more like an interrogation than a conversation between friends. Nevertheless, Nelli seemed genuinely relieved.


    From the garden blew a pleasant breeze. Lily''s eyes fell on the arched entrance. She saw some new guests enter the hall. A huge clock with a gold dial hung over the entrance. She wondered if she had been hiding on the balcony for too long. But until now, nobody seemed to be looking for her, and she was glad for that. She was tired of the curious stare. The whispers and giggles of the young debutantes.


    "Would you like to hear what this top-notch spy has found?" Her friend took a step toward her.


    "A certain debutante, with whom you are related, and your former fianc¨¦e have secretly met in various greenhouses. These secret rendezvous took place regularly during the last two years."


    Lily grimaced.


    "But it came to an abrupt end two weeks ago. At this time, another piece of news circled around. A certain bachelor ... " Nelli winked at Lily. "Had given up the lonely life of a bachelor two years ago."


    Lily frowned. She knew the motives of her sister. Envy and resentment drove her half-sister. She had always thought Nadine was never really interested in Pascal. She was rather interested in the wealth that Pascal Drouet would get if he married Lily. Lily did not know why, Nadine envied her fortune. After all, she had a family. A father and a mother who loved her unconditionally. Lily had only one father who hated her and one dead mother.


    As in the novel ''My loyal hubby'', Pascale had first married the unsuspecting Lillian, and then drove her to death with poisoned milk, which he personally served her every night.


    Only the clever protagonist Elodie knew that her friend Lillian de Clermont was killed by mysterious circumstances. Through her curiosity and ingenuity she was able to solve the murder case in the book. Since Lily now lived in this book, she did not feel the need to die early. In contrast, this time she wanted to try every facet of a life. She wanted to feel everything, dare everything and try everything. She wanted to live.


    "And ...?" Lily asked slowly. Her friend looked at her seriously. All lightness had disappeared from her face. She took her friend in her embrace.


    "Lily, you''re important to me." Worry waved in her voice like a warning message. "We''ve known each other a long time. I know you are not stupid, but sometimes too naive for your own well-being." Lionelle put her hands around Lily''s face. "Pascal sneaks through the corridors tonight. He is waiting for an opportunity to speak with you and who knows what he has planned. He won''t let you go until he has achieved his goal."


    Lily did not answer. Reassuringly, she put her hands on her friend''s hands. She felt uncomfortable, yet she tried to calm Nelli with a wry smile. But Nelli just shook her head. Her friend was a natural airhead. "You are worth a damned fortune. Pascal will leave no stone upturned to get this fortune. He is no longer the Pascal we knew from our childhood. Apparently he has accumulated a high amount of debt and is involved in dubious transactions. Promise me to be never alone with him. You have to promise me."


    A cold shiver raced through Lily''s body as she heard her friend''s words. She nodded. Lily did not know what Pascal was capable of. But she did not doubt his unscrupulousness. After all, he was the second worst villain of ''My loyal hubby''.


    "Do not worry. Alexandre will protect me." Nelli frowned and then sighed loudly. "Watch out for him, too." There was a desperate undertone in her voice. "How do you manage to gather so much trouble again and again! My little angel, They seem to magically lure the problems." Nelli rested her forehead on Lily''s. Lily enjoyed the familiarity in Lionelle''s touch. Her friend was more of a big sister to the girl.


    "Lillian." Cut a warning tone through the familiar atmosphere of the girls. They had not noticed anyone watch them.


    Alexandre had hidden in the shadows of the night. He ignored the discomfort he felt. His eyes met hers.


    Alexandre studied her eyes, her pale cheeks and her trembling lips. He took off his dark blue jacket and put it over her delicate shoulders. It was way too big for her. But she shivered. He wanted to take her in his arms and warm her.


    His eyes remained on the young lady beside Lily. He noticed her tight shoulders and the sparkle in her eyes. A possessive sparkle. It annoyed Alexandre. He pulled Lily closer and put his arm around her waist.


    "Lily, you do not want to introduce me?"

 Chapter 43 - Viennese waltz

    He purposely glanced bored at the girl Lily introduced as her childhood friend.


    "And you are?" She had the audacity to ask. He could read in her eyes that of course she knew who he was. But she did not seem to care, no, she even wanted to provoke him with this insolence. She seemed quite intentionally to renounce manners and demeanor of aristocrats.


    Then Lily hastened to speak. "My husband, Alexandre de Valois." A brief sense of triumph rose in him. He held her tightly.


    Alexandre was disturbed by Lady de Carvoisin''s obvious hostility against him, but he greeted her with appropriate grandeur. Before he turned back to Lily. He exchanged a few trivial words with Lionelle de Carvoisin and led the young ladies back into the ballroom.


    Alexandre only smiled satisfied once the first notes of Bedrich Smetana''s Moldau sounded.


    "May I have this dance?" Alexandre bowed to Lily and handed her his hand, which Lily grabbed in the first reflex. When she realized that she was out of practice, she tried to withdraw her hand, but he did not let her go. Lily swallowed hard. "Alexandre ..."


    Nervousness made her heart flutter. Heaven, how much she despised her moment of carelessness. She would make a fool of herself if she stumbled over her legs!


    Alexandre was looking straight at the center of the hall and led her to the dance floor, where other couples had already positioned themselves. He noticed her stiffen in his arms and looked down at Lily. "What''s wrong?"


    "I think I can''t do that. I haven''t danced in a long time." She admitted in distress. She has widened her eyes in panic and hoped he would escort her back from the dance floor. But his grip became firmer. "I lead." He explained barley and whispered in amusement. "You just have to look pretty." What earned him an indignant snort. She pulled on her hand. But he did not let her go.


    He knew she always looked pretty. But today she was incredibly beautiful. The mint-colored ball gown gave her a graceful elegance. The countless 3D blossoms of lace spread on the fine organza fabric. She appeared to him like an elf at Elf king''s nocturnal festivals. The strapless dress revealed her slender shoulders. Her graceful gooseneck was surrounded by a pair of dark curls that had broken loose from her romantic updo. A rosy complexion lay on her face, giving her that certain freshness that reminded him of her lips. Her kisses that tasted so refreshing every time.


    Alexandre laughed at himself. Elf? Refreshing kisses? Really! He raved like a schoolboy.


    "Are you crazy! I will make myself to the laughingstock of society. If that happens, you can''t hide that with your lies. Because everyone will see it." She snorted in horror.


    "When dancing, you have to rely on your partner to show you the way. The step sequence of the waltz is slow-fast-fast, slow-fast-fast. Very easily."


    With gentle pressure he put her in position. Lily tried to protest. But with a fluid movement he ran over her arm and grabbed her fingers. A lightning shot through her body as he touched her fingertips and heated up her whole body. He put his right hand palm against hers and wrapped his fingers around hers. With routine grace he raised her left hand to his broad shoulder and then wrapped his strong arm around her slender waist to pull her close. Her whole body tingled under his touch. It seemed as if a fire was awakening on her skin. His hand lay on her back.


    "Trust me, Lily. Follow me to where I lead you." Alexandre moved slowly to the right then back to the left. Always to the beat of the magnificent orchestral music. Her heart was beating earsplitting. Her head was numb with excitement. She felt how countless gazes following their dance. But her body seemed to remember the thousands of dance lessons with Johannes. Her private dance teacher with a backbone, stiff as a broom. Surprised, Lily lowered her eyes to her feet.


    Alexandre laughed. "Look me in the eyes!" He pulled her tighter and held her securely in his arms. She moved with him as if they were one.


    Lily took a shaky breath, trying to relax a little. She felt his hot breath on her skin as her feet moved magically - first right. Left. Right. Turn, then left. She completely surrendered to his leadership. Lily embarked on this wondrous experience and forgot all her worries for a moment. Who would have thought that swinging through the room was such an enchanting experience? Lily suddenly felt so light. Despite her nervousness.


    Again and again they turned around the hall. Beside her she heard the rustle of fabrics. She recognized some colorful ball gowns from the corner of her eye but could not take her eyes off his face. Alexandre had a relaxed expression, almost happy. This time, no layer of ice covered his beautiful features.


    Her arm rested on his protruding shoulder muscle, while she held out the other and her hand was in his. Never before had she been held with such force. Such an overwhelming strength. That was not a normal dance. She felt as if she were floating above clouds. She closed her eyes as the music fell silent, and they came to a halt.


    His hand moved lightly over her back, leaving a trail of fire on her skin, up to her shoulders. She opened her eyes abruptly. His fingers raised her chin. Lily shuddered under his touch. His piercing eyes captivated her, robbing her of air for a moment.


    A tension was in the air, like a spell. Everything around her seemed forgotten. He leaned down to her. His lips touched her as light as a feather. Only for a split-second. But long enough that her legs gave way under her.


    Alexandre held her until she found support on her shaky legs again. A triumphant smile appeared on his lips. It confused him.

 Chapter 44 - Center of attention

    He did not bother to hide his satisfied smile. All eyes in the hall were aimed at the couple as they walked to a small group. Alexandre seemed to enjoy the discomfort he caused. He walked like a king. The guests scurried aside as he made his way through the crowd. Lily, however, tried to duck her head and wished to be somewhere else. The people around had really strange expressions as they watched the Valois couple. It was part of the etiquette that members of the nobility controlled their emotions. Caresses and affection were exchanged only in private. Lily had not thought that a little kiss would cause so much attention. She felt embarrassed and tried to cool her crimson face with her hand.


    "It seems like you''re developing this strange habit of bringing an entire hall to halt." A man smirked with a heavy accent. His dark gray frock coat slid slightly upward as he leaned forward and reached for Lily''s hand. His thin lips hinted gentlemanlike a kiss on her hand. Golden strands touched her skin, which had come loose from his combed-back hairstyle.


    "Count von Calw. But you, your graces, may call me Stephan." Mischief hid in his words. Curiously, he looked at the girl with his amber eyes. The girl was pretty, like a doll. But was that enough to get Alexandre to marry her, Stephan wondered. There were new flowers every year. One prettier than the other. Why would he pick this one?


    Alexandre laughed. "Stephan, I didn''t know that you''re back."


    "The german debutantes bored me. They are always so modest. Then I remembered the ladies of Bourgogne."


    "This is not an issue for female ears." Phillipe cut him brusquely, who had noticed the curious glint in the eyes of his fianc¨¦e. By no means did he want to deepen that kind of subject in conversation.


    "My dear friend, you must beware of the young Viscount de Leosquebord." Stephan smiled and gave Alexandre an uninvolved look. Luckily, von Calw was a fickle character, who liked to cause problems and threw some pointy comments around to achieve his goals.


    Immediately, Alexandre glanced aside and unconsciously absorbed von Calw''s taunts. It had not changed much, Phillipe thought morosely as he remembered his days studying with this childish friends of his.


    "Viscount de Leosquebord." Alexandre muttered hostilely, looking at the lewd grin of this man who couldn''t get his eyes off Lily. "I think we''ll have a word soon!"


    Alexandre mumbled voiceless and pulled Lily closer.


    "You look really gorgeous. Everyone here admires you." Von Calw gibed and earned a sharp look from Alexanre as Lily blushed.


    "Thank you. You look lovely too. "


    Stephan laughed loudly at her blunt remark. Women rarely complimented him. It was quite refreshing. However, he was used to softening the female heart with compliments. What amused him even more was her husband''s warning looks. Stephan watched Alexandre, his eyes kept wandering to his wife.


    "All women are green with envy." Loulou whispered mischievously in Lily''s ear. Lily laughed sheepishly and wished she would never encounter one of those dreadful arguments with a jealous woman. She would be glad if she could avoid this standard plot. The very thought of these stereotypical quarrels with other women, because of man disgusted her.


    Soon, Monsieur ¨¦douard Hebertin and his wife Clara joined them. The dialogue between the seven people went on trivial. The topics were completely different and hopped from social gossip, to economics, fashion, politics and important social events. Now and then other people from the circle of acquaintances of the Valois siblings joined. The group had grown quite big. Of course, it was everyone''s job to make Lily''s acquaintance and involve her in conversations.


    But after a while, Lily could no longer deny her fatigue. She knew that such events could last until two o''clock in the morning, which is why she decided to hide in the rest room of the de Valois family for a brief moment.


    Since this was an official ball organized by the patrons of the Bourgogne upper class, it was quite natural that private rooms were made available to the aristocratic families. Where maids and servants waited with refreshments for the nobles.


    Lily tapped lightly on the back of his hand and signaled that she wanted to say something.


    He tilted his head. "What?"


    Lily brought her head to his ear. "I want to retire for a moment."


    "Wait a moment. I accompany you." But then the next one tried to engage Alexandre in a conversation. Lily did not want to interrupt him and after a while she tried to remove his hand from her waist.


    Alexandre looked down at her again. "What do you do?"


    "I''ll be right back."


    Alexandre did not want to let her go. Especially not alone.


    "I''ll accompany you." They wanted to break away from the group. But with Alexandre de Valois as the center, the gentlemen were eager to engage him in a conversation. Even the eloquent Sir Collin knew how to persuade Alexandre to stay. Which made Lily a little impatient. In her third attempt to save herself from the boring conversations, she managed that Alexandre summoned a servant who accompanied her to the rest room.


    Nevertheless, she had to promise her husband to hurry back. What she did not intend to do. But she would not tell him that, she thought secretly.

 Chapter 45 - Delusive words

    Lily fled to her rest room. She sat down on a leather chaise longue and let her feet dangle out of exhaustment.


    "Bring me a glass of water, please." She asked one of the maids and took a moment to catch her breath. Then she looked at the clock and decided that nobody would miss her for the next twenty minutes. She wanted to relax just for some minutes. She felt so exhausted. She didn''t know why. But fatigue kept her down.


    Lily drank the glass of water that the maid had brought to her, before turning to the small buffet especially prepared for the family members of de Valois. She happily tried some appetizers and enjoyed the exclusive desserts. She put her hand on her cheek and hummed a soft tune as the taste of the fine tarts melted on her tongue. Her cheeks turned red with delight. She was so happy about the little desserts that she almost forgot the ticking clock.


    Reluctantly, she went back to the ballroom. Four young debutantes ran giggling past her, but there were hardly any people in the corridors.


    Lily hurried to get back into the ballroom, but was suddenly torn back. She gasped loudly as she bumped her head into something hard. Out of reflex, she laid her hand on her head.


    Her other hand was held as if a vice would clamp it. When she raised her head, she thought she was facing Alexandre''s gaze. She thought Alexandre was looking for her. Since she had been lingering too long in the rest room.


    But her eyes met a pair of ocher eyes.


    "Pascal!" She startled.


    It was Pascal!


    Lily bit her lip. A warning tingling irritated her skin. Heaven, she was such an idiot. Nelli had warned her and she walked around so indifferently.


    "Hello Lillien." The girl did not know what happened to her, she could not decipher the look on his face. He had not changed in the two years since she last saw him. He still looked like a handsome young man. The hazel hair was combed back slightly. His facial features have always had something daring. But now a new component was added. He suddenly seemed so threatening and intimidating. The blood pounded in her head.


    "It''s been a long time, Lily." He emphasized her names, in that familiar way. But Lily wanted nothing more than to run away. "Didn''t you miss me?" He asked with false care.


    "No!" She defiantly raised her chin. She saw a flash of something in his eyes for a fraction of a second. Anger?


    "Let me go, Pascal!" She grinned and bear it. "I''ll be expected."


    "You won''t!" He interrupted her brusquely. "Only I expected you." Suddenly his voice sounded so gentle. But Lily admonished herself not to believe him. He was a talented actor who knew how to manipulate her.


    Lily pulled at her hand. But his grip only got tighter. So firm that it hurt. She squinted. Then he pulled her into a side corridor. Lily braced herself against him, tried to free herself. But his grip became more dominant. Without mercy, he dragged her after him before he stopped. Pascal smiled, revealing his brilliant white teeth. He looks like a bloodthirsty vampire. She stared at him. Powerlessness.


    "You had hurt me, Lily. Why would you marry him?" He asked with deceptive gentleness. "I loved you. I still love you." He said. The hall was only sparsely lit. If the previous passage was empty, then in this one was a ghostly void. It was so quiet.


    "Let me go!" She caught herself again.


    "But he does not love you! I watched you. Lily, he does not love you! He put you on display!" She felt a sting in her heart, because in his lies the truth was intertwined. "You hate being presented. You''ve always hated that!" It hurt all the more since he knew all her pains. Her wishes and fears. He knew them all and played them off against her. He aroused feelings in her that she thought she had stored in boxes long ago.


    "Pascal, you hurt me!" She did not know what hurt more. The wrist he threatened to crush. Or the words that hit her heart like arrows.


    "Lily, I want you back and I don''t care that you were married to him." His voice sounded so lost and hopeful at the same time. He took a step toward her. She wanted to back away, felt his hand on her back. A cold shower exploded from where his hand touched her back. She felt strange, coarse and uncomfortable, almost disgusting. When he touched her so intimately. She wanted him to let her go. On the spot!


    She tried to turn out of his grip.


    It was strange that the passage was so empty. Why did not anyone come? How she wished somebody would come.


    "I''m married!" She tried to appeal to his reason. Maybe she could convince him to let her go.


    Abruptly, he pushed her against the wall. Lily gasped sharply as all the air was squeezed out of her lungs. Her back ached from the hard impact. His face was right in front of hers. He leaned over her threateningly, ignoring her renewed attempts to escape. Her pulse quickened, raced in panic.


    "It doesn''t bother me that you are married. That can still be changed." He growled, holding her hands over her head as his body nailed her to the cold wall. Something pressed pointedly into her back. "You don''t have to be scared. You could enjoy it, if you want."


    Lily shook her head, pressing herself against the wall, groaning helplessly. Her moaning became a whimper as his lips brushed her neck.


    "Let me go!" She hissed. With his free hand, he grabbed her hair and pulled her head up. Each touch was painful. "You are so pretty. More beautiful than ever." With his knuckles he stroked her cheeks. Everything in her cramped.


    "Are you crazy?" She screamed, trying to kick him. But the countless layers of fabric allowed no jerky movements. She was trapped in her own dress. Her breathing became a desperate whistle.


    "Insane after you." He whispered. Suddenly his voice became a hot whisper. But Lily did not believe him. He was crazy about her fortune! He looked cool and calm as his face came closer and closer. Fear gripped Lily''s heart like a cold grip. The first tears shimmered on her face. When she became aware of the hopelessness of her situation.


    The girl tried desperately to free herself from his grip while she sobbed loudly. "Let me go!" But he held her so tight that every movement hurt.


    "Don''t fight me." He gently stroked her cheek, blurring her tears. Her lungs tightened. She felt disgust. His touch paused. Something shimmered in his eyes. Greed. Before he squeezed her cheeks hard. Pain. Lily''s eyes widened in pain. "Let me go!" Trembling, she gasped. She braced herself against the cold wall with all her strength. In Hope to gain some distance.


    Tears burned in the corner of her eye as she realized what he was up to. "Please!" She pleaded. "Let me go. I''ll do anything you want." Hysterically, she prayed. Please! No, no, no. Please!


    She twisted herself, howled and pleaded.

 Chapter 46 - Old wounds

    Alexandre looked impatiently at his pocket watch. 45 minutes ago she had promised to hurry. The hurry in his wife''s dictionary had a different definition. But this was nothing new to him. He had noticed that the girl did not like to appear in public and acted rather restrained.


    At home, she might be wild and impetuous. But she was always reserved in the company of strangers. Just like Adrien, thought Alexandre. Although the two were not blood relatives, they behaved like a real pair of mother and son.


    Alexandre snorted. He did not want to give her more time. He didn''t want to wait.


    He excused himself, although some of the guest wanted to prevent him from leaving. Alexandre broke away without another word, like an overbearing tycoon he portrayed and made his way calmly through the crowd. Every now and then he was stopped, but Alexandre could not be tied for long. With each passing minute, his impatience grew. Where was Lily?


    Alexandre let a bored look wander across the crowd. Although he was married, he sensed the expectant gazes of girls. Serene, he strolled on, pretending not to notice the sensation he was causing.


    He remembered with horror the times when he too had cut these balls. At that time, he was only twenty and completely overwhelmed by all the marriageable debutantes who were pushed to his feet and their determined mothers who put pressure on him. Because of his title and his huge fortune he had always been a good catch. Even a wedding ring on his finger did not discourage some ladies.


    At that time, the bold attempts to gain his attention had often flustered him. Sometimes even disgusted him. But now it seemed to amuse him. Some even stared at him with wide eyes as if he were an alien from a distant galaxy.


    He had to think of that girl''s big eyes, sometimes looking innocent and dreamy at him and then glaring furiously. Her eyes were like the mirror of her soul. She was much more than pretty. She was smart, but also naive. Funny and honest. A coward who could be brave if the situation required it.


    His little kitten that had disappeared.


    Lily did not seem to have found her way back to the hall. Strange - it ran through his mind.


    Finally, he reached the private rest room of his family, but there he had to learn that his wife had left 15 minutes ago. His mood dropped to the bottomless. Where had she gone?


    "Why didn''t anyone accompany her?" He yelled at the staff. Why did she leave alone?


    "The lady asked for it. She did not want to cause any trouble ... " The maid stammered. Alexandre looked at her venomously. "She didn''t want to cause trouble?!" His tone was sharp. "What are you even paid for? Stupid standing around? Stare holes in the air? Even if she does not want to make any trouble, you should be eager to spoil her until she is rotten!" He slammed the door. He hated it, if not everything was to his satisfaction. At least he tried to convince himself of this reason.


    He hurried through the corridors angrily, but paused after hearing a soft sob. Alexandre hesitated, was lost in thoughts. Lost in thought he followed the sounds. He closed his eyes as he remembered cruel pictures. Memories that had struck him at night for years. A body. Beaten blue and green. Unrecognizable. Naked.


    He followed the quiet wimmer. But when he heard the pleading voice, nothing stopped him. He quickly turned the corner.


    At the sight of Lily. The despair and fear in her eyes. The deafening whimper. The sight was enough to blow all his fuses. He stormed off and struck him with the first blow. As hard as he could. The man fell to the side, falling on stone tiling, almost tearing Lily to the ground. But Alexandre reached out for her, grabbed her waist quick-witted and pulled her to himself.


    A sharp stitch pierced his heart as he saw his wife''s tear-stained face. Fear had settled like a dark shadow over Lily''s clear eyes.


    An unruly anger rose in him.


    A growl.


    That became a roar.


    He struck again. He didn''t even give this man the chance to get up again. So hard!


    The skin on his fists ripped open. The man''s face was smudged with red. He threw himself over him, grabbed him by the collar. Beat up. Right. Then left. Dodge his fists. Then he hit again. The man''s head crashed heavily on the floor. He raised his fist again. A tightness in his chest. He lost himself, caught in a trance. Old pictures flickered in front of his eyes. A naked body. Scattered under dirt and mud. Mutilated and unrecognizable.


    Whimper.


    Silent and at the same time bloodcurdling.


    It woke him up.


    He looked at her. The girl was crouching on the floor. She was so strangely far away.

 Chapter 47 - Blurred

    The world seemed murky. Everything was so strange. The air was heavy. Shadows moved in the distance. A gurgle. Dull blows.


    She was startled, stumbling, staggering and then kinking. She dropped to her hands and knees. Her hands were bloodied. Her chest tightened with each breath. Cold overturned her.


    A whining that gave way to a faint moan. Repeated dull blows, like a brutal rhythm. She pressed her hands to her ears.


    Gasp. A stifled cry. She winced. Hard hit something on the ground.


    She heard a sob. Whimper. Everything in the distance and yet so close.


    Her face was wet.


    Steps. Slowly. Hesitantly


    Feet stopped right next to her. Someone leaned close to her.


    A man. Black hair. Silver eyes. Glittering.


    She looked at him ... looked at him ...


    But he was so strangely far away. As if she did not really see him. Somehow blurry.


    Someone whimpered, gasped, coughed, sobbed ...


    "Shh ..., love. Sch. Everything is fine. "A gentle voice. Deep. Rough "Everything is fine." His touch was warm. Tender. She just looked at him, watching and just sitting there. Quiet. She watched him taking her arm, gently put it around his neck. He picked her up.


    She let it happen. Apathetic. Weak-willed.


    Her head fell back. Heavy. Met strong shoulders. A familiar smell rose in her nose. A slight warmth came back. She felt secure. Safe.


    She was carried. Firm arms held her. Footsteps echoed. Hastily. Heavy. Bright light, burning in her eyes. She quickly closed her eyes.


    A door slammed.


    Cold leather. Soft. She is deposed on it. Carefully.


    Voices. Whisper. Silent, horrified and strange.


    "Get me a blanket! The rest, out!" A dark command. She winces. Again, steps. A door fell gently into the lock. Someone sits down next to her. A hand stroked her hair. She heard herself panting.


    "Calm down, love. You''re safe here." The voice is soft, like a soft melody. An arm wrapped around her shoulders. He gently pulled her into an embrace. A scent, like a fresh sea breeze.


    She whimpered. "Everything is fine. Nobody will hurt you. Everything is fine." The voice is soft, familiar as a lullaby. Far away...


    ?


    A shadow was over her. She heard voices in the background. Quiet, only whispering. Footsteps moving away. A door fell into the lock. Barely audible.


    Suddenly! A hand on her shoulder. Cool. She winced, teared open her eyes. Everything was blurry.


    "Everything is fine. I''m won''t hurt you. You''re safe." A voice. Gently. Friendly. Her eyes became clearer. A stranger sat next to her. He was young. Red hair. Dove-blue eyes. A gentle smile.


    "I am Noa. Your doctor. May I examine you?" A doctor? "Come over. I''ll help you lie down more comfortably. What do you think of that?" His hand moved gently under her head. She lay on a soft pillow. On the edge of a huge bed. A familiar room. How? She did not know. Everything spinning around her.


    She felt dizzy and sick. Her body was heavy. Pain. With every movement.


    A second hand moved helpfully under her shoulder. Pulled, gently. She let it happen and let her body slipped lower. She whimpered. Pain made her flinch. Breathing was difficult. Every breath was a gasp.


    "Relax yourself. Nothing will happen. Everything is fine now. Let me see where you''re hurt. "


    Careful touches. Gently. Cool. Examination.


    The hand gently raised her arm. Examinated. She hissed. Pain. Her hand was put back on the soft mattress. He raised her other arm. Gently.


    Everything around her was so strangely cloudy, blurry and dull. Her songs were heavy. She closed her eyes.


    "How bad is it?" Another voice. Concerned. Serious. It was very familiar to her.


    "As far as I can tell, only hematomas and scratches. The worst thing is her right wrist. It is sprained or broken. You have to bring her to my doctor''s office tomorrow. I have to X-ray her and take an ultrasound scan to make an accurate diagnosis. Everything else is external. But she is in shock." Words that did not seem to be directed towards her.


    A dull growl. "That bastard!"


    "She needs rest now. I do not want to touch her more often than is needed. Not in this condition, she is too disturbed. She needs sleep now. "


    Silence.


    "I''ll give her a sedative. She needs rest. "


    Rustle. Crackle. A hand on her arm. She felt light touches. Examining. Carefully.


    "Don''t be scared. It will peck shortly." A stitch. A stabbing pain in her arm. She flinched, whimpered, hissed. She opened her eyes. A kind smile in the face of strangers. "You were brave, everything is fine now." Then silence again. Her eyelids became heavier.


    Quiet. Everything seemed so far away. To drift away from her.


    ...

 Chapter 48 - Shadows

    "You had a single task! You should take her away. Everything else I would have done for you." He needed this brat. Although he was an idiot. He would have held each of his other servants accountable. But unfortunately ...


    A steep fold drew itself between his eyebrows, like a deep crater. He was angry. Only the sight of the boy''s swollen face gave him a headache.


    "I misjudged the situation ..." A hesitation. The brats voice sounded uncertain. "She was like that ... I couldn''t think clearly ..."


    You thought with your cock. Dabbler! He struck the mahogany table with his fist. It rumbled and rattled. Papers sailed to the ground.


    "You had only one task. You should have taken care of the girl. Discreetly." He sank into the leather chair, massaging his temples. "If you want her fortune. Then trust me." Idiot! He tried to suppress the contempt in his tone. This idiot!


    "Listen, the task wasn''t difficult at all. You should ensnare her, make her some complements, make her feel that she is the only one for you. What was so hard with this task? You should conquer her heart. After all, you once were a couple."


    He took a deep breath. "Alexandre will be more alert now more than ever." One should not wake sleeping dogs - he thought bitterly. Everything just got more complicated because of this brat.


    "Win her trust. Apologize. The girl is so insecure. You just have to be a little bit nice. Lovingly. Give her presents, ensnare her and gain her trust. This is all I want. It would make the job much easier if she would get a divorce from Alexandre. Do you understand?"


    Again, a hesitation. The indecision in his eyes was obvious. "You know what''s at stake. I''m saying that only for your own well-being." He needed a little more time. Alexandre was a sly fox. Wary and smart. Not to underestimate. Impatiently, he tapped with his fingertips on the table. Drummed a hectic rhythm. He stared at the boy. Was waiting. Would the brat dare to rebut him?


    "I take care of it. I''ll win her trust."


    "Very well. I rely on you." He tried to sound kind. Before he sent this idiot out of his study to return to his other businesses. He had wasted enough time with this failure. But he could wait. He waited, after all, for years. Time was secondary to him. Only the result was important to him. He would get what he wanted!


    ?


    Hard. Garishly. The sunlight shone into the room. Illuminated every corner the bedroom. His room. And woke her up out of her slumber. Roughly. She was back. In his room.


    And she... just lay around.


    Looked into the void.


    For minutes.


    It was quiet, only her breathing was audible. In. Out. In. Out. It was kind of reassuring. This tough gray still was hanging in her head. This cloudiness and heaviness. In between pictures flashed. They were sometimes blurry and sometimes very clear. Pascal. She felt disgusted. His gaze...sickening. And then He. Two men on the ground. Noise. Jerky movements.


    Alexandre!


    Alexandre again and again. He held her, carried her, comforted her. He was always at her side. She clawed at the blanket, pressed her hand over her mouth and tried to suppress the sobbing. Everything in her head pounded. Noisy. Paining.


    Another picture. Alexandre as he held her, carried her to a dark car. The sudden coolness made her shiver. Tremble. He had pulled her into his arms. On his lap. All the time back to the mansion.


    She curled up, pulling her legs against her chest. Her throat was tight. She still felt the touch on her skin. Touches of a monster. She felt so gross. Disgusting. She rubbed hard over her skin. Tears burned in the corner of her eye. She wanted to scrub her skin, wash herself until that feeling vanished. She wanted to forget. Just forget it! What should she do? Groaning, she pressed her eyelids together. Everything was hurting, every movement. She felt numb. Just the thought ... She wanted to hide, to crumble into this room for the rest of her life.


    She rolled herself cumbersome on her back again, putting her arm over her eyes. A stinging pain. Carefully she lifted her arm and saw her wrist. Thick and swollen. Reddish-blue. A throbbing pain.


    That was probably not her only wound. She was probably green and blue from the beatings of that bastard who didn''t accepted a NO.


    He had boxed her in the stomach. She could still feel the shock. Just because she screamed for help. It was not just a blow. She was sure that she also had some other violets. At least that''s how it felt.


    And then there was this doctor. Noa. He had talked to someone. She could only remember a few scraps of conversation.


    Carefully, she sat up. Her body was stiff and yet her gaze wandered to the bathroom door. She pulled back the blanket. The thoughts of a hot bath became tempting with every second. As if she could wash it all off. This feeling ...

 Chapter 49 - Marks

    Her reflection distorted her dry lips into a cheerless smile. The bright morning light fell through a window, flooding the bath with white rays. She could see herself clearly. Groaning, she squeezed her eyelids together. She looked terrible. Somehow, like a zombie. Pale, with dark circles under his eyes. Swollen, red eyes. Lily stroked her cheek with her fingertips. The right side was slightly swollen. A green-yellowish stain stretched from her temple to her cheekbone. She remembered a brawl. She had bitten him to free herself from his grip. From her helplessness. She had bitten his nose as hard as she could. A metallic taste of blood was spreading in her mouth. Pascal had screamed out of pain or wrath. She didn''t know. But then he had punched her. So hard it had knocked her from her feet. For several seconds she was in a daze, with a constant ringing in her head. Then he pulled her by the hair. His face was distorted with anger. Bastard! She did not want to move anymore. Every move was painful. But she knew she needed. She was sure, nobody would come to save her. So she needed to fight for herself, even if it would be painful, even if she was scared.


    Her thoughts were full of pictures. Every mark on her body fabricated new images. She had scratched him, kicked him, hit him. And he always beat back. Like that, he wanted to make her obedient, submissive. But Lily had fought back. Fought, so he wouldn''t get what he wanted. She would never submit to him. She could not have endured it had she succumbed to him. Every blow she had to take was worth it.


    With trembling fingers, she turned on the water tap and let the cool stream flow over her wrist. She sighed in relief.


    She did not know how long she was standing there, forcing herself to turn the tap back off and stepping back from the sink.


    Slowly she pushed the spaghetti straps off her shoulders. The silk dress fell to the ground, billowing around her feet. She wondered who had changed her cloths, but then shook her head. Actually, it didn''t matter. She should be thankful.


    When she turned around, she caught for breath. Everywhere bruises and abrasions. Quickly she turned away from the mirror again. She pressed her hand over her eyes as another flood of pictures broke over her. Suddenly she was dizzy, desperate she searched for support. Then crashed to the ground.


    A knock. Urgent. "Is everything okay?" Alexandre? He sounded worried. A click, the door handle was pushed down. Hastily she tried to grab the thin nightgown. "Not!" Her voice was shrill, even for her own ears. She did not want to be seen like that. So .... Naked. Helpless.


    He remained in his move. The door was open only a gap width. He leaned against the wooden door. "I heard a crash. Is everything okay with you?"


    "I''m fine." Her voice was shaky. "I just lost my balance for a moment."


    "Do you need help?" His voice had grabbed up that soft baritone again, somehow reminding her of melted chocolate.


    "No!" She fiddled with the material, trying to hide her nakedness in haste. Her movements were choppy and uncoordinated. "I''ll do it alone." She hurried to say.


    "If you need help, you have to say so. I''m waiting for you outside." Then he closed the door again. Softly. She took a deep breath and pushed herself off the floor. A groan escaped her lips.


    Everything in her mind was spinning. Her emotions had discovered the roller coaster ride and were able to escape their dark prison. Lily felt nervous, but also somehow safe. She was so uncertain. He waited for her, giving her a sense of security, the feeling she could count on him. Suddenly she did not feel so alone. Could she trust him?


    She got into the shower. A warm stream pattered down on her. She hissed as the water touched her skin. In some places felt this burning. She closed her eyes. Lost for a moment. Remembering his touch. They had something comforting in her memories.


    With weak fingers she reached for the sponge. The sweet smell of spring flowers reached her nose as she generously dripped the pink soap on the yellow bath sponge.


    Then she began to scrub. Hard and thoroughly.


    Every inch of her body.


    Her skin burned as she scrubbed her body for the fourth time. Her skin was red and irritated. Lily knew she had to stop. But there was this feeling. This ... disgust. She just could not get rid of it.


    She knew that he had not really touched her. Not in this intimate way. Alexandre could prevent worse. And yet ... just the thought was enough ... what he wanted to do with her ... It drove her crazy.


    She rubbed her skin again and again. As if she could wipe away the feeling.

 Chapter 50 - Breakfast ... for me?

    Somehow she had to face him. He had saved her, cared for her. She could not hide here for the rest of her life.


    But with each passing minute and her own thoughts, she felt more and more like a towel, which was crumpled up, then smoothed back, folded and then crumpled up again.


    She pulled the bathrobe tighter around her body. It was quiet. Only her heavy breath hung in the air. Slowly she reached for the cold door handle. It took a second before she pressed it down. Carefully, she opened the door, to peek into the bedroom. Her nerves were tense. What should she say? Should she say anything? How should she ....


    "Is everything alright?" She stopped abruptly, hesitated and finally nodded but felt so strangely awkward. There he sat in a white shirt that was negligently buttoned up. Only four buttons in the middle kept it closed. His sleeves were rolled up just past his elbow. His black hair fell wildly in his face. Dark circles were under his eyes. He looked tired.


    The traces of yesterday evening were unmistakable. A sharp crack split his right eyebrow. On his cheekbone shone a dark bruise, as well as on his collarbone. His lower lip had burst.


    She hesitated. Looked shocked at him. Was that her fault? She bit her lower lip. A dull guilt spread in her chest. "G ... good ... morning ..." she stuttered awkwardly.


    He jerked to his feet. Automatically she took a step back.


    "Lily?" A worried whisper. He came closer, only an arm''s length away from her.


    "Your wrist!" His eyes remained on her swollen limb. Hesitantly, she held out her arm to him. He gently took her hand. Examined the swelling while his eyebrows knitted. Before he raised his eyes again. She looked directly into the eyes.


    "How are you?" She shrugs, to be honest she did not know it herself. There was chaos in her head, she was aware of that. But that was the only thing she was sure of. The rest ... She decided not to think about it. Why cry over spilled milk?


    "Are you hungry?" He looked at her. Somehow his eyes reminded her of Adrien''s. Both had the same puppy-eyes. A soft smile formed on her lips. She nodded.


    ?


    Stiffly she sat down on a chair when Alexandre came into the dining room. A scent of coffee was in the air.


    "Is scrambled eggs okay? Unfortunately, I can''t do anything else." He smoothly set a plate in front of her with a mountain of golden egg flakes on it. Fresh herbs were distributed on it.


    She stared at him. "Did you make that?" He laughed. "Do I really look that untalented. I swear, I can handle one or two dishes really well."


    "No ... I ... I didn''t mean that ... I ..." She tore herself from her bafflement, waving her hands in front of her face out of embarrassment.


    "Of course." A grin crossed his lips before he was putting down a cup of coffee next to her. "Lots of milk, no sugar, right?" Steam curled over the white cup. Hastily, she nodded. Did he know how she liked her coffee?


    "Thank you." Lily whispered, then wrap her hands around the cup. The porcelain was hot, she pulled it closer, felt the warmth drifting over to her, so that her cool palms slowly were warming up.


    Now and then she sipped of the cup while Alexandre was watching her. His eyes made her nervous. Somehow she felt like a fish in a glass. But she was too cowardly to be the first to break the silence, so she kept quiet and kept sipping the coffee she could not taste.


    "Aren''t you hungry?"


    "No...eh..."


    "Don''t you trust my cooking skills?" He raised an eyebrow questioningly.


    "Eh, no!"


    "It''s almost twelve o''clock. I know that you are a little glutton. You have to be starving. "


    Heat poured into her face. She looked at him wide-eyed. "Don''t spare my feelings."


    He laughed. "I''m just trying to help you." He snorted derisively, holding out a fork. She stared at the fork for a moment too long, blinking before grabbing it and sinking it into the mountain of scrambled eggs to shovel some egg flakes into her mouth.


    They were ... delicious. Soft and fluffy. "Mhhh ... that''s delicious!"


    "You are a master in trampling my ego."


    Lily swallowed another fork. "I didn''t mean so!" She protested.


    "Your face was saying something else." He shook his head with a theatrical sigh.


    "What I wanted to say ..." she hurried to say. "Why did you make breakfast today? You''ve never done that." She stared expectantly at him.

 Chapter 51 - Ill save you from your own stupidity!

    "I gave the staff a day off. So someone had to do the cooking!" He said with a grin in his voice.


    She looked at him in surprise. "But why?"


    "I thought we should also take a day off today to relax. Just you and me..."


    "Where is Adrien?" She interrupted him, as she remembered her little prot¨¦g¨¦ who was nowhere to be seen. It was not common that the little guy did not stick to her side when she was home ...


    He blinked, a little speechless. "With the Nanny ..."


    "Then there''s a nanny at home?"


    "Not really..." A short hesitation. "She accompanies Adrien to a toy shop."


    "Doesn''t Adrien already have enough toys?" She looked at him puzzled. Before she had an idea. "I think you pamper him a little too much." She chattered happily. What made Alexandre even more dumbfounded. "I don''t want him to become one of those spoiled rich snotty brats. He should continue to be so cute and sweet."


    "Spoiled rich snotty brats?!" He tilted his head. Perplexity mingled in his undertone. "I thought..."


    "It''s not good if you allow him everything, you also have to say no to him sometimes..." Lily tried to lecture him as she shoveled another fork and shamelessly devoured one bite after another. While he watched her speechless falling in some kind of breakfast euphoria.


    "To say no ¡­?!" He let click his tongue rebukingly.


    Lily raised her head questioningly. "Yes ... I think you are giving him too much. His room looks like a toy store. "She innocently pulled her head to the side and looked at Alexandre thoughtfully. "If you want to be a good father to him, you should just be there for him, spend some time with him and play with him. With toys and money you can''t earn his affection. What I mean, we are both new in this job as parents. We don''t know much and have to learn a lot, but I think it''s not good if we spoil Adrien too much. So ... for his future .... We have to learn to draw boundaries and keep them. And that''s why you should start to say no when he looks at you with puppy eyes and wants a toy that he doesn''t need at all."


    "Say no...hmm?" He emphasized slowly. As if he let the words melt on his tongue, quite relish.


    "Exactly!" She confirmed and nodded.


    "Hmpf ... I think I should start practicing that right now." He ran his hand through his dark hair and leaned forward, his eyes fixed on hers. Abruptly, Lily stopped in her motion. Her arm stopped moving, with the forks in front of her mouth. Some eggs flakes trickled back onto the plate. Suddenly she had the feeling of being watched by a predator.


    "One of my snotty brats got clearly carried away with his actions yesterday. What should I do with him? What punishment do you suggest, Lily?"


    She stared guiltily at him.


    "I think I remember telling you ... don''t wander off alone. But you needed to wander through empty corridors. Alone! Very clever!" His voice grew an octave louder.


    "But..."


    "Shit Lily! What would you have done if I hadn''t come. God, I don''t even want to imagine." Suddenly his eyes became serious. He grabbed her two hands and held them in front of his face. Tenderly his lips touched her fingers. Concern came to light on his otherwise so hard features, mingling with a touch of annoyance. He looked at her. Something seemed to rage in him. "He had beaten the hell out of you." His fingertips slid across her forehead as he brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. Tender.


    But then he jumped up. The chair scratched over the floor. His face went dark. "Eat now ... we still have to see the doctor!" He looked down at her thoughtfully, before he pulled back the chair and sat down. He still held her hands in his. His hands were big and warm. Alexandre looked down at her hands, turned them over and ran his thumb over her palm.


    "After all, it doesn''t matter." Alexandre looked up again. "I''m glad to have been there in time." In his eyes was this fragility that hit her so unprepared. What had happened to this man that made him feel so vulnerable? The novel did not say much about the past of Alexandre de Valois. It only mentioned his painful love for Elodie. Elodie, who reminded him of his first love. But who was this first love? What happened to her? What had she done to him to be able to hurt such a strong man?


    Lily grabbed his hands and pulled him closer, searching for his eyes, which looked at her in wonderment.


    "So ... I''m sorry." She forced herself to smile. "I was careless and stupid. And I swear, I will never be so careless again. I can also learn from my mistakes. Especially when they''re painful." She laughed sheepishly.


    "Yesterday... I admit I did a grave mistake. I didn''t think Pascal was such a crazy bastard. But in the future I will take more care ... "


    "Don''t worry, love, I''ll take care of that!" He did not let her speak.


    For a second she sat there frozen, wondering what he meant, as she tilted her head to one side and looked at him.


    "I''ve hired two bodyguards to save you from your own stupidity!"

 Chapter 52 - Living as Lily

    "Hah?"


    "Fine! Since that''s clear now!" He announced, shooting to his feet. "I have to make a quick call. When you''re done, stop everything and get changed." He opened the door as he laughed as she is pouting.


    Lily did not know if she should be angry or sad. The words ''to save you from your own stupidity'' still persist throughout her mind.


    Like an echo, his words flew through the vastness of her head. She was flustered. Never had someone called her stupid. She was ashamed of herself.


    Anger rose in her. She was not used to being followed and felt uncomfortable with the idea that two people would now be clinging to her heels.


    It felt like Alexandre had hired two spies / babysitters. Would he now know each of her steps? Would you tell him everything she did? Monitored each of her steps?


    She had nothing to hide, but still felt controlled, felt treated like a child at the thought of two people accompanying her from now on.


    She knew she was somehow guilty. Alexandre wanted her to be safe. She knew Pascal would not give up easily. That bastard! She was so angry. She wanted to roar and tear his head off. Not only had he betrayed her two years ago with her younger sister. No, that was not enough for him. He needed her money, too.


    This greedy bastard!


    Lily wanted so much to be one of those villainess noble girls of novels. A clever and insidious girl. One who always had some schemes in her pocket.


    But Lily did not know how.


    Should she perhaps even deal with the deep web and make some contacts or study under Alexandre? After all, he was No. 1 villain of ''My loyal hubby''.


    Or maybe she should try Voodoo once and get one of those dolls she just had to pin up to get her revenge. Did this work anyway? And more importantly, was there even such a thing in this world? She had never really dealt with it, since she had never been so angry to think of revenge. But yesterday Pascal had clearly crossed the line.


    Everything hurt. Every movement. Forget it! Forget it! She reminded herself. She did not want to die like that, not if she could prevent it. But how?


    Lily turned sullen after she realized once again that she was a useless side character who had no special abilities.


    After break fast she brought the dirty dishes back to the kitchen. The kitchen was empty, more reminiscent of one of those hotel kitchens all over stainless steel and high tech kitchen appliances.


    To be honest Lily has lived here for almost a month, but never been in the kitchen until now. She lived a truly luxurious life. She never had to do something she did not want. She and Adrien were pampered rotten by Alexandre.


    Lost in her thoughts she went to the fridge and opened the heavy door. It was not a normal fridge. It was one of those big fridge you could find in hotels or restaurants. But in a home? It was as big as a small room. Lots of different kind of fresh ingredients were lying in the shelves.


    Their kitchen staff had a day off... Thoughtfully, she went through the wide kitchen. Should she cook something when Adrien came home? Lily was not completely untalented. Lily had lived alone for a long time. She knew how to take care of herself and since she was always a little gourmet, she knew how to make little masterpieces of taste out of not so good ingredients. And with this selection!


    Lily closed the heavy door behind her and went up the stairs to her dressing room. As always, she was overwhelmed by the collection of clothes.


    Usually a maid took over the selection for her. Because Lily was often too lazy to deal with trends and fashion. Agnes, her maid in charge, knew more about her wardrobe than Lily. The girl did not mind being dressed like a doll. After all, she had a lot of experience with it.


    The young maid had fun in her job and knew what she was doing and Lily did not really know much about it. When she was still living in her grandparents'' house, her grandmother had always dressed her up as if she was a doll. Valerie did not argue. Like a lady of steel, she enforced her will. Which is why Lily has the patience of a Buddha when her grandmother once again felt this impulse to dress her up or to drag her to a shopping tour. The girl knew this kind of impulse could drag on for hours. Why patience was the best weapon against these torments. Actually, Lily wanted nothing more than to walk around in comfortable clothes.


    But the women''s clothes of this world were by no means comfortable. They were beautiful!


    The designers of this world wasn''t even able to create some jogging pants, hoodies and loose clothes. Women wore only clothes that were uncomfortable most of the time. And under these clothes a corset was hidden with which one could hardly breathe.


    Women like her grandmother refused to wear shape wear, though these were the more comfortable variant of the stiff corsets.


    But for these women, the wisdom was - who wants to be beautiful, must suffer!


    Lily fished a light cotton dress out of her wardrobe. An a-line in a lavender color with long sleeves and a cute bow on the collar.


    The fabric softened around her delicate curves, but she had one problem when putting it on ...

 Chapter 53 - Memories

    Lily turned to the mirror, looked at her bare back and a row of decorative buttons on the hem of the fabric. She put her hand moaning on her forehead and secretly cursed women''s fashion.


    Frustrated, she searched in the closets for other day dresses that she could try on alone. But every dress had the same problem. Button plackets on the back! With a zipper she might be able to close it somehow. But button plackets?


    Heaven, she needed more than just to twist her body, she needed two hands to grow on her back to cope with this. She hated those button plackets. It was too cumbersome. You could not even change clothes yourself.


    But women of the upper class frowned upon zippers. Only women of the working class or below took advantage of this dashing invention, because the dressing was accelerated and was no longer so cumbersome.


    Since Lily belonged to the upper class again, there was no dress with a zipper in her dressing room, she was sure of that. All the dresses that Lily was allowed to wear were awkward and a little uncomfortable, but very chic. Just as the fashion of the high snobiety pretended.


    Lily shook her head and sat down on the floor. Somehow desperately.


    It remembered her of the time when two worlds collided in her head. It was in the period when she was only five years old. But it was not like Lily got hit on the head and suddenly remembered her past life. No! She gradually remembered. Bit by bit. Throughout her life she had always the feeling that she was living in a d¨¦j¨¤ vu.


    Things and people have always had this vague taste. Everything became clearer at the moment she first met Pascal. Pascal was visiting her grandparents with his grandfather, and her grandfather introduced Pascal Drouet, who was only eight at the time, as her future fianc¨¦e.


    Their grandfathers had long wanted a connection between the two families. Both of them were longtime friends, who knew each other from childhood and up to now maintained their friendship and wanted to deepen it with a marriage between the families. At first this wish remained unfulfilled, since in both families only girls were born. But then Pascal and Lily came into the world. For the two men it was as if an intimate wish was finally fulfilled.


    It had not bothered Lily at first. She had only that vague feeling near Pascal, but they were no more than two children, two faithful playmates. Because Lily could not solve the mystery behind the d¨¦j¨¤ vu moment.


    The second clue that brought her closer to her memories was her father. It was a few months after Lily met Pascal for the first time. Then her father Raymond Lindet introduced her to his new wife, Ivonne and his two-year-old daughter Nadine. Again, Lily had that feeling. This vagueness of knowing something.


    Memories joined these feelings over time, like little pieces of the puzzle that Lily slowly put together into a whole picture.


    The memories became clearer and clearer, the more she remembered. Knowledge that she shouldn''t have collapsed over her. Knowledge that helped her in school. Made her to one of those prodigy children.


    She often dreamed of strange devices and machines that did not exist in this world. As a child, she never dared to speak out of fear of being portrayed as mentally unstable. The other children looked at her that way anyway. She did not know what was wrong with her for a long time.


    But then she remembered the crucial pieces of the puzzle. Finally, she got clarity and completely remembered another life. Every detail in someone else''s life that was completely foreign to her, but very familiar at the same time. It was almost as if two people in Lily were merging into one. Not only did Lily get her memories, but also her knowledge and skills, as if she had learned all that.


    The girl first had this feeling of euphoria finally solved the vague mystery that occupied her for many years.


    But this did not last long.

 Chapter 54 - New life plan

    All the names of people in her life seemed so strangely familiar to fife year old Lily and when she met Elodie Perrin''s five-year version. Everything exploded behind her forehead.


    The shock was too big for her five-year-old body, she collapsed on the spot and was shaken for days with fever in bed.


    Lily didn''t want to die again, she didn''t want to be murdered for a second time.


    Everything she wanted was to wake up from this nightmare!


    Unfortunately, she never woke up!


    She cried in terror. While feverish nightmares from two lives haunted her every night. The whole situation had overwhelmed her as a five-year-old girl.


    Which is why Lily made a plan with seven aims to survive in this novel world.


    1. Cherish harmony and don''t make needless enemies.


    2. Be so lovely that your surroundings simply have to love you. Build a relationship with Pascal and Nadine. So they do not want to murder you.


    3. Do not waste money. Start save up the money. You never know what will happen in the future. But savings for a rainy day would never be bad.


    4. Do not get involved with the villains of the novel. Avoid unnecessary contact if possible!


    5. Be the BFF of Protagonist. Maybe she could save your life and help you in times of terror.


    6. Show no interest in other people''s romance. Don''t get in the way of faintly couples. You don''t know how a jealous person would react. Jealousy can be murderous in novels.


    7. Be a hard worker.


    Half of her rules were no longer valid. She had clearly broken rule number four. She had married the biggest villain of the novel. What an irony!


    Two had not worked either. Who knows what Nadine and Pascal are currently planning? Now she had to hang on Alexandre''s sleeves to survive, since Elodie and Fabien were no longer there to protect her.


    Lily lay down on the floor.


    She needed new rules!


    But now the end of the novel was no longer predictable. Everything was in motion. She had to be more careful now. Especially because she still needed to take care of Adrien.


    What a mess! Lily had always wondered why she ended up in this book. But this could never be explained. There was no evidence at all. She knew in some novels she had read. The Protagonist shared name with the character in whom they had transmigrated. But she did not share the name with this side character of hers.


    She did not read the book before she had died, as it happens in some novels to the main character.


    Lily had read a lot in her past life.


    She had often felt lonely. Books always gave her this little way out. An escape option to flee her everyday life. Her first life was not easy. She was born as a commoner. Her father, however, made things sometimes difficult. She never really had a lot of money. Even when the money blessing came, it didn''t last long.


    She saw a piano. Crowds. Loud music.


    She pressed her eyelids together as memories of another life sprouted in her. Memories she did not want to think about now.


    She pressed her lips together. It was so depressing. She should be thinking of something nice. But somehow her thoughts drifted back and forth to sad events. She felt this melancholy in her. Maybe yesterday''s memories could not be banished to a box so easily. It even helped old wounds to emerge again.


    Alright!


    Unwilling side character, Lillian de Clermont, will now give it her all to lead a life of peace and mirth!


    First, she needed new rules!


    Lily bit her lower lip thoughtfully.


    Rule one and two were still valid. Especially two! Because she knew there was a possibility that Alexandre went bankrupt. She should start saving in bigger tracks!


    Rule three: Be a good mother!


    Rule four: Build a relationship with Alexandre, so he wouldn''t get rid of you in the future! Be as lovely as possible. Let him think you are a harmless animal that could not hurt him. Maybe he falls in love.


    Well... It is very unlikely that he will fall in love with her, but she could try it. Perhaps, once the gods of love were on their side. Whereby she strongly doubted it. Men had never been interested in her. She was practically invisible to the world of men. This was quite bitter as she was inexperienced in two lives and her seduction skills were accordingly absent. Getting Alexandre to love her was a Sisyphean task.


    Rule five: Avoid unnecessary contact with Pascal and Nadine and other miner villains of the novel!


    That should be feasible now. After all, she now had two bodyguards on her side. Lily would no longer fall into the traps of the deadly duo.


    Rule six: Be a hard worker! Never give up!

 Chapter 55 - Alluring game

    "That''s all? It''s not useful at all."


    Alexandre put the report about Pascal aside. And tapped impatiently on the desk.


    At the other end he heard Nicolas breathing deeply before he said into the phone. "Yes Sir. I''m going to find out more."


    "I want to know everything about him. Who he''s been seeing lately. Who his lover is. Even his shoe size and his favorite color. Every little detail!"


    There was a knock on the door, then three followed.


