The kiss burned through Lily like wildfire, igniting something deep and undeniable within her. Ethan’s hands gripped her waist, his fingers pressing into her skin as if he couldn’t bear to let her go.
And for a moment, she didn’t want him to.
But reality was cruel.
A sharp knock on the door shattered the moment.
Ethan broke the kiss, his breath ragged, his forehead resting against hers.
Lily’s heart pounded, not just from the lingering heat of his touch, but from the sudden, crushing realization of what they’d just done.
What it meant.
She pulled back, her hands slipping away from his shirt as the knock came again—louder this time.
"Ethan," Alejandro’s voice called from the other side. "We have a problem."
Ethan exhaled harshly, his jaw tightening. Without another word, he turned and pulled the door open.
Alejandro stood there, his face grim.
Lily straightened, trying to regain her composure.
"What is it?" Ethan asked, his tone all business now, as if the last few minutes had never happened.
Alejandro’s eyes flickered to Lily before settling back on Ethan. "Daniel woke up."
Lily’s stomach clenched.
Ethan’s gaze darkened. "Did he talk?"
Alejandro hesitated. "Yes. But you’re not going to like what he said."
The basement of the safe house was dimly lit, the only sound the faint hum of a flickering light overhead.
Daniel sat in the center of the room, his hands tied behind the chair, his face bruised and bloodied. But despite the wounds, he still managed a smirk as Ethan and Lily stepped inside.
Lily hated that look. The smug, infuriating glint in his eyes that said he still held power.
Ethan crossed the room in two strides, grabbing Daniel’s shirt and yanking him forward. "Where is Carlisle?"
Daniel chuckled, his voice hoarse but mocking. "That’s the question, isn’t it?" He licked his split lip, eyes flicking to Lily. "But I don’t think she’ll like the answer."
Lily’s nails dug into her palms. "Just say it."
Daniel sighed dramatically. "Fine. If you insist." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "Your husband has been working with Carlisle all along."
Silence.
For a second, Lily didn’t breathe.
Then she laughed, the sound hollow. "You’re lying."
Daniel’s smirk widened. "Am I?"
Ethan’s grip on Daniel’s shirt tightened. "You expect us to believe that?"
"I expect you to put the pieces together," Daniel drawled. "Think about it. Carlisle always seemed one step ahead, didn’t he? Always knew when and where to strike. And who was closest to her before she came running to you, Ethan?" He tilted his head at Lily. "Her dear, devoted husband."
Lily’s body felt like it had turned to ice.
No.
There was no way.
James had betrayed her, humiliated her—but working with Carlisle? No. That wasn’t possible.
Ethan glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "Lily—"
She shook her head. "No."
Daniel sighed. "Oh, sweetheart. You don’t have to take my word for it." He leaned back, stretching as much as his bindings allowed. "But maybe you should check his bank accounts. His phone records. The meetings he had late at night." His smile turned vicious. "Or, better yet, maybe you should ask him yourself."
Her stomach twisted painfully.
Ethan didn’t hesitate. He pulled out his phone and sent a quick message.
"Looking into it," Alejandro said from the doorway, already dialing someone.
Daniel yawned. "Took you long enough."
Lily’s mind raced. James had already hurt her in ways she could never forget, but to think he had been helping the man who wanted her dead?
It didn’t make sense.
Unless...
A horrifying thought crept into her mind.
What if she had been the target all along?
What if James had never planned for her to escape?
What if it had all been a setup?
Her hands clenched at her sides, but before she could speak, Alejandro reentered the room, his face even grimmer than before.
Ethan turned to him. "Well?"
Alejandro nodded. "It’s true."
The words hit like a physical blow.
Lily staggered back, shaking her head. "No..."
"I had my guy check James’s financials," Alejandro continued. "There are multiple deposits—large sums of money—transferred from accounts linked to Carlisle’s associates. And the timing? Matches with some of Carlisle’s biggest moves against you."
Lily felt like the ground beneath her had disappeared.
James had been involved.
All along.
Ethan stepped forward, his voice softer now. "Lily—"
She turned away, trying to control her breathing, her thoughts.
But it was useless.
Everything she had believed—every bit of anger, every bit of hurt—had been based on the assumption that James had betrayed her alone.
But he hadn’t just betrayed her.
He had sold her.
Ethan’s hand brushed her arm. "Lily, talk to me."
She forced herself to meet his gaze, her vision blurred. "I—I need a minute."
Ethan nodded but didn’t let her go completely. His touch remained, grounding her.
Daniel, meanwhile, was watching with open amusement. "Ah, the truth hurts, doesn’t it?" He sighed dramatically. "I almost feel bad for you."
Ethan turned on him in an instant, his fist connecting with Daniel’s jaw so hard that the chair nearly toppled over.
Daniel groaned, spitting blood onto the floor. "Touchy."
Ethan exhaled sharply, shaking out his fist before looking back at Lily.
She inhaled deeply, forcing herself to push past the pain, the betrayal, the overwhelming storm raging inside her.
James had betrayed her.
Carlisle was still out there.
And now, she had another reason to end this once and for all.
Her voice was steady when she finally spoke. "We find James."
Ethan’s eyes darkened. "And then?"
She didn’t hesitate. "We make him talk."
Daniel chuckled weakly from the ground. "Now that’s the spirit."
Lily ignored him.
Her hands trembled, but she curled them into fists, forcing herself to push forward.
She had spent too long being manipulated.
Too long being someone else’s pawn.
It ended now.
Ethan’s gaze searched hers, and for a moment, she thought he might try to stop her.
But instead, he just nodded.
"I’m with you."
And Lily knew—this wasn’t just about revenge anymore.
This was about taking back control.
About exposing every secret.
And when she finally confronted James—when she finally stood face to face with the man who had once vowed to love her—
She wouldn’t be the same woman he had betrayed.
She would be stronger.
And he would regret everything.