Shadow-bound: The Billionaire's Hidden Bride

Lily woke up the following day to the sound of her phone ringing. When she answered the unfamiliar number, a chilly voice warned her that she was in danger. "Go now," she said.

Lily felt her heart thumping in her chest. She realized she needed to do something, even though she had no idea who was calling or why they were warning her. After hastily packing a few things and sneaking out of the estate, she left Damian a note stating that she had gone for a stroll.

For hours, Lily strolled the streets of London, her thoughts whirling. She had no idea who to trust or where to go. Finally, she decided to call her best friend, Sarah.

Although Sarah was taken aback by Lily's message, she agreed to meet her immediately. They first met in a tiny cafe in a peaceful area of town.

"Lily, what's going on?" Sarah inquired, worry shining in her eyes.

Lily informed Sarah about everything, including the enigmatic phone call and her marriage of convenience to Damian Blackwood. Despite her horror, Sarah trusted Lily.

Sarah remarked, "You must leave London." "Damian poses a threat. He will only give up once he locates you.

Sarah was right, and Lily knew it. She could not remain in London; she had to vanish.

Sarah assisted Lily in booking a flight to Paris. That evening, Lily departed from her previous existence.

Lily landed a job as a cafe waitress and a modest apartment in Paris. She made an effort to blend in and disappear. However, she could not shake the sensation that someone was constantly observing her.

One day, while she was home from work, Lily noticed a familiar face across the street. Damian was the one.

Her chest thumped with her heartbeat. She was aware that she could not evade him indefinitely. She needed to confront him.

Lily walked across the street to Damian.

Her voice shook as she asked, "What do you want?"

A chilly smile came on Damian's face. "I want you back, Lily," he confessed.

Lily gave a headshake. "Damian, I won't be returning with you. I won't ever see you again."

Damian stopped grinning and squinted his eyes. His words were, "You don't have a choice, Lily." "You belong to me."

Damian took Lily's arm and dragged her into a nearby alleyway before she could respond.

Lily fought him, but he was too powerful. He placed his lips to hers and pushed her against the wall.

Lily attempted to shove him away, but he resisted. Despite her best efforts, he was too strong.

With a cry, Lily awoke, her heart thumping in her chest. Even though it was only a dream, it seemed natural.

Her body shook as she sat up in bed. She was aware that she had to leave Paris. She needed to locate another place where Damian couldn't find her.

After packing her baggage, Lily arranged for a flight to New York City. The following day, she landed in New York and settled into a modest hotel in Manhattan. Even though she knew no one in the city, she felt oddly secure here.

For the next few weeks, Lily travelled around New York. She visited Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, and the Empire State Building, and she even attended a Broadway production.

Lily relaxed slowly but steadily. She began feeling like she could finally move on from her past.

While strolling through Central Park, Lily noticed a crowd gathered around a street musician. Intrigued by the performer's antics, she paused to observe.

Lily heard a tap on her shoulder as she watched. She noticed a man standing behind her when she turned around.

The man, who was tall and attractive and had blue eyes and dark hair, appeared to have just stepped out of a magazine dressed in a suit.

The man said, "Pardon me," in a lovely and silky voice. "I noticed that you were watching the concert. Do you like seeing street entertainers?

Lily grinned. She remarked, "I've never seen one before" "He's very talented."

"He is," concurred the man. "I'm James, by the way."

She said, "Lily," and held out her hand.

James took her hand and gave it a light shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Lily."

After a conversation, Lily discovered that she enjoyed James' company. He seemed sincere in his interest in her and was clever and funny.

James eventually proposed that they take a stroll. Lily concurred, and they laughed and chatted as they walked around the park.

As they strolled, Lily felt a weird deja vu. She couldn't place James but couldn't shake the feeling that she had seen him before.

They eventually reached a tiny bridge over a pond. James glanced at Lily as they paused to take in the scenery.

"Lily," he began in a calm, kind voice. "I feel like I've known you my entire life, even though I know this is abrupt. I'm starting to adore you."

Lily felt her heart thumping in her chest. What she was hearing was unbelievable.

"James, I..." she said haltingly.

James leaned in and kissed her before she could finish speaking.

Initially taken aback, Lily soon melted into the kiss. She had never kissed as passionately as this one.

Lily gave James a wide-eyed look as they eventually parted ways.

She responded, "I love you too, James," almost audibly.

James gave her another kiss while grinning.

After spending the remainder of the day together, Lily and James became inseparable.

A few weeks later, Lily gladly accepted James' proposal. They were both more pleased than they had ever been after being married in a modest ceremony in Central Park.

Lily believed she had at last discovered her happily ever after. However, she needed to be corrected.

Lily was working one day when Sarah called her on the phone.

Sarah's shaking voice said, "Lily, I have some bad news. "Damian Blackwood is dead.

Lily gasped. She was shocked to learn about Damian's passing.

She said, "How did he die?"

"He was murdered," told Sarah. "His body was discovered in his residence. He had died from a stab wound.

Lily felt her heart thumping in her chest. She was aware that caution was required. She might be the next target of Damian's killer.

Lily decided to inform James of everything. She told him about the enigmatic phone calls, her past, and her marriage to Damian.

James was both surprised and encouraged. He vowed to keep Lily safe at any cost.

To investigate Damian's murder, Lily and James engaged a private investigator. The investigator found that a professional assassin had assassinated Damian.

Someone who wished to kill Damian had hired the assassin. However, who?

James and Lily didn't know.

They kept going about their lives, but they were constantly watching them. They were terrified that the murderer would target them next because they knew he was still out there.

One day, when Lily was making her way home from work, she encountered a familiar face across the street. The man who had forewarned her about Damian was the one with the scar on his face.

Lily felt her heart thumping in her chest. She was aware that she needed to leave him.

The man outran her as she turned and ran. He reached her and took hold of her arm.

"You can't run forever, Lily," he remarked in a threatening, icy tone.

Lily fought him, but he was too powerful. He dragged her into an alleyway close by.

No one arrived despite Lily's cries for assistance.

Withdrawing a knife, the man held it above his head.

Lily shut her eyes and bided her time.

However, the end has yet to materialize.

Lily heard a gunshot instead.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the scarred guy on the ground, his chest gushing blood.

James was standing above him, holding a revolver.

"James!" Lily ran to him in tears.

Dropping the revolver, James gave Lily a firm hug.

He said, "It's okay, Lily," in a shaky voice. "I've arrived. I'll keep you safe.

Lily's body trembled as she held on to James. Now, she was safe. James had saved her.

However, Lily's blood ran cold as she noticed something in James' gaze.

She recognized the expression in Damian's eyes.

The appearance of a murderer.

Lily realizes that James is the one who killed Damian. He is the assassin.