Finding a lawyer

Twenty days had passed since Lily's successful heart transplant surgery. In that time, so much had changed. The memory of her interaction with Chris Eaton had faded, becoming almost dream-like in her mind. She had nearly convinced herself it was nothing more than an anesthesia-induced hallucination.

But on the twenty-first day, reality came crashing back.

Lily stood before the full-length mirror in her luxurious recovery room, which resembled a five-star hotel suite more than a hospital. She smoothed down the fabric of her cute sleeveless floral dress, admiring how it hugged her curves in all the right places. For the first time since her surgery, she had applied a full face of makeup, highlighting her newly sculpted features.

Never in her life had Lily looked this beautiful. The plastic surgery that had nearly cost her everything had transformed her into a true beauty. And now, with a healthy heart beating strongly in her chest, she truly felt like a new woman.

As she gazed at her reflection, drinking in every perfect detail, a movement behind her caught Lily's eye. The door to her room swung open, and in walked the man she had tried so hard to forget.

Chris Eaton, looking devastatingly handsome in a tailored suit, strode into the room with the confidence of someone who owned the place. Which, Lily realized with a sinking feeling, he probably did.

"Well, don't you look lovely, Mrs. Eaton," Chris said, his voice that same velvety rumble that had haunted her dreams. "I see you're feeling much better."

Lily's breath caught in her throat as the full weight of her situation came rushing back. 

"I... I thought I had imagined all of that," Lily stammered, turning to face him.

Chris's lips curled into that infuriating smirk. "I'm the real deal, sweety. As I said before, I always mean serious business. Trust me, it's not everyone that I grace with my serious presence."

Lily turned, adjusting her dress strap as she faced him, straining her neck to look up. She couldn't help but wonder just how tall he was. "You are so arrogant," she spat.

"I'll never ever accept that stupid contract I signed. I'll fight you with my lawyers once I get out of here."

"And I'm waiting," Chris winked at her, his tone dripping with condescension.

As he turned to leave, Lily felt a surge of anger coursing through her veins. His arrogance was infuriating. Sure, he might be handsome, wealthy, and the most desirable bachelor in town, but Lily knew the truth. He was trying to trap her, using their families' longstanding enmity as leverage.

More than that, Chris Eaton was nothing more than a bully. And if there was one thing Lily hated more than anything else in this world, it was bullies.

As the door closed behind him, Lily turned back to the mirror, drinking in her newfound beauty. Her reflection stared back at her, eyes blazing with determination.

"I'll stand up to him," she declared to her reflection. "I won't sulk down like I did in the past to the bullies. Not anymore."

Gone was the meek, insecure girl who had let others walk all over her. In her place stood a woman transformed, not just in looks but in spirit. Lily squared her shoulders, lifting her chin defiantly.

Chris Eaton might think he had her cornered, trapped in this ridiculous contract. But he had no idea who he was dealing with. 

After all, she had fought a battle to death and came back to life.

…

Lily slumped onto the couch in her room, her pajamas rumpled and her hair a mess. She let out a heavy sigh, feeling utterly defeated. It had been two days since she'd started her quest to find a lawyer willing to take on Chris Eaton, and she'd hit nothing but dead ends.

Not a single big-shot lawyer in New York City would touch her case. It was as if Chris had cast some sort of spell over the entire legal community. Lily couldn't help but wonder why everyone seemed so terrified of going up against him.

She pulled her knees up to her chest, resting her chin on them as she pondered her predicament. Just yesterday, she'd been discharged from the hospital and returned home. Her parents had finally stopped fighting, and there was a semblance of peace in the family. How would they react if they knew about this mess she was in?

That thought alone was enough to make Lily shudder. She'd conveniently hidden the truth from her parents, determined to settle this on her own. But now, faced with the impossible task of finding legal representation, she was beginning to realize just how screwed she truly was.

As she scrolled through her phone, reading yet another polite rejection from a law firm, Lily's mind wandered to the rumors she'd seen swirling around the internet about Chris Eaton. Political connections, ties to underground mafias, strings pulled in the highest echelons of power - it all seemed too fantastical to be true. And yet, how else could she explain the wall of silence she'd encountered in the legal community?

Lily tossed her phone aside, frustration building inside her. She'd fought a battle against death itself and come back victorious. But this? This felt like an entirely different kind of war, one she wasn't sure she was equipped to fight.

As she stared out the window at the twinkling lights of New York City, Lily couldn't shake the feeling that she was way over her head. Chris Eaton wasn't just wealthy and handsome - he was powerful in ways she was only beginning to understand.

But despite the growing sense of dread in the pit of her stomach, Lily refused to give up. She'd find a way out of this contract, even if she had to take on Chris Eaton and the entire city single-handedly. After all, she'd already cheated death once. What was one arrogant CEO compared to that?

Lily then dialed the number of her best friend Jude whose parents were one of the top lawyers. At least her one best friend will help her, or will she not?!