Chapter 20:Unexpected Connections

After a long and restless night, Lily finally woke up, the morning light filtering through her bedroom curtains. Determined to face the day, she quickly got ready for university. As she made her way down the stairs, she heard the unmistakable sounds of chaos coming from the kitchen.

Entering the kitchen, she couldn't help but burst into laughter at the sight before her. Her father stood amidst a mess of flour and batter, his face dusted white. He looked up and smiled sheepishly.

"I love it when my pearl laughs like that," he said warmly, his eyes twinkling despite the serious undertone of his words. He stepped forward and kissed her forehead. "Stay happy always. I'm always with you."

She smiled, feeling a wave of gratitude and love for her father. Just as she was about to leave for university, the doorbell rang. Glancing back at her flour-covered father, she laughed again. "I'll get it," she said, heading to the door.

Opening it, she was met with the last person she expected to see: Roman. Shock rippled through her, and goosebumps rose on her skin.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.

"Hey sweetheart, miss me too much? I know, that's why I'm here," Roman replied smoothly, handing her a bouquet of red roses and leaning in to kiss her cheek. Her eyes filled with anger, but before she could respond, her father approached them.

Roman whispered in her ear, "Be a good girl, pearl," with a devilish smirk.

Her father, wiping his hands on a dish towel, looked between them. "Who are you?" he asked Roman, his tone protective.

"Babe, you didn't tell him about us?" Roman said, turning on the charm. "I'm her boyfriend," he announced, smiling broadly.

Lily's father looked at her, confusion and concern in his eyes. Feeling trapped, Lily nodded. "Yes, he is," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Roman continued, "I was just here to pick her up for university. You didn't tell him that you'd be coming with me from now on?"

In just a few minutes, Roman managed to impress her father, who reluctantly nodded and bid them goodbye. Roman took her hand softly, leading her to his car, a sleek Porsche 911, the symbol of his wealth and status.

Still in shock, Lily sat in the passenger seat, not saying a word. Roman started the car, and as they sped off, she felt a sense of dread. The speed of the car made her uneasy.

"Slow down," she said, her voice trembling. Roman ignored her, his eyes fixed on the road. Panic set in as she noticed they were heading in the wrong direction.

"Where are we going, Roman?" she demanded, her fear growing.

Roman glanced at her, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "Somewhere we can talk without interruptions," he replied, his tone calm yet unsettling.

The car continued to speed down unfamiliar roads, and Lily's heart pounded in her chest. She felt trapped, unsure of what Roman had planned, and fearful of the consequences.

"Roman, stop the car right now or I'll jump out!" Lily's voice was sharp and filled with panic.

He smirked, his eyes never leaving the road. "It's too late to decide, Lily. I told you to stay away from that fucking Ash, but you didn't listen. I tried to be a good boy, but you don't want him. So now, I am as I am."

Lily's heart pounded as the car sped up, the scenery blurring past them. She felt trapped and terrified, unable to predict what Roman would do next. After a seemingly endless drive, the car finally came to a stop in front of a beautiful farmhouse on the outskirts of the city.

Roman parked the car and got out, opening the door for Lily. She hesitated, her body rigid with fear and anger. As she stepped out, a guard approached Roman, handing him a set of keys. Roman took them and turned to Lily, his eyes glinting with a mixture of possessiveness and determination.

"We're spending time here," he said, his voice firm.

"No, we are not," Lily replied, her eyes filled with tears and anger.

Roman smiled, a chilling expression that made her blood run cold. He grabbed her, lifting her effortlessly despite her struggles, and carried her toward the mansion. As they entered the grand hallway, Lily continued to fight, kicking and pushing against him.

"Leave me right now!" she demanded, her voice echoing through the spacious hall.

"As you wish, sweetheart," Roman said with a smirk, dropping her unceremoniously onto a plush sofa.

Lily landed with a thud, quickly scrambling to her feet. Her voice was filled with fury as she faced him. "You are such a jerk!"

Roman's smile faded slightly, replaced by a more serious expression. "You need to understand, Lily, that you can't just do whatever you want. I won't let you be with Ash or anyone else."

Lily stood her ground, her eyes blazing with defiance. "You can't control me, Roman. I'm not your property."

He took a step closer, his presence imposing. "I'm not trying to control you. I'm trying to protect you."

"Protect me?" Lily scoffed. "You're only trying to protect your ego."

Roman's eyes narrowed. "You don't understand. There are things you don't know, things that could hurt you."

Lily shook her head, taking a step back. "You're the one hurting me, Roman. Not anyone else."

For a moment, a flicker of regret crossed Roman's face, but it was quickly replaced by his usual stoic expression. "You'll see, Lily. You'll understand soon enough."

Tears streamed down Lily's face as she backed away from him. "Just let me go. Please."

Roman sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I can't do that. Not yet."

Lily felt a wave of despair wash over her. She was trapped, and there was no way out. She sat down on the sofa, her body trembling with fear and anger. Roman watched her, his expression unreadable.

Roman walked towards the kitchen, his expression firm and resolute. "Let's make something for my sweetheart, Lily," he announced.

Lily glared at him, her voice full of defiance. "I don't want anything from you."

"I'm not asking you," Roman replied. "I'm telling you."

