Chapter 48

The door slammed shut behind Sarah, reverberating in the stillness of the meeting room. Ethan stood there, his heart racing and his mind swirling with a tumult of emotions. The confrontation had left him reeling, and the weight of Sarah’s accusations hung heavily in the air. He felt anger, yes, but also a deep sense of betrayal and confusion.

Ethan ran a hand through his hair, pacing the room as he replayed the exchange in his mind. How had things spiraled so far out of control? He had always believed he was doing what was best for the company, but now it felt like everything was crumbling around him. The thought of Lily’s power play gnawed at him, and Sarah’s hurtful words echoed relentlessly.

He glanced at the contract lying on the table, the stark reality of Clause D glaring back at him. It was a reminder of the precarious situation they were all in—one that he had not fully understood until now. He had thought he could manage the complexities of the business and his personal life, but the two had collided in a way he hadn’t anticipated.

Meanwhile, Lily strode down the hallway, her mind racing with the decisions she had just made. She felt empowered, but beneath that confidence lay a flicker of uncertainty. The confrontation with Ethan had been intense, and while she had asserted her authority, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the battle was far from over.

Mia caught up with her, a supportive smile on her face. “You handled that well,” she said, her tone encouraging. “Ethan needed to hear it.”

Lily nodded, but her thoughts were elsewhere. “I just hope he understands the stakes. This isn’t just about him anymore; it’s about the future of Gray Enterprises.”

Mia raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, if he can’t step up and lead, then we need to make sure the company doesn’t suffer because of his mistakes. I can’t let Sarah’s presence jeopardize everything Dad worked for,” Lily replied, her voice firm.

Lily sat at her sleek desk, surrounded by papers and digital screens displaying graphs and project timelines. She was deeply engrossed in her work when the door swung open without warning. Ethan stepped in, his expression serious, taking a deep breath as he prepared to address the tension that had been brewing between them.

“I wanted to talk about what happened earlier. About Sarah,” he said, his voice steady but tinged with urgency.

Lily raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. “What about her?” she replied, leaning back in her chair.

Ethan took a moment, gathering his thoughts. “I know you think you’re doing what’s best for the company, but we can’t just erase people like that. Sarah is part of this team, and whether you like it or not, she’s connected to me. We need to find a way to work together without tearing each other apart.”

Lily scoffed, a smirk playing on her lips. “You think I’m the problem? You’re the one who let her get involved in the first place. This is about more than just Sarah; it’s about the future of this company, and I won’t let anyone—especially not her—hold us back.”

Ethan felt a surge of frustration, his patience wearing thin. “And I won’t let you bully her out of the company. We need to find a balance. If we’re going to succeed, we have to work as a team, not as enemies.”

Lily leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing as she considered his words. The atmosphere in the room shifted, the tension thickening. “Fine,” she said slowly, her tone cold. “I have one option for you: abort the child and save Sarah’s career.”

Ethan’s eyes widened in disbelief, his anger surging to the surface. “What did you just say?” he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls.

“Think about it, Ethan!” Lily shot back, unflinching. “This is a business decision. If you want to protect Sarah’s position and keep her in the company, then this is the only way to ensure that. The child complicates everything.”

“You can’t be serious!” Ethan exclaimed, his voice rising. “You’re asking me to choose between my child and Sarah’s career? That’s not just cold; it’s inhumane!”

Ethan stormed out of Lily's office, his heart racing with anger and disbelief. But just as he reached the door, Lily’s voice cut through the air, sharp and biting.

“It’s inhumane!” she repeated, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “And what you did to my child, wasn’t that inhumane?”

Ethan froze, turning back to face her, confusion and rage mingling in his chest. “What are you talking about?” he demanded, his voice low but intense.

Lily rose from her chair, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and hurt. “When you killed your own child without my permission, was that humanity?” Her words were bitter, each syllable laced with venom. She stepped closer, her posture tense, as if ready to confront him head-on.

Ethan's breath caught in his throat. “You can’t twist this around, Lily! I’m not killing anyone! I’m trying to protect my family!”

Lily laughed bitterly, the sound echoing in the otherwise silent room. “Protect your family? You think you’re some kind of hero here? You’re the one who put us in this situation. You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to be in a position where I have to fight for my future while you play the victim?”

Ethan felt a surge of frustration. “I didn’t ask for this either! I didn’t plan for Sarah to get pregnant. But now that it’s happened, I’m not going to abandon my child just because it’s inconvenient for you!”

Lily’s expression hardened, her voice rising. “Inconvenient? You think this is just about inconvenience? This is about survival, Ethan! If you think I’m going to let a child disrupt everything we’ve worked for, you’re sorely mistaken. You’re being naive!”

“Naive?” Ethan shot back, his anger boiling over. “You’re the one who’s being cold-hearted! You’re willing to sacrifice a life for your ambitions. That’s not just ruthless; it’s monstrous!”

Lily stepped closer, her face inches from his, her voice a fierce whisper. “And what do you think will happen to Sarah if you don’t? She’ll be dragged down by this—by you! You’re the one who put her in this position, and now you want to act like the noble father? You need to wake up!”