    Surprised, he lifted his head and then hung up quickly. Before Lily could put her head in the door. Her cheeks burned red. While her eyes wavered indecisively.


    "Do you need anything?" He leaned on his elbows and looked at her calmly.


    She remained silent for a moment, bowing her head as if thinking. Before she nodded and looked him in the eye. "Um...I...I have a... a problem.


    Alarmed Alexandre straightened up. "What''s going on?"


    "Um... you have to help me." Embarrassed, she looked at him. He did not understand. But before he could ask her, she opened the dark wooden door and entered the study.


    She pressed one hand to her chest while the other was around her waist. The dress she was wearing looked lanky, a little too big for her petite stature.


    Hesitantly she came closer.


    "I can''t do it without help." Hesitantly she took a few more steps towards him. "You sent all the staff away. Um...the dress... I ... I tried it ...really .... but... I need help for that." She tried to explain it to him, but her face got even redder. But he still didn''t understand.


    She looked at him expectantly. "And?"


    "Lily, you have to explain it to me in more detail. I can''t help you if you don''t tell me what you need."


    She flinched and stared at him with wide eyes for a moment. Frustrated.


    Abruptly she turned around. Automatically his gaze fell on the white back. An elegant white back. He didn''t know if he had ever seen such a beautiful back.


    "My dress... I can''t close it. None of my clothes!" She confessed helplessly and interrupted his heated thoughts.


    "Ahh!" He gave away stupidly. Before his brain was able to work again. "Of course I help you. Come here!"


    Only reluctantly she approached him, like a shy animal. He laughed inwardly at this comparison. If she was the shy prey, it was only right to watch out for him as the predator. He enjoyed this mental game. He would be lurking. Leave her time to play with her like a lazy cat would play with its prey. Until the right moment came. Then he would snap her.


    She was so cute. He also liked this side of her.


    Alexandre knocked on his lap. "Sit down."


    But Lily only stared at him in confusion. Suspiciousness was reflected in her gaze.


    He snorted and then pulled her on his lap. She was light and fell on him with a short outcry. Alexandre couldn''t hold back the giggle any longer. While Lily sulked because of him. Then his look became serious again. He began to close the first button. Before he kisses her back as light as a feather on the spot where the next button should be.


    Lily stiffened under the sudden caress. But didn''t protest any further, which encouraged him to continue.


    He closed another button, gently kissing her back again. She smelled so good like fresh spring flowers. Then he closed another button. A kiss. A button. A kiss.


    Again and again his fingertips secretly stroked over her skin. Delicate soft skin.


    He enjoyed this game.


    A kiss. A button.


    He was like a drunk.


    But much too fast the thrilling game was over. Her dress had too few buttons! Not enough to satisfy him. His gaze remained on her back.


    Unwillingly he let himself sink back into the chair. But didn''t let her go yet. He knew that if he did, she would sprint out of the room. He didn''t want to let her go after all.

 Chapter 56 - Caring

    After an hour in Noa''s doctor''s office, an ultrasound examination and X-rays. It turned out that Lily''s wrist was only sprained.


    But she still had to wear a splint for six weeks. Lily didn''t mind, after all, it was better than wearing a cast.


    Lily didn''t understand all the jargon the young doctor Joucault was saying. On the other hand Alexandre listened all the more attentively. Which is why Lily drew her attention to the beautiful Parxis and watched the furniture and beautiful nurse at Noa''s side. She quickly forgot that she was the real patient and just dawned.


    After all, Lily had all the information she needed.


    She had taken no threatening damage and her wrist, it was just sprained, although it had grown to twice its size by now and started pounding with every movement. She didn''t mind it. Lily let her thoughts wander off and hardly noticed the exhausting conversation between Alexandre and the doctor.


    Doctor Joucault had prescribed her several doses of painkillers before escorted them out of the consulting room with a smile.


    Always with Alexandre at her side. He was either next to her or behind her.


    When they left the private clinic, his hand lay on her back while he led her to his white sports car.


    Lily couldn''t get rid of the feeling that Alexandre was overprotective today. Probably yesterday''s event had shocked him more than he showed.


    His behavior was rather calm and composed. But something seemed to be boiling behind his facade. But every time Lily asked him about it, he cleverly concealed the subject. Which is why Lily decided to stop poking. Because she was afraid to get into the line of fire herself.


    Silently Alexandre opens the door of the Porsche for her and helped his wife into the car. Before he ran around the rear of the car and got in on the driver''s side to drive off.


    They stopped in front of an Italian restaurant where he had reserved a private room in which Adrien, his nanny and bodyguard were already waiting.


    "Lily, Alec." The little man greeted them with a smile that even the sun could be envy of and rushed towards Lily.


    "Careful." Alexandre murmured, pulling the kid back a little. "Lily hurt herself." He tried to explain to Adrien and pointed to Lily''s sprained wrist.


    With big eyes Adrien stared at Lily. "Does it hurt?" Concern lay over the rosy face of the toddler.


    Immediately Lily shook her head and squatted before Adrien. "As long as you are there, nothing can hurt me. You''re my sweetest medicine." She leaned forward and gave Adrien a kiss on the chubby cheeks.


    Proudly the little fellow snuggled himself even deeper into her embrace and enjoyed her attention.


    Suddenly a strong arm grabbed him from behind and lifted his little body. Surprised, Adrien screamed and found himself on Alec''s arm. "Did you have a lot of fun today?"


    Adrien raised his little arms over his head, smiling up at Alec. "So much fun!"


    Alexandre sighs, and smiled back automatically. "Then you have a big appetite?"


    In response, Adrien''s stomach growled loudly.


    The toddler blinked, eyes wide, feeling himself blush up to the tips of his ears. He leaned his small head back down and let his plump little arms sink again.


    "Then we should order." Announced Alexandre smiling and put Adrien in the child''s chair.


    While the Nanny and Adriens bodyguard quietly left the room and a waiter entered who handed out leather-bound menus.


    Lily took a seat next to Adrien and laid down the menu so that the little fellow could also see inside.


    Actually, she already knew what the toddler was going to order. Nevertheless, he always wanted to take a look inside. Which amused Lily.


    "What do you want to drink?" Alexandre asked.


    He glanced inside and back to Alec a couple of times before he slowly said. "Cola!" With a brave glimmer in his eye.


    Lily wrinkled her eyebrows. Her mouth opened to protest, but quickly closed again. She was reluctant. Lily didn''t know if she should tell him not to. Should such a little boy drink Coke already? Would Elodie have allowed him to?


    Swallowing hard, Lily risks a glance over to Alexandre. But Alexandre was still smiling, looking almost impossibly fond.


    As if he could read Lily''s mind, he put a hand reassuring on her thigh under the table, facing Adrien again with a big smile around his lips. "Let''s make a deal!"

 Chapter 57 - Coke vs. vegetables

    "Eeh!" Adrien hesitated and raised his little hands to his mouth before asking puzzled. "What''s a deal?" He stared at Alec with big eyes.


    "A deal is when we two make a trade."


    "A trade?" Adrien flash with his big eyes, causing the small child''s eyebrows to scrunch up.


    "Adrien, you can drink cola today, but you have to eat your vegetables." Alexandre calmly explained to the toddler.


    "Hahhhh!? Don''t wonna." Adrien complained, peering curiously at Alexandre. Before he pouting stared at Lily.


    Adrien''s puppy eyes immediately hit Lily in the heart, but shortly before she could agree she was interrupted by the smiling Alexandre. "I thought we should practice saying no?" He asked innocently. She immediately remembered her words at breakfast.


    Guilty, she looked away. It was so hard not to spoil Adrien, Lily noted bitterly.


    "Lily?" The toddler cried with his tearful voice.


    "Yes?" Lily bit her lips.


    "Lily can I drink a Coke?" His eyes were glassy as he tilted his little head to the side innocently. Lily stared at the little guy. Her instinct told her to order him as much Coke as he wanted. But her mind said that she should stay on Alexandre''s side.


    "Addy, vegetables should also be eaten. They are healthy, nutritious and tasty. If you eat vegetables, you''ll be big and strong."


    The little guy puffed up his cheeks and then reluctantly nodded at Alexandre.


    After that Alexandre ordered a plate of grilled vegetables, antipasta, beef steaks and various kinds of pasta dishes.


    Adrien''s eyes began to glow when the drinks were first carried in and a brown drink was placed in front of him. Greedily he reached for the glass and took two large sips. It was sweet, but at the same time a little sour and very refreshing. His maman had always forbidden him to drink Coke, but his dad had always secretly given him a sip. He was very happy that he was allowed to drink coke again.


    When the dishes were carried into the room on plates and Adrien saw the vegetables, he felt the first signs of distress.


    As Alexandre even took his plate and began to fill it with different kinds of vegetables, Adrien began to regret having wanted a Coke.


    Lily luckily put some pasta on his plate and a small steak that she cut into small pieces for him.


    However, Adrien''s plate was almost empty after a while and only the hated vegetables were visible. Suspiciously he stuck his little fork in something red and decided it looked the friendliest. It had such a beautiful color as the tomato sauce on his beloved spaghetti.


    Suspiciously he chewed on the soft vegetables. It tasted slightly sweet, but also aromatic. Nevertheless, he didn''t want any more.


    When Alexandre saw that the toddler''s plate was empty except of the vegetables, the corners of his mouth pulled up to an innocent smile. "Adrien, all the vegetables must be eaten."


    Lily looked anxiously at her prot¨¦g¨¦ before piking her fork into a grilled eggplant. "Look, Addy, we''re eating together. That''s delicious!" She said encouragingly to Adrien, putting the piece of vegetable into her mouth and chewing on it with pleasure. "Mhm...delicious."


    As soon as the little guy saw this, he grimaced painfully, pricked with his fork again into a vegetable unknown to him and ate it reluctantly and slowly.


    Lily felt with Adrien. She didn''t want to force him. But she knew it was for his own good.


    After Adrien had finally eaten his plate, he proudly looked at Alexandre and then at Lily, who bent over and gave the toddler a gentle kiss on the forehead.


    Immediately Adrien felt happy and giggled.


    "Will I get a reward?" The little guy asked self-confidently.


    Alexandre laughed. "Didn''t you already get one?


    "I''ve eaten so many vegetables." Adrien stretched out his hands and made a sweeping movement with his chubby little arms.


    "What kind of reward do you want?" Lily asked then.


    "Chocolate ice cream!"

 Chapter 58 - Car journey into the past

    Adrien had fallen asleep on her lap when they made their way home in Alexandre''s Porsche.


    After the bargained chocolate ice cream and another glass of Coke, the little guy had rolled himself up on Lily''s lap and fell asleep happily.


    It was just before 5 p.m., yet Lily, too, was gripped by this tiredness and nodded off. Only the quiet breathing of his little family could be heard in the car. It was a peaceful and pleasant silence that finally let Alexandre ease after all the stress since yesterday evening.


    Alexandre held his gaze straight ahead, looking out at the road as he steered his car through the streets.


    He really enjoyed the time he spent with Adrien and Lily. Although the two had entered his life less than a month ago, he felt very close to them. He liked the feeling of coming home in the evening to a house filled with laughter and warmth. A house where he was awaited and welcomed.


    It felt at home.


    Although he had never asked for it, the two had taken him into their small family and given him something he could not call by name.


    He had only understood when he saw Lily lying on the floor so badly injured. Crying. Her smile had disappeared from her eyes. She seemed so fragile. Everything was so temporary. For the first time it hit him hard to understand how fragile everything was. His small family was built on a shaky foundation.


    The horror had gone through with him at that moment. He was afraid to lose everything again...


    How many years had it been since he felt so fragile?


    Five?


    He was only 23 years old that night after a call rang him out of his sleep. It had been a gray autumn morning, hardly a ray of light on the horizon of Paris broke through the heavy cloud cover.


    "Do I speak to Alexandre de Valois?" A rough voice asked from the other end of the line.


    "Yes!" Had he barked into the phone, tired from the long night in various clubs and a climaxing detour to the Moulin Rouge. He hardly could open his eyes while fishing for his watch.


    " Here speaks Commissioner G¨¦rard Bichot. I''d like to ask you to come to the Commissariat de Police du 1er Arrondissement immediately."


    "What is the matter? Alexandre asked into the telephone, confused.


    "We have to make conversation, but not on the phone." That was the police officer''s short answer. "I hope for your cooperation." He explained vaguely and then hung up.


    Alexandre had struggled to get out of bed with a heavy head. Annoyed and slow.


    Had he only known what was awaiting him. He would have hurried.


    But he had not known it.


    Unwillingly he had put on his slightly crumpled suit from yesterday and set off.


    With deep circles under his eyes he entered the mentioned police station. His mood had been at its rock bottom. At least that''s what he had thought before he turned to a policeman in boredom and told him the reason for his visit.


    Through a long corridor he was led into a back room, where another of gendarmes greeted him.


    Deep circles were also visible under his eyes. But his were darker, deeper. Even his gaze was dull, Alexandre was reminded of a lazy guard dog. The face was leathery and a dark shadow hung around the mouth. Dark blonde strands hung chaotic in his face. As if he had fuzzled the whole night with his hands through his hair. The white shirt was crumpled and hung with a corner out of its dark pants.


    "Inspector Bichot, I was on the phone." He stretched out his horny hand to Alexandre.


    "Alexandre de Valois."


    "May I ask you to come in." The police officer pointed to a room with a white table and two chairs on each side.


    For the first time that morning he was struck by the first flood of anxiety. But still he followed into the interrogation room.

 Chapter 59 - Interrogation beginning

    "To begin with, do you agree to a recording on tape?"


    A second officer in a blue uniform stood next to the door. Alexandre still didn''t know why he was here. He had thought he might have to bail one of his friends out. At the previous evening they had popped many corks. The alcohol was streaming. Their behavior went down the hill.


    "Yes." Confirmed Alexandre hesitantly before Bichot reached for a black voice recorder and pressed a white button.


    "It''s the 04.11.XX" The gendarme briefly peered at his wristwatch. "09.30 o''clock. You are Duke Alexandre de Valoise?"


    "Alexandre, Maximilian, Rapha?l, Illias de Valois, Count of Charolais. My father is still a holder of the title of the Duke of Brabant." He arrogantly corrected the commissioner. Nevertheless, a dull feeling spread in him.


    " You are single, engaged to Danielle Eliecieux and still childless."


    "Yes." What was going on? Why was he interrogated? Alexandre''s fingertips tapped nervously on the tabletop. With every further question his uncertainty rose.


    " Your parents are Octave de Valois and Isabelle de Valois. Am I right to assume?"


    "Correct."


    "Are you a citizen of Bourgogne? Your reason for stay and duration of stay in France are?" Bichot''s voice sounded serene and cool. Nothing revealed his motives.


    "I am a citizen of Bourgogne. I came to visit the family of my fianc¨¦e and to organize some marriage arrangements as well as to celebrate my bachelor party with friends."


    "You are resident in Dijon, Bourgogne?"


    "Correct."


    "You''re able to be interrogated. You''re neither drunk nor under anesthesia?"


    "I am completely sane."


    "According to ¡ì 136, section 1, I inform you of your rights." Commissioner Bichot read out the interrogation rights before him. His voice was hotter and raspy. Alexandre still didn''t know why he was here. But with every minute his tension increased.


    "You are a witness in the investigation of a murder case. The policeman grumbled incomprehensibly before throwing a brown folder on the table. With his rough hands he clumsily opened the folder and laid out pictures in front of Alexandre. "A routine coloring!" He explained barely.


    There were photos. Cruel pictures. An ice-cold shiver ran over his back. He could hardly keep his eyes on the photos. The scenery was too cruel, and yet he saw enough.


    A naked corpse. Mutilated. Was buried under leaves. The white skin shone under the brown leaves and dirt that surrounded it. The blonde hair was red. The face was made unrecognizable with stab wounds. Lips and nose were cut off, teeth missing. A horrible sight. Again and again bruises shimmered on the naked skin. Red stripes stretched along her knuckles and ankles.


    Her breasts were cut off, as were her fingertips and toes. Stab wounds around the intimate area. In some places the skin of the corpse was reddish, black, as if someone had burned it. It was a grotesque scene.


    "We''re going to consider that this woman..." Bichot pointed with the ballpoint pen to one of the pictures. "...is your fianc¨¦e Danielle Eliecieux, who has been reported missing since yesterday evening at 5 p.m.. She could be identified by her father Albert Eliecieux by means of a tattoo and moles." The policeman''s dry voice whispered.


    It struck him like a lightning.


    His words tightened Alexandre''s throat. Only one word was echoing in his head, Danielle. Again and again.


    Suddenly he felt nauseous. He felt miserable. Everything around him seemed blurred.


    Alexandre jumped up, could hardly hold himself on his feet, everything around him swung as he sank to his knees in front of a silver trash can standing in the corner of the room.


    He choked and choked until all his stomach contents poured into the trash. Again and again he was seized by a choking reflex that shook his whole body. Never before had he felt so pathetic. But these images were too cruel for his eyes. While his chest was about to burst. But over and over again a nightmare happened in front of his closed eyes.


    He wanted to leave here. Didn''t want to hear anything anymore, didn''t want to see anything. The tightness in his chest threatened to crush him. To squeeze every breath of air out of his lungs. He gasped, struggled for breath.


    He didn''t know how long he was chewing over the trash can. He was dizzy. His stomach was empty. Nothing but acid burned his tube when it finally stopped.


    In the silence his wheezing breaths sounded far too loud. A disgustingly sour smell was in the air.


    It tasted only sour, corroded, in his mouth when he finally rose. His throat was rough.


    The commissar had stepped next to him, holding a glass of water towards him. With trembling fingers Alexandre grabbed it and emptied it with one gulp.


    He could barely stand on his feet as the sturdy policeman grabbed him under his arms, helping him to stand up. His legs swayed as he lifted up and stumbled awkwardly to the chair and let himself fall back on it. It creaked.


    And there was always this feeling. Dark and heavy. It whispered through his head. This insecurity. These nasties.


    As if frozen, he looked at the inspector, who had not changed his facial expression, while he looked at him and then at the pictures again.


    Again Alexandre wheezed, high and helpless. He didn''t want to see the pictures anymore. Pain burned in his veins.

 Chapter 60 - The investigation of the murder

    "What were you doing on November 3rd between 5pm and 4am?" The policeman in his mid-forties began his interrogation.


    There was horror in Alexandre''s eyes. Horror and emptiness. As if he had lost something valuable. So precious that he just now realised how valuable it actually was.


    While Bichot studied the face of the man opposite him, his expression was as hard as stone, no shadow revealed what he was thinking. He was a skilled murder investigator. His eyes were always on guard. In the course of his career he had seen a man''s darkest depths. The most cunning criminals. His confidence in the moral nature of man was low. He knew that there were brilliant actors.


    Bichot sat relaxed in his chair, lurking like a predator. Every wink, every drop of sweat. He could see everything.


    He was trained to find out every little bit of information from his opposite.


    " See, Monsieur de Valois. I am trying to reconstruct the events of yesterday of Mademoiselle Eliecieux. You can help me find the culprit..." Quietly he put his hands on the table. "Tell me. What you did with your fianc¨¦e yesterday. Who you met. When and where you spent time with her."


    But the Alexandre did not even blink. Like he was somewhere else. His head was hanging down heavy. His eyes were closed. His breathing was faint, a soft hissing could be heard with every breath. He was in silence.


    Bichot rubbed over his temples with his middle and ring finger. It would be a long interrogation, he thought bitterly.


    He rose tired and left the room, leaving the man behind.


    In the room had become quiet. Alexandre sat in his chair like a stone. He was too tired to move. Every breath was one movement too much for the young count.


    He was trapped in his own thoughts, which were like chains around him. Paralyzing him.


    The truth was brutal. He didn''t want to admit it. Not to believe it. He wanted to deny it. Time passed, and passed by like running water. Nothing could wake him from the darkness of his own thoughts.


    ...


    "We don''t know much about the murderer." A calm voice shook him awake. As if someone had suddenly poured a bucket of ice-cold water over him. Frightened, Alexandre cringed and stared into the commissioner''s dark eyes.


    Bichot opened the folder. Again, he took out the photos.


    "First of all, we know that it was a sexually motivated act." He pointed with a pen to the stab wounds on her Genital area and breasts, "Her female sexual features were only disfigured after death had already occurred."


    Another wave of nausea rolled towards him.


    "No traces of sperm were discovered. However, her vaginal area was injured, so we suspect forced sexual intercourse resulting in these injuries."


    Alexandre held his hands over his ears. He didn''t want to hear anymore. But Bichot''s voice broke through the walls. Alexandre could clearly hear the man''s muffled voice.


    "According to the autopsy report, she was strangled. Her larynx was crushed. You can see the blue marks above her neck. Then the killer stabbed her before mutilating her. There were even attempts to conceal the victim''s identity. Fingertips, toes and teeth were carefully removed. The killer only missed a small tattoo behind her ear. A tiny butterfly... " Said the investigator slowly and carefully considered his next words.


    "We only know for certain how the mademoiselle was murdered."


    Bichot was silent for a second.


    " My suspicion is that the victim knew her killer..."

 Chapter 61 - Pinky Promise

    Deep in his thoughts, Alxandre steered the car into the garage. He frowned as he looked at Lily in regret. Before quietly opening the car door and getting out and opening the door of her side. She was sound asleep with Adrien in her arms. Alexandre bent over her, unbuckled her seat belt.


    "Lily." he whispered softly. She huffed her sweet little nose with dissatisfaction. Suddenly his face brightened. He raised his hand, stretched it out for her face, whispered her name and touched her cheek gently. Stroke with his thumb over her soft skin.


    Lily breathed out sniffingly.


    Suddenly, Adrien opened his eyes. Stared at him in confusion. " Did you sleep well, sleepyhead?"


    The little rascal yawned loudly before nodding his head in affirmation. There was still tiredness on his face as he tried to slide off Lily''s lap. Alexandre grabbed him under his arms and gently placed the toddler on the floor.


    "Thank you." Addy laughed before waddling to the entrance, rubbing the tiredness out of his eyes with his tiny fists.


    Alexandre chuckled as he followed him with his eyes.


    With a sigh he bent down to his sleeping wife and lifted her into his arms. Her head fell on his chest while she continued to sleep peacefully.


    With a kick, he closed the car door and followed Adrien to the entrance door.


    Inside the house, he laid Lily on the bed, took off her shoes and covered her.


    All of a sudden he could hear trampled steps coming closer from behind him. "Alec?" Out of breath, Adrien stood in front of him with his teddy bear in his hand.


    With a grin on his lips, Alexandre reached out to ruffle through the soft hair of the little one. "What shall we play?"


    His eyes blink at him, big and blue and filled with affection and pure joy. "Will you watch Momo with me?" Adrien''s eyes lit up as he gazed shyly at Alec.


    "Sure." Alexandre laughed softly. " But first let''s slip into something comfortable."


    Alexandre offered his hand to the toddler, who gripped it beaming with joy. His chubby little hand was soft and appeared so tiny in his own hand. Holding Addy''s hand, they left the bedroom and quietly closing the door.


    Adrien pulled Alec by the hand to his room, happily toddling down the hallway until they reached his room together.


    The door was open when they entered. Some of his Action figures were lying on the floor. Alexandre picked up the small boy and placed him on the bed. Before he started to get his son ready for bed.


    "Alec?" Addy looks at him with big, innocent eyes.


    "What''s up buddy?" Carefully, Alexandre raised Adrien''s soft arms and helped him into his fluffy Pyjama.


    "Do you like Lily?" Addy asked mildly.


    The question had caught Alexandre off guard as he looked at the toddler. For a moment he stood there confused, pausing in his movements before he regained his composure. "Of course I do."


    "Really?" Asked Addy delighted.


    Alexandre nodded, "Really!" And tousled the boy''s hair.


    Adrien gave him this adorable toddler smile. "Do you love me too?" He asked timidly, turning his little body innocently back and forth. His voice wavering slightly as he made those words.


    Where''d that come from? - Alexandre wondered. He picked Adrien up and sat him on his hip. "Of course I love you." He replied reassuringly.


    Addy grinned from one ear to the other and nodded. "Then can I stay? With Lily and Alec?" He grinned at Alec waiting for his approval. His chubby cheeks flushed in embarrassment.


    Puzzled Alexandre looked into the bright blue eyes of the little boy. "Addy,..." Lovingly he pinched the little snub nose of the toddler. "We are a family. You can always stay with me and Lily. You''ll always have a place in this home. I promise." Alexandre stretched out his little finger, ready for a Pinky Promise.


    Adrien exhaled in relief and wrapped his little finger around Alexandre''s finger for a Pinky Promise.


    They made a promise.


    Alexandre ran a hand through Addy''s hair as he made his way to the living room.

 Chapter 62 - Good night

    Alexandre realized it was getting late. The sun had already set during the serial marathon with his little son.


    Adrien had snuggled up by his side sleeping quietly, hidden under his arm. He felt the gentle warmth of the toddler, heard the boy''s steady breathing. This familiarity. He would have never thought he would ever have a family like this, he would have never dreamed to care for a child.


    He chuckled, grabbed the remote control and turned off the TV while the credits rolled down the screen. He gazed to the side and sat up with caution. Carefully he held Addy leaned against his chest so that he could get up with Addy in his arms. He wanted to bring Adrien to bed, but was interrupted by a tiny whimper.


    "Mm-mmm. No." Did the little boy whimper.


    Alexandre smiled gently, stroking the dark hair tenderly. "Addy, you''re tired. It''s already bedtime."


    "But I don''t wanna..." Adrien tried to hold back a yawn. "...not sleepy yet..." Drowsily, Addy rubbed his eyes. His voice carried a faint hint of protest.


    Smiling, he whispered into Adrien''s ear. "I believe you are..."


    "No!" The little one stopped him firmly and cuddled himself beside Alexandre''s lap. Soothingly, Alec pulled the blanket back over the tiny body of the kid and pressed play. Before he fast-forwarded further and started a new episode. Alec stroked the child''s soft hair as he rested his small head on Alexandre''s lap and kept watching.


    Addy''s eyes got heavier and heavier. Nevertheless, he forced himself stubbornly to stay awake while bright colors flashed inside the television.


    It didn''t take long, until Alexandre could hear the toddler''s steady breathing once again. His chest rose and fell to the pace of his calm breathing. Addy was sound asleep again.


    ?


    Silence fell over Paradise Garden. The wind blew chillingly over her face. She pulled the velvety scarf tighter around her neck, buried the straight tip of her nose inside the soft fabric. The leaves were rustling eerily. Night had long ago fallen, changed the magnificent garden into a gloomy place. Only the yellowish light of the street lamps illuminated the cobblestone path to a coffee house in the distance.


    With hurried steps the last people left the garden as if they were fleeing, pushed by the wind that blew coldly through bushes and trees.


    But she did not let herself be pushed. She strolled leisurely along the narrow path, saw the old coffee house, which was gracefully built in the shape of a round pavilion. The warm lights were still burning behind the colored glass windows.


    It was already 10 o''clock at night. Not an hour in which young ladies were supposed to walk around alone.


    Melinda calmly opened the glass door to the coffee house. Two clear bells chimed, announcing her coming. There were only a few guests left in the house, gentlemen who were philosophising about politics, economy and art. No ladies. A strange scene. But old Europe was stuck in its traditions. Innovation had a hard time in the monarchistic states. The powerful men did not like to share their might.


    She had spent most of her life in America. As a diplomat''s daughter, Melinda had seen many countries in her youth. But in America, she had learned to live. She felt at home there. She was always drawn back to the new world. There she found freedom and rights that did not exist in her home country France.


    Nevertheless, she had returned to Europe. Love called her home.

 Chapter 63 - Man in shades

    "Welcome to Hagen Coffee House, mademoiselle." The waitress curtsied. "Are you being expected?" Asked the girl politely.


    Melinda lingered for a moment longer in her gaze on the girl, leisurely removing her leather gloves and taking off her scarf. Which she then handed over to the waitress with gloves and hat.


    The girl''s gaze was always on the floor. Her dark braids were neatly braided as they were carefully draped over her slender shoulders. The black dress was a little too loose for her, but it was cleverly hidden by the white apron above. Only the well-versed eyes of a woman would notice this little faux pas.


    With serenity, Melinda let her eyes wander over the guests. While her fingertips skilfully opened one button after the other. The pretty girl stepped behind her, assisted her with practiced movements out of the beige fur coat.


    "I am being expected." Melinda''s gaze remained fixed on a familiar walking stick. A silver halter, modelled after a lion''s head. Probably an old family heirloom. He always had it with him. It was important to him, or at least she assumed it was. She knew neither his real face nor his real name, yet she had known him for decades. Ever since she was a little girl. She had often met him at soirees abroad. Sometimes he''d even visited her father. "A table resaved for Shinley." They had known each other for so many years now, were close to each other. But at the same time, so far from each other.


    She only had a faint idea of the kind of work he was doing, but for whom he was working, she didn''t know. He was too good at covering his tracks. His domain was the dark. He was most comfortable operating in the shadows.


    The pretty brunette let her eyes slip for a second into the guestbook before leading Melinda to the table she had spotted minutes ago.


    Mr Thomas Shinley stood up. He looked even more imposing as he was standing, outdoing her by at least three heads. She herself was not small in stature, with her height of 172 cm. But this man had to be at least two meters high. He had always been a handsome giant.


    The blond hair had been carefully combed back. Not a single strand of hair broke away from the style. His features were slick and, as usual, revealed nothing. Once again he wore a different face. If she had met him on the street, she wouldn''t have recognized him.


    They were more alike than she would have liked. After all these years since she had been in his service, she had learned a lot from him. Had adopted traits and behaviors from that fox. Just like him, she didn''t really have a place to call home. For many years she lived like the wind, did not stay long in one place, was restless.


    But now she was tired. Tired of this life. Now she knew a place she wanted to go back to. She wanted to feel that one man''s arms again. Only there she would feel happy again.


    A long time had passed.


    She had to hide. It was the only way she could protect him.


    But now she was back. She had to come back.


    "Thomas." She greeted him friendly. There was a glint in his eyes.


    "Iona." In an elegant movement he bent forward, kissing tenderly the back of her hand. His lips were dry as they brushed against her skin. But still there was that grin on his face. A lurking smile, a cold laugh that never reached his eyes.


    Softly he pulled the chair out, helped her to sit upon it. Before he sat down across from her.


    He ordered a coffee for her. Black. He knew her too well. Read her like an open book. She''d better watch out for him. She was never sure if she was his enemy or ally. He always got her information, but never gave his.


    It was always a tiresome game with him.

 Chapter 64 - Milk and coffee

    "Iona, how many years has it been? What brings you back to Europe?"


    Melinda dropped a sugar cube in her coffee. "Business." She offered only a vague excuse. Always careful. Never too eager to show her cards. "You may now call me Melinda. Melinda T. Portner." A second cube of sugar fell into her cup before she began to stirr with the silver teaspoon. The strong smell of coffee rose into her nose as she lifted the cup.


    "A new identity?" Doubtfully he raised his straight eyebrow. Small wrinkles formed on his flawless forehead. He looked so young. But on reflection, she didn''t know his true age. Maybe he was in his forties. Yet she could not say for certain. He was older than she was. She knew that for sure. After all, he was already visiting her family when she was still a young girl of eight. Even there he was already a handsome gentleman who socialized with her father.


    "You know me." She smiled nonchalantly.


    "Indeed. I was surprised to get your call. I didn''t think to meet you once again in Europe, not after your tricky escape. But..." His gaze lingered on her fingers. " I am happy to welcome you back. Cheers for a successful business venture." He raised his cup calmly as if he wanted to toast with her.


    She laughed. " To good times." And sipped at her cup. The coffee was as black as she felt. But he would help her. Even then, he had helped her. Though he never knew it. He had always supported her. Gave her strength. He''d add a generous dose of milk until she turned brown inside. Until she just tasted lighter. Not too strong.


    Being around him made her feel so light, she could forget all her sins. All her pain and sorrow. That''s why she needed him. Because only he could make her feel that way. This weightlessness.


    For years, she had tried to live without him. Trying to forget. To live another life. But he was like the air she needed to breathe. She felt like she was going to suffocate. She needed him. Soon. For too long, she had been sinking into her darkness. Only he could free her from it.


    And to get him, she needed Thomas.


    To get him, she would play another dangerous game with Thomas Shinley. She needed his help. If she wanted it or not. This man was the only person who could help her survive and get what she wanted.


    "How can I help you, Melinda." In a tempting pace he accented her name, until this plain name was transformed into a charming poem.


    Tension was in the air. With her tongue she brushed over her lower lip, lost in her thoughts, choosing her next words carefully."Thomas... You must promise me your help. I will pay."


    "How much are you willing to pay."


    "You may decide the price. As long as I''m in Europe, you must promise me your help."


    Thoughtfully he took a sip. "Good." He said, putting the porcelain soundless down on the table.


    A spark lit up in the blackness of his iris. Too short to see the true meaning behind it. But long enough to know - he was interested. "Let me in, Melinda. How can I help you?"


    "I need you to get me a job. Near this person." She placed a photo on the table. The picture of a young woman she passed on to him.

 Chapter 65 - Open your eyes

    "Lily." A soft whisper.


    Insistent.


    "Lily." A hand brushed across her cheek.


    Warm.


    Tenderly.


    "Lily." The soft calls became more insistent. "Love, please open your eyes."


    She blinked faintly into the dim light. Totally disoriented, her eyes wandered, stuck to one face. A beautiful face.


    "Alec?"


    Slowly she was opening her eyes finally. Her cheek was resting on a soft pillow?


    Carefully she let her fingers run over the ground, felt a soft silky fabric. A cloth? No, a blanket.


    It took her minutes to understand where she was.


    Still, sleep hung heavy in her mind. All she could remember was the trip home ... in the car...


    But how had she got into bed.


    Alexandre''s face was hanging right over hers. His eyes were tense.


    "Lily." He whispered her name. There was a sense of urgency.


    She lay on her side in bed. Her body was heavy as she tried to get up from bed. A brief pain whirled through her arm. She bit her lips, trying to stop the groans that escaped her mouth.


    Immediately Alexandre''s arm was on her back, helping her to sit up. Her eyes gazed down at her arm. Wondering where the pain came from. Her stare remained fixed on the dark splint, before she was able to recall...


    Lily had closed her eyes for a moment. She felt like she had slept for a long time and yet her body was still heavy. Tired. As if someone had forced the air out of her. Using a jackhammer to crush her body.


    What had happened?


    She was still wearing the clothes she had on last night, fully dressed. Except for her feet, which were naked. She frowned.


    "Lily..." His warm voice drew her attention. "You fell asleep in the car. I couldn''t wake you..."


    Ahhhh! She was still trying to realize. Lily nodded, although she was still trying to process his words.


    A smile lay on his face. He stroked a few strands behind her ear.


    "Still not awake?" He asked amused.


    She nodded drowsily and saw the world only from slits.


    Suddenly.


    He bent over. Looked down at her for a moment. Something burned in his eyes.


    He kissed her. Suddenly. Delicate. Softly... Hungry.


    His lips brushed against hers. Just for a moment. Intense. Burning on her skin. His tongue crushed into her mouth. Probing it fiercely. Only for one delicious moment.


    And then the spell was over...


    She stared at him with wide eyes.


    Now she was awake!


    "Awake?" He asked to be sure.


    "Awake." She confirmed out of breath.


    Alexandre chuckled. "Good. I need your attention. Then you can go back to sleep."


    "Thanks for waking me. But now I definitely can''t fall asleep again." She mumbled.


    He hesitated, looking her in her eyes for a moment before he laid his head on her shoulder. Still his arms were wrapped around her. A strangely intimate touch. She allowed it to happen. Enjoyed it a little. But at the same time, her heart was beating up to her throat.


    "You must promise not to leave the house today." A protest was on the tip of her tongue. But then she remembered her reflection. Green and blue. Covered from top to bottom with swellings and marks. Maybe he was right. It wasn''t a good idea to go out like that. It might start some rumors. Anyway, she didn''t know how much was known of that night. She was supposed to keep a low profile. At least until she knew more.


    "I''m not grounded for not listening to you"? She tried to joke. But in between her words a little seriousness was hidden.


    He laughed. "No. I''m just trying to save you from your own stupidity." Again he raised his head. Ernst lay in his gaze. "The bodyguards couldn''t start to work yet. I don''t want you to get hurt. If something happens. I want you to be safe wherever you go. Give me one more day."


    She laughed in relief. "Don''t worry. Adrien and I are gonna stuff ourselves with all the candy in the house today and going to watch some cartoons."


    "Please do something useful with Adrien too. He was watching Momo with me yesterday.


    "Oh, really?"


    "Yes." A stiff wrinkle appeared between his eyebrows. "Three hours! He had refused to go to sleep." Love echoed in his words. Lily had to giggle when an image flashed through her mind. The helpless Alexandre at the mercy of Adrien''s unbeatable cuteness. She would have loved to be there.


    Clucking, she let herself fall into the pillows.


    Suddenly, Alexandre was above her again. Her heart was racing too loud under her chest. Their bodies were too close. Barely a hand could fit between them.


    Slowly, Alexande bent over, kissed her on the tip of her nose. Before he jumped out of bed and headed for the door... Only now did she realize he was already fully dressed in his suit and shirt.


    He quickly reached for the tie on the night table. His eyes remained on her. "I have to go now. I''d like to stay for breakfast." With skillful fingers he ties the tie around his neck. Then he paused. Again he was looking down at her. "Tonight, I won''t be able to make it for dinner." He confessed to her.


    "Really?"


    "Yes, I''m afraid I have some appointments to make up for."


    "I understand."


    "Don''t be sad, love. See you in bed."


    Her jaw dropped as he bent over, self-satisfied, to kiss her quickly and then hurry out of the room.


    Lily''s mind was on a roller coaster. Again. And all because of that shameless villain again.

 Chapter 66 - At the Gentlemens club

    While Emile was out playing with women together with Jacques and Stephan in a private back room at the Jockey Club de Dijon, Alexandre had already arrived early. In the office, he had hurried to arrive early in the club to meet with the Brotherhood members.


    When he entered the traditional Gentlemen''s club of Bourgogne, thick clouds of smoke floated in the air. Men in fine suits puffed on their thick cigars or exquisite cigarettes. A heavy smell of smoke, alcohol and perfume was in the air. Although it was a club exclusively for men, Alexandre knew that some of the members did not follow the rules and invited women into their private rooms.


    The alcohol was poured out like water. At the gaming tables, men shouted and always cheered with a glass of cognac in hand.


    With big steps Alexandre made his way through the main room to the stairs.


    A brawny guard blocked the way up. But with a single hand movement and a secret slogan he let Alexandre pass. At the end of the narrow corridor on the first floor he stopped in front of a massive wooden door. 707 was emblazoned on the gold shield. Again a quadratic muscleman lurked in front of the door. His mine looked at him critically.


    Alexandre showed him the ceremonial signet ring, which only the members of the brotherhood Chevalier de la main were allowed to wear. Before he was granted entry.


    Emile held onto the small and slender waist of a pretty woman while his other hand hung over the cigar box the waiter was holding out to him. His face became dark. After he had looked at the contents of the box. That idiot! He was nearly about to yell at the waiter who had served him the wrong brand of cigars. He only smoked Romeo y Julieta, all other kinds he never bothered with. Why couldn''t the waiter memorize anything. He was the owner, should his employees not at least remember his wishes by heart. Idiot! Emile decided to hire a better waiter. After five warnings the waiter had still not improved himself. Emile Mouret expected nothing less than perfection. There was no exception for the staff. After all, he paid well enough for their services. He needed staff to satisfy the wishes and desires of all the gentlemen in his club.


    As the door swung open and Alexandre walked in, Emile paused.


    With his chin up Alexandre examined the room. He gave off the impression of being a noble and distinguished gentleman. His demeanor called for attention. Immediately all eyes were on him. The women in the room knew immediately how important Alexandre''s attention was. Their eyes were filled with desire. Greed.


    He had casually buried his hands in his trouser pockets. His face was blank. But his eyes were burning. Emil had known Alexandre de Valois for far too long to be fooled by this superficial serenity. His friend was boiling in his heart.


    He turned to Alexandre with a smile on his lips.


    "We bachelors need a little fun too. Unfortunately, we have no sweet wives waiting for us at home." He had only meant going to tease him until he saw the man in front of him shooting daggers through his eyes. Instead, Emile did his best to break the topic. "It''s rare for you to come early?"


    "What have we done to earn this honor?" Stephan sneered mischievously and continued to rub the breast of girl next to him.


    "Aren''t we meeting for business? Why are all these women here?" Ignored Alexandre Stephan''s teasing. His tone was sharp. When he settled in a black leather chair.

 Chapter 67 - One word of him was enough

    Upon seeing Alexandre, Jacques uttered. "Why are you here already?"


    With a grin, he turned to face Alexandre. He was annoyed. Tonight''s fun would be over if Alexandre decided to stay.


    Instead, Emile tried his best to save the mood. "But man, how rare is it that you come early? What''s your reason?"


    Alexandre''s face darkened. He didn''t want to be here himself. The room smelled of cigarettes and cheap perfume.


    The women didn''t want to leave. Some of them even blushed when they looked at him. He was annoyed by the feminine charm that was cheaply displayed. They sat in intimate poses next to his friends, but made their intentions very clear to him. He was more than disgusted by this scene by this time. If he had no reason. He wouldn''t have come at all.


    "Has the Drouet family been working on business projects with one of you?"


    "The Drouet? Why?" Emile was curious about why Alexandre would suddenly meet them to ask them directly about the Drouets. It was strange because he didn''t usually deal with such small companies.


    A sudden thought came to him. "Isn''t your wife''s ex from the Drouet family?" Suddenly Alexandre glared at him. Told him with a single glance to watch his words.


    Emile understood that Alexandre was someone who did not fall in love easily. But when he did fall in love, he easily lost control. He remembered. In the past, Alexandre was madly in love with a girl. He had wanted to marry her. Although they hardly knew each other. She wasn''t even from the right background. With his first love, he had almost split his whole family. But no one expected his first love to turn into such a tragedy.


    The grief of her passing had almost broken him. Emile didn''t know how much truth was behind the rumors about Alexandre''s wife. But he could tell with one look that there was a grain of truth behind it.


    "Yes or no. Do any of you work with the Drouet family?"


    "Yeah, I''m about to sign contracts." Said Jacques.


    "Cancel it!" Alexandre answered with composure, as if he was canceling a reservation in a restaurant and not a million dollar project.


    "Excuse me?" Confusion lay in Jacques'' expression.


    "Cancel it!"


    "This is a 7 million project! I can''t just cancel it!" Anger resonated in Jacques'' undertone.


    "Cancel the project with the Drouet. I''ll give you a better contract to sign!" Without hesitation Alexandre answered confidently.


    Jacques grin reached from one ear to the other "Fine! Then I should accept the deal with you." Everyone knew that doing business with Alexandre''s company only brought advantages.


    Suddenly, Emil had a new idea. "Are you cutting of the Drouets businesses and livelihood? What happened?"


    "Did her Ex offended you?" Asked suddenly Stephan.


    "He did!" Alexandre replied bluntly. His tone was cold as ice. His gaze was stern. But everyone understood immediately that business with the Drouet family was strictly forbidden. Emile suddenly felt sorry for the Drouets. But something must have happened. Stephan seemed to know certain things.

 Chapter 68 - Friends could be like hyenas

    Emile curiously looked at the yellowish-green mark on Alexandre''s cheekbone, the burst lip and eyebrow. In the dim light of the club he had not immediately noticed these traces. But if he looked more closely he noticed the clear traces of a fight on Alexandre''s body.


    He had been unsure at first, did not want to believe it. But the bruises were evidence of a fight. Had Alexandre really been in a fight? What for?


    Lost in thought, he pushed his glasses up the straight bridge of his nose and stared over at Alexandre, studying his friend''s face. Curiosity was reflected in Emile''s ebony eyes. He pushed the scantily clad Blondie away from him, against whom he was leaning the whole time. He walked through the room to the small bar on the right side of the room and reached over the counter to get a bottle.


    For a second, burning amusement flared around his mouth while Emile poured himself a glass of cognac. He carried the glasses carelessly in his hands between three fingers and strolled over to Alexandre. "You look like you need a drink." He was handing his grumpy friend a glass. "So?" He asked quietly?


    Alexandre took a sip. The alcohol burned down his throat. His friends could be like hyenas sometimes, when they wanted information.


    He didn''t blame them. Only those who were ice-cold could really survive in a businessman''s world. If you were softhearted, you were not meant to live at the top. Alexandre had learned this rule early on and so had his friends. Each and every one of them needed a hardened heart in order not to die in a world of predators. These men were born with a golden spoon in their mouth, but keeping that golden spoon took a lot of endurance and effort. No one could afford to make mistakes. Especially not a soft heart. Only someone who was clever, cunning and calculating could keep his place at the top and look down on the world from above.


    All his friends ran billion-dollar businesses. They were born predators, even in private life. The only exception was Phillipe. He was an excellent businessman, but Alexander knew... At home, he was under Loulou''s slippers.


    " So, what?" In scornful feigned amazement he looked at Emile.


    Emile''s black eyebrows wrinkled. His girl tried to rub herself against his body again, pressing her round bells against Emile''s arm while her eyes would flirt with Alexandre. Alexandre was laughing on the inside. His friends'' taste was getting worse and worse. These women would spread their legs for anyone. He almost shook his head in disgust.


    "What did the Drouet Family do to you, to make you so ruthless." Emile leaned forward, his eyes narrowing.


    "Don''t mention them." Ha, he remembered that little bastard once again. No one laid a hand on his property and got away with it scot-free. That son of a bitch! His anger turned to a dull rage. The memory that he had touched her was still vivid. But beneath his rage was something else, cunningly hiding. But he knew himself well. Recognizing the malice behind it. The madness that was now lurking within him. Dangerously slowly consuming him.

 Chapter 69 - An unexpected visitor

    Moments later the heavy wooden door jumped open again. Claudio grinned and paused for a moment in the door frame. "How touching!" His mossy green eyes observed the people in front of him. "Ah, my dearest bastards, all in one room?" With one smooth movement he pushed his brown hair out of his face. Shadows were dancing around his eyes. His golden skin looked a little too pale for Mr. Sun-Fanatic. The top buttons of his black shirt stood open. The sleeves were carelessly rolled up to his elbows.


    "Sorry, I was stuck with some businesses. So I only arrived now."


    "We weren''t expecting you anyway!" Jacques frowned without hesitation.


    "I''m happy to see you too, Jacques."


    "It''s fine as long as you''re here." Emile threw a hard look at Jacques before he turned back to Claudio.


    "Yeah! It''s been a while." Claudio casually strolled to the bar, grabbed a bottle of wine and uncorked it with his teeth. The cork fell down to the ground while the Italian casually settled down on the divan.


    Alexandre let the golden liquid swirl in his glass. He was observing what was happening in the room. Claudio had sat down opposite of his armchair. " Want to play a game?" Claudio pulled out a pack of cards from his pocket. Skillfully shuffling the deck before he dealt the cards. "Nice bruises, by the way!" He smiled at Alexandre.


    Slowly Alexandre leaned forward, reaching for the cards. "Yeah, it''s been a while."


    "You look pretty out of practice." Claudio let his head fall back into his neck laughing. "You should go practice in cage."


    "I''m a pacifist. I don''t resort to violence."


    "I guess it''s kind of more like the saying, others can get their hands dirty for me." Claudio let the first card drop on the table.


    "We''re quite similar in that aspect." Alexandre smiled. He drew a card, slid it into his deck and studied the cards in his hand.


    Claudio smiled and continued the small talk with Alexandre.


    "How long will you stay in country?" Asked Emile from the side.


    "For a while. Got some business to take care of." Claudio took a big sip of the bottle. Before leaning towards Alexandre. "The informations are in the car." He hissed at him. "If you win, it''s free..." He took another sip of wine. "If, you lose... you know the price."


    A shifty grin played around Alexandre''s eyes. "How gracious." And he placed a card on the table.


    Claudio threw his arms up in the air. "Just wanted to make sure you were trying hard." Then he emptied the bottle with one gulp and slammed it on the table. "By the way, I''m staying at your place tonight!"


    "Go to hell! The hell you will!"


    "Are you gonna make me sleep by the road?!" Grinning Claudio in feigned disbelief.


    "Go visit one of your mistresses." He had no desire to let that drunken bastard into his house. Not after he''d already wasted his time here. His thoughts turned to Lily and Adrien. I wonder what they were doing. Were they having dinner?


    "She left me." Whispers Claudio.


    "Then find a new one." Stephan sent one of the girls to them. She had long silver-blonde hair. A voluminous hourglass figure and endlessly long legs. Claudio put his arm around her waist and pulled her down to him. She giggled and let herself fall on to his lap.


    "Will you be my lover?" Asked Claudio innocently, letting his hand wander to her ass. The girl began to giggle, wrapping her arms around his neck.


    Alexandre turned his face away. But suddenly he felt slender, soft arms around his neck. A heavy sweet smell rose up into his nose.

 Chapter 70 - Give me your attention

    "Alec." Whispered a voice in his ear, like a silky breeze it muttered his name. Seductively slow. Suddenly there was this intimacy. He kept looking at the cards in his hand. He ignored the woman and laid another card on the table. Alexandre had not even noticed how he was pressing his mouth into a hard line for seconds.


    Surprised, Claudio raised his eyebrow and then began to knead the girl''s ass who had been on his lap. The glare Alexandre gave him was murderous. He laughed before he went on with the game. Claudio smiled mockingly. Has it happened again?


    "Babe, you have to caress his chest. Slowly! With your nails. He likes that." He said to the buxom redhead. Without hesitation, she followed his instructions and moved with her red fingernails seductively slowly over Alexandre''s chest. Her cherry-red lips lay against Alexandre''s ear. Moving them, as if in slow motion, while her fingers continued to slide down. Suddenly, Alexandre grabbed her hand. Shocked, she tried to take a step back. But Alexandre''s grip was hard, unyielding.


    "We''re not that close Mademoiselle!" The words were just a snarl. Claudio saw the redhead tremble. But still she dared to play. Although the shock had seized her for a moment. Claudio could understand her. He would do it too if he were a woman. Being Alexandre''s lover promised much more than just wealth. It was worth bargaining for his attention. Even a moment of his interest was enough to encourage others. Or, as in this case, no open hostility.


    But at the same time Claudio saw something else, hidden under the smooth masquerade of Alexandre. He emitted a barking laugh.


    "You don''t like it when I do that?" Asked the girl Alexandre sweet as sugar and pressed her soft curves against his back. Alexandre''s gaze only grew harder. He was totally disagreeing with her touches. But the girl used all her might to push herself onto him. Like her life was depending on it.


    "Let go!" Hard and cold, hissed Alexandre. He could barely contain his dark rage, which was creeping higher and higher inside of him.


    Claudio laughed. He knew, just like that redhead knew. Only once in her little life would she get that chance. When she let go, it was all over.


    But her intimate touch only seemed to disturb him even more. He didn''t know why he reacted the way he did. But Claudio recognized this expression on his friend''s face and it only amused him even more. To play with Alexandre''s confusion.


    He put his hand in his trouser pocket, considered Alexandre with a fine smile on his lips and looked forward to the later overnight party. It had only been a few months since Alexandre had asked him for this favor. Of course Claudio did not refuse any wishes of his old childhood friend. After all, Alexandre paid him well. Their families had maintained business relations for generations and with success. Therefore, Claudio was probably one of the closest brothers of Alexandre. He knew Alexandre''s darkest secrets and therefore also the circumstances how Alexandre suddenly became a loving husband and suddenly father of a son.


    The very idea amused Claudio to imagine his friend as a loving husband and father. With pleasure, he had devoured the gossip magazines. Alexandre was truly a man of staging.

 Chapter 71 - Dear readers

    Dear readers,


    I''m afraid I have some bad news for you today. Today there is no new update ©d(_ _*), because I got my monthly migraine attack, unfortunately I am not in the condition to do anything. But don''t worry from tomorrow on it will go on as usual. Have a nice day. (?????)


    Best wishes (?¡¦¦Å¡¦?)

 Chapter 72 - Im your little champion

    Adrien hesitated for a moment. Looking at the black characters on the blue card backs. Before he reached with his little hand for a wooden square and turned it over. A white little bunny with a pink nose and blue eyes was to be found. The little animal sat peacefully on a green meadow with colorful flowers in the background.


    Laughing, he lifted the card to show it more clearly to Lily. "Rabbit." He giggled happily.


    Lily clapped her hands. "The rabbit is so lonely! Do you know where his friend is hiding?" Asked Lily with a gentle smile around her lips.


    Adrien looked at her with big eyes. It''s not the first time he''s played the game, but this one was a bit different. Usually the backs of the cards were always blank or printed with a nice pattern. But in this game there were black characters written on the back of the cards. After a couple of rounds, the toddler noticed that the cards with the same pattern on the inside also had the same black characters on the back. Happy with his ingenuity, Adrien nodded pridefully. He flipped the card in his hand over again and placed his memory card next to another one, carefully comparing letter by letter. Until he found another card that had the same writing on its back. With nimble fingers, Adrien reached for the card and turned it over with a chuckle. A second little rabbit was visible on it. Identical to the first rabbit. "Lily, Lily look. I found his friend." He squeaked gleefully.


    Lily laughed. "You are so smart." While she stroked Adrien dotingly over the soft hair. "I think I''m losing. You already have so many pairs." She laughed sheepishly. In an instant his eyes illuminated. Adrien''s grin grew wider and wider, reaching from ear to ear as he proudly tried to stretch out his chest. But instead presented his little round baby bump to Lily. He was simply to exited to suppress his expression. "Lily no be sad. Someone always has to lose. I''ll always be with you, Lily. If Lily loses, Adrien wins for you."


    Lily looked at him for a moment, stunned. She hadn''t expected to hear such words from her prot¨¦g¨¦''s sweet mouth. Where did these influences come from?


    His eyes glistened with expectation as he walked over to Lily and lay into her arms. He was trying to be thoughtful and skilled, but looked so cute trying it. He was still a child who craved a hug. "Then I''m in Addy''s care." Laughing, she gave her little winner a kiss on the chubby cheek. "My little champion show me your skills. It''s still your turn."


    Adrien happily clapped his hands and jumped off Lily''s lap to choose his next card. With a thoughtful look his eyes wandered over the remaining playing cards.


    A gentle knock on the door interrupted the highly concentrated boy. He looked up and saw Susi coming into the room.


    "Madame, there''s a call for you." The maid handed Lily the phone on a silver tray. Still, Lily could not get used to this gesture. But in the houses of the aristocracy, everything was handed over on silver trays and touched with silk gloves.


    Lily raised her eyebrow inquiringly.


    "Mademoiselle de Carvoisin, Lionelle de Carvoisin wishes to speak to Madame."


    Lily nodded and answered the phone.


    "Nelli?"

 Chapter 73 - Nagging of a big sister

    "Reaching you is harder than contacting his Highness Eugene Valois-Bourgogne." Her friend''s angry voice was ringing in Lily''s ear. She bited her lip, remembering the days of the past. The name Lionelle fitted perfectly its owner. Because Nelli had always had the heart of a lioness. But also a sharp tongue, which is why Lily preferred to remain silent at first. She wanted to weigh the situation and then answer Nelli appropriately to avoid another burst of words from her friend.


