Chapter 41

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Lando

As Lily nestled against my chest, her breathing slowly evening out, my mind was racing. The anger I felt was simmering just below the surface, a low burn that threatened to flare up at any moment. 

Seeing those vile messages on her phone had been a punch to the gut. I couldn't believe that people—fans, no less—could be so cruel. It made me sick to think that Lily had been dealing with this alone, suffering in silence while I was oblivious.

I glanced down at her, watching as she tried to relax. She looked so fragile, so vulnerable, and it broke my heart. 

The girl who had always been so strong, so full of life, was now reduced to this—afraid, anxious, and hurt. All because of a bunch of faceless cowards hiding behind their screens.

I tightened my hold on her, as if by holding her closer, I could protect her from the world. But deep down, I knew that wasn't enough. I couldn't shield her from everything, no matter how much I wanted to. What I could do, though, was stand by her, fight alongside her, and make sure she knew she wasn't alone.

But first, I needed to make sure she was okay.

"Lily, baby" I murmured, my voice low so as not to startle her. "Are you feeling any better?"

She nodded against my chest, but I could feel the slight tremor in her body. "A little. It helps knowing you're here."

"I'm always here," I assured her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "And I'm not going anywhere."

She let out a shaky sigh, her fingers clutching at my shirt as if she was afraid I might slip away. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, Lando. I just...I didn't want to make things harder for you."

I frowned, my heart clenching at her words. "You don't have to be sorry, love. I just wish you hadn't tried to handle this on your own. You're not a burden to me, Lily. You're the most important person in my life. I need to know when something's wrong so I can help."

She lifted her head slightly, her eyes meeting mine, and the raw emotion in them made my breath catch. "I didn't want to make you worry."

"I'd rather worry about you than be kept in the dark," I said gently, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "We're in this together, okay? You don't have to face anything alone."

She gave me a small, watery smile, and I could see the relief in her eyes. "Okay."

I held her gaze for a moment, making sure she understood how serious I was, before I kissed her forehead again. "We're going to get through this. We'll report those messages, block those accounts, and take a break from social media if we need to. But most importantly, we're not going to let them win."

She nodded, leaning into my touch, and I felt a surge of determination. I wasn't going to let these idiots ruin what we had. 

I wasn't going to let them make Lily feel like she didn't belong in my life, because she did. She was my world, and I'd do whatever it took to protect her.

We spent the rest of the evening in each other's arms, talking through everything. Lily was hesitant at first, clearly still rattled by the whole situation, but I made sure to reassure her every step of the way. I wanted her to know that I wasn't just saying words—I meant them. I was here for her, no matter what.

As the night wore on, I could feel her starting to relax again. The tension in her shoulders eased, and she began to smile more, her usual lightheartedness creeping back in. 

It was a relief to see, but I knew this wasn't over. The damage had been done, and it would take time for her to heal from it.

Eventually, we turned off the TV, the movie long forgotten, and decided to head to bed. I knew she needed rest, and honestly, so did I. 

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