CHAPTER 53: SHE IS MINE
CHAPTER 53: SHE IS MINE
NIKOLAI’S POV:
I searched for Lily everywhere, the library room, mother’s art room, the Theater room, wine cellar, music room, indoor gym, guest suite but she wasn’t anywhere.
I asked the maids at the kitchen if they saw her but they haven’t.
I saw Mazhordom Sergei and I stopped to ask him.NôvelDrama.Org content.
“Have you seen the lady I came with? My girlfriend”.
“I believe she is by the flower garden at the backyard young sir”, He said and I thanked him. I hurriedly walked to the garden in search of Lily.
‘But why are you in such a hurry’, I asked myself, it was as if I was desperate to explain things to her, clear her doubts that Elena wasn’t in the picture anymore, even though I still felt something for Elena.
As I spend more time with Lily, I’m starting to feel really comfortable around her. She makes me smile and laugh, and I look forward to seeing her every day. Even though I still think about Elena sometimes, I’m starting to develop feelings for Lily. It’s a weird, new feeling that I’m not totally used to. My mind is slowly starting to accept it, even if my heart is still a little stuck in the past.
I spotted Lily just where Mazhordom Sergei said. As I watch Lily in my mother’s hawthorn garden, I can’t help but feel a pang in my chest. She looks… different, somehow. Beautiful, yes, but also… soft and vulnerable. It’s a side of her I haven’t seen before, and it throws me off guard.
I’m a man who deals in power and control, who doesn’t have time for sentiment. But there’s something about Lily that makes me feel… things. Things I don’t want to feel, things I have never felt even for Elena, things I don’t know how to process.
I’m a leader, a boss, a man who can’t afford to show weakness. But in this moment, I’m just a man, feeling something I can’t quite explain. And it’s terrifying.
I slowly walked up to her and she doesn’t notice my presence yet, she looks so peaceful and bright.
“These delicate flowers have been a part of our family’s history for generations. Not only are they breathtakingly beautiful, but they also hold significant symbolism…”, I paused and let her turn to meet my eyes, I saw something in hers but I can’t explain it.
“In Russian culture, hawthorn represents love, hope, and protection. My mother tends to this garden with love and care. The flowers are used in traditional medicine, and the berries are made into jams and teas. But beyond their practical uses, they remind me of the strength and resilience of the women in my family”, I explained to her and watch her eyes danced around the flowers.
“Nikolai…”, She called my name.
Lily looks absolutely stunning, the flowers match her skin tone and the sunlight makes her hair shine like gold. The wind blows through her hair, framing her face and highlighting her beautiful features.
“Why are you out here all by yourself?”, I asked her.
“I needed some fresh air”, She replied without any expression on her face, there was something on her mind and she is trying to mask her emotions. It could be what my talkative of a sister told her about Elena but why would she be annoyed by that?
“You should have asked Galina to stay with you or maybe a maid”, I said to her. I didn’t want her to be alone when I’m not around.
She scoffed and lick her bottom lip, shaking her head and turning away from me.
“What?”, I asked because I don’t really understand her.
“If you’re scared that I will run away, don’t be. I’m not familiar with anywhere here and I don’t want to get lost”, She turn sharply to me and replied.
‘Why is she being edgy?’, I wonder, it can’t be because of Elena… or was she jealous?
“What is wrong? Are you not feeling well?”, I asked out of pure concern, trying to feel her forehead with the back of my hand but she slightly moved away.
“I will go back in now”, She forced a tight smile and left me standing there all by myself.
I sighed and went after her, I grabbed her hand and she tried to struggle.
“Behave. We are supposed to be a couple remember?”, I whispered to her and she calmed down a bit, but her eyes were starting to get moist. I held her by her lower back and we both walk upstairs to our room.
Once we got in, she took my hand off her waist and moved away. I sighed, pinching the space between my brows.
“Talk”, I said.
“About?”.
“It looks like you are angry at me. So talk”.
“Me angry at you?! Never!”, She sassed and tried to walk further away from me, I pulled her back to face me. She was clearly holding back something she really wants to say.
“We are not leaving this room till you talk and I have all the time”, I said and she shook her head.
“Please, I really don’t wanna”, She pleaded and her eyes got moister.
“Is it about Elena? My sister told you and me and Elena right?”, I said.
“Yes she di… she did”, Lily replied.
“And?”.
“Do you still like her? Are you still in love with Elena?”, Lily asked, she had this scared look on her face, scared of knowing the answer, scared that I might still be into Elena.
“Why must you know?”.
“BECAUSE NIKOLAI!!… I don’t know, I just want to know. That’s all”, She said but she has always been a terrible liar.
For the first time in my miserable life, I didn’t know what to say, I was terrified to say something that might hurt Lily, I was terrified she would see me as a bad person but I can’t lie that I was completely over Elena.
“I have not completely forgotten about Elena and I might still like her–“, I said and Lily nodded and tried to walk out of the room, I dragged her back and made her look at me.
As we stood in the dimly lit room, my eyes fixed on Lily’s, my heart racing like a traitor. I’m a man who orders hits and runs an empire with an iron fist, but in this moment, I felt like a nervous schoolboy.
I took a deep breath and let the words spill out, like a confession in a church.
“Lily, I’ve been drawn to you since the day we met. Your eyes are stunning, your hair is beautiful, and your smile lights up the room. But it’s not just your looks that I love. Your personality, your kindness, and your positive energy are all things that I adore. Your laughter is music to my ears and your smile makes my heart skip a beat. You’re a breath of fresh air in my life, and I can’t help but want to be around you. I want to be the one you rely on, the one who makes you feel safe”, I said in one go and I stopped to see the shock on her face, it was as if she was frozen.
I sighed in both relief and fear.
‘What if she doesn’t like me that way?’, I asked myself. Now I just feel awkward and I don’t normally feel awkward.
“Do you mean what you just said?”, She asked.
“Yes Lily. I know I have been horrible to you in the past, hurting you verbally and physically but all this is new for me. I’m not trying to make excuses about how I treated you in the past, I just– I just want you to know how I feel”, I said and I saw her expression morph from shock to happy, she was all red.
“Wow”, She could only say.
“You don’t have to feel pressured about anything, I only–“, Before I could bringing all my words out, Lily came to me and crushed her lips to mine. When I was just about kissing her back, she pulled away and I furrowed my brows.
“I like you too Nikolai”, She confessed, smiling the more.
She looks so beautiful when she said that and the tension between us was palpable, I couldn’t help but drag her to myself and claim her mouth.
I, a man used to being in control, was overwhelmed by my desire for her. I kissed her with a passion that bordered on obsession, like a man claiming what’s his. The world around us disappeared, and all that mattered was our desire for each other.
“Umm”, Lily muttered as I bit her lips to pave way for my hungry tongue. I dived inside her mouth, tasting her and wanting more.
I felt like I was losing control, but I couldn’t stop myself. The kiss was a promise to protect and love her, no matter what.
As we pulled apart, gasping for breath, I knew that I would do anything to make her mine.
We stared at each other, not once looking away. Lily put her lips on a straight line trying to hide her blush.
“You are blushing”, I pointed the obvious and she pouted, hitting my chest not too hard.
“Yes captain obvious”, She said and released herself from my hold. I felt sad once she was no longer in my arms.
“You look beautiful. Red is now my favorite color”, I said, holding her hand and she turned around to look at me.
“Stop it”, She said, blushing the more.
‘Fuck! She is so gorgeous’, I screamed in my head.
I imagined my little boy going in and out of her while she scream my name. I sighed and lick my lips.
‘Chill junior, chill’, I told myself and hugged Lily really tight.
She is mine now.