    "Mm." Lily mumbled into the phone.


    "I''ve been trying to reach you for two days! But your phone is off! You know your phone''s not a decoration." Nelli was nagging into the phone.


    "I can''t use it right now."


    "Huh! What a cheap excuse. I''m really worried about you and the boy! Five weeks ago you disappeared from your hiding place. Elodie and Fabien had an accident. Do you know how worried I was! And suddenly all the newspapers were full of news of your secret marriage to that man. Don''t take me for a fool. I know exactly what you''ve been doing for the past two years!"


    Lily was happy that Nelli wasn''t standing in front of her to give her a lecture. She remembered her childhood days vividly. Like a big sister, Nelli had looked after Lily. Those kids who dared to pester Lily or Elodie had a problem with the wild lioness Nelli, in whose dictionary the word mercy or forgiveness did not exist. She had fists like hammers. The boys in her class trembled at the sound of her bare name. Which is why hardly any boy dared take openly action against Elodie or Lily. Elodie was the little princess of her school anyway, which is why she had more problems with the female students. But Lily had to fight against boys who were jealous of her grades, because Lily usually got the first ranks due to her knowledge of having learned everything already. Since Lily had always been a coward, she liked to hide behind Nelli. Who defended her. But afterwards, she would confront her. Asked her to fight back on her own. Lily was far over twenty inside, but even at this age of an adult she disliked confrontations. She preferred to run away when she could. Hiding from the challenge to fight. She never had an ounce of courage in her bones.


    Maybe that''s why Nelli was so important to Lily. She always reminded Lily that sometimes it was essential to fight back, because running away was not a permanent solution.


    Which is why Lily would listen to Nelli''s lecture with shaky knees but open ears.


    Nelli, was simply one of those typical big sisters who defended her younger siblings like a lioness, caring for them and nurturing them like a mother.


    Elodie and Lily, of course, had never been spared Nelli''s caring fire.


    "Even at your husband''s mansion, no one answered the phone yesterday!" Her friend continued to criticize. "It''s like you''ve disappeared. What happened? You just disappeared in the middle of the ball. And your horrible ex had been found beaten up in an abandoned hallway. He looked like a mess. Red and blue is what he was. I''ll never forget that." She laughed. Cheerfully and gleefully about Pascal''s condition. Well, Nelli obviously couldn''t stand Pascal for some time now. Lily''s stomach tightened.


    Then Nelli became silent. "Lily." Her voice was as sharp as a knife. "I know you had something to do with this. I want to know everything that happened!"


    "Uhm." Confessed Lily warily.

 Chapter 74 - Howve you been?

    Suddenly, Adrien pounced on Lily''s lap. In his small hands, he was holding several cards.


    "Lily!" He demanded for her attention with his bright voice. His little cheeks puffed challenging. "It''s your turn!" He complained fiercely.


    "Ah?" The girl realized her mistake too late. She was too focused on the phone call to notice. Guiltily, she bit her lower lip. But failed to notice the calm that had set on the other end of the wire. It took a load off her heart as she heard the cheerful voice of her godson. She had been so worried sick about him as well. After the misfortune of his parents, the toddler had disappeared without a trace. Along with Lily. Although she had a vague idea of what her friend Elodie had intended. But she had wanted to be in the loop. After all, Lily needed to be protected. In her eyes, Lily was as helpless and fragile as Adrien.


    Had she known earlier. She would have brought Adrien and Lily to her side. Nelli wanted to protect both children, and she blamed Elodie for that. Lily was just a child at heart. Four years younger than Elodie. Helpless and reckless. She wondered what Elodie, and especially Fabien, had been thinking. When they had made this dreadful decision. Especially since Lily depended on them in some way.


    Nelli could vividly imagine how the marriage between her friend and that man had come to be. He had probably blackmailed her, pushed her into a corner. And her poor little Lily couldn''t stand up against that beast. She wanted to help her. But how?


    Nelli had gathered information in order to learn more about Alexandre de Valois. But now, both her hands were tied. She could do nothing against this man. He was too powerful. Which is why Nelli did not trust him. How could she trust this ruthless businessman to protect her two helpless prot¨¦g¨¦s.


    " Hand Adrien the phone!" Nelli claimed.


    "Um...yeah!" Lily whispered into the phone on the other side of the line. "Adrien..." She rubbed the offended boy''s back. Interested, the toddler raised his head and looked at Lily with his big round eyes. Who was his Lily talking to? He was eager to know and nestled himself deeper into her lap. Maybe it was Alec? Then he wanted to talk to him too! Adrien blinked several times, his lashes fluttered like fragile wings of a butterfly and casted long shadows on his round cheeks.


    Lily took the phone off her ear. "Your Aunt Nelli called." She explained to him. "She wants to talk to you."


    Surprise appeared on the boy''s vivid face and changed in seconds to pure joy. "Nelli!" He was beaming from head to toe.


    Enthusiastically, he stretched out his little arms, grabbed the phone to press it against his ear.


    "Nelli!" He shouted into the phone.


    "Hello, my darling. How are you?"


    Adrien giggled, twisting overjoyed on Lily''s lap while he held the phone tightly with his two hands. "Come and see me! I have so many new toys, Nelli! Then the four of us could have fun together. We will have so much fun!"


    " I will definitely come and visit you! I really, really miss you so much. My sweetie!" Nelli hummed into the phone. "But wouldn''t it be just the three of us who would be playing together?" She asked him in feigned innocence. Nelli hadn''t missed a single word.


    "No, four of us." Adrien protested vehemently. "I bet Alec wants to play too!"


    "Ahh! Who''s Alec?"


    "Alec is my friend. He gives me so many cool presents!"


    "Is he nice to you and Lily?"


    "Yes! We always play together. Me and Alec and Lily! I even sometimes get to ride on his back." Excited, he tugged at Lily''s dress. "Right, Lily?!"


    "That''s so nice, Addy! My sweetie, Nelli, will come and visit you soon. I miss you, sweetie. Then we can all play together. You''ll have to introduce me to your new friend. Will you?"


    She paused for a moment before asking. "Could you pass me Lily for a moment, sweetie? I need to tell her something."

 Chapter 75 - I will be there for you

    Lily put the phone back to her ear. Adrien sat curiously in her lap and watched her keenly.


    "Lil!" The firm voice of her friends rang through the loudspeaker.


    "Hmm?"


    "I trust you will look after the little one. But how are you?" Her voice seemed almost relieved.


    "Me?" She asked baffled. How did she feel? This question caught her by surprise. As did her feelings. Right now, she felt like she was in a state of constant overwhelming. She had not yet thought about this situation herself. After all, she had to function. Adrien needed her. And her feelings... her feelings, she wouldn''t let them get to her. She was hiding them. Stored them in a dark place. Out of reach. She refused to deal with any of them.


    She sensed her hesitation. "l... I''m not sure." She confessed somehow lost. The trembling in her voice could hardly be suppressed, as could the sprouting uncertainty. A somewhat queasy feeling spread through her.


    Lionelle gasped for breath. "You don''t understand?! Ha!" Something in her voice became more heated. Stunned. Then a deep breath. "Lil! Whatever! You guys are all right? Are you?"


    She squeezed her lids together, hesitated and then opened them again. "Yes, we''re fine. Under the given circumstances... You know... I think I''d be really screwed without his help. I mean... all this just took me by surprise. Before that, I couldn''t even handle my own life. And now? Now I have to take care of a toddler." Lily laughed bitterly and felt Adrien pressed himself closer against her. She knew the boy was very attentive. She felt unease. Automatically, she bent down to kiss him on the forehead, to ease his discomfort. She had to be strong for him. "You know..." she began hesitantly.


    "It''s all one big mess. I feel like everything would fall apart at once." Her voice grew quieter. "You were right. Pascal is dangerous." Her voice faltered as she remembered that awful night.


    "All right." She were interrupted by the firm voice of Lionelle. "You need a shoulder to cry on. "I''m coming over now! Tell the staff that I¡äll come or I won''t get in. You live in a fortress. I mean it." She heard a click and then just the stady beeping sound. Nelli had hung up. Perplexed Lily stared at the phone, heard the beeping of the empty line.


    Adrien reached for her hand and looked at her questioningly. His little head tilted to the side in this innocent way. "What''s wrong?" He asked her.


    "Um... i think your aunt Nelli is coming to visit us now..."


    "Really?"


    She nodded reluctantly. Every movement was as slow as in slow motion. Her friend managed to surprise her again and again. But that was Lionelle. Like a kamikaze pilot. Fast and unstoppable when she set her mind to something. "Yup! We are going to get a visitor now!" She confirmed again. More for herself than for Adrien. But he jumped up enthusiastically and squealed loudly. His face shone with happiness.


    Lionelle was also an important person for the toddler. After all, he had known his aunt since birth. Lionelle was as important to Elodie as Lily was to her.


    Lily got up and went into the living room. ... Where she informed the staff of the coming visit.


    Then she remembered... How would Nelli know her new address. She was sure Alexandre was careful with his personal information. But...Nelli. Nelli knew more than most, as usual. She decided to simply ask her later.

 Chapter 76 - A blissful piece of cake

    She slipped into a dress with long sleeves and tried desperately to cover her bruises which were most obvious. She tried to cover them with make-up and applied tons of skin colored cream all over her face. However, she sighed as she noticed that the dark spots were still shimmering through. Lily was annoyed. She still couldn''t manage to apply the make-up properly. The realization hit her like a blow, she was so useless as a woman. Not even make-up she could apply. She looked more like a clown than a proper lady. In despair, she picked up the bar of soap to clean her face.


    She decided she would play with open cards and confess everything to Lionelle. Why was she deluding herself anyway? Nelli would find out everything anyway. After all, she was a master of the Inquisition! She would fry Lily until the girl would admit every secret. There was no escape. Because Lionelle already knew the best ways to torture Lily.


    With her shoulders lowered, Lily walked back down the staircase and settled herself on the couch next to Adrien.


    Adrien looked at Lily with big eyes. "Where have you been?" He asked sullenly. Before he let his eyes wander back to the plate on the table. To push the piece of cake on his fork into his little red mouth. Delight illuminated his features while he smacked. Pushing his fork back into the piece of cake on his plate.


    "Is it tasty?" Lily asked while her mouth kept watering.


    Addy nodded eagerly and smacked his lips, blissfully.


    Lily laughed. "I''m sure Nelli won''t mind if we start without her." With hungry eyes she bent over and placed a thick piece of Sachertorte onto her plate.


    But before she could even manage to get a bite of the delicious dessert, one of the maids came in and announced the arrival of the visitor.


    As soon as Adrien recognized his beloved aunt behind the maid, he whirled up from the divan and sprinted to the girl.


    "Nelli." He screamed in delight and hurried straight to Lionell, who had bent down to welcome the little fellow with open arms.


    "Slowly! I''m not running away." Her friend was giggling. "First, give me your plate."


    Astonished, the eyes of the toddler remained caught on the plate, which he still held with both hands. Before he squealed in delight. "Taste it! It''s tasty."


    "Adrien, why aren''t you so nice to me? You never share with me at all!" Lily protested.


    "You got your own piece!" The toddler exclaimed in indignation.


    Lily frowned. So soon she was abandoned!


    Full of laughter, her friend thanked her little nephew, took the fork on the plate and broke off a piece. "Mhhh! Yummy!"


    Happy about Nelli''s praise, the child''s round cheeks turned red and out of his eyes the sun started to shine. "We have lots of more!" He beamed and took his guest by the hand to guide her to the sitting area.

 Chapter 77 - No manners

    Alexandre pushed the slender arms off his shoulders. Still, the easy gal didn''t seem ready to give up. She rose up behind him, straightening her back. Underneath the fine silk fabric, her full breasts became clearly visible, while she skillfully displayed her charming femininity. She slowly strolled around the armchair. Her nude-coloured pumps clattered across the floor as she placed one long leg in front of the other. Her straight hair floated like a red veil around her curves, dancing seductively with every step. Claudio leaned back, enjoyed the show.


    The girl paused for a moment in front of him. Posing in all her glory before his eyes. And then she let herself slide on his lap. As smooth as a cat, she leaned against him with that tender body of hers.


    But Alec''s face remained motionless. "Let go!" The words were no more than a whisper. She made his skin crawl. But the girl only pressed herself even closer against him, rubbing her butt against his crotch, and began to plant wet kisses on his neck.


    He scowled. The cards in his hand began to tremble before he finally threw them on the table, just before he grabbed the girl and tried to throw her off his lap. But like a tick, she clung to him, wrapped herself around his neck. The biting sweetish smell of her perfume got into his nose. He felt like he needed to choke. He didn''t like those cheap prostitutes. Why couldn''t his friends invite some cultivated prostitutes. Do they always have to pick up these street girls?! He didn''t want his body to suffer even more and jumped up. The redhead fell with her butt on the floor. She didn''t expect he would be so rude. Somehow stupefied she looked up at him after landing on her butt. After a split-second of silence she began to sob desperately. In the room everything went into silence. All eyes were on him, which irritated him even more. Everything Alexandre wanted just a bit of peace. But...


    He felt fooled. If he''d known what was going to happen at the club tonight, he would have refused the invitation.


    "Why do you avoid me? Am I ugly? Why...?" Her voice sounded shrill in his ears. He looked down at her coldly. A woman without quality! He despised women like that who couldn''t even read between the lines. Annoyed, he fixed his collar and closed the button she had opened.


    But suddenly the girl jumped back on her feet, wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed her face onto his chest. Wet tears began to drench his shirt. A shiver ran down his back.


    "What do you want me to do?" She cried in despair.


    Alexandre steeled himself, quickly grabbed both of her arms to force her back. Shoved them off harshly. Again she landed on her bottom.


    He glared at her while she sat crying on the floor. The thick layer of make up ran down her cheeks along side her crocodile tears. Alexandre looked at her in disgust. "Don''t you dare to pull something like this ever again. It''s disgusting! It''s obvious someone like you can''t get close to me."


    Her face turned pale as she looked at him with fear in her eyes.


    But he no longer paid attention to her at all. Instead, he looked at Claudio with a gloomy expression. "I''m leaving! If you want to spend the night at my place, follow me now!"


    "Huh! Just when things were getting interesting." Claudio protested.


    "Calm down! I''ll get you another girl. How about Rose..." Emile intervened, but was mercilessly subdued by Alexandre.


    "I''m leaving now!" He rushed out of the room.


    "How annoying." Claudio stared dismissively at the girl on the floor. "Next time choose some girls with better manners. I can''t stand these cheap ones. See you later!" He snorted and rushed after Alexandre. Even he was a bit annoyed at the way things were going. He had hoped to have a little fun himself tonight. But...never mind!


    After Claudio left the building, he could hardly see his friend''s sport car leaving the parking lot at full speed. A curse lay on the lips of the young man, while he followed the black car with his eyes. Before he also sat down in his sport car scales. The piles of sheets were still lying on his passenger seat. The important documents he was supposed to deliver personally. He hoped the trip wasn''t in vain.


    It was important. He knew that himself.


    Claudio got into his white Audi R8 LMS and drove off.

 Chapter 78 - Blowflies

    He raises his eyebrow. "What a surprise, Lady de Carvoisin."


    Nelli returned his smile. "The pleasure is all mine."


    "I am quite surprised, Lady de Carvoisin. I must honestly admit I was not aware of your visit." Still Alexandre tried not to lose the overly friendly smile on his lips. Actually, he had hoped to finally regain his peace within his four walls. But now another redhead was sitting in his home with whom he did not want to deal with.


    "Alec... um...Nelli...I mean Lady de Carvoisin. It is my neglect of not informing you of her arrival. The visit was rather spontaneous." Lily bit her red lower lip. "Lily was biting her red lip. As Alexandre watched this little action with his eyes, he immediately felt the urge to bite her red lips himself. Her lips were juicy and reddish, reminding him each time of a pair of ripe cherries. His eyes darkened, his gaze was captivated by this little gesture. He knew she did not do it on purpose. Yet it was so damned tempting. "You said you''d be late tonight. I thought until you''ll come..."


    "Am I not welcome?" In feigned shock, Nelli placed her hand on her cheek. Challenge was sparkling in her eyes. Lily could already imagine what was haunting her friend''s mind. She still hadn''t told her friend the truth, after all, Adrien was still present. Which is probably why Nelli her own imagined about how the story had progressed until this point. And Lily saw that Alexander was not doing very well within this storyline.


    She tried to react, but a tiny whine interrupted her before she could say anything.


    "Why can''t Nelli be here?" Adrien whimpered. His eyes started to get glassy.


    Alexandre stared at him blankly for the split of a second and for the first time ever he felt betrayed by his new family. All he wanted was to spend time with them, but suddenly there was this redheaded intruder who was favoured. When he arrived, he was neither greeted friendly at the door. Nor was he given a warm embrace. Instead, the butler told him about the surprise visit.


    He was annoyed. He hated being surprised!


    When he came into the room, his little family surprised him even more!


    Adrien chatted without restraint with the redhead. And Lily looked at that damn woman with admiration, as if she were her knight in shining armor. She''d never looked at him like that before.


    "But of course not." He muttered, reaching down to ruffle Adrien''s hair. "Lady de Carvoisin is more than welcome in this house." He wanted to get rid of her! Quickly! Alexandre had to make a good mine to get rid of her. Even he could notice the evil sparkle in her eyes.


    He was just about to sit down next to Lily and was already planning how he would get rid of this annoying visitor, as suddenly the next troublemaker burst in.


    Claudio were strolling in behind the butler. Alexandre felt he would get a headache.


    Disgruntled, Alexandre grabbed the cup of tea that one of the maids was handing him.


    "Claudio what a surprise." He stated soberly. "I thought you wanted to stay at the club a while longer."


    "I thought I told you about my plans." With a mocking grin he stepped to the table. He enjoyed it as all eyes were now on him. Astonished. Curious.


    "Won''t you introduce me?" But his dark gaze drifted to the redhead who was quietly sipping her tea.


    Ha! Alexandre thought to himself.


    He could also get rid of both flies with one blow. Should he play Armor tonight?!


    "Of course!" Alexandre sneered. "This is my wife Lillian and my son Adrien."


    Gallantly Claudio leaned forward and gently kissed Lily''s hand. Alexandre could hardly contain himself. He wanted to knock her hand out of his greasy hands. He immediately grabbed Lilly, and rubbed with his thumb over the spot that his lips had touched.


    Amusement was in Claudio''s eyes, which annoyed Alexandre even more. He wanted to throw him out. But he tried to be friendly and keep his composure.


    "And this is Lady Lionelle de Carvoisin. A friend of my wife." Which he also wanted to get rid of as quickly as possible.


    Again this bastard bent over to kiss the hand of Lady de Carvoisin.

 Chapter 79 - Guest in a Romcom

    There was a sparkle in Claudio''s eyes when he reached for her hand and slowly led it towards his lips. His gaze sought hers and did never break contact with her eyes. His gaze looked straight into her green mirrors.


    But as soon as Claudio''s lips touched the soft skin of the back of her hand, she pulled her hand away from him.


    He grinned wryly. "It''s an honor to make your acquaintance this lovely evening."


    Nelli rolled her eyes. " Let me offer you a goodbye." Nelli winked coquettishly at him. A tender smile was playing around her lips.


    "Excuse me?!" Claudio asked, stunned.


    Boldly, as always, the hope of another man was destroyed. Getting Lionelle''s attention wasn''t easy. So Lily liked to call her the femme fatale of the world.


    After all, Nelli was not unaware of her presence she had on men'' s world. After her social debut, Nelli hadn''t had an easy time. Gentlemen were buzzing around her like moths to a flame. But their intentions were not always of pure nature.


    Lionelle was too enchanting.


    Nelli''s appearance, her seductive body, her soft voluminous curves and the alluring face with magical-demonic features, often attracted the wrong kind of gentlemen. That'' why Lionelle had to build a wall around her heart. She began to use words, like cannonballs, to shoot around herself. Like this, she wanted to sift out all those man whose intentions were not honest at all.


    Roaring laughter broke the awkward silence. Alexandre curled up beside Lily and buried his head in her shoulder while holding her in his arms. His body vibrated as he laughed out loud into her neck.


    Adrien leaned his head to the side. There were big thick question marks in his eyes. While Lily looked pityingly at the man whom Nelli had turned down without winking.


    Actually, he appeared quite nice, she thought. Actually, he looked pretty good, as he stood next to her friend. Claudio was tall and imposing, with broad shoulders, dark brown hair and green sparkling eyes that stood out thanks to his dark olive skin color. He was more the southern type and had something daring in his appearance. Another one of those beauties! Lily thought intoxicated by him. The author didn''t mention anything about him, but he was definitely made of main character material. Such guys seemed to exist in this world like a dime a dozen! Were there even people who looked normal in this world? How would she ever be able to digest that? Lily asked herself while her gaze paused on Claudio.


    Suddenly Alexandre wrapped his hand around hers. His grip was firm, but also warm. Lily looked over at him. He seemed to have cooled down. But there was something threatening in his gaze. "I would also like to offer you my farewells!" He grinned like a wolf. "Since you have invited yourself. I do not have the hope that you will leave us tonight."


    "You act like a tyrant. The minute you''re married, you send your old friend to hell. You are hurting my feelings." Theatrically Claudio put his hand on his heart. He had apparently caught himself again after Nelli''s attack. He sat down next to Nelli. "My dear, I''m afraid I can''t accept your goodbye. I hope to be able to deepen our acquaintance."


    Lily gasped for breath. She felt like she was in a movie. Like she was watching a romcom play in front of her eyes. In which Claudio and Nelli were playing the leading roles. Tension was in the air.


    Alexadre snorted contemptuously beside her.

 Chapter 80 - Dear readers

    Dear readers,


    Here comes the sad truth. I overestimated myself and can''t update the story today ( ????¦Ø???? ). I''m really sorry, but until the end of January the updates will remain a bit irregular. I''m now in the middle of exam preparation time as the semester is almost near the end and most of my time is therefore spent on studying or writing essays. .¡¤¡ä¡¥`(>¨y<)¡ä¡¥`¡¤. I hope for your understanding.


    Of course, I will try to write new chapters as often as possible. (£Þ¨Œ£Þ)


    And I wish you further on a lot of fun while reading.


    Best wishes


    ¡ã???(???)???¡ã

 Chapter 81 - Sparks

    "Nice! I always wanted a pet." Nelli was grinning proudly. The girl had gained some experience since her debut and knew exactly which methods were the most successful to defame the male ego. Pride was an easy target.


    "How about a lover instead." But Claudio did not let himself be put off.


    At the same time Lily reached for the plate and started shovelling one bite after the other into her mouth. The cake was delicious. A real explosion of Chocolate with a delicate note of fruit. It was Alexandre who was watching his wife with concern. Finally, pulling away her plate. Lily looked at him with wonder.


    "Don''t eat so fast. You''ll get a stomachache."


    "Don''t worry, my stomach is a machine. I think i need some popcorn." She mischievously whispered into his ear while she was watching the show enthralled.


    "If you were prettier, I would have said yes." Lionelle struck again.


    "Beauty is enough to catch the eye. But it takes character to be remembered." Claudio explained, suppressing a smile.


    "Congratulations, your noble character reminds invisible."


    "I know. Unfortunately, every day I end up being underestimated. But I''m glad you are able to realize the truth." Claudio leaned over to her, smooth as a feline predator. Every move sexy as hell. His eyes sparkling alluring. Lily could feel how the sparks flew between the two of them.


    But Nelli only pursed her red lips. Sending signals as lascivious as her enemy''s. "Many people underestimate what they are. And overestimate what they are not."


    "Don''t worry. I''m outstanding!" He winked at her in the most charming way that would move any woman''s heart. But Nelli remained merciless.


    "When I''m interested in your thoughts, I''ll call you."


    "I need your number for that. Would you please give me your phone?" He stretched out his hand in a demanding manner. Which Nelli turned away without thinking.


    "I''m sorry. In your case, I don''t have one."


    "I think we''re gonna start a war."


    "What?" In bewilderment, Lionelle glanced at her opponent. His eyes were shining. As if he had longed for this moment.


    His face became deadly serious, as if life and death were at stake. "Because my saber is itching." Shock and Silence were hanging heavy in the air. Three pairs of eyes widen as they realize how obscene these words really were. Words which should never be used in the presence of ladies or children. And yet they were dropped. Stunned by this fact, pale faces stared into space. No one was able to suspect that he would dare to use this words.


    The only one who seemed to enjoy the situation was the culprit himself. Who had reached his goal with his provocation.


    Even Linonelle, who never was short of the right words, kept her lips closed. Behind her forehead, thoughts danced tango. Nelli did not know whether she should be offended or rather amused. This boldness, this directness was rather refreshing.


    "What is a saber?" Adrien asked in his childish innocence.

 Chapter 82 - Saber

    "Yes, what''s a saber!? You''II better ask your Uncle Claudio!" Alexandre pressured it onto him. His voice sounds very calm and controlled. But in his eyes a warning gleamed.


    Full of expectation, Adrien turns to Claudio. His attitude was rather shy towards the stranger, yet expectation shimmered in his eyes. Curiosity to understand what the adults knew, but he didn''t. Thoughtfully, Claudio stroked his index finger over his full lower lip, his eye wandering to the little boy. "Come here." He beckoned the toddler to him before he let his hand slip under his jacket.


    Thoughtfully, Claudio caressed over his full lower lip with his index finger, his eyes wandering to the little boy. "Come here." He beckoned the toddler to him before he let his hand slide under his jacket.


    Suspiciously, Adrien slipped off Nelli''s lap and took two steps towards the new uncle.


    "This is a dagger." Claudio held a small knife made of gold and colorful gems in his palm. The blade was slightly curved and stuck in a scabbard, which was elaborately crafted with golden ornaments and gemstones. The eyes of the little boy glittered as he looked at the beautiful piece. The colorful stones were sparkling in the golden light of the illuminations. He had never seen anything so fascinating before.


    But Lily''s face turned pale as chalk.


    "Ohh!" Marveled the child and stretched out his little hands towards the knife.


    "A saber is much, much bigger. And much more dangerous." Claudio laughed calmly while he pressed the knife into the child''s hands. "Keep it!"


    Lily''s head was tingling, as she was already on her feet, jumping towards Adrien. Removed with gentle determination the dangerous knife out of his soft hands. Before she took the little child into her arms. Her heart was pounding heavily. She pressed his head against his chest. Her body was hot and cold at the same time.


    Alexadre had also jumped to his feet. "What are you doing?" He asked with subliminal threat. His face was unreadable, only a hint of anxiety shimmering in his silver eyes.


    "Uh..." Claudio stuttered. Who was suddenly surrounded by overwhelming hostility. He didn''t understand why. He just wanted to please the child.


    Suddenly, a blow to the back of his head. Light but firm. He turned around. Asking.


    "Are you crazy? You can''t give a kid a knife. He could have hurt himself!" Lionelle was as white as a sheet and as shocked as the boy''s parents.


    Claudio swallowed. His mouth felt dry.


    But Adrien hummed dissatisfied in Lily''s arms. He raised his head in accusation. "I just wanted to play!" He tilted his head. "Why did you take it away from me?" Addy protested outraged and stretched out his hand in demand. His little fingers wriggled as he asked for the new toy.


    "That''s not a toy for you yet." Alexandre explained calmly and took the knife out of Lily''s hand. "I''ll save it for you until you''re old enough." Alexandre looks at him earnestly with his icy silver eyes.


    For a split second, the toddler frowned and also looked Alexandre straight in the eyes before frustratedly burying his head in Lily''s shoulder.


    Alexandre lifted him up and put him on his hip, gently stroking the toddler''s cheek. Adrien lifted his head again and looked up at Alexandre who had walked a few steps towards Claudio with the boy in his arms.


    "Say thank you to your uncle. You liked the present after all." Adrien nods eagerly and looks at the desperate man who was reflecting on his actions in silence.


    "Thank you." Marbled the little guy shyly and pulled his face to a charming baby smile.


    "Will you tuck him in?"


    Lily nodded. It was late. Way past the kid''s normal bedtime. He was certainly tired already. Addy reached out to her. Carefully, Alexandre handed the toddler back to Lily. The little one was wrapping his arms around her neck and clung to her.


    "I''m not tired." A stubborn little man was staring at her. Alexandre tousled Addy''s hair. "C''mon, buddy. It''s bed time."


    "But I still want to play with Nelli!" Addy interrupted him in a fit of protest.


    "We can still play tomorrow."


    "Really?"


    "Pinky Promise." Nelli held her little finger out to him. Addy had already twisted his chubby finger with hers. "Pinky Promise!" He chuckled happily and had Lily take him to bed.

 Chapter 83 - Hope to see you soon

    There was a threatening smile on Alexandre''s lips as he let himself sink back into the sofa. "I don''t know if I should throw you out now." He confessed with a deep wrinkle hissing his eyebrows. "Or should I rather teach you how to behave."


    "Since behavior is the only option that allows me to remain as your guest. I choose option B." Claudio leaned back into the soft cushion.


    "This isn''t ''''Who Wants to Be a Millionaire''." A hint of amusement dances across Lady de Carvoisin''s face.


    "You realize the more you spread your claws, the more interesting you are to me, kitten." Snorted Claudio.


    "I hope you realize that if you continue to behave so rudely in my house, you''re finished." Alexandre shook his head and rushed down the now cold tea. Meanwhile, wishing for something stronger. A glass of cognac, rum or vodka. Later he would give his friend a piece of advice. But now was not the right time. After all, there was a lady present. Though she did not behave like one. Her tongue was like a sharp sword, always ready to attack. He didn''t know what to think.


    The manner his wife and the boy were behaving around her... The two seemed to cherish her. Still he decided to observe, though he didn''t feel comfortable doing so.


    His eyes hardly widened at all when he looked at her, but nothing else changed. His face remained firm. "Lady de Carvoisin, it is very late. I would like to offer you to be our guest for tonight. But you are still an unmarried lady. It is not proper. Without a chaperone."


    She smiled. "Of course. But first I''d like to say goodbye to your wife, if you don''t mind."


    "Of course..."


    "Why such politeness?! It doesn''t suit you." Claudio whispered wickedly.


    Pissed, Alexandre closed his eyes and suppressed the upcoming groan. Could this man never shut up when he was supposed to. What was wrong with him today?


    Claudio leaned forward, his gaze was full of expectations when he looked over to his new toy. But this one did not pay him any attention. Ignoring him and staring straight at Alexandre. "I''m going to enjoy my tea until the Madame will return. You may continue your work if you still have something to do. Don''t feel obliged to entertain me."


    Alexandre nodded. "Then we''ll apologize, Lady de Carvoisin." But before he got up he paused once more. "Shall I have a car come for you to take you home?"


    "That would be very nice."


    "But of course. It''s a pleasure to be of service. Well, I''ll excuse myself. I''ll see you tomorrow, Mademoiselle. Have a safe journey home. Good night, Mademoiselle."


    Alexandre stood up and wanted to take Claudio with him, who made no effort to stand up.


    But suddenly he settled down on the floor, knelt beside the beautiful woman taking her delicate hand.


    Confusion was written all over Lionelle''s face. Confusion which Claudio used for himself before she had the chance to pull her hand away from him. He gently kissed her knuckles. "To our soon reunion, mademoiselle." Admiration flashed up in his eyes as he put her hand to his chest. She could feel a throbbing beat. His heart, wildly beating beneath her hand.


    The girl gasped for breath. That jerk! But before she could make another move, he had already jumped up and hurried out of the room. Alexandre lowered his head apologetically before turning away and leaving the room.

 Chapter 84 - Driven by revenge

    Alexandre leaned into his desk chair. The documents were scattered on the table.


    "So this time, CumEx deals! Hmph..."


    "France, Italy and Spain as main markets. Norway and the Belgian markets are being exploited." Claudio explained to his friend.


    Alexandre nodded. "Interesting. So he invested 150 million and made a profit of 10 million within 3 months. Not bad." His gaze became a shade harder as he sifted through the documents. "So he wouldn''t even stop at betray the government. He grows more and more ruthless over the years." Alexandre Laughter was dry. He knew that Gaston de Cocieux was a tough businessman who didn''t even shy away from murder. Nothing was sacred to him. All that mattered to him was his goal, and as long as he achieved it, any means were fine.


    Gaston would not stop until the house of de Valois was on fire. And all because of one woman.


    Lovesick bastard!


    They were so much more alike than Alexandre liked. He could not forgive, driven by revenge that ate through his bones. He would not leave Danielle''s murder unpunished. Alexandre would send that scumbag to hell. But not yet. He didn''t have the power he needed to attack Gaston yet.


    His eyes sparkled with rage. Good! He would wait again. He would lurk. He had time. He was young compared to the old geezer. He could take all the time he needed.


    "You''re no better." Claudio grinned.


    "That''s right. No risk is too much for me until I have him by his balls."


    Still that bastard was covered by a few powerful men in France. But for how long? What risks would they take? Men of power were actually quite similar. They loved to brag about their white vests. Even if the vests only shone from the outside. They didn''t mind as long as nobody dared to take a look under their vests. A vest which was completely dirty underneath the white facade. They pretended, lied and cheated. As long as nobody caught them. But when the first stain soiled their vests, they would do anything to get the vest clean again. Though he didn''t know which men were holding their hands over Gaston. But how long would they cover him? He''d also have to link their names to Gaston''s crimes. He needed to pressure them. Until they could no longer protect Gaston. The safest way was to discredit their reputation.


    "Keep watching him. I want to know about all his illegal dealings and the business partners involved."


    "Pretty noble of you to care for your half-brother''s child. After all, his mother is to blame for this entire feud." The corners of Claudio''s mouth twitched in amusement. The irony made everything taste even sweeter. "You''re caring so sweetly for the little one. I never thought you''d make a good father. Actually, I thought you''d let them both rot in one of your mansions. But you seem to enjoy it, don''t you?"


    "Enjoying?" Alexandre mumbled. Tilting his head. The corners of his mouth hardly lift at all. "If I''m not nice, she''ll run away. With all her fortune. At this point, she has the possibility, although she doesn''t realize it. I want her to remain in that state until I''ve taken everything. Till she has no way out."


    "Speaking of enjoying ourselves. I want to have fun, too. Maybe I should settle down. I could well imagine myself with this Lady de Carvoisin. I like taming stubborn girls." Claudio grinned silently to himself for a moment, lost in his thoughts. "Get me her contacts."


    "I believe you have better means to get her information."


    "All you have to do is ask your wifey for her number."


    "All you have to do is ask one of your men and you''ll get her whole CV."


    Claudio shrugged his shoulders. "If you won''t help me... I''ll have to turn to your wifey. She looks nice. She''ll surely set up a date for me."


    Alexandre nodded slowly, watched Claudio attentively with a stiff face.


    "Carvoisin will turn you down. You don''t even have to try it. She has eaten so many noblemen. You''d better let it go."


    "She hasn''t crossed my path yet. She didn''t know what she needed."


    Alexandre snorted. "An ego as big as the Himalayas. Mmm... You need an opportunity to convince her of your merits."


    Claudio smiled. "You know me."

 Chapter 85 - Close your eyes

    Alexandre pulled Lily into his arms. Her body was soft. Warm. Automatically, her delicate body snuggled up against his. He flashed her a quick grin, her face nestled against his chest. Moaning he closed his eyes to blot her out and fight the temptation.


    He looked down at her. Her eyelids were tightly closed, the long lashes casting dark shadows on her cheeks. The snow-white skin seemed to glow in the moonlight. As if she were a magical being, not of this world.


    Yet she seemed so much younger. When she slept so peacefully. A smile had lingered on his lips. He had got used to the feeling that he would fall asleep with her in his arms and wake up again with her in his arms. How quickly habits could change. The nightmares seemed to vanish.


    Her hair was still damp from the bath. But she smelled so good. He buried his nose deeper in her hair. Sweet and refreshing, like a gentle spring breeze. Her scent had something soothing, something relaxing. It was airy, light and fresh. Like her. He was drawn to her scent. Finally got rid of that disgustingly sweet smell from that harlot at the club.


    Alexandre took one of her brown strands between thumb and forefinger, wrapped it around his finger. Soft, like silk.


    There was nothing wrong with it, if he enjoyed his life. If he had a little fun. After he got his revenge, life would go on. Maybe he could enjoy it, as well. Even if he didn''t love her. He could still find a way to enjoy life with her and the boy. No one would blame him.


    Slowly he brushed over the bridge of her nose with his finger, down to her lips. Full, soft lips. Always reminding him how sweet her kisses were. Clumsy, but lovely.


    There were no arguments against it. She was his wife. Even after he achieved his goals, she would remain his wife. She would bear him an heir.


    Alexandre bedded his head next to hers, put his chin on her head. He took more and more pleasure in this familiarity.


    But he would only love one woman in his life.


    Danielle.


    For a moment he was catapulted into a nightmare, looking at a dead body on a muddy ground. "I''m sorry." He muttered.


    But before that, what was she like? Always seeing those horrible pictures. Images that blocked everything else in his mind. He buried his face deeper in Lily''s hair. She had blonde hair, bright as the sun. The night he first met her... Her expression was vivid and dazzling. Like summer. Her personality took up the whole room. Yeah, if Lily was like spring, she was his summer. Like a Intoxicated, he had asked for an opera glass and peeped over at her throughout the performance. She shone brilliantly bright in this tight dress. It was red, like her lips, red like sunset. Every curve was caressed by the velvety fabric. His mind had gone wild at the time after he had noticed the slit at the side, revealing honey-colored skin for a split second with each step she took, but then disappearing again. She was hot. Immediately set his heart on fire. Like all those times before.


    Of course he was seeking her company. She was very formal, kept him at a distance. It was a cat-and-mouse game. Playing it too often already. With tons of ladies. But his heart didn''t move once. He soon lost his interest.


    It was the second time which caught his attention.

 Chapter 86 - Mermaid

    The woman lolling in the water next to Alexandre floating island pulled up her top. Two white breasts, round and fake, bounced in front of him. He laughed and raised a glass to her. The sticky alcohol spilled over and ran down his hand. He gulped down the rest of the liquid with one gulp and indicated to Blondie to get some more by promising to take her to his suite later. Her eyes glowed hungrily. In her mind she was already close to the duchess title. His mother would kill him if he married one of those American girls. But he liked their way of life. That sense of freedom and ease. He especially liked the American showgirls. Cheeky and nonchalant, not as stiff as the European girls.


    He was a few meters away from the beach. The sun was hitting his body while loud music echoed from the beach. An American friend, Ethan Hutton, had invited them on a little vacation in the Caribbean. It had rather developed into an orgy. Alexandre laid his head back. The sun was bouncing off the dark lenses of his sunglasses. He had lost track. How many days has he been here? When was the last time he was sober? He didn''t mean to feel bad about it. He''d long lost his faith in humanity. Every woman who was half interested in him wanted either his money or a title.


    Alec accepted the drink that a dark-haired beauty handed him. "Thank you, sweetheart." How many glasses had he had, anyway? He poured the cocktail down. It was strong, burned down his throat. He wanted to get really drunk and have some fun. By the time he got back to Europe, a dull life would be awaiting him there. All planned, customized! Like all the generations before him. In order for his father to hand down his titles to him, he had to get married. A girl from a good family. Docile, obedient, boring. He took the Caribbean beauty in his lap, brushed her black hair behind one ear. She giggled. Her full lips curled up into a sexy smile. Her eyes glistening like obsidian under the blazing sunlight. If he married her, his mother would faint and his father would go on a rampage. His relatives would scream with indignation. Just to see their reactions would be worth marrying someone who did not fit into their world view.


    "So...?" She leaned closer, pressing her full breasts against his chest. Those were definitely real breasts. She caressed his lips tenderly with her caramel-coloured finger.


    "Do you think I have what it takes to be your duchess?" She was purring with a Spanish accent.


    "I guess so. But it''s gonna take some convincing."


    Blondie swam up to them with a cocktail in her hand. Her face was twisted into a poisonous grimace for a moment when she saw someone else tampering with her prey in her absence. But in the next moment she was showing a sweet smile. Alexandre suppressed his smile. He accepted the drink and pulled Blondie onto his island of plastic.


    "So you both want to be duchess?" Again he gulped down the drink in one gulp. The alcohol slowly became noticeable.


    Blondie was laughing. It sounded shrill in his ears. "I was thinking of having a little fun. But if you''re looking for a duchess, I''m at your service."


    The Caribbean beauty sulked at these words. Alexandre leaned over, hungrily pressing his lips onto hers. Her lips were soft and tender. She moaned, immediately allowing his tongue to enter her mouth. It tasted like a sweet guava.


    The showgirl trembled slightly under his hand. He liked angry sex, then he let go of the dark-haired girl, lifted the chin of the American and then kissed her without restraint. Suddenly the exotic girl slipped from his lap. He heard the water splashing and she swam away. With dark eyes he looked at her back. "Don''t you want to have an adventure with the three of you? I was going to make the two of you my duchesses tonight." He purred. "How about an adventure on the high seas?" With one hand he removed the cloth from Blondie''s chest. His eyes were dark as he looked at her white hills. But when he looked up again... There was a silent rage in her eyes. He raised his eyebrows in wonder. Suddenly a slap.


    "An adventure alone is more likely!" His cheek burned as he put his hand on it. He was confused. "Bastards like you think they could do anything!" She snorted loudly, jumped into the water, and finally gave his island a violent push.


    Alec fell down and fell into the water. Everything was spinning around him. He didn''t know which end was up. The alcohol shot up in his head. His body was paralyzed. Water burned his lungs as he tried to catch his breath. Confusing him even more. His muscles contracted painfully. He flailed around wildly, but his muscles tightened even more. As he sank like a stone and the current pulled at him. Pulled him into the sea. Bright sunbeams burst through the dark surface of the sea.


    But suddenly a woman''s face appeared in front of him. A mermaid. Eyes as clear as turquoise seas. Her hair fluttering around him like rays of sunlight. She reached under his arms and pulled him to the surface. Pressing him against her soft breasts. "Breathe." Roared her voice at him. He barely had time to process her words as darkness fell around him.


    "Breathe." He heard in the distance. Then he felt velvety-soft lips on his. Air was pressed into his lungs. It hurt like hell. A stream of water came out of his mouth and nose. He turned his head to the side and spat it out. Dark spots danced in front of his eyes. As he recognized the shining face of his mermaid. She had saved him. Her look was worried, but at the same time so proud.


    Alec felt butterflies fluttering in his belly.


    He had fallen in love.

 Chapter 87 - Sweet apples that are worth the effort

    "Good morning, Madame de Valois." Claudio greeted Lily with a sugar smile.


    Lily stopped briefly, dazzled by the radiant smile of the man who had apparently been waiting for her at the table.


    "Good morning." She replied to his greeting before putting Adrien in his child''s chair. The still drowsy boy grieved over the lost warmth. Adrien had to grimace.


    "Morning, Adrien." Claudio nodded to the little master of the house. His gaze turned back onto the child, who looked at him shyly. His eyes were wide open.


    ?Hello." He said bashfully, with his eyes on the ground. His cheeks were reddened, somehow round and fluffy, like a hamster. But his little hands were trembling as he raised his gaze looking directly into Claudio''s eyes. Only for the blink of an eye he could bear the sharp gaze of the man. Before raising his chubby arms in the air and crying out for Lily.


    The little boy looked like a de Valois, with his pitch-black hair and light eyes, the face that would bring an army of women to their knees in just a few years. But his behavior was definitely not that of a small bossy lord. Claudio didn''t know if this was good or bad. But it was cute.


    He was sipping his coffee while watching the child burying his head within the girl''s arms. The plan could really work, the child seemed to resemble Alexandre a lot. It was obvious that the grandfather''s genes were very dominant. Since two generations the de Bourbon men carried the typical characteristics of the de Valois. Alexandre and his half-brother Fabien were the spitting image of their father Octave de Valois with their striking masculine features, raven black hair, silver eyes and imposing stature.


    Adrien also seemed to come after his father and grandfather. Only the eyes of the little nipper had a different color. Azure blue, like the clear sky in the middle of summer. But this made the story even more convincing. After all, the girl had blue eyes, too. True, she had the color of the deep ocean, but what difference did it make? People would tend to say the boy has his mother''s eyes.


    Since his real parents had kept the toddler quite well hidden from his true relatives, almost nobody knew what Adrien de Bourbon looked like. To the public, the child had disappeared from the face of the earth. Which gave Alexandre the opportunity to operate out of the dark.


    Lily, you don''t mind if I call you that." The girl handed the child a glass of milk. She paused. She looked straight at him, eyes bright, like the glittering night sky. She nodded, her lips curling into a soft smile. The girl seemed to radiate from within.


    He could understand why Alec threw the redhead off his lap when he had a flower like that waiting at home.


    A fine smile on his lips. "Look, I quite like Lady Lionelle. I''d be very grateful if you could help me get closer."


    Her lips twitching as she watched him with narrowed eyes. "Monsieur, I don''t want to step on your toes, but I''m not sure if Nelli wants to get to know you better." Her chin tilted up in defiance.


    ?I''m a patient man."


    ?And that means...?" Her voice was hesitant, but her gaze was firm.


    ?Women are like apples on the trees, the best ones are hanging at the top of the tree, men do not want to pick the good ones, because they''re afraid they might fall down and getting hurt, so they take the rotten apples, which are hanging close to the ground, they''re not so sweet but easy to pick, so the apples which are hanging at the top are starting to think that there''s something wrong with them, but the truth is they''re wonderful, they just have to wait for the man, who is brave enough to climb to the top of the tree!"


    She rolled her eyes, at his cheesy answer. She knew he wasn''t the man he claimed to be. And she wouldn''t send Nelli to the lions'' den. She wasn''t stupid. Trusting men in this world was dangerous for a woman. Since women depended on their husbands. Even in their freedom of choice, they were limited. Every step a woman took, she needed to ask for permission. In upper class, a woman was forbidden to work. They were not allowed to have their own income. Everything belonged to the husband. It was practically impossible to be independent. Only with marriage could they ensure their future. But most marriages were determined by the family. Women of the upper class were no more than pawns for their fathers and brothers. Love marriages were a rarity.


    Lily wanted her friend to marry out of love. She wanted Nelli to finally find her happiness. Too many times she had suffered. And Claudio stank of Casanova. She wouldn''t let him near Lionelle, but he didn''t have to know that.


    She smiled like Mother Teresa, benignly down on the sinner. And started to cut up the breakfast waffle on her plate. Every movement was graceful and delicate. "I want to know more about her." He confessed. "Tell me about her." She tilted her head. Her expression was clear and bright. "Nelli is very strong and sincere, but also funny and lovely. But at the same time, she is very suspicious of men. "Nelli is very fun-loving. But very suspicious of men. In the past there have been a few incidents with some gentlemen. She is 22 years old. The youngest daughter of the Count de Carvoisin and the nestling of the family. Therefore, it is not easy to deal with her older brothers." A gentle smile played around her lips. Like she remembered something dear to her. She started babbling about her friend, always with a beaming face. Of course, he''d know all this from Pagallo''s background check. But sometimes she revealed little things that didn''t appear in the report, but could be essential if he wanted to win her heart.

 Chapter 88 - Just a game

    "Good morning, love." Alexandre whispered in Lily''s ear after entering the dining room and sitting beside her. Softly, he kissed her under the ear before lifting his gaze and greeting his unwanted guest.


    Lily''s face was burning hot, she couldn''t stand it when he did that.


    His voice was velvety, lulling. But she knew that none of his gestures, none of his sweet declarations, were honest. It was just a game. All meant for the eyes of others. She played along so the mountain of lies wouldn''t collapse. All to keep her alive, to keep Adrien safe. She knew she didn''t have the strength to protect him. It sucked, but it was still the bitter truth. She was weak. But she had a vague knowledge of the future. After all, she had read the novel. The story might have changed. Yeah, the whole thing was a complete mess. But some events could still happen. It was not impossible.


    She still did know the characters and their behavior. For Alexander Lily was nothing more than a pawn. There was a reason why he had married her! She only didn''t know why. So she still needed to play the naive girl. And keep preparing for the worst case.


    Carefully she helped Addy cut his omelette. His face was hanging low over the plate as he picked the vegetables with his fork.


    He had round, soft cheeks. But when he looked so focused, he reminded her of Fabien. Fabien was no fool. After all, he was the story''s male lead. He was cunning enough to bring Alexandre to his knees. He wouldn''t have delivered Adrien into Lily''s hands without protection.


    "Morning!" Her mouth was dry as she smiled at Alec. If only a little of Fabien''s brilliance would have rubbed off onto her. Then she wouldn''t be here today. What a shame she was so hopelessly naive. Actually, she''s the perfect cast for Cannon Fodder. So she needed to keep up the act.


    Too late, she had realized that a secret safe deposit box was waiting for her in Zurich.


    A mistake!


    But why hadn''t the lawyer pointed it out to her? That''s the whole point of Addy''s safety, right? Weird? Just a few words would have been enough to make her aware of the important documents. She was sure she hadn''t overheard anything. Though things had been chaotic that day. But she wouldn''t have overheard anything so important!


    She looked over at Alexandre for a moment before she began to eat. A queasy feeling had been building up inside her since yesterday. She only discovered the documents by chance last night. She had nothing to do and wanted to do something useful. Nelly had just said goodbye and Alexandre had stayed in his study with Claudio for hours. She had originally been looking for Addy''s medical records. But in the process, she had accidentally stumbled upon papers to a secret safe-deposit box. They were well-hidden among the rest of the estate''s papers. Only after reading them did she realize how naive she had been and how brilliant the actual male lead of My loyal hubby was.


    Afterwards she had removed the documents relating to the safe deposit box from the folder and hidden them. Although it was an incredibly naive action. But what could she do? Just in case. Alexandre probably already knew about the safe deposit box, but at least she had the documents. He couldn''t get near it without her, and that''s the way it should stay.


    Gosh, and this patriarchal society did not make it easy for her to keep secrets. She didn''t even have a safe place to put the documents without Alec knowing. In her dressing room, the maids were always digging around! And where else would she hide the documents without Alec knowing?


    But for the time being she had smuggled the documents under her dress into her dressing room and hidden them in a hatbox. Hoping that no one would discover her secret until she found a safe hiding place.

 Chapter 89 - Knight and Teddy Bear

    The saving idea came this morning. She was just about to wake Adrien when her eyes fell on him. She couldn''t help smiling. After all, she thought for a moment she was Einstein.


    A man-sized stuffed elephant was their only option. Untouched it was sitting next to the numerous other stuffed animals. She hoped the documents were safe there. After all, it would be her safe from now on. She''d have to slit the soft toy''s back to remove the stuffing so that the documents would fit inside. Then she had dressed the Elephant in an overall so that her secret would remain hidden. It made her feel like some criminal. But what choice did she have? She really needed to talk to Nelli about this.


    Absentmindedly she chewed on the egg mixture in her mouth. She couldn''t taste anything. As she pondered the events of the past few weeks. Everything was going too smooth!


    Only now did she realize how stupid she was. If only she had been a bit more structured! Just for a moment, she should have considered the possibilities. But panic reigned her mind as she learned of the death of her friends that day. Too much weight suddenly fell on her shoulders. All she could think about was... run!


    Like a headless chicken, she had run away.


    The looming danger and lack of time had settled like snares around her neck. So she ran.


    Too bad that she had overlooked the most important thing. Fabien must have had a plan for this case. All she had to do was getting near the safe-deposit box. Everything could have been completely different! Damn it!


    But why hadn''t the lawyer pointed it out?


    That''s so strange!


    Only later did she realize what kind of mistake she had made. As she sat in the middle of Alexandre''s claws. Everything could have been different if only she hadn''t been so naive. But she still had the chance to go two-track. All she had to do was get the contents of the safe deposit box without Alexandre knowing.


    Lost in thought, she was feeding Adrien when suddenly the door opened and the butler stepped in. His face was expressionless as always, as he leaned over to Alexandre to whisper something in his ear.


    "Bring them in." Alexandre ordered and continued his conversation with Claudio in an easygoing manner. When the door opened a second time and the old butler came in, he was followed by two strangers.


    "Lily," Alexandre leaned over to her. "This is Monsieur Bassir and Mademoiselle Portner. They will accompany you on all your walks outside the house as your bodyguards. We had talked about it."


    Lily bit her lip at the sight of Alexandre''s spy brigade. Both wore casual clothes. The man was wearing jeans and a white shirt.


    Lily had to rack her head to look him in the eyes. He was gigantic. At least 2.20 meters. In contrast, she was a proper dwarf with her height of 1.63 meters. Even next to Alexandre she seemed relatively small, but next to this man she was definitely a midget. And he was muscular! Although the shirt was rather loose, it tightened enormously around his upper arms. He was clearly of the sexy, dashing surfer type. With the long brown hair that he had tied in a knot at the back of his neck, the sun-kissed skin and his shimmering like liquid gold. He was hot!


    Lily suppressed a moan. Beautiful men were a dime a dozen in this world! Definitely! That damn writer!


    Even the woman was quite something, although she had braided her white blond hair into a strict braid at the back of her neck, which made her look rather strict. She was still handsome! Yeah! She was handsome, not beautiful, but handsome. With her straight eagle-like features, her upright posture, she reminded Lily more of a Knight in shining armor. Impressive. Dazzling. Too bad she was a woman. But she was stunning!


    Lily smiled at Alexandre''s spies. "I''m going to put my life in your hands."


    "Don''t worry, Madame! Your life is safe in our hands." Spy Sexy grinned conspiratorially at her, tiny laughter lines forming around his eyes. His grin was bold and easy, yet so sincere. Although he was big and sturdy, he looked more like a giant teddy bear with a long scar that split his right eyebrow.


    Lily looked over at the handsome woman standing quietly beside the giant. Too bad she was missing this feminine softness. Her face was firm and sharp-edged as she stood there frozen. Stiff as if she was awaiting the next order.


    "Madame, your safety is our most precious virtue." However, her voice was soft and melodic, conveying security with every syllable. But something flashed in her brown eyes. Only for a moment. Vanishing too fast. Lily couldn''t see what was behind.

 Chapter 90 - An ominous Ringing

    A soft melody rang out, waking her from her dozy state. She flinched. Knowing what it meant. It was already dark. The colorful street lights flashed before her eyes. Her fingers trembled as she searched for the phone in her bag.


    "Don''t you dare back down now! You know what we talked about."


    Lily nodded reluctantly. But General Lionelle de Carvoisin would not tolerate any protests. She sighed and pressed the green button.


    "Hello." Lily muttered. A few seconds of silence.


    "Lily where are you?!" Hearing his voice so frosty, a wave of resistance broke loose in her. Emotions she often tried to suppress.


    "At the Carvoisins'' family estate." She prayed he would not discover her deception. A look at the clock told her it was late. They''d been in the car for a little over three hours. But definitely not at Nellis'' place. Now, just don''t show any weakness, she urged herself. She felt Nelli keep peering over at her as she steered the car. It probably would take them more than an hour to reach their destination. But Alexandre could not know that. She heard a growl on the other side of the phone.


