Her Heart Her Terms (Lily and Xavier)

Chapter 103

"Whatever, Xavier replied curtly before heading upstairs.

In the bedroom, Lily had just finished showering and was making the bed.

She bent over slightly as she smoothed the covers. Her dark hair slipped off her shoulders, and her figure was faintly visible under the soft lighting.

Xavier stood at the foot of the bed, watching her lighting a candle from the bedside table, following his habit. She also placed a book he often read on the nightstand by the bed ""It's late. Get so

some rest. You have work tomorrow." She lifted one corner of the blanket and sat on the bed, looking at him.

Xavier swallowed hard as he opened his mouth to respond, but his phone buzzed again in his pocket. It was Timothy.

The two-hour-old scandal had begun affecting the company, and urgent issues required his attention.

"I understand," he replied.

Work took priority as always, and he headed for the study without addressing Lily's words.

Lily watched his retreating figure as she loosened her clenched hand beneath the thin blanket. She could stop making breakfast, and she could also stop attending to Xavier with such meticulous care, but sharing a bed was inevitable. She had mentally prepared herself, yet she still felt a strange sense of relief when he left. She then turned on her side and lay down.

Even though the situation was urgent, Xavier could handle it remotely. It was already 2:00 am. by the time everything was settled

Xavier rotated his wrist, reaching out to his right, but his fingers brushed against nothing

When he worked late in the past, Lily would always bring him a glass of milk or freshly squeezed juice. She'd even make a late-night snack if his overtime stretched too long.

He never ate the snacks but always drank the milk, and he'd impatiently tell her not to disturb his work. But, tonight, Lily didn't come to disturb him. For some reason, a strange discomfort settled in his chest. "It must be a habit," he thought

He left the study, heading back to the bedroom. There, he found Lily on the bed, eyes closed, breathing steady-already fast asleep.

In the dim light, Xavier's sharp gaze landed on the small figure curled under the blanket.

She looked so petite, huddled in the bedding. Her eyes appeared slightly red at the corners as if she had been crying

As he walked closer, he could hear her murmuring in her sleep. Xavier paused, holding his breath, but Lily only shifted slightly and didn't say anything

Imore.

He took a deep breath, and after climbing into bed, he adjusted the blanket she had disturbed when she turned over

With one long arm, he slid it under her slender waist and pulled her into his embrace. Lily's sleep had been restless, plagued by dreams of Hayden crying as he was released from prisonL

It wasn't until she felt a warm presence enveloping her that she finally settled down, sinking into a deep, peaceful sleep.

Her biological clock was set at 6:00 am. She usually woke up at this time to make breakfast for Xavier

When she opened her eyes, she first saw the broad expanse of Xavier's chest, his well-defined muscles radiating masculinity.

Lily paused for a moment, and then it hit her-she had returned home. Did he hold her through the night?

His breath drifted down from above her head. Her long, curled lashes trembled slightly as she gently slipped out of his arms.

She still woke up early, but instead of making him breakfast, she changed into work clothes, washed up, and prepared to leave for work

It took her half an hour to walk from the house to the bus station and then another hour on the bus to Lupler, just in time for her 8:00 am shift

When she finished getting ready to leave, Xavier woke up and headed downstairs. She casually said as she put on her shoes, "I'm going to work" The words sounded unfamiliar as they left her lips. Xavier didn't react at first. It wasn't until she left and closed the door that he realized that she was going to work

Lupler? Terence's company. His thin lips tightened, but he didn't say anything

For the first time, Lily felt that the villa was like a cage. When she stepped outside, the fresh air helped soothe her tangled emotions.