“Damn it,” Ethan muttered under his breath, perfectly summarizing the chaos that now consumed him.
He was caught in an impossible crossroads —meet Grace at the hotel and pave the way for another betrayal or risk losing Lily forever. Each path carried its own weight of regret, yet the decision could not be postponed.
"Don’t answer it!" Ethan barked as he noticed Lily reaching for her buzzing phone. His tone was sharp, almost desperate. "She’ll only cause trouble. I don’t want her yelling at you or, worse, insulting you. Just don’t pick up!"
"But what if it’s something important? How can I ignore her call? It doesn’t feel right, Ethan," Lily reasoned, her voice calm but firm. Her fingers hovered above the screen, unsure whether to reject the call.
"I said no! Don’t answer it! I don’t wan