    "It''s a bit late." She hurriedly interrupted him. "Yesterday we hardly had time to talk about everything. We haven''t seen each other for a long time, so we thought, why not use the time! Which is why we''re having a little sleepover party at Nelli''s. Adrien is fine. He''s already asleep." Again, a moment of silence. She could hear his breathing. Calm. Was that a good sign?


    " Funny!" His chuckle was bitter. "I visited the Carvoisins a few moments ago. But there was no sign of you."


    "We went out." She hurried to say.


    "I realize that! Where are you?!" His voice was harsh. It wasn''t a question, more like an order. "And why are you going out without your bodyguards?!"


    "They would obstruct our activities. Which is why we had to leave them behind."


    " Obstruction...so?" She heard him take a deep breath. "You tell me where you are right now!"


    She let her gaze wander out of the window. Definitely not a place he'' d approve of. She took a deep breath. "In a car..."


    " Stop playing games. Where are you?"


    Questioningly she looked over to Nelli, but she only stared at the highway. There was no way she could tell him where she was. Otherwise, he would put two and two together and everything would be over.


    "Why is it so important to you? I''m with Nelli. I''ll be home tomorrow. Addy and I are fine. Isn''t that enough?"


    She heard Alexandre snorting. "I''ll only ask you once more! Where are you?"


    Panic! Then she hung up.


    "What did you do?" Nelli hit her.


    "Hung up." The whole situation was stressful. The mobile rang again. She bit her lips. "What do I do?" She panicked and asked her friend whose idea this crazy action was born from.


    "Take a deep breath." Soothingly, Nelli put her hand on Lily''s. "Pick up... And stick to the fucking script!"


    Lily sighed before she pressed the button to accept.


    "Why did you hang up?!" She wanted to hang up right away. Her finger was twitching so treacherously already.


    "You were on the edge of your temper. I didn''t want to talk to you like that."


    "You are so damn right. I''m fucking furious. I''m getting tired of your games. What is wrong with you! You tell me where you are, now! I''m coming get you!" It was like she had a lump in her throat. She wanted to tell him everything. She felt like a naughty child who deserved to be blamed. Slowly she too was being brainwashed by this world. "I''m waiting, Lily! I''m not a very patient man when my wife is roaming God knows where."


    Time to show some backbone!


    She took a deep breath. Armed herself inside. Nelli was right, there was something wrong with that lawyer! She had to find out what. And Alexandre mustn''t suspect a thing.

 Chapter 91 - Little surprises

    He leaned against the car. His fingers trembled as he loosened his tie. He didn''t know why either, but it was hard to breathe. This situation made him even more nervous as she kept silent. So persistent! What was she hiding? He was pissed, as she didn''t replie. His whole body was electrified from the moment he realized Lily was not home. Yeah, he was worried. Shit, she even managed to ditch her bodyguards at the first day. And that scared the shit out of him. It wasn''t a good sign. Get yourself together, Valois!


    "I have a personal rule about not fighting on the telephone. That''s it..."


    "We''re not fighting, Lily darling. So cut the crap and tell me where you are!" He heard her snorting. What was wrong with her today?


    "Stop! Don''t treat me like a child. I have the right and freedom to go where I want, when I want!"


    "Sorry to burst your little bubble, but since the moment we got married, I alone have been granted this right to determine where you go and when. We don''t live in America !"


    "Legally speaking, the marriage certificate is not valid."


    Now she became ridiculous. She was his wife!


    "Honey, you signed them, just because there''s a different date on the paper doesn''t make them illegal. Any judge would agree with me because the forgery is just perfect."


    He opened his mouth to say something appeasing but what came out was, "It takes a very special kind of stupidity to pull off what you are trying to do."


    "I''m not so sure! We just wanted to have a girls'' night out tonight. But you''re acting like a diva. Well, I didn''t have to tell you everything. Such things are not something you talk about with your husband. I''m going to end this now. Since this isn''t going to work anymore anyway. Allez, au revoir!" She hangs up. Crap! And she was scolding him!


    He dialed her number again for the third time! He never had to call a woman that often before. Yet she did not pick up. For minutes, he stared at his cell phone. She did not answer. Alexandre was speechless. He glaceed at his watch. Dialing another number.


    "I have her location." He heard the voice saying through the phone. He felt delighted.


    "Excellent." This was good news. "Where is she?"


    "A1 Zurich." Hugo reported. I beg your pardon? What was she doing in Switzerland? What was she up to?


    "Thank you. Continue tracking their locator signal." He hung up. At least he knew where she was. Cold sweat was pouring down his back. Fuck! Actually, he knew exactly what she was looking for there. If her destination was Zurich. Shit! What was he gonna do next. His fingers were fast and even faster was his assistant. "Nicolas, I have to fly to Zurich. Get the plane ready. I''ll be at the airport in an hour." He hung up, got in his car and drove off.


    These women had him tied up in knots. Alexandre wanted to laugh because this situation was so fucking ironic. Never before did he had to chase a woman. Twice! But he felt kind of happy. A game. This was gonna be interesting.


    If he was honest, he''d realized it this morning. She was quieter than usual. Well, actually she had always been rather reserved. Somehow lost in her own world. Sometimes a bit cheeky, but then shy again. Just around a hand full of people, she seemed to blossom. He was not one of them. Over time, they had become familiar. She told him what she wanted. Sometimes. Often he had to guess.


    But he did it pretty well. Though they hadn''t known each other for so long, but she wasn''t difficult to read for him. He knew a whole spectacle had to take place in her mind. But Alexandre could only guess. Her face was like an open book to him. Everything was reflected on her face. Thoughts... Feelings...


    He thought he knew everything, that he had everything under control. She had no idea how much she was telling him, and he liked that. To have the upper hand. That''s what he thought. Until just a few hours ago. She had him cold. He didn''t even know what was in the safe deposit box. Swiss banks! It wasn''t as if he hadn''t tried. But his little brother had made precautions. How had she even found out about it!? What a pity. He didn''t like surprises, though. But the change wasn''t bad either. He hit the gas. Whatever was in that locker, she couldn''t get away from him!

 Chapter 92 - Zurich

    Even wrapped up in the shadows of the night, Zurich still seems tidy and dressed up, as if mother-in-law would arrive at any moment for a surprise visit. Lily smiled with well-known familiarity. Although she had never visited Zurich before as Lillian de Clermont, she had been to Zurich before. It was a long time ago. In another life, one could say. At a performance in the Maag Halle. She could still remember vividly, as if only days separated her from her old life. But the Maag Halle probably wouldn''t even exist in this Zurich. Its architectural style would have been too modern for this universe.


    Since there had been no world wars in this universe until this point, almost all European cities had remained unbombed. They had preserved their historical townscape. And so Zurich was also shaped by churches, bridges and charming historic buildings. Nevertheless, it resembled more the Zurich in her memory. Other cities through which she had toured, such as London or Berlin, were not at all close to her memories. They were more imperialistic, historical, but still had their own charm.


    "Where shall we stay?" She asked Nelli.


    "Don''t worry, I know the perfect place for us." She gave Lily a quick glance, a promising glint in her eyes. "But first, let us find out about the secret."


    Lily hesitated. "But the bank can''t possibly still be open." She pointed out. Lily also wanted to know what Fabien was hiding in that safety-deposit box. But she couldn''t do anything about opening hours! Those were the laws of the working class.


    "You''re wrong, my dear." Lily frowned at the amused sparkle in Lionelle''s emerald green eyes. Sometimes she simply couldn''t follow her friend. While her friend was laughing like a champ. "Your husband''s last name is sometimes useful." Nelli smiled conspiratorially.


    "What have you done?" Asked Lily alarmed.


    "Before we left, I posed as his secretary and made an appointment. We''re even being greeted by the manager himself. Amazing!"


    "And they just bought that?" Lily asked skeptically.


    "Yup, after I dropped Fabien''s name and inheritance... "After that, everybody behaved very obligingly. Actually unfair." The white Mini turned off into a street. "All you have to do is be a man and have a name, and all doors will open up for you." Lionelle lamented the injustice of this universe. The beautiful red lips poutingly pressed into a thin line.


    Still, Lily was beaming from ear to ear. "I could kiss you! What would I do without you?"


    "Damn right! Without me you were finished, sweetheart!


    "Why are you so mean?!"


    "I don''t know. Maybe my factorysetting. And I swear you could even trip over your own shadow. You need me baby!" The mischievous grin on her lips grew wider and wider. More enchanting. No wonder that men like Claudio were attracted to Nelli when even Lily''s own heart leapt at her friend''s smile.


    "Sorry, it''s part of my DNA." Lily answered just as boldly. A sweet smile on her rosy lips.


    "I know you are natural in being a pain in my ass. You don''t even need to try."


    "Congratulations! Now you are wittier than the bully who tormented me in first grade."


    "I think he was in love with you."


    "That''s definitely not true."


    "Oh, yeah! He always looked over at you in secret. His cheeks were bright red. And his face said... Marry me!" Nelli cried with a devoted voice. Roaring laughter filled the room as the car came to halt in front of a high Art Nouveau building. There they were. So close to the secret. Lily got out of the car and then fetched Adrien from his child seat on the back row. The toddler was sound asleep as the girl took him in her arms and put him on her hip. Carefully, she laid the child''s head on her shoulder so that the boy could continue to sleep. It was already late. Addy had to go to bed. But what could she do? She wouldn''t leave him behind. She couldn''t. But at the same time, she wanted to strike while the iron was hot. She closed the car door and followed Nelli, who was already waiting at the entrance.


    A man in his mid-forties in a blue night watchman''s uniform opened the door for them.


    "You are being expected, Mrs. de Valois, Miss de Carvoisin." He greeted her in fluent English with a Swiss accent.


    They followed him to the elevator and went up to the 6th floor, where they were welcomed once more by a young man in a black suit. The blond boy with slipped glasses on the bridge of his nose led them to a room with high ceilings and beautiful art nouveau stucco work on the walls and ceiling. In the middle of the room stood the eye-catcher, a round Chippendale table with a filigree wickerwork covered protectively by a glass plate. Around the table were four matching chairs in the same style and on the sides were scattered large flower pots with exotic plants, which gave the room a lively touch.


    The friendly assistant, who had introduced himself as Yannis Lugmaier, helped them to take a seat. Always with a modest smile on his lips. "Mr. Zoeller will see you any moment. May I offer you a cup of tea or coffee, ladies?"

 Chapter 93 - To easy to be true

    An aromatic smell of coffee floated in the air. Lionelle first tossed one snow white cube of sugar into the black pulp, then a second, before finally deciding on a third cube. In the background a soft melody was humming. Lily pulled the blanket tighter around Adrien''s little body. The toddler had curled up in her lap and was silently slumbering while his hands were tangled in her hair.


    "Good evening, ladies. I''m sorry for the slight delay. I had some papers to prepare. So that you may receive your safe deposit box." Announced a deep voice with perfect English. Lily turned her head to the side, so she could recognize the face to the voice. An older man in a blue pinstriped suit headed toward her. His dark hair was already greying. Deep lines of laughter lay around his hazel eyes. His smile was friendly as he stepped to the table and let a laptop and a grey folder sink onto the table.


    "My name is Leonard Zoeller. Thank you for your patience. I hope you had a comfortable journey, Mrs. de Valois?"


    Obviously he knew exactly who she was. Unfazed, he had recognized her as Lillien de Valois. Lily nodded and took the hand he extended towards her. "Thank you for agreeing to see us at this late hour. We had a very pleasant journey. Thank you for asking."


    He smiled at her grandpa-lovingly. "Miss de Carvoisin, I am also honored to welcome you to my humble bank."


    "The honor is all mine."


    "Well, let''s get started." Mr. Zoeller pulled out one of the remaining chairs and sat across from them before taking a pair of glasses out of his breast pocket and placing the black frame of the glasses on his nose. He opened the folder.


    "I must now ask you to show me your certificate of inheritance and identity card." The man explained in a businesslike tone.


    Lily asked Nelli to get the papers from her bag. Since she couldn''t bend over because Addy was in her arms. It was rustling in her bag as the girl pulled the documents out of it and placed them on the table. Afterwards she handed Lily her purse, out of which the girl fetched her identity card and handed it over to the branch manager. His eyes casually swept over the writing on the first page as his fingers browsed over the pages.


    "Thank you." He passed her the ID card while he removed the first page of the folder.


    "It''s standard procedure. Please sign here." With his metal pen he pointed to a line at the end of the paper and handed her another pen.


    Lily looked skeptically at the script. "What is this?"


    "An acknowledgment of receipt." The banker smiled slightly.


    Nodding, Lily then sat her name under the paper.


    " Please be patient for a moment." He asked them. "I will now bring you the appropriate safe deposit box."


    It took a moment before she could really realize what was happening. A feeling of excitement stuck to her tongue. But not a word passed her lips. So the girls could only look silently into each other''s eyes as minutes passed, and they waited.


    Suddenly, Nelli''s phone rang. A very special ringing tone. The girls knew immediately who was asking for a statement.

 Chapter 94 - Fifteen years of friendship

    Hastily, Nelli reached for her peach-coloured handbag to fathom the tinkling origin.


    Lily leaned over to her, seeing the word ''PAPA'' written in big letters on the screen. She pressed her lips together, knowing exactly what it meant when Papa de Carvoisin called his daughter.


    But unwavering, with a smile on her lips, Nelli pressed the red button before turning the phone off completely and throwing it back in her bag. "How do we keep getting into these situations?" She whined snivelling. Only a subtle undertone betrayed her acting, the amusement of being involved in this situation.


    It wasn''t the first time the friends piled up problems like other women pile up jewelry. In their youth, when there were three of them, with Elodie on board, Fabien or Nelli''s older brothers often had to deal with explosive situations for the girls. Lily wasn''t a confident person, but the dangerous mix was only created when all three of them were present. Then they would get carried away.


    The mere memory of this made her giggle like a bell. "Fifteen years of friendship and I still don''t know." Quickly she bent over and kissed Nelli''s soft cheeks. "But I would never want to miss a moment of it."


    Nelli blinked a couple of times, her round lips had turned into a sweet ''O'' as her fingers stroked the spot Lily had kissed with astonishment. A subtle pink colored her cheeks. Before she regained her composure. "Oh baby, I know. What would life be, without a little bit of drama?" Her eyes lit up in glee.


    There was a knock at the door, which pushed her back to reality the moment Mr. Zoeller entered the room with a silver box in his hand. " Well, here''s the piece of desire." Carefully he placed the box on the table and typed a digit code onto the keypad on the box. It buzzed before a loud click was heard. The door of the safe deposit box jumped open.


    "We would like to be left alone. Is that possible?" Lionelle asked.


    "Of course, I''ll wait in my office, just let Mr. Lugmaier know if you need me. He''ll be waiting for you outside the door." The banker took his leave and closed the door behind him.


    With numb fingers Lily touched the door. Her heart was beating up to her throat. An indescribable tension was in the air. But there was also an intense sense of excitement inside her. She did not know why! But she felt secure for once. As if Elodie and Fabien were still holding their hands over her.


    The iron was cold as her trembling fingers grabbed the door. A metallic sound was heard when opening the door. Curiously, the girls pushed their heads in front of it, peering into the box. Their breath faltered. The smiles on their faces disappeared, a strange expression was suddenly on their faces. What was the meaning of that?

 Chapter 95 - The deeper they dug, the stranger the contents became

    Deep inside, she felt something breaking away. Her hands trembled, like aspen leaves, as she reached into the dark of the safe deposit box. The pile weighed heavily in her hands. A weight she could not possibly carry on her shoulders. Her hands curled like claws around the sheets. She could barely hold it, barely wanted to hold it. Her breath was heavy in the air. She wouldn''t have suspected. The passports fell out of her hands and crashed onto the glass table. Passports and IDs. She didn''t even want to start counting. So many nationalities. Why did Fabien need so many fake documents? What was he involved in?


    "Oh, no. Do not make that face!" Nelli shook her head as she reached for one of the passports. A Prussian passport. Lionelle''s long fingers brushed across the black eagle on the front of the blue envelope. Her gaze lingered there for a moment before she opened the document. Lily dared not even to glance inside. Always with her gaze glued on Nelli''s face. But as her eyes widened in astonishment, Lily''s gaze also slipped into the thin book.


    Her breath faltered at the sight of her picture. But a completely different name was in the passport. A different date of birth, place of birth, residence and nationality. Immediately she reached for the next document. A passport of the Russian Empire. She opened it. Adrien''s picture. Same again, different name, different dates. Forgery. A perfect fake. She reached for the next document. Wine red envelope. United Kingdom. Her picture again. Another name. Different information.


    Hectically the girls searched all passports. Silence had settled over the room. Only the rustling of sheets could be heard. But the deeper they dug, the stranger the contents of the safe deposit box became. They found only passports with Adrien''s picture or Lily''s. Always in a pair from one state was present. Two passports for US citizenship or two passports for France or the Netherlands. Crazy!


    Nelli took a black folder from the locker. Birth certificates matching the passports. Property records of the personalities from the documents. But that wasn''t the scariest thing at all. Finally, there was a third passport to some states, besides Adrien''s and hers. But again her image appeared on this third version of a passport. A little changed. Male. She had to look twice and still couldn''t believe it. There were passports where she was identified as a man.


    She saw everything blurred, tears were gathering in the corner of her eyes. The last thing she wanted to do was cry. But the sense of foreboding was too heavy on her heart. She hardly dared to raise her eyes as she realized the extent of the found.


    Why had Fabien arranged for all these documents to be made? The seed of suspicion grew more and more inside her.


    "Did he know?" Nelli was under the same impression. Their eyes met. Suddenly there were as many feelings as an ocean she could drown in. But instead of a definite answer, all those fake identities were on the table.


    Lily didn''t dare to believe it was actually what she believed. She refused to say anything. Her white hands had clenched into tiny fists. A crushing weight hung in the air.


    Now the girl could no longer afford to be squeamish. She had to find out what all this was about. But who could she turn to?


    Fabien was a smart man. He knew a lot and had a large circle of acquaintances. But she had never thought that even he was willing to go this far.


    In her memories he was always the perfect Male Lead. An upstanding man who fought for his loved ones. Had that wish pushed him so far? To protect Elli and Addy. But then why did he have documents forged for her? Why?


    She felt unwell. The more she thought about it, the more suspicious she became.

 Chapter 96 - Black numbers

    She read in Nelli''s expression, the same question she had asked herself. "Did he sense it?" Her voice broke.


    Tears dripping on the tabletop. She felt Nelli''s hand on her back. No words were needed. The silent comfort was enough.


    It was a world she thought she''d never set foot in. But now she couldn''t get past it. It took a while for her to calm down. Lily''s head was spinning. But when she calmed down, the world suddenly looked different. Yet again, she wished to continue living in her little bubble. But she had to face the truth. A message was hiding behind all these documents.


    She strained her shoulders and wiped the last tears from her cheeks. Lily was already about to put the documents back into the safe deposit box when Nelli grabbed her hand. She stopped her in her movement. Asking, Lily raised her head. Their eyes met. Nelli shook her head gently. Some of her red streaks fell on her face. "Wait a minute. I want to check something out." Then the friend leaned forward. Her head lay directly in front of the entrance of the locker as she pushed her hand deep into it. She moved along the walls, along the ground and finally pulled her hand out again. In her grip she held a small black notebook.


    "What''s that?" Asked Lily confused. More secrets?


    The girls exchanged glances. Before the book was opened, and they were wide-eyed, hanging over the notes. Actually, it wasn''t really notes. Just numbers. Page after page, black numbers were written in a curved font on white pages. Lily recognized Fabien''s handwriting immediately. In fact, it was totally uncharacteristic of him to keep a notebook. He always had an excellent memory. It was enough for him to take one look at something to remember it forever. He didn''t need something like a notebook. Her suspicions grew stronger. "He must have suspected something."


    Nelli nodded. "He sensed this and took precautions. He must have simply known that ...or it wouldn''t make sense..." Flames blazed in her eyes, but her hands began to tremble.


    The mere thought that it might not have been an accident did not end the discomfort. It was rather the beginning of another mountain of troubles and dangers.


    "If only he had taken precautions for his safety." Nelli snapped, tears running down her cheeks. Lily bent over to wipe some of them away.


    "We mutually agree..." She stopped for a second, paused. The words wouldn''t go past her lips.


    "It couldn''t have been an accident... but murder." Nelli finished the sentence for her. "If even Fabien knew that his family was in danger and it had forced him to take these precautions. Then we can assume, with good reason, that it was no ordinary accident."


    "But then who might have been after Fabien? And more importantly...why?" Lily shook her head. She simply refused to accept it. Who was powerful enough to drive Fabien into a corner.


    "Maybe your new husband." Nelli dropped the next bomb on her head.


    "No...Never!" She protested with disbelief. But she could see the doubt growing in Nelli''s eyes. Lily''s nerves were on the verge of breaking. It made no sense. If Alexandre was behind this accident. What was his motive? She bit her lower lip.


    In the novel, it''s true, he had been fighting against Fabien. But only to win Ellie''s love. He would never have let anything happen to her. It would''ve killed him. He loved Elli too much.


    And more importantly, he had never resorted to such means. Alexandre had never been such a villain as to needlessly get his hands dirty. In My loyal hubby even he had backed away from murder, because he himself had to experience in his past how terrible it was to live on as the relative of a murder victim.


    Besides, Alexandre would never have harmed Elli even one hair. He loved her with all his heart. She was his sunshine!


    "But what if she was... He got the most out of it. Look, all of a sudden he got the de Bourbon and de Clermont fortune! Doesn''t that make him suspect number one?"

 Chapter 97 - All she wanted was to be happy

    "Yes... well... But what does he need it for. I don''t understand that." She felt a strange feeling come over her. A mixture of doubt and suspicion. She trembled at her next words. "Then I''ll live under the same roof as a murderer." Her eyes were widened in fear. "A... Addy and I aren''t safe there!"


    Nelli reached for her hand. "Calm down! He won''t hurt you. He needs you!"


    "But for what?"


    "I don''t know. But if anything comes up, we have these." She waved with one of the passports. A gentle smile curled around her lips. "Let''s find out more and not jump to conclusions. It''s true that Alexandre had the most to gain from the death of Fabien and Elodie. But maybe there''s more to it than that, and someone else had a hand in it, we don''t know about."


    But Lily no longer felt safe at all. In her eyes, Alexandre had always been unbeatable. Especially for her. A normal girl, without any special talents. Only people like Fabien could compete with Alexandre. But he was no longer here. All there was left to her were Fabien''s secrets.


    Even if there was someone else behind the plane crash. So what was the motivation behind the attack on Fabien and Elodie? Were they also after Adrien?


    "What should I do? She sniffed.


    Her body trembled like a pile of misery. She knew she was just cannon fodder. She was not one of those protagonists who rebelled against all odds. She hadn''t been reborn as cannon fodder in this world without reason. Lily was a coward through and through, who only thought about running away, but what was so wrong with that. Was it not human? She just wasn''t cut out for main characters, and she knew it. Being brave was always her last choice. And all she really wanted was to live safely with Addy. To have a normal life. She didn''t want money or power. Since she knew money would never make her happy. A life where money brought her misery was enough for her. She wouldn''t risk her life a second time just for money. All she wanted was to be happy.


    "We must find the murderer. We owe it Elli!" Nelli said with fire in her eyes.


    Lily''s heart took a leap into the abyss. It wanted to bury itself as deep as it could. She knew Nelli was right. She owed it to their friends! But there was this fear that was pressing her throat. She knew that if they wanted to get to the truth, it would be like walking on thin ice. One false step and the ice would crack beneath her feet.


    And her priority was still Adrien. Without question, Fabien must have had the same intentions. Addy''s safety was her first concern. Everything else came after.


    "What are we going to do about it?" She asked and closed her eyes for a moment. "I don''t want to leave it in the same safe deposit box. At least Alexandre must know for sure that the safe deposit box exists. Considering that he was involved in everything from the start. So the plane crash, the lawyer and Addy and my tracking down. I''d like to move the contents to a new locker under my own name only. This safe deposit box can continue to exist, but without any contents." She confessed her thoughts.


    "Let''s do it this way!" Nelli piled up all the documents and put them neatly back into the locker for the moment. Then she suddenly got up and went to the door. Lily could only follow her as she told Mr. Lugmaier to tell Mr. Zoeller that they still needed his professional assistance.


    It took minutes before the elderly gentleman stepped back into the room. On his lips remained that nice smile.


    Without further ado, Lilly explained her wishes to him, after which the banker took out his laptop and began to make arrangements. After more than an hour, all documents were signed and Lilly had her own secret safe deposit box under her maiden name, where all the documents were safely stored. Except the notebook, she would keep it to herself. Maybe there were some useful information hidden in it that they had overlooked while quickly checking it. She wondered what she had gotten herself into. Three American passports also remained in Nelli''s care. In case everything around her would blow up.

 Chapter 98 - Doubt and Anger

    "Hello, Love. We are long overdue for a little chat." He said in that tone of voice that would not tolerate any objection. Alexandre stood casually leaning against his car, his arms crossed in front of his chest as he looked over at her. Lily took a sharp breath as their eyes met. His face was frozen into a motionless mask. But in his eyes a storm seemed to be raging. He was furious and if she was honest, she had never seen him in such a mood.


    Her heart contracted into a tight knot. The sight of him tormented her. Suspicion still rumbled within her.


    He seemed to be seething with rage as he rushed towards her. His nostrils flared with each breath. Suddenly a group of men in black suits surrounded the girls. It seemed hopeless. The men had taken up positions behind and in front of them at a distance of a few meters. Nelli clenched her fists, sparks seemed to fly from her eyes. One of the brawny men grabbed Nelli by the arm and dragged her to a black limousine.


    "Get in!" Hissed it from inside the car. Lily immediately recognized the man waiting for Nelli. No wonder her friend vanished into the car without protest.


    When Lily tried to help her, Alexandre pulled her arm back. She crashed into his firm chest. A second limousine stopped less than a meter behind them.


    He ripped Addy from her arms and gripped her wrist even tighter. His grip was stiff and taut, seemingly draining her blood. She moaned in pain.


    "You are hurting me." She resisted him. Tried to free herself from him. But his grip only grew more relentless as he dragged her behind him. At the same time, he grabbed her around her center. She could only gasp in shock as she landed twisted on the back seat. Lily banged her knee, yet Alexandre was already determined to get her legs inside the car and slam the door behind her.


    Suddenly she heard Adriens cries. He was in tears. The commotion had woken him up. She tried to get up. When she reached for the door handle to get to Adrien, the door remained closed. She tugged at it, nothing moved. She tried again. In vain! She banged on the window pane. Her palms hit the cool glass. But she could only watch from the window as Alexandre handed the crying toddler to a nanny. He seemed to be saying something to the boy, Lily couldn''t hear anything, but Addy seemed to calm down slowly. The Nanny carried the boy to another car in the background.


    The black door was ripped open and Alexandre slid onto the bench next to her. Lily pressed herself against the door. She wanted to get as far away from this man as possible. She heard the wheels squealing. They were driving off. But where to? What would happen to her? Her whole body was shaking. She was almost sobbing.


    He threw a quick glance through the rear window to the car behind, then he faced her again.


    "Why did you lie to me?" His voice was calm, but in his eyes the danger glittered. He pressed a button on the side of his seat. Slowly a dark partition wall rose up, separating the driver''s cabin from the back of the limousine.


    "I wasn''t lying. We went out and I didn''t want to tell you about it!" She scratched up her little piles of courage and mixed it with her pent-up anger. Not today... not after this treatment... she would not give in. And especially not if it was true!


    "You''re kidding, right?" Alexandre''s eyes narrowed as he stared at her and exhaled clearly audibly.


    "No, you would have prevented this!" She trembled under his gaze. But if it really was true, if he was behind Ellis and Fabien''s death, she would never forgive him. She no longer wanted to dance on top of his hand, moving to his rhythm.


    "You didn''t think it would be bad to anger me unnecessary?" He asked dangerously softly. "You''re risking your life for what!" He didn''t give her time to say a word. "And what did you find out that was so important? What was in that damn safe deposit box that was worth all this?! Are you happy now?!"


    "I thought I could trust you." She screamed.


    "Lord give me patience!" He grumbled dismissively. The car turned a corner, whizzing past buildings. "I''ve spent all this time wondering and worrying about you. And you didn''t think of me once?"

 Chapter 99 - Struggle all you want

    "What''s the deal with the lawyer? Why didn''t he tell me about the safe deposit box? How could you track me down so fast after the plane crash? I think I should start asking the right questions, because trusting you is a fatal mistake! Where do you have a finger in the pie?!"


    "Don''t misunderstand me. I have my reasons."


    "Was this all a setup? From the very beginning?!"


    "Why are you so stubborn? Of course, and you knew it all along."


    "No! I didn''t know. I didn''t know how far you''d go."


    "So what! Then I bribed the lawyer to show me the will before anyone else. It was necessary."


    Deep in her heart, the deception burned like a hellishly hot fire. "Anything else?"


    "I don''t think we should discuss this now." Alexandre rubbed his forehead. He didn''t understand why she was making such a fuss. He should be angry. But somehow the tables had turned. What about the safe deposit box?


    Her cheeks were slightly flushed. There were glistening tears in the corner of her eye. He looked at her in silence for a moment. He didn''t want her to look so pale and fragile. "Fabien has hidden you too well all these years." He laughed bitterly at the memory. The despair of two years ago. How he had searched for her for two years. But his brother had hidden her like a precious treasure. He''d done everything! He had chased every little rumor. But she remained as if swallowed by the ground. "I wanted to marry you two years ago This was my plan all along."


    "Why! Why did you want to marry me?"


    "I have my reasons."


    "Which?!" She grinded with her molars.


    "It is not important. I'' ll take care of you. Like a good husband. Isn''t that enough for you?"


    "No." She wiped his words aside with a trembling gesture.


    "There was no other way. I need you." He looked at her, really looked at her. The stab in his heart ached. "After Fabien''s death..." His voice sounded husky. He didn''t want to talk about it anymore. It would come to no conclusion. "Struggle all you want, you won''t leave me." He would keep her by his side. He wouldn''t let her leave. He would never! Because he''d been planning all this for so long. To the final reckoning. He wouldn''t move an inch away from his plan.


    In pride, she lifted her chin. "Go to Hell!"


    "And leave you here all alone?" It amused him. Her grace and pride. Even in these situations she tried to stand up against him, although she knew she had no chance. She was at his mercy.


    "You have no power over me!" She screamed with tears in her eyes. How cute!


    "You sure about that?" He leaned forward, wanted to reach for her hand. Which she pulled away in fright.


    "Stay away from me! Her voice quivered.


    Shocked by her reaction, he stared at her. Watching her properly for the first time. She was trembling all over. Her face looked very thin. She looked like she would collapse at any moment. Yet she held her hands in front of her, defending.


    Watching her was sobering. What had he done! In all his anger he had missed something important. He could read it in her face.


    "Lil..." He cleared his throat. " I''m not mad at you. But when you were nowhere to be found..." He licked his dry lips. "I was worried. After what happened with that..." His heart rate went up at that memory. He was just a bundle of nerves. Out of worry, fear, anger and relief.


    He pressed his fingers against his temple and tried to deal with the situation rationally.


    "Can we just put this behind us?" His relief became something he understood even less. She remained silent, with every fiber of her being. Her big blue eyes just stared at him, seemed to stare a hole through him. Like she was searching for something.


    "You''re angry with me, I know. But trust me on this. I married you for selfish reasons. But I promise you, you''ll never lack anything." He wondered how he could calm her down again. How he could fix everything.


    She shook her head, still without making a sound. Staying alert. Her silence haunted him. That unsettling. He was used to making women cry. But Lily?


    She wasn''t crying. She was silent.


    And that burdened him more than a thousand tears could ever do.


    He reached out for her. Instinctively, she moved back. Panic flares up in her eyes. He immediately lowered his hand again. Staring at her. She was terrified. Of him. Every fiber of her body seemed to avoid him. He finally realized that. Her anxiety surfaced. He had no idea why. He wished she was just angry. That she''d just cry...


    Then he would give her that moment and offer her aftercare. He would comfort her.


    Fuck! What every this was. It overwhelmed him.

 Chapter 100 - A womans feelings

    The car came to a halt after an awful lot of silence. Alexandre opened the door for her and Lily got out. The tension in Alexandre''s body and mind made him doubt his innocence. Was he wrong?


    All she had done was open that stupid safe deposit box. What kind of contents could possibly elicit such a reaction. He ran his hand through his hair, standing there motionless. Maybe he should inquire her. But would it really be a good idea, in this state of mind. Shit. He did not know how to handle this situation? Or should he charm her. He didn''t know what to do. After all, he never had to care about a woman''s feelings. He was a powerful man, couldn''t care less about anyone else''s problems.


    Ironic, now he needed to. How easy it would be if she were obediently again.


    "Just tell me what it is you want from me."


    She eyed him warily. Her wounded look made him restless, no doubt she always caught him without warning, increasing his irritation. Fuck!


    ?What I need is for you to leave me alone!" Why was she so willful! Why wasn''t she totally and willingly at his mercy! The knowledge was intoxicating. But he needed all on track.


    She''d enough, never spoke another word. Her eyes glided across the landing field. He could clearly see the question marks in her pretty eyes. Until her eyes caught on to her friend who was just boarding Alexandre''s private jet with her older brother.


    Alexandre needed to fix things now. Before any other disturbing factors were added. He knew that if he didn''t manage to calm her displeasure now, his plans for the next weeks would be shaken. Because Lily would no longer follow his script without comment. There was this big elephant in the room.


    "Where is Adrien?" Her voice was as cold as ice. Blue eyes wide and bright, filled with fear, pain and rage. He felt her clearly for the first time. Stunned, he stared at her.


    He pointed to the car that was just coming up.


    Okay, um... He didn''t understand it, felt like he was on a roller coaster. Hadn''t she just been trembling all over her body with fear and refused to speak to him a few minutes ago.


    How he would love if she cried. It would make everything so much easier. The thought was awful. He knew he was an ass. C''mon! Taking a steadying breath, he would face her.


    "Don''t fight me, Lily." He grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her towards him.


    She looked at him, the corners of her mouth pulled down and her forehead wrinkled as if she had encountered a problem.


    Without warning, Alexandre put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer. He would solve this problem now. Even if he had to use all his charm to bewitch her. So far, no woman had ever been able to resist him. Lily was nothing special. A normal girl with too little self-confidence. If he put a little honey in her mouth, she''d eat right out of his hand again.


    "You don''t really care, do you?" Her anger crashed over him like a tidal wave. He had expected everything, but not her anger. This woman was always good for a surprise.


    "I care about you, Lily. Love, that''s why I''m here, because I care about you. I was upset because you were just gone. I''m sorry."


    He thought it might calm her down. A few caresses. A few sweet words.


    But she struggled out of his grasp, moving away from him and finally turning on him like a furious cat. "Liar! All you do is lie to my face! You care about something else. But it''s definitely not me!"


    He''d stared at her, completely helpless. But she dashed away. What the hell. No one had ever left him like that. His sense of unease grew.


    He had enough. He wanted to run after her, yell at her. How dare she.


    But he was old enough, he decided to do better. Carrot and stick.


    Again he slid to her side, wrapped his arm around her and pulled her back into his arms. Her slender back pressed against his upper body. There was not a leaf left between them. He felt her quick breaths, the trembling of her body and smelled her soft sweetness.


    "Let go of me!" She hissed.


    He did not take his hand away, but let his head sink down beside her ear.


    "You know what? I''m a Liar and I''m really fucking don''t care." Her body stiffed, screaming, don''t touch me. ?I pity you. You''re so pathetic! You know you''re this liar''s wife, so act like one!"


    He planted a sweet kiss on her neck, burring his nose in her wonderfully fragrant hair. "This whole thing was a setup. And you knew it." Alexandre murmured, somehow filled with guilt and shame. "You are nothing more than an actor, playing out your part. And this-" He reached for her hand. It was small and delicate. All warmth had disappeared from it. He drew little circles with his thumb over the back of her alabaster hand. "-is all an act too. But you''re mine, do you understand? You belong to me." And pulled the white gold ring over her finger. The filigree pink diamonds glittered even in the dark of the night. He knew he was cruel. But he needed to. "So be a good girl. You don''t want me to be unhappy right?" He pressed his lips against her throat, testing her. "You can run away but I will always find you. And I''ll lock you up and throw away the fucking key if you ever even think about doing anything like that again, do you hear me?" Her whole body was shivering."You don''t even know how lucky you are. I protect you and provide for you. Don''t act so ungrateful. You don''t want to test me, sweetheart. Right?"

 Chapter 101 - She would play her part

    Lily held on to the glass punch that Alexandre had handed her. She brought it slowly to her lips and only took a tiny sip instead of swallowing it in one go.


    She didn''t know how she''d gotten through the last week. Suspicion and fear had almost devoured her from the inside out. Sleeping in the same bed with a murderer every night slowly drove her insane. Enduring his touch...


    She swore to herself that if there was the slightest chance she would escape. She''d grab Adrien and run away as far as she could. It''s worth every effort...


    "You look ravishing. But with a smile..." He gently raised her chin and stroked her lower lip with his thumb.


    Lily forced herself to smile. "Do I look better like this?" She gazed at him, honest, serious.


    He laughed. "This is how you''re going to make the whole room halt."


    How often had she dreamed of escaping, every single day, every hour, minute and second her thoughts were on the run. She had the feeling of suffocation. Alexandre had hired an entire army of spies who boldly called themselves bodyguards.


    But she would survive even that. She would remain silent as usual, watching and waiting for the right moment. Until then, she had to remain inconspicuous. Alexandre mustn''t suspect anything. She would play her part, as he demanded of her.


    She knew exactly when her name would be announced in the hall. It seemed as if all heads turned at once to Alexandre and her. Curiosity lurked in their faces. She walked down the stairs as Duchess de Valois. As a couple, they seldom attended such gorgeous balls. Now and then Alexandre took her along to private soir¨¦es or evenings among friends. She was gradually established in society as his wife.


    With her hand in his, Alexandre remained on the steps. He presented himself with dignity, allowing the cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me of society to satisfy their curiosity. Lily felt uncomfortable among the judging looks. But she knew she could endure it too.


    Alexandre squeezed her hand gently. She lifted her eyes to him.


    On his lips was this lascivious grin. The sign to descend the steps to the end. She couldn''t help but return his smile and walked towards the host with him at her side. He was in good spirits tonight. Again and again he would tenderly touch her.


    It was a strange way of greeting. As they encountered the Count and the Countess de Rochou, the Count G¨¦rard de Rochou seemed to be really happy about their presence. Every time Alexandre told funny anecdotes, the elderly gentleman laughed heartily, his round belly vibrating along with his laughter.


    While his young wife, Genevi¨¨ve de Rochou, was reluctant to say even a few words. Her eyes were sparkling almost maliciously.


    Since her sparkle seemed to be directed at her, Lily assumed that the Countess was also one of Alexandre''s admirers. Lily would have liked to encourage her to try her luck, as she would soon be packing her bags anyway. However, she kept silent, as this would endanger her plans.


    All eyes remained glued on them as they walked on to the Marquess de Louvois and his fianc¨¦e Louise.


    "Oh, Lily..." Sighed Loulou. Her enthusiasm shimmered like liquid silver in her eyes as she approached Lily. "All ladies are green of envy tonight." Louise whispered in her ear. Lily knew exactly why jealous looks were haunting her.


    "You look lovely, Duchess." Phillipe agreed with her, bending slightly forward. "You look lovely." That might be so, Lily thought. After all, Alexandre had spent a fortune making her look like that. Experts had been working on her since early morning.


    Alexandre had invited a famous make-up artist, along with his entourage. The beautiful ball gown was personally created for her by a famous designer of Paris. What else should one expect. Lily herself thought she looked like a giant work of art. But it was not for this reason that she was envied. She was sure of it.


    It was more because of the man next to her, why she attracted scowling glances like light attracts flies. "You''re kidding. When I''m with him, I''m as beautiful as a potato." She laughed.


    Alexandre leaned closer. "I''m not sure, darling. I think 75% of the eyes are on you this time. Very few glances are upon me and I''m already regretting having brought you along tonight. Some looks are not appropriate for this occasion. " He murmurs to her and leans over to kiss her hairline. Blood rushed into her cheeks. There was that dark flicker in his eyes again. His touch, she couldn''t take it anymore. Cold had settled around her heart and the reality of her situation was more clear than ever before. If there had once been a time when she had enjoyed his gentle caresses, she could now only bear them under the cloak of a performance. Lily blocked out all her thoughts. She would play her part with flying colors. She would convince herself. That she was a happy wife. But she would never lose sight of her goal. She''d force the corners of her mouth to rise.


    Luckily, Phillipe directed the conversation in a gentleman like manner to more pleasant subjects.

 Chapter 102 - Soured mood

    Alexandre stood on the edge and watched Lily dancing with the old Count de Rochou. He hadn''t been able to turn down the Count like all the other bugs that were buzzing around his wife. Reluctantly, he had to promise that fat dwarf, that Lily would dance with him. After all, de Rochou was the host of this evening.


    Alexandre regretted it with every fiber of his being. Every move she made was so graceful and light, even with that clumsy dancing partner at her side. She had everyone under her spell. While her dancing partner was breathing heavily and could hardly keep up with the music. She danced like a feather in the wind next to the sweat-soaked boor. The blush skirt of her dress fluttered like petals in the wind along her gentle steps. Alexandre couldn''t look away, like all the other guests. An unpleasant heat, which originated in his chest, spread through his body, burning through his veins.


    Alexandre felt these tingling sensations in his fingers, while his eyes silently watched as Rochou''s fleshy hand had slipped down a little too far. If it would move a little further down, Alexandre swore that he would bury his fist in the lecherous face of this rollmop this very second.


    He has had to put up with it all evening long. He knew exactly what the glances of these men meant. It didn''t turn out the way he had expected. Alexandre did nothing other than to get rid of horny brats or middle-aged womanizers. Should he hire a few more bodyguards in the future? One could never have enough.


    Alexandre cursed himself, if it wasn''t necessary. He never would have revealed Lily to those leering eyes.


    "Isn''t he here yet?" He asked Claudio enraged.


    "Nope." Claudio snickered. "Is it weird if I congratulate you on hitting the marriage jackpot!"


    "Yes!" Alexandre growled.


    "You''re sure. Anyway, you hit it. She is young. Women are like wines, give her a few more years to mature, and she can''t save herself from admirers."


    "Go to hell." Alexandre growled.


    "I''m sorry, I''m already banned from there."


    Alexandre''s gaze returned to Lily. "Are you sure that this bastard is definitely coming?"


    "Of course. He and the toad who maltreats your wife on the dance floor are long-term friends and business partners. You can be sure some deals will be closed in back rooms today." Claudio handed Alexandre a glass of red wine. " Look at the couple by the pathway door.


    Marquis d''Albertas and his wife. The Marquis and dear Gaston have been doing business with each other for 26 years. Not entirely legal, of course. The marquis was on the verge of bankruptcy, his family belonged to the old aristocracy in France, but his fathers'' business had driven the family to ruin. Until the good Gaston de Cocieux showed up. What I want to say is. Cocieux only does business with people who are close to him or are in his debt. So watch out tonight. The place is crawling with his people. I just met two more of his important partners at the gaming tables."


    Alexandre twisted his beautifully curved lips into a cryptic smile. "Really?"


    Claudio laughed heartily. "At least you have nothing to fear from him." He pointed with his chin at the round count who was holding Lily''s hand. He was completely out of breath. "Gaston keeps him only by his side due to a sentimental friendship. He''s involved in very little business. Plus, they''re scratching hardly on the edge of law."


    "Heaven..." The de Rochou gasped as he brought Lily back to Alexandre. "Your wife moves like a gazelle across the dance floor." He gave Lily a mischievous smile. Promptly, the girl blushed again. Alexandre was boiling. He immediately wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her to his side. He really had to toughen her up against compliments. Under which stone had she lived that the slightest compliment would make her cheeks blush. Even Lionelle seemed to be immune. After all, she managed to parry Claudio''s advances without batting an eyelid.


    "Thank you. You were a wonderful dancing partner, too." Lily smiled and Alexandre could see the lie in her eyes.


    Alexandre pulled her closer as the next gentlemen approached Lily with compliments. It seemed that most of the male guest were eager to start a conversation with his wife. Alexandre frowned. Might there have been bets made at the club that he didn''t know about?


    "I had a very amusing chat with your charming wife about art, Your Grace." The old rollmop spoke up again. Alexandre could only suspect foul things. He regretted it more and more. Damn it!


    "Oh really?" He takes a sip of the red wine.


    "Since I have an extraordinary art collection, I was able to persuade the enchanting Duchess to be her personal guide this evening." Alexandre wanted to spit wine right across his face. He was seriously pissed. His earlier ebullient mood had soured. He forced himself to keep smiling, even though his face was aching. This evening was important.

 Chapter 103 - Ribbon

    Alexandre had been here before. Only Lily seemed to really admire the paintings, oil portrait and strange collected items from all over the world. Alexandre was bored while walking next to Lily in the crowd of sudden art lovers. He was almost certain that only a few of them were actually interested in the chatter of Rollmop. The rest seemed as bored as he was. Nevertheless, Count de Rochou made every effort to brag about his strange art collection. Although he had something different in mind when he suggested it to Lily.


    Tough luck!


    He checked his phone again. Nothing. Gaston took his time. If he knew the man wasn''t coming, Alexandre would never have shown his face here. In the background, he heard the astonished shouts and questions that pretended to be curious. He realized he had no other reason to stay.


    Alexandre pulled on the orchid ribbon with swift fingers and watched the bow on his wife''s back loosen slowly. He reached for her hand and whispered to her. "Your bow is coming off." With big eyes she looked at him in surprise.


    "Oh!" Her long eyelashes jingled seductively.


    "Come here..." He pulled her close, forced her to stop. "I''ll fix it." Alexandre reached for the silk ribbon, waited for the grape of people to pass by before quickly tying the ribbon back into a bow.


    In the distance he could still hear footsteps. "I know a more interesting place." He gave her no time to think about his proposal and wrapped his arm around her center. He liked the feeling of being so close to her. Away from attention.


    "Where are we going?" He didn''t miss the slight trembling in her voice. Oh, no this again, he thought. His little outburst last week had frightened her more than he thought. He needed to fix that. Seeing her cold shoulder flustered him. He ignored her question and led her on, past portraits of noblemen, lords and ladies of the de Rochou family. It was a long old corridor, dimly lit. Alexandre suspected that no guests had strayed into this part of the mansion for a long time. Here they would finally find some peace of mind. He remembered the corridors from his childhood. Nothing had really changed, the same old-fashioned brocade wallpaper still stuck to the walls, even the old carpet was still the same. The Count hadn''t even let anyone change the old carpet. Although its color kept fading for ages. It was the same pale red he had walked over as a child. What a good-for-nothing the Count turned out to be. Only with a lot of luck had he inherited the title. The woman who had once owned all this couldn''t claim an heir. She was never married and so the family''s property was passed on to a distant relative. Count Gerard de Rochou. Alexandre''s grandmother had been very upset about this at that time, because the previous countess was a good friend of grandmother Odette.


    "Why don''t you tell me where we are going? Are we lost?" Her voice is only in tones.


    "Look at me. Do I look like someone who''s lost."


    "Yes. We are lost."


    Alexandre opened an old creaking wooden door. "No we aren''t" Then he pulled Lily behind the door. "We are here." Behind her the door falls back into the lock. It was pitch black in the room. The air was stale and heavy. As if it hadn''t been aired out for months. He could feel her grip getting tighter. She trembled slightly, he stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. Then he searched for the light switch. Before the room was bathed in a glistening warm light.


    "I wanted to show you something." No, actually he just needed an excuse to be alone with her. He wanted to put her in the right mood for later.


    She looked around and saw rows and rows of portraits. "What is this?" She asked with wrinkled eyebrows.


    He took her face in his hand and with his thumb he smoothed her brow again. A light smile played around his lips. The first real smile of the evening. Relaxed. Casual. The way he felt around her. She had this magic effect on him, made him forget everything for a moment. He felt comfortable around her. She didn''t ask, she didn''t demand. Just radiated this inner peace. Well, sometimes she caused trouble. But it didn''t matter. "The room of shame."


    "Room of shame?" The confusion was written all over her face.


    "What do all the people in the portraits have in common?"


    Lily tilted her head and began to examine the paintings more carefully. Slowly she walked past the paintings. All of them were men.


    "A fat lip?" She continued to dig.

 Chapter 104 - How sweet

    "Isn''t it a striking blemish?!" He could hear the slight undertone of mockery in his voice. "Have you ever heard of the Habsburg lower lip?" He got behind her.


    "No." She shook her head.


    "Take a good look at them. The Count would never show these ancestors to his distinguished guests." He put his arms around her shoulders and supported his chin on her head. Her hair was soft, like silk, but smelled like a sea of flowers. Alexandre enjoyed having her near him. Sometimes he was afraid to let her get too close. But every now and then, he would seek that closeness.


    "And what''s so bad about this lip, except it''s not very pretty?" Her voice is nothing more than a gentle breeze. He knew that she was uncomfortable around him. But she would have to get used to it. Of course, he wouldn''t force her to do anything. He wasn''t that kind of man. Besides, it was more entertaining when both parties could enjoy it.


    He wanted to touch her everywhere. If he had his way, he would have peeled her out of her lovely nightgowns weeks ago and caressed her all over with his mouth. He wanted to finally find out what she tasted like. But she wasn''t ready. He could accept that... for now, at least.


    Alexandre raised his head and kissed her on the top of her head.


    "I would describe these portraits as portraits of fornication. They show the consequences of the marriage policy between the European Habsburg dynasties. The faces of most of the Habsburgs had prominent lower lips and jaws, the tip of the famous hooked nose was slightly drooping". Alexandre reached for her hand and lifted it up, pointing to the characteristic features in the portraits.


    "Although contemporary court painters were required to portray their rulers as beautifully as possible, they could hardly conceal these literally outstanding features. Without losing the resemblance to the real model. In many cases the Habsburgs were not considered to be beautiful people. The Count''s family also belonged to a branch of the Habsburgs. That is why they hid these beautiful portraits. Isn''t it amusing considering how proud the Count was of his family history?"


    "Can''t it just be a dominant family trait?" She asked curiously. How sweet, she was interested in that silly excuse. She was so faithful. He wanted her all to himself. It suited him.


    "The incest was to blame. According to research, these facial features are not due to dominant gene variants, but probably to recessive genes which only appeared when both parents carried and inherited these traits." He gently squeezed her hand, leaned against her. The fabric of her dress rustled slightly. He urged himself not to proceed too quickly. In order to sweet-talk his cute wife, he had to act with caution. He couldn''t scare her like he did last week. This had ruined all his work of the last weeks, and he had to start from scratch again. He desired her so much that sometimes it drove him crazy. So patience was all the more important.


    Alexandre kissed her on the shoulder before continuing. "But in the Rochou family, these typical traits are not so extreme. When we get to Vienna, I''d like to show you the gallery of the Habsburg ruling family. There you can see the proper extent of generations of inbreeding." He turned her over in one fell swoop. The dress fluttered as if a delicate rose was about to bloom. He caught her and pulled her into his arms.


    "May I kiss you?" he whispered against her lips. Only a breath separated them. He could even feel her breathing against his skin.


    She stared at him with big eyes. Her pupils were wavering while she stared at him with slightly opened lips and cherry-red cheeks. He had surprised her completely with his bluntness. His lips twitched in amusement. She was so cute!


    But then he felt Lily trying to get away from him.


    "Just one quick kiss?" He couldn''t believe that he had to beg for only one kiss. He quickly pulled her back to him, brushed a strand behind her ear. "You''ve been acting so strangely since you were in Zurich. Tell me what was in the safe-deposit box." Curiosity seized him again. She kept her head down, no matter how deep he dug. She never told. Whenever the subject came up, she seemed to shut herself off and just stared at him.


    Suddenly, he felt a vibration in his pocket. He pulled out his phone and glanced at the screen.


    "Time is up, Love." He whispered against her lips, took her little hand in his and pulled her along.


    Then he turned around on his heels once more. Looked her in the eyes for a second. Before he started to loosen some strands from her hairdo with his long fingers.


    He grinned. Wished he could have hugged her once more.

 Chapter 105 - Entertainment to high society

    She accepted the glass of punch that Alexandre handed her. The non-alcoholic drink smelled sweet and fruity. He himself took a glass of wine from the waiter''s tray. Although he actually wanted something stronger.


    It was just before midnight, but the guests didn''t seem to feel any fatigue. Couples were spinning fast to the sound of the lively music. Along the edge people whispered busily. Alexandre gave Lily a quick kiss on the temple. She looked at him in disbelief. He knew that such obvious caresses were not appropriate in public. But they were necessary! He would keep up this farce. It had to be done.


    "Is everything okay?" Finally, he lifted her chin and looked into her eyes.


    "What are your intentions with your open declarations of love? If you don''t stop this soon, we''ll be a hot topic of conversation by tomorrow at the latest. Or is that your intention?"


    "I don''t think we''ve given enough entertainment to high society."


    He knew that at least a dozen pairs of eyes were focused on her. Although they stood far from the masses, away from the most glances, the gossips in their circles did not miss this spectacle. And Alexandre knew exactly how to use these chatterboxes to his advantage. Alexandre turned away with her in his arms. This spectacle was actually meant only for one person, and he was sure of his attention. His eyes had been running with them since the moment they entered the room. Only Lily had not yet noticed this old acquaintance.


    "Nothing would please me more than to hold you close to me and kiss you." He confessed honestly. Actually he wanted to do some other things with his kitten. But he kept this to himself. Frightening her was not his goal.


    "I think we''ve given enough fuel to talk about tonight. Besides, I''m afraid the poor old widow Naubresse might suffer a heart attack of such impudence."


    Alexandre looked over at the baroness. She must surely already more than ninety, yet her cheeks glowed red as she watched the couple. He winked at her.


    "I rather think she is eagerly awaiting this kiss. She must surely be bored by this boring event." He bent down, she recognized a dark glow in his eyes.


    "I only wish to grant her this wish."


    "Don''t you dare." She gave him a warning glare.


    "You still owe me a kiss." His head hovered just millimeters above hers, and she could look him straight in the eyes.


    "I don''t know anything about this." Lily placed her right hand on his chest, tried to push him away. His chest was hard, like the rest of his body. He probably didn''t have a single piece of fat on his body, which she thought was unfair. How could a man be so brazenly handsome! The longer she looked at him, the flabbier her knees became. She felt dizzy under his blazing gaze. His eyes had the miraculous ability to pulverize her brain into a pile of dust.


