Chapter 49

Lily's eyes blazed with fury as she stepped closer to Ethan, her voice a low hiss filled with anger and coldness. “You killed our child just because you doubted it was not yours,” she accused, her words sharp as daggers. “But you need to know something: I had only one man in my life who touched me, and that was you.”

Ethan felt the air thicken between them, each word cutting deeper than the last. He opened his mouth to respond, but she continued, her voice rising with emotion.

“You are a pathetic blind man who only thinks about yourself!” Lily’s eyes were fierce, glinting with unshed tears of frustration and hurt. “You couldn’t see beyond your own insecurities to realize the truth. You let your doubts cloud your judgment, and now look where we are!”

Ethan’s heart raced, a mix of anger and disbelief flooding through him. “I didn’t kill anyone, Lily! I was trying to make sense of a situation that was thrust upon us. You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to doubt you?”

Lily stepped even closer, her expression unyielding. “You should have trusted me! Instead, you chose to believe the worst. Instead of standing by me, you turned your back!”

Ethan clenched his fists, feeling the heat of her words wash over him. “I didn’t turn my back on you! I was trying to protect myself and the life I had built. You can’t put this all on me!”

Lily stood her ground, her eyes locked onto Ethan's with an intensity that seemed to pierce through the chaos of emotions swirling around them. The air was thick with tension, and her voice cut through it like a knife. “What you did was also inhuman,” she declared, her tone unwavering. “And you have to pay the price.”

Ethan stormed out of Lily’s cabin, his heart pounding with a mix of anger and confusion. Each step he took down the hallway felt heavy, as if the weight of Lily’s words were pressing down on him like bricks. He pushed open the door to his own cabin, the familiar space suddenly feeling suffocating. He stood in front of the window, staring out at the sprawling city below, but his mind was far from the view.

Lily’s accusations echoed in his mind: “You killed our child just because you doubted it was not yours.” The words twisted like a knife, and he clenched his fists, trying to suppress the swell of frustration and despair.

Just then, Sarah walked in, her face pale and streaked with tears. “Ethan…” she began, her voice trembling. “I’m so sorry for how I acted. I didn’t mean to push you away.”

Ethan turned to face her, the softness in her eyes contrasting sharply with the turmoil in his heart. “Sarah, this isn’t the time,” he said, trying to keep his voice steady despite the storm inside him.

“No, please,” she pleaded, stepping closer. “I need to talk to you. I need your help. I’m scared about my career, and I don’t know what to do.” Her voice cracked, and she wiped away a tear with the back of her hand.

Ethan took a deep breath, feeling a mix of sympathy and frustration. “What do you think I can do? Lily just told me that we need to abort the child to save your career. Can you believe that?”

Sarah’s eyes widened in shock, her breath hitching. “She said that?”

“Yes,” Ethan replied, his voice calm but laced with anger. “She said it like it was a simple solution, like our child is just a problem to be solved. But I will never kill my child for her, no matter what. I will find a way to make this work.”

Sarah’s expression shifted, a whirlwind of emotions crossing her face—shock, confusion, and fear. “Ethan, I… I don’t know what to think. This is all so overwhelming.”

“I get that,” he said, his tone softening slightly. “But you have to understand that this is not just about your career. It’s about a life that’s already here, a life that deserves a chance. We can figure this out together.”

The room was thick with silence, the weight of Ethan’s words hanging in the air like a fragile thread. Sarah stood a few paces away, her gaze fixed on the floor, lost in her thoughts. Ethan watched her, concern etched on his face.

“What are you thinking?” he asked, breaking the stillness. His voice was gentle, but there was an urgency beneath it, a need to understand what was going on in her mind.

“Nothing,” Sarah replied, her tone evasive as she finally looked up to meet his gaze. But the flicker in her eyes betrayed her; Ethan could sense that she was wrestling with something deeper.

****

Mia followed Lily down the hallway, disbelief etched across her face. “You really asked for an abortion for Sarah’s child?” she questioned, her voice tinged with incredulity.

Lily nodded, her expression resolute as she continued walking. “I wanted to show Ethan something he needs to know,” she replied, her tone unwavering. “Blind trust can be painfully misleading.”

Mia glanced at her friend, confusion swirling in her mind. “But don’t you think that’s a bit extreme? What if it backfires? What if it pushes Ethan further away?”

Lily paused for a moment, her gaze fixed ahead. “Sometimes, people need a wake-up call. Ethan has to understand the weight of his choices. It’s not just about him anymore.”

They stepped into the elevator, the doors sliding shut with a soft hiss. The tension between them hung thick in the air, and Mia bit her lip, unsure of how to respond. She wanted to support Lily, but the path she was choosing felt fraught with danger.

As the elevator descended, Mia finally spoke up. “I just hope you know what you’re doing. This could change everything.”

Lily turned to her, a flicker of uncertainty crossing her features before she masked it with determination. “I have to do what I think is right. For all of us.”

When the elevator doors opened, they stepped out into the bustling lobby. As they made their way towards the exit, a sleek black car pulled up in front of them, the engine purring softly. The driver’s side door swung open, and Lewis stepped out, impeccably dressed in a perfectly tailored suit.

Mia’s eyes widened as she recognized him. “Oh no, not now,” she muttered under her breath, a mix of surprise and apprehension flooding her senses.

Lewis approached Lily with a confident stride, a bouquet of vibrant flowers clutched in his hand. “Happy Birthday, Lily!” he exclaimed, a charming smile lighting up his face.

****