Her Heart Her Terms (Lily and Xavier)

Chapter 8

Lily picked up the document on the table and shoved it into Sarah's arms before pulling out her phone and taking a couple of quick photos.

"I'll hand this over to you then, Ms. Lynde. It has nothing to do with me if anything goes wrong." She felt utterly drained without the energy or position to go head-to-head with Sarah. The favored never had to hold back. She was nothing but insignificant in Xavier's eyes.

A chill ran down her spine and spread from her heart even though the office's temperature was comfortably warm.

She took the elevator down and walked out of the company entrance. She was bathed in the sunlight, yet the chill within her remained.

She stood on the bustling street. There was a slight twitching movement at the corners of her lips as she let out a self-deprecating and sarcastic smile.

Maybe they only booked hotel rooms occasionally. The office lounge was their usual arrangement.

She already knew Xavier had slept with Sarah. She shouldn't have hurt like this again even after seeing even more blatant evidence.

It hit her even more deeply and heartbreakingly than any of her realizations these past few days about his betrayal and his inexistent love for her.

The sudden ring from her phone jolted her out of her sadness. She took out her phone and answered, "Hello?"

"Lily, come home right now." There was no room for argument in her father's tone.

She was only scheduled to play the piano at the restaurant later that afternoon. Today was Saturday, and she had no interviews to attend.

It would only leave her drowning in suffocating emotions by doing nothing, so she simply agreed even though she truly didn't want to go home. "Got it.""

...

Xavier hadn't postponed the meeting as he had said. He had moved it earlier instead.

He thought it would humble Lily even more by letting her wait.

What should have been a 50-minute meeting stretched to nearly two hours.

already noon by the time he left the

removed the glasses on his nose bridge and

manager from the

he's attending a meeting? Mr. Fulton

hurry about?" Xavier unusually

handing it back to him and

wondered just how pitiful Lily must look by now. She had better not cry.

exactly how to find the right balance and where to draw

felt victorious and pushed the door open before his gaze instantly shifted to a look of

no one was sitting on the couch as he

in the office. It

sound came from the lounge, and his

here for. Had she seriously gone into his

swamped with work the past two days and couldn't sleep because of her. Therefore, he had

might think it was for her

of the lounge and was shocked at his look of

halted as it came level with Sarah's chest. He quickly withdrew his hand and regained his usual composure. "It's nothing. What are

wanted to make sure you're looking your best. You have a press conference this afternoon, so I sent your clothes to be dry-cleaned and hired someone to tidy up your lounge. You

in the office?" Xavier returned to his desk and sat down. His gaze landed on a document at the corner of the table. His eyes darkened slightly as

Mr. Snyder's assistant mentioned someone brought you a document. I've checked it. It's for the use of the press conference later." Sarah followed him and stood by his side. "It must've been sent over by the Fulton family's household

had come to deliver the

with anger. How ridiculous his previous assumptions seemed

had imagined confronting her in his office during the meeting, which he had delayed

his sharp and well-defined jaw. "She certainly lacks

Lily for her

she had been challenging his patience

know how to behave decently as a

questions, just pass them my way as usual. I'll handle them for you." Sarah opened the document and set it on his desk. "Let's have

softened and shedded the mechanical tone she used

He narrowed his sharp eyes slightly. There was a touch of gentleness in his voice. "Alright, you pick