    "Don''t be afraid, Lily." But before she could refuse him one more time, he lowered his mouth hungrily onto hers. A flood of fiery passion swept over him as his lips met hers. They were soft and sweet, like honey. The kiss was cautious at first, but the longer he demanded, the more intense his teasing became. He put his hand between her shoulder blades, stroking her back. Alexandre knew he was playing with fire. But the thought vanished like a billow of smoke. Her mouth was too delicious, so all thought of decency and morality vanished. He kissed her passionately, bending her head back slightly so that he could press his lips even tighter against hers, stroking her with his tongue. She tasted sweet and fruity, like an exotic cocktail.


    She wept helplessly in his arms. He loosened a little and whispered against her red mouth. "Damn it, Lily... "


    Then he brushed his thumb across her still wet lips.


    Lily cried in her heart.


    She stared at him with her big watery eyes as she gasped for breath.


    For a long time they looked at each other in silence.


    When Alexandre held her in his arms, he felt that she was too soft and delicate. The fire that he had forced down with great difficulty before, suddenly began to heat up again. It was too difficult to endure. No matter how hard he tried, his body was on fire.

 Chapter 106 - Never taken his eyes off

    Lily blinked. Still trying to get control of the chaos in her head. So many emotions all at once were overwhelming her. But one thing she absolutely could not give in at this point. There were lines even he couldn''t cross.


    Lily punched his chest with her fist and put all her anger into her words. "You scoundrel! Let me go."


    He withstood her icy stare. But he couldn''t take her seriously with this watery eyes and puffy scarlet cheeks. She looked more like a cute little squirrel. He kissed her quickly behind her ear, determined to tease her further and whispered. "Mmm...you''re warm. I''m cold, come closer."


    Then he smiled broadly down at her. Even in this situation he felt so calm, almost free and that was only thanks to her: "If you had let me kiss you the first time I asked. I wouldn''t have kissed you in public." He knew it was a lie, he would have kissed her anyway. But the only difference was that he enjoyed it. Maybe it was her deep blue eyes. Maybe her sweet scent or her delicate body, which gave him that feeling of home.


    "If you don''t stop staring. I''ll kiss you again."


    "I believe that is the thing I told you not to do."


    "Did you think I would listen?" He reached out and touched her face, her skin was smooth and glossy. In her eyes the light of the chandeliers flickered. He had the feeling of looking at the sea by moonlight. It was impossible to avoid thoughts of her. She looked stunning and she was his. He tried to shake this feeling off but it stuck to him like glue.


    "Fine, you win." He breathed deeply. Only once, he imagined yearning. He took a step back from her. Alexandre couldn''t forget why he was here. No matter how tempting this was. Then he offered her his hand. "May I have this dance?"


    Reluctantly she took his hand. Alexandre wrapped his arm around her waist and tried to lead Lily onto the dance floor. But her head swung to the side.


    "What?" He asked, although he had longed for this moment.


    "I think I saw my uncle..." Thoughtfully she tilted her head to the side. "I didn''t know he was in town. He would usually let me know."


    "Do you want to go say hello?"


    "Yes!" She nodded. "That would be nice." He pulled her next to him, amused and excited about the coming events. He knew that this bastard had already learned of his marriage to his goddaughter, but until now he had kept quiet. How far would this man go to get his revenge After all, Alexandre was now part of the family. Now his beloved little goddaughter was the wife of his archenemy. How would he react if Alexandre came face to face with him.


    "Where is he?" He asked, although he had never taken his eyes off the man, as this one had done the same.


    "There, by the window."


    "Well, I guess we''ll go and welcome him." Alexandre could not help but stifle the deep grin that reached from one ear to the other. This was only the beginning of his battle. He would ruin this man in every way. Emotionally, socially, economically.

 Chapter 107 - Its been a long time

    "Uncle, how nice to see you again." She greeted Gaston de Cocieux with an enchanted smile on her lips. There was this warm sparkle in her eyes that Alexandre himself could rarely bring out. The sting in his heart burned at this sight. He believed it was fate. Fate that should have struck her two years ago. He knew he was cruel. But it was inevitable. Since the day he had learned of her relationship with this beast, she had become one of his most important pawns. What a blow would have been more painful than to steal his beloved goddaughter out of his hands. The girl who was more to him than his brother''s daughter. He knew that Gaston saw in her a true daughter. And it was this fatherly love that made him vulnerable. Alexandre had searched for a long time to find a weakness like that. In fact, this cold monster never let anyone near him. All that kept him going was blind revenge and rotten morality. It was a miracle that Lillian de Clermont had managed to warm the cold heart of this man. Her uncle was the only one in her father''s family who was close to her.


    It was strange. Her own father, who could not love her, who actually felt nothing but disdain towards his daughter. Still, she found approval among her father''s older brother, the head of the de Cocieux family. Perhaps he had been more of a father figure in all these years than her own father could ever be.


    As if she was being choked. Slowly de Cocieux raised an dark eyebrow. His gaze was cold as he looked at Lily one moment too long. As if he considered whether she deserved another moment of his attention at all. But there was something else in his gaze, well hidden beneath the coldness and disgust, the disapproval and the anger. It was disappointment. And Alexandre knew that he had dealt him a blow. Not as painful as he''d hoped. But that didn''t matter anymore.


    "It''s been a long time." Her uncle said thoughtfully, as if he were emphasizing it for himself rather than greeting his niece. His pale yellow eyes were cold, icy. Eyes of a predator. All the warmth had drained from these eyes.


    Icy chills were pouring down Lily''s back after discovering the way her uncle looked at her. As if looking down upon a disgusting insect that had just crawled past at his feet.


    Whatever she had hoped for, it remained stuck in her throat. Painful. As if she was choked.


    Lily tried to smile, trying to excuse his reaction. In fact, it had been a long time since she had last seen her uncle. Perhaps he was simply disappointed by her sudden disappearance without telling him a word. She could not blame him. However, she fervently hoped that this was the only reason.


    "Indeed, it''s been a long time. I hope you have been well these past few years, Uncle?"


    " That'' s true. You seem to be doing well." His gaze fell on Alexandre, who stood next to her grinning broadly. But the way her uncle looked at Alexandre...


    Never had she seen such disgust in her uncle''s eyes. The world no longer made sense to her.


    She only knew that expression from her father, who detested her. Blaming her for the death of his beloved first wife. But her uncle had never been like that. She couldn''t say for sure that he loved her, but he had always been kind to her, had cared for her with the utmost fondness. Like she was something precious. He was different, unlike all the other relatives of the de Cocieux family who actually just ignored her. He was one of the few people who had taken good care of her.


    But now this hesitation, his reluctance and his rejection. It was new to her. Immediately her lung contracted painfully as soon as she realized what that could mean.


    Once more she looked into the predator-like eyes of her uncle, trying to find the friendly man she remembered. However, when she did not find him. Now she could only try to protect herself. She pulled the wall around her heart a bit higher.


    Long ago, she had given up fighting for the love of others. Too often, she had waited outside closed doors. It wasn''t worth the effort. Two lives could confirm this insight. She did not want to be abandoned by loved ones any longer. Without a reason.


    She turned to Alexandre. "I''ve been well, Uncle, this is Alexandre, you must have heard about our marriage. He''s a good husband indeed. You don''t need to worry about me." Her voice sounded thin. The shock about her uncle''s behavior must have been deeper than she thought.


    "Alexandre de Valois, pleased to make your acquaintance." Smooth and elegant, Alexandre reached out his hand to greet him.


    Gaston''s gaze remained on the outstretched hand for a second too long before he finally grasped it. "Gaston de Cocieux, I''m delighted to meet you." Her uncle purred and surprised her once again with his pure disgust. What had happened to her lovely uncle, who used to send her a card and a present for every birthday. Who remembered her even though her own father had long forgotten her.


    Her uncle leisurely took a sip from his glass. "You''ve grown up. "Every year you look more like your mother. No wonder such a fine man had taken such a liking to you." Gaston sounded mocking.


    She could only nod silently. A hunk of words and feelings was stuck in her throat. But suddenly, a flash of lightning flared up in that man''s face.


    "Lillian, my dear little Lillian, we haven''t seen you for a long time." A touch of gentleness stepped upon his emotionless mask. "What would you say to escorting your uncle to his break room. I''d like to have a little chat with my niece. We haven''t seen each other in a long time and a lot seems to have happened in your life since then. Why don''t you tell your dear uncle about it over a cup of tea."

 Chapter 108 - Breathless

    "I''ll be honest with you, child." He ran his hand over his black hair. Single strands of hair on his temples were shimmering white, like thin cobwebs on a dark night. "I am not at all pleased that you married that man. I was very disappointed in you when I heard about this terrible affair." His voice hummed sweetly, like a lullaby, but something else was hiding underneath. "Poor Pascal..." For a second her uncle held her gaze with his before he took a sip from his teacup. The fresh aroma of peppermint wafted in the air. The tea her uncle always drank. Once he confessed to her that he didn''t really like the tea. But the taste of peppermint reminded him of a person he could never forget. So he drank this tea to remember the woman who loved peppermint tea with each sip he took. Otherwise, he felt he could forget her.


    "You broke that poor boy''s heart, my dear. You should have seen him. He looked like a little pile of misery. The heartache had worn him down."


    Hah! Rather the grief of losing one''s fortune! Was it Pascal''s fault that her uncle treated her like that? What fairy tales that bastard had been spreading behind her back?!


    "Uncle..." She was tired of mincing matters. She owed Pascal nothing. The truth had to come out. "I don''t know what Pascal told you. I only know what my eyes have seen. He and Nadine have a relationship..."


    " Hogwash!" He cut her off abruptly. "I don''t know what you think you saw. But you and Pascal are childhood sweethearts. Do you really think he would cheat on you out of a heartbeat. He loves you with all his heart."


    Yes! He''d already had been cheating on her! Why wouldn''t her uncle listen to her? Who knows how long they were doing it behind her back. The only thing Pascal loved was the money he''d get by marrying her. That''s all he loved about her. Finally, he was ready to walk over dead bodies. In order to get everything he longed for. Nadine and the de Clermont fortune.


    "You two have always been such good friends. You and Pascal. Nadine is like a sister to him, but he loves you, my child." No! You don''t kiss a sister in that lewd way. Lily felt like she was in the middle of a porno shoot!


    "Uncle, it''s not true. I saw them kissing when they thought nobody was watching. I don''t know how far they went after." Lily whispered breathlessly.


    "Lillian, my dear." His grip was iron as he reached for her hand. "I do not approve. Your behavior was very shameful. You have sullied our family names with your actions. Pascal''s a good boy. He''d never do anything so vile. "He loves you with all his heart." Her uncle whizzed.


    "Uncle!" She called out in horror. Did he really accuse her of lying?! Did he really had so little faith in her?


    "No, Lillian! I''m disappointed with you." He shook his head. "I don''t want to hear your excuses. You are hurting my feelings. How can you be so brazen and drag the name of dear Pascal through the mud like that. He was always so good to you. And how do you repay him... No! I don''t want to hear any more about it. He doesn''t deserve this." Once again, he shook his head. Lily gritted her teeth. It wasn''t new that nobody would listen to her, that people didn''t believe her, that she was even being called a liar. She would endure it and then forget it. As usual!


    "For God''s sake, my dear child... I want to forgive you. You must have acted in your childish ignorance."


    Lily was silent, kept everything on the edge. Inside, she had closed herself off. Her heart needed protecting.


    The uncle who was once so close to her was now miles away from her heart.


    He reached out his hand and brushed across her hair. A gesture so familiar to her... who had given her warmth and security in the past...


    Now.


    She felt nothing.

 Chapter 109 - Betrayal

    "I want to forgive you, my dear. You were always like a daughter to me. The child I could never have. You know I love you." He whispered, like a pious man. " I''m giving you one last chance, Lillian. In exchange, you must annul your marriage with that man. Pascal assured me he''ll take you back as his wife. Even though you betrayed him so shamefully. He still loves you and wants to forgive you."


    She thought her heart was well secured behind a high stone wall. Yet her uncle found cracks in it. With every word he said, he stabbed it and cut into her heart. It hurt.


    But she was determined not to show it to him and rose up. "Uncle, I can''t do that! Pascal hurt me, and I won''t forgive him!" She inhaled hissingly. Closed her eyes for a moment as painful images flooded across her mind. She banished it, once again, into the dark. "I will not let anyone call me a liar, Uncle. Not by Pascal, nor by you." She struggled desperately for breath, tensing her shoulders. She wouldn''t back down. "You''re asking me to do something I can never do. I''m Alexandre''s wife. You''ve always been an important part of my life, but if you won''t accept my decision. So be it!" The words came out sharper than intended. She was not finished...


    But suddenly her uncle stood up in front of her. Dark shadows flitted across his face. She trembled at this sight, every cell in her body trembled at the threatening presence of her uncle.


    On her uncle''s neck, a vein came out.


    In panic, she stumbled a step back. But before she could protect herself, her uncle pulled out and slapped her face with full force. A loud blast echoed in the room. So hard that she stumbled and cried out in pain. Lily could not manage to stand on her feet and fell back into the armchair. Dazed by the pain, she clung to the cushion. It was the first time her uncle had raised his hand against her. Shocked, she stared at him. She was now aware that an abyss had opened up between them that would never close completely.


    "Don''t you dare speak to me like that ever again!" He screamed. She''d never seen him that angry. This close to not being able to contain his dark rage. A muscle twitched in his face and his lower jaw was so tense that only a growl escaped from clenched teeth. "I warned you! But you are too stupid to hear my warning. Do you even know what you have done with your behavior! What you did to me with it! I will not forget this betrayal!"


    Lily held her burning cheek, felt the aftershock of the blow and looked at the man in shock. In her ears there was a rushing sound. She was trembling all over. " You will pay the price for your disobedience. Get out! Get out of here! I don''t want to see you anymore." He screamed and pierced her with his gaze. Pure contempt and disgust lay in it. Her heart was nothing but a painful lump. She felt like the ground had been ripped underneath her feet.


    Lily''s blood froze in her veins. She felt a fear like she had never known before.


    With trembling legs and her last strength she rose as gracefully as she could. Lily lifted her chin stubbornly. "Goodbye, Uncle." With a last glance at her uncle, she turned on her heel, forcing her legs to carry her out of the room. She had the feeling those legs would give way under her at any moment. Her footsteps became faster, more hasty. She strutted to the door, grabbed the handle. Her hand trembled as she clasped the handle. Without looking back one last time, she opened the door and left him behind her.


    She refused to shed a single tear. Two years ago she had already decided to bear the consequences of her drastic actions alone. No matter what. She would survive it. With her head held high. She would not look back. She would be okay.

 Chapter 110 - Tension

    Alexandre waited for her in the ballroom. Every muscle in his body was tense to the breaking point. This uncertainty drove him insane.


    He cursed it. Every moment he cursed at not being in the room. Not knowing what was going on in the room. He maintained a mask of serenity. Only with great effort. Chatting with friends and guests. But the conversations passed him by like a fleeting gust of wind without leaving a trace. He gave only vague answers, always trying to listen. But nothing stuck, not a single shred managed to survive. It was like water seeping into the sand. Hopeless!


    Again and again his thoughts wandered to Lily. How was she? What happened to her? Was she all right?


    He couldn''t concentrate. He was too nervous from waiting. He knew nothing would happen to Lily. His men were placed close to her.


    Everything would go according to plan. He had made sure of that.


    After all, he had bugs sewn into her dress. Every single syllable was recorded. By tomorrow morning at the latest, the full report of the conversation between his wife and this bastard would be on his desk.


    He knew that if she was really in danger, his men would intervene. Those were his instructions. He wasn''t gonna let anything happen to her. But that'' s not what he feared.


    Gaston wasn''t such kind of man. Though he hated the whole de valois family with all his heart, the bastard would never risk his revenge to give in to one tiny impulse. No, urges had never been able to control this beast. He was more like a snake, lurking quietly in high grass until the right moment came. Such a man was Gaston de Cocieux.


    He was probably testing the waters. Seeking the benefits his goddaughter still had for him. Alexandre expected Gaston to use his niece against him. Making her his little spy, and he would use that for himself. He''d have direct access to Gaston and could use Lily to spy on him.


    Again. That familiar signal, his phone vibrated silently by his leg. Was it over? He pulled it out of his pocket. But as the message passed, his eyebrows arched. For the first time that evening, he was seriously shaken.


    He ruffled his hair and apologized to his conversation partners before hurrying out of the ballroom. Then he dialed the number of his security chief. It clicked. "Where is she?" Did he bark into the device.


    "In the private rest room which the Count has prepared for, Your Grace. Madame has sent out the staff..." Alexandre hung up.


    Taking two steps at a time, Alexandre climbed the stairs up to the top. A golden shimmer illuminated the empty hallway. Only two maids and a few of his bodyguards waited outside the closed wooden door. With a hammering heart, Alexandre stopped in front of it for a moment, took a deep breath and then quietly pushed down the door handle.


    It was pitch black when he closed the door behind him. His hand hit the light switch. Glowing light dazzled him for a second, illuminating every corner with glaring light.


    The room was empty.


    His heart stopped.


    Alexandre had no idea where to look for her. She just had to be here. He clenched his fists and was about to swear out loud. In his head he already started to list the names of the people who should start looking for a new one tomorrow.


    But then he heard a soft hissing sound. Water flowing. His feet carried him automatically to the bath. The door was locked. He put his hand on the door and stared motionlessly at the door for minutes. He could feel her. He knew she was there. Only a door separated them. His heart was racing. He was such an idiot. He frowned reluctantly. Now that he was listening carefully, he could hear her.


    Hesitantly, he broke free from his stasis, tapping lightly on the wood.


    He cleared his throat. "Are you all right, Lily?"


    Silence. He hesitated, became impatient. It was difficult to control himself. Now, with anxiety gnawing at him. He wanted to know how she was doing. How she was feeling?


    He heard a sharp inhalation, as if she had to force herself to overcome something. "Yes! Why shouldn''t I be okay?" Her voice sounded light, like a sweet, innocent melody?


    He frowned his eyebrows.


    Something was wrong. He knew that right away.


    Her voice was too cheerful, too easygoing, too unprejudiced. But her sharp inhalation, the way she answered him made him prick up his ears.

 Chapter 111 - What happened?

    She was trying to cover something up. Dissatisfied, he put his hand on the door handle.


    "Can I...?" He asked before he pushed the door open.


    His eyes slipped her head downwards. Had he asked too much of her? Hesitantly, she pulled herself away from the sink. Her posture seemed tense, almost uptight.


    The first wave of the shock rolled over him mercilessly as his gaze met the red cheek. She only timidly exposed her wound. Red and swollen like a lump. Apparently, she had realized she could not hide anything from him.


    He gasped for breath. Approached her in one step. Her face was pale. He reached out his hand, gently touched her chin, turning it towards him to see the full extent.


    A deep growl freed itself from his throat. He forced himself to extinguish the fire within him. He had to stay in control.


    "Are you all right?" Alexandre pointed at her cheek. Her gaze remained fixed on him. Defiant. He felt strangely uncomfortable. He didn''t think he''d hit her.


    But to his own astonishment, something like a guilty conscience stirred in him. Had this happened in the end because of him?


    No. He was a capricious bastard. Even... even Lily! He clenched his hand to a fist, felt his nails dig into his skin. "Lily... What happened?" He dared to ask. He didn''t expect it.


    She turned back to the mirror, pressed the damp towel against her swollen cheek. "A little quarrel between Uncle and me." She explained it briefly. Forcing herself to smile. Tired. Sober. Like she didn''t really care anymore. It''s odd. Shouldn''t she have been upset, scared or sad?


    "What for?" He stared into her reflection, held his breath, waited in a daze. He was stiff as a poker, from one heartbeat to the next.


    "Why?" She snorted. Her eyes were iron. "I think you should probably know better." The expression on her face was not to be misunderstood. "You know Uncle, don''t you? He doesn''t like you. I never saw such hatred in his eyes. He gave me an ultimatum. He wanted me to annul this marriage. But we both know that''s not possible. Isn''t it?"


    "And that''s why he hit you?"


    "Mmm..." She wiped the air with her hand as if it didn''t matter.


    He swallowed. There was a ten-ton weight on his chest. It seemed to crush him, squeezing all the air out of his lungs. "What did he say?"


    " I should annul our marriage. Pascal would still accept me as his wife despite my betrayal." She paused. Endless tiredness lay in her eyes. "Despite my betrayal on him, Uncle would forgive me if I would end this marriage and take Pascal as my husband. That was roughly what he had said."


    Suddenly he was anything but comfortable in his skin.


    She pulled her shoulders up. "But I don''t get it. What is there to forgive? The only one I would have to ask for forgiveness in this matter would be Grandfather. But Grandfather supports this marriage."


    He said nothing. For a long time. When he looked up again, he caught her gaze. Her eyes searched his. Before he knew it, he was standing very close to her. Her warmth drifted in fine waves against his skin. His heart was pounding. "What did you say in reply?"


    For a moment she closed her eyes, turned her face away.


    Then she smiled. Cute. Broken. "I told him I couldn''t do that. Uncle didn''t seem to wanna hear that." Demonstratively she held her cheek.


    He immediately put his hand on hers. A stone fell from his heart. "Does it hurt much?" Suddenly he felt insecure again, as if he had been catapulted back in time. When he had no idea how to deal with women. His hands were sweaty.


    Of course bitter mockery twitched around her mouth. But her hands stroked tenderly across his chest, he would have loved to lay his hands on her body. He remained stiff. The situation was too surreal. Yet he wanted to wrap his arms around her.


    She suddenly took a step back. All of a sudden, the warmth left him. "You know it hurts when you get hit! But if you want to try it. I''m happy to offer my hand." With a smile she looked him in the eyes, grabbed his tie and pulled him down to her. Surprised, he looked her straight in the eyes. For a second she stared at him, almost giving him the impression that she wanted to wait for his reaction.


    He couldn''t swallow, couldn''t breathe.


    Her gaze pierced him.


    He felt naked for the first time.

 Chapter 112 - Tired of pushing away

    But she did not wait. She observed. Evaluating. He realized he only had this one chance left! The chill in her eyes made him tremble, cut off his air to breathe.


    " I would rather be curious about the connection between you and Uncle. " Her voice almost went dead. Once again she took a deep breath. He could hear the trembling inside. Crack. Something snapped in him, allowed him to take a closer look. See her. See what she was trying to hide. Crack! Her eyes were wide open, but her gaze didn''t exactly touch his. Her eyes were wavering. Insecurity lurked in the deep blue and the deeper he dived into the cool blue, the clearer he could see it. All the facets she tried to hide from him. The fear and the pain. Crack!


    Finally, he understood.


    Crack! His chest hurt.


    Now he stared at her. The view of her grief ripped through him, hurting too much. He didn''t understand.


    He lifted his shoulders up, bent his head over her and wrapped his arms around her center. His gaze was still deeply immersed in hers. "He hates me. That''s right." He remarked calmly and noticed one thing. He was tired of pushing her away. He leaned his forehead against hers. Near her he had a feeling of finding peace, he did not want to lose this feeling. The effect she had on him...


    He closed his eyes. Breathe in. Out. In...


    "But he doesn''t hate me directly..." He clenched his teeth, slowly realizing. "rather my father or what he did and the consequences." It poured out of his mouth, like a mighty river flowing out of him. Like dams were being broken. He couldn''t stop it. But the feeling that followed was firm, steady, but also warm and refreshing at the same time.


    "What has he done?"


    He smiled without humor. The truth wasn''t shallow waters. He needed to face her. He was reluctant to be fooled further. "It''s a long story..." He swallowed. "For this we should sit down." He pulled her out of the bathroom and sat down with her on the soft divan and leaned back. Where should he start? "Did Fabien ever tell you who his father is?"


    She shook her head.


    Her look was innocent and curious, giving him confidence. He had the security of knowing he could drop his guard in front of her, even if it was hard for him. She would not judge him.


    "I''m sure you know that my father is also Fabien''s father. It happened just before my parents'' wedding." He felt he was choking on his words. It was a miracle he could even voice it. A secret that had almost torn his family apart. "Frankly, a few days before my parents'' wedding. Father had left on a bachelor''s estate in Paris. He was probably under the influence of alcohol and some opiates. I don''t know what else his friends had slipped him. If he''d been sober, he''d have seen right through that farce." Alexandre suddenly got up. His eyes were fixed on the bottle of cognac. With heavy steps he walked to the bar. His fingers trembled as he reached for the bottle. "That''s what I keep telling myself. "My parents'' marriage was a love union. I know it''s unusual, especially in our circles. Which is why this story had long threatened my parents'' marriage." The golden liquid poured into his glass three fingers wide.


    He sipped his drink silently. It burned like fire down his throat. He looked up, gazing straight into her beautiful eyes. He just wanted to sink into it. Silence. It took a lot of effort. But her clear gaze gave him strength.


    "Aurelie de Bourbon, Fabien''s mother was still Gaston de Cocieux''s fianc¨¦e when it all began."


    Her eyes were wide open as the knowledge made its way through her mind. The shock flashed across her face. She looked kind of cute as she stuttered so innocently. "That woman... that woman... was Fabien''s m....mother?"


    He nodded, slowly walked back towards her to sit down next to her. He needed another sip for the next sentence. He was tired, feeling drained of things he shouldn''t care about. "But she did not love your uncle, unlike him. I think he still idolizes her even to this day. "That''s why he can''t stand the whole de Valois clan unless they die."


    She took a deep breath. But she did not move. For seconds.


    "Then who did she love? Your father?"


    She dropped a bomb on him. He was surprised. Sometimes she was sharper than he thought. He nodded.


    He needed to face her. She gave him one more chance. He should use it well.


    It took him some effort, even if he decided to continue, this tense feeling remained.

 Chapter 113 - What is love?

    She lacked of words, somehow helplessly she gesticulated wildly with her hands. "So... Uncle was Aurelie''s fianc¨¦?" Alexandre silently agreed and let himself sink deep into the cushion. The glass in his hand exuded this sweetly herb smell of orange, nutmeg and cinnamon, which reminded her of a small room. She wrinkled her nose and tried to concentrate. Counting one and one together. "Is this now some sort of feud between families, and we are a modern form of Romeo and Juliet?"


    Alexandre laughed out loud. Bitterness resonated in every note. Letting his head fall to the side. There was sadness in his gaze. "I''ve never seen it like that before, but it''s quite true." It was probably bluntly overstated. In Shakespeare''s Romeo and Juliet, people died, she hoped that people around her would cling to their lives. At least she did. Lily didn''t want to die. Not for love nor any other meaningless ideals. Love was not a feeling of lasting, even if literature of many centuries wanted to portray it that way. She had experienced it firsthand! Even the unconditional love of parents, would be exhausted pretty quickly if the child did not live up to the ideals or did not fulfill their expectations. How could she believe in romantic love if she had never experienced the love of parents.


    Suddenly his strong hand gripped hers. She flinched. "We are not going to die." He said it like he could read her mind. Alexandre started laughing. "I prefer to be the living form of Romeo and Juliet. We can prove our love without a dramatic death. Don''t you agree?"


    "We don''t love each other!"


    "Ouch! You broke my heart." A tender smile adorned his serious expression. After a short hesitation, she turned away, gazing at the cramped fist in her lap. She swallowed again. Love was dangerous. Uncle had proved it to her once more. Love never ended well for her. Never. She wasn''t allowed to fall in love. She had to guard her heart. Behind thick walls, high walls. She would never let anyone in. No one!


    "Lily..."


    "Aurelie." She stopped him in haste. She didn''t want to say another word about this matter. Their relationship was strictly business. There would be never any love between them. He would give Adrien and her protection, and he... Whatever he would gain out of this relationship, she would find out later. In time, she''d find piece after piece of this puzzle and prepare to flee quietly without his knowledge. "Aurelie, your father and uncle... I cannot see how it all fits together." She fell silent, looking up at him again. "I mean, if Aurelie didn''t love uncle, why does he hate your family to this extent. It doesn''t make sense."


    Alexandre groaned loudly. "Bon sang!" He took another hearty gulp from the glass. "You want to hear the whole story, don''t you?"


    She nodded.


    "As I told you, Aurelie was in love with Father. She tried to stop my parents'' marriage. The only chance she had was the bachelor party in Paris. And we all know that at the Moulin Rouge the finest gentlemen could turn into savage beasts, especially on the eve of marriage." Bitterly he grimaced. "Father''s bachelor party was no different. He was supposed to go out one last time with his friends. They had organized a private dance show for him at L''El¨¦phant. No one could have known that Aurelie would use it for her own goals." He looked at Lilys hand in his as if he had forgotten. Then he pressed it gently, turned her hand around and drew circles with his thumb in the middle of her palm. A feeling of warmth trickled over her chest, like a light summer rain.


    "Aurelie had swapped roles with the belly dancer. She wanted father to dishonor her and force him that way into marriage with her. All evening long she had made sure that father was no longer really sane due to alcohol and drugs, only to let him deflower her in the seclusion of the pleasure garden."


    She felt his slight tremor. His eyes hung in space. Alexandre dropped his head back into the padded headrest. His movements seemed so tired. "If father hadn''t shared the bed with my mother before marriage, he''d surely have broken off the engagement with mother and taken Aurelie to be his wife to save her from the future disgrace."


    "A... But weren''t his groomsmen always by his side? How could this even happen?" Lily looked at him with her mouth wide open. Curiosity in her eyes.

 Chapter 114 - So enlighten me!

    He smiled and placed the glass with cognac on the coffee table, leaning forward. Wordlessly he stretched out his hand, brushing a brown streak from her face before shaking his own head in disbelieve. "You really don''t know what nightlife is like in Paris?!" It was more a statement than a question.


    "So enlighten me!"


    His smile turned into a grin. "I never thought I''d have to talk to my wife about Parisian nightlife. It is not a subject for those innocent ears of yours." He smiled that damned enigmatic smile that made her brain cells go on strike for an instant.


    "What do you want to know?" His voice dropped an octave lower.


    "I really don''t get it. What is L''¨¦l¨¦phant and the pleasure garden? And how did Aurelie even get in? I thought women were forbidden to enter Pigalle unless they work there?" Lily knew the Pigalle as an amusement district from her first life and the Moulin Rouge as a variety theater with dramatic dance shows. But in this universe it was more of a wicked place of sexual pleasure and lust for men with the necessary money in their pockets. Spectacular stage shows and erotic dances invited gentlemen into a glittering dream world.


    "The Moulin Rouge has a private garden, there in the pleasure garden, L''¨¦l¨¦phant graces the magnificent atmosphere. Actually, L''¨¦l¨¦phant is just a giant stucco elephant. One of the then directors of the Moulin Rouge discovered it at the Paris World Exhibition of 1889 and created an exclusive area inside it. A stage was built in its belly, which can be reached by a staircase in the elephant'' s legs. Usually belly dances are performed there. But it also serves as a luxurious opium den."


    "Have you ever been there?" She asked curiously.


    Alexandre took a deep breath. His eyes flashed as he looked at her mouth. Breathless, he ran his free hand through his hair. This was really not a conversation he wanted to have with his wife. She was a tad too curious for his taste.


    "The Moulin Rouge, yes." He admitted in a husky voice.


    "And at L''El¨¦phant?"


    He gritted his teeth. "No!"


    "Oh! But you know so well. Do you ever plan on visiting it?"


    "Lily really every man knows about L''¨¦l¨¦phant. And no, I have no desire to visit it."


    "Huh! Well, I''d be curious if I were you. So if I were a man, I''d have a look inside."


    "This can''t be happening." His dark eyes were challenging. "My own wife encourages me to frequent such wicked establishments. Are you aware of what you are asking me to do?"


    Lily''s mouth opened. Her mind was a blank. She swallowed hard. Her mouth suddenly felt dry as dust. "Um...um..." She stuttered. "I... I didn''t mean it... that way...!"


    He leaned forward. "No?!" Under his glowing gaze she shrank. His gaze slipped to her mouth. Alexandres eyes were half closed. Yet she felt too small under those eyes. Lily maintained eye contact even though every cell in her brain advised her to flee. Danger was in the air.


    But she did not understand the faux pas she had put her foot in.


    He stared at her mouth. Remembering her kisses. Again his body was on fire! ! He wanted to loosen her updo, so he could run his fingers through the long strands of hair. Then he would explore her face with his lips before starting to take her out of the countless layers of fabric. He would push his body against hers. Her soft curves would nestle perfectly against his steel body. Knowing exactly where he wanted to touch her...


    But that would only happen in his mind. At least for a while. He saw how she trembled under his hungry gaze, like a little bunny in front of the big bad wolf''s mouth.


    Hastily he reached for the glass on the table to take a strong sip of alcohol from it. Good Lord, he felt like a virgin just before the first time. This was bad! "If you were as eager at night, I wouldn''t have to go to places like this all my life." Tired, he let himself sink back into the cushion.

 Chapter 115 - Quite a mess

    Alexandre covered his eyes with an arm. She was his damned honey trap. Smelling like fresh air and sweet promises. He looked up at her. His gaze fell on the swollen cheek. Red like a ripe tomato. Thick and bloated. Damn it! There were more important issues. He had to pull himself together! "Let me see." Alexandre sat up again, wrapped his hand around her chin and turned her head slowly, so he could have a better look at the swelling. He looked daggers at her cheek. Nice! There was this restlessness in him again and now he was pissed once more! His emotions have been making frequent turns of 180¡ãC lately.


    Why did he have to hit her so hard? He rubbed his hand over his mouth, his gaze fixed on her. "Lily, when your uncle gets in touch with you..." Not that he let it happen again. By now, he could imagine that Gustav de Cocieux had mercilessly abandoned his former darling. Tomorrow he would read the confirmation in the records. "let me know before you make any decision or move. The situation is more delicate than I had thought." He didn''t want anything to happen to her. He wasn''t that ruthless. All he wanted was a way to get close to the bastard. No second Danielle. He didn''t want to hurt Lily because of this feud between her uncle and him. He wouldn''t let Gaston hurt a single hair on her head. Never again! She was his wife, after all, and what was his was not to be touched by anyone but himself!


    "I still don''t get it, How could it come to a family feud? if it was Aurelie who had betrayed uncle?"


    "Aurelie had probably never revealed the way she was dishonored and became pregnant to your uncle. Your uncle probably has a completely different image of what happened back then."


    "You never tried to tell him everything from your point of view."


    He laughed bitterly. "Lily..." He ran his hand over her soft hair. "I wish it were that easy." He tried to turn away from the nightmares in his head. Far too much had happened. No apology would be enough. Oh, Lily! His naive little Lily.


    "He blames my father entirely for what happened."


    Somewhat uncomfortable, he remained silent for a moment. Struggling with his next words. "Your uncle loved Aurelie dearly. They were childhood sweethearts. The engagement had been fixed since Aurelie was born."


    Alexandre knew the monster could love. Love that was like obsession. It was love that drove him so far. Love that motivated him! Every breath he took...


    "He blamed Father alone for her suicide. Having received Fabien that night, Aurelie was sure he would marry her. But father refused since mother was expecting me at the same time. Aurelie fell into a deep depression and killed herself shortly after the birth of Fabien." He declared breathless.


    "The suicide made the situation even more difficult. Nothing can be saved by words." He took a deep breath. Words could not bring back a life! He gulped for air.


    "Quite a mess." He laughed bitterly before he got up. Lily gave him an inquiring look with her big watery eyes.


    Her red cheek was a personal memorial to him. It was frightening. Never again, he swore to himself.


    With determined steps, he walked to the minibar. Twice she had already been hurt in his care. Two times too often! Cursing, he dropped a few ice cubes into the towel. It was ridiculous! He acted as her great protector. But in fact, it was he who had put her in that kind of danger to begin with. He then knotted the towel into a little bag. Alexandre was a hypocritical bastard!


    Despite the towel, the ice in his palm was still too icy for her delicate skin. He could not possibly put it on her cheek. He decided to go to the bathroom and then put the ice pack in one of the fluffy Terry towels. Now that felt better!


    "It needs ointment and a cooling pad." Back at her side, he got down on his knees before her. She blinked. He was very close. "This will have to do for now." He presented her with the cooling package.


    She nodded. Made a move to reach for it. He pulled it away again.


    "''What''s wrong?" Confusion spread across her face.


    "Until we''re home." Then he would make sure that the staff cared for her. Nothing should spoil her beautiful face. It was irritating! Once again he brought his wife home injured. The bruises from last time were barely healed, and she already had a new one. That scumbag!


    "Come here." He clasped her face with his hand. "Maybe it''s a little chilly." As a precaution he warned her once more before he carefully placed the bundle on her cheek.


    Lily winced. A soft whining escaped her lips.

 Chapter 116 - A tense phone call

    It required half of a minute for Alexandre to realize what was pulling him out of his sleep. That nasty melody that belonged to that particular number. Groaning, he tried to open his eyes, wide enough to see something. The sleep was still weighing heavily on his bones. He leaned sluggishly on his elbows. Automatically his eyes fell on Lily, who had buried herself whimpering under the pillows. Her body was tightly nestled against his. A smile slipped on his lips before he finally found the ringing troublemaker and let himself fall back into the pillow. "Do you know what time it is?!" He mumbled into his cell phone. It was still dark outside. Alexandre''s gaze swept to the watch. Suddenly, the vein at his temple began to throb.


    "Yes! I thought you would want the information immediately. After all, it''s about your wife." Claudio snorted loudly.


    Alert, Alexandre sat up and pulled Lily closer. "What''s wrong?" He barked and casually stroked a few strands from his groaning wife''s face. Her cheek had turned slightly pink, no longer the intense red of the previous evening. Despite the intensive treatment with ointment and coolness, a slight swelling was still visible.


    "Are you sitting?" Asked the deep voice from the other side of the line.


    "I''m in bed! Other people! Normal people are asleep at this hour!" He heard a muffled laughter resounding through the wire. Alexandre rubbed his face. "What do you want!" He urged him.


    At the other end his friend took a deep breath. "Just a moment ago, someone offered a hit for a million dollars. The target is your wife, Lillian de Valois."


    "What!" Alexandre gasped for breath. His grip on the phone became tighter, as if he could strangle the responsible persons.


    "You heard right. One million dollars bounty was offered for the head of your lovely wife. No one has yet sealed the deal. However, given the sum involved, I''m sure someone will be willing to go along with the deal."


    "Merde!" Alexandre cursed. It was hard to swallow. Several other obscene curses burned on his tongue. "Can you find out who put up the bounty?" In a tense mood, Alexandre stepped out of the bedroom and closed the door behind him as quiet as a mouse.


    "I thought you''d pay me well. I put some of my men on it. Any guesses?"


    "I can think of several!"


    "Be prepared that the price may double or triple depending on who is behind it."


    Alexandre closed his eyes, rubbing his middle and ring finger across his stiff temples. He had hoped to finally get some rest, but everything became even more complicated.


    "Where did you get the information?"


    Claudio Morgatti''s bitter laughter echoed through the loudspeakers. "My little Caligula was the first one given this job. Who knows who else got the same offer."


    "The fact that you call your best man ''my little Caligula'' doesn''t exactly speak for you."


    Laughter rang out next to Alexandre''s ear. "He is sometimes worse than a diva. The name is deserved." His voice turned serious again. "Especially the part of Caligula. He''s efficient in his job. You better keep your sweetie save. It wasn''t easy for me to track her down. I''d really regret it if my work was a pain in the ass from the start."


    "Has Caligula accepted the commission?"


    Claudio snorted. "You''re like a brother to me. The Morgatti Clan will not accept it. I don''t know how long the client will keep quiet. There are enough other Mafia clans."


    The noose around his neck tightened more and more. He now had the money and the power. But time ran like sand through his fingers. Damn it! He leaned against the door, exhausted. "I see." Alexandre was about to hang up, but paused at his friend''s next words.


    "I have an offer for you. A special deal for a friend, of course."


    "I understand." He vigilantly agreed.


    "Good! Caligula is doing very well as a bodyguard. I can testify it. I''ll be seeing you." A click. Claudio had hung up. Only the loud beeping of the busy signal was left on the line.

 Chapter 117 - How to be a good mum?

    "Lily! Look! Look!" Adrien squeaked while his little hands had grabbed her arm and shook it vigorously.


    "What is it, sweetie?"


    With his little finger he pointed to the big screen. Blinking back to reality, Lily looked over and put the brochure about Marien kindergarden aside.


    "No, they will hurt Anne-Marie?" Whimpered the toddler. His eyes were glassy as he stretched his arms up in the air and silently demanded Lily''s embrace.


    Gently she pulled the teary-eyed boy onto her lap and kissed him on the forehead. "Everything will be all right."


    "Noooo! Look there is a crocodile." Adrien cried, rubbing his nose against her check. A stab flashed across her cheek. She gritted.


    The bright colors were flickering on the screen. On a pool of water, she saw a little girl swimming unconscious on a wooden box. A ring of fire lashed around her, while a fat crocodile was already lurking in the depths. Tense orchestral music was seething in the background. Lily had not really followed the plot of the kiddy movie. She thought that a film with a talking dog would be child-friendly.


    Soothing, she was reaching down to ruffle Adrien''s soft hair. "Look, Addy! Charlie will save her."


    Cautiously he lifted his head off her chest. Peeking curiously at the TV screen once again.


    His eyes became all round with amazement. "Wow!" He cried out. While the dog saved the girl from drowning.


    Adrien blinked, his cheeks a little flushed, eyes wide as he starred in astonishment on screen. Now she could actually feel relaxed again after the toddler finelly was leaning back and watching the show.


    Lily picked up the brochure of the catholic Marien Kindergarden again and immersed herself once more in the literature that Alexandre had brought her. She needed to decide upon a kindergarten for the little one. But to be honest, she had no idea what was important. What preschooling would do for Adrien. She lacked the necessary experience.


    Suddenly becoming a mother was a challenge. Crucial questions about education and care were new territory for her. Lily still had a lot to learn. Which is why her laptop was ready to use on the coffee table and always at her side was the Internet as her loyal advisor.


    She was surfing in parent forums, child development cycle pages and educational online journals. But still she felt helpless. The more she dealt with the important issues of raising children, the more question marks danced through her mind. There was not even one person she could pray to for advice. After all, only a handful of people were aware of the secret concerning Adrien. And this people didn''t know more about parenting than she did. So hope were to get books like "Parenting For Dummies" or "Mum''s Survival Guide". Her new agenda for the week was: trip to a bookstore! It seems it took more than love to be a good mother. She felt like motherhood had to be studied at university to manage the job successfully.


    But Lily was just a career changer who had somehow gotten the job, but had no idea what she was even doing.


    Suddenly, she heard voices coming from the hallway. Pretty early for Alexandre, she thought, and was about to put the brochure aside when the door swung open and an elegant woman in a short-sleeved purple body-con dress with a flat collar stood in the frame. For a moment her eyes widened in astonishment. However, she quickly got rid of all emotions on her flawless face.

 Chapter 118 - Would this be one of those scenes?

    With practiced eyes the woman looked through the large room. Her cornflower blue eyes immediately focused on Adrien and Lily as they sat on the couch. Her whole face inflamed into a smile. Elated and yet sugar sweet, like the face of a queen. As she approached the people on the couch. Time seemed to be frozen.


    Would this be one of those scenes where the wife meets her husband''s mistress, Lily was lost in thought as she imaged what could happen. Nice! "Hello..." The girl said completely baffled. Her heart was beating loud.


    "Maman!" Shrilled it from the background. Lily looked up, her glance drifted back to the door. As Louise burst in. Panting heavily, she held on to the door frame while staring at the woman with glassy eyes. "Maman!" Desperation was written all over Loulou''s face.


    Without waiting for Louise''s plea, the lady strolled on unswerving.


    "Hello." With a casual movement the woman threw her reddish blond hair over her shoulder. "May I join you?" Her voice was soft, like velvet.


    Lily nodded, feeling like she was missing something.


    The Lady seemed satisfied as she sat down next to Lily. " An introduction would now be appropriate, I suppose. " She smiled calmly. "I guess the fault lies with my son, who hasn''t allowed me to meet you two." She winked mischievously at Adrien, who couldn''t shut his mouth for bewilderment, just like Lily.


    "Maman!" Loulou broke the silence with her furious stomping beside them. "I''m so sorry." She whimpered. "It was just slip of the tongue. I never could know..." Her glassy eyes turned to Lily.


    "Excuse me?" The girl asked, out of mind. She still hadn''t grasped the full extent of the situation, yet she tried her best to smile, as she suspected who the stranger might be. This was going to be interesting!


    "You and your brother are driving me crazy!" The woman snapped in between and sullenly pressed her full lips together into a firm line.


    "Maman!"


    "Arr¨ºtez!" She warned Louise with just one look.


    "Um... Madame Isabelle de Valois, I presume." Lily intervened. "It''s so nice to finally meet you. I''m terribly embarrassed we haven''t been introduced before." The lump in her stomach was getting heavy. In her heart, she was ready to howl an ocean. But on the outside she had to keep up appearances! "My name is Lillien de Clermont." She bit her lips as her maiden name slipped out, hastily she then introduced Adrien to conceal the faux pas.


    Lady de Valois raised her head slightly. "My grandson, I suppose." She hummed happily.


    Lily''s heart was in her mouth. She felt caught. Like she had done something wrong. "Um... yes." She hurried herself to say and remembered how Alexandre had pretended Addy to be his son in front of Claudio. She didn''t know who had knowledge of how much. But for the beginning she would stick to Alexandre''s story. Especially after Alexandre had confessed his family secrets to her, it would not be a good idea to put Lady de Valois in the truth. No doubt she still would carry a scar on her heart.


    "Mon Dieu! Let me look at you, my darling. What a splendid boy you are! I''m your m¨¦m¨¦." Madame de Valois joyfully spread her arms, ready to finally take her sweet grandson in her arms.


    But the little one wasn''t ready yet. Insecure, the toddler looked up at the woman. The expression on her face seemed so sincere!


    "Really?" Adrien felled himself actually blushing up.


    "It''s real. I''m your m¨¦m¨¦, my darling."


    Shyly, Adrien looked down, his cheeks turning cherry red.


    "Now my darling, won''t you give your m¨¦m¨¦ a kiss on the cheek for the beginning."


    Adrien stopped and stared at the unknown lady with round eyes as big as the moon.


    He didn''t know what to do.


    "Umm... Uh-uh..." It was as if his tongue had tangled into one big knot. Tormented by uncertainty, he quickly buried himself under Lily''s arm. Lily''s familiar scent and her warmth... he knew that as long as she was by his side, no harm would come to him.


    Gripped by a new wave of curiosity, the toddler dared once more to peek out of his hiding place.


    There was still this warm smile on the woman''s face.


    Looking up at his new m¨¦m¨¦ with curious eyes that Lily had rarely seen. Adrien offered a soft smile, leaning over.

 Chapter 119 - It wasnt safe at all

    "Sir, Madame has gone out with the young master."


    Alexandre folded his hands before his mouth. "Why wasn''t I told about this until now!" With a cool smile he looked up at his secretary. The skinny boy trembled under his gaze.


    "Who called?" The sound of his voice was icy, hissing, like the frosty north wind.


    "The Butler Monsineur Fegeard. He called to inform you that the young madame and master went out with your mother, Lady de Valois and Lady Louise."


    He swallowed hard. Maman! He started to massage the place between his eyebrowns.


    "Are the bodyguards with them?" Alexandre asked visibly tense.


    "Not directly, sir."


    His mind was growing tense. "What means, not directly!" He could no longer suppress the tremor in his voice as the sharp line between his brows grew deeper and deeper. There was this oppressive feeling in his stomach area.


    "Lady de Valois regarded this bodyguard as a nuisance. She did not want them anywhere near her."


    Alexandre''s heart began to tremble wildly. Maman! He wanted to groan loudly. What was he hiring bodyguards for anyway. He just wanted her to be safe. But no, his family knew how to interfere. He''s seething. With all due love, he was about to wring his mother''s neck. Damn it! Just three days ago, there was placed an enormous bounty on Lily''s head, and now his mother was dragging Lily around without any protection. Banging on the table he stood up.


    "The bodyguards..." Did the secretary hurry to say. "Guard the young madam from a safe distance."


    Distance! Alexandre cursed heaven and hell in his mind. From a distance! Sure, that was definitely not safe enough. He suppressed a shiver at the thought of what could happen. From a distance, it wasn''t safe at all. If he could, he''d lock her up at home! Actually, that wasn''t a bad idea...


    "Where are they?" Alexandre growled. Once he thought that peace could finally return, it was already pre-programmed that the opposite would happen.


    "Out to dinner at Le Petit Gusteau." It shot out of his mouth as fast as it shot out of a pistol. The man''s eyes were slightly widened as he awaited the next order from his powerful boss.


    "Get me Nicolas." Alexandre ordered harshly and began to massage his temples with thumb and ring finger. Damn it! He had to hurry. How defenseless she was. He didn''t want to think about what could happen. But it drove the cold sweat down his back. And his mother? He''d deal with the problem once he got there.


    There was a knock at the door of his spacious corner office. "Come in!" He barked.


    "You asked for me." Nicolas exclaimed soberly and locked the door behind his back. His face was blank, like a blank piece of paper. Nothing gave away a thought, unlike the secretary before him, whose fear Alexandre could literally smell.


    His personal assistant appeared neat and competent. That''s what Alexandre liked about Nicolas. This man was dependable. Even after an exhausting long day at work, there was no wrinkle on the royal blue suit, the shoes were shining as if he had just polished them. Nicolas was the perfection of an assistant. Alexandre could calmly leave the helm to him.


    He glanced at his Rolex. Just before 3 pm. Actually, not the right time to go. There were two meetings left. Fuck it! "Reschedule all important appointments for this afternoon. I have to go. I''ll leave the rest to you." Alexandre suddenly rose from his leather work chair and grabbed his charcoal suit jacket to throw it over his shoulder. "And let my car drive up."

 Chapter 120 - At the Le Petit Gusteau

    "Sir how can I help you?" Asked a service person. It was a young man, about twenty years old. The nut-brown hair was neatly combed back and the black and white service uniform fitted. It was to be expected from such a noble bistro as Le Petit Gusteau. Although it was a rather small bistro, it was still very exclusive. With its cozy ambience it reminded of a wine tavern from the Provence.


    Small tables, antique wood and vintage bistro furniture, stylish pictures on the wood paneling and simple decorative elements exude that credible Parisian bistro feeling.


    Almost all seats were taken, although Le Petit Gusteau was rather hidden among the insider tips of Dijon.


    Alexandre nodded. "Alexandre de Valois. Would you please escort me to the table of my wife and relatives."


    "Of course. If you''ll follow me, please." The boy pointed into the corridor with his gloved hand and led Alexandre through the hall of tables to a remote part of the bistro. Only a few tables were placed in front of the impressive window front, where a chattering group of three ladies and a child sat at a single table. Faces all too familiar to him. They seemed to be having a pleasant conversation while the little one bathed in the care of his grandmother. A cheerful serenity floated around the round table.


    Alexandre walked over to the table without waiting for the young waiter.


    " Maman. Louise." Did he greet his mother and sister.


    "Alexandre?" Lily whispered in surprise and turned her head, so she could look him in the eyes. A slight blush lay around her cheeks while he lost himself in the innocent glint of her eyes. His heart softened. Dame it! She was so cute! Lost in her sight, he bent over.


    She shivered as his warm breath settled over her neck and cheek. Alexandre smiled softly before kissing her check from behind. Promptly her face turned red.


    "Hello, Love." He whispered next to her ear before he stood up again and examined her face carefully. She seemed relaxed, she was fine.


    "Alec." The little one was beaming at him, his face was covered with bread crumbs and his eyes became big and bright. But not those of Alexandres mother! Pin-pointed pupils fastened him out of slitted eyes. Once their eyes met, the hostile expression on his mothers face disappeared beneath her cheerful mask.


    "Alexandre, what a surprise!" She greeted her son with a sugar smile. Her voice feigned gentleness and surprise. But in her eyes the accusation was still clearly visible. His gaze fell on his little sister, who was sitting unusually quiet at the table. Hah! Caught!


    He pulled out a chair and sat down next to his wife. "I heard you were out, and since I was nearby I wanted to greet you." Casually he accepted the menu, which the waiter handed him. Taking a quick look inside, he ordered the best that caught his eye before handing the menu back to the waiter. Actually he was not hungry. There was already a huge lump in his stomach. It would surely grow. He wondered if Maman would make a big scene.


    "Well, well..." Mumbled his mother. Her eyes were sharp like an eagle''s.


    He was annoyed. "Have you ordered the wine yet?"


    "No, Alexandre." His mother replied to him with elusive calm. "Not yet. Would you like to recommend something?"


    No, he didn''t. He asked about the wine list. "What did you order?" He wanted to know, after he opened the card. "For the appetizer, Soupe de Poisson, I presume."


    "Quite right." His mother confirmed. Somehow it seemed like she and he were doing the table talk alone. Hah! Louise had definitely messed up something!


    Alexandre then ordered a bottle of water, a bottle of ros¨¦ wine to go with the starter, a bottle of red wine for the main course and a bottle of dessert wine. Adrien of course got the cola he wanted. Even though Lily frowned at the mere word cola, she didn''t say a word. Since Maman had found a new crown prince, to whom she would fulfill his every wish. His mother''s attention was totally focused on Adrien.


    Alexandre wrinkled his eyebrows. Had she longed so badly for a grandson, or did she want to rub something in his face?


    Alexandre didn''t know what his mother expected out of this behavior. But he would surely find out tonight. Because if something was on his mother''s mind, she wouldn''t keep it locked up for long.


    That''s for sure.

 Chapter 121 - The nature of the problem

    "Don''t worry, let him enjoy his Coke." Alexandre whispered into her ear. But his attempts to appease Lily did not seem to help. Little furrows were rippling on her forehead. His hand grasped hers under the table and pulled it on his lap. " Everything''s fine." He whispered softly before he turned to his mother again. In the end, his mother had an axe to grind with him.


    "Maman, may I ask you how we got the pleasure of your company? I thought you and Papa were still traveling through South America for four weeks?" Alexandre inquired as he played under the table with Lily''s fingers.


    "Well, your sudden plans caused us to reschedule. It''s really hard to plan a wedding from abroad. Lady de Clermont and I were faced with so many challenges until we came to the point where there was no progress. But as the date was getting closer, me and your dad decided to reschedule for now." She gasped for breath. Alexandre knew it wasn''t over. His mother was just getting warmed up. She would still talk effusively and dramatically about her suffering, no doubt. He squeezed Lily''s left hand again, soothingly. She had stiffened a little and bit her full, juicy lower lip. A clear sign of her anxiety. Did his mother have to puff everything up unnecessarily?


    "Alexandre I am so ashamed every time I talk to Countess de Clermont on the phone, when I was not even introduced to my daughter-in-law. You''re absolutely horrible!" His mother moaned. Annoyed he raised his eyebrow, but so far everything went well with the wedding planning. Alexandre had only received a letter from the hired wedding planner a week ago. He did not understand the nature of the problem. However, he kept silent, because it was not a good idea to interrupt his mother when she was in her drama queen mode.


    Still the fact that his mother was putting Lily and Adrien in danger with her reckless behavior was gnawing at him. He let his thumb slide across her palm. Her skin was soft and delicate. He liked that feeling. Her closeness.


