Sweet Vengeances
Chapter 98: The Turning Point

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: The Turning Point

Ethan clutched the steering wheel, his knuckles white with strain, as the city lights flickered by. The stillness in the car was filled with the weight of what had just transpired in the courthouse, which hovered between him and Lily like an unsaid storm.

Lily sat next to him with her arms folded securely over her chest, gazing out the window. She had previously observed Ethan’s brutality and watched him engage in combat, but tonight had been different. She had noticed him hesitating tonight.

He had the potential to murder Damien Moreau. It ought to have. Nevertheless, he had left.

Ethan eventually broke the stillness by saying, "You’re thinking too much."

With an inscrutable expression, Lily turned to face him. "And you’re not giving it enough thought."

Ethan gripped the wheel more tightly. "What is the intended meaning of that?"

With a sigh, she combed through her hair. "Ethan, you had the opportunity to put an end to this. To prevent Damien from causing any more harm. However, you didn’t.

He gave a quick breath. "There would have been no change if he had been killed."

Lily gave a headshake. "Wouldn’t it?"

Ethan remained silent. Because he knew in his heart that was untrue. The obvious course of action would have been to kill Damien, but reasoning had nothing to do with what had prevented him.

Lily.

Something he couldn’t quite identify had been in her eyes as she watched him. And he had decided to be restrained for the first time in a long time.

Had it been the correct decision, though?

A Perilous Disclosure

The tension between them had grown into something more serious by the time they arrived at the penthouse—an unasked question that neither of them was prepared to answer.

Ethan’s senses went into overdrive the moment he opened the door. There was a strange feeling. The shadows were too deep and the air too calm.

Lily sensed it as well. "Ethan—"

He drew his revolver and quietly entered before she could say anything further. Even though the area was unaltered, there was an unmistakable sense of invasion.

Then they noticed it.

Perfectly positioned on the kitchen counter, a single envelope seemed to be waiting for them.

Ethan and Lily looked at each other, then he picked it up and tore it open.