Chapter 49

After Kate left. Lilly couldn't shake the feeling that her stepsister's visit was more than a mere coincidence. There was an underlying tension in the air, a sense of something dark looming just out of reach. Lilly's mind raced,replaying their conversation over and over. Kate's words felt like a slow-burning fuse, and Lilly was certain that her stepsister wasn't finished with her yet.

Her frustration boiled over as she walked back to her office. Every day,she lived with the same burning anger-the anger of knowing that the people responsible for her sisters' deaths were still out there, living freely without consequence. She had already provided Alexander with every shred of evidence,including the location of the assassin who had orchestrated the whole thing. It was only a matter of time before Kate and her mother's entire web of deceit would unravel. But until that happened, Lilly couldn't relax. Not yet. Not until she saw true justice for her sisters.

That morning, Alexander had taken further precautions, ramping up security at the estate, making sure Lilly would be protected at all costs.She appreciated his concern but couldn't shake the feeling that something more was brewing. Something bigger than just her sisters' killers.

As the day drew to a close, Lilly headed to her lunch date with Sandra.Her bond with Alexander's sister had deepened over the past few weeks,and it was one of the few things that managed to keep her grounded amidst the chaos of her life. "Sister-in-law!" Sandra greeted her with a warm hug as Lilly stepped out of the car. Lilly chuckled, hugging her back. "You've been waiting long?" Sandra grinned. "For two hours!"

Lilly raised an eyebrow, eyes wide with surprise. "Really?”

Sandra's face broke into a mischievous smile. "Kidding! Only about fifteen minutes."

Lilly sighed in relief, then playfully swatted Sandra's arm.

"Come on, let's go eat," Sandra linked her arm with Lilly's. "And after, we're going shopping... and maybe a movie?"

"Shopping again?" Lilly asked, incredulous. They had just gone a fewdays ago.

Sandra grinned. "You know I can't resist. And it's not like my brother's complaining."

Lilly's mind flickered back to the last shopping spree, when Alexander had blocked Sandra's cards after she'd maxed out the limit. It had been a whole week of no spending for Sandra, a punishment that Lilly had wholeheartedly supported. Now, Sandra was trying to convince her to join in on another spree.

"You're planning on spending my money again, aren't you?" Lilly said,knowing where this was headed.

Sandra pouted but then flashed a bright smile. "Let's use your card this time. I'll be good, I promise!" Lilly sighed. "You never change, do you?" Sandra's eyes glinted mischievously. "I will, after this shopping trip.I swear." Lilly hesitated for a moment, then gave in. "Fine, but only because you promised."

"Yay!" Sandra cheered, dragging her toward the restaurant. The meal was delicious, and the shopping trip that followed had Sandra's excitement off the charts. Every store was filled with things Lilly didn't need, but Sandra had a way of convincing her that they did.

After hours of shopping, they finally made their way to a baby clothing store. Sandra was already picking out baby outfits for both genders, even though Lilly's pregnancy was only four months along. It was still a touch too early to tell the baby's gender, but Sandra's excitement was infectious.

Finally, they made their way to a jewelry store, where Sandra picked out an extravagant set of matching dresses. The last thing Lilly wanted was more jewelry or clothes, but Sandra insisted on them trying on the matching outfits.

"Come on, sister-in-law, please," Sandra begged, showing Lilly the white skirt,blouse, and jacket combination.

Lilly hesitated, eyeing the elegant outfit. "It's beautiful, but...”

"Just once!" Sandra urged.

Lilly's resolve crumbled under Sandra's pleading gaze. "Fine. Just this once." Sandra grinned, thrilled, and pulled her into the dressing room. They emerged, both wearing the matching outfits, their hair styled similarly.They laughed at how alike they looked. "We look like twins," Sandra exclaimed as they stared at their reflections. Lilly laughed, but a part of her felt unsettled. It had been a day of indulgence, but something was off. She couldn't shake the feeling that something dark was closing in.

By the time they finished their shopping, the sun was starting to set.Sandra insisted they walk to the nearby park, but Lilly was reluctant.

"It's getting late," she said, her unease growing as they neared the park.

There were far too many people around for her liking.

Sandra, however, wasn't hearing it. "Just a quick walk. I want ice cream."

Lilly rolled her eyes but agreed, albeit reluctantly. “Fine. But we're going home after that."

As they approached the ice cream stand, Lilly felt her anxiety spike. The crowd in the park seemed too dense, the air too thick with tension. Her eyes darted around, looking for any sign of trouble.

Two cars parked nearby, their engines running quietly. The hairs on the back of Lilly's neck stood up. Something wasn't right.

One of the men in the passenger seat of the car spoke into a phone.“Target in sight."

Lilly didn't hear the rest of the conversation, but the words “Finish it”echoed ominously in her mind. She turned to Sandra, about to say something, when the roar of an engine tore through the air. A car sped toward them at terrifying speed. Before Lilly could react, there was a deafening∗bang∗−ashot rang out, followed by the sound of screeching tires and panicked screams from the bystanders.

Lilly's heart stopped as she turned toward the horrific sight unfolding before her. Sandra's body crumpled to the ground, lifeless, blood pooling around her.

Time seemed to freeze. Lilly screamed, her voice drowned out by the chaos.as the lifeless body of her sister-in-law lay before her.

Everything around her blurred, and her mind was consumed by one thought-revenge.