He removed his black jacket and watch, revealing a snug black t-shirt that showcased his physique. He put on an apron, making him look both cute and handsome. Lily watched him quietly, unable to deny the magnetic pull he seemed to have on her. As he began cutting vegetables, Roman noticed her gaze and smirked.

"If you look at me like a hungry shark, it's quite difficult for me to concentrate," he teased.

Lily's cheeks heated up. "I am not looking at you, okay? I'm just seeing if you can cook or not."

Roman's smile widened. "Okay, really not looking at me, huh?"

"Okay," she muttered, embarrassed. "You think you're too handsome, but I'm not looking at you."

"Just chill," Roman chuckled. "If you are looking, it's fine. And I didn't say I'm handsome. You did."

Frustrated, Lily walked toward him. "You know, you are handsome... like Shrek."

Roman made a face, and Lily burst into laughter. He stared at her in shock, having never seen her laugh like that before. She looked radiant, her eyes sparkling.

Roman stepped closer. "You look really pretty when you laugh. Your eyes shine like crystals."

Lily's heart raced, and she quickly changed the subject. "Let me help you."

Roman handed her a knife and an onion. "Are you going to join me for the whole day?"

"I didn't say that," Lily replied, taking the knife.

"Cut them if you want to help," Roman said, watching her struggle. "Wow, how are you going to help me if you can't cut an onion?"

"Tell me how to cut them," she demanded.

"Are you sure?" Roman asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm sure," Lily insisted.

Roman moved behind her, guiding her right hand with his. As they cut the onion together, Lily's breath caught in her throat. The proximity and the intense feeling generated by their closeness made her heart race even faster. The sharp sting of the onion filled her eyes with tears. When they were done, she turned to face Roman.

He laughed at her tear-streaked face. "Why are you laughing?" she asked, annoyed.

"Go see yourself," Roman said, handing her his phone.

Lily saw the picture of her tear-streaked face with mascara smeared all over. She gasped and ran to find a mirror. "I'm going to kill you, Roman! Just wait!"

Roman leaned against the counter, grinning. "I'm waiting."

Lily quickly washed her face, trying to remove the evidence of her emotional outburst. As she scrubbed, she couldn't help but think about the unexpected moments of warmth and laughter she'd shared with Roman. Despite everything, he had a way of breaking down her walls, even if just for a moment.

When she returned to the kitchen, she found Roman plating the food he'd prepared. He looked up and smiled. "Feel better?"

She nodded, still a bit flustered but calmer. "Yeah, thanks."

Roman handed her a plate. "Let's eat. Maybe you'll start to see I'm not all bad."

Lily took the plate, hesitating for a moment before sitting down at the kitchen table. They ate in silence, the tension between them gradually easing. For a brief moment, it felt like they were just two people enjoying a meal together, free from the chaos and drama that usually surrounded them.

But as the meal came to an end, reality set back in. Lily knew she had to be careful around Roman. She couldn't afford to let her guard down, no matter how charming he could be.

As they ate in relative silence, Lily couldn't help but be impressed by the meal Roman had prepared. It was simple yet delicious, and she found herself enjoying it despite the tense circumstances. She took a bite, savoring the flavors, and then looked up at Roman.

"Where did you learn to cook like this? It's quite impressive," she asked, genuinely curious.

Roman glanced up from his plate, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Surprised?" he teased. "I didn't always have chefs and fancy dinners. There was a time when I had to fend for myself."

Lily raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? I find that hard to believe."

Roman shrugged, taking another bite. "Believe it or not, it's true. My mom taught me a few things before... well, before everything changed."

Lily could sense a hint of sadness in his voice, a rare moment of vulnerability. She decided to press a bit further. "Before what?"

Roman looked away, his jaw tightening slightly. "Before my family fell apart. My mom was the one who kept everything together. She loved cooking and made sure I learned enough to take care of myself."

Lily softened, seeing a glimpse of the real person beneath the arrogant facade. "I'm sorry to hear that, Roman. I didn't know."

He shrugged again, trying to shake off the emotions. "It's in the past. But cooking has always been a way for me to feel a bit more in control, I guess."

They continued eating, the atmosphere a little more relaxed. Lily couldn't help but feel a strange connection to Roman in that moment. Despite his rough exterior and their tumultuous interactions, there was a depth to him that she hadn't seen before.

"You should cook more often," she said, trying to lighten the mood. "You're pretty good at it."

Roman chuckled, his eyes meeting hers. "Maybe I will. But only if you're around to enjoy it."

Lily blushed, looking down at her plate. "We'll see about that."

As they finished their meal, the tension between them seemed to ease a bit more. Roman cleared the plates, and Lily couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. She still didn't trust him, but for the first time, she saw a side of him that made her wonder if there was more to their story than just conflict and drama.

Just as Roman was about to say something, his phone rang. He glanced at the screen, his expression hardening. "I need to take this," he said, stepping out of the kitchen.

Lily watched him go, her mind racing with thoughts. She was still wary of Roman and his intentions, but something had shifted between them. For better or worse, she couldn't deny that she was starting to see him in a different light. As she sat alone in the kitchen, she knew that the coming days would be full of uncertainty and challenges, but she was determined to face them head-on.