Lily’s body was wheeled out. I stared at the
wound on her head and sobbed. She was
scheduled for surgery the next day to correct
a congenital condition. She wouldn’t have to
envy other children running and playing. She
would finally be free. But now… Olivia had
taken that from her. And her father, her own
father, was protecting her killer.
I knew Olivia wanted Ethan, and I knew I
couldn’t compete. But I never imagined she’d
take my last remaining family member, in such a cruel way.
I wiped my tears, pulling myself up. “Lily, Mommy will get justice for you.”
L
I demanded the security footage from the
hospital. But the staff refused. “Ms. Reed, we
understand your grief, but we cannot release
the footage.” The implication was clear. The
Blake family had intervened:
I tried to find witnesses, but everyone avoided
- me. One even said, “ Reed, you can’t
expect us to lose our jobs just because your
daughter died.” I looked at their faces, their
fear, their resentment, and knew I couldn’t
force them. The Blake family’s power was
absolute.
Without evidence, the police wouldn’t help
- me.
L
I returned to Lily’s body, only to find Ethan
standing there. He turned to me, his voice
hard. “Sarah, if you try to hurt Olivia because
of that bastard, you’ll regret it.
I slapped him. “Ethan, are you even human?
She was my daughter!”
He turned his head, his cheek reddening. My
body trembled, my heart breaking. He
slammed me against the wall. “Sarah, you’ve
gotten bold. You dare hit me? I could make it
so you never see that bastard’s body again.”
“Ethan, you’re insane!”
He stared at me, then smiled. “Yes, I am. And
I can be much worse. You left me, Sarah.
There are consequences. You should be
begging for my mercy.”
It was a familiar threat. Even with the money
I’d earned, my mother’s illness progressed.
After she died, I’d tried to leave Ethan. He’d
confiscated my ID, my passport, put a tracker
on my phone, had me followed everywhere.
I’d threatened suicide, and he’d finally
relented. But then, no hotel, no landlord would
rent to me. I ended up sleeping in a park,
where I was almost assaulted. Ethan had
(c
rescued” me. Even knowing he’d
orchestrated the whole thing, I was trapped. I
had no choice but to return to him. I’d only
escaped because Olivia, eager to secure
^
Ethan, had deliberately drawn his security
away, giving me a window to flee.
