Chapter 89: A Cold Stare, A Warm Embrace

By the time Damon returned to Blackstone Manor, evening had settled over the estate.

He handed his keys to a waiting servant and stepped into the entrance hall, already thinking about the information he had received from Eclipse Concord.

He had barely taken a few steps when he noticed two women standing in the hall.

Vivian Ashford stood near the staircase, her blonde hair falling over her shoulders. A short distance away, Lily faced her with her arms folded. Neither woman was speaking, and both seemed determined to maintain eye contact.

The atmosphere was strange enough that even the servants nearby had found reasons to keep their distance.

Damon slowed, looking from one to the other.

What happened here?

Vivian noticed him first. Her gaze shifted toward him, and for a moment, her expression softened. Then her eyes moved to Lily again.

Before Damon could say anything, Lily turned around.

Her face immediately brightened.

“Damon!”

She hurried toward him and threw her arms around his waist, pressing herself against him as if she had been waiting all evening for this moment.

“I missed you.”

Damon looked down at her, then rested a hand against her back.

“It’s only been a while.”

“That doesn’t mean I can’t miss you.” Lily tightened her embrace before finally lifting her head to look at him.

“Besides, you’ve been enjoying yourself while I’ve been stuck working.”

Her complaint came with a pout, but she was clearly pleased to have him in front of her again. Lily had never been particularly good at hiding what she wanted, and affection was no exception.

Damon smiled faintly. “So your training has been that terrible?”

“Terrible? I didn’t say that!” She immediately loosened her hold enough to protest.

“It’s just that the designer makes me do everything properly. If a seam is wrong, I have to redo it. If the fitting isn’t right, I have to start again. And apparently, choosing a pretty fabric isn’t enough to make a good design.”

She rolled her eyes, as though the last point were a personal insult.

Damon chuckled.

Behind them, Vivian remained silent.

Lily hadn’t forgotten Vivian. If anything, she seemed perfectly content to keep Damon occupied while the other woman watched.

She held him close, as though she had no intention of giving up her place beside him.

Vivian watched them for another moment. Her lips pressed together, and whatever she had been about to say remained unspoken.

Then she turned toward the staircase.

Damon caught the movement from the corner of his eye. Vivian didn’t look back. She simply walked away, her footsteps fading as she disappeared from view.

He watched her leave for a brief moment.

Lily, meanwhile, had already returned to her own concerns.

She slipped her arm through his and leaned against him, wearing a satisfied smile.

“Anyway, I’m getting better,” she declared.

“The designer says I have a decent eye for details. I can usually tell when something looks wrong, even if I can’t always explain why.”

Damon gave her a sidelong glance. “So you can finally tell the difference between something expensive and something that’s actually well made.”

“I’m learning,” Lily replied, lifting her chin. “Don’t underestimate me. I’ll surprise you one day.”

“I’ve started learning about different materials, too. Some fabrics look almost the same until you touch them, but they behave completely differently when you try to make clothes with them. I never paid attention to that before.”

Lily sighed and rested her head against his shoulder.

“Honestly, I wouldn’t have gone through all this trouble if I hadn’t started feeling useless at the manor. Everyone else had something going on, while I was just there eating, spending money, and trying to get your attention.” Her lips curled into a mischievous smile.

“Not that getting your attention was a waste of time.”

Damon laughed. “At least you’re honest about your priorities.”

“Of course. Learning fashion is exhausting, and I’d much rather spend my time with you.” She tightened her hold on his arm.

“But I don’t want to be someone who has nothing going for her, either. So I’ll learn enough to make something of myself, earn my own money, and then I can spend it on whatever I want.”

“Preferably something expensive,” Damon remarked.

“Obviously.” Lily grinned.

“And since you’re the reason I can afford to learn all this in the first place, you can make it up to me by keeping me company tonight.”

Lily tilted her face toward him, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

“Besides, I’ve been away all this time. You can’t possibly think a hug is enough to make up for that.”

Damon looked at her. “You certainly haven’t become shy during your time away.”

“Why would I?” She slid her arms around his neck, drawing herself closer. “I spent all that time working hard. Surely I deserve to enjoy myself now.”

Her eyes lingered on his face before dropping briefly to his lips.

“Come on, Damon.” She tugged lightly at his hand, already turning toward the stairs. “I’ve been good for weeks. Don’t you think I deserve a reward?”

He caught her wrist before she could pull him along.

“Is that what all your complaints were leading up to?”

Lily looked back at him, her smile turning shameless.

“Maybe. Are you going to make me ask properly?”

Damon laughed at her audacity. Rather than answer, he pulled her back toward him and captured her lips.

Lily immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, responding with all the enthusiasm she’d been holding back. Her complaints, her teasing, and her carefully maintained innocence disappeared the moment he kissed her.

When they finally separated, she was smiling against his lips.

“See? You did miss me.”

“Don’t get too pleased with yourself.”

“Too late.”

She kissed him again, then took his hand and led him toward his room. This time, Damon followed without making her ask twice.

The door closed behind them, leaving Lily’s long-awaited reunion to continue in private.