Chapter 4 Four****unspoken truths

Lily sat in her apartment, her mind a swirling mess after the conversation with Mia. She could still feel the sting of Mia's words, the brokenness in her eyes, and the weight of the secrets Mia had kept for so long. It wasn't just the betrayal-it was the silence, the things that Mia hadn't said, the answers that were just out of reach.

Lily's thoughts were like a storm in her head, questions racing through her mind with no answers. What had Damien done to Mia? How deep was her connection with him? Why hadn't Mia told her the truth? The more she thought about it, the more confused and angry she became. How could Mia keep all of this from her?

The door suddenly clicked open, and Lily's heart lurched. She wasn't expecting anyone else. But when she saw Mia standing there, her face pale, eyes red from tears, the tension in Lily's chest only grew.

"Mia," Lily said, her voice barely audible. "What are you doing here?"

Mia didn't answer right away. Instead, she stepped into the apartment, her movements slow, hesitant, like she was unsure of what to say. She closed the door behind her softly but firmly, and Lily couldn't help but feel that this was something that couldn't be ignored.

"I didn't want to leave it like this," Mia said, her voice shaky, filled with regret. "I never wanted to hurt you, Lily. I just... I don't know how to fix this."

Lily's heart ached as she looked at her. She could see how much Mia was struggling, but it didn't stop the frustration from boiling up inside her. "Why didn't you tell me everything from the start?" Lily asked, trying to keep the hurt from spilling over. "Why keep all these secrets from me?"

Mia wiped her eyes, trying to steady herself. But when she spoke, her voice cracked, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I was scared, Lily. I was so scared. Afraid that you'd leave me, that you wouldn't understand. And... and afraid of what Damien would do if I told you. He's involved in things... things I didn't know how to explain. And now, I don't know how to fix this."

Lily's pulse quickened. "Damien?" she repeated, her voice tinged with disbelief. "What does he have to do with all of this, Mia? What's going on between you two?"

Mia broke down then, her body shaking with sobs as she collapsed onto the couch. Her words were muffled, her emotions too much to contain. "I... I don't know how to tell you this," she sobbed. "I've been so caught up in everything... I've been trying to protect you, but I can't anymore. I... I don't even know if I can trust him anymore."

Lily's heart twisted with confusion and anger. "So you've been in his grip this whole time?" she asked, her voice rising. "And you couldn't tell me? How could you keep something this important from me?"

Mia's eyes were full of tears, her words barely a whisper. "I'm sorry, Lily. I thought I was protecting you, but I don't know anymore. I don't know what's real. I don't know who to trust..."

Lily's chest tightened, her thoughts a jumble. "I don't know if I can forgive you for this, Mia. Not right now. I need time to process all of this. I don't even know if I can trust you anymore."

Mia nodded slowly, her face buried in her hands. "I understand," she whispered, barely able to speak. "I'll give you the time you need. Just... Please don't hate me."

The words were too much for Lily to handle. She watched in silence as Mia, broken and full of regret, turned and walked out of the apartment, leaving Lily standing alone in the emptiness that followed. The door clicked shut, but the weight of everything Mia had said-and hadn't said-lingered in the room like a storm that wouldn't pass.

---

Lily felt the heavy silence of the apartment, the quiet pressing down on her. Her mind was still tangled in the mess Mia had left behind, the unanswered questions, the sense of betrayal. She sat down on the couch, her body feeling numb, too drained to even process what had just happened. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to find some clarity, but it was impossible. Mia's confession had shattered her in ways she hadn't expected.

Just as she was about to lie down, lost in her thoughts, the doorbell rang.

Lily's heart jumped in her chest, startled by the sound. She wasn't in the mood for anyone else. She walked slowly toward the door, her mind still reeling. When she opened it, her breath hitched in her throat. There stood Damien, looking as composed as ever, a smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

"Damien," Lily said, trying to keep her voice steady. "What are you doing here?"

He stepped into the apartment without waiting for an invitation, making himself at home with that all-too-familiar confidence. "I figured you might be in need of some company after your little talk with Mia," he said, looking around as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

Lily's frustration boiled over, but she didn't respond. She didn't have the energy for his games, not now.

"What's going on between you and Mia?" Lily demanded, her voice edged with suspicion. "What's the connection?"

Damien's eyes gleamed, and he leaned back casually, not even bothering to give her a direct answer. "You'll find out when you're ready," he said, his tone dripping with amusement.

Lily's paranoia deepened, but she refused to let him see how much it was eating at her. She had to know the truth, but Damien was always so slippery, never giving her a straight answer. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but his cryptic words only added to the confusion swirling in her mind.

Damien leaned forward, his expression suddenly serious. "I've been thinking about us," he said, his voice smooth and deliberate. "About the future. I want you to be part of it."

Before Lily could even process what he was saying, Damien pulled out a small velvet box from his pocket and placed it on the table in front of her. The diamond inside sparkled, catching the light in a way that felt cold, distant.

"I'm offering you a choice, Lily," he said, his gaze fixed on her, waiting for a reaction. "Marry me."

Lily stared at the ring, her heart racing in her chest. The audacity of it-after everything that had happened, after all the secrets, after all the pain. She opened her mouth to say something, but the words felt too big, too heavy to come out. What was she supposed to say? How could she even begin to process this?

Damien didn't wait for an answer. He stood up, smoothing his jacket as if he were simply done with the conversation. "Think about it," he said casually. "But just know this: if you say no, there will be consequences. You won't like them."

Lily's hands trembled as she reached for the box, her eyes never leaving the diamond ring. Was this the end of everything? Or was this the beginning of a new chapter, one she wasn't sure she was ready for?

Damien turned to leave, his final words hanging in the air like a threat. "Make the right choice, Lily."

The door closed behind him, leaving her in the silence once again. The ring shimmered on the table in front of her, a symbol of everything that was both wrong and potentially right in her life. Could she accept it? Should she? Or was this a choice she wasn't prepared to make?