The Twisted Obsession
Chapter 218: Agreed

Chapter 218: Agreed

An awkward silence settled between them as Lily struggled to find the right words to break the tension. She opened her mouth to speak several times, but each time, the words seemed to elude her.

Sensing Lily’s discomfort, Cage shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his gaze flickering between her and the bustling activity inside the venue. After a moment, he cleared his throat, breaking the silence.

"Is there something you need, Lily?" he asked, his voice gentle but tinged with curiosity. Lily’s cheeks flushed slightly at his question, grateful for the opportunity to redirect the conversation.

"Oh, uh, no, nothing specific," she replied, mentally kicking herself for her inability to articulate her thoughts. "I was just... I just wanted to check on you, make sure everything’s okay."

Cage nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Thanks, Lily," he said sincerely, his eyes meeting hers with a warmth that sent a shiver down her spine. "I appreciate it."

Lily couldn’t hide her surprise at Cage’s unexpected warmth and gratitude. She had braced herself for a dismissive or even rude response, anticipating that he would brush off her concern as unnecessary or unwanted.

But instead, Cage’s genuine appreciation caught her off guard, leaving her momentarily speechless. She couldn’t help but wonder what had changed between them, why he was being so kind to her when their interactions in the past had often been tense and strained.

As she searched his expression for any hint of insincerity, Lily found herself met with nothing but genuine warmth and gratitude. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a side of Cage that she had never seen before – a side that was kind, considerate, and surprisingly approachable.

Confused by the sudden shift in their dynamic, Lily couldn’t help but wonder what had prompted Cage’s change in demeanor. Was it possible that there was more to him than met the eye, hidden depths beneath his stoic exterior?

Lily’s voice faltered slightly as she tried to find the right words, her mind racing with thoughts of what she wanted to say to Cage. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she met his gaze with determination.

"I... I have something to discuss with you," she began, her words hesitant but resolute. "Um, can we meet tomorrow? Maybe over coffee or something?"

Her heart pounded in her chest as she waited for Cage’s response, unsure of how he would react to her request. Would he agree to meet with her, or would he brush her off like he had so many times before? Only time would tell.

"I’m busy," Cage replied curtly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. Lily’s heart sank at his abrupt dismissal, disappointment flooding through her as she tried to mask her feelings with a forced smile.

"Oh," she murmured, her voice tinged with disappointment. She had hoped that Cage would be more receptive to her request, but his response dashed her hopes of a quick resolution to their conversation.

But just as she was about to retreat, Cage surprised her with an unexpected offer. "We can meet the day after tomorrow over dinner. How does that sound?" he suggested, his tone softening slightly.

Lily’s spirits lifted at the unexpected invitation, a spark of hope flickering to life within her once more. "That sounds great," she replied eagerly, her disappointment fading as anticipation replaced it. "Where should we meet?"

Cage’s lips twitched into a small smile at her enthusiasm. "My assistant will send you the details," he said, his demeanor more relaxed now. "Looking forward to it, Lily."

Lily felt her cheeks flush with a shy, happy smile as she watched Cage walk away. "Alright, see you," she murmured softly, her heart fluttering with excitement.

Once Cage was out of sight, Lily blinked, almost as if she needed to pinch herself to make sure what had just happened was real. It felt like a dream come true – Cage had agreed to meet her, despite his initial dismissal.

As she stood there, lost in her thoughts, Alice approached, curiosity etched on her features. "What happened?" she asked, unable to contain her curiosity.

A deep smile spread across Lily’s face, her eyes lighting up with joy. "He... he agreed to meet me," she whispered, her voice filled with disbelief. It felt like a miracle, something she never thought would happen.

Alice’s eyes widened in surprise at Lily’s revelation. "He did?!" she exclaimed, unable to conceal her astonishment. Lily simply nodded in response, a mixture of excitement and disbelief dancing in her eyes.

"Yeah," Lily confirmed softly, her voice tinged with wonder. Alice couldn’t believe it – she knew how much Cage had loathed Lily in the past, and now, out of the blue, he was not only speaking to her but also agreeing to meet up.

"You don’t find it weird? Why suddenly—" Alice trailed off, unable to articulate the nagging doubts swirling in her mind. It seemed too good to be true, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Cage’s sudden change in behavior than met the eye.

Lily waved off Alice’s concerns with a dismissive gesture, her smile unwavering despite her friend’s skepticism. "Oh, it’s probably nothing," she replied casually, though a hint of excitement lingered in her voice. "Maybe he’s just had a change of heart."

But Alice wasn’t convinced so easily. "Are you sure?" she pressed, her brow furrowing with concern. "I mean, Cage has never been exactly friendly towards you before."

Lily shrugged, trying to downplay the significance of Cage’s sudden willingness to meet with her. "People change," she said simply, though her heart raced with anticipation at the thought of their upcoming meeting. "Who knows? Maybe we’ll actually get along this time."

"Hmm, whatever happens, make sure Alex doesn’t find out," Alice advised, her tone serious as she emphasized the importance of secrecy. "He hates his stepbrother, after all. And you can’t afford to lose everything now."

Lily paused, considering Alice’s words carefully. She knew all too well the animosity between Alex and Cage, and the potential consequences if Alex were to discover her plans. Losing everything was not an option, especially not now when she was so close to achieving her goals.

"You’re right," Lily conceded, her expression turning grave as she acknowledged the gravity of the situation. "I’ll be careful. Alex can’t know about this."