Chapter 11 DEAN 288 Vouchers She had changed . Drastically . That was my first thought when I saw Lily walk into the ballroom . Gone was the soft - spoken , doll - ish little girl from a decade ago . In place of her was a stunning young woman with a commanding presence . And yes , I knew her name was actually Lilith now , but I still preferred calling her Lily . It suited her better . For most of the night , I stood in the shadows , nursing a drink and trying out the desserts while watching her . I saw the tension in her interactions with her parents - especially her mother . The polite but distant smile she gave her so - called best friend . The way she barely acknowledged and avoided her fiancé , Brandon . Then she disappeared outside . And not long after , the projector was set up . From the moment the footage started rolling , it was impossible not to make the connection . She had planned this . And the more I watched , the more I admired her . No , pitied her . And beneath that , I felt something dangerously close to anger . 08:49 Chapter 11 288 Vouchere Anger at them . Her parents . Her so - called friend . Her fiancé . The people who should've protected her , cherished her , had instead stabbed her in the back without hesitation . I wasn't exactly known for being charitable , but watching her stand alone in the middle of all this ... I felt an inexplicable urge to protect her . And what pissed me off the most ? Even now , her parents weren't comforting her . They looked at her like she was at fault for exposing the lies , not the victim of it . A behaviour typical of high society people . They'll always choose to sacrifice the truth over reputation . Any day , any time . What the victim went through will never matter to them . And then , just as I thought it couldn't get any worse , I saw as she was about to be dragged away by a man who I presumed was her father's secretary . Then , I saw her glance at the wine bottle on the table next to her. That was when I knew she was about to do something reckless . So I finally stepped out from the shadows , crossed the room and reached for her other wrist . It was too thin . Delicate . And cold- perhaps , a mirror of her inner world . 08.49 Chapter 11 238 uchers " Lily . " I said quietly , and let the faintest curve play on my lips - just enough to show my dimples She looked up , and when our eyes met , she froze . She had beautiful eyes , I noticed . Large and expressive . She didn't recognize me . I could tell from the wariness and unfamiliarity in her gaze . But then her eyes wandered to my mouth . Or rather , my cheeks . So she was one of those people who had a thing for dimples . I noted . I was about to speak when she beat me to it . " Are you also working for my dad ? " she asked coolly : " Here to assist Uncle Robert in ' helping ' me home? " I chuckled . Sharp tongue , but the way her eyes kept flicking toward my cheeks betrayed her . Still , I pretended not to notice . " No , " I replied , " I just didn't like the idea of someone dragging you away before the show's even over . " Before she could respond , I released her wrist and stepped between her and her father's secretary . " Sir , " I said politely , " mind letting her go now ? " The man's brows furrowed like it was second nature . " And who are you ? " 04.079 08:49 Chapter 11 I didn't get to answer as my arrival had already attracted attention . " Dean ?! " someone exclaimed I didn't even have to look to know who that shrill tone belonged to . Paula Clarke . Ħ web Wouchers She barreled over , eyeing me up and down with suspicion and wariness . " What are you doing here ? " Her husband followed behind her , questioning as he looked at me . " Are you the one behind today's exposé ? " Special mention that he was the man who contributed half my DNA - a fact that continued to make me feel deeply unclean . Murmurs ripped through the crowd . " Dean ? Isn't he Brandon's half - brother from Mr. Scott's first marriage ? " " The one who lives in Agate Country ? " " I heard he's a spoiled playboy who spends all day gaming ... " Someone had clearly been working overtime ruining my reputation . A clumsy move , I would say . After all , If I actually had the intention to return and compete for inheritance , no amount of false rumors would be able to stop me . 51.90 % 08:49 Chapter 11 I didn't get to answer as my arrival had already attracted attention " Dean ?! " someone exclaimed I didn't even have to look to know who that shrill tone belonged to . Paula Clarke . DA s She barreled over , eyeing me up and down with suspicion and wariness . " What are you doing here ? " Her husband followed behind her , questioning as he looked at me . " Are you the one behind today's exposé ? " Special mention that he was the man who contributed half my DNA - a fact that continued to make me feel deeply unclean . Murmurs ripped through the crowd . " Dean ? Isn't he Brandon's half - brother from Mr. Scott's first marriage ? " " The one who lives in Agate Country ? " " I heard he's a spoiled playboy who spends all day gaming ... " Someone had clearly been working overtime ruining my reputation . A clumsy move , I would say . After all , If I actually had the intention to return and compete for inheritance , no amount of false rumors would be able to stop me . 53.00 % 08:49 Chapter 11 Clowns . : 288 ( Vouchers Lilith looked up at me with widened eyes . " You're Dean ? " She seemed shocked and doubtful . Almost as if I wasn't supposed to be here ... " I haven't seen you in ten years , and you no longer recognize me ? " I said , tapping her forehead lightly . " I'm hurt , little Lily . " She covered the spot I touched , still staring at me like I'd grown a second head . Adorable . How could anyone bear to bully such a cutie ? Thinking of this , I turned to the unwelcome guests . " Hey , Paula , " I said . " You've aged so much that I barely recognized you . Thank goodness you could speak . " She glared at me in return . " Careful with the scowling ," I added with a playful smile . " You'll grow more wrinkles . You ' re already this ugly . Don't make it worse ." " Don't be disrespectful to your stepmother , Dean ! " my sperm donor barked , trying his best at the Father of the Year act . Absurd , considering that in the ten years since Mom and I left , I could count how many times I'd seen him on one hand - and still have fingers left over . I was genuinely curious - did he truly not realize that putting on such an act made him seem 674 08:49 Chapter 11 288 Vouchers like a joke ? I took a single glance at him . Nope . From the way he puffed up with self - righteousness , he clearly thought he was nailing this . Well , no point wasting my breath on brainless people . I turned to Mr. Caldwell instead , and got straight to the point . " If I remember correctly , " I said , loud enough for everyone to hear , " the oral agreement of this engagement was made while my mother was still married ... " Following my words , the room fell into an eerie silence , then a second later , it erupted into chaos . " What the hell ... " " Is he implying what I think he's implying ? " " I've heard of stealing a bride , but this ? This is next - level sh - t . " " His half - brother's fiancée , no less ? That's bold . " " So he's actually the one behind the expose ? " Beside me , Lilith turned sharply , her eyes confused and searching , as if trying to make sense of the situation . Of me . 08:49 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!