    " Pardonmy behaviour, my poor dear." Isabelle reached across the table and grabbed Lily''s right hand. Her expression was a mixture of pure honesty and a pinch of regret. "I can only imagine what a tyrant my son is..." Alexandre breathed in sharply, suppressed the sharp preservation in his throat. "We spoiled him far too much. Not a shred of decency is left in this fella. He must have behaved really shamefully towards you and my precious grandson." Isabelle shook her head in silence. "But don''t worry I''ll take care of it in the future. This behaviour will no longer be tolerated." His mother''s glare settled upon him. My Lord, did she think he was still a child, that she could treat that way.


    "Thank you, Lady Isabelle. You are too kind." Replied Lily with this enchanting smile that brought back peace to his heart.


    But his mother was a master of drama. She couldn''t leave it alone. " Oh, no, that''s a given. It''s my failings that he turned out this way." Lily giggled. He squeezed her hand tighter.


    "Alexandre, aren''t you the least bit ashamed. "You even kept your grandson hidden from me for so many years. " I had to learn from your sister that I have such a sweet angel." His mother had to exaggerate everything and always only ME. ME. ME!


    Like she was the victim.


    Alexandre''s eyes narrowed. There sat the true culprit. His sister! Why was she trying to divert Mama''s attention by hiding behind his secrets.


    Alexandre had been waiting for the right moment to tell his parents about Adrien''s existence. But his sister had to stick her nose into his business again!


    His patience was wearing thin. Now Alexandre was sure that his mother had rushed home just for her grandson and his squealing sister could not even warn him.


    "Maman, I didn''t hide your grandson away - There are circumstances..."


    "Pah!" She interrupted him. "I don''t want to hear your cheap excuses. Three years! Three years, you''ve been acting scornfully towards your sweet wife and son. How can I ever lift my head proudly and look into the eyes of the de Clermonts under these circumstances without wanting to sink in the ground out of shame?"


    Alexandre felt that it was very difficult to endure. " Maman!" He tried to cut off her weeping. It was hopeless.


    "By no means..." Lily''s face had turned quite pale at the sight of his mother''s tragedy. "The fault also lies with me..." She lied to ease the burden of the woman who was close to tears.


    All his mother did was shake her head quietly, letting no one speak until her performance came to an end. "But no, my dear, the fault lies entirely with that scoundrel." Her voice trembled when she raised her gaze again. "But that is not enough for you. Louise told me about..."

 Chapter 122 - Sticking their noses into his business

    Alexandre looked at his sister. Who immediately turned her gaze away. She was so dead!


    "You really keep your family at home, hiding them from everyone! I didn''t want to believe what I was hearing."


    "This is so not right!"


    "Yes, you do!" Whimpered his sister.


    "I simply don''t like it when someone..." He looked at his sister. "Without announcing himself, is blowing into my house!"


    "I am your sister!"


    "You seek only your own pleasure regardless of the inconvenience it causes others."


    "That''s not true! Control freak!" Snorted his sister with cheeks red with rage.


    Suddenly he felt a slight squeeze around his hand, anxiously he looked over to Lily. She shook her head gently. "Louise, you are of course always welcome in the house." His wife tried to defuse the situation. He admired her for her calm.


    Loulou''s eyes fell on her brother. "Really?"


    Alexandre squinted his eyes. Don''t overdo it, sister. Don''t overdo it! He nodded, reluctantly though.


    Suddenly the waiter stood at the table, probably he had waited for the heated discussion to pass.


    Alexandre accepted the wine glass that the young man had handed him. He swayed the wine in his glass so that the aromas could be released before he held his nose over it to scent it. He nodded, instructing the waiter to fill all but Lily''s glasses. He knew she didn''t like alcohol, so he had them serve spring water. Then the first course was served. Unfortunately, to Lily''s despair, Adrien shrugged his nose at the soup and would not allow a spoon to go into his mouth. So his grandmother ordered fries for the picky eater. Alexandre wanted to stop his mother''s behavior, but gave it up after another heated discussion and wished his family would not stick their noses into his business.


    But the main topic was still the upcoming wedding celebration. Alexandre didn''t understand all the female euphoria behind it and in the meantime tasted the hare filet of his main course.


    "Your grandmother, Loulou and I will have a trusted tailor make some wedding dresses for you. Five are planned. We''ll have to visit the salon soon to take measurements." Alexandre dropped his shoulders. He knew what his mother was getting at.


    "I''m coming too!" He explained without further ado.


    "But Alexandre, you mustn''t see the bride in her dress before her wedding day." Manman was outraged.


    "Bullshit! We''re already married. If you''re implying some superstition. I''m going with you." He would certainly not allow a dress rehearsal to turn into a shopping trip that only endangered Lily unnecessarily. He would take her to the salon. Let her pick out her clothes, and then bring her home safely. He would not let the women of his family drag her through the city streets. Especially not while he knew a hit man could be sneaking around Lily.


    His mother snorted, her nose blowing up like a bull''s nostrils. "Alexandre, if you please! Watch your language. Ladies and your child are sitting at this table! You may be able to behave like that at the gaming table with your pals, but not here! Besides, it''s tradition. Your behavior will bring misfortune."


    "You''re not going to cling to that superstition. Now that I have already broken every tradition."


    "Right now, it''s even more important." Maman tried to teach him better, while his damned sister chuckled up her sleeve.


    She was so done!


    Now more than ever!


    When this horrible dinner was finally over, he would set Tevron on his sister. Dragging out each of her skeletons from her closet!


    As they say, revenge is best served cold.

 Chapter 123 - An odd shop

    Alexandre opened the car door and reached out his hand to Lily. Her hand seemed so fragile in his. Carefully, she placed one of her little feet on the cobblestones. It reminded him of the danger that was now her constant companion. Every step she took could be her last. Was it worth all this. More and more often he found himself thinking how pointless his revenge might be. He knew he could never justify it if she would become another victim on his path of revenge. A nasty bitter taste lingered on his tongue. The past days had given him headaches, and he wondered when Claudio would bring his little Caligula from Italy. Worried, he let his eyes wander across the street. It already was dawning. Everything seemed quite normal. Passers-by strolled over the cobblestone pavement, in some shops the lights were already burning, while melodies and laughter were carried along by the wind. They stood in front of a small shop, rather inconspicuous. Delicate fabrics, seats and ribbons were skillfully displayed in the shop window. The cold air was tingling on his skin, while the smells of the city filled his nose. It conveyed the impression of idyll. Nevertheless, his tension did not ease. He pulled Lily closer, her body was so fine in his embrace as he directed her to the front door. She seemed so small and fragile.


    Suddenly, Lily turned in his arms. Her eyes were gleaming clear, like two pure sapphires. "What are you so afraid of?"


    In shock, he stared at her.


    You! He was going to say. But the words did not pass his lips. He was afraid of making a mistake she would pay the price for. He forced a smile on his face. "Look, I''m smiling. I''m totally fine."


    "You''re smiling because you''re terrified." Her words sliced right through his facade, ice-cold. Confusion crept up inside him.


    His head dropped onto her shoulder, burying his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her familiar scent. Security. Alexandre breathed in and out, seconds passed before he could sort out the flood of thoughts in his head.


    "Something happened..." He confessed to her.


    "Do you want to talk about it?"


    He held her close. Felt her slight warmth in his arms. "I wonder..."


    And then she did the simplest thing in the world. She leaned over and let her little hand slide over his mop of hair. She caressed his head tenderly. "Everything will be all right." She whispered softly onto his cheek. Her soft breath tingling sweetly on his skin as a decisive wind of calm blew through his innermost being and his world cracked open. "Tell me when you''re ready." She whispered.


    He could not allow de Cocieux to take a second life. He simply had to save her from that fate. It was his duty! With a calm expression, Alexandre thought that he should settle these issues with Cocieux and as soon as possible put an end to this. Right now, he couldn''t do things without caring about consequences as he had in the past. After all, he now had a child and a wife. He felt responsible for his little family, after all, it was he who had involved them in this chaos. He swore to himself he would not abandon them. The events of the past, it absolutely couldn''t be allowed to happen once more with Lily. So, he had to be very, very cautious and careful.


    A bright ringing sounded as they entered the front door. It was a rather nondescript dress shop. Alexandre could hardly believe that his mother wanted to have Lily''s wedding dresses made here. He narrowed his eyes as a rather plump little lady rushed over.


    "Hello, the bride is here!" The elderly lady greeted them with a hearty laugh on her round face.


    "And here we have the groom. I''ve been warned," the woman kept chirping. Alexandre drew his eyebrows together. Was his mother suffering from a lapse in taste? He was about to grab Lily and drag her out of the shop.


    If, this woman represented her clothes, it wasn''t a wise idea to waste his time here. He had to say she looked pretty unusual. Her short gray hair seemed to be disheveled by the wind, while the shrill frame of her glasses with flowers and glass stones rested on her bulbous nose. The sight of her white tunic top and the black cloth trousers did not make it much easier to digest his shock. To be honest, Alexandre had never seen a woman in trousers before. It was considered scorned. Only some women of the working class could afford to wear trousers in their work uniform. But certainly not a designer. Especially a designer who was trusted by his mother. Alexandre thought he had wandered into the wrong shop.


    "The ladies de Valois and Clermont are waiting, together with your bridesmaids upstairs."


    Alexandre tried to relax his muscles that had cramped around his shoulders. Damn it!


    But Lily didn''t seem to care. With a tender smile around her lips she greeted the paradise bird and followed her up the stairs. So Alexandre was saved of the decision to run away or to give the lady a strong leap of faith.

 Chapter 124 - Im sorry marrying me is such a huge hassle

    After entering the private showroom Lady de Valois already pulled her over to look at the designs of the wedding dresses. "Your grandmother and the bridesmaids are currently trying on a few dresses for themselves. Please be patient a little longer. We dawdled around too long, all right, Madame Ploutiette''s dresses are too beautiful, so it''s easy to lose track of time." An apologetic smile danced around the beautifully curved lips of her mother-in-law.


    "Maman, am I now invisible for you?" Grumbled Alexandre, who had to trot behind the ladies.


    With eyes glinting with rage Isabelle de Valois made a 180 ¡ãC turn on her heels. "Indeed." She hissed at him. Her voice was as soft as a gentle breeze, but the power in it made his body shake among. " Normally, I wouldn''t seek the company of a scoundrel like you. Since you are my son, I hardly have a choice." With her finger raised she pointed at him. "As you requested, I didn''t mention Adrien with a single syllable. But let''s be clear. If you don''t tell the de Clermont family about Adrien, I''ll force your father to erase your name from the family register and put Adrien in as sole heir." Furiously she turned on her heel, then stopped once more and looked at her son over her shoulder. "By the way, your father is also very disappointed with your behavior, but hopes you''ll join us for dinner soon." Once she was finished, his mother would guide Lily to a lavender baroque salon settee. Alexandre himself had to take a seat next to the ladies on a lonely armchair.


    Maman pulled Lily over to show her the wedding dress designs that were already on the coffee table.


    These were especially customized and hand designed wedding dress. Whether it was style or fabric, these were the finest and most beautiful pieces. Each and every dress was beautiful, stylish and fancy. A dream every girl longed for. There were a lot of eye-catching designs that made it difficult for Lily to make up one''s mind for.


    Meanwhile, an employee entered the room with a tray full of drinks and canap¨¦s in her hand, which she arranged on the coffee table next to Madame Ploutiette''s designs.


    "Madame Ploutiette will be with you at any moment, she is only preparing the last details. If you need anything else, my colleagues and I will be at your service until then." Explained the girl and offered drinks and canap¨¦s.


    Indifferently, Alexandre leaned over to his mother. "At the reception, I was wondering about your sense of style. Seems like it''s not so bad after all." Alexandre smudged.


    His mother just raised an eyebrow. "Sometimes I wonder how I could give birth to such an impertinent brat." Isabelle de Valois hissed.


    "Well, I think I turned out pretty well."


    Suddenly, Lily reached out for him, her eyebrows drawn together as she pinched him into the side with a warning glare. "Look I know you are upset over something today. But could you please stop trying so hard to be this much of a pain?" She murmured.


    Since she apparently didn''t want to add anything more, Alexandre stubbornly pushed his hands into her trouser pocket. "I''m sorry marrying me is such a huge hassle."


    "And, yet I''m still here, trying to find the right wedding dress."


    A grin crept across Alexandre''s face. "Alright, I guess I''ll just keep you company today." So he gave in mischievously. All of a sudden, impulsively, Lily kissed him on the cheek. Once she broke away again, his cheeks were glowing. That was the first time she took the initiative. Slowly the grin on his face grew wider. Relaxed he could lean back into the cushion. "All according to your wishes, Love."


    So Alexandre allowed his gaze to wander freely within the room. Near the wall two shop assistants were standing. Each with a black frill blouse and a red-grey striped skirt dressed. At a oval glass table not far away, a collection of lace, net embroidery and fine silk ribbons were displayed.


    Near the fitting room stood a rack full of white bridal veils. Alexandre imagined how he would slowly lift her veil in the church. What would her face look like on that day? He knew she would shine beautifully in any white dress. Alexandre''s gaze wandered, as if enchanted, to Lily. Lingering at her sight. At the moment Alexandre was a bit lost in his thoughts and did not care about anything else. Why was she so adorable?


    Suddenly he felt that it was nice to be around her. He never felt so peaceful. Even if he knew that there was still so much trouble waiting for him, he felt this slight tingling, this warmth that spread from his chest across his body down to the tips of his fingers.

 Chapter 125 - An unexpected surprise

    Lily recognized the familiar voice of her grandmother behind the closed door, getting closer and closer. She took a deep breath. Instantly, the feeling arose of letting herself fall into the warm arms of her beloved Grand-m¨¨re. She had missed her. Although the girl always tried to convince herself that she was not affected by her feelings. She could not believe her feelings because trust was dangerous, especially blind trust. But she longed for unconditional love by a family that she really never had.


    Alexandre noticed how her eyes began to shine. For a moment, all her attention was focused on the door. But when the door opened, all the emotion on her face froze. With bumpy steps, she approached the guests.


    In astonishment, Alexandre peered over his shoulder to find out why she was so disturbed. Next to Valerie de Clermon, a young girl walked into the room. She was hardly older than Lily. The dark blond hair flowed softly down her shoulders. A shy smile lay on her lips. Alexandre recognized her immediately. Remembered the picture from the report on Lily''s relatives. The girl looked like her father. Not like Lily, who had inherited her mother''s appearance. He remembered these girls didn''t have a very healthy sisterhood. While one was clearly favored, the other was greatly discriminated.


    Actually, he felt a growing dislike toward her and her parents. The fact that the girl was here, however, puzzled him a lot. Of course, Lady de Clermont had to know about the relationship among the sisters. Quietly, Alexandre let his gaze linger on the newest guest. Later, he should make some investigations. Especially since he knew that the sister had a tender relationship with Pascal, who was clearly in cahoots with the bastard Cocieux. A hint of annoyance appeared on his face.


    "Lily, my love! Let your Grand-m¨¨re look at you. Alexandre must take really good care of you, look how you''re beaming." Valerie greeted her with bright eyes and pulled the girl into her arms. "Your Grand-m¨¨re spared no efforts to give her sweet petite-fille a memorable day." Her warm embrace melted away the rising unease. Although Lily was more than surprised to see Nadine here, she decided to enjoy the fitting. After all, it was her grandmother. Grand-m¨¨re wouldn''t want to hurt Lily. "Thank you, Grand-m¨¨re." She whispered softly and gave Valerie a kiss on her cheek. Before arming herself to face her sister.


    Nadine looked a little skinnier than Lily remembered. Her face almost pale, hollow. Even her skin looked somewhat sickly, her fine biscuit tone seemed like faded. Yellowish, sickly. Lily frowned. Yes, it had been a long time since she had last seen her younger half-sister. But Nadine had always taken good care of her appearance. After all her mother was preaching all day long how important the appearance of a young lady was. If she wanted to make a good match with future.


    But as soon as she thought of how Nadine had treated her with cold indifference in her childhood, she decided to do the same and not to pay attention. Her younger sister had enough people around her who took care of her.


    "Hello, Nadine." She greeted her half-sister rather reservedly.


    Lady de Valois straightened her head. "Then only my daughter and Miss de Carvoisin are missing." She pulled out some designs that Lily particularly liked and placed them on the side of the table. "Could you please check in on the girls and see how they''re doing with the fitting?"


    As the brunette shop assistant nodded politely, she hurried out of the room to check on the other two bridesmaids. Meanwhile, another shop assistant was already pouring champagne and serving it to the guests.


    As the chubby designer Madame Ploutiette entered the room, followed by two other girls. Carts full of dresses and bridal accessories were pushed into the room. Any of the dresses that were brought along were magnificent and stunning. Lily never thought she would ever get to try on such beautiful dresses. Carefully the assistants presented the bridal wear and arranged it in a row in front of the guests. As soon as Isabelle de Valois saw the wonderful selection she nodded her head in satisfaction. These were dresses specially designed for Lily, made only from the best and finest fabrics available.


    "Lily, go look. Say which one do you like the most?

 Chapter 126 - He didnt know that he would be stabbing himself in the back

    Lily blinked. She couldn''t really decide. Every single wedding dress was a work of art in itself. Having her pick and choose wasn''t exactly making the decision any easier. She didn''t know much about fashion, especially bridal wear, and didn''t know what suited her. But just by looking at the small translucent gemstones on white fabric, Lily could tell how exclusive the dresses were. "These... they''re all absolutely amazing. I can''t decide..."


    "Pick one. Later you can try another one. You can try on as many as you want." Lady de Valoise encouraged her. "And if you do not like something, we can have it changed."


    Alexandre let his gaze wander over the rows of white dresses, then got up and went over to Lily. "Try that one first." He said, pulling out one of the dresses.


    "Looks like brother has a good eye." Loulou announced as she entered the room, watching the whole scene from the door in amusement.


    Alexandre grunted at the sight of his little sister. Today was not the day yet. She could continue to weigh herself safe. But in the background, he would already prepare his attack. Just you wait dearest sister, he hadn''t forgotten her.


    Alexandre sat back in his chair and watched Lily disappear with the designer in the changing room.


    Madame Ploutiette lifted up the hem of the wedding dress and helped Lily out of the fitting room. All who sat on the settee could not help but stare at the bride-to-be. Panting and sighing hung in the air as the designer reached out her hand to help Lily climb up the pedestal to look at herself in front of the mirror. The assistants tiptoed around the girl, spreading the long train of finest French lace onto the floor.


    But the moment she turned herself in front of the mirror, his face fell. What the hell was that! His face turned pale and a tough feeling spread around his heart. Her back! He wanted to scream. Her shining back was more than visible.


    Heaven! What had he done! Why hadn''t he took a closer look, before sending her in the fitting room. He didn''t know that he would be stabbing himself in the back like this!


    Alexandre ground his teeth. The dress had to be changed!


    Lily stared dumbfounded at her reflection. Countless small diamonds sparkled on the ivory-coloured skirt. Alexandre had a really pompous taste. Lily did not even want to know how many zeros were waiting on the price tag. The bell-shaped skirt seemed to consist of countless meters of silk tulle, while her arms and most of her back was only covered by tattoo lace.


    The wedding dress itself was quite gorgeous, but the style was gentle. Even though the back was exposed, it couldn''t be seen from the front so it didn''t appear risque.


    Grand-m¨¨re clapped her hands. "This must be the dress for church! My darling, you look ravishing." With trembling fingers her grandmother rubbed round tears from her rosy cheeks with a white handkerchief.


    "Do they even let her enter the church like this?" Nelli asked with a smirk around her lips, Alexandre''s pale face did not escape her attention. After all, she still had a score to settle with him!


    "Non, non. There is no problem, ma ch¨¦rie. " Such a beautiful back cannot tempt the bishop to reach for the smelling salts." Madame Ploutiette eyed her masterpiece critically and valued her creation from top to bottom. Then she turned away and fetched the fitting veil to give her the final touch. "Voil¨¤! So gorgeous."


    Alexandre mumbled. Perhaps he had missed the transparent fabric, so he wasn''t thrilled at all. The almost naked back view of his wife caused him great distress. His hair stood on end at the thought that other men were able to see her back during the whole ceremony. A sour feeling rose up his throat. "The back is very revealing." He voiced his concerns in a husky voice.


    "Non, non, non. Monsieur. This is ¨¤ la mode now, and yet one of the more modest models. "Look how the fine lace runs around your back. A true work of art in allusion and fascination."


    Heck! Alexandre''s eyes narrowed. His eyes were dulled with despair. With a frozen expression, like that of an expressionless doll, he thought of a way out. He just needed more cloth! Alexandre swallowed hard.

 Chapter 127 - A miserable dog

    He knew that the ball gowns of many other ladies were definitely more daring than Lily''s usual wardrobe. His wife was rather modestly dressed and showed little skin. Alexandre knew his Lily''s dress style was unusual. Since dresses normally presented the d¨¦collet¨¦ openly, it was already so common that even the most rigid chaperone would not turn up their noses at the daring dresses of debutantes. The sight of a girl with an open d¨¦collet¨¦ was nowadays only noticed numbly. But these other women were not his wife.


    Lady de Valois laughed as she listened to her son''s mumbling.


    She knew what her son was thinking. He considered tearing it apart, but the dress Madame Ploutiette made fitted his wife perfectly. He enjoyed seeing his beautiful wife shine, but only in private. Alexandre was like his father. It was all right to look fair and noble. But heaven forbid it shouldn''t arouse any lecherous desires. Nevertheless, her sweet daughter-in-law looked simply too charming in that dress and indeed Alexandre had excellent taste. He only needed one look to pick out the most gorgeous dress out of the huge selection.


    Sitting on the armchair, Alexandre stared at Lily. There was a hint of annoyance on his face. But his expression resembled more that of a miserable dog, tormented by his fate. Looking at her son, Isabelle was full of smiles.


    But not only that surprised Isabelle. Also, the warmth in her son''s eyes when he looked at his wife was a completely new experience for her. After the drama with his first fianc¨¦e, Isabelle had already suspected that her son had locked his heart away. She had never really liked Danielle, because Isabelle doubted the affection and true feelings of this woman. Still, she was her boy''s first love. Seeing him like this now made her happy.


    She never thought she would see such an expression on the stoic face of her eldest. Which is why she decided to give her daughter-in-law a hand. "Alexandre I must say you have a really good eye to find the perfect dress for your wife right away." Isabelle clapped her hands cheerfully.


    Alexandre pursed his lips slightly, sulking like a little boy. "Lily, your back is probably too exposed. You always pay attention to details like that." He tried to work on his wife.


    Lily''s gaze fell on her reflection again. Her blue eyes shook a little. She turned and turned in front of the big mirror, looking critically at the image in it. He could see a variety of complicated emotions whirling around in her eyes. Alexandre was confident of victory. This ship was sailing - he thought. The corner of his lips raised in a smile. He wouldn''t have to buy that dress.


    But then the same radiant expression returned to her gentle face when she was enjoying chocolate or a piece of cake. This ship was sinking, slowly but steadily. Alexandre knew he had lost.


    "The dress fits you perfectly. Your husband knows exactly what suits you. Hardly any other dress will make you look better." The designer encouraged her. Lily looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing this beautiful white wedding dress. Her long brown hair had been draped into a casual pinned-on hairdo. Due to the elegant cut out at the back one could see her elegant, slender, swan-like neck. The fine line of her backbone, framed by floral lace. The tight cut around the waist of the bridal gown highlighted her slender waist and her gentle curves.


    She had made her choice!


    "I like it. I like it very much." Lily found that new style amazing and interesting.


    He was flustered. He knew he couldn''t talk her out of it, after all, stubborn women had her back. In that room, he had no chance of winning. It was frustrating. If she liked it, there was no way back for him. He was an idiot! Why did he even have to reach for that dress?

 Chapter 128 - One thought kept her busy

    After a few more dresses, the selection was stuck at five dresses. The first one Alexandre had chosen was for the church ceremony.


    Wedding dress number two for the guest reception was a blush-coloured velvet dress in trumpet cut. The soft, shiny fabric flowed seductively around her curves, which is why Alexandre almost got a second heart attack. The compromise was found with a high-necked collar, which led to a huge bow at the neck and whose velvet straps touched the ground slightly while walking. As well as the wide Bishop Sleeves, which were held on the wrist by soft velvet ribbons.


    The third was a rather simple A-line dress with short sleeves made of lace. The romantic light cut made Lily look like a dreamy elf and was chosen for the traditional activities during the party. She had to be able to move easily in it during the games.


    The fourth dress was designed in Empire style. Its top and short sleeves were embroidered with silver flowers. The ivory-coloured silk tulle fell to the ground in light lines down her waist and flowed further into a court train.


    The last Bridal Ball Gown was intended for the dance of the bridal couple. The heart-shaped neckline exposed Lily''s petite shoulders, her long swan neck and her delicate collarbone. Countless filigree 3D blossom appliqu¨¦s were scattered along the skirt and spread out over the hem and train. It seemed as if Lily was standing in a sea of white flowers. Sparkling pearls spread over the diamond white corsage and gently merged into the skirt.


    But after the whole dressing and undressing. The heated arguments, especially with Alexandre. Since her husband claimed to be a fashion expert on that particular evening. Lily''s nerves were strained. She was exhausted and just wanted to go to bed. But the fun never stopped.


    Afterwards, Lily was measured one more time, so that everything would fit like a glove at the wedding. Also, the last details and change requests for the individual dresses were discussed as well.


    "Tired?" Asked Alexandre, as he helped Lily get into the black Bentley.


    Lily nodded. "I''m a little tired." Pulling on the black seat belt to buckle herself up. Her head rested on the soft headrest while she relaxed with her eyes closed next to Alexandre, who was typing quietly but energetically on his laptop with nimble fingers.


    But one thought kept Lily busy.


    Why was her younger sister a part of this? Her grandmother knew exactly the nature of the relationship between the two girls. Yet Nadine was her bridesmaid. Lily chewed on her lips, the thought made her uneasy. She was desperate to know - why?


    But she couldn''t just bring herself to say it. Since Nadine was attached to her Grand-m¨¨re like a limpet. She felt her irritation soar.


    Because of all the hustle and bustle with the wedding dresses, Lily had not been able to watch her younger sister. Since she was far too distracted with trying on and choosing the right dress.


    Nadine had behaved very calmly, hardly said anything. She seemed very much absorbed in her thoughts. But her sister was not to be underestimated. There was always a reason behind Nadine''s behavior and this could become life-threatening for Lily if she was not careful.


    Toying with the hem of her mint wrap dress Lily was lost in thoughts. She had been wondering why all of a sudden.


    "What''s wrong?" Alexandre brought his head to her ear, waking Lily from her world of thoughts.


    With big round eyes, she gazed at him with wonder. Before shaking her head. A few curls from her pinned-up hairdo fell free. Bouncing up and down with every movement. "Nothing..." She whispered without thinking.


    Alexandre placed his finger on her moist lip. "If nothing was going on, you wouldn''t chew your lips so restlessly. Spill the beans, what''s troubling my sweetheart?"


    Lily pulled her eyebrows together. "I''m not your sweetheart."


    "You are my wife."


    Lily rolled her eyes, then stared at him trying to weigh up. Maybe she should tell him. Let''s try. "My sister..." She began reluctantly. Again she shook her head as if she could shake her thoughts in order. "I just wondered why she was there."


    Bursted it out of her.


    "You are sisters. Isn''t that normal. Loulou was there too, after all." Alexandre actually knew what was bothering his wife, but he wanted to hear it from her.


    "Um... yeah, well... we never had a particularly close relationship..."


    "So?"


    "One might call it bad." Lily was beating around the bush. Her cheeks were on fire, she seemed uncomfortable with the topic.


    "You want another bridesmaid?" Alxandre inquired, amused by his wife''s behavior.


    She shook her head. " In fact, for now, I just wanna figure out why." She honestly confessed.


    Alxandre chuckled. "Silly girl, if it makes you happy. But you know if you don''t like something, you just have to say so. You don''t have to endure anything you don''t like. It''s your wedding."


    "More likely your mother and my grandmother''s."


    Laughing, Alexandre threw his head back. "Right!"


    The limousine reached the villa. The driver opened the car door from the outside, but Alexandre couldn''t get up. His wife had dozed off while driving. Soon after they started driving, her heavy eyelids fell shut. Alexandre had gently placed her head on his lap. Now she was sound asleep on his legs.

 Chapter 129 - Marriage and business

    Some of her brown curls were loosened out of her updo and spread out over his lap. Gently he brushed a strand back behind her ear, her hair was as smooth as silk. He enjoyed the feeling of sliding his fingers through her silky hair. Every morning when he woke up, he would bury his nose in her hair first thing. It smelled of soap and fresh flowers. That'' s the fragrance he loved. Lost in thought, he stared down at her. Silent for a moment. He couldn''t believe how much he had gotten used to the feeling of waking up in the morning with her in his arms. He could hardly imagine waking up without her. To much he enjoyed her closeness.


    Actually, he hadn''t expected much from this marriage, he felt that a woman was just a partner to have fun with or a means to do business with. This was also the way most of his relationships with women began. Women usually looked for a man with the appropriate title, power and wealth. However, there was nothing wrong with it. That was the way their society was constructed. Daughters and sisters were used by their legal guardians to form political alliances. He didn''t despise women who rushed to him like a moth to flame in search of his wealth and power. It was a reasonable response. Who was not longing for power and wealth. He was a man who constantly made alliances, whether in his business or in his private life. Marriage was nothing more than a lucrative business for him to achieve his ambitions.


    His marriage was no exception. Lily''s background had played a major role when he decided to marry her about two years ago. The Clermont family was one of the most influential families in Burgundy, along with his own, and they had powerful connections to France, Great Britain and Australia, as well as the branch of relatives he had wished to become close to. That this plan had failed did not diminish Lily''s value. She promised enough other advantages. Just the fact that Lily was the only heiress of Albert de Clermont had made the decision easy for him. She was an excellent bargain without any loss. She was young, pretty, educated and later on, damned rich. Lillian de Clermont was one of his most satisfying trading partners.


    But that was not the only thing that appealed to him. At first he didn''t realize it. But the longer she was with him, the more fascinating was this quality about her character.


    She managed to make him relax completely. Around her he often forgot his worries and he knew he had many of them. After all, she was one of those. But actually there was only one part of his wife he had to really worry about. The danger she was in. In fact, he was the one who had put her in that spot in the first place. So he would deal with it.


    However, she had no real desires other than Adrien''s well-being. She didn''t really care about anything special, just seemed to live for the day. She did not crave power or his money. Accepted matters as they came. It was almost as if this indifference was her own way of being fearless. A broad smile danced around his lips as he looked down on her.


    It was a very pleasant feeling, her inner serenity which allowed him to relax. Her gentle quietness kept his mind and body at ease. She even managed to make him drop his guard when he was near her. Until now there had been no one like her near him. Only she managed to let his inner tension vanish. Even if it was only for a short moment.


    That'' s not all. His life with her and Adrien... He couldn''t imagine life without them. What a strange feeling. A few months ago, he never imagined he''d get so used to his life as a father and husband. But there was something incredibly satisfying about their constant closeness. He enjoyed it. Just spending time with them. He didn''t know why. Was that the power of everyday life?


    It just had to be habit. Moreover, it gave his rather dreary life the appropriate dash of color. Grey became colorful. And who wouldn''t prefer watching black and white without sound rather than color films? Maybe this was the change he hadn''t even known he was looking for.


    Carefully he pulled her into his lap, wrapped one arm around her back and slipped the other arm under her legs, then he lifted her up into his embrace. Satisfied, he entered the villa with her body nestled against his.

 Chapter 130 - A cunning toddler

    "Alec." Adrien squealed when he heard them come in. His eyes lit up. He was so bored without his parents. He enjoyed playing with Lily or Alec more than with the nannies. Quickly he rushed up to them and greeted them happily at the entrance.


    "Shh." Alexandre smiled down at the toddler as the little one was already hanging by his trouser leg. "We must be very quiet now. Lily is sleeping and we don''t want to wake her up." He whispered with a conniving grin around his lips.


    Quickly the boy put both hands over his mouth and nodded hastily up and down. But curiosity sparkled in his gaze.


    Amused, Alexandre climbed up the stairs to the bedroom, closely followed by Addy, of course. As he laid Lily on the bed, she blinked, a tired yawn escaping her lips as she awoke from her nap.


    "Mm." She muttered and rubbed her delicate fists across her eyes. Lily blinked a few more times, staring blankly at him, gradually clearing her eyes. Alexandre couldn''t help but chuckle at her funny little awakening. She was no Sleeping Beauty when she got up, but more like a sleepy bear. But that''s what made up her charm.


    "Lily." The toddler beamed and tried to climb onto the bed. Alexandre quickly reached under the boy''s arms and lifted him onto the bed. Happy Addy crawled to his Lily, who already opened her arms for him.


    "I missed you." The boy mumbled as he buried himself in her arms.


    Gently she stroked his soft hair. He smelled of milk and vanilla. "Me too, my darling."


    "Really?" Asked Addy.


    Lily nodded. "Of course that''s why we came home so quickly." She laughed and gave the toddler a quick kiss on the forehead.


    "Did I fall asleep?" Lily asked.


    Alexandre nodded. "You''re tired, don''t you want to sleep a bit more?"


    She shook her head. "Actually, I''m rather hungry."


    He listened to her soft voice, then nodded. "I''ll let the servants know. Would you like something light to eat?"


    "I want spaghetti." Called Addy in on it.


    Alexandre laughed. "I should have guessed as much." And loosened his tie.


    Lily stroked the toddler''s back. "Wouldn''t you like to try something different, sweetie?"


    The boy immediately shook his head "Ummm... Spaghetti!"


    Lily''s lips twitched. She was about to say something when Alexandre spoke up. "You can eat all the spaghetti you want today, but tomorrow is vegetable day."


    Addy''s lips briefly curled into a pout, but then a thought came to him. Eyes lit up immediately. "There''re tomatoes in the spaghetti sauce. I learned that tomatoes are vegetables. Can I eat the sauce tomorrow?"


    Lily became quiet, amazed by her toddler and wondered if her innocent little boy had copied Alexandre''s cunning behavior.


    Alexandre''s corner of his mouth wrinkled as he asked. "Then you can eat only tomatoes." As he saw Adrien staring at him in shock then immediately shaking his head in response. He felt suddenly this warmth close around his heart, like a soft blanket. Addy paused briefly. He didn''t want to eat vegetables all day, but he was about to eat spaghetti. Unwillingly, the little guy lightly puffed up his little mouth. But suddenly the image of a person flickered before his inner eyes and the radiance returned to his round face. "Can m¨¦m¨¦ come visit me tomorrow?" He asked as sweet as sugar.


    Lily: "..."


    Alexandre: "..."


    Alexandre felt a deep, peaceful laugh creeping up his chest. He had no idea what the little rascal was even thinking. But since he was considering even that, Alexandre kept all further discussions about food to himself. He was proud of the little rascal''s cleverness and wanted to reward him for it.


    Laughing, Aexandre grabbed the toddler, lifted him above his head and put him on his shoulders. "Let''s go see the cook and discuss your wishes." He smiled. The boy laughed happily and let Alexandre carry him out of the room.


    After her short nap in the car, Lily felt much more refreshed. Once she had slipped into something more comfortable, Lily walked down the stairs to look for the rest of her instant family.


    Upon discovering Addy with a mountain of spaghetti with tomato sauce, she could only roll her eyes in amazement. Before she sat down beside him. In the morning she had read about the importance of a balanced diet for a toddler and by evening all her resolutions were already flowing down the stream. What had Elodie done with this child who was so crazy about pastas?


    Lily leaned back in her chair, she absolutely had to talk to the cook and make a plan. So that the toddler''s diet would be more balanced and nutritious.


    "I hope a light soup is okay?" Asked Alexandre.


    She nodded. "Thanks." And reached for the spoon. It was a simple cream of vegetable soup. But it tasted simply heavenly after the exhausting afternoon in the boutique.

 Chapter 131 - Just another loveless marriage

    Melinda looked at the street while she steered the car into the next alley. With a stoic expression she observed the girl next to her out of the corner of her eye. She was very young. She might have been pretty. But everything else about her was average. No real competition for her.


    "Madame de Valois, I am a little curious."


    The girl flinched as if Melinda had just awoken her from a deep sleep.


    "Curious?"


    Melinda smiled sweetly. "Well, I''m employed by your family now, but I don''t really know much about you. Don''t get me wrong, but it would really help me to learn a little bit more about you." Alexandre protected her like a raw egg, as if she could break at any moment if he let her out of his firm grip. Melinda simply didn''t understand how such a prudish wallflower could bewitch Alexandre de Valois in such a way that he practically lay at her feet. Melinda didn''t want to trust the rumors, she knew he couldn''t have fallen in love with her, another reason must have been behind his behavior. Nevertheless, she was disgusted that her proud Alexandre had to bow and scrape in front of such a brat.


    Because of his strange behavior, she had to change her plans. It wasn''t such an easy mission as she had thought. Melinda forced herself to smile, but that smile never reached her eyes.


    "What do they need to know?"


    "May I be frank?"


    Lily nodded. "To be honest, I think it would be more comfortable if we were on a first-name basis. I''m not really into the tense employer-employee relationship."


    "How lovely, may I call you Lillian then."


    "Lily is okay."


    "Well, Lily, then, let''s hope for a great partnership... Ah, you can just call me Mel." For now, Melinda pursued her plan to get closer to the girl. Eventually, an opportunity would present itself. She just needed to be near her all the time, which is why she had to earn the brat''s trust. It was the easiest way to achieve her goal.


    She knew that Alexandre was acting against the will of the brat and inconspicuously had two more cars with well-trained bodyguards protecting her from a safe distance. Among the men were former mercenaries and a man from the Mouret Clan. She could not have taken them on alone, let alone escape afterwards. But she didn''t understand why Alexandre went to all that trouble for that brat. The girl was a great beauty? She was perhaps a little prettier than average. Alexandre fell in love? Nonsense!


    Melinda couldn''t believe the rumors. She knew Alexandre, he wasn''t a romantic. Melinda knew Alexandre wouldn''t marry for such a banal reason as love. She suspected another source that had led to this marriage.


    It almost seemed as if the brat had someone more powerful wrapped around her little finger.


    Melinda could still remember the time when Alexandre introduced her to the family as his fianc¨¦e. The look of Lady de Valois, she''ll never forget it! But this girl was welcomed with open arms by her mother-in-law.


    She would have surpassed Melinda in anything!


    Was it because of the child of Alexandre that she gave birth to? But all the things the girl could give him, she could do too. She could have given him so much more. After all, he loved her and she loved him. A marriage of love, Alexander would be happier with her.


    But this arranged marriage between families... Alexander needed to marry the girl because his family must have forced him to. After all, it was not rare in the upper classes for families to form alliances through marriage. It was just another loveless marriage, and if she returned to his side, he would end this marriage for her, Melinda made her judgement calmly.


    She had already reached a state where she only saw and heard what she wanted to see and hear.

 Chapter 132 - Purpose of your visit

    "Weird?!" Thoughtfully Valerie placed a hand on her cheek and rested her face on it. Suddenly her eyes began to glow. Happily, she laughed. "He must be head over heels in love with you, even after tow years of marriage."


    With a bright red head, Lily stared at her grandmother. "Wha... what are you saying?" The girl knew the opposite was the case.


    "Oh! What am I gonna do with the kiddies'' things?! It made me so happy! Finally, being able to spoil a little grandchild."


    Guiltily, the girl looked at her grandmother. She could introduce Adrien to her, since he was now her son. And besides, Lady de Valois already knew. She had to discuss this with Alexandre. They couldn''t keep it secret forever.


    "But I am your granddaughter." Lily was flabbergasted and also a little unhappy.


    "Pardon! I meant my great-grandson. Well, my dear, you''re too old to be entertained for this old lady." Grand-m¨¨re shrugged and reached for her teacup. " But you might give me a real pleasure if you would present me a little great-grandson soon." Valarie gave her a meaningful wink. A feeling of helplessness overcame Lilly. The visit to her grandmother was anything but helpful. It was more like a small catastrophe. The smile on her lips stiffened. She did not want to think about what her grandmother had suggested. Dazed she shook her head, grabbed her cup and took a strong sip of the still brewing hot tea to distract herself from the situation.


    "Ahhh..." She groaned in pain. And let the porcelain rattling sink down onto the table. She needs something cool! Very quickly! Her tongue was burning and seemed to be swelling red.


    Her grandmother, who was shaking her head, signalled one of the servants to fetch Lily anything cool for the scalded mouth of the girl.


    "So, my dear, then what is the purpose of your visit?"


    With the ice cube in her mouth, Lily took a deep breath and sought the gaze of grandmother. "I missed you, Grand-m¨¨re, can''t I just come and see you?" She wrapped her arm around her grandmother''s neck and snuggled up in Valerie''s embrace.


    "Oh, no, my dear. You know you can always visit your dear Grand-m¨¨re anytime you want. I''m delighted if you do so. Oh, dear, I''ve missed you so much lately. It''s hard when the little birdie finally flies out of the nest and you know how sentimental your Grand-m¨¨re is. I got a little bored with only the old grumpy Grand-p¨¨re at home." She said in a stern manner, but kissed Lily playfully on the forehead. " Well, we both know that you came to see me today for some reason, don''t we?"


    Lilly lowered her eyelids. "I can''t keep secrets from Grand-m¨¨re."


    With a deep sigh, she nestled herself like a little child against her grandmother. "Grand-m¨¨re, why is Nadine my bridesmaid? You know we''re not so..." The words stuck to her lips, and she swallowed the rest of the sentence out of grief.


    Her grandmother lovingly brushed a few strands behind her ear. "I know my child. Don''t be sad. You are not responsible for your mother''s death. Even if your father doesn''t want to understand."


    For a long moment they lay silently in each other''s arms. Her grandmother had not yet overcome her daughter''s death either. It had happened so suddenly, nobody had expected it. Lily''s father still resented his daughter for being born and thereby ending his wife''s life. Raymond de Clermont still loved his deceased Therese idolatrous, even after all the years since she died, hardly a day went by without him missing her. She had been his first and greatest love. However, he hated their daughter Lillian de Clermont even more, because she had taken her mother''s life during the difficult birth. After hours of giving birth, the young mother was bleeding to death because of the injuries she suffered during the birth. The doctors were unable to save her. The delicate body of Therese was too emaciated.


    In his deep mourning after the loss of his beloved, Raymond had thrown himself into the nightlife, where he met his second wife Ivonne Linet and in a state of intoxication with opium he produced Nadine. After the news of Ivonne''s pregnancy, her father took her in as his wife. He did not want his child to be born out of wedlock and growing up in shame.

 Chapter 133 - Unconditional love

    But unlike Lily, Nadine grew up with the deep love of their father. He spoiled the girl in every way, although he did not even love his second wife and only tolerated her in his house. Raymond adored his second born while he could not even look Lily in the eyes.


    At an early age, the girl recognized the huge differences in upbringing between herself and her half-sister.


    Yet it was painful to yearn for a love that Lily could never have. Soon she gave up to seek that love. She did not try to hope for it anymore, because she knew that in her father''s eyes she would always find nothing but loathing and disgust. It was pointless to fight for the love of a father, who only wished for his daughter''s disappearance. He hated Lily with every fiber of his being.


    But the girl had learned to deal with it early on. She had the experience of another life. Even in her first life, she had to deal with the fact that her father was not interested in her person. Back then, her father was more interested in a bottle of vodka than in his daughter''s life. She was only useful if she brought some money home to finance his lifestyle between gambling dens and pubs.


    Lily had learned to live with being letdown by men in her life. Only one man hadn''t disappointed her yet, and that was her grandfather. He had raised her with all the love he had in his heart. Caring for her and raising the girl. Perhaps she would not have ended so tragically in her first life if a great grandfather like Albert had been by her side. Thanks to him she had never suffered any loss in this second life. Since Albert de Clermont showered his little granddaughter with all his affection.


    Lily buried her face in the crook of her grandmother''s neck. "Grand-m¨¨re and grand-p¨¨re, you gave me enough love. I know Papa has been blinded by his love for Mama. I may not be able to forgive his behavior, but I can understand." When she said that, she smiled sadly at her grandmother.


    "You''re such a good kid. This old woman was always afraid on your behalf. But look what a wonderful young woman you''ve become. I''m sure Therese would be proud of you." Valerie clasped the narrow face of her granddaughter with both hands. The next words were difficult even for her.


    "Your father was never fair with you. "I will never ask you to forgive him for that, he doesn''t deserve it. He never even apologized for his mistake. My child, you suffered much in your childhood. But you are the pride of this family. You''ve always made us both happy. The loss of your mother was hard on your grandfather and me, but with your innocent smile you have relieved all our grief. We are so lucky to have you. And I am even prouder since I know that you have wrapped a man like Alexandra de Valois around your little finger." Valerie smiled in conspiracy. She gently stroked the girl''s white cheek with her hand, wiping away a few tears that glittered like stars on Lily''s face.


    The love the grandparents gave Lily made her tiny heart flutter up and down in her chest like a fragile butterfly. She could clearly see the unconditional love in her grandmother''s eyes. She knew no matter what mistake she would make in the future, her grandmother would never judge her, on the contrary she would love her, give her so much love that Lily could bask in a sea of love.


    But still one question remained unanswered. "Grand-m¨¨re ..." She began timidly. Still, there was this one question burning on her tongue. She felt a little guilty, but she knew she couldn''t take any risks. She could not forget the terrible plot of My loyal hubby. If she failed to discover Nadine''s plan in time, her carelessness could mean her death. Although the plot of the novel had changed dramatically. But Lily knew it couldn''t guarantee her safety. She was walking on thin ice. One wrong step and the ice would crack, and she would drown in icy water. "Why Nadine?"


    "Your father..." Her grandmother''s voice sounded husky, tired. "My child, don''t be angry with your old Grand-m¨¨re. I just wanted the day to be perfect for you. You deserved it. But you know your father." Briefly, her grandmother petted the girls head. "He... demanded that if he would attend the wedding, your sister should be your bridesmaids, as is customary. That was his condition, otherwise he would not take part in your wedding."


    "But Grand-m¨¨re I don''t care if he attends or not. The only people I care about are you and Grand-p¨¨re. That''s all I want."


    "But, my dear, this would not paint a good picture of you if your own father would not appear at the wedding. You and your husband have already shocked society. From now on, everything must be without any scandal."


    Lily shook her head. "I don''t care what people think of me, I only care what you and Grand-p¨¨re think about me." Lily had to pull herself together in order to prevent herself from sobbing loudly like a small child. The only family she ever had were her grandparents. She had never needed any other family, because her grandparents gave her all the love she needed to grow up since the day she was born.


    "Well, it''s importend to me, darling. I don''t want my angel to be spoken ill of."


    She lowered her head onto her grandmother''s shoulder. "Grand-m¨¨re, I really don''t want Nadine..." Lily started to whine.


    "But... but... my child."

 Chapter 134 - A certain number

    Lily was looking for a number on her cell phone that she hadn''t dialed in years. Her fingers were shaking. She didn''t know why she was scared. All she had to do was convince her sister that she didn''t want her to be a bridesmaid at her wedding. It wasn''t that difficult. She was the bride, and she could do whatever she wanted at her own wedding. Whether her father was okay with it or not. She didn''t care?! She didn''t need him at her side, she had a lovely grandfather.


    Although she preferred to run away before the wedding. But lately, Alexandre was very overprotective and wouldn''t let her take a step on her own. So her escape would be impossible for the moment. She would have to be patient.


    Lily hoped, at some point, to find the opportunity Till then, she would never give up the idea of escaping. She could not trust him. Life with him would be like walking a tightrope. Falling off that cliff would be dangerous. Especially since she still carried Adrien on her back.


    Mentally, she still struggled to call her sister. It sounded so simple. All she had to do was tell Nadine that she should resign. Maybe if Nadine was in a nice mood, she could persuade Nadine to help her tell their mutual producer a story about why Nadine decided not to be Lily''s bridesmaid. But her sister would only do that if she had an amazing day or if she expected something in return from Lily.


    Lily shook her head. It didn''t really matter. She could decide that later. Just a spontaneous conversation. She didn''t know what her younger half-sister had in mind for her bridesmaid role.


    Nervously Lily scrolled through the contact list on her cell phone and quickly found what she was looking for. For minutes she stared at the number. The black numbers shone like a red warning signal in front of her eyes. After all these years, she hoped the number was still up to date. She had never kept in touch with Nadine. A thousand thoughts flashed through her mind as her anxiety grew.


    But actually it was quite simple. It was like ripping off a Band-Aid. Quick and painless. She just needed to get it over with.


    Lily pushed dial.


    She had not been able to persuade her grandmother to remove her father and half-sister from the guest list. Still, Lily was willing to remove Nadine as a bridesmaid. She had such a feeling, a suspicion, deep down inside of her, that her sister didn''t want to be her bridesmaid without reason. And until Lily could figure out why, she wasn''t willing to just give her half-sister free rein.


    As a child, she had struggled to develop a close relationship with her sister in the beginning. Despite the obvious favoritism of their mutual father. She had thought to avoid her death flag. But over the years the behaviour of her sister became more and more aggressive. Nadine wanted each time more, snatched Lily the things out of her hand which belonged to Lily. Nadine was able to force her will onto her sister with the help of her father''s power.


    In her father''s house, Lily was exposed defencelessly to the whims of her half-sister and her father. Often she had tried to endure everything, but at some point she too had reached her limit.


    The constant neglect and harassment forced Lily to flee her father''s house and find shelter at her grandparents'' home. But even this did not defuse the relationship between the sisters. She would not know where Nadine''s hatred came from, robbing Lily of everything that was important to her. But with the climax of Pascal''s betrayal, Lily lost the last bit of hope ever to have a normal relationship with her sister.


    Under tension, Lily listened to the beeping sound on the line.


    The cell phone had hardly begun to dial the number when Nadine''s happy voice sounded. "Sis, I''ve been waiting for your call. You really took your time. Have I upset you?" Her voice sounded sugar sweet and innocent. Her words hit the mark as always. It sucked!


    Lily sighed loudly into the phone. She knew her sister would not make it easy for her. It had never been easy with Nadine. She was not by accident one of the most successful villains in the novel. "Waited? Why? You know why I''m calling you!?"


    Nadine laughed. "Of course."

 Chapter 135 - Hide and seek

    "I''ll make it short. I don''t want you to be my bridesmaid. But you can still attend my wedding. You and Father, even Stepmother. But if you don''t want to attend, it makes no difference for me. I wanted to tell you first, I will inform father about my decision afterwards. "


    "My sweet Lily, you can''t always have everything you want in your life. I want a lot, too, but I can''t have it all."


    Annoyed, Lily began to massage the tense temples with her index finger and thumb, clutching the mobile phone tightly. She did not want to discuss this with her younger sister. Nadine''s snippy attitude drove Lily crazy. "Things have been working out pretty well for you these last few years." Lily felt an old suppressed rage boiling up inside of her.


    "Congratulations. You finally got it." Nadine snapped back.


    Lily swallowed hard. The disappointment and anger had knotted into a poisonous lump in her throat. "Nadine, I don''t want to argue with you on the phone. All I want is to tell you that you don''t have to attend any other event related to my wedding as my bridesmaid. You have the choice to attend my wedding as my guest. If you and Father still want to save face. But you won''t be my bridesmaid. Now that this is settled, I''m hanging up. Have a nice day."


    "Stop!" Nadine high-pitched voice shrilled over the phone.


    Lilly blinked. "What else?" She asked grimly.


    "What else!" Her sister mocked. "We''re not done yet. To make one thing clear. At your wedding, I will be at your side as your bridesmaid!"


    "It''s not for you to decide! I''m the bride. You can keep dreaming but you will not get your way. "


    "That may be so, but you''re about to change your mind."


    "Are you threatening me?!" In disbelief, Lily clung to the hem of her dress. Damn it! Nadine couldn''t be serious about this.


    "Sister, I could never threaten you. I just want to make a nice proposal."


    "Proposal!" Lily''s voice was icy, hissing like the cold north wind.


    "Yes! A really tempting suggestion." Her sister calmly chirped into the phone.


    "I don''t know what your definition of tempting is in your vocabulary." But Lily could imagine that Nadine''s ''tempting'' could mean a dreadful disaster for herself.


    Nadine laughed. "Dear Sis, a little bird told me you''re hiding someone in your new home. It would be a great pity if his identity were suddenly exposed. Wouldn''t it?" Nadine hummed into the phone. It made Lily''s neck hair stand up.


    Lily tautened her shoulders. She had a bad feeling. Immediately, the image of Adrien flickered before her eyes. "What do you mean?" Her voice sounded sharper than she intended.


    "Don''t act so innocent, Sis. We both know you haven''t been innocent for a long time. I mean, if the press or any of the upper class knew about your domestic scandal. The fact that your oh-so-great husband didn''t marry you out of love. But because of the little bastard you were pregnant with three years ago. The fact that you conceived a child out of wedlock and why Alexandra had to hide you and the bastard for so long. Whatever, your little game of hide-and-seek with your son can go on forever! But my silence has a price."


    Lily was struggling for breath. "Never call him a bastard again!" She was furious. No one was allowed to talk about her little treasure that way. Nobody! She wouldn''t let anyone harm Adrien. Even if she had to make a deal with the devil.


    "Oh! Sorry did I step on your toes?"


    She desperately needed some fresh air. She was about to explode, but forced to breathe deeply in and keep a cool head. For Adrien! She mustn''t lose her nerve. First she had to deal with this problem.


    At the same time, she wondered where her sister was getting this information from again. The information was not correct at all, but she was right! She and Alexandre were hiding little Adrien from the public for the safety of the toddler.


    She could already imagine the impact this news would have. Whatever her sister wanted, now she had Lily in her grasp. But only for now. Lily dared not even to think about being threatened by her sister any further. Because blackmailers knew no limit to the favors they called in, eventually Nadine would sell the valuable information anyway. "What do you want?"


    "Only what I already had. I''ll be your maid of honor and my lips will remain sealed."


    Lily actually did not want to give her sister what she asked for. But for now, she had no choice. Her hands were tied. Because if her sister told the public this story, the good reputation of Alexandre and especially her would be ruined. If even the slightest suspicion arose that a woman had sexual intercourse before marriage, she was banned unconditionally from the circles of the cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me. It was even harder to imagine what effects such rumors would have on Adrien later on in his life. That would be a stigmatization of him.


    Whether the rumor was true or not was of no interest to the gossip lovers of Dijon.


    Once a rumor was circulating, it would be unstoppable. Besides, if a little evidence was left behind. Such a rumor could ruin a woman and the child born out-of-wedlock forever!


    Lily couldn''t afford to riot at the moment, just one word from her sister would be enough to alert the reporters and it wouldn''t be long before Adrien was found. She had to plug Nadine''s mouth temporarily until she found a better solution.


    "Is that all you want?" Lily hissed into the phone.


    "For now, sis. If I want more, I know where to turn to. Ciao, ciao."


