As I hurried toward the beach to meet Joel, a sharp wave of guilt hit me. I realized that in all the chaos, I hadn't told the most important person in my life about the wedding. Pulling my phone out of my bag, I dialed his number without hesitation.
"Tim, I am so sorry to wake you up," I said into the receiver the moment he picked up. "I know it's incredibly late, but I couldn't help but call... Tomorrow is my wedding, and I'm inviting you. I know it's completely unexpected."
Tim was my absolute best friend, though he felt much more like a protective younger brother. We had met at university years ago and had been inseparable ever since.
"What? Are you serious, Lily?" Tim's voice crackled through the speaker, instantly alert. "Don't worry, I was already awake."
"I'm deadly serious," I sighed, wrapping my free arm around myself against the chilly night wind. "I just found out about the wedding a few minutes ago myself, which is why I'm calling you at this ungodly hour."
"Is your family forcing you into this?" Tim's tone grew sharp and protective. "If they are, just tell me, sister. I will come get you right now."
"There's no need, Tim. You know exactly what's going on with them, and I took your advice into consideration."
A brief pause ensued before Tim let out a soft sigh. "You are smart, sister. I'll wake Willy up right now and we'll start getting ready. There is no way on earth I am missing your big day. If you need anything at all, just let me know. You helped me so much when Willy and I got married, it's the least I can do."
"Thank you, Tim. But everything is already being handled by Killian and his family. I actually wanted to talk to him tonight, but I haven't had the chance."
"Killian?" Tim repeated, sounding surprised. "Isn't he the son of your father's business partner?"
"Yes, that's him. Do you know him?"
"Of course I know him. I've run into him a few times in business circles. He's sharp, Lily. I think he's going to be an incredibly successful businessman."
"I'll see you tomorrow then, Tim. I have to go now," I said as the sandy shore came into view.
The moment I stepped onto the dark beach, Joel noticed me. He immediately cut through the sand, running toward me with a frantic look in his eyes. My heart hammered against my ribs, entirely unsure of what was happening or why he had begged to see me so urgently.
"Thank you for coming out to meet me at this hour, Lily," Joel gasped, stopping right in front of me.
"Did something happen, Joel?"
He shifted his weight from foot to foot, his eyes darting around the empty beach. He looked incredibly nervous.
"Nothing bad... I just really needed to talk to you about something," he stammered, rubbing the back of his neck. "Honestly, I don't even know where to begin."
Seeing his anxiety only made me more anxious. I needed to get back before my parents checked my room. "Joel, please, can you just tell me whatever it is quickly? I have to get home. My parents have no idea I stepped out, and if they catch me, I'll be in massive trouble."
Joel swallowed hard, taking a step closer. "I overheard what you and Mia were talking about at the cafe today."
I blinked, completely caught off guard. "What? I have no idea what you're talking about. Did Mia say something else to upset you?"
Between the sudden wedding arrangement and my family's threats, my mind was a chaotic mess. I couldn't even recall half the things Mia and I had babbled about at our table.
"You were right to defend me," Joel said, his eyes suddenly locking onto mine with an intense, burning emotion. "Lily, I have deep feelings for you. More precisely... I love you. After hearing your conversation in the cafe today, I realized I couldn't keep it hidden anymore. I decided to gather my courage and just confess it to you." He took a deep breath, reaching for my hand. "Will you marry me?"
My breath hitched. For the second time that evening, my world came to a grinding halt. What the hell is going on with my life today? If Mia were standing here right now, she would probably scream a smug "I told you so" right into my ear.
Was I trapped in some bizarre, lucid dream? I stood frozen, completely speechless.
"I overheard you talking about getting engaged," Joel continued, misinterpreting my silence as awe. "And I decided right then that now was the perfect time to ask."
What on earth... This was the second man asking to marry me in a single day. No, this was an absolute statistical impossibility.
"Joel, wait. Everything is not what you think it is"
I didn't even get a chance to finish my sentence. Suddenly, the color completely drained from Joel's face, and he froze. At first, I couldn't understand his sudden petrification, but then I followed his horrified gaze down to my hand.
He was staring directly at the massive, glittering diamond ring Killian had placed on my finger just half an hour ago.
"Now everything is crystal clear," Joel whispered, his voice trembling before turning bitterly cold. "There is absolutely no need to explain a damn thing. You weren't talking about me in that cafe at all, were you?" He let out a harsh, mocking laugh, stepping back. "I wish you a lifetime of happiness with your wealthy fiancé. And from now on, forget about me. I don't ever want to see your face again."
"Joel, it's not like that"
"How could you do something like this to me?!" he yelled over the sound of the crashing waves, his eyes flashing with hurt and anger. "Does your precious fiancé even know that we had a relationship? But why the hell should I care?! I hope he sees your true face soon enough so he doesn't end up being a pathetic idiot like me. I can't believe I actually loved you."
What relationship? I stared at him in utter bewilderment.
"Joel, stop! Just listen to me for one second!" I cried out, reaching for his arm.
But he didn't want to hear a single word. Turning on his heel, he sprinted away into the darkness, his angry footsteps disappearing past the silhouette of the Blue Summer cafe.
Left entirely alone on the dark shore, I felt a heavy weight settle on my chest. I desperately needed to talk to someone, but calling Mia right now would only result in an endless lecture. I stood there for a long time, letting the rhythmic, crashing sound of the waves soothe my frayed nerves.
Suddenly, the soft crunch of sand behind me broke the silence.
