Chapter Nine:
Headlights blinded her,The car sped straight toward Lily.
"LILY!" Ethan shouted.
Everything happened in a split second.he lunged forward and shoved her hard. She fell to the ground.The car missed her by inches.
But it didn't miss Ethan.The impact was brutal.The sound echoed across the empty road.Lily screamed.
"ETHAN!!!"
His body slammed onto the hood… then rolled onto the ground.
The car didn't stop,It sped away into the darkness.Lily crawled toward him, shaking.
"No… no… no…"Ethan lay still and blood near his forehead. His breathing shallow.
Her hands trembled as she touched him.
"Ethan… wake up… please…"
He groaned faintly,Relief flooded her.
"I'm here… I'm here…"he opened his eyes weakly."You… okay?"
Tears streamed down her face.
"I should be asking you that!"he tried to sit up ,but pain shot through him. He winced.
"Don't move!" she cried.he grabbed her wrist. Ethan asked lily "Did… you get hurt?"
She shook her head."No… you pushed me away…"His voice weak but firm— "Good."
Sirens in the distance.
Daniel had called emergency services.
Lily held Ethan's hand tightly.
"I'm sorry… this is all because of me…"he shook his head slightly. "No… it's not…"
Her voice broke."I won't go. I won't leave you."He looked at her and said,"You have to…because of your mom…"
Her heart twisted."I can't leave you like this."
"You have to choose…" Tears fell onto his shirt. "I hate this…"He squeezed her hand weakly."Listen to me… don't go alone…"
But she already knew she would,because her mother's life depended on it.
The ambulance arrived.paramedics rushed out.they lifted Ethan onto a stretcher.
Lily held his hand until they pulled him away.
"I'll come to the hospital," she whispered.
He shook his head weakly."No… go get… your mom…"Her heart shattered.
"I'll come back… I promise."
He tried to smile,then the ambulance doors closed and he was gone.
Minutes later, Lily stood alone on the road.
The address still on her phone.Sophia's trap waiting,Her hands trembled But she had made her choice, She ordered a taxi.
"Take me here," she told the driver.
The man nodded.The ride felt endless.
Her heart pounded the entire time.
Finally, they reached an abandoned warehouse.dark,Silent and Terrifying.
She stepped out alone and the taxi left.
No turning back. She walked toward the entrance,The door creaked open.
Inside… dim lights.Footsteps echoed.
Then Sophia appeared so elegant as ever,smiling.
"You came alone. I'm impressed."
Lily's voice shook. "Where's my mom?"
Sophia gestured behind her.
Two men dragged Lily's mother forward.
Alive and weak,Relief crashed over Lily.
"Let her go."Sophia tilted her head.
"You first."lily stepped forward slowly.
"No tricks," she said.
Sophia smirked. "You're not in a position to negotiate."
Lily reached them. The men pushed her mother toward the exit.
"Lily…" her mother cried weakly.
"I'm okay," Lily whispered,The door opened.
Her mother was taken outside,Lily exhaled.
She told her mum that It was over. But sophia clapped slowly and said "Touching."
Lily frowned and said,"But you promised."
"I said maybe."
Fear crept into Lily's chest."What do you mean?"Sophia stepped closer.
"I never planned to let you walk away." Lily backed up.
"You have what you want… I stayed away…"
Sophia's smile faded, "No. I want you gone."The men grabbed Lily's arms.
She struggled. "Let me go!" Sophia pulled out her phone.
"You really thought this was about love?"
Lily's heart pounded. "Then what?"
Sophia showed her the screen.
News headline.
Blackwood Holdings Stock Drops Amid Family Conflict.Lily frowned.
"I don't understand…"Sophia smiled coldly.
"If Ethan loses control… I gain everything."
Realization hit."This is business… not jealousy."Sophia's eyes glittered.
"You were just the perfect bait."
Lily's stomach dropped."You used me…"
"Yes I did." The men dragged Lily backward. And she was frighten and asked them, "Where are you taking me to?!"
Sophia turned away and said, "to make you disappear."
Lily struggled harder and then said,"Ethan will find me!"Sophia laughed softly and said.
"He's in the hospital… and he doesn't even know where you are."Her heart dropped on hearing that. They dragged her deeper into the warehouse toward a dark stairwell downstairs,With Cold air and a Metal door.
One man opened the door, it was just a small locked room.they shoved her inside and the door slammed shut. It was now a total darkness inside there.
Lily pounded on the door harder and was shouting ."HELP!"
Then there was silence, Footsteps faded.
She was trapped alone.Then…her phone vibrated in her pocket,She froze and said to "herself",They didn't take it.She pulled it out and It was an unknown message,she opened it."Her heart stopped".
Don't panic. I tracked you. I'm outside. — Ethan" wrote",Her eyes filled with hope.
But before she could reply…she heard footsteps returning,and the lock outside… starting to open.