A Heart Eclipsed by Shadows

It was Lylith. She stood in the living room wearing a white shirt and jeans.

Chuck spoke up. "Lylith just got back to the country. The problem is, good jobs won't take someone without experience. Since you're hurt, I thought hiring her to look after you would be the best move."

Lylith smiled and gave Lorrie a little wave. "Ms. Scarrow, it's really nice to meet you."

Lorrie didn't even glance at Lylith. Instead, she snapped, "We agreed to keep her out of my sight. Or did you forget?"

"Look, I've got a ton of work coming up. If Lylith's here taking care of you, at least I'll know you're safe," Chuck said.

But Lorrie wasn't fooled. She knew he wanted Lylith living under their roof.

She ignored them both and headed back to her room.

Lylith's voice followed her, filled with hurt. "What am I supposed to do? I don't think Ms. Scarrow wants me around."

Chuck reassured her. "Don't worry about it. Just help where you can. I'm the one paying you, so don't overthink it."

Before long, Chuck had a chef from a star-rated restaurant prepare a full spread, with every single one of Lylith's favorite dishes.

As Chuck piled another helping onto Lylith's plate for the tenth time, she set her fork down and said, "Honestly, the chef's skills are overrated. You know what this needs? A little more spice."

Her eyes flicked pointedly toward Lorrie.

Chuck acted like he hadn't seen a thing. "Yeah, it could use more flavor. The spice rack is in the kitchen if you want it."

"But I'm not sure where you keep it..."

Chuck spoke to Lylith in a gentle voice. "You'll get familiar with everything soon enough."

He stood and made his way to the kitchen for the spices.

The instant Chuck wasn't looking, Lylith's pleasant mask slipped, her face contorting into something ugly.

"I heard you were at the bar three days ago, too. Then you probably already know Chuck paid 100 times my usual rate to book me for the whole month. He was afraid I'd run into another drunk guy, so he bought out the entire bar. I never have to go back to work anymore."

Lorrie said nothing.

"Not talking, huh? Guess you've figured out you're just a stand-in." Lylith smirked, her voice thick with disdain.

"Chuck and I started dating when we were just 17. We lived in this tiny rental, sharing a single bed and surviving on leftover food from the restaurant. I stuck with him through his hardest years, back when his family left him with nothing and pushed him out into the world to toughen him up.

"He worked three jobs a day to afford a birthday present for me. It didn't matter if it was pouring rain or blazing sun, he'd still haul himself to work every time.

"When I caught a cold, he stayed up all night wiping me down, bringing me water, and making sure I took my medicine. Even now, all it takes is a word from me, and he'll stop what he's doing to help.

"Face it, Lorrie. Chuck only has eyes for me. He loves me more than he loves himself. You're just another nobody in his little stand-in collection. Now that I'm back, you're nothing!"

Lorrie's hands shook faintly. She used to believe that someone as proud and privileged as Chuck would seethe with hatred after Lylith left him.

She thought love could never grow where hate had taken root. But now she saw the truth—his hate ran just as deep as his love.

Lorrie steadied herself. "You're overthinking it. Honestly, I couldn't care less. It's not like I'm dying to marry Chuck or anything."

The second the words slipped out, Chuck's voice came behind her. "What did you just say, Lorrie?"