Chapter 41

As the door slammed shut behind them, the lively sounds of the party faded into a tense silence that enveloped Ethan’s old bedroom. The air was thick with unresolved tension, and Lily’s heart raced—with anger. She felt the heat of Ethan’s body close to hers as he backed her against the wall, his grip on her wrist firm and unyielding.

“Let me go, Ethan!” she demanded, struggling to free herself from his hold, her voice steady despite the fury coursing through her.

Ethan leaned in closer, his face mere inches from hers, eyes blazing with a mix of rage and jealousy. “How can you talk to him, Lily? You know he’s my enemy.”

She shot back, her voice sharp as a knife, “He’s your enemy! For me, he’s the person who invested his money in my company. And anyway, why do you even care? We’re divorced! Why don’t you just take care of your mistress and leave me the hell alone?”

His grip on her wrist tightened, a flicker of disbelief crossing his face. “You’re not going to meet Lewis again. That’s final.”

“And why do you think I will follow your orders?” she spat, her eyes narrowing.

Ethan stared at her, realizing she was no longer the submissive wife he once knew. She had changed, and the fire in her eyes reflected a strength he hadn’t anticipated. “Why do you care if I date Lewis? Didn’t you cheat on me when we were married? You got your mistress pregnant! Why do you want loyalty from me when you don’t even know what loyalty is?”

Her words hit him like a punch, and he felt his grip loosen as his jaw clenched, his eyes burning with frustration. “Lily, don’t cross the line.”

“Cross the line?” she echoed, incredulous. “What the fuck are you even thinking? Killing my child? You already crossed the line, Ethan! You have no right over me now, so leave me the hell alone.”

With that, she pushed him away and turned towards the door, ready to escape the suffocating atmosphere. But before she could reach it, Ethan’s hand shot out, grabbing her waist and pinning her against the wall again, his grip now tightening around her throat, though not enough to hurt—just enough to assert his dominance.

“Stop blaming me for killing that bastard child of yours,” he hissed, his voice low and dangerous.

Lily’s heart raced with a mix of fear and fury. She couldn’t bear the weight of his words any longer. In a swift motion, she slapped him hard across the face, the sound echoing in the confined space. “When will you realize what you did? It's too late for apologies. Fuck off!”

She opened the door, but the moment she stepped out, she froze. Standing there, wide-eyed and clearly surprised, was Sarah.

Both Lily and Ethan were caught off guard. Ethan’s expression shifted to one of irritation, his anger bubbling just beneath the surface, while Lily felt a rush of contempt wash over her.

“Lily…” Ethan began, but she didn’t wait for him to finish. Ignoring him completely, she walked past Sarah, her heart pounding in her chest.

“Ethan, what’s going on?” Sarah asked, her voice laced with concern, but Lily didn’t care to hear his explanations. She was done with the drama, done with the lies.

Ethan’s eyes followed Lily as she exited, a mixture of frustration and regret etched on his features. “It’s nothing, Sarah,” he said, his voice strained. “What are you doing here?”

Lily didn’t look back. She had fought too hard to reclaim her independence, and she refused to let Ethan drag her back into his chaotic world.

Ethan stood in the doorway, his irritation barely masked beneath a thin veneer of concern. “Why are you here?” he asked, glancing back at Sarah with a mix of annoyance and protectiveness. “It’s a business party. You should be resting at home.”

Sarah crossed her arms, disbelief and frustration flashing across her face. “You want me to stay home while you chase after your ex-wife? What’s going on with you, Ethan? You never loved her! Why are you suddenly so interested in her life after the divorce?”

Ethan’s jaw tightened, irritation flaring in his eyes. “This isn’t about her. Stop making this about Lily. Just go home right now. We’ll talk later.”

Hurt and anger surged within Sarah, but she turned on her heel, storming away from him. As she walked through the garden, her mind raced with thoughts of betrayal and jealousy. How could Ethan be so easily swayed?

Sarah’s eyes caught sight of Lily, standing by the pond, staring into the water as if searching for answers in its depths. The sight of Ethan’s ex-wife ignited a fire in Sarah’s chest. Without thinking, she marched over to Lily, her heart pounding with indignation.

“You think you can just show up and act like everything is fine?” Sarah snapped, her voice dripping with venom. “You’re the reason Ethan and I are having issues!”

Lily turned, her expression a mix of surprise and annoyance. “Are you dumb? It’s Gray’s company party, and I’m the new CEO. I didn’t come here to cause trouble, Sarah. I’m just here for business. You need to stop blaming me for your problems.”

“Stop blaming you?” Sarah scoffed, stepping closer, her voice rising with each word. “You’re trying to worm your way back into his life! You just can’t let go, can you?”

Lily’s eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. “Why do you always think I want Ethan back? Am I not that stupid, like you? You can have him; I don’t care! Why can’t you keep your man to yourself? Why does he follow me all the time? What kind of mistress are you, Sarah? Even after having his child, you still don’t have any control over him. Pathetic!”

As soon as those words left Lily’s mouth, a surge of rage coursed through Sarah. Without a second thought, she raised her hand to slap Lily across the face. But Lily was quicker, catching Sarah’s wrist mid-swing, their eyes locked in a fierce battle of wills.

“Don’t you dare!” Lily shouted, her grip firm as they both struggled for balance. The tension between them reached a boiling point, and in their heated exchange, they lost their footing on the slippery grass.

With a sudden, jarring motion, both women tumbled backward into the pond, which was deeper than either had anticipated. The cold water enveloped them, pulling them under with an icy grip.