Agreement Behind Her Marriage

Danica invited Lily to go out after being feel devastated with Carmela’s case. They were shopping for clothes when they talked about Kael.

“Do you have a crush on Engineer Kael?” Lily asked the young woman.

“Huh? No way! Why would you ask that?” Danica replied, with her cheeks turning red, clearly avoiding the question.

“Because I wouldn’t blame you if you did. Kael is kind, handsome, and has a good life, and a strong family relationship… Most importantly, I want to know if I need to protect your feelings. He’s still in love with Faye Burnham.”

Her sister froze in her tracks. “T-the lawyer?”

Lily nodded.

“But doesn’t she have a fiancé? Isn’t Faye getting married? And how did they even start a relationship?”

She gently ran her fingers through Danica’s hair. Lily was aware that her sister was beginning to develop feelings for Kael, even though she denied it.

“Unfortunately, they have a history. Lauren’s family was overly meticulous due to their family issues in the past. Since Lauren was already slated to marry into the Burnham family, they believed it was impossible for Kael and Faye to be together. They had to protect their reputation, and it’s almost like a taboo in their beliefs. To the best of my knowledge, that’s why they sent Faye abroad to study, to keep her away from Kael.

“Unfortunately for Kael, due to his family’s financial troubles, he had to stay here. That’s when they ended their relationship. I could see the tension between them whenever they were in the same vicinity. Even Drew strongly believes that their love story isn’t over yet.”

Danica fell into silence, and after a while, tears welled up in her eyes. “I-I don’t know why I’m hurt.”

“Awww, Danica… it’s because you’ve already fallen for him,” she said in a sad tone. To offer Danica some comfort, she embraced her sister.

Lily couldn’t blame her. In recent days, Kael and Danica had been spending a lot of time together, especially since Lily was often with Drew at home. Some aspects of Danica’s personality had changed, and she knew that Kael had a significant influence on her.

“He said he likes me,” Danica replied.

“When?” Lily was taken aback.

In a soft voice, Danica explained, “Before he met Faye again. I didn’t know they had a history. I thought they treated each other like siblings.”

‘This is bad.’

“I will ask you one more time-do you love him, Dan?”

Her sister nodded, tears welling up in her eyes.

“As your sister, my advice to you is to talk to Kael and find out what he wants now-if his feelings for you are still the same as before. I already told you, didn’t I? There are plenty of men out there. You are beautiful, sweetheart.”

The thought that Danica had opened her heart to the engineer after her breakup with Brian saddened Lily.

She gently caressed the corner of the young woman’s eye, a clear sign of her current emotions. It hurt her to see Danica like this.

“I don’t know, Lily. Kael and I don’t have a relationship, so I have no right to cry over this.”Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.

Danica’s phone beeped shortly after.

When she pulled it from her bag’s pocket, she discovered a message from Brian.

“Do you want to see who sent me the text?” Danica showed the phone screen after Lily nodded.

Brian: Danica, we need to talk.

She wasn’t really sure what Brian needed, especially after Carmela’s case was withdrawn, but she asked Danica how she felt about it. She asked, “What do you think? Of course, I’m not comfortable with you meeting him.”

Before Danica could respond, her phone beeped once more, indicating another message.

Brian: You can bring Lily if you’re not comfortable. I have something to give her, too.

The two of them exchanged glances. She wondered what he could be giving them. She couldn’t recall having anything from Brian, but it genuinely piqued her interest. “Do you want to meet him?”

Brian: My modeling career is over, babe. I can’t show my face to people anymore, so I want to see you one last time, please.

Upon receiving this text, Danica declared, “Let’s meet him!”

“Have him come to Drew’s house.”

Danica composed a message to her ex-boyfriend. It would be preferable to meet Brian at her house, where her husband and Orion were present, as they had planned to use the gym while she and Danica organized their shopping time.

Brian, who had evidently just arrived, was sitting on the car’s hood when Lily and Danica reached Drew’s home. The man appeared despondent, clearly sleep-deprived, especially after the case against Carmela and her friends had been dismissed.

“Danica!” Brian’s face lit up.

The gate opened, revealing Drew with an inexplicable expression. He was wearing only shorts and was drenched in sweat, clearly coming from the gym.

