Her Heart Her Terms (Lily and Xavier)

Chapter 49 1/1

"Lily!" Maryanne shouted as she stood at the doorway. Her fiery red hair was pulled up into a bun. She was wearing a knitted sweater paired with a chic, knee-length tweed skirt. She flashed a playful smile at Lily and turned to Terence. "Terence, hurry and bring the groceries in!"

Standing directly in front of the peephole was Terence, who was holding two large bags of groceries. Lily opened the door wider to make room. "Maryanne, Terence, what are you two doing here?"

"What do you think?" Maryanne linked her arm with Lily's and stepped inside. "Why did you move here? You should've just stayed at my place! I wouldn't even charge you rent." Meanwhile, Terence placed the bags on the table and began organizing the groceries. He put them into the fridge.

Lily hadn't had time to buy any food, so the empty fridge quickly filled up.

The emptiness she had felt over the past couple of days was slowly easing.

"It's close to Lupier, so it's convenient for work," Lily explained.

"Terence said I lack boundaries and should give you some space, so fine, I won't bug you. However, every weekend, I'll be here to stick by your side!" Maryanne declared while dragging Lily to the couch.

She waved at Terence and said, "Terence, cook something good for her! She needs to eat more, she's too thin!"

Lily felt uncomfortable sitting around because it didn't feel right to have a guest do the cooking.

She stood up quickly. "I'll handle it!"

"No need, you two relax," Terence said while leaning against the dining table with his hands on the table.

Above him, the warm light of the dining room cast a soft golden glow around his frame.

"I'll help-"Before she could finish her sentence, she suddenly thought of something.

She thought, "He was the kind of man who seemed too perfect for this world, a true gentleman with a rare charm."

Terence was handsome, in a way that was completely different from Xavier's cold and distant allure.

Lily froze and was reluctant to move any closer. The kitchen was small, and with just her and Terence in there, it could get awkward.

"Come back and chat with me," Maryanne insisted. She pulled Lily back to the couch.

With a gentle gaze, Terence watched her for a moment before heading into the kitchen, where he rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He seemed calm and collected.

Feeling guilty, Lily tried to focus on her conversation with Maryanne but kept glancing at the kitchen to make sure Terence wasn't having trouble finding anything.

As she watched Terence busy himself in the kitchen, she couldn't help but think of Xavier.

Xavier had never set foot in a kitchen.

She had only ever seen two sides of Xavier. One was the stern, impeccably dressed businessman, who was always serious and distant.

The other was bare and vulnerable, in moments of passion and intensity.

Yet, he had never smiled at her the way he did with Sarah.

The difference between being loved and not being loved was very obvious.

"Lily, let's go hiking this weekend," Maryanne said while playing with a loose strand of her hair. "Terence can carry our bags, and we'll just enjoy the climb!"

Lily blinked and snapped out of her reverie. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?" Maryanne asked as she pouted. "He's been back for so long, and he hasn't spent any quality time with me. He already agreed that I get to plan his whole weekend!" Terence was clearly a doting brother. Only someone raised with such care and love could be as carefree and happy as Maryanne. Lily couldn't help but envy her.

"Terence is always busy. He should get some proper rest instead of hiking," Lily said.noveldrama

Terence might be an incredible older brother, but he wasn't her older brother.

She needed to respect that boundary and not be as casual as Maryanne was.

Maryanne dismissed Lily's concerns with a wave. "He works too much and needs exercise. Hiking is good for his health!"

She didn't give Lily any room to refuse and ran to the kitchen to talk it over with Terence.

Terence agreed without hesitation.

With the two siblings in agreement, Lily had no choice but to go along with it.

That Saturday morning, she found herself hiking with Maryanne and Terence.