Chapter Thirteen:
The beeping filled the cabin.Slow,Sharp and Terrifying.Lily's heart pounded so loudly she could barely hear anything else.
She looked down at the small black remote beneath her shoe. A tiny red light blinked steadily.Beep. Beep .Beep.
Her father leaned against the wall, clutching his bleeding shoulder, yet smiling like he had already won
"Don't move," he said calmly.Her legs trembled"What… what happens if I move?"
He tilted his head and said "Everything exploded,Her breathing stopped.
Ethan slowly raised both hands, careful not to make sudden movements.
"Lily… listen to me," he said softly.
"I can't… I can't feel my legs," she whispered. "You're doing fine. Just stay still."
Outside, police sirens echoed over the water. Red and blue lights reflected across the river, flashing inside the cabin.
Her father chuckled weakly and said.
"They're too late."Ethan's eyes locked onto him."You're not walking away from this."
He shrugged slightly, wincing in pain. "I don't need to walk away."
The beeping continued.Lily's foot began to cramp."I… I can't hold this…"
"You can," Ethan said firmly.
She swallowed hard."What if I lose balance?"No one is losing balance," he replied.Her father suddenly spoke.
"There's only one way out."
Ethan's gaze snapped to him and said.
"I'm not signing anything."
"Not that."He nodded toward Lily's foot.
"She steps off… we all die."
There was silence.
Thick and heavy one,Then he continued.
"Unless…"
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"Unless what?"
Her father smiled faintly.
"unless You finish signing the transfer."
Lily shook her head."No… don't do it…"
Her voice trembled.
"Your company… everything you built…"
Ethan didn't look away from her.
"Nothing matters more than you."
Tears filled her eyes.
"Don't say that…" He stepped slightly closer. "Just hold on."
Her father laughed. "Romantic. But useless."He slid the document across the table with his uninjured hand.
"Sign it… and I'll tell her how to disarm it."
Lily's chest tightened.
"You know how to disarm this?" "Of course I do."Ethan hesitated and said.
"You're lying." "Am I?"
The beeping suddenly grew faster.
Beep… beep… beep…Lily gasped.
"It's speeding up!"Her father nodded calmly.
"Pressure timer. The longer she stands, the faster it counts down."Panic filled the cabin.
"How much time?" Ethan demanded.
"Not long."Lily felt her legs shaking uncontrollably.
"I'm going to fall…"she says!
"You're not," Ethan whispered.
But he looked at the document again and then looked at her.
Her father leaned forward, As the light was blinking ,then he said ."Ten seconds after she steps off… boom."everything will explode ,Lily's breathing became shallow.
"Ethan… don't…"
He picked up the pen.Her heart broke.
"No…" He began signing.
Her father smiled and said, Good choice."
footsteps rushed across the pier from outside, Voices shouted.
"MOVE IN!"
The police were closing in.
Her father frowned slightly,and was very Annoyed.
Ethan finished signing,then He pushed the paper forward.
"Tell me how to stop it.Her father took the document ,Checked it and was satisfied.
Then he looked at Lily and said.
"Very simple."
Her heart pounded."Tell me!"
"There's a second switch… under the table."
Ethan moved carefully,He knelt slowly.
His fingers searched beneath the table.
He found the small metal lever.
"I've see it." he said
Her father nodded."Pull it… slowly."
Ethan hesitated.
"You're sure?"
"Yes very sure."
Lily whispered, "Please hurry…" Ethan pulled the lever gently and the beeping stopped.
Silence filled the cabin.Lily gasped in relief.
"I… I think it's off…" Her father smiled.
"Yes. You can step away now."
Ethan nodded.
"Slowly, Lily."
She lifted her foot carefully,one inch and
Nothing happened,She stepped back fully.
Still nothing.Relief flooded her.
"Oh my God…"She nearly collapsed.
Ethan rushed forward and caught her.
"I've got you." She clung to him
"I thought I was going to die…"
"You're safe now."he said,
Behind them—Her father laughed a low and cold laugh.Ethan's eyes narrowed.
"What's funny?"Her father held up the remote.The same one But now… a second identical one.
Lily's blood turned to ice.
"You…"
"Yes," he said calmly. "That one was fake."
Her breathing stopped.
"You lied…"
"Of course I did." Ethan's grip tightened.
"You said it was disarmed."
"It was never armed."
Lily's knees weakened again.
"Then why—"Her father raised the real remote. "This one is the real one."
Ethan froze. "What?"
Her father smiled.
"The explosives are actually under the pier… not the cabin."
Police voices shouted outside.
"DROP THE DEVICE!"
Red laser sights appeared again.it was three this time On his chest,his head and his hand, but he didn't care. "If I press this… the pier collapses… and every officer out there goes into the water."
Lily whispered,"You're insane…"
He looked at her and said.
"No. I'm prepared."
Ethan stepped forward and told him,
"Don't do this."
He took a slow step toward the door.
Police were outside and they raised Weapons .
"PUT IT DOWN!"one of the police man said
He smiled and said Goodbye, Lily."
Her heart stopped,He pressed the button—
—but nothing happened. There was silence .His smile faded.
He pressed again and nothing happened
His eyes widened.
"What…?"
Ethan spoke quietly."I switched it off ."
Her father froze."When?" he whispered.
"When you made me sign the documents."
Lily's breath caught.
"You…?"Ethan held up the real detonator.
Her father's face went pale.
"You—"
Police burst into the cabin.
"DROP IT!"
They tackled him to the ground.
The remote fell and the handcuffs clicked,Lily exhaled in shock."It's over…"
Her father stared at Ethan.
"You think this ends here?"
"Yes," Ethan said calmly.
Her father smiled again."You still don't understand."Lily frowned.
"Understand what?"He looked at her.
"You were never the real target."
Her stomach dropped.
"What?"
He laughed softly. "They already have her."
Lily's heart stopped."Have who?"
His eyes locked onto hers.
"Your sister."
Silence exploded in her head.
"…I don't have a sister."
He smiled wider.
"That's what your mother told you."