    Lily heard only one more click before Nadine has already hung up, and she was about to go crazy on her own. She did not know how, but somehow Nadine managed to get this valuable information. Information that could mean their family''s social death.


    Helplessly she wandered up and down, completely lost in her thoughts. She would be dead if she couldn''t come up with a solution. But she wouldn''t give up so easily! After all, it wasn''t just about her alone.

 Chapter 136 - Dear readers,

    Since there''s been a lot of complaints about Lily''s behavior lately, I thought I''d explain a little.


    So since I''m learning a lot about psychology and human behavior in my university studies, I thought I''d incorporate the knowledge to make the story more realistic.


    It always strikes me when reading this rebirth and second chance novels that the character suddenly goes from being a person who has been mistreated her whole life to a badass character who spanks everyone.


    Especially people who are very anxious and shy. For example, in cases of domestic violence, most victims never find the courage to defend themselves against the perpetrator or to seek professional help because they are so emotionally stressed, they are too afraid of being overwhelmed by the perpetrator that they are almost paralyzed in their actions and prefer to do nothing rather than defending themselves. This is a rather extreme example, but perhaps it makes my way of thinking clearer.


    I always felt that the behavior of most characters, with a background of abuse and then a sudden rebirth and second chance in life, was very irrational in most novels. Because this kind of behavior is actually very abnormal from a psychological perspective.


    Since a person has a very hard time changing their old ways of behavior. Some behaviors are carried along for life, even if one has often fallen on one''s face with it. (I am speaking from my own experience (¡Ñ¡÷¡Ñ?). And although I have known this for a long time and even know the professional methods for changing, I am too lazy to change (£þ¦Ø£þ;) And this is total human behavior. Sad but true!)


    I don''t mean to say that there is no learning process for Lily in the future, but since Lily is a very anxious character, her change takes time. So I''m asking for a little patience. Besides, she''s only been in this whole mess for three months. She needs time to change.


    Besides, what should I write about, if Lily would not go through any inner conflicts and everything would always be solved immediately. Then all tension would be out of the story immediately. In an interview with an author I read that the main character should never get what he longs for and the antagonist should be smarter than the MC and always one step ahead.


    Second, why doesn''t Lily recognize her antagonist?


    An example (It''s a bit over the top, but most vivid):


    Serial killers, for example, are not immediately recognizable, because they are very low-key and live a normal life, as a cover to avoid being recognized. They have a regular life, sometimes they live in a family units in a quiet neighborhood, so they are totally normal and inconspicuous. That''s why most serial killers never actually get caught. (According to prognosis 20 serial killers are supposed to run free in Germany alone, I think there are about 30-40 active in America (I can also be wrong about the USA numbers, I''m not sure anymore)) So with the quote of a serial killer coming to the point: "We serial killers walk beside you." So if I meet a psychopathic serial killer, I wouldn''t know what he has planned to do with me until it''s too late.


    Besides, Melinda is an agent trained to be inconspicuous and to slip into every role perfectly. I mean, not even Alexandre could recognize her, even though she was his fianc¨¦. So how should Lily, who has never met Danielle before in her life, know that she is dressing up as her bodyguard to get her out of the way. And how could Lily even know that she is being threatened by this person unknown to her, because Melinda never once appeared in my loyal hubby. So Lily has no knowledge of Melinda or her plans. She can only take action when she realizes something.


    With Melinda''s character, I got a little bit inspired by reports of CIA agents who described their training at the farm and those people are excellent at not being exposed as agents. Really creepy!!!


    I know that sometimes it''s hard to bear the way Lily is, but I think she doesn''t have to be perfect because I wanted to write about someone who would rather run away from his problems than face them. But if she has to stand up for someone, then she faces up to danger (so to protect Adrien ???). A slightly different protagonist, but very human.


    I hope I don''t disappoint anyone here and you keep reading my novel.


    So my explanation has become a bit long, but these are all factors that contribute to my writing process. I hope I''ve given you a little insight into my way of thinking.


    In any case, I wish you a lot of fun while reading and in everything you do.?


    I hope we read each other again soon. (??¦Ø-)¡«?"


    Best regards


    Saya (*¨R¨Œ¨Q)

 Chapter 137 - A little unbeatable spy

    She reached for her phone a second time. Her fingers were nimble as she typed in the number she knew inside out, digit by digit.


    Still, her fingers trembled as they wrapped around her mobile phone.


    Her mouth felt very dry and her stomach was filled with a dull feeling. She held her breath, doubtingly staring at the number on the screen. Should she really call. Having a good cry on her shoulder.


    She knew she couldn''t always call immediately if she was in trouble once again. But Lily didn''t know any better way to help herself. Guiltily, she listened to the sound of her cell phone dialing the number.


    "Good afternoon, dearest bride. Lily, did you know your husband is spending a fortune on your wedding? I mean, the bridesmaids'' dresses alone cost about a quarter of my wardrobe."


    Horrified, Lily opened her eyes. "Nelli this is absurd."


    "You have no idea, baby! How expensive a dress of Madame Ploutiette is! The rest of the normal population has to spend months, if not years waiting on an endless waiting list. Honey, you are about to get five dresses at once! The filthy rich jerk must be richer than Croesus. I haven''t forgiven him his action in Zurich yet, but the dress is a good start! As a small thank you, my bridesmaid''s speech will not turn out so badly. Listen..."


    Lily heard a rustling in the background as if her friend was flipping through a book, probably looking for something in the little black notebook she always carried with her, in which she recorded every thought.


    She cleared her throat. "This might be the most difficult decision of your life, but in the end I congratulate you on finding someone who is completely unethical, but handsome and filthy rich. So I would like to join you in acknowledging the difficulties of your life..." Her friend hummed happily into the phone, but with a hint of dirty malicious joy.


    The bride-to-be on the other hand could only shake her head speechlessly, if Nelli really said that then... "This would going to be the worst Maid of Honor speech in history!"


    "Thank you for your sweet compliment. Of course, I''ll save the more exciting points for your wedding. Stay tuned!"


    Lionelle''s cheerful and frivolous manner made it easier for the girl to talk about her problems. "I have some news..." Lily blurted things out.


    "Let me guess - your husband found his heart." Nelli teased her. Her friend wasn''t satisfied with Alexandre. Nelli still hadn''t forgiven Alexandre the way how he had handled things back in Zurich. "In case you will cause his cold heart to beat, you surely will be able to collect his black credit card. Then you will have the opportunity to take this poor old friend of yours on a shopping tour without limits. As a small compensation, of course. Because of your husband, brother took all my credit cards away. And you know shopping is a stress management program for me and I had a lot of stress. That crazy Claudio is a proper stalker!" Nelli hummed theatrically.


    Lilly pulled her eyebrows together. "If the ice block at home falls in love with me, of course I''ll pay you compensation." Giggled Lily into the phone.


    "Great! I already have an idea how we can win his heart. Just wait. I have a little gift for you."


    Lily was all smiles. Talking to Nelli relieved her of all worries. She knew that her friend couldn''t really help her with her problem. Still, she enjoyed the carefree banter between friends.


    "So sunshine, what troubles your little heart. Your big sister can give you a few tips on how to wrap the men in the house around your little finger."


    "Maybe I''ll come back on your offer later. But unfortunately, that''s not why I''m calling you."


    "Don''t!? What a shame! I was hoping to become the next source of upper-class gossip."


    Lily sighed out loud. "It''s more of a family issue."


    "Let me guess your dear sister."


    The girl moaned loudly, her friend always hit the bull''s eye. "Can you believe being threatened by your own little sister?"


    "Well, with Nadine... um... Nothing surprises me anymore. So what does she want?"


    "Actually, she wants to remain as my bridesmaid. Other claims she keeps for later."


    "That shrewd little witch! And what was she threatening you with?"


    In a gloomy mood, Lily explained Nadine''s clever plan to her best friend in every detail and the shit she was in thanks to Alexandre''s lie.


    "Ha! That snake, don''t worry, sweetheart! Good that you called me first. I haven''t been idle these last few years." The roaring laughter of Lionelle scratched at the speakers. Lily''s heart started bouncing up and down in her chest. The first glimmer of hope shone through her cloudy thoughts. The confidence in Nellis words gave her security. "Wh-what do you have in store?"


    "Not much... Just some very suggestive photos of your oh so sweet sister!"


    "Photos?!"


    Nelly was full of pride. Her voice sounded excited, gloating over her little discovery. "Well, she wouldn''t expect that. These are older pictures... but they obviously show your sister and dear Pascal in a very lascivious pose."


    Lily could hear her friend clapping her hands. She could picture how Nelli''s eyes were glistening in malice. "I also have many more snapshots of the two lovebirds that can dull a reputation. Your sister always seems so smart. But for the past two years, this little unbeatable spy hasn''t let Nadine out of her sight. You never know what the pictures might be good for!"

 Chapter 138 - Putting trust in each other

    His coughing startled her. "Why are you hiding in your dressing room?" Alexandre asked. He had been observing Lily for several minutes now, as she was staring dazed at the wall. Next to her was her mobile phone lying on the floor. He immediately realized that she must have been on the phone with someone. That''s why she was hiding in her dressing room. What was she hiding? He wanted to take it to see if he could find out who she was talking to. He suppressed that urge, although he obviously found it difficult.


    With two big steps he approached her and bent down to her. Her round eyes seemed even bigger in the pale face. "What''s wrong?" Something seemed to be bothering her.


    Lily waved her hand in front of her face. "Nothing, nothing..."


    Suspiciously, Alexandre raised one eyebrow. "You are pale, like a wall. So, what''s wrong with you?"


    He stroked a brown strand of hair from her face, brushing her delicate skin with his fingertips. She was cold as ice and shivered under his touch. Gently he took her face in his hands and looked directly into the deep blue of her eyes. "You don''t have to pretend with me. I know there''s something wrong with you."


    She bit her lip.


    He could see the glimmer of hesitation in her eyes.


    Lily looked him straight in the eye. His face looked worried. She didn''t know if she should tell him. Her tongue seemed to stick to her palate. But actually, this piece of news affected them both. He had a right to hear it from her. Lying wouldn''t solve anything either. She just had to tell him. Maybe he knew the best way to handle the situation. Nelli''s suggestion was actually quite seductive. She would love to show public her sister''s true face. But this could backfire.


    It would not be a lasting solution. She and Nadine could not threaten each other forever, eventually the secrets would come to the surface again.


    Lily looked up to him. "We already talked about this... About the bridesmaid thing and my sister."


    Alexandre noticed the tension in her voice. He could feel her restlessness vibrating in the air. Automatically, his eyebrows tightened. " Yes..." His voice dropped an octave lower. "What is your decision?"


    Again she bit her lip. He wanted her to stop. Her lower lip were already all red and swollen.


    "Well... I guess you can''t really call it a decision. Um... Yeah... My sister actually made the decision on my behalf."


    The wrinkle between Alexandre''s eyebrows became even deeper. "What do you mean?"


    "So... Nadine found out we''re hiding Adrien in the house...Um... But she thinks he''s our son... our biological son."


    Instantly Alexandre realized the state of the matter. He could well imagine what kind of woman this Nadine was according to the reports he had read about her. The girl was only eighteen, but she was not to be underestimated with the connections she had in her hand.


    So where the hell did she get this information about Adrien? Did he have a mole in his ranks? But the most important question was - what could she do with such valuable information?


    "What does she want?" Alexandre blurted out. He could also threaten her. He had photos to prove her liaison with Pascal. That would put her in a precarious position for now...


    "Actually, she just wants to be my bridesmaid."


    Alexandre sighed. "But she won''t stop there, will she?"


    Lily nodded.


    He breathed out loud, watching his wife look at him unsettled. Alexandre felt a sharp pain in his chest. He didn''t want her to worry about such things. He cast a slow, pensive glance at the wall behind Lily. "Don''t worry, I was going to make it official with Adrien anyway. I''m already being threatened by my mother!" He laughed before his tone of voice became serious again. "I wanted to pass him off as my son. Our son. Besides, we can''t hide him in this house forever. But if we first tell them about Adrien, we can fix it so it won''t harm us."


    He kissed Lily on the forehead, hoping that with just one kiss he could take away all her worries.


    "If your sister wants to be a bridesmaid, don''t worry about it. I have an idea how we can make our wedding day even sweeter for her."


    Alexandre took Lily in his arms. "You don''t need to worry. Leave this matter of Adrien''s status to me, I''ll take care of it."


    "You know, she''s my sister and I''d better take care of it..."


    "We''re family now. We have the same problems to carry on together."


    A tender smile bloomed on Lily''s face as she looked up at him. It was strange, she had felt so depressed as the matter weighed heavily on her soul. But as soon as she had talked to Alexandre about it, the burden seemed to have suddenly fallen off her.


    Suddenly Alexandre began to chuckle and lifted Lily up in his arms to carry her out of the room.


    "P...put me back... down....Please!" His wife squeaked with a scarlet face. He quickly walked her down the stairs. It was rather quiet in the house. Most of the servants had already retired. He had come home late from work today. And Adrien was already in bed.


    "You must promise me something..." Alexandre whispered in that warm baritone, but in his undertone amusement hummed along. He looked down at his wife''s bright red face, her cheeks burning crimson and her moist lips upon which she was chewing in confusion were tempting. He wanted to kiss her and do some other things with her that had been on his mind for days. She was his pure temptation, which he could only resist every night anew, only with the greatest effort. His little wifey drove him crazy. He did not know how much longer he could resist her without being overwhelmed by his libido. But for tonight he had other plans.

 Chapter 139 - A delicious surprise

    "What are we doing here?" Lily asked, who was suddenly forced into Alexandre''s car and abducted to a secret location twenty minutes ago. With wide eyes she stared out of the window at an alley full of old timber-framed houses. It was already pitch black outside, only the street lamps were illuminating the alley. Nobody was on the way. In some houses the lights were burning, but others were completely dark. The owners were probably already asleep. Lily wondered how late it was already. Alexandre''s sports car was parked on the side of the street.


    "A surprise." Alexandre chuckled, admiring the puzzled expression of his wife. "My sister invited us to try something unusual with her and Phillipe. I have no idea what Louise has in store for us."


    "So we''re getting involved in something really crazy that your sister was plotting?" Slowly it dawned on her what was going on here. She was just surprised Alexandre agreed to it. He wasn''t exactly a spontaneous type. He always planned everything in advance and hated unpleasant surprises.


    But his amused expression spoke a different language, which also infected Lily with excitement. She grinned with her flashing blue eyes and a slight redness on her cheeks when she turned her head towards him.


    Alexandra leaned forward, his lips brushing her ear. "Let''s just have fun tonight with my crazy sister." His pale eyes looked at her curiously. He didn''t know what he was getting himself into, but as long as Lily was at his side it wouldn''t be so bad. He could secretly kidnap her, disappear with her into a corner, far away from any attention, and taste the pleasure he had been longing for all day long. He stared at her lips. Alexandra knew exactly how it felt when he explored her lips with his. Soft and tender, he wanted to nibble them, to taste them. Kissing her hard and passionate.


    Suddenly, there''s a knock on the window. He winced, stared out into the darkness and saw his sister''s grinning face. Moaning he tried to find the button with his finger to lower the window. " If you speak of the devil." He greeted his younger sister Louise smugly.


    "I love you too, Brother!"


    "What are we doing here! It doesn''t look like there''s going to be a party soon."


    "Who mentioned a party. Tsk... You can thank me later, dear brother. This is where men can learn a new kind of seduction method." Louise wiggled her eyebrows and threw a beaming smile at Lily before she circled the rear of the car and ripped open the passenger door. Cold winter air streamed into the car.


    Alexandre''s thoughts still hovered over the words of his sister. She did not really make sense to him. A new kind of seduction? What crazy idea had his sister come up with again?!


    Lily unbuckled her seatbelt and pushed off the seat to get out. It was freezing cold outside, the frosty December wind whipped against her face, she shivered, pulling the fleece coat tighter around her.


    Cheerfully her sister-in-law pulled her into a warm embrace. "Let''s go inside, it''s cold."


    "Where is Phillipe?" Asked Alexandre while locking the car.


    "Coming in a minute. He is looking for a parking space. The way you parked, you''ll get another ticket. Can''t you see the sign. No Parking!" With outstretched fingers Loulou pointed to a sign at the entrance of the alley. Shivering, she rubbed her cheek against Lily''s before leading her sister-in-law to a timber-framed house. Next to the entrance was a small shop window decorated with sweet treats. Lily saw ¨¦clairs, Pains au chocolat, macarons, madeleins and many more sweet sins.


    She pressed herself against Loulou. " Might we enjoy this lovely treats?" She asked sheepishly, yet her voice sounded hoarser. Greedily her eyes stuck to the shop window of the pastry shop. Her mouth was already watering. She could already tell that she was in love with Loulou''s delicious surprise.


    "Better!" Loulou giggled conspiratorially in her ear. "Better, darling!"


    A moment later, Philippe also joined the small group and together they entered the house, where they were welcomed by an elderly bald gentleman in a white patisserie coat and a white apron around his hips.

 Chapter 140 - Tartelettes au citron

    With raised eyebrows, Alexandre put on the apron which had been given to him and followed the master confectioners with the rest of the group to the baking room in the cellar of the old timber-framed house.


    It was a very spacious vaulted cellar, furnished like a high-tech bakery. On the stainless steel work surface were three separate stacks of ingredients. Alexandre had never needed to cook a thing in his life, let alone bake. Pondering, he let his eyes wander to his wife. Lily and he had grown up similarly, but she had been forced to fend for herself for a while. He looked at his sister skeptically. She probably would fuck it up. She was not able to survive without help. Why did she suddenly decide to take a couples'' baking class? Was this some new trend among the ladies of the cr¨¨me de la cr¨¨me? He shook his head wordlessly, glancing questioningly at Phillipe. Did the poor guy know what he was getting into or did Louise push him into the freezing water just like him. Alexandre was sure of one thing, there was only one good baker in that room and that was the course instructor. The rest would soon be lost!


    It turned out he was so wrong. "Hey! Weigh the sugar carefully!" Lily admonished him testily.


    "Eh, I measured it!"


    "There are 30 grams too much in the bowl!" Lily''s look was eerie when she was cranky. She didn''t let him out of her sight for a second, watching Alexandre with Argus eyes, just like the teacher. But the teacher was rather reserved with criticism.


    But Lily, on the other hand... every time he didn''t use the spoons, measuring cups and kitchen scales meticulously, she scolded him, which was a bit annoying. He felt like a kid who was being watched all the time. What was so bad about it if a little more ended up in the bowl. There was really no reason to make such a fuss about these things. Alexandre couldn''t understand the drama. However, he did hear the mischievous giggles of his dearest sister, which caused him some more grief. Especially after he noticed that Louise was skillfully following the chef''s instructions. Alexandre had no idea what he was doing here. But his idiot sister did. Wasn''t that her first time?!


    But what annoyed Alexandre the most was Phillipe, who approached the matter almost as professionally as the pastry chef and Lily. With his sleeves rolled up, Phillipe focused on lifting the thermometer into his Lemon Curd pot.


    Alexandre felt somehow betrayed by his friend. Betrayed by him and his sister, who surpassed Alexandres expectations by far. Had the two of them attended such courses before?


    He didn''t even have to start talking about his wife. She seemed to understand the chef''s strange instructions without batting an eyeli. She handled the machines and baking tools like a professional. Everything seemed so easy when she had it in her hand. But when Alexandre imitated her, things went horribly wrong. He felt like he was under a curse.


    He spilled a little starch. Anyway. He was about to reach for the butter to weigh it when his eyes met her reproachful gaze.


    "But it was just a little bit."


    "Just weigh it out one more time. Exactly!" Lily sighed as she skillfully whipped the beaten egg white stiff next to him.


    Anyway, after a few more scrambles, the Tartelettes au citron were finally ready. They tasted delicious. Although Alexandre was not so fond of desserts, he enjoyed his own work. They were not too sweet, but very fruity.


    But apparently Lily was unhappy after tasting the master confectioner''s and comparing them with her own.


    "I''ve measured everything." Alexandre protested without any guilt under Lily''s reproachful gaze.


    "But when it came to a teaspoon, for example, you didn''t flatten the surface. You just ladled out a mountain!" Lily sulked unhappily.


    Alexandre didn''t understand why his wife was comparing herself to a professional. He thought they had actually done quite well.


    He gently stroked her hand. "If you like his pastries so much. I''ll hire him to work in our kitchen." He tried to calm his wife down.


    Suddenly her eyes lit up. "That''s nice, but our own confectioner Pierre is really good too." Lily smiled as she tasted one of the other desserts at the table. "You know Alexandre, the correct measure is very important in preparing desserts. Everything must be measured correctly. Otherwise, things can go wrong very quickly."


    Alexandre pulled her beside him, grinning, and buried his nose next to her ear. "We can always practice on it together." His breath hotly brushed against her skin. Then he pressed his lips against the sensitive area next to her ear.

 Chapter 141 - Hungrily

    Lily sat in front of the mirror at her dressing table, combing her long brown hair. Silky curls fell in gentle waves over her bare shoulders. The dark hair gave her fair skin an even whiter glow.


    His eyes sparked. Hungrily he watched the beautiful sight of her back, wrapped in the finest silk. As if she were inviting him to brush the fine fabric off her soft skin.


    Alexandre approached her from behind and kissed her slightly on the parting of her hair. Her sweet scent of vanilla and lemon clouded his senses. Still, this delicious smell of baking clung to her like a relish perfume. He sat down next to her on the pillowed stool and pulled her onto his lap.


    "You know, all I can think of all day long... are those beautiful lips. Your lips." Tenderly he followed the curve of her soft lips with his thumb while his hand held her face. He looked deep into her eyes. Saw the trembling in them. Her nervousness and hesitation, but also a sense of warmth.


    With big eyes she looked at him in surprise. "I... don''t..." Innocent and also a little insecure, she stared straight into his clouded eyes.


    Alexander tossed his head back, laughing. "I know... The only thing that makes your mouth water are those little tarts you wanted to eat."


    "I''ve got a sweet tooth."


    "I know, you are somehow hopeless if it comes to sweets. Even if you make them."


    Alexandre watched her hungrily, with a quick grip he grasped her long hair and pushed it over her shoulder, leaving her white neck bare. "But I''m going to eat you now!"


    Lily tore her eyes open, but before she could protest, Alexandre had already put his lips hot on her neck, leaving a moist trail along her neck to the corner of her mouth. He drew a line of electric sparks over every inch of her skin he touched.


    She seemed to shiver, to melt under his touch.


    He could hear her shallow breaths near his ear. It aroused him even more. He buried his face into her neck, kissing every inch of her shoulders. He was going to try something more today, just hoping he wouldn''t go too far. Slowly he moved his hand over her back, stroking the fine silk fabric of her n¨¦glig¨¦e up to her bottom. Suddenly he embraced her round buttocks.


    She cried out in surprise as he began to knead her buttocks with a hard hand.


    "You like that?" He moaned against her lips and looked her straight in the eyes.


    Her breath quickened, she whimpered under every one of his hot touches. Alexandre groaned and bent over, licking her jaws before finally covering her mouth with his. A heat spread in Lily''s chest as his tongue slipped into her mouth and began to plunder it. His tongue caressed hers, then danced in a wild rhythm. His sinful lips were so enticing that she lost all sense of insecurity, fear and modesty. She was helplessly at his mercy. Lily had already reached a point where she forgot everything around her.


    He kissed her hungrily, his hands were demanding as she pressed herself against Alexandre.


    Suddenly he lifted her up, the girl weighing almost nothing as he carried her into the shared marital bed. Alexandre glided over her and supported himself with his elbows left and right next to her head. His crotch pressed against her belly. She was so close to him, and yet not close enough. Damn it, he longed to finally feel her beneath him. It took him a moment to pull himself together. Alexandre interrupting the kiss to look straight into her glassy eyes.


    She gasped loudly and shakily sucked in the air as he began to kiss her harshly again.


    Lily felt as if she was beginning to burn from within. Trembling under his fiery touches, she wrapped her arms around his neck, seeking support.


    He buried his hand in her silky mane, which seemed to come alive under his demanding fingers. With his other hand he stroked her hips, her waist and her stomach. He wanted to touch her everywhere, to feel her.


    They caressed each other passionately and held each other close for a long time, while the kiss seemed to last endlessly.

 Chapter 142 - A long walk

    "De Valois has neither money, nor support, or guts to attack you alone."


    Carefully Gaston let his nose sink into the white lilies. They smelled like grass. He hated the flowers cut from greenhouses. "Someone must have helped him."


    "Uh... What about his wife and her family?"


    Unwillingly he frowned, his goddaughter and her kin were a factor that he should no be underestimated. He wanted to congratulate de Valois on his wise decision. "No, Albert de Clermont is far too noble. He would not be involved in such deals. Besides, he loves his granddaughter far too much to allow her to be such a danger."


    "And you believe that?"


    "We shall see. What do your people in Budapest say?"


    "My friends think it is necessary for you to start taking action. Your competitors think you''re showing weakness."


    "For real?"


    "If there is nothing more, we have nothing to fear. Join us for dinner. My boy has returned from his studies in America. Too bad your lovely goddaughter has fallen into the wrong hands. What about your brother''s other child?"


    With stiff steps he continued to walk towards it. The long walk was covered with a layer like powdered sugar.


    He hesitated briefly, staggeringly stopped in front of the last place where he felt close to her.


    The icy december wind blew without ceasing, not only hurting his ears and the tip of his nose, but also his lungs and bones were suffering from this numbing cold. With every step his leather shoes broke through the thin layer of ice and snow that had covered the cemetery like a thick white woolen blanket. Silently his old friend from his childhood days accompanied him. He knew her as well as he knew him. As he bent down at the feet of the marble angel to lay down the white lilies in her memory, the last pale rays of sunshine peered over his shoulder. Sad and milky dull, like the pale blue eyes of his beloved Aur¨¦lie. His gaze was stiff as he gazed at the flowers that lay on the cold gravestone.


    He hesitated for a moment before his in leather gloved hand gently stroked the snow-covered stone.


    "I''m sorry I was away far too long, my beloved."


    ?


    At six in the morning Lily left the house with Adrien in her arms and pulled a small black trolley behind her.


    "Good morning, Madame de Valois!" she was greeted by the driver who was already waiting for her in the black Bentley. The rest of the luggage had already been stowed away and in her trolley were only the most important items that Adrien could need during their journey.


    "Good morning, M. Buchet." She greeted the driver and handed him the last piece of luggage. "Thank you." She nodded politely while the driver helped her to get into the car with Adrien.


    "That''s my job, Madame. You''re very kind." Answered M. Buchet with a smile. Carefully, Lily sat the still tired Adrien in his child''s seat and buckled him in before she too fastened her seat belt. In the car opposite her were Mlle Melinda Portner and M. Bassir. Next to the driver was another bodyguard. One of the rather grim-faced, quiet type, who hardly spoke a word, only grunted and grumbled. But when he spoke, his thick Italian accent was clearly noticeable. He had a very wiry build and with the black suit he looked gaunt. His skin was like tanned leather, his black hair had been trimmed to a military short hairstyle. He had been employed by them for a while, but until today she did not know his name, although he accompanied her almost everywhere.


    Lily shrugged. The unknown bodyguard seemed a bit threatening, but Alexandre had his reasons to place him near her.


    She focused on her conversation with Mlle Portner. She was a very friendly and cheerful person, who had already travelled around a lot thanks to her unusual profession. Melinda originally came from the United States, but since female bodyguards were in great demand all over the world, she often lived in many different places, thanks to her job. Since many rich men did not want to leave their wives alone with male bodyguards. The demand for female bodyguards was very popular in all countries around the globe. Lily relaxed while casually asking Melinda questions about America. After all, this would be Adrian''s and her next adopted country in the near future.

 Chapter 143 - He had to pull himself together

    "Johnathan." Alexandre greeted Johnathan Baring with a dark, low voice, but kept pressing Lily closer against his side. She was holding the sleeping toddler in her arms. Her gaze was still heavy from sleep. But even she had noticed the drastic change in mood. As if a frosty wind was blowing through the airport lobby. Which was impossible. Curious, she let her gaze flit between the two men. They smiled friendly, but their eyes flashed dangerously.


    "Alexandre. How have you been these past few months? Had a good time?" Johnathan Baring sounded very calm without turning his ice-blue eyes away from Lily. "Would you introduce me to the lady, Alexandre?" He casually switched to his mother tongue.


    Alexandre did the same. Had Lily not known that her husband was born and raised in the French-speaking Grand Duchy of Bourgogne, she would have thought Alexandre was a native Briton.


    "My wife, Lillian, and our son Adrien." He emphasized each word individually, but ''wife'' and ''son'' he let melt on his tongue for a especially long time. Although the words hardly seemed to discourage Baring, in fact those were just another obstacle which added even more charm to the thrill.


    Alexandre had to pull himself together to prevent himself from throwing Lily over his shoulder knocking his chest and shouting out loud ''''MINE'''' like some primitive caveman. He knew exactly what Baring looked like when he saw something he liked. Unfortunately, Lily fitted exactly into this man''s prey scheme and this annoyed Alexandre since Baring knew no moral boundaries. Not even with his friends. He just banged anything that wasn''t on the tree at three. He was one of the infamous casanovas of London upper class society, from whom men had to hide their young wives and mothers kept their innocent debutantes safe. He was not even considered to be a respectable match among the unmarried ladies. Because everyone knew that the young billionaire did not lose his heart to his conquests. All he left behind was a sea of broken hearts.


    "Lillian, that''s Johnathan Baring, one of my fellow students from my Oxford days."


    Baring reached for Lily''s hand, his thin lips hovering just a touch over her alabaster skin as he implied a kiss. "It''s a pleasure to meet you." Alexandre almost pushed the vanilla blond head of Johnathan aside. Keeping his fist buried in his trouser pocket. He had to pull himself together.


    "The pleasure is all mine." Alexandre observed the tender blush on his wife''s cheeks, he was boiling with anger.


    Actually Alexandre had always liked the charming way of Baring. He could understand why the british ladies were at that man''s feet. He had a touch of the cool english gentleman, educated and well mannered. But appearances could be misleading. In reality, there were not a single drop of decency or nobility in Baring''s aristocratic body.


    As the group of businessmen left the airport. Johnathan Baring flattered Lily with exaggerated compliments, although they had barely exchanged a word with each other and met for the first time. His behavior caused her a hard time, even though her cheeks were burning. She did not know how to stop it without offending him. After all, he was an important business partner of Alexandre. She looked up shyly at Alexandre. Instantly, her eyes fell into Alexandre''s gaze. In his gaze was this intense darkness. Groaning, he bent down, stealing a kiss harshly from her lips. With a bright red tomato face she tried to push him away. She could feel countless pairs of eyes stinging at her. The face of Lily became even a shade darker due embarrassment. But Alexandre''s grip was firm. Lily swallowed hard, knowing there was no escape when she looked into his eyes. She seemed trapped, trembling helplessly before the dangerous predator. He drew her closer before he lifted his head with a satisfied grin on his lips.


    The newly arrived group was welcomed with a small champagne reception in one of the large glass buildings of the Baringbank''s London branch. Before Alexandre turned his attention to daily business, he arranged for Lily and Adrien to be brought to the Ritz.


    ?


    Lily was silent as she followed the concierge to the presidential suite Alexandre had booked. It was almost a spacious apartment with 2 bedrooms in noble wood and white tones, opulent and almost baroque furnished. In addition to the study, there was also a library with a large selection of international literature, a large dressing room where the luggage of the de Valois family was already stored in the closets.


    The concierge showed Lily the large marble bathrooms with separate rain shower and giant bathtub, explained the entertainment systems and room equipment, as well as the service and access to the Club Lounge. There, the family could enjoy a variety of special dishes and refreshments.


    But since Adrien was still exhausted after the stressful journey, Lily decided to retire to her room with the little one.


    The bodyguards she brought with her and Adrien''s two nannies were given separate rooms one floor below, but always on standby in case they needed their services. However, two of Alexandre''s bodyguards were always waiting in front of the entrance door of the suite.


    Lily only briefly stepped to the huge window and looked out onto the idyllic Green Park and decided to take the boy for a walk in the park after Adrien had rested. She did not really know what to do with her time in London. It had been a few years since she had been in the city. She remembered that some of her grandmother''s relatives lived here. She''d better should pay them a visit, as a matter of courtesy, maybe for an afternoon tea. The evenings were already exhausted as Alexandre would take her to balls and soir¨¦es of London society. But for the next five days she could do as she pleased. She decided to show Adrien a bit of the city. London was one of her favorite cities, she liked the charm of the city, the way how old mixed with new. There were many museums, the famous sights, the small alleys and racy streets, the colorful markets. She would show him all.


    Tired, Lily sat on the bed next to the slumbering toddler. They would have a lot of fun, but first they had to recharge their batteries. She tucked him and herself in before picking up a book about raising children and reading it silently beside the sleeping boy.

 Chapter 144 - If you looked deeply into this

    "Glad to be back?" The ice cubes clinked in the glass as Johnathan handed Alexandre the whisky. The sun shone dimly into the glass-fronted office. It was already afternoon, but above London lay this dull grey. Alexandre wondered what Lily and Adrien were doing. He was exhausted after these long negotiations and only wanted to go to bed with his family.


    "I don''t know yet. If you''d keep your hands off my wife, I''d feel better." Alexandre''s gaze stuck firmly on the expressionless face of Baring.


    But Jonathan sat silently in his leather armchair, sipping his glass of Auchentoshan whisky. "Relax, Alec. If you don''t want me to taste your beautiful bride, I''ll leave her alone, of course. "I''m not gonna risk our friendship over a woman. There are plenty of women here in London waiting for my call." Alexandre arched his eyebrows on that statement. This guy would never change. The Baring family would have to continue hoping for his offspring.


    "I just thought she was a trophy bride, picked out by your family especially for you. I didn''t think you were interested in her. After all, after Danielle..."


    No, definitely Baring never changed. He was as nasty as Stephan. Always prepared to deal out a side blow. If he wasn''t so brilliant in his financial dealings, Alexandre would have already given him a punch or two. Unfortunately, he needed Johnathans help in more ways than one. But at the same time he wished his friend to finally grow up. At 28, he was already overdue for a more appropriate behaviour.


    "I''m not interested in her, I just don''t like people touching my property!" Growled Alexandre. "I don''t like to share!"


    It even made him really angry if he only thought that someone other than himself would touch her. He''d break his arm, every damn bone.


    "Ha! Anything you want. Too bad she''s totally my type. Your parents couldn''t find you a nice blonde? She doesn''t really fit into your type."


    Alexandre forced himself to take a deep breath, reminding himself not to be provoked by Johnathan''s careless words. "I don''t know what you''re talking about and, frankly, it bugs me. Could we get down to business?"


    "Tsk... you''re touchy today. You gotta explain about your son. Seems like we don''t get a lot of news here on the island. Anyway, take a look at this. It''s quite interesting." Johnathan dropped some papers on the glass coffee table. But Alexandre could not cope much with the pages filled with numbers. Doubtful, he raised his eyebrow and looked at the banker in the dove-grey suit, who casually waved the glass in his hand with a smug smile on his lips.


    "I''ve been keeping my ears open a bit for you, watching his banking transactions, which he is having done here in London. De Cocieux saved a small investment firm from ruin and invested his money in it. He compensated the lost capital of this company and invested in its global fund. They took a lot of money from him. You can guess where it came from. But the point is, my people checked out everything that was necessary. The authorities wouldn''t find anything if you looked deeply into this global fund."


    "So? If it'' s perfect. How will it help me?"


    "The origin of the money should be investigated. If you find a lead, it won''t be long before you can trace everything back to him."


    "The point is - if I find a lead. If not, this information is useless."


    "All right. But at least it''s better than nothing."


    Alexandre breathed heavily. Anyway... "Thank you Johnathan."


    ?


    Between visits of relatives and acquaintances, business lunches, tea parties, evening parties and exploration tours through London, time flew past Lily as if in a flash.


    Alexandre had promised Adrien and her to keep tomorrow free and to tour the city with them. Before they would leave in the evening.


    With absent thoughts, Lily stared at the Parthenon''s decorative ornaments, which were exhibited in the British Museum. Standing next to her was her great cousin who had hooked up with Lily and admired with great awe the scene of a mythological battle. Her mocca eyes sparkled as eagerly as those of her father, who was a renowned archaeologist. Leticia Panswick had grown up in a country house full of old books and manuscripts, objects found at archaeological excavations and artefacts. She loved all this as much as her father did. Despite Lily''s fatigue that evening, she enjoyed strolling with Leticia through the exhibitions of the British Museum. Her great cousin knew all about the museum pieces and taught Lily about the museum''s most important cultural and historical artifacts. The girls were a little bit offside from the evening party of this evening event. Lost in their own world, they put their dark heads together, discussing the history of civilization, while in the main hall the fine people enjoyed themselves.


    Both girls, enjoyed the silence rather than the glances of countless eyes, which was why they strolled through the various exhibitions, passing by antique exhibits from all over the world. Indeed, the British Museum had plenty to offer.


    "Excuse me, Lady de Clermont?" Lily shivered at the deep voice that had suddenly appeared behind her.


    "Yes?" Lily tilted her head and looked at the young man with undisguised curiosity.


    "Sorry to interrupt these lovely ladies. My father told me a lot about you. You are Gaston de Cocieux''s niece, whom he guarded like the apple of his eye."


    Lily bit her lip at the mention of her uncle. With her eyes narrowed, she looked up at brown-haired giant, his eyes glittering like aquamarines.


    "Excuse me, have we been introduced?" Lily looked at him skeptically. She was certain this brazenly handsome man had not yet been introduced to her. Not by her uncle, nor by any other person.


    He took a step closer and a smug smile lay on his full lips. The fine smell of his aftershave floated discreetly in the air. "I fear not yet. But I have heard a lot about you. Allow me to introduce myself, I''m Salvatore Costonucci. My father has a lot to do with your uncle in business. And this lovely lady is?" His gaze fell upon Leticia who looked listlessly at the handsome stranger.


    "Ah...Leticia Panswick."


    "What a pleasure it is to meet you both." Gently, he took Leticia''s delicate hand, his lips barely touching her ivory skin. Before he bent down to greet Lily with a kiss on the hand.


    "So you know my uncle?"

 Chapter 145 - It made him nervous

    Alexandre chatted with old acquaintances, drank wine and repeatedly let his gaze wander across the hall. She had disappeared from his sight far too long for his taste. It made him nervous. He knew that she was bored at such gala evenings, so he let her roam around. He had asked her great cousin to accompany Lily for the evening, since Leticia Panswick was acquainted with London society. But most likely, her cousin was guiding Lily through the museum''s exhibitions. Since Leticia herself wasn''t an enthusiastic visitor of evening parties either, just like his Lily. At least the daughter of Viscount Panswick knew these rooms very well. After all, Lord Panswick was the curator of this museum and according to the background report his daughter was a very level-headed, calm young lady who, devoted herself to archaeology, just like her father. Alexandre would have described her as a wallflower with a tendency to a bluestocking. But he would never say that in front of Lily. If his wife liked the company of this bluestocking applicant, he could not care less, as he saw no potential danger in her. Besides, there were always two bodyguards near Lily, who would shadow her and intervene as soon as a situation escalated.


    Nevertheless, Alexandre pulled his mobile phone out of his pocket and sent a message to Caligula. He had made up his mind. A reply promptly followed with the whereabouts of his wife. Barely a minute later, his bodyguard stood at the entrance of the Greek-Roman section and led Alexandra to Lily''s whereabouts. His way led him through a dimly lit corridor with figures made of white marble, up to the hall hung with the Elgin Marbles.


    From far away he could already hear their muffled voices. But under the girls'' feminine chant was mixed a deep, droning voice. A dark line was drawn between Alexandre''s eyebrows as he identified a third person. Steering towards the girls, he noticed the pink cheeks of his wife talking to the stranger. Without him noticing it, his steps had speeded up. His frustration was growing. "You''ve been away for a long time." He said, putting his arm around her waist, pressing her back against his chest. A shiver of relief came over him as he felt her in his arms. Confused, she looked up at him. "Oh... Um, we were just looking around a bit."


    "Salvatore Costonucci." The stranger stretched his hand out, which Alexandre seized without hesitation. Yet the stranger''s suddenly frozen gaze did not remain hidden from him.


    "Alexandre de Valois. I''m afraid I don''t know you yet. An acquaintance of my wife?" Alexandre''s voice was quiet as he watched the youngster. Too many men have been swarming around Lily lately behind his back. It was incredibly depressing, he couldn''t take his eyes off his wife for even a second without the next admirer kneeling at her feet. Strange that this realization bothered him. Jonathan was right in what he had said, she was just another woman. She was not Danielle. Whatever it was, it didn''t feel good at all.


    "You are married, Miss de Clermont?" The boy asked. A silent rage rose up in Alexandre. He would have liked to correct him - she was not a miss, she was a married woman! A madam! And she wasn''t a de Clermont, she was a de Valois! His wife! He wished he could have thrown those words right in his face. But he only pushed Lily even closer to himself. Surprised, she raised an eyebrow and looked at the man. A gentle smile on her lips. He felt the tension in his expressions. Alexandre wanted to shake her, forbid her to ever smile at him again.


    "Yes, we''ve been married for two years." But her gentle words managed to stem the storm in his chest again in this unexplainable way. Strange that her words had such power over him.


    He smiled. "It has been two very happy years during which my wife has given me a splendid heir." He affirmed her words nonchalantly. Lily gasped for breath in surprise. He reached for her hand, crossed his fingers with hers and let their hands rest on her belly.


    Her brows rose as he spoke. Her face was now crimson.


    But Leticia''s big eyes, scarlet cheeks, wide open mouth and her blatant look, which stared at Alexandre with a mixture of shame, amazement and shock, finally drove Lily''s curiosity to the top.


    She twisted her neck just to catch a glimpse of Alexandre''s expression. She could not shake the feeling that his behavior was more than strange. Like he was staking out his territory. She shook her head. These thoughts seemed so absurd to her that she immediately rejected it again. Whatever Alexandre wanted to achieve with this behavior, she could not fathom it from his words.


    But at the sight of his friendly and understandable facial expression, she was as perplexed as before.

 Chapter 146 - His cluelessness wifey

    "Oh, I didn''t know that. You must forgive my rudeness." The youngster quickly recovered. His facial expression, which had been lost for a second, smoothed out into a friendly smile again. "The fault lies with me. You must know I just returned from my studies abroad in the United States a week ago. The Atlantic Ocean is a barrier of so many things." But the smile on his lips did not reach his eyes.


    "Really? Why not visit the family in Italy first. " Did you long for the London nightlife so badly?" Asked Alexandra with a chilly smile.


    Lily stared at her cousin in horror, but didn''t want to get involved in the cockfight, fearing she''d end up as a victim somehow. Did Alexandre know this Salvatore Costonucci, perhaps, and both were not on good terms with each other? Her face was aching from her tense muscles that struggled to keep the broad smile on her face.


    "Not the nightlife, the ladies of London." Replied Costonucci smugly.


    "Then I wish you success in your search. I''m afraid we have to excuse ourselves now. We have other plans." Alexandre continued to smile unclouded. Long he had realized which woman the little mafioso was targeting. He looked at the unconcerned smile of his wife. These days he had to pull himself together too often, while his wifey was dreaming happily and untroubled in front of him. Actually, he was lucky, her cluelessness was playing right into his hands. As long as she did not understand the advances of the men, he had nothing to fear, and he would do everything to keep this state. Alexandre would get rid of all those annoying flies around her.


    "Too bad, then I can only hope to see you again soon." Costonucci leaned forward and wanted to reach for Lily''s hand but Alexandre had already offered her his hand. "Yeah, some other time." He teased him and watched as Lily put her hand in his without hesitation, completely ignoring the gesture of his rival. His grin stretched from one ear to the other. "Lady Panswick, you will join us?"


    ?


    They stopped with the black Bentley right near Piccadilly Circus to have breakfast at Fortnum & Mason. On the fa?ade Lily showed Adrien Fortnum''s Clock, which sounded every quarter of an hour with a chime. Since the toddler wanted to see the carillon, Alexandre asked the sulking little one. "Shall we watch the carillon on the next full hour together?"


    "Why not now?"


    "Only every full hour two figures come out of the clock to check everything."


    "Really?" Adrien stared at the clock with glowing eyes.


    "You have my word of honor."


    "Wow, I want to see that!" The toddler took a deep breath and pulled impatiently at Alexandre''s trouser leg. " Can I? Can I?!" He beamed at AleXander.


    Alexandre nodded. "We''ll be out in half an hour to check it out."


    Happily, Adrien clapped his hands. "Promise?"


    "I promise." Alexandre smiled and ruffled the giggling boy''s hair. Patiently, the little boy let himself be taken to the department store.


    They were greeted by a man in black tailcoat at the entrance of the famous department store. The young family explored the plush and refined atmosphere with thick carpets and old-fashioned wooden stairs to buy a wide variety of teas and coffee beans of extremely excellent quality, as souvenirs, but also for their own use at home. In addition, Lily couldn''t stop buying all the other delicacies, such as high-quality chocolate, pralines, biscuits and pastries. Her stomach was small, but her eyes were huge. Lily completely lost track of Alexandre''s finances and her hungry greed knew no stop. As if by remote control, she and Adrien added more and more sinful little treats to their shopping. Alexandre could only silently watch his foodie zombies from the side and shake his head from time to time.


    But when Lily saw the high number at the checkout, she had her first heart attack of the day. Sugar was an ice-cold seducer who shook her savings policy to its foundations! She had to be careful with food!


    "That was pretty expensive." Lily gasped embarrassed at Alexandre''s side.


    "So what." Alexandre replied without batting an eyelid. "As long as you enjoy it, no matter how much your wish costs. I have enough money to finance a small country."


    "Really?! So...much?"


    Alexandre bent over her and snatched a quick kiss from her lips, grinning like a school boy, before pushing her further around the department store. Several other items, such as perfumes and tea sets for Lady de Valois and Grand-m¨¨re were taken along.


    Alexander then bought a few more bottles of wine for his home wine cellar. Before they sat down in one of the caf¨¦s of the department store shortly after 10 am to enjoy a late breakfast, which was the reason why they had visited the traditional department store to begin with.


    Adrien and his hungry mother struggled to decide between the various culinary dishes on the menu. Lily knew that the department store was famous for its cuisine and that it only used the freshest products from its own range to create absolutely divine dishes.

 Chapter 147 - Harrods

    The next stop was obviously at Harrods. On the ground floor, Lily inconspicuously searched for an emergency exit, as Alexandra relentlessly waved his black credit card while buying high quality jewelry from famous brands like Tiffany and Cartier for his wife''s jewelry box. On the fourth floor in the toy department, Lily believed that the black card would finally throw sparks. In addition to the classic Harrods teddy bear, Adrien''s achievements included numerous other toys as well as stylish clothing for the little gentleman. "Look, Lily. Now I look just like Alec." The toddler beamed with bright eyes begging her for her complement.


    Helplessly, Lily could only nod. "Of course, no one is sweeter than my little darling."


    "I''m not cute! I''m handsome!" With a smug grin, his big eyes were expectantly glued at Lily.


    "Oh! How could I not see that! Oh, now you look so much like Alec!"


    "Aren''t we too handsome, that you can''t look away?" The corner of Alexandre''s mouth twitched.


    "Yeah you two look handsome today." Mumbled Lily as her cheeks turned this treacherous red.


    "That is not out of the ordinary." Alexandre teased his wife self-satisfied.


    "S...sure..." Lily looked away from Alexandre, rolled her eyes and concentrated on helping Adrien into the blue corduroy jacket once again. Still, she could hear the smug laughter of Alexandre who was standing close behind her.


    With high level of self-restraint she pinched words that were burning on her tongue and hoped that Alexandre''s huge ego with confidence level 100 would not rub off on her innocent instant son. But to her sorrow, Addy was already showing the first signs of level increase. Shaking her head, Lily tied a red bow tie around the toddler''s neck and then compared it to another bow tie in a light blue that the store assistant passed her.


    Apparently Alexandre was in a good mood today, since the word STOP or moderation did not seem to exist in his dictionary. Lily got a headache as the family strolled down Sweet Street. Lily could hardly hold herself back, but after her loss of control in the morning, she was fighting harder against her stomach, which screamed - buy. Take it! BUY!


    The shopping bags did not stay empty and a truckload of exclusive sweets wandered into Adrien''s possession. The toddler''s new nanny already raised her eyebrow. Lily could see something burning at the tip of her tongue. Ashamed, Lily looked away and tried to avoid eye contact with the nanny at all costs. But since the nanny was very discreet. Lily decided to keep the sweet and sticky stuff far away from the little greedy hands of the little one when they returned home. She would only give it out in portions. All to avoid the criticizing gaze of the Norland nanny.


    Since the toddler did not want to leave this department again without further ado, he stayed in the toy paradise with two bodyguards and his Norland nanny, whom Alexandre had hired two days ago. A good acquaintance had recommended him to the professional childcare services of Norland College, who were qualified specialists in childcare and raising. Their principles of virtue included integrity and honesty. These were very important to Alexandre. Since Lily was herself quite overwhelmed with the upbringing of her instant son, she was grateful for this helping hand, which was not only superior in knowledge, but also in practice. That''s why the instant parents could leave their son in the care of Miss Kate Crosse with an easy mind.


    At the Superbrands department on the second floor for men Lily assisted Alexandre in choosing clothes. So a bright blue velvet tuxedo jacket by Tom Ford and a blue three-piece suit, a beige Pal Zileri wool-silk two-piece suit, as well as 6 shirts by brands like Ralph Lauren and Stefano Ricci ended up in their shopping bags. This was followed by 5 sweaters from Gucci, Thom Browne, Burberry and a black tailored overcoat from Givenchy, as well as 6 ties that Lily chose for him, while Alexandre stood behind her, grinning and watching.


    In the Superbrands ladies'' section on the first floor, Lily had her third heart attack that day. She didn''t even dare to look at the price tags anymore, so Alexandre''s favorite items packed one by one in her shopping bags, like the Gianvito Gossi silver rania pumps and red portofino sandals, but also a cashmere coat and a champagne-colored bag by Chanel. Unfortunately, shortly before the end of her shopping tour, Alexandra pulled her in a lingerie shop. With a bright red head, Lily wanted to instantly walk out again.


    "You''ll need swimsuits for our honeymoon."


    "We''re going on a honeymoon? Where to?"


    "It''s a surprise." Alexandre grinned and dragged her further into the shop.


    Alexandre pushed Lily into the fitting room. She was still flabbergasted and didn''t resist Alexandre, who personally picked out a few swimsuits for his wife from the rich variety of swimwear.


    Alexandre grinned from ear to ear as he finally persuaded his wife to show herself at last.


    With her bright red head and lowered gaze, Lily opened the door of her fitting room slightly, but Alexandre had quickly put his foot in between. His eyes were darker as he looked at her. He clearly felt the hardening of his flesh. The cramped space made him feel his unrequited desire even more clearly. He suffered a thousand deaths in his heart. "You look beautiful." It took a lot of effort to get the words from his lips. His whisper was a throaty murmur.


    "Thank you."


    He had to take a deep breath, so he wouldn''t pounce on her the next moment.


    Finally, he released himself from his sensual thoughts and silently handed Lily the next piece.


    He decided to buy a scalloped swimsuit with high neckline and plunging back by Marysia in an intense vermilion shade, noticing that this red tone suited Lily''s light skin surprisingly well. He decided to instruct Lily''s stylists to equip his wife''s wardrobe with more items in red. But he also liked the classic white scalloped one-shoulder swimsuit very much. Therefore, he gladly pulled out his credit card. Lily herself chose a black bandeau swimsuit from Zimmermann with a frilled neckline and a cutout on the back. Which she only got after some effective begging and pleading.


    After visiting several boutiques, Lily and her instant son started to get hungry. As the department store was very close to Hyde Park, Lily suggested having a picnic there, as Harrods'' food halls offered a wide selection of the finest culinary creations, which were perfect for a picnic in the park.

 Chapter 148 - Fill the picnic basket

    Besides the classics of butter, cheese, baguette and grapes, Lily chose for the picnic in the park a delicious smelling Quiche Lorraine, which seemed to be fresh out of the oven and various cold salads, such as a seafood salad, bulgur salad, a hearty mango salad and an asparagus-strawberry salad, which she found quite interesting. For Adrien, of course, the pasta salad could not be missing in the basket, it was essential for the little prince! But the Tandoori chicken skewers were also among the toddler''s new favorite dishes since their visit to the Camden Town market. Therefore, Lily added a few more meat kebabs to the basket.


    Alexandre left the choice of food to his son and wife, while he just enjoyed picking out the right bottle of red wine for himself. Lily and Adrien, on the other hand, chose a rhubarb lemonade.


    While Lily was still selecting some dishes at the fresh food counter, Adrien also wanted to peek over the glass front to see if he could find anything interesting. "Alec?" With his hand in that of his father, the little fellow looked up.


    Alexandre lowered his eyes, gazing into the little man''s azure eyes. "Yes?"


    "Lift me up." The toddler called out, throwing his little arms up in the air.


    Alexandre laughed. His gaze was warm. "Atop my shoulders?"


    Hastily the little one nodded, his dark curls bouncing up and down like tiny springs dancing around the child''s round head. In a single jerk, Alexandre lifted the toddler up and placed him on his broad shoulders. "Hold on tight."


    Adrien nodded, but his gaze was already captured by all the colorful delicacies before his eyes.


    However, soon he was getting bored of the food he couldn''t eat. So he let his eyes wander of further through the room. There was a lot to discover.


    "Look, Lily, look, Alec, look!" Adrien tapped Alec''s head with his little chubby hands and pointed with outstretched fingers at a wooden shelf filled with glass bears filled with golden glowing honey. The little fellow had never seen anything like that before! He absolutely wanted to know what this was.


    "Would you like one?" Asked Alexandre.


    The little one nodded quickly. "May I? May I? Please!" As he spoke, the toddler looked at the golden bears with glowing eyes, expectantly bouncing back and forth on Alec''s shoulders.


    Alexander smiled. "Let''s go and get some."


    Alexandre stopped close to the shelf. Adrien stared at the fascinating glasses. "They look like the teddy bear you gave me earlier."


    " Oh, really?"


    "Yeah, look, Alec. Just like my new teddy bear!" Adrien''s gaze was urgent and serious as he studied the honey bears from all sides. He nodded. "Yes, that''s my bear''s brother."


    "Then we must take a brother with us so your bear won''t be alone. But there are so many. Addy, you have to help me and pick the right brother."


    Adrien dutifully nodded. He had immediately recognized the gravity of the situation. After all, he could not leave his new bear alone. He needed to bring the brother home, too. Immediately, the little fellow bent over and stretched out his chubby arms to grab the honey bear in front of his eyes, pulling it close with his tiny hands."Did you find the right bear?" Alexandre asked the toddler.


    "Yes!"


    "Shall I carry him for you? He''s a little heavier than his brother."


    Addy shook his head instantly. "I am strong!"


    "Then hold him tight."


