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.

by the

on his nose bridge and rubbed

signature!" A manager

sign it while he's attending a meeting? Mr.

the hurry about?" Xavier unusually stopped

handing it back to him and continuing

how pitiful Lily must look by now. She had better not cry. He felt the most annoyed

exactly how to find the right balance and where to draw

before his gaze instantly shifted

couch as he had anticipated or standing by the floor-to-ceiling

was nowhere to hide in the office. It was

from the

know what she was here for. Had she seriously gone into his

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

think it was for her if she saw

at his look

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

best. You have a press conference this afternoon, so I sent your clothes to be dry-cleaned and hired someone to tidy up your

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 a thought crossed his mind. He pursed

side. "It must've been sent over by the Fulton family's household staff at Tamara's request. The staff certainly doesn't understand proper

Lily had come to

with anger. How ridiculous his previous assumptions seemed

office during the meeting, which he had delayed for two

well-defined jaw. "She certainly

Lily

had been challenging his patience continuously ever since that

even know how to behave decently as

run into tough questions, just pass them my way as usual. I'll handle them for you."

softened and shedded the mechanical tone she used at work as she

stirred up. He narrowed his sharp eyes slightly. There was a