Chapter 14 - Lily's Courage
The moment I saw Lily's name on the document, I stopped breathing.
"No."
Charles immediately took the file.
His expression changed.
"He planned this."
The document described everything.
Not just revenge against Charles.
Not just destroying Ryan.
Destroying my family.
Michael wanted me to lose everything.
My husband.
My father.
My daughter.
He wanted me alone.
Because that was how revenge worked.
It didn't just hurt the person you hated.
It destroyed everyone around them.
I went upstairs and found Lily sleeping.
I sat beside her bed.
Watching her breathe.
A few months ago, she was just a little girl doing homework at the kitchen table.
Then one night...
She became the person who saved me.
The next morning, Lily came downstairs.
She looked at everyone.
"Are we safe now?"
My heart broke.
Because children should ask about cartoons.
Not safety.
I knelt beside her.
"We're going to be okay."
She looked at me.
"Because Grandpa is here?"
I smiled.
"Because we're together."
She hugged me.
And for the first time in months...
I felt hope.
But hope didn't mean the danger was gone.
That afternoon, Michael sent a message.
A video.
In it, he sat in a dark room.
"You think you've won?"
Charles watched silently.
Michael smiled.
"You found my files."
A pause.
"But you still don't know where I am."
Then he looked directly at the camera.
"Emily."
My blood ran cold.
"You understand losing something you love."
The video ended.
Seconds later, another message arrived.
A location.
A time.
And one sentence.
"Come alone."
Charles immediately shook his head.
"No."
But I knew.
Michael wanted me.
Not my father.
Not Ryan.
Me.
And I had to decide.
May you like
Would I run?
Or would I finally fight back?