    Lily, on the other hand, continued to stroll along the refrigerated counter and picked out some cold dishes that she wanted to take along for the picnic.


    The next thing Lily noticed was an impact as she bumped into something. Instantly, she staggered back a few steps. Startled, she looked up into the face of a woman. Her eyes were dark and empty, as if staring into two black holes. Holes without a bottom. The woman''s face looked sunken and gaunt. As if a thin shred of leathery skin had been stretched over a skull. Her light-brown hair hung down her face, stringy and dull. She wore a heavy fur coat, under which her spindly figure was hidden. A sweetish, penetrant scent with a slightly citrus aroma and a distinct hint of lavender was hovering around her body. She wore a heavy fur coat, under which her spindly figure was hidden. Lily looked away quickly. This lady''s gaze was very uncomfortable, almost frightening.


    "Forgive me. I''m sorry." She hurriedly muttered an apology. Lily''s head was lowered while she gazed down on her tiptoes. Then she turned around to rejoin Melinda, who was barely an arm''s length behind her.


    But behind her was no longer just Melinda, but Alexandra as well. His face looked flawless as he stared at her with his perfect features. As if Da Vinci himself had carved Alexandra''s face in stone. But then she noticed this flicker in his silver eyes. Panic!


    A shiver suddenly enveloped her body as a cold hand closed around Lily''s wrist like a vice, pulling the girl back with a hard jerk.


    Frightened, she gasped for breath. He stiffened for only seconds, but it seemed like half an eternity. She tried to turn away to free herself from the woman''s grip. It seemed to her that it was all in vain.


    She caught a silver glint from the corner of her eye causing her to flinch. Suddenly a firm arm wrapped around her, pulling her back. All she saw was a strong figure pushing itself in front of her.


    Suddenly Alexandre was at her side.

 Chapter 149 - An icy sting rammed her heart

    Suddenly an icy cold shiver ran down his spine. He had the feeling that he could lose something at any moment. Alexandre''s instinct forced him to look in Lily''s direction.


    A strange figure stood barely half a meter away from her. The woman''s pupils seemed unusually wide. Her face was thin and empty. Panic rose in him. No one but he saw the threat this woman posed. She was dressed luxuriously, but the noble clothes seemed so fake on her, as she seemed to fit so wrongly to this place. A creeping fear crawled out of a dark corner of his mind.


    He quickly put the toddler down and hurried to his wife. As soon as he reached her side, he grabbed her thin arm before quickly pulling her close before hiding her under his body.


    He felt a sharp pain that pierced his side. With his last ounce of strength he pushed the rattled figure aside. The woman cried out. Her painful howling cut through the air. In the background, Alexandre heard a loud buzzing of voices, a horrible, tumultuous ruckus.


    He felt a burning sting in his side. "Lily!" he called out in panic. He could hardly stand on his feet. The sharp pressure increased with every breath he took before he too collapsed in Lily''s arms causing them both to fall to the ground. Pain rammed through his body. Robbing him of air to breathe.


    His eyelids lowered. Her gentle warmth surrounded him. She was all he could feel. He buried his face deep in her chest and listened to the wild beating of her heart. He was afraid, but at the same time, her arms held security. Alexandre felt the pain slowly slipping away from him, fading along with his consciousness. A deep drowsiness lay heavy over him. He passed out in her embrace, safe at her chest, floating in a void as if drifting in cool water.


    All the pain was gone. Only a soft voice still called out to him in the distance. Like a tender song, eerily beautiful.


    Time seemed to stand still, everything around her was drowned out by Alexandre''s whistling breath. He lay heavy on her. She could hardly breathe, his weight pressed down on her, squeezing her chest, pressing out all air of her lungs.


    But all she could feel was Alexandre''s damp shirt. The wet cloth shoved all of her own pain out of her mind. The shirt, which seemed to get wetter and wetter under her shaking hands from second to second, was all she could think of. Dazed, she raised her hand to her face and stared at a bright red palm. She shivered. Fear swamped all over her body.


    "Alexandre?" Lily held him tight as if her life depended on his. She felt the slackening of his massive body. She held on to him tighter. Her head buzzed with the sudden turn of events. One minute ago they were happy, and now...


    Alexandre''s heavy body pressed itself against her, he was too heavy, she could hardly hold onto him. Yet she held him with both hands, pressing his head against her body. She forced herself to breathe, even though it was hard. But every breath was taken with caution. Carefully she tried to control each of her breaths, quietly and flatly. She did not want to move a muscle too much. She was too scared. Any movement too much could hurt him even more. His wound would open up more, and blood. So much blood. He lost too much blood!


    The blood sucked dark red into his white shirt. With frightening speed, the warm wetness spread over her, too. Noticing how his blood soaked her dress.


    Lily hardly made a sound. She felt her numb. Panic had overwhelmed her. In the background she heard thousands of sounds, the screaming of a child, strikes, the screaming of people, footsteps... Everything melted into a dull mass.


    All she could think about was... "Alexandre!" Her voice sounded shaky and hollow, even to her own ears.


    Still no answer.


    She felt heat leaving his body.


    An icy sting rammed her heart. Tears were gathering in the corners of her eyes. Her hands held his limp body. His face looked sallow and pale, twisted by pain. Tormented, she kept calling Alexandre''s name.

 Chapter 150 - Save him!

    "Alexandre, please don''t! Alec, please! PLEASE!"


    This feeling of horror, fear and helplessness. These feelings suddenly clasped her heart with an icy cold hand!


    She looked cautiously at the sharp knife, which had sunk deep into his flesh. "HELP!" She tried her best to give her voice strength. "Save him!"


    One of the bodyguards was already at her side. The black hair hung confusedly in his face, his eyes shining like sharp golden blades. Shadows lay heavy on his features.


    "Save him!" Lily''s voice was hoarse as a stream of tears rolled down her cheeks. She wanted to grab him by the shoulders and scream. How could he not help Alexandre? WHY?! "You must save him!"


    "Madame you must calm down, the ambulance will be here soon."


    "He''s bleeding to death! There''s no time! Do something! Anything! Now!" Every second he lay limp in her arms drove her insane. Why did he cover her? Why?! How did it come to this? Was she worth his sacrifice? What would happen...? She didn''t want to think about it anymore. He just wasn''t allowed to! "Alexandre, please! Alec, Alec, please, no!" Lily''s voice broke, she sobbed silently, tears clouded her eyes. "Help him! You must help him!"


    "Madame! You must calm down. You have to stay calm until the ambulance comes. Or else Sir will lose more blood!"


    Sirens were sounding in the distance, but she didn''t pay attention. She cried and prayed, pleaded and hold him.


    The crowd was quickly evacuated by house staff and blocked for public access. The unknown assailant lay unconscious on the floor while the security staff of the department store arrested her and waited for the police. Suddenly, the rescue workers were at the couple''s side and carefully moved Alexandre to a stretcher before dealing with his wound to transport him stably to the rescue scales. Immediately Lily wanted to follow them and tried to get up.


    Her legs felt as if they were made of a wobbly pudding mass. She barely made it up, suddenly arms were there to support her and help her up. "Madame don''t worry, everything will be fine." The bodyguard looked at her with worried eyes. Blank, she looked at the man. His name had slipped her mind for a brief moment. "Thank you... Rene. Follow... I... I must follow him..." Lily stuttered in a completely absent-minded way. Her gaze was still fixed on the backs of the rescue team.


    With shaky legs, Lily could hardly stand upright, but she forced herself to follow Alexandre as fast as possible. "Madame. Everything will be fine! We''ll follow you to the hospital."


    Lily nodded, completely frozen, she followed the bodyguard Rene, who didn''t let her out of his sight for a second. Suddenly, something rammed her legs. Startled, she started to stagger, looking for support by the person next to her.


    "Lily, Lily, don''t leave me?"


    Adrian''s heartbreaking voice woke her from her endless delirium. "Lily!" Sobbing and trembling all over, the chubby arms of the toddler clasped Lily''s legs tightly.


    The child cried loudly, each sob drove a wedge deep into her heart. His lips were wide open. Round, thick tears rolled down his red cheeks in streams. His eyes were swollen red from all the crying. But his clear gaze held her tight.


    He stretched out his arms, immediately she bent down to the toddler and lifted him into her arms.


    The moment Lily pressed the little boy against her, he wrapped his arms tightly around her neck. Crying, he buried terrified his chubby body in her embrace. He trembled like a leaf, his little body paralyzed with terror.


    The toddler''s arms twitched weakly as he clung relentlessly to her. He feared that he would be left behind again. The toddler could not bear to lose his family a second time. He clung even tighter to his mother.


    The soft little body shrank into Lily''s embrace. She stroked his narrow back, kissing the toddler''s hair. "Everything will be fine! It''s gonna be okay!" She whispered in his little ear. She did not know for which ears these words were meant, for Adrien''s or maybe hers. She tried to concentrate and followed the security team.

 Chapter 151 - Brink of death

    In the middle of a colorful crowd at the side of the road, an elegantly dressed man in black stared at the departing ambulance. Smiling, he slipped his bony hand into his black coat and took his cell phone out of his pocket before dialing a specific phone number.


    "This was a lousy job. You should have guessed that you couldn''t get rid of the girl like that and your signature is too obvious. Remember, the other side has their connections, too. His voice was calm despite the rising rage.


    "She wasn''t the aim anyway. If she had died in the process. Fine, it would have been just the cherry on top. I have already done my part." It boldly echoed through his ear.


    "Ha!" Mocked the man in black and watched the car with the girl set off to follow the ambulance. "What was your job? I can''t remember that you were supposed to kill the Duke de Valois. By the way, not a hair on the girl''s head was harmed. Merely as a recommendation from a veteran, if you want to continue this career in the future, try not to act so obvious and don''t rely on drug junkies. You, as a beginner, still have a lot to learn. Arrogance is not something you should boast about. You more than blew the job. After today, the Duke will be even more cautious and you''ll have an even harder target to hit than before. Otherwise, it''ll be your head that''ll end up being hunted."


    He hated working with other Hitman. Especially when they were youngsters trying to make a quick buck. But didn''t really understand the job.


    "Remember, you haven''t finished this woman yet. Your job is more complicated than ever, and there is no case closed."


    His partner breathed into the phone. " You don''t get the joke. It doesn''t matter what happens to the woman in the end. Whether she dies, gets hurt... Everything should happen in front of him. That''s what they pay me for. In any case, you better take care of yourself!"


    They both had different employers, but they shared more or less the same job.


    In the past, he had never bothered to deal with less qualified men. But the targets were a tough act to follow. The de Valois family had maintained a close relationship with the Morgatti family for generations and every man in the underworld knew who was messing with the Morgatti clan did not have long to live.


    But who would have thought that his mighty employer had just that in mind and would reach out his hand? He had been longing for a challenging task for a long time. So, why not?


    Even if he were to be sent to the brink of death, he would never regret it. At least he''d have a good time before he kicked the bucket. He had no fear anymore since a long ago. Just longed for the feeling of being alive.


    ?


    Bright light blinded him as his eyes flared open. He stared at the merciless radiance of the ceiling lights. The room he was in was painted with a cold white. The thick white curtains let no light into the room. He didn''t know whether it was late at night or already in the middle of the day. He was lying on a soft bed with a white railing around the sides. His head had sunk deep into the fluffy pillow. Next to his ear a beeping sound was ringing, in a monotonous rhythm. His head felt heavy. He tried to turn it slightly. At first, he didn''t know where he was. His hands were wired with transparent tubes. A needle was stuck deep in the back of his hand, fixed by white tape. Under his nose was another tube that ran across his face. He raised his hand to free himself from the disturbing plastic tubes. But suddenly, a delicate white hand gripped his hand. Her fingers were cool, almost icy. She trembled as she pulled his hand to her.


    "Thank God you''re awake. How are you?"


    Alexandra turned his head to the side and saw this beautiful face. He couldn''t help himself and stared at her. Her eyes glowed softly. Despite the deep dark circles under the bright blue eyes. Her face was as white as chalk. Even brighter than ever before.


    She looked tired and exhausted, as if all strength had escaped from her delicate body. And yet she was one of the most beautiful women his eyes had ever seen. She looked like an angel that had come down from heaven to tempt him. The reddened and tear-drenched face of an angel.


    A smile poured over his face. He was so happy. So incredibly happy. He nearly had lost her. Now he knew perfectly well what kind of a fool he was. Only now did he realize that. Finally, seeing himself. A deep gratitude flowed through Alexandre. Only in that desperation did he realize what he could lose. He would not let it happen to him a second time. Never again!


    "Lily." His voice was hoarse, but her name was like sage to his heart. He wanted to stand up to finally take her in his arms. But the burning pain at his side reminded him of what had happened. He flinched, grimacing in pain.

 Chapter 152 - Close your eyes!

    "Careful!" She called out in fright and pressed him gently back into the soft bed. "Shh...you mustn''t move. Or your wound will reopen."


    "What happened?" He only remembered the attack, everything that had happened after the attack was as if wrapped in a thick fog. Only her warm embrace and her tormented whimper flickered through the mist.


    Gently she stroked the hair out of his face. "I... You were attacked... Why did you do that? You could have died!" Her voice broke as this horrible thought flashed through her mind.


    He reached for her hand and put it against his cheek. "I was almost too late." he whispered with pain in his voice. "I promised you I''d take care of you and Adrien. You''re my life, the only one I have to protect at all costs." She wasn''t just any woman. He was wrong. She was his wife, his love. Strange how blind he could be. It had taken this danger to free him from his blindness. He had almost lost her. But he got better and better at admitting how much he needed her. He intertwined his fingers with hers and tenderly brought her hand to his mouth before gently pressing his lips into her palm. He smiled as his eyes fixed hers. "How badly have I been hit?" He asked teasingly and looked at the tubes that were attached to his body.


    Tears welled up at the corners of her eyes. "Idiot! Just a few millimetres further and the knife would have pierced your colon. The doctor said the injuries only affected the fat and muscle tissue in the abdomen under the skin. I was so scared. They rushed you right into surgery. You lost so much blood, I thought you were gonna die. You needed a blood transfusion and... you needed stitches..."


    "Sorry."


    "What are you apologizing for? You saved me." She said softly. But her face reflected a whole range of emotions. It stirred her up. All that could be heard in the background was the dripping, beeping and buzzing of medical equipment.


    Her heavy silence and discontented expression tormented him. Now that he knew how he felt about her, he could no longer deny how much she influenced him in all the tiniest matters. He was a fool. Now that he thought about it he realized how much her existence already dominated his mind. He could not remember when it had begun. It had taken over him slowly.


    "This is my duty as your husband." He hurried to say. "I did a really great job. I deserve a reward for it." He grinned teasingly.


    "Do you think I enjoyed that! It wasn''t funny at all, Alexandre! Seeing you like that..."


    "Sweetheart, I will always protect you with my life. So stop worry and give me a kiss." He simply ignored her sullen face and smiled at her full of expectation.


    She gasped for breath at his boldness. Nevertheless, his demanding behavior made her nervous. She struggled with herself for several seconds.


    Before Lily stood up, leaning slowly over his face. The closer she came, the faster the monitor beeped, which was attached to Alexandra''s body via tubes. But as she quickly pressed her lips against his forehead, and then letting herself slide back onto the chair next to his bed with a bright red face, he couldn''t help but sulk. He wanted to kiss her properly. Especially now that he finally realized how much she made his heart beat faster. He wanted to possess her all the more.


    "I was thinking of another kind of reward. That was supposed to be a kiss?" Scolded Alexandre in disappointment. "Or do you want me to get up and claim my reward myself?"


    She winced and moaned. For the blink of an eye, an angry spark flashed up in her eyes. Before she rose once more. "This is gonna be awkward..." She murmured and looked down at him. "Close your eyes!"


    "I have to make sure that you will kiss me for real." She rolled her eyes and covered his eyes with her hand. Again the beeping of the monitor went crazy. Neither wounds nor painkillers could stop his heart from bouncing up and down in joyful anticipation. He felt her hair gently brush against his skin. Her sweet scent tickled his nose. Her warm breath caressed his face. She was close to him, he could feel it.


    And then... Her soft lips gently touched his. She tasted sweet. He wanted to raise his hand to pull her closer, but something held him down. Only then did he remember that his hand was connected to an IV tube. He sighed in regret as her lips parted from his again.


    He still indulged in the memory of their too short kiss and played with the thought of asking for another one...

 Chapter 153 - Sudden changes in his heart

    "The woman was paid to attack me." She changed the subject in a high-pitched voice. "When you''re better, the police will come by for interrogation." She gazed at him. "You don''t seem surprised by this news... You'' not going to tell me?!"


    "Lily, you are married to one of the richest and most influential men in Europe. In order to weaken me, you''re a good target." He saw the fear in her eyes and hurried to promise her. "In any case, you don''t need to worry about something like that. Leave it to me. I''ll protect you and Adrien with my life."


    "This time you got yourself into the hospital! You need to rest now. So don''t move and get well quickly. Adrian and l need you!" He saw horror and fear in her eyes that she wanted to hide with a pitiful smile.


    "Speaking of which, where is Adrien?" He asked to change the depressing subject.


    Lily turned her head and pointed to a small cot in the background.


    "He''s asleep. He was pretty shaken up by the whole thing. He was afraid of losing you..."


    "Seems like I''ve been worrying you too much." Only now did he realize that he had no idea how much time had actually passed. "How long was I out?"


    "It''s Tuesday! You''ve been unconscious for a while."


    He winced and moaned out loud.


    She immediately straightened up and let her worried look wander over his body. "Does something hurt you? Where does it hurt?" She jumped off her chair. "I''ll call the doctor!"


    "Don''t go!" He reached for her wrist, although it hurt, he did not want to let her go. "I''m fine!"


    "But...?"


    He shook his head. "I''m all right now..."


    With a wrinkled forehead she continued to examine him.


    "I''m really fine." He tried to reassure her. Alexandre grinned, he liked that she cared and looked after him like that. The beeping of the monitor increased again, he was all too aware of how fast his heart started racing under his chest because of her.


    Lily gave Alexandre a stern look as she stared anxiously at the monitor. "A doctor should better be informed that you''re awake. Your heart rate seems pretty high." Lily stood up and reached out her hand for the button on the side of his bed.


    Alexandre looked at the drip that was hanging next to his bed and sighed in annoyance. Anyway, he couldn''t help it, that the time alone with her seemed to be too short. He swore that once he was out of here, he would get more than a kiss. His feelings had triggered an irrepressible desire in him. His head was buzzing with the sudden changes in his inner life, he had just guessed what he felt for her and now - he didn''t understand himself anymore. All he wanted was her.


    He looked to the side to hide how excited he was. "Do you know when I''ll be discharged?" He finally asked.


    Lily looked at him without understanding. At first, she didn''t understand what he was getting at. But as she put the pieces together, her eyes became suspicious. Yet she could not long conceal her concern for him within it. "I spoke to your family on the phone. Your mother and sister are at the hotel, they will come back to see you in the morning. Your father has taken over everything in the company until you are fully recovered. If you hope to sit soon at your office desk, don''t bother thinking about it until you get the doctor''s permission."


    "Give me three days and I¡äm as good as new."


    "Nonsense, you don''t need to play the hero. You have a deep wound that will leave a scar..."


    "This way I can remind you even at a ripe old age, even if I''m frail, with a bad character and full of wrinkles, that you must always take good care of your beloved husband."


    Lily lifted her eyes, only a gentle smile played around her lips. There was a calm in her gaze. She grasped his hand, a gentle warmth surrounded his hand as she held it and drew delicate little circles in the palm of his hand. But suddenly her gaze became hard, an furious spark flashed across her eyes, but her smile was as sweet as sugar. "This isn''t a joke, Alexandre." She said agitated. "I promise you, in three days, you''ll still be lying here. Try to get used to the idea that you''ll probably spend another week or two enjoying hospital comfort." Slowly she leaned forward towards him. Her hand lay gently on his cheek. Her eyes were clouded with worry and fear. "You will stay in bed until you are cured. I will take care of it myself!"


    His heart began to race. "Well! That means two wonderful weeks of vacation in the hospital for you and me!" He smirked peacefully and self-satisfied. But this magical moment was abruptly interrupted by a young doctor in a white coat and stethoscope around his neck peering into the room. Lily sat back down on the chair at his side. But Alexandre held on to her hand and continued to grin broadly as he happily greeted the doctor.


    Busily, the man informed Alexandre of the progress of his treatment before checking the drip, cables and tubes, and the bandaged wound.

 Chapter 154 - A hungry stomach and too much make-up

    It was not a sunny day, but exactly the right weather that her grand-m¨¨re had hoped for, as if she had personally called Peter to pass on her order. Thick fluffy snowflakes trickled down from the sky to cover the land around the French town of Chenonceaux under a white blanket, as if coated with icing sugar. A fine layer of ice glittered on the waters of the Cher, which surrounded a fairy tale moated castle.


    Lily and her wedding ensemble had already arrived at Chateau Chenonceau the evening before with all their bags and luggage. The week before, her mother-in-law and grandmother had already arrived in the idyllic Chateau des Dames, as the castle was affectionately known in the vernacular. With joyful anticipation, the ladies and the lady of the castle devoted themselves to the final wedding preparations until the longed-for day.


    Since the early hours of the morning, the stylists seemed to be pushing their craft to its peak, as if they were going to perform their work like artists on Lily. The girl wondered if her grandmother or perhaps Lady Isabelle de Valois had mixed some kind of stimulant into the drinks of the stylists, which caused them to go into this state of ecstasy.


    The bride felt as if there were headlights on her. She felt a thousand eyes pierce her back. She knew the number would grow throughout the day. Lily became quite uncomfortable at the thought. She wished she could hide under a blanket in a dark corner far from humanity. She knew herself that her bias was idiotic. She was simply not used to being the center of attention.


    "Um, mademoiselle, could you please raise your head a little?"


    Lily''s eyes met the reflection of the smiling eyes of her hair stylists in the mirror. She immediately followed her instruction. Only her stomach hums in protest! Since she got up, the organizers of this wedding drama had forbidden her any food consumption. If she had known that, she would have stuffed herself up to the hilt with food the night before. Unfortunately, she was no fortune teller and was now at the losing end. She personally could not understand why her grandmother and mother-in-law made such a fuss about this wedding. She herself hoped the spectacle would soon be over, although it had not even begun.


    The small armada of stylists that swarmed around her scared the hell out of Lily. Somehow lost, she sat in her chair and waited patiently while a make-up artist drew the contours of her cheeks with some powder.


    She knew this was only the beginning. Lily would be sent to this room another four times that day to relive the artistic spectacle over and over again. She sighed. Just the mere thought of powder, creams, lipstick, hairspray and tulle dresses gave her a cold shiver. As the bride surrendered to her fate, she listened to the clatter of plastic, the taps of feet, the rustling of cloth and the faint conversations in the background. Somehow there was something meditative about it that Lily quickly forgot the time. Her thoughts swayed to something more beautiful. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, dreaming of a paradise in the South Seas. Alexander had not yet told her where their honeymoon would lead. It was going to be a surprise. Lily wasn''t really worried about where it would go either. In her tropical paradise beside the turquoise sea, far away from all the wedding hustle and bustle, she already buried her feet in the white sand. Repressed and forgotten. She had left the wedding theater long behind. Imagine building small sandcastles with Adrien and sipping sweet cocktails.


    The vibration of her mobile phone pulled her abruptly out of her dream world and back into reality. She shuddered. Touching for her mobile phone, which had gone missing somewhere between powders, creams and lipsticks on the dressing table. The whole table seemed to vibrate with her phone and knocked over some of the lipsticks. The girl who was doing her make-up quickly came to her aid and handed Lily the phone. Lily peeked at the screen. She couldn''t help but smile.


    ''See you at the altar, Love.''


    Flickered his message in black letters on the screen. Lately, Alexandre was sending her lots of text messages. Often he just wanted to know how she was, where she was or what she was doing. But sometimes he would also send her little poems. These messages had this special effect on her - suddenly she was very calm, all worries seemed trivial. She was aware that most of her fears were meaningless, she just had to overcome herself. After all, there was nothing wrong with being in the center of attention at some point in her life. She could not hide all the time. Not in the position she officially occupied from today - Duchess de Valois. Her position required her to become one of the central figures in society. Nevertheless, she had some very legitimate concerns. The high heels and the heavy dresses made of several layers of tulle and metre-long trains, this was a completely different dimension of obstacles. It could become quite tricky. One wrong step and she would kiss the ground. Certainly this would be a welcome change for the distinguished guest list, but for Lily it would be her worst nightmare.

 Chapter 155 - My baby, is getting married

    Someone knocked just before the door swung open and her best friend stalked into the room in her stunning peach-colored bridesmaid dress. The silky fabric wafted around her graceful figure, gently caressing her voluptuous curves, but only hinting, leaving the rest to the imagination. Countless pearls shimmered on the sweeping skirt and around the heart-shaped neckline of the d¨¦collet¨¦. Nelli''s red hair fell in gentle curls over her naked shoulders. White pearls were woven into her hair. She looked like an elf, but there was a businesslike expression on her face. "Here''s your present!"


    Nelli pushed an elegant box into Lily''s hand which was draped with fine lace. Looking at the pink box in her hands, Lily lifted her head again and gazed at her friend with a raised eyebrow. "What is this?"


    "Your wedding present! Don''t ask stupid questions."


    "Thank you."The girl valued her gift. She felt a tingling in her fingers and had the urge to open the ribbon immediately. She paused, however, when Nelli abruptly put her flat hand on the box. Lily frowned, gazing sullenly at her friend''s face. "Seriously?"


    Her friend''s eyes sparkled with outrageous cheerfulness. "There, there, my dear! You can''t open that until later."


    The girl got a bad feeling given the expression in Lionelle''s eyes. Still flabbergasted, she asked, "Why? And what do you mean by later?"


    "Don''t worry, my dear. You''ll have fun with it! You''ll see tonight." Nelli smiled in this mysterious way that only she could smile. Lily swallowed hard. "I suppose I should thank you and your good intentions. "But, um... I can''t shake this feeling that I''ll regret it later."


    "Don''t worry." Her friend laughed and placed a hand on Lily''s shoulder. "I don''t want to tell you too much - but I''ll tell you right away that you have to unpack this immediately when you go to your honeymoon suite! Don''t you dare forget it. You must unpack it immediately there." Her smile grew deeper, gained a daring intensity, shockingly seductive.


    "This is so frustrating!" The bride complained. "I really don''t feel good about this little gift of yours. Since the moment you refused to let me open it, to make these cryptic little suggestions..."


    "What''s frustrating about that?"


    "Yes! What''s frustrating about that!" Lily pulled a face and set the little surprise aside. She hated surprises! Especially surprises from Nelli. Next to the box were piles of exclusive cosmetics, creams and fragrances. All just for this one day. She blinked helplessly and couldn''t think straight.


    Lily let herself sink back onto her stool and helplessly watched her friend''s deeply satisfied expression. Obviously her little surprise was giving her more fun than a child could have when it was allowed to spend the night in a toy store. In some ways, Lily felt a little betrayed.


    "So this is really it." Nelli gently grasped Lily around her waist and lightly hugged her friend. "My baby, is getting married today. You''ll be fine, and if something happens, I have a car and chauffeur at my service. We can still run away together."


    "I count on you." Lily wrapped her arms tightly around Nelli''s body and inhaled the familiar smell of orange blossom. Lionelle was like a sister to her, the girls had known each other for most of their lives. She knew she could always rely on Nelli.


    "So where have you hidden my second baby?"


    "He''s with Alec. He wanted to take care of Adrian until the wedding. The last few days have been a little hectic for Addy, especially yesterday when I had to leave early to prepare. He still doesn''t understand the situation and keeps expecting to be left alone. After the assassination attempt on Alec he is especially clingy and always follows us closely on our heels. With his short legs, he always staggered right behind me." Adrian was a very sensitive child, the upbringing of him was still exhausting, especially for Lily, who always compared herself to Elodie and wondered what her friend would do. Taking care of a child was like walking naked through the jungle, hoping to come out alive. She never knew what to look for, if she was even doing right. Lily could only try to do her best.


    "Dealing with his parents'' death will take time. But you''re not doing a bad job either. Have more confidence in your abilities. Elodie and Fabien didn''t choose you for nothing. You''ve always been the most sensitive and caring of us. When you do something, you put your heart and soul into it. You make a good helicopter mom." She gave Lily a sarcastic look.

 Chapter 156 - Five centimeters too much

    A variety of noises emanated from the hallway. The bride could only imagine the bustle outside this room. It was already after 12 o''clock, and still Lily was not finished with the lavish beauty procedure. Meanwhile, her face was as soft as a baby''s butt. After countless face masks and face massages, a fine layer of make-up, all that remained was to weave the last white flowers into her curly hair. At 2 pm the wedding ceremony would begin. Lily could only hope to make it in time.


    Suddenly, the door swung open with a crack, causing the girl to startle. A cold gust of wind swept through the room. Lily shot up from her chair, and watched in bewilderment as her sister stormed towards her.


    The once beautiful caramel blond hair fluttered like unruly straw around Nadine''s gaunt face. Her cheekbones stood out from her skinny face. Dark shadows lay under her eyes. She seemed to have lost a few more kilos since the last meeting of the sisters.


    But not even this could hide the anger that raged through her sister''s delicate body.


    Nadine stared at her with eyes sparkling with fury. Her face was so innocently beautiful, like a lovely sweet angel. But her look was piercing and filled with hatred.


    Panic ran through Lily.


    "That was you!" Nadine screamed with a face dyed with anger and grabbed Lily by the wrist. Lily flinched. The merciless grip of her sister shook her all over. One of the stylists tried to intervene, but Nadine pushed her away rudely.


    "I have no idea what you''re talking about." Mumbled Lily.


    "This stupid designer says I''ve suddenly grown in size!" If gazes could kill, then Nadine would have punished Lily with a thousand deaths at this moment, the girl thought to herself in astonishment and watched as her sister tore the coat from her shoulders and presented her open back to Lily. Lily knew immediately where the problem was and could imagine who the real culprit might be. A grin crept up on her lips. The dress was clearly one or two sizes too small, nothing could be done.


    "I don''t know!" The bride played dumb. She bit her lips to suppress the blooming grin. "What do you want from me? I don''t know how I can help you with this problem." She replied in feigned innocence.


    Again Nadine sparkled at her angrily. "There''s no way I could have gained five centimeters in a month. You''re definitely behind this. You can''t grant me anything. Ever since we were kids, you''ve been jealous of me."


    Lily suppressed her own anger, which grew with every word. She smiled and moved back a little.


    "I don''t know what you''re talking about! Could you at least refrain from your empty accusations on my wedding day I have far more important things to deal with." With a sense of relief, Lily sunk back down on the stool in front of her dressing table, ready to let the stylists do their work again.


    "Do you think you''re gonna get off that easily. You obviously forgot our conversation on the phone!"


    Lily sat there quietly, unwilling to listen to her sister for one more second. Still, she asked the stylists to leave the room for a moment. This would not be a conversation intended for other ears.


    As the door closed again, Lily commanded a deep sense of tiredness. She reached for the envelope that Nelli had kindly given her before she had left to find her godson.


    "Are you threatening me?" Asked Lily in a calm voice.


    Apparently Nadine was annoyed by this statement. "Not at all, sis. I just felt like I''ve been very nice to you, and I was hoping you''d do the same." The look in her light blue eyes was full of disgust. "I regret, under the circumstances, I can no longer keep the secret. Your shameful behavior is no longer acceptable to my heart. It seems I have to confess to the entire wedding party. Don''t take it personally, sis. But I''m just trying to save you from yourself."

 Chapter 157 - Hypocrisy

    Hypocrite! Lily thought angrily and calmly opened the white envelope. Before showing one of Nelli''s snapshots to her sister. With an empty gaze she looked at Nadine, who suddenly stared with great interest at the photo in her hand. Her flushed face lost all color.


    Lily had a strange feeling while doing this, especially since she did not like to threaten people, let alone her own sister. She hadn''t planned this either, if Nadine would have been just a guest at her wedding today...


    Nelli had only given Lily the threatening snapshots as a prophylactic measure. She had known Nadine almost as long as she had Lily.


    But today her younger sister didn''t want to give Lily any choice and tried to push her into a corner again, forcing her to take this drastic step, which was against all moral concepts of the girl. Lily realized that at that moment she became one of those hypocrites who claimed to stand up for their ideals. Yet she betrayed all those ideals, as soon as the smallest stone was in her way. She knew she was a coward. A part of her wanted to back down immediately. The tension in her body made her rigid. She forced herself to stay calm on the outside, although inside she wanted to die out of nervousness. "I got some more of these. Still dying to share my secret?!"


    "What do you want!"


    Lily shook her head speechlessly. An iron disappointment was building up inside her. She was tired from all the arguments with Nadine. She didn''t know what had gone wrong in her sisterly relationship. That Nadine must hate her so much. But she was aware of one thing. There was no salvation for either of them. All they would ever do was hurt each other. Lily had to draw a line in the sand to save her own heart. "Frankly, I don''t care what you and Pascal are up to behind my back. I''ve put it behind me. But please don''t drag me into this. I''ve had enough of your games, and I only hope to be left alone by the two of you in the future. I just wish you all the happiness in the world, be happy together. That''s all I want." It may be true. Once she had been bitterly wounded by the betrayal of her nearest and dearest. But that was long ago. Time had healed her heart. She wanted nothing more to do with them. That was the truth. Now she could only look back at the events of the past from afar and do what a big sister would do. Although it hurt her she wished Nadine happiness in her life with all her heart. But this happiness would no longer be built on Lily''s back.


    Nadine laughed bitterly. "My happiness! What bullshit! They won''t be able to protect you forever." Hysteria cut through her bright voice like a sharp knife. The tone became rougher and sharper, all hypocrisy disappeared from her words. "All right, maybe you won this round. As you wish, I will quietly watch your wedding from the back seat. But there will be consequences!"


    Nadine gave the bride a look dripping with hate before she hissed out of the room again.


    Tired Lily leaned against the edge of the table. Looking into the flickering eyes of her reflection, she forced herself to smile. "Fighting!" She called to herself and threw her fists in the air in front of her face. "You must stay strong!" She tried to talk her way out of it before she asked the team of stylists into the room again.

 Chapter 158 - A wonderful day

    Finally, the veil was draped in her lavish hairstyle, and she was almost at the end of her tether. Her heart was beating up to her neck while highly concentrated adrenaline was rushing through her veins. Two of the girls from Madame Ploutiettes tailor shop brought her the first of five wedding dresses. The most pompous and magnificent dress. A dress like one out of those Disney princess movies. As they buttoned the long row of pearl buttons on her back, Lily''s heartbeat quickened. Just take a deep breath - she told herself. Her dress rushed down her slender body like an ivory-white waterfall of silk and tulle. She hardly dared to believe her reflection - from the inconspicuous girl, the artists had created this graceful and elegant lady. It was as if a magic spell was in the air, as if she had escaped from the pages of a fairy tale book, directly up for this wedding. Her heart was beating madly. She would become the Duchess de Valois. Alexandre''s wife.


    ?


    "Oh, hello, Mademoiselle de Carvoisin!"


    Claudio stood casually leaning against the wall. His voice purred leisurely like that of a tired cat enjoying its sunbath. Nelli winced and started directly into the eyes of this lazy hunter. She was unlucky again to run into him of all people.


    "I wish you a wonderful day, as well." Nelli tried to worm her way past him.


    "Really? Is that what you want me to believe? I don''t really feel like you... Rather, I''m getting the impression that you wish that I would get the plague?"


    "Oh, is that so? Where do these assumptions come from?"


    He smiled. His deep green eyes sparkled, he clearly enjoyed playing with her.


    Quickly she pushed herself past him. She tried to pretend that he didn''t exist although he was watching her every move.


    " Your eyes, your expression, every single movement you make, express the disgust you have for me."


    She stayed, throwing him a glance over her shoulder. "I would recommend you to go and see an optician." She blinked, trying not to notice how the well-cut suit tightened over his muscular shoulders. She could only imagine what was hidden under the fabric. He had a face that would kill any male model, and incredibly thick black hair that she had wanted to comb through with her fingers ever since she first met him. She had to admit she was not indifferent to his advances. Even if she didn''t want to, her heart jumped when she only heard his deep voice. He was incredibly hot and charming. A deadly combination for any woman''s heart. However, she was all too aware of how the noble maidens secretly called him. A Casanova freshly imported from Italy, just for the eyes not to be tasted. She was so annoyed that she was still attracted by him. She could no longer look him in the eye. It felt as if his intense gaze was licking all over her body.


    "Yeah... I probably really should see an optician, because I can''t find words to describe your beauty."


    His words were teasing and provocative, but at the same time it felt like he was begging for her attention. She had lost track. How long had they been playing this game? Nelli averted her gaze again and wanted to run on without giving him her attention for another second. She should not let herself be distracted by him like that anymore. Her priority was to protect Lily. She couldn''t afford another mistake. Besides, her father had already begun to select a suitable marriage candidate for her. She had already caused her family enough trouble in the past few years. She loved her family, despite her differences of opinion with her father and her older brothers. Basically they were right. A marriage of convenience would be the best thing for her. A love match was not the norm. She had to stop dreaming about it. Men loved her because of her appearance, her handsome dowry or her social standing, but not because of her character. She was too hot-tempered. But she had trouble discarding old habits. Then, slowly, she began to move further away. Claudio frowned, when he met this woman, nothing went according to plan. She seemed to slip through his fingers again and again. Over and over she managed to create this yawning emptiness in his head whenever he looked at her bewitching face. He lacked the right words to express what he felt when he was near her. Claudio always felt small and helpless when he blurted out those shallow pick-up lines. He could no longer bear this uncertainty. Claudio knew she had wrapped him around her little finger for a long time. This would not change in the future. He was struck by lightning. She was both hellfire and holy water at once. The way he could taste her depended on the way he would treat her.


    And he was willing to beg for it. Claudio he grabbed her wrist. "I wasn''t planning on asking you here, just like that. But I can''t wait any longer. I wanted to make it super romantic. But I can''t stop thinking about you and it appears to me that life is short. Will you marry me?"

 Chapter 159 - Dear readers

    Dear readers,


    I will do hiatus for a week and starting next week I hope that it continues as usual. Unfortunately I have been ill since last week and can''t manage to sit down at my desk and write something that is really worth reading. (I am simply busy sleeping 24 hours (?-©n-?).) Which is why I decided to take a break until I feel better. Probably got infected with influenza while babysitting my neighbor''s kids, no COVID-19, I''ve already visited the doctor, and she gave me medication and prescribed me a lot of rest. Which I immediately put into action and wander back into my warm bed.


    I wish you a lot of fun with everything you do and a lot of health in these difficult times.


    Read us soon. (ìá?¦Ø?ìá)


    Best regards


    Your Saya (???)

 Chapter 160 - His very own deadly combination

"Are you drunk?"

 Chapter 161 - Casanovas acting skills

¨¦douard protectively pushed his little sister behind his back. Anger was pulsating through his veins. His fingers pressed deep into his palm while his fists trembled with rage.

 Chapter 162 - She couldnt let the two of them be unhappy

Melinda''s eyes were cold as she watched lily sunbathe in front of the mirror in her beautiful wedding dress.

 Chapter 163 - A little princess

"Stop grinning at me so creepily! It''s unbearable." Jacques put the glass of gin back on the counter. Claudio became more and more unbearable by each passing minute. Jacques could only shake his head at his friend''s strange behavior and frown.

 Chapter 164 - An emergency!

"Uncle I have to pee-pee."

 Chapter 165 - Views of society

The ladies, extravagantly dressed, stumbled across the parquet floor on their high heels, while the gentlemen showed themselves in tailcoats or uniforms.

 Chapter 166 - A Sweet Distraction

A smile that reached from one ear to the other appeared on Adrien''s face as his chubby cheeks turned rosy and his eyes began to shine.

 Chapter 167 - Finally finding her own happiness

Valerie stepped into the dressing room holding her great-grandchildren by the hand. She looked down at the little boy who was walking beside her.

 Chapter 168 - Family heirlooms

    Helplessly, her hands fluttered across Lily''s face, looking for a place where she could safely pat her granddaughter''s face without smearing the carefully applied make-up.


    Lily reached for her grandmother''s hand... "Grand-m¨¨re..."


    "Oh, dear... don''t cry, my darling, or we''ll have to start all over again with your pretty make-up."


    Lily smiled tentatively.


    Sighing, her grandmother reached for a navy blue box handed to her by one of the hired girls. "Instead of crying, you have to smile." Her voice swayed a little uncertainly, her fingers gently stroking over the velvet fabric before she opened the box with a click. "A reason to smile is this beautiful gift. I got it from my mother-in-law when I married your grandfather." She paused while her gaze lingered on the contents of the box as if she remembered something. "Since we''re not getting a daughter-in-law, but a son-in-law, we can''t ask him to wear the jewelry. So, my love, you must wear it in his place." Her full lips formed a mischievous grin.


    Transparent gemstones sparkled beautifully with each other, while they were surrounded by filigree white gold. Delicate garlands of flowers embraced the countless diamonds. The royal jewelry set of tiara, necklace, earrings and a fine bracelet rested gracefully on the blue velvet.


    Lily looks up in amazement at her grandmother, who shrugged her shoulders. "Another heirloom of our family." Carefully, her grandmother picked up the sparkling tiara, which featured curved floral garlands of white gold enclosing rose-cut diamonds, and placed it on Lily''s head. In astonishment, Lily looked at herself in the mirror while the stylist carefully took the other pieces of jewelry from the box to put them on her. Lily took a deep breath to calm down. A strange cocktail of emotions had brewed in her heart.


    Her gaze turned away as her grandmother put another piece of jewelry around her neck. In the tapered center of the necklace, a large diamond was surrounded by cool shining white gold. Rose-cut diamonds added further points of light in a design composed of leaves rocailles and elegant arches to create a bright, glittering, glowing web. Carefully the matching earrings were attached to Lily, composed of a lavish drop-shaped pendulum which framed one diamond. As well as the radiant bracelet that wrapped around her wrist like a fine garland of flowers.


    "Ready for the bride purchase?" Her maid of honor suddenly burst in and hummed in a charmingly flirtatious tone of voice, but there was a slightly rushed expression on her face. Lily looked confusedly at her friend''s face, which also made her feel uneasy. They looked at each other. Questions burned on their lips...


    "What is a bride purchase?" Adrian leaned his head to one side and looked at them with big eyes.


    Nelli lowered her eyes, tried to push her thoughts into a dark corner of her head and gave Adrien a sugar-sweet smile. "We''re testing your papa''s love for your maman. "Your papa must pass a few tests and pay a lot if he wants to marry your maman today." A cruel pleasure was reflected on her face.


    Lily got the feeling that her friend wanted to take revenge on someone else, but Alexandra now unfortunately had to face this anger.


    The bride hesitated. "Perhaps we should..."


    "Fiddlesticks!" Her grandmother interrupted her. "It''s tradition. Let your husband show his good side. Today, many eyes are watching."


    Lily nodded without a word.


    "Addy, if your papa comes back later to get your maman. You can''t give up your maman right away."


    "Why?" asked the toddler innocently.


    "Because your maman''s the most important thing in the world to you."


    The little boy nodded and answered seriously. "Yes!" As he wrapped his chubby little arms around his mother''s waist. Lily felt warmth sweep over her heart. She leaned down and kissed Adrian gently on his forehead.


    "Good!" Nelli giggled. "So when your dad comes and wants to take your maman, you have to say no, no, no. Got it?"


    The toddler nodded immediately.


    "And if your papa asks - why? You have to say that your maman is so important to you that no treasure in the world can replace her."


    Adrien looked at his aunt with big eyes but kept nodding while he listened to her.


    "If your papa starts giving you lots of presents, you can give your maman to your papa only."

 Chapter 169 - Start of the games to buy his way to her

    Lulu awaited her older brother at the stairs with a crowd of young spectators. Everyone waited impatiently for the groom. Originally, this was once an old custom. Traditionally, the groom has to pick up his wife at her parents'' house before the church wedding.


    The actual purpose of the bride purchase was to ransom the bride from her family bond. On the way to the bride some relatives and neighbours used to block the house or even the road, so that the groom and his friends could not overcome the obstacles until they reached the bride, in order to buy their way with ransom. The traditional ceremony has been changed over the years, becoming simpler and more modern. Now it was more of a spectacle for the younger generation of wedding guests, in which men were happy to show off their skills and wealth.


    Louise patted her brother on the shoulder. "Ready, Brother?" She hummed into the microphone. Alexandre had the feeling that more and more guests found their way to the staircase. He didn''t really care. He would show them how much he loved his bride. The only positive thing about this game was that he couldn''t fail. For the last few days, he had been studying all the facts about his Lily. He knew everything about her. From her shoe size to her favorite toy as a child. Plus, he had enough ransom money on him. And by now he knew Lily''s maid of honor well. Nelli wouldn''t make it easy for him. She''d drag every skeleton from the closet to make him bleed. "Unfortunately, we can''t give you your bride easily.As her bridesmaid, I must test your will." Smirking, his sister waved six young ladies in white tunics to his side. each with a velvet box in her hand. "To prove your love for the bride, we must test all your senses."


    One by one, the girls opened their caskets.Fine silk scarves were hidden inside. "You claim to know your wife well, then it is surely easy for you to recognize her favorite perfume."Lolou slyly spoke into the microphone, so that every guest in the passage could hear her. "I wish you good luck. Oh yes, every wrong answer has a price.I hope you''ve prepared enough ransom. or we won''t let you see your bride today."


    "Right!" Alexandre joined her and picked up the first piece of cloth to smell it. His face twisted at the smell.


    It was a heavy, sweet smell of cinnamon, vanilla and clove. A smell that reminded him of winter, but not of his Lily. She smelled soft and delicate, like a refreshing walk through a sea of flowers. He shook his head and dropped the white cloth back into the box. He reached into the next box. Vanilla again and... he smelled rose and something else... something fizzy like lemon, no orange. The cloth sailed back into the casket. Only briefly did he hold his nose to the other cloths.


    Without spending much time with the other scents, he chose the box to his right. Alexandra was 100% sure that this was Liy''s scent. All too often in the morning he had buried his face in her hair to let this wonderful smell cloud his mind. It was almost a drug to him...


    He would never miss the chance to breathe her in. This woman had made him addicted. He could hardly remember a life without waking up without that wonderful smell. Without her.


    Louise rolled her eyes. "This was so obvious!" She retorted with a sober voice, while Alexandre proudly presented the box in her hands. "Dear guests this task was almost too easy. But with this smug smile on the groom''s face, nothing else could have been expected. Unfortunately we have to let him go on so quickly. But don''t worry Alexandre, your smile will soon fade." Louise''s voice sounded bitter, as if she hoped to watch him fail. "We have prepared a lunge for our dear viewers. There, you can keep watching the games comfortably on a monitor. So please go there. Refreshing drinks and appetizers are waiting for you."


    Loulou sent the masses to a prepared room, while only Claudio and Phillipe followed him. Chuckling, Alexandre climbed up the steps in the barrel vault to the first floor. Before he was stopped at the next staircase.


    Or rather, where there should be a staircase. Alexandre''s gaze met a wall of pink balloons. On a monitor next to the stairs appeared the grinning face of Nelli waving at him. "Congratulations, you passed your first test."


    Alexandre raised his eyebrows. "Quite creative." And pointed to the pink balloon wall in front of him.


    "I''ll take that as a compliment." Nelli replied calmly.


    "It''s all a matter of opinion. What do I have to do?"


    "Of course the brave knight must fight his way into the arms of your beloved. But be careful not to pop too many balloons. It will cost you a hefty penalty. Oh before I forget, in one of the balloons is a key that you need to enter the hall where your lady of hearts resides. Good luck."


    With one click the screen was black again.

 Chapter 170 - He would pay the price

    Alexandre paused, and when he looked up, his gaze was fiery looking at the screen. "The only thing I don''t lack is money." The corner of his mouth twitched with another small muscle. Why should he hold back? The faster he got through this crap, the quicker he could finally marry his Lily. He didn''t know why he was pushing, but if it was up to him, he would have dragged Lily to the altar long ago.Alone, without a crowd. Just a few of his closest relatives and friends. Sure, he liked to show his sweet wife around, show that she was his. But one thought plagued him for days. The closer the day got, the more he thought about it. Tormented, he presses his eyelids together.


    That dress, it gave him a headache. Just thinking about that neckline that almost completely exposed Lily''s white back. It kept him awake. Only reluctantly did he look forward to the church wedding. What could he do to ensure that only as few as possible could see her lovely back... This question tormented him day and night.


    Only reluctantly did he tolerate this dress, solely because he wanted to give Lily everything she wanted so that she would be happy without desire. Although this horrible dress was part of it.


    In order to make his wife happy, he had to give her a whole package. Which unfortunately included the dress. Now that he was aware of his feelings for her, he had decided to do everything for her. To spoil her and pamper her so that she could no longer imagine life without him. No man could give her what he was giving her. He knew she did not yet feel as he felt for her. She still let herself be driven from one situation to the next.


    And it was all his fault. His past self had made one mistake after another. He had been such an idiot and if he could turn back time, he would have given his past self a firm right punch in the face, just so he would come to his senses. Now it was up to him to awaken Lily''s feelings. He just wanted her love. He would do anything for it, pay any price.


    Without thinking, Alexandre entered the hallway of the first floor. The walls along the corridor were covered with tapestries of the 17th century and showed scenes of a par force hunt.


    Above the lintels of the doors were hanging achievements of the hunt or weapons. His sight fell on two crossed swords, which were hanging over one door. Alexandre shrugged his shoulders. That would be enough - he thought and waved Claudio to himself.


    "Are you serious?" Without saying a word his friend understood what he wanted from him. "I never thought I would have to do something like that again at this age. When was the last time at 15 when we snuck over the walls of the boys'' boarding school?" Claudio leaned forward slightly. Cross his fingers together to form a robber ladder for the groom.


    Alexandre patted him on the back. "Forget it, we won''t be able to do this anymore! So let''s enjoy it while we still can."


    With one leap, Alexandre climbed onto Claudius'' palms, reached over the lintel for both polished silver swords before he removed them from their holders and jumped down onto the tiled floor with both swords in his hands. Claudio straightened up again and grabbed the sword which Alexandre was giving him.


    "You have my word that if you ever marry Nelli, you have my full support." Alexandre whispered at Claudio''s side. Instead of waiting for an answer, he turned and walked back to the staircase.


    Leaning against the wall, with both caskets in his hands, stood Philippe. Sceptically, he looked at the swords in the hands of his friends. "I believe the purpose of this task is another."


    "Possibly." Alexandre shrugged, but then, without mercy, he stabbed the first pink balloon. A white piece of paper fluttered to the ground with the pink leftovers of the balloon.


    Alexandre didn''t bother about that and immediately stabbed the next balloon, again a piece of paper appeared out of the balloon''s inside.


    One balloon after the other burst and countless pieces of paper flew to the ground. Philippe picked up one after the other, while the pink balloons kept bursting in the background. He raised his eyebrow after reading the contents. "STOP!" He yelled.

 Chapter 171 - Find the right key

    "As your situation becomes more and more hopeless, the more balloons you pop. I''ll explain the final rules of the game." He could hear it coming out of speakers way above their heads... The men paused, listening to the gloating voice of Madmoisell de Carvoisin. "As Philippe correctly pointed out, you need the notes to find the right key. The search for the key will be all the more complicated the more balloons will burst. Because after five burst balloons, another fake key will be brought into play, leading to a wrong place in the castle. You know yourself how big the Chenonceau area is.It would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. That'' s why finding the right key is necessary.That is, of course, if the groom wants to marry his bride today. In order to do that, you must answer the questions on the note correctly. Have fun!"


    "This is amazing!" Claudio growled. He looked down. Pink pieces of the burst balloons were everywhere. How much had they already burst? He couldn''t say for sure. In the end he just stabbed at them.


    Alexandre lowered his head to think. "How much of this note do we have?"


    "32!" Philippe finally said, after counting the pieces of paper in his hand.


    Alexandre nodded. "So there are seven keys in circulation and six of them are fake."


    Claudio raised his shoulders. "What does the note say?"


    "Questions about Lily and several possible answers." Philippe replied.


    "Could you please read one out loud?" Alexandre ran his fingers through his hair. He stared at his friend as he rolled up a piece of paper. He was an idiot to think that Nelli would settle for money and riches. She was like a mother lion who would defend her cub against predators and he was in this case the predator who was too close to her beloved cub Lily. She wouldn''t just hand Lily out without testing him if he was worthy of her.


    "What is the bride''s favorite book?" Philippe read it in a lowered voice. "A - Jane Eyer. B - The Journey to the Center of the Earth. C - Good Omens or D - Cabal and Love.


    Alexandre recalled Lily''s things from the apartment where Fabien had been hiding Lily for the past two years. Those few little things were the ones Lily had accumulated over those two years on the run. Not much! Just things she needed to live. A few items of clothing, and a bunch of books. He knew that she enjoyed reading. When she had a quiet minute to herself, he''d always would fnd her with a book in her hand. But only one book in her collection had a cover that was already worn out and pages that looked all tattered and yellowed. Apparently she would read it over and over again. To disappear between its lines, she would always pick it up. A book he had not expected. A relieved breath escaped his lips. "C" He whispered.


    Philippe turned the note over. "C - go up to the fifth step and look for a balloon with a red string."


    It was like a scavenger hunt. The men had to answer one question after another to find the key. After four more questions about Lily''s preferences, a gold note appeared. Alexandre slowly unrolled the note."Unlocker her heart with a golden key." It was written in white letters on the paper. "The first clue to the correct key is that it must be golden."


    Claudio moaned annoyingly. Hell, his wife knew how to torture a man.


    With a shrug, Philippe pulled out another piece of paper and read it to his friends. Like Sherlock Holmes, the men followed the clues on the notes. answering one question after another. They knew that if they had made a mistake, sarcastic quotes from Lily''s favourite book would appear.


    At each of these black messages, Alexandre could hear the gloating voice of Nelli in his head. How she would recite every single word of Terry Pratchett with a smug smile on her lips! "Progress just means bad things happen faster."


    It was like a Sisyphean task. If the stone was already in the middle of the way to the top, the faster it could roll back down the mountain. But again and again the groom and his best man encountered golden notes telling what the right key looked like. By now they knew that it was a four centimetre long golden key, whose head looked like the blossom of a lily. They also knew that engraved on its blade was a verse from a poem.


    During their search they had found five keys. But only two matched this description. However, he also knew that they had burst 17 more balloons in the meantime and that the first rule of Nalli was to burst as few balloons as possible. So three more keys had been brought into play, probably confusingly similar to the original.


    That was okay.


    At least for now. Still, they lost time. He could make a guess. Picking the key with Lily''s favorite poem. Or the one with her favorite gemstone. Or maybe the ones he held in his hand were both just the wrong ones and they still hadn''t found the right one?


    Alexandre was happy to test his luck. But by now he knew Nelli too well and realized that if he didn''t play it safe, the game would end badly for him. He gritted his teeth. "God damn it!" He cursed and then shouted, "Stop!"