Her Heart Her Terms (Lily and Xavier)

Xavier's gaze lingered on Lily, who walked into the complex without looking back. His lips curled into a cold smirk.

Turning to Terence, he sized him up.

"A few days ago," Terence replied. He was oblivious to the scrutiny. "You're here to see Lily?"

Xavier and Terence had known each other since childhood, and their relationship was neither close nor distant. Two years ago, Terence suddenly left for abroad and cut all contact. Now, their reunion was tinged with an odd tension. It was strangely familiar.. Yet that familiarity was tied to Lily.

An unexpected sense of unease stirred in Xavier. "Yes. She's been acting out lately. Women just need a bit of coaxing."

Terence didn't address the fact that they were practically at the point of divorce.

Xavier took his hands from his pockets and adjusted his cuffs. "So, what brings you around here?"

"Just passing by," Terence replied smoothly.

However, Xavier didn't buy it.

Both the Devereux Group and the Devereux residence were far from here.

Continuing with his movements, he narrowed his eyes slightly. "Let's find time to catch up." He stepped forward, pausing beside Terence, and patted him on the shoulder. It wasn't too light nor too firm.

But the weight of it was unmistakable.

Terence's brow instinctively furrowed. "Alright."

He turned and watched Xavier make his way across the street and enter the Bayview Gardens.

Timothy had already located the exact building and floor where Lily lived.

When Xavier arrived, Timothy and Lily were still locked in a stand-off at the doorway.

He pleaded, "Mrs. Fulton, please just come with me to see Mr. Fulton!"noveldrama

"No." She gripped the door handle, trying to close it, but he was wedged halfway in.

Just then, she saw Xavier step out of the elevator, and memories of that night when he had tricked her into returning flooded back. She blocked the doorway as if fending off a predator. He walked up with his hands in his pockets and stopped behind Timothy. Their eyes met through the crack in the door and over Timothy's head.

He could see the wariness and resistance in Lily's eyes.

How she acted now was completely different from how she had just been with Terence.

Annoyed, Xavier said, "Give her the item. Let's go."

"Yes, Mr. Fulton." Wedged in place, Timothy struggled to pull something from his pocket.

Lily froze, feeling a heavy pressure settle in her chest as she caught Xavier's dark expression.

Was he here to deliver something? What was it?

"Mrs. Fulton, here's the dashcam footage from your car. The police have investigated your accident, and so-"

Timothy fished a USB drive from his pocket and held it to her.

"No need to explain. She can see for herself." Xavier's tone was icy as he turned and strode back toward the elevator. "Mrs. Fulton, please let go of the door!" Timothy was stuck and unable to move.

Lily took the USB drive and instinctively released her grip on the door.

As she looked down at the USB, her mind raced with questions.

Could there be more to the accident? Was that shadow she had seen not just a figment of her imagination but real? While she was deep in thought, the door was abruptly yanked open.

A gust of wind blew past her, and she instinctively looked up. Xavier strode back in, forcing her to step back inside. With a loud "bang," the door shut behind them, and she found herself pinned against the foyer cabinet.