Sweet Vengeances
Chapter 97: Secrets on Trial

Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Secrets on Trial

It seemed as though Ethan’s penthouse walls were closing in on him. Like a noose tightening around his neck, the weight of the last few days weighed heavily on him. This moment—the unavoidable reckoning—had been the result of every action and choice he made.

With her arms crossed and an enigmatic expression on her face, Lily sat across from him at the dining table. He recognized that expression. Every time she suspected he was hiding anything from her, she gave him the same one.

"Ethan," she murmured in a forceful yet hushed voice. "Be honest with me. No more dodging, no more half-answers. What do you not tell me?

He let out a breath and wiped his face. He had been practicing lying for years, but he couldn’t hide from Lily. She was too quick to see right through him.

Finally, with a hint of hesitation in his voice, he said, "There’s something you need to know." "There’s something I ought to have mentioned to you long ago."

Leaning forward, Lily looked into his eyes. "Then tell me."

Before he spoke, he paused for a little moment. "Damien was more than simply a foe I met throughout this conflict. We’ve been here before. I didn’t want to go back to that past.

Lily wrinkled her brows. "What sort of history?"

Ethan tightened his jaw. "I used to be on the same side as Damien Moreau."

A thick, oppressive quiet descended between them.

Lily blinked. "You... collaborated with him?"

Ethan gave a hesitant nod. "I worked for a strong, vicious person years ago before I established my own empire. I was a part of the same machine, the same organization as Damien. Both of us rose through the ranks and established ourselves. Damien, however, lived on disorder, unlike me. He desired devastation. I want authority.

Lily took a deep breath, attempting to take in the information. "What happened next?"

Ethan responded simply, "I left." Knowing full well that I would become a target, I turned to go. I didn’t care, though. I believed I could create anything on my own without turning around. He chuckled bitterly. "I was mistaken. The past was something Damien never let go of. He’s now making sure I don’t, too.

As she took in what he had said, Lily leaned back and let out a breath. "Therefore, the conflict between you two is personal."

Ethan gave a nod. "It has always been."

A Risky Accusation

Ethan’s phone vibrated on the table before Lily could reply. His face tightening as he read the message, he took it up.

Calloway, you’ve run far enough. It’s time to atone for your transgressions. Come to the old courthouse with me. Midnight.

He didn’t need a name, yet he had none.

Lily saw the change in his face. "Damien?"

Ethan gave a nod. "He’s criticizing me."

She stiffened. "It’s a trap."

Ethan put the phone down and responded, "Of course it is." "But I must leave."

Lily got to her feet suddenly. "You’re not traveling by yourself."

Ethan’s face was inscrutable as he gazed at her. "Lily—"

"I don’t give a damn about what you say," she said. "While you’re facing him, I’m not watching from the sidelines. Not now.

After a long minute of staring at her, he let out a sigh. "All right. But this is how we do it.

The Courtroom Conflict

With its once-grand edifice now reduced to broken windows and crumbling stone, the old courthouse remained deserted. Once a representation of justice, it was now simply another ruin engulfed by the corruption of the city.

Ethan and Lily slowly made their way inside, their footsteps resonating through the deserted hallways. Dust was heavy in the air, and there was a little odor of rottenness.

A deliberate, unhurried clap echoed across the quiet.

With a sneer on his lips, Damien Moreau emerged from the shadows wearing a fitted black suit. Drawing, he said, "Calloway." "You did really arrive. I’m amazed.

Ethan maintained his composure and his easy yet alert stance. "You desired for me to be here. I’m present. Damien, what do you want?

With a glimmer of amusement in his gaze, Damien cocked his head. "Justice."

Lily laughed. "You have no regard for justice."

Damien’s grin widened as his eyes strayed to her. "Oh, the notorious Lily." Calloway has undoubtedly been under strict control thanks to you.

Ethan stepped forward, his voice piercing. "Don’t put me to the test, Damien.

Damien laughed. "Calm down. You weren’t sent here to exchange threats, was I? His face grew serious. "You are here to be exposed by me."

Ethan squinted his eyes. "What on earth are you discussing?"

Damien extracted a little, black USB stick from his pocket. Between his fingers, he held it up.

"This is evidence of everything you’ve done," he said. Every transaction, treachery, every secret you’ve kept. And your empire will fall apart when I release it.

Lily gasped for air. "You’re playing a bluff."

Damien grinned. "Am I?"

Ethan balled his fists. "You would have used it sooner if you had something that could destroy me."

Damien lowered his voice and stepped closer. "Oh, but Calloway, I want you to witness it. As the world turns against you, I want you to observe. Your supporters will turn on you. Your opponents will profit from your failure. And when Lily sees the true you, well, let’s just say she won’t be staying.

Lily tensed, but she remained unflinching. "I am aware of his identity."

Damien’s eyes sparkled with laughter. "Do you?"

A Selection of Repercussions

Ethan pushed his rage down with a calm sigh. "In return for that drive, what do you want?"

Damien grinned. "Oh, we’re conversing now." Between his fingers, he spun the drive. "Calloway, I want everything. Your strength. Your assets. I want you to vanish.

Ethan’s mouth clenched. "Not taking place."

Damien let out a loud sigh. "I suppose I’ll have to fulfill my promise then."

Ethan lunged before he could move.

The altercation broke out in a flurry of rage and fists. Damien staggered backward as Ethan’s blow struck his jaw. Damien, however, bounced back fast and retaliated with similar vigor.

When Damien’s men emerged from the shadows, Lily drew her revolver and pointed it at them. "Don’t even consider it," she said.

Chaos broke out in the room.

Each blow in the vicious battle between Ethan and Damien was motivated by years of animosity. Even though Ethan was hardly aware of it, blood was dripping from his lip.

Ethan delivered a final, forceful strike that sent Damien sprawling to the ground. The USB drive slipped out of his palm and he crushed it beneath his boot.

Damien’s sneer persisted even as he choked and spat blood. "It is irrelevant. There are always more mysteries to uncover.

Ethan’s voice was frighteningly calm as he wiped the blood off his lip. "I’ll bury them all after that."

Lily took hold of Ethan’s arm. "We must leave."

Ethan paused and looked down at Damien. He could stop now. It would all end with a single gunshot.

Then he noticed Lily observing him.

He inhaled deeply before taking a step back. "You don’t deserve it."

Damien gave a raspy laugh. "We’ll check on that."

Turning, Ethan left with Lily at his side.

One thing became evident as they vanished into the night: this fight was far from ended.

And the regulations had recently been revised by Ethan Calloway.