Sweet Vengeances
Chapter 59: Love and Betrayal Collide

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Love and Betrayal Collide

As Lily sat on the side of the motel bed, the slight hum of the air conditioner did little to calm her anxiety, and the tension in the air was nearly palpable. With his hands on the back of a chair, Ethan stood across the room, gazing at the ledger they had risked everything to collect.

With a calm but tired tone, he declared, "This is the smoking gun." We can use this to demonstrate Daniel and Carlisle’s illicit activities. It’s sufficient to defeat them.

Although Lily nodded, she wasn’t thinking about the ledger. The events of the previous two weeks, including her husband’s betrayal, Cassandra’s part in her heartbreak, and now her inexplicable bond with Ethan, consumed her thoughts. She was both excited and frightened by this connection.

She got up and went to the window, lowering the curtain just enough to take a quick look outside. Except for their vehicle, the parking lot was deserted. She couldn’t get rid of the impression that danger was waiting just beyond the darkness, even if the night appeared to be peaceful.

Ethan interrupted her stream of thinking by saying, "You’re quiet."

Lily folded her arms across her chest and faced him. "All I’m doing is processing." Everything seems to be moving so quickly.

As he moved closer, Ethan’s eyes grew softer. "Lily, you’ve gone through a lot. Nobody would hold it against you if you felt overpowered.

Her voice was no more than a whisper as she paused before speaking. Do you ever question whether we’re acting appropriately? If all of this worth retaliation?

Ethan took a long time to observe her before responding. "Getting even isn’t always simple or clean. However, this goes beyond simple retaliation. It has to do with fairness. The goal is to prevent them from destroying additional lives.

Lily’s eyes fell to the ground as she struggled with her feelings. And Ethan, how about us? When this is all over, what will happen?

He was deafeningly silent.

His face was unreadable when she looked up at last. "I’m not sure," he said. However, I am aware that I am not ready to leave you at this time. Not after our progress thus far.

His words made Lily’s breath catch, and for a brief instant, the barriers she had erected around her heart started to come down.

Together, they combed over the ledger later that evening, solving the jigsaw that connected Daniel and Carlisle to a huge corrupt network. Every detail was painstakingly recorded, including names, dates, and transactions.

With a frown, Ethan remarked, "This is bigger than I thought." They are sponsoring illicit activities abroad in addition to money laundering. Human trafficking and the sale of weapons are both present here.

Lily felt sick to her stomach upon realizing this. "How could Daniel have anything to do with this? He should have been safe. Trustworthy.

Ethan extended his hand and placed it over hers. You were unaware, Lily. You are not at fault for any of this.

Her heart ached with a mixture of remorse and appreciation as she met his eyes. "I simply... I feel as though my life has been a lie. Daniel first, then this I no longer even recognize myself.

"You underestimate your strength," Ethan remarked quietly. "You’ve made it through danger, heartache, and betrayal. You’re still standing, too.

The weight of everything seemed oppressive, but Lily wanted to believe him.

Lily couldn’t sleep when the first rays of morning peeked through the curtains. With an unusually calm smile, Ethan had fallen asleep on the couch. She observed him for a while while feeling an unidentified pain tighten in her chest.

She tiptoed out of bed, walked to the bathroom, and doused her face with cold water. She could hardly recognize herself when she glanced in the mirror. She couldn’t help but notice the frailty in the eyes of the battle-hardened woman who was staring back at her.

She was startled out of her reverie by a gentle knock on the door.

"Lily?" Ethan spoke in a soft tone.

He was standing there when she answered the door, his hair disheveled and his eyes filled with worry. She remarked, "I assumed you were asleep."

"I was," he acknowledged. However, you were gone when I woke up. Are you alright?

Lily nodded, but her look showed that she wasn’t sure. "I simply needed a moment,"

Ethan took a step forward, supporting her with his presence. "You know that you don’t have to face this alone. Whatever occurs, I’m available.

She bridged the gap between them and put her arms around him before she could stop herself after his words hit her like a tsunami. After a brief moment of stiffness, Ethan drew her into a tight hug.

Lily let herself experience the full force of her feelings for the first time in weeks. Tears poured down her cheeks, releasing the rage, the anguish, the terror.

Ethan’s fingers caressed her back as he gripped her firmly. "It’s alright," he whispered. "You’ll be all right."

Lily became aware that she wasn’t as alone as she had initially believed when the sun rose higher and filled the room with light.

The reprieve didn’t last long.

By noon, one of Ethan’s sources buzzed an encrypted message on his phone. As he read it, his face grew serious.

"What is it?" With her heart racing, Lily inquired.

"They are aware that we possess the ledger," he stated somberly. "And they’re pursuing it."

Lily felt panic flash in her chest. "What are we going to do?"

Ethan picked up a little duffel bag and the ledger. "We relocate. Right now.

Lily kept thinking that their time was running short as they collected their belongings. It seemed as though every step they took was a countdown to an impending catastrophe—a collision between love, treachery, and the risky game they were playing.

The tension between them was evident as they drove out of the motel. One thing was certain despite the uncertainty of the road ahead: retaliation came at a greater cost than either of them had expected.

Nevertheless, Lily came to the realization that some things—love, trust, and hope—might just be worth the risk as Ethan leaned across to grab her hand.