Chapter 50

Lilly's heart pounded as the car hurtled towards the ice cream stand. She barely had time to process what was happening before the screech of tires filled the air, and she saw Sandra's figure knocked violently to the ground."Sandra!! No!l" Lilly screamed, her voice breaking as she rushed to her sister-in-law's side, her hands trembling.

The scene was chaotic-blood pooled on the pavement. staining the

ground red as Lilly cradled Sandra's limp body in her arms. "Sandra.please... please stay with me," she begged, her voice barely above a whisper.The weight of the moment crushed her, her hands trembling as they soaked in Sandra's blood. She had been through this kind of pain before-the kind that made her feel powerless and small. The memory of her sisters' deaths loomed over her like a dark cloud. She couldn't lose Sandra

too.

The bodyguards had already begun chasing the fleeing vehicle, but Lilly was frozen in place. "Stay with me, Sandra, don't close your eyes," Lilly sobbed, pressing her forehead to Sandra's, her tears mixing with the blood on her face. Her mind raced,memories of that tragic day when she lost her sisters flashing before her eyes. It felt as though the world was closing in on her, and once again,she was helpless in the face of danger.

"Sandra.,, please..." The words escaped her lips in a desperate whisper.The pain was too much to bear, and yet, the chilling silence of the crowd-standing frozen, watching-only amplified her anguish. She had to stay strong. For Sandra. For the baby. But everything felt like it was slipping through her fingers.

The minutes dragged on, an eternity of fear, before Pedro and Samuel finally managed to call for an ambulance. Lilly's hands,now soaked in blood, trembled as she gazed at the dark crimson stain spreading across the pavement.her world spinning.

In the hospital room. Lilly lay unconseious, the events of the past two days catching up with her in a sea of nightmares. Her body was still recovering from the trauma. Alexander sat by her side, his eyes filled with worry.He brushed a lock of hair from her forehead, but the sweat beading on her skin spoke of her inner torment. "Please wake up," he whispered, his voice filled with a mixture of hope and despair. "I won't let them get away with this."

The doctors had explained it: the trauma had triggered a deep-seated memory of the day her sisters were taken from her. It had shaken her to the core, and now, Lilly remained in a deep sleep, fighting demons only she could see.

As Alexander sat beside her, the weight of the situation pressed on him.His sister's lífe hung in the balance, and yet all he could think about was Lilly-how close he had come to losing her, just like he had lost so much else in his life. The thought of facing another tragedy was more than he could bear. He couldn't allow it. "I will make them pay," he whispered under his breath, eyes dark with determination. Outside, in the hospital corridor, James stood, watching Alexander, his face grim. The scene before him was a rare one-Alexander,usually the stoic and controlled man, was a shadow of himself, consumed by worry.James knew this was different. This wasn't just about business or revenge. It was personal.

Alexander looked up sharply when he heard James approach. "What are you doing here?" His voice wvas cold,clipped. James raised an eyebrow, unfazed. "You weren't answering your calls," he said simply, "So, I decided to check in."

"Did you find the gang leader?" Alexander's tone remained flat, his eyes never leaving Lilly's face.

"Not yet," James replied. "But we're getting close."

Frustration flared in Alexander's chest. "Then why are you here?!"

"Calm down," James replied, his voice unbothered by Alexander's outburst.

"I'm here about the other matter, the one you asked me to handle."

Alexander didn't flinch, his gaze hardening. "Did you locate the assassin?"he demanded, his patience running thin.

James gave a slight nod. "Yes. Our men are transporting him now."

"Good," Alexander muttered, his eyes burning with a fierce, quiet rage. "Let me know when he arrives."

James crossed his arms, his eyes never leaving Alexander."How can I when you're not answering your phone?" He smirked, clearly not backing down.

Alexander's jaw clenched, but before he could respond, James spoke again."Look, I know things are hard right now, but you need to focus. You have responsibilities, too. You can't let your personal emotions cloud your judgment."

"I know what I'm doing," Alexander retorted sharply. "You can handle the rest."

James wasn't fooled by the cold demeanor. He saw through it-he could read Alexander better than anyone else. "You're afraid," he said, his voice softer now. "Afraid of losing her like you lost them. But Lilly's not the same. She's stronger than you think."

Alexander's eyes flickered with something unreadable before he turned back to Lilly. "Don't waste yourbreath," he muttered, though the weight of his words carried more meaning than James could see. "When she wakes up. I'll make them regret everything. All of them."

James's gaze softened, understanding the depth of Alexander's pain. "You love her, don't you?"

Alexander didn't respond, his gaze fixed on Lilly's pale face. The silence said everything. James could see the raw emotion in his eyes-the fear, the pain, the love. "Tell her how you feel when she wakes up," James added,his voice gentle. "Before it's too late."

After James left, Alexander adjusted Lilly's blanket, carefully tucking it around her. "We've found the assassin," he murmured softly,his voice just above a whisper. "When you wake up, we'll get justice. You won't have to fight this battle alone."

He kissed her hand, his lips lingering for a moment, and then leaned back in his chair, staring at her with determination. "You'll wake up. And when you do,we'll make them pay."