“What is he doing here?” He glanced at her sister. “Don’t tell me you’re getting back together with him?”

Danica winced. “Shut up! He said he wanted to talk and will give something to Lily!”

Brian explained, “I just need five minutes to talk to the two of them.”

Orion appeared with his arms crossed. His figure was also obscured in darkness, and he was perspiring as well. Brian cleared his throat, and Lily knew she had made the right decision in sending him there.

Lily kissed Drew on the cheek. “He said he only needs five minutes.”

“Fine! But he should stay here in the garden. It just so happens that I don’t want us to attract the neighbors’ attention.” Drew and Orion left their post by the gate to create space for Brian to enter.

“Come inside,” Lily invited Brian.

They all passed through the gate one after the other until they reached the pool area next to the garden. Brian took a few steps, only a meter away from the gate, looking uncomfortable.

“What do you need from me?” Danica asked.

“My love for you, Danica, was genuine.”

Both men squinted their eyes.

“I loved you too, Brian, but what you did to me is unacceptable. They found your DNA on Carmela’s clothes. You stalked me and caused a huge mess in my previous apartment. How are you going to explain that to me?”

Orion was clearly infuriated by what he heard. “What? How come I didn’t know about that?”

Danica couldn’t meet her brother’s eyes.

“I was angry when you broke up with me! I know that wasn’t a good reason, which is why I’m here… I want to apologize to you, Lily, for my actions during your college years. Kenneth wanted to keep you confined at home and prevent you from going out, so he instructed me to spread rumors about you. I-I’m sorry…”

Lily remained impassive. It had pained her at the time, but she had since moved on, especially after completing her schooling. She was no longer as concerned about what others had to say.

“Brian, tell me honestly. D-did you and your friends victimize Carmela?”

He couldn’t look her in the eyes and mumbled softly. “Yes…”

Danica let out a gasp. Lily wasn’t really surprised by his answer, so she just clenched her fist.

“In that case, what did you do? How did Carmela suddenly withdraw the case?” Danica inquired as she took a step forward and observed the pain in her ex-boyfriend’s eyes, a result of his actions.

“Because she could no longer bear the pain!” Lily empathized more than anyone. “She was overwhelmed by the trial, the hurtful things people said, and those who didn’t believe in her!” She had gone through all of that, which was why she understood some of Carmela’s actions.

“That’s why I came here, Lily,” Brian said as he pulled a USB from his pocket. “This will assist you with the case.”

They didn’t anticipate the loud noise from a motorcycle, which abruptly stopped in front of Drew’s house, right at their gate.

Orion stepped forward, appearing ready to crush the man into a ball and kick him out of their house. Brian handed over the USB.

“The first video is the one we used against Carmela, and the second one, it’s up to you what you want to do with it. I’m leaving… Dan, this is-”

Since the gate was currently open and not yet locked, the strange man, with his head covered by a helmet, pushed it open and then fired several bullets at them from his vantage point.

“Ahhhhh!” Hers and Danica’s screams echoed along with the gunshots.

Drew pulled her down. Trembling with fear, Lily’s eyes widened as she went under her husband.

Orion, always alert, managed to turn around to protect Danica and then leaped into the pool, hiding beneath the water. Vases, mirrors, and anything struck by the bullets shattered.

After a moment, all Lily could hear was the cessation of gunfire, followed by the fading sound of a motorcycle.

“Damn it!” Drew swore before sitting down.

“D-Drew? Are you alright?” Lily asked, her voice quivering, still unable to fully recover from what had just happened.

“I’m fine!”

“D-Danica!” She nervously called for her sister. “Orion!”

The two emerged from the concealed water of the pool.

“Brother!” Danica exclaimed after noticing the blood spewing from his arm. “Brother Orion!” She held his arm, her frightened expression clear.

“Damn! Kid, I’m alive!” The man grumbled before inspecting their sister. “What about you? Are you alright?”

The young woman nodded, trembling with fear and the cold water.

“Ahhhhhh!” Lily screamed in terror when they saw Brian lying lifeless on the floor, with red liquid seeping onto the grass.

Orion quickly approached and examined the man.

“Brian!” Danica cried, moving closer to her ex-boyfriend’s lifeless body.

“Don’t touch him! We need to call the police! He’s dead!” announced Orion, gritting his teeth.