Chapter 4
Perhaps feeling guilty about standing me up earlier that day, Nolan came home unusually early that
evening.
I had just finished a phone call with Mindy, confirming my arrival time there, when Nolan walked in and caught the tail end of our conversation.
“What flight? Where are you going?” he asked, his voice sharp with curiosity.
“Oh, nothing important. Just a business trip,” I replied casually, carefully keeping my voice neutral. Nolan didn’t press the issue, but his next words carried a warning edge. “Good. Let me be clear about something I don’t have time for any honeymoon trips, so don’t go planning any surprise
getaways.”
“Mm–hmm,” I hummed softly, fighting to keep the hurt from showing in my voice.
My apparent compliance seemed to please him. In one fluid motion, Nolan pulled me onto his lap. his warm breath tickling my neck as he held me close.
His arms encircled my waist gently, as if reassuring himself of my presence.
“Lily, about today – don’t overthink it,” he murmured, a hint of apology in his voice. “Skylar was down
with a cold. I couldn’t just ignore that.”
“Of course, her health comes first,” I responded magnanimously, even as my heart clenched painfully in my chest.
My unexpected understanding caught him off guard, and whatever else he’d planned to say died on his lips.
“I’m glad you see it that way,” he said, noticeably relieved. His tone softened considerably. “Actually, I’ve never been big on photos anyway,” I continued. “We can skip the wedding photoshoot, keep the ceremony simple. We can always take photos later when we have time.”
“Mm.”
My response earned me a soft chuckle and a gentle kiss on the cheek- his way of showing approval. “You’re always so good to me,” he whispered. “Once things settle down, I’ll take you somewhere.
nice.”
Fighting the urge to push him away, I managed a quiet, “Sure.”
Nolan pulled me closer, burying his face in my shoulder. Almost instantly, I felt the shift in his body, and mine tensed involuntarily in response.
His breathing grew heavier, his hands beginning to wander across my body with an almost desperate desire.
His fingers traced my waistline, each touch sending my heart racing despite myself.
His kisses moved from my cheek to my neck, each one sending shivers of both anxiety and
excitement through me.
His hands found the buttons of my clothes, his movements gentle but filled with unmistakable want. I tried to maintain my composure, but my body betrayed me with its responses.
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He pressed me tightly against himself, as if trying to merge me completely into his world. The familiar weight of his body felt like a stranger’s now, heavy with unspoken accusations.
I struggled to control my breathing, fighting to hide my reluctance, but the internal battle raging inside me was impossible to completely mask, My heart hammered against my ribcage, each beat a reminder of my deception.
Nolan must have sensed my hesitation, but his desire had already reached its peak. His hands began to wander across my trembling body, leaving trails of fire I no longer wanted to feel. His lips found my neck, kissing and sucking at the sensitive skin there, making my body shiver involuntarily as heat rushed to my cheeks.
His breathing grew heavier, more urgent, as he pressed his full weight against me. But I had already made my decision to leave, and I couldn’t bring myself to reciprocate anymore. What once sent sparks of passion through my body now only filled me with disgust.
His touches remained gentle, almost reverent, as he explored every inch of my skin with delicate precision. Suddenly, his fingers brushed against the bare spot on my ring finger. He grabbed my hand, confusion darkening his eyes. “Lily, where’s your ring?”
The memory of roughly yanking off the ring flashed through my mind as I noticed the purple bruise still circling my finger. I quickly pulled my hand away, forcing casualness into my voice. “I didn’t want
to lose it, so I put it away for safekeeping.”
Nolan’s expression darkened momentarily before relief washed over his features. His earlier passion seemed to ebb away as we sat in silence on the couch, an awkward tension stretching between us. His eyes scanned my face searchingly. “Lily, you seem different lately. Changed somehow.” My heart skipped a beat, but I forced a light laugh. “It’s nothing. Just tired from all the wedding preparations, I suppose.” I deliberately avoided his gaze, finding sudden interest in anything else in
the room.
Nolan nodded, seemingly accepting my explanation. After all, I had been handling all the wedding arrangements myself. The irony wasn’t lost on me.
The silence between us grew thick and oppressive until his phone suddenly rang with Skylar’s distinctive ringtone. His face transformed as he picked up the phone, a meaningful smile playing at his lips as he stepped onto the balcony to take the call.
I seized the opportunity to escape to the bathroom, locking the door behind me. Frantically, I scrubbed at every place he had touched until my skin turned angry red, using the pain to clear my
head.
Staring at my exhausted reflection in the mirror, I took a deep breath and whispered to myself, “It’s almost over. Just hold on a little longer.“‘
I massaged my temples, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside me. Though my body ached from the forceful scrubbing, I knew this discomfort was temporary. Soon, very soon, all of this would
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behind me.
I clenched my fists, feeling my nails dig into my palms. No matter what it takes, I have to keep going
until I reach my ultimate goal. There’s no other choice.
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