Blue Ribbon

Chapter 45 - Yellow Ribbon

Note: the song above is the one Chase will say below. Just for your information.

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"A child weaned on poison considers harm a comfort."

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One Week Later...

Lilly's POV

The music was blasting in my ears, and I couldn't help but dance around the living room. With a feather duster in one hand, I glided gracefully across the floor. My favorite song filled the room, and I hummed along, a beaming smile on my face. It was just me, the music, and a mission to conquer the dust. I felt like I was dancing through life, twirling with the rhythm of the beat.

Lately, things have taken a turn for the better. The shattered pieces of my life were slowly falling back into their rightful places.

At work, I was thriving, my focus and motivation unwavering as I excelled in every task assigned to me. With Nathan's capture, I could breathe easily, knowing he wouldn't reappear to torment me with his cryptic messages. Christian had stayed away since Nathan's capture, and Emma had fully recovered, her health a comforting source of relief. Chase's flight schedule was more flexible lately, and we were spending almost every day together.

However, one aspect continued to tug at my heart, leaving me with a lingering ache—my dad's distant attitude. But I refused to give up. Tomorrow, I had resolved to open up and talk to him. I would explain everything, and I was ready to do whatever it took to mend what I had broken. He was my father, and I was still his little bug. I was determined not to let anything else tarnish or destroy that pure relationship.

As the song reached its crescendo, I resumed my dance and spun around, but to my surprise, my eyes locked with Chase's, arms crossed and leaning against the doorframe, admiringly watching me do my silly dance all around the house. I gasped, and my feet halted to a sudden pause. I pressed my palm over my chest, "Stop sneaking up on me like this!" I shot out, trying to recover from my mini heart attack.

A soft, affectionate chuckle vibrated from him before he straightened himself, a mischievous glint in his eyes as he moved closer, and wrapped his strong arms around me from behind, "I knocked but I think you were too busy in your own little world."

I leaned into his embrace and tried to calm down my erratic heartbeats. The duster slipped from my hand, forgotten, as we spontaneously swayed together to the music. The melody continued to fill the room, and Chase held me from behind. My head nestled against his chest, and I could feel the steady beat of his heart matching the rhythm of the song.

It was a moment of perfect synchrony, a dance of happiness and pure contentment.

Our bodies moved in flawless harmony. With my eyes closed, I surrendered to the moment. Unable to resist, I joined in with the lyrics, singing along with my untalented, less-than-melodic voice, which earned me a chuckle from Chase, "Baby, why didn't you tell me you had such a distinctive voice?" He teased.

Using my position to my advantage, I playfully elbowed him in the stomach, "Shut up," I mumbled, pouting, and he laughed lowly before planting a tender kiss on my temple. My heart soared with a bittersweet wistfulness. When I was with him, it felt as if the entire world had vanished, leaving just the two of us in an affectionate and tender embrace.

"I heard you are the one with the nice voice," I commented, "Will you ever sing for me?"

I felt his soft lips leave a gentle kiss right below my ear before he whispered, "What do you want me to sing?"