Chapter 10

Lily's hands shook as she spread the photos across the table. The images,though slightly grainy, carried a chilling clarity. A shadowy figure loomed in the background, his stance casual yet deliberate, the camera poised at the ready. Whoever had taken these photos hadn't been an innocent bystander; they had been watching, waiting, documenting.

"Look at the photos closely," Lily said, her voice tight with unease.She tapped on one of the images, pointing to the angle. "From this perspective,they weren't in the public park. They were across the street, somewhere hidden. This wasn't accidental."

Michael leaned forward, his brows furrowing as he examined the pictures.His lips pressed into a thin line, and the tension in his shoulders became visible. "You think someone was spying on you?"

"Not just me," Lily replied, her tone clipped as she began gathering the photos back into their folder. "This angle, this distance-it's not random.Someone planned this." She stood abruptly, grabbing her bag. "I need to check it out myself."

Michael rose quickly, stepping into her path and grabbing her arm. His grip was firm but not harsh, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her pause.

"Don't," he said, his voice steady and commanding.

She blinked up at him, startled. Michael rarely asserted himself like this,but theconcern in his gaze was unmistakable.

"Why not?" she challenged, her resolve faltering. He sighed, his grip softening but not releasing. "Going there will only bring back memories of that day. You've barely recovered as it is. Let me handle this."

His words struck a nerve, and Lily's shoulders slumped slightly. He was right-returning to the scene would be like tearing open a barely healed wound. The memories of that day, of losing her sisters so brutally, were still too raw.

"Fine," she relented after a long pause. "But promise me you'll keep me updated."

"I will," Michael assured her, finally letting go of her arm.

The tension in the room didn't dissipate as quickly as his grip, though. A silence settled between them, heavy with unspoken emotions. Michael's eyes remained on her, his expression unreadable, as if he was weighing whether to say something more.

Finally, he broke the silence. "Can I ask you something, Lily?"

She stilled, sensing the shift in his tone. "What is it?"

Michael hesitated,glancing briefly at Matthew, who sat quietly nearby but was listening intently. Then, as if deciding to press forward,he asked,"Why don't you live here anymore? Where did you move to... and why?"

The question hit her like a punch to the gut. She froze, her pulse quickening as the weight of his curiosity bore down on her. From the corner of her eye, she saw Matthew lift his head, his gaze sharpening. Though he hadn't voiced it, it was clear he shared Michael's curiosity. Lily swallowed hard,her mind racing for an answer. How could she possibly explain it? The truth-that she had entered into a contract marriage with Alexander Kane, a man as cold as he was enigmatic-was too complicated, too raw. They wouldn't understand. How could they,when she barely understood it herself?

"I..." she began, but the words caught in her throat.

Michael's eyes narrowed slightly, his patience wearing thin. "Lily,are you in trouble?" he asked, his voice softer now, tinged with concern.

Matthew leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he watched her intently. "It's not like you to be so evasive," he added. "If something's wrong,you know you can tell us."

Their concern only made the truth harder to bear. They didn't just want answers-they wanted to protect her. But this wasn't a situation they could shield her from.

"I moved for... personal reasons," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Michael frowned, clearly unsatisfied with her vague response. "Personal reasons? That's it? That's all you're giving us?"

Lily forced a weak smile, trying to lighten the tension. "Come on, Michael.Not everything in my life has to be an open book."

His frown deepened, but he didn't push further. Matthew, however, wasn't so easily deterred.

"Personal reasons don't explain why you've been so secretive lately," he said, his tone laced with suspicion. "You've been distant, Lily. More than usual. It's like you're hiding something." Lily's chest tightened, her resolve wavering under his scrutiny. Matthew's perceptiveness was both a blessing and a curse. He saw too much,read between lines she hadn't even written.

"I'm not hiding anything," she lied, her voice firmer this time. "I just needed a change of pace. That's all."

Matthew's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, his eyes searching hers as if trying to uncover the truth she was so desperate to conceal.Finally,he leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable.

"Fine," he said, though his tone suggested he wasn't entirely convinced.

Michael exchanged a glance with Matthew, then sighed. "If you ever need to talk..."

"I know," Lily interrupted, offering him a small smile. "And I appreciate it.Really."

The tension in the room eased slightly, but it didn't disappear entirely.The weight of unspoken truths hung in the air, a reminder that this conversation was far from over.

Lily took a deep breath and grabbed her coat, her movements brisk and purposeful. "I need to go," she said, her tone final. "I'll call you later."

Michael opened his mouth to protest, but the look she gave him silenced him.Matthew, meanwhile, simply watched her, his expression unreadable. As she stepped out into the cold night, the chill bit at her skin, but it was nothing compared to the icy fear gnawing at her insides. Her phone buzzed in her pocket, pulling her attention. She pulled it out,her breath catching as sheread the message displayed on the screen. "You can't run forever. Lily. We're always watching."

Her blood turned to ice, and her grip on the phone tightened until her knuckles turned white.

The shadows weren't just a memory of her past. They were alive,present,and closing in.

Lily climbed into her car, her hands trembling as she gripped the steering wheel. She stared out into the darkened street, her heart poundíng in her chest.

For the first time in a long while, she felt truly trapped.

And she wasn't sure she'd make it out unscathed.