Chapter 7 The Truth Behind The Warning
1363 Words
Lily stared at Ethan's message for several minutes.
Can we talk tomorrow? There is something else you need to know.
Something else.
Those words had followed her all night.
She had barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Ethan standing beneath the old oak tree, his face filled with regret.
Then she saw the letter.
Then Lena.
Then the warning she had overheard in her mind.
There was always another secret.
Another piece of the story she didn't know.
Lily rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling.
Five years ago, she had wanted answers.
Now she was beginning to wonder if answers were worth the pain they might bring.
Her phone buzzed.
She grabbed it immediately.
It was Emma.
Are you awake?
Lily typed back.
Yes.
The reply came almost instantly.
You're thinking about him again, aren't you?
Lily sighed.
She didn't answer.
A second message appeared.
Lily.
She finally typed.
He says there's something else I need to know.
There was a long pause.
Then Emma replied.
And you're going to listen?
Lily looked at Ethan's name on her screen.
I need to.
She knew she did.
Not because she trusted him completely.
Not because she had forgiven him.
But because she was tired of living with half a story.
The next morning, Ethan arrived at the project site before Lily.
He stood outside the old estate, his hands in his pockets, watching the workers move around.
He hadn't slept either.
All night, he had thought about what he needed to tell Lily.
The truth about his father was only part of the story.
There was another reason he had stayed away.
One that could destroy whatever little trust they had managed to rebuild.
His phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Dad.
Ethan's jaw tightened.
He almost ignored the call.
Then he answered.
"What do you want?"
His father's voice was cold.
"You need to leave Willow Creek."
"I'm not leaving."
"You've made this mistake before."
Ethan looked toward the estate.
"No. Five years ago, I made the mistake of listening to you."
There was silence.
Then his father laughed quietly.
"You think you've become strong."
"I have."
"You still don't understand what I'm capable of."
Ethan's expression hardened.
"Don't threaten me."
"I'm not threatening you."
His father's voice dropped.
"I'm warning you."
The call ended.
Ethan stared at the phone.
For the first time, the warning didn't frighten him.
It made him angry.
Five years ago, fear had controlled him.
This time, he wasn't going to let it.
Not again.
Lily arrived thirty minutes later.
She saw Ethan standing near the entrance.
Their eyes met.
Neither smiled.
She walked toward him.
"You said there was something I needed to know."
"I did."
"What is it?"
Ethan looked around.
"Not here."
Lily frowned.
"Why?"
"Because there are people watching."
She froze.
"What?"
Ethan lowered his voice.
"My father knows we're working together."
Lily's stomach tightened.
"And?"
"And he doesn't want us together."
She stared at him.
"Why would he care about that after five years?"
Ethan looked away.
"Because he knows I still love you."
The words caught her off guard.
She hated how quickly her heart reacted.
"Ethan..."
"I'm not saying that to change your mind."
"Then why say it?"
"Because I'm tired of hiding."
Lily crossed her arms.
"Then stop hiding."
He looked directly at her.
"Five years ago, my father didn't just threaten your family."
Lily's expression changed.
"What else did he do?"
"He had someone follow you."
Her face went pale.
"What?"
"He wanted to know where you went, who you spoke to, where your father worked. Everything."
Lily took a step backward.
"Why?"
"Because he wanted to make sure I stayed away from you."
She shook her head.
"This doesn't make sense."
"I know."
"Then tell me everything."
Ethan hesitated.
That hesitation was enough to make her angry.
"You said you were tired of hiding."
"I am."
"Then talk."
He took a deep breath.
"Your father wasn't the only person my father threatened."
Lily's eyes narrowed.
"Who else?"
"Your mother."
She froze.
"My mother?"
Ethan nodded.
"My father knew she had been diagnosed with a serious illness."
Lily's face changed.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
"He threatened to make sure your family lost everything if I didn't leave you."
She stared at him.
"My mother was sick. You knew?"
"I knew."
"And you never told me?"
"I wanted to."
"But you didn't."
"I was seventeen, Lily."
His voice cracked.
"I was scared. I didn't know what to do."
She looked away.
For the first time, she understood just how young they had been.
They had been children trying to fight problems meant for adults.
But something still bothered her.
"There's more."
Ethan didn't answer.
Lily's eyes filled with anger.
"There is always more with you."
He closed his eyes.
"Yes."
"Then say it."
Ethan looked at her.
"The day I left, I didn't just leave Willow Creek."
Lily waited.
"I was forced to sign papers giving up my rights to the company."
She frowned.
"Why?"
"Because my father wanted me gone. He believed that if I had nothing left here, I would never come back."
"And you agreed?"
"I had no choice."
Lily shook her head.
"You always had a choice."
"Not when your life was being threatened."
The words stopped her.
Ethan's eyes were red.
"I watched you from across the road that morning."
Lily's breath caught.
"What?"
"I saw you waiting."
Her eyes widened.
"You were there?"
He nodded.
"I was there the entire time."
The pain returned instantly.
"You watched me?"
"I wanted to come to you."
"Then why didn't you?"
"Because my father had people watching me."
Lily's voice shook.
"You could have said goodbye."
"I couldn't."
"You could have called."
"I couldn't."
"You could have found another way!"
"I know!"
His voice echoed across the empty entrance.
They both went silent.
Ethan lowered his head.
"I'm sorry."
Lily wiped away a tear.
"I don't know whether to forgive you or hate you."
"You don't have to decide today."
She looked at him.
"And what am I supposed to do with all this?"
"Whatever you want."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Lily noticed something.
A black car was parked across the road.
Its windows were dark.
She stared at it.
"Ethan."
He turned.
The car suddenly moved.
It drove away before either of them could see who was inside.
Ethan's expression changed.
"Get inside."
"Why?"
"Now."
His voice was serious.
Lily followed him.
They entered the estate and Ethan locked the door behind them.
"Who was that?"
"I don't know."
"But you think it was my father's people?"
"I don't know."
She looked at him.
"You're scared."
Ethan didn't deny it.
"Yes."
Lily had never seen him admit fear before.
Not even when they were children.
Her anger softened slightly.
Then Ethan's phone rang.
He checked the screen.
A message.
No name.
Just a photograph.
His blood ran cold.
It was Lily.
Standing beneath the old oak tree the previous evening.
Someone had taken the picture without her knowing.
Underneath it were six words.
You were warned. Stay away.
Ethan's hand tightened around the phone.
Lily saw his expression.
"What happened?"
He slowly turned the phone toward her.
She looked at the photograph.
Her heart began pounding.
Someone had been watching her.
Someone was still watching them.
And suddenly, the story of five years ago no longer felt like the past.
It felt dangerously close.
Lily looked at Ethan.
"Who would do this?"
Ethan stared at the photograph.
"I don't know."
Then another message arrived.
This time, only four words.
Ask your mother.
Lily stopped breathing.
Her mother's name had never been mentioned before.
Not by Ethan.
Not by Lena.
Not by anyone.
She looked at Ethan with fear in her eyes.
"What does my mother know?"
Ethan didn't answer.
Because for the first time, he realized something.
Maybe his father wasn't the only person who had been keeping secrets.
And maybe the reason Ethan and Lily were separated five years ago was far more complicated than either of them had ever imagined.
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