The dog barked, wagging its tail again.
"See? He said sorry!" the girl announced proudly, looking up at Gray with a big smile.
Gray sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair as he muttered, "This dog is definitely my rival."
The little girl giggled, waving her hand. "Okay, mister! Don’t fight with Tigger! He just wanted to say hi! Bye-bye, pretty lady and grumpy mister!"
With that, she marched off, dragging Tigger behind her, the dog still wagging its tail.
Lilith burst out laughing, her shoulders shaking as she leaned slightly toward Gray. "Grumpy mister, huh?" she teased, her smirk widening.
Gray groaned, shaking his head. "She’s lucky she’s cute," he muttered, watching the girl and her dog disappear down the path.
Lilith smiled, a soft curve on her lips that seed to co more naturally now. It was strange, almost unbelievable, how much she had changed. Once cold, distant, and ruthless, she now found warmth in the smallest monts.
Her human doll, the one who lted her icy walls.
Her little rose, fragile yet resilient.
Her two mischievous friends, Ava and Nova, who always brought laughter and best chaos into her world.
These bonds were unexpected, like finding sunshine after years of stormy nights. The light in their smiles, the trust in their eyes, it all reminded her that she could be more than the devil everyone feared.
For the first ti, she allowed herself to hope.
But hope was a dangerous thing.
Her eyes darkened slightly as her thoughts shifted. What if it all crumbled?
Lilith clenched her fists, her sharp nails digging lightly into her palms as resolve replaced her fleeting fears. No.
Even if the shadows returned, even if fate played its cruel tricks, she would protect them.
Her people.
Her world.
Her family.
"I won’t lose them," she thought, her eyes gleaming with a fierce promise.
Even if she had to summon every ounce of her power, she would ensure that no one laid a finger on what was hers.
***
"Grandma!!! Do you know that Sebastian was actually in a relationship with that woman?!" Sienna cried out dramatically, tears streaming down her face as she clung to Grandma Bria’s arm.
The room was filled with nothing but the sound of Sienna’s quiet sobs. Through her secret sources, she had just learned that Sebastian was in a relationship with Lilith. The revelation made her stomach twist with hatred, but she masked her anger with an expression of heartbreak, ensuring she looked utterly devastated in front of Grandma Bria.
Grandma Bria’s wrinkled face froze in shock as the words sunk in. Her grip tightened on her walking stick, and she shoved Sienna away in disbelief. Sienna staggered slightly, her mind racing with irritation. This old lady! How dare she? But she swallowed her anger, knowing she needed Grandma Bria on her side.
Sebastian was her obsession. Sienna was convinced no one else deserved him, especially not soone like Lilith. She would do whatever it took—anything—to make him hers.
"HE DIDN’T SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THAT TO !" Grandma Bria suddenly bellowed, her voice echoing through the room. Her face reddened, and Sienna could see the vein in her neck pulsing as her blood pressure visibly spiked.
"Grandma..." Sienna whimpered, dabbing her fake tears with a silk handkerchief. "He didn’t even tell Uncle and Aunty. How could he hide sothing so big from the family?"
Grandma Bria was seething. "How dare he? Sebastian knows better than to keep secrets from his family! And with that woman, of all people?"
Sienna’s lips curled into a faint smirk, hidden behind her handkerchief. Exactly what I wanted. Let the chaos begin.
"But, Grandma..." she continued, her voice trembling as she tried to sound hurt. "We can’t let this woman take advantage of him. He’s so... so perfect. She’ll ruin him!"
Grandma Bria clenched her walking stick tightly. "I won’t allow it," she declared with a steely gaze. "This Lilith woman will regret the day she crossed my grandson."
"Exactly, Grandma!" Sienna nodded eagerly, her eyes gleaming with excitent. "We have to do sothing before it’s too late. Sebastian deserves better!"
Inside, Sienna was already plotting her next move. Just wait, Lilith. You have no idea what’s coming your way.
*******
"According to what I’ve read, personalities like this often develop from trauma or a difficult childhood," Lilith said casually, her sharp eyes watching Gray’s face for a reaction as he focused on driving. She noticed his hands tightening slightly around the steering wheel.
"If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine," she added quickly, her tone softening. "I’m not here to stress you out. Since you’re mine, I just want to know everything about you, at your pace."
Gray’s jaw relaxed slightly at her words, and without looking at her, he reached over and rested a firm hand on her thigh. Lilith bit her lip, her sharp gaze shifting to his side profile. He looked calm, but she could sense the tension he was holding in.
"So," she continued, leaning back, "do you have any close friends?"
Gray hesitated for a mont before answering. "Not really... I guess Liam counts. But ever since he got involved with Sienna, he’s been... different," he said, his voice carrying a hint of bitterness. His jaw tightened as he gripped the wheel a little harder.
Lilith reached over and gently rubbed his hand. "It’s okay," she said soothingly. "My friends can be yours. Just... maybe don’t scare Nova too much. He’s actually in love with Ava, so no need to be hard on him."
Gray didn’t reply imdiately, his expression unreadable. After a few beats of silence, he finally muttered, "I’ll try."
Lilith smirked slightly at his reluctant tone but didn’t press him further.
"And what about your other friends?" Gray asked suddenly, his voice quieter, more thoughtful. "I want to know everything about you too."
Lilith sighed, rolling her eyes dramatically. "You know about Lia, my so-called ’soul sister.’ Now she’s my ex-friend. Good riddance," she said with a slight snort, her expression annoyed.
Gray glanced at her briefly, catching the way her expression softened even in her irritation. He found himself smiling at her antics, but he quickly returned his focus to the road.
"Did you... have any relationships in the past?" Lilith asked, her tone teasing but curious.
Gray shook his head firmly. "No," he replied simply.
"And why," Gray began after a mont, his voice low but with a sharp edge, "did you agree to get engaged to that trashy man?"
Lilith’s expression froze montarily before becoming neutral again. "My mom died," she said bluntly, her voice colder. "She died saving Rayan’s grandfather. And to ’repay’ her sacrifice, he decided I should marry his grandson as a token of gratitude. That’s how they found ."
Gray clenched the steering wheel at her words, his anger barely restrained. "They treated you like a commodity?" he muttered.
Lilith frowned, her voice dropping. "But I think there’s sothing more to it," she admitted, her sharp mind piecing together fragnts of old mories and suspicions.
"I’ll investigate them," Gray said firmly, his voice resolute. He turned briefly to et her gaze, his eyes filled with determination.
Lilith nodded slowly, her hand resting over Gray’s, but her mind wandered into deep thought. Where was the original Lilith’s father? From the mories she inherited, it seed Lilith’s mother had been a single parent, raising her alone.
If she found the original owner’s father...
Would he even recognize her if they t? Would he accept her, knowing she wasn’t truly his daughter but a soul who had taken over his child’s body? Yet, in her own heart, the only father she could acknowledge was the one from her past life. The man who raised her with love and care, even if he was no longer with her now. No one could ever replace him, not in this life or the last.
Lost in thought, Lilith barely noticed when the car slowed as they approached Rose Manor. The sight of the grand estate brought her back to the present.
She sighed softly, her body longing for the comfort of ho, where she could cuddle with her buddy, who always reminded her of her father....But she knew she couldn’t indulge herself just yet. Rose needed her, especially after everything that had happened.
Gray glanced at her as he parked the car. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice quiet but steady.
Lilith offered him a small, reassuring smile. "I’m fine," she said, though her mind still lingered on her tangled thoughts.
Gray hesitated for a mont, his gaze lingering on Lilith, who seed lost in thought. She hadn’t said much since he ntioned investigating the Brooks, and her silence unsettled him. He took a deep breath, stepping out of the car and walking around to her side.
Opening the door, he waited patiently as Lilith climbed out. Her mind was still elsewhere, her steps automatic. As she moved, her head nearly grazed the roof of the car. Without thinking, Gray quickly placed his hand above her head, shielding her from the hard surface.
Lilith blinked, snapping out of her thoughts as she realized what had just happened. She glanced up at Gray, whose hand still hovered protectively over her. Their eyes t, and for a mont, the world seed to quiet around them.
"Careful," Gray muttered, his voice soft, but his tone firm. His dark eyes held hers for a mont longer before he stepped back, letting her stand fully upright.
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