The Twisted Obsession
Chapter 228: I like you

Chapter 228: I like you

"Here you go," the waiter said, placing their drinks on the table with a polite smile before disappearing into the bustling crowd.

Lily took a moment to collect herself, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of the jumble of emotions swirling within her. Why was she here? What did she hope to accomplish by seeking out Cage after all this time?

"I wanted to talk," she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper as she met Cage’s gaze with a mixture of apprehension and longing.

Cage’s expression softened, a flicker of understanding passing between them as he reached out to gently squeeze her hand. "I’m here," he murmured, his voice a comforting reassurance in the midst of her uncertainty

Lily’s heart pounded in her chest as she finally found the courage to speak her truth. "I-I like you," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes locked on Cage’s as she laid bare her deepest secret.

"But it’s only Abby you see," Lily continued, her words tumbling out in a rush as she struggled to articulate the depths of her feelings. "I’ve liked you for a long time, but I never had the courage to say anything."

"You like me? Is this some kind of joke?" Cage’s words cut through the air like a knife, his tone tinged with disbelief and a hint of bitterness.

Lily’s breath caught in her throat at his accusation, her mind racing to find the right words to reassure him. "No, Cage, it’s not a joke," she insisted, her voice trembling with emotion. "I-I’ve liked you for a long time, but I never had the courage to say anything."

Cage’s expression softened slightly, but the skepticism still lingered in his eyes as he studied her intently. "Why now?" he asked, his voice low and guarded.

Lily swallowed hard, the weight of his scrutiny bearing down on her like a heavy weight. "I don’t know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "I guess... seeing Abby getting married made me realize that life is too short to keep hiding my feelings."

Cage’s chuckle cut through the tension, his voice carrying a mixture of resignation and amusement. "What about Alex? You chose him," he remarked, his tone laced with a hint of bitterness.

Lily’s heart sank at his words, the weight of his accusation settling like a stone in the pit of her stomach. She had known that her decision to be with Alex would hurt Cage, but to hear him voice it so plainly was like a dagger to her heart.

"I-I didn’t know," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, her eyes pleading for understanding. "I thought... I thought it was what I wanted."

"You know I’m an illegitimate child," he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper, as if still processing the enormity of her revelation.

Lily nodded, her gaze steady as she met his eyes. "Yes, I know," she confirmed, her voice firm with resolve. "And I know that you’ve always felt like an outsider in the family, like you don’t belong."

Cage’s jaw tightened at her words, the bitterness of years of rejection and resentment bubbling to the surface. "What are you saying, Lily?" he demanded, his voice tinged with anger.

"I’m saying that if you want to climb the ladder, if you want to have a say in the family business, you need someone on your side," Lily explained, her tone measured yet urgent. "Right now, you have no one. But if you want, you can use me. When I marry Alex, I’ll have access to information that could be beneficial to you. Together, we can take over the family."

Cage’s mind raced as he processed her words, the implications of her offer sinking in like a lead weight in his stomach. It was a risky proposition, he knew, one that could potentially upend their entire lives. But it was also an opportunity – a chance to finally claim his rightful place within the family, to prove himself worthy of the name he had long been denied.

"And what do you get out of all this?" he asked, his voice rough with uncertainty.

Lily’s gaze softened, a hint of vulnerability creeping into her expression. "I get you," she replied simply, her voice barely above a whisper. "And isn’t that enough?"

The silence stretched between them like an unyielding chasm, the weight of Cage’s stare bearing down on Lily like a heavy burden. She shifted uncomfortably under his intense gaze, her mind racing with a thousand possibilities, each one more daunting than the last.

Lily couldn’t decipher the thoughts swirling behind Cage’s piercing eyes, couldn’t discern whether he was considering her offer or rejecting it outright. The uncertainty gnawed at her insides, a persistent ache that refused to be ignored.

Cage’s gaze remained fixed on her, his expression unreadable as he processed her words. The tension in the air was palpable, suffocating in its intensity, as they both grappled with the weight of the decision hanging between them.

And then, finally, Cage spoke, his voice low and measured. "Lily," he began, his tone tinged with a mixture of resignation and determination.

But before he could finish his sentence, the sudden chirp of Lily’s phone shattered the fragile stillness of the moment, pulling them both back to reality with a jolt.

Lily’s hand shot out instinctively, grabbing her phone and silencing the notification with a quick swipe. She spared a fleeting glance at the screen, her heart sinking as she realized the urgency of the message flashing before her eyes.

"I-I’m sorry, Cage," she stammered, her voice tinged with regret as she met his gaze once more. "I have to go. It’s... it’s important."

Cage nodded in understanding, his expression a mask of resignation as he watched her rise from her seat and hastily gather her belongings. "Take care, Lily," he murmured, his voice tinged with a hint of sadness.

Cage watched Lily’s retreating figure, a wave of conflicting emotions washed over him, his gaze darkening with a subtle flicker of calculation. He took a deep breath, the warmth draining from his eyes as he allowed his mask of indifference to slip back into place.

Gulping down the last of his wine, he leaned back in his chair, his mind racing with a thousand possibilities. Lily’s offer had been unexpected, to say the least, and he couldn’t help but wonder at the implications of her proposal.