Cold Comfort

EPISODE 2

Lily put her phone down, staring out the window as the city lights blurred past. She was doing this for them, she reminded herself. She had made this choice for her family, to protect them from hardship. She only hoped that, somehow, she could survive this cold arrangement without losing herself entirely.

↓

↓

[Kingston penthouse]

[weeks later]

Lily adjusted her grip on her suitcase as she stood in the entrance of the Kingston penthouse. She has barely been able to sleep the night before, knowing that today was the day she would begin her life under Evan's roof.

She kept reminding herself that this was temporary, just two years of her life—but as she took in the towering glass walls and spotless floors, "temporary" felt like a distant dream.

It was strange thinking of it as "home." this wasn't her home. Thus was Evan's world, and she was here to play a part in it.

the entrance alone was grand and intimidating, with high ceilings, marble floors, and art that was clearly chosen for its price tag rather than any personal significance.

Lily felt as though she was entering a museum rather than a home. Every detail of this place seemed meticulously curated, down to no hint of warmth or personality, no sign that anyone actually lived here.

The entire space was silent. And Lily felt like her breathing alone might disturb the carefully maintained order.

"Miss Bennett?" A calm voice broke the silence, and Lily turned to see a woman standing just inside the doorway. She looked to be in her early thirties, with a professional air and her hair pinned back with perfect precision. She held a tablet in one hand and looked at Lily with a composed, almost mechanical expression.

↓

↓

"I'm Monica Chang, just call me 'Monica'." the woman said, inclining her head slightly. "Mr. Kingston's assistant. I've been instructed to help you settle in."

"Oh," Lily stammered, taken aback. "Thank you, Monica. I appreciate that."

Monica's polite smile remained intact, but her professional demeanor didn't change. She gave a curt nod and gesture for Lily to follow her further into the penthouse.

"This way," she said. "Mr. Kingston wanted your suite prepared in advance."

"Prepared in advance?" Lily repeated quietly, the words sounding strange. She could feel a knot forming in her stomach.

The way Monica spoke made her feel as if she were being shown to a guest room in a hotel rather than her own living space. She was starting to realize just how serious Evan had been about maintaining distance.

"Yes." Monica replied as they walked. "He wanted it to be... Suitable for your needs."

Lily's heart sank as she absorbed the coldness of those words. Evan had "prepared" a space for her, but she doubted he'd given any thought to her personal comfort. Her mind flashed to her old apartment, the cozy warmth of her bedroom with pictures of her family and mementos from her travels. Here, everything felt clinical and impersonal, an extension of Evan himself.

They arrive at her suite, a luxurious space with large windows overlooking the city skyline. The furniture was tasteful and modern, upholstered in shades of gray and cream.

Everything was in perfect order, but there wasn't a single thing that felt like her. She glanced around, looking for something to ground her, but there was nothing personal about the room at all.

"Thank you, Monica." Lily said softly, trying to mask her unease.

Monica gave her the same practice nod and turned to leave.

"If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call me. Mr. Kingston will be back later tonight. He has a very structured schedule, so please keep that in mind."

With that, Monica left, leaving Lily standing alone in her new room. She let out a long, shaky breath, her eyes scanning the space. She knew she should start unpacking, make herself feel a bit more settled, but it felt like a futile effort in a place like this. She could already feel the weight of Evan's coldness pressing down on her.

After a moment, she set her suitcase on the bed and began unpacking her things, trying to inject some warmth into her sterile space. She placed a small photo frame on the bedside table, a picture of her with her family at the beach when she was younger. It was one of her happiest memories, a reminder of who she was outside of this arrangement.

She continued unpacking, finding small ways to make the space feel a bit more like her own. But no matter what she did, the room remained cold and impersonal, just like the man she was now bound to.

...

A few hours later, Lily wandered out of her suite and into the main study, hoping to familiarize herself with the layout of the penthouse. She was almost startled to see a small white envelope with her name written on it, resting on the sleek glass desk.

She picked it up, and as she unfolded the note inside, her heart sank.

Miss Bennett,

Here is a list of our agreed-upon terms. Your adherence to these will ensure a smooth coexistence. I expect you to maintain a professional attitude at all times. I prefer an orderly and quiet environment; disruptions should be kept to a minimum.

–Evan Kingston

Underneath his terse message was a typed list of "guidelines", each one meticulously phrased. She was expected to attend any public events that required her presence, to maintain appearances in line with the Kingston family's standards, and to avoid discussing their arrangement with anyone outside of immediate family. She was to avoid any disruptions, keep noise to a minimum, and be "mindful of the schedule."

Lily stared at the note, feeling a mix of anger and sadness. Every word felt like another reminder that she was nothing more than an accessory in Evan's life.

She was here to fulfill his requirements, not to be his partner. This wasn't a marriage—it was an agreement, cold and transactional.

↓

Days passed, and each one felt like an eternity. Evan continued to keep his distance, coming home late each night and moving through the penthouse like a ghost. Their interactions were limited to brief, polite exchange that never went beyond the essentials.

Whenever she tried to start a conversation, he would respond in clipped, formal sentences, as if he were speaking to a stranger.

The penthouse was beautiful, but it felt like a prison. Lily found herself wandering through the rooms aimlessly, trying to pass the hours.

She read books, watched televisions, anything to distract herself from the emptiness. But no matter what she did, she couldn't shake the loneliness that crept into every corner of the space.

...

One evening, after yet another silent dinner, she decided she couldn't take it anymore. She needed answers—she needed to understand if this arrangement felt as empty to Evan as it did to her.

She waited until he came back from his study, his face illuminated by the soft glow of his phone screen as he typed something.

"Evan?" she called, her voice sounding hesitant even to her own ears.

He looked up, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Yes?"

She took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "I... Wanted to talk. About this arrangement."

Hus brow furrowed slightly, and he crossed his arms, looking at her with a hint of impatience. "What about it?"

"It doesn't feel real," she said, her words coming out in a rush.

"We're supposed to be living together, yet you barely look at me. I feel like I'm just... An accessory here, like I don't belong."

Evan's face remained expressionless. "Thus is a business arrangement, Lily," he said, his voice as cold as ever. "You agreed to this. You knew what it would entail."

Her heart twisted at his words, but she pushed forward. 'So that's it? I'm just a contract to you?"

He shrugged, the indifference in his eyes stinging more than any words could.

"That's all any of this is. A contract. I didn't ask you to be here for companionship. I have no need for that. You're here to fulfill a role—nothing more."

Lily felt a flash of anger rising within her, stronger than any feeling she'd had since moving in. "So, you feel nothing at all? This doesn't affect you?"

He stared at her, his expression hardening. "Feelings have no place in this arrangement. I agreed to this because it serves a purpose. I don't expect you to understand, but I would appreciate it if you respected my terms."

His words were like ice, each one slicing through her fragile composure. She could see now that there was no breaking through his walls. He had made up his mind to keep her at her arm's length, to treat her as little more than a convenience.

"Fine" she said, her voice laced with quiet resentment.

"If that's what you want."

Evan's gaze didn't soften. He simply nodded, as if that settled everything, and turned away, leaving her standing in the middle of the room with her emotions tangled and raw.

Lily watched him walk down the hall and disappear into his study, the door closing with a quiet finality that seemed to echo through the empty penthouse.

The loneliness she'd felt before was nothing compared to the ache that filled her now. She was trapped here, bound to a man who saw her as a tool, an asset to be used and then discarded.

She sank onto the couch, staring blankly at the surrounding walls. This was her life now, a cold, existence defined by a contract. She had known what she was getting into, but somehow, hearing him say it so plainly made it all feel so much worse.

Her phone buzzed, and she looked down to see a message from her mother. "Are you okay?"

She hesitated for a moment, then typed a quick response. "Yes, Mom. Everything is fine."

But as she stared at the words on her screen, she knew they were a lie. Nothing about this arrangement felt fine, and deep down, she wasn't sure she'd ever feel that again.

...

...

...

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***