Lily froze as Graham’s cold stare bore down on her. Her heart raced, and her palms began to sweat, but she forced herself to stay calm.
She has seen him around in school and she knew exactly how ruthless he was whenever he suspected someone of going against his masters.
“Graham,” she said, forcing a small, nervous smile. “I... I just got a bit lost. This place is so huge, you know? I was just trying to find my way back to my room.”
Graham raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. He obviously did not believe anything she had to say.
“Lost?” he repeated, his voice sharp with disbelief. “You expect me to believe that?”
Lily’s heart sank. His eyes were too keen, too piercing, as if he could see straight through her.
She swallowed sliver, choosing to stick fiercely to her story.
“Yes, lost,” she insisted, trying to keep her voice steady. “It’s not like I’ve spent much time in the mansion, this is actually my first time since I was a child. It’s easy to take a wrong turn. I mean, you should know that.”
"Why would I? I've never gotten lost here. I have lived here all my life" He replied.
Graham’s lips twisted into a smirk, and he took a step closer, his tall height making her feel small and cornered.
“You’re lying, Lily,” he said coldly. “And we both know it.”
Panic built up in her chest.
"I don't know what you're talking about" Lily said defensively. "I really did get lost."
She tried to back away, but Graham moved quickly, grabbing her arm in an iron grip.
His hand tightened around her wrist, and she winced as pain shot through her arm.
“Let go of me,” she whispered, trying to pull her arm free. But Graham’s grip only tightened.
“Let’s go,” he said, his voice a growl as he began dragging her back down the hall.
“You’re hurting me!” she cried, but he ignored her, his grip unyielding as he pulled her along.
Lily tried to wriggle free, but Graham’s hold was too strong. It felt like her bones were being crushed under his grip, and she bit her lip, holding back a cry of pain.
As they reached the stairway leading back up to the rooms, they suddenly heard a gasp.
Lily looked up to see her mother standing at the top of the stairs, her eyes wide with shock.
“Graham!” her mother exclaimed, rushing over. “What are you doing to my daughter?”
Relief flooded through Lily. She had been afraid her mother wouldn’t be around to see this, but now, maybe, she’d finally step in.
“Mom!” Lily cried, hoping her mother would take her side.
Graham’s grip loosened slightly, and he looked at her mother with respect, nodding.
“Caught her sneaking around the mansion, Ms. Johnson,” he said, his tone stern but respectful. “She was out of her room.”
Her mother frowned, her eyes moving between Graham and Lily.
For a moment, Lily dared to hope her mother would tell him to let her go, to finally protect her. But instead, her mother’s expression turned thoughtful.
“Thank you, Graham,” her mother said coolly. “I’ll take it from here.”
Graham released her, and Lily stumbled slightly, rubbing her bruised wrist as she looked at her mother in confusion.
Her mother grabbed her arm, not nearly as tightly as Graham had but firm enough to guide her back to her room.
Lily’s heart was still racing as they reached her room. The door closed behind them, and her mother turned to her, her expression unreadable.
“Mom, I have to get out of here,” Lily whispered, the words spilling out before she could stop herself.
She felt desperate, trapped, and the only way she could see forward was to escape this place and all the expectations tied to it.
Her mother’s gaze hardened.
“Lily, you are not leaving. Not now, not ever.”
Lily blinked, stunned at her mother's words.
“But, Mom, I can’t stay here! They want to bind me to those twins! They’ve done nothing but torment me, and now everyone expects me to just—”
Her mother held up a hand, cutting her off.
“Do you know what an honor it is to be chosen as Luna?” she asked, her tone sharp. “Do you know what wealth, power, and respect it brings? You’ll be set for life, Lily. And so will I.”
Lily’s heart sank as she realized the truth behind her mother’s words.
It wasn’t about her happiness or her safety. It was about what her mother could gain from her forced bond with Lucas and Liam.
The world seemed to shake as her mother’s words echoed in her mind.
“You want me to go through with this... for you?” Lily whispered, a mix of betrayal and heartbreak tightening her throat.
Her mother crossed her arms, her eyes cold.
“I want you to understand what an opportunity this is, for both of us. Being the Luna isn’t something you just throw away. Do you know how many girls would kill to be in your position?”
“I don’t want it!” Lily’s voice was barely a whisper, but it was filled with all the anger and pain she had been holding back for so long. “I don’t care about power or wealth. I just want to be free.”
Her mother’s expression darkened, and she took a step closer.
“You will not throw away this chance, Lily. I won’t let you ruin everything I’ve prayed for.”
“Prayed for?” Lily’s voice cracked as she fought back tears. “I didn’t ask for this! I didn’t ask to be forced into a life I hate, with people who hate me.”
Her mother’s hand immediately grabbed her arm tightly.
“Listen to me,” she hissed, her voice low and threatening. “If you try to escape again, I will make sure you regret it for the rest of your miserable life.”
Lily’s mouth went dry, her heart pounding as she looked into her mother’s cold, unyielding eyes.
This was no longer the mother she remembered. The warmth, the kindness—gone, replaced by greed and ambition.