Panic flared in my chest. I spun around, thinking Joel had returned to throw more accusations at me, but judging by the tall, broad shadow stretching across the moonlit sand, it wasn't him.
"Killian?" I breathed out, squinting through the darkness.
"I hope I didn't scare you," Killian said, his deep, calm voice cutting through the wind. "I didn't mean to approach so quietly."
My jaw dropped slightly. Seriously, what is wrong with today? Why was Killian here? Had he witnessed the entire, humiliating scene with Joel?
"It's okay. I'm not scared," I managed to say, my voice trembling slightly from the cold.
Noticing my shiver, Killian smoothly slid his heavy tailored jacket off his shoulders and stepped closer, gently draping it over my trembling frame. A wave of warmth, carrying a subtle scent of expensive cologne and cedarwood, instantly enveloped me.
"Don't think I followed you or that I was spying on you," Killian clarified quietly, looking out at the dark ocean. "Your friend called me. He told me you wanted to talk to me privately."
I blinked in surprise. "My friend called you? Tim?" But how did Tim even know I would be at the beach?
"Yes, Tim called me," Killian confirmed, a small, genuine smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I think he acts more like your actual brother than a friend."
"Yes," I murmured, clutching the edges of his jacket tightly around myself. "Tim is my real brother. He is always by my side whenever I need him."
Silence fell between us. I desperately wanted to bring up the sudden wedding, but my throat felt completely dry, entirely unsure of how to initiate the conversation.
"I know our engagement and tomorrow's wedding are incredibly sudden," Killian spoke up, breaking the tension. He turned to face me fully, his intense gaze softening under the moonlight. "At first, I thought you would never agree to this. I was shocked when your mother came downstairs and said you accepted. Lily... if you've changed your mind, I will completely understand. You can walk away."
He paused, taking a slow breath before continuing. "When I first heard that our parents wanted us to marry, I was actually happy. I've had feelings for you for a few years now, Lily... but I never dared to tell you. I'm truly sorry that all of this is happening under these stressful circumstances."
I stared up at him, completely captivated. Looking into his eyes and hearing the raw sincerity in his tone, I knew he wasn't lying. He genuinely regretted the pressure I was under. I had known him from a distance for years, and I always knew he wasn't a bad person.
"Thank you for telling me all this, Killian," I said, a genuine sense of relief washing over me. "And no... I haven't changed my mind. Tomorrow is our wedding. I know I might be acting selfishly, but I'm using this marriage to completely distance myself from my family."
Killian looked at me, his eyes dark but filled with an unwavering warmth. "Don't ever think of yourself as selfish for wanting to survive. I agreed to this because I love you, and I want to be the one standing by your side. From tomorrow on, I am with you. I will help you through everything."
We stayed on the beach for a long time, talking about everything and nothing. To be completely honest, his presence calmed me down in a way I hadn't expected. For the first time in my life, I felt a strange sense of security. I realized I would be infinitely safer with this virtual stranger than I ever was inside my own family's house.
When the wind became too harsh to bear, we finally left the shore. Killian walked me to his car, opened the door for me with effortless chivalry, and drove me back to the estate. After a gentle, lingering goodbye, he drove off, his taillights disappearing around the corner.
Slipping back into the mansion through the side door, I found the house completely dark. Everyone was asleep except for one person. Our old maid, the only woman who had ever truly shown me maternal affection in this godforsaken house, was waiting up for me.
"Are you okay, Lily, dear?" Anna whispered anxiously, rushing over to me the moment I stepped into the kitchen.
"Yes, Anna, I'm perfectly fine. Don't worry about me," I reassured her, giving her a soft smile.
"How can I not worry?" Anna's eyes welled with tears as she rubbed my arms. "I heard the news tonight... they are throwing a wedding for you tomorrow. Why didn't you say no, child? Everyone deserves a chance at true happiness, including you. You shouldn't let them sell you like this."
"I know you're worried about me, Anna," I said softly, placing my hand over hers. "But trust me, I will be much happier with Killian than I could ever be in this house."
Anna frowned, looking skeptical. "Don't say that, dear... you don't know that boy at all."
"No offense, Anna, but I really don't want to talk about this right now," I sighed gently, feeling the utter exhaustion finally catching up to me. "The wedding is tomorrow, and I desperately need to get some sleep."
Giving her a quick hug, I hurried up the grand staircase and locked myself in my room. I immediately dialed Mia's number, but it rang out. She was probably still tearing up the dance floor with the girls.
Frustrated, I pulled up our chat and typed out a frantic message:
"Sea Goddess, call me the absolute second you see this. I have something massive to tell you. If you read this in the morning, come to my house immediately. Bring a sedative with you or better yet, drink one beforehand and promise me you won't blow a fuse. Kisses, your Nymphaea."
I had called her the Goddess of the Sea for as long as I could remember, mostly because she worshipped the ocean and her name literally meant just that. In return, she called me Nymphaea the scientific name for a water lily.
Lying down on my massive bed, sleep eluded me. My mind spun in endless circles, anticipating what tomorrow would bring. Images of Joel's pale, heartbroken face flashed behind my eyelids every time I closed them, filling me with a lingering sense of unease.
I had never once considered this mansion my home. I despised every square inch of it. And tomorrow, I would be moving into a completely new house, with a completely new man.
Will Killian's house finally be the place I can call home? That was my final thought as the first rays of dawn began to peek through my curtains.
Exhaustion finally dragged me into a deep, dreamless sleep, but unfortunately, my peace wasn't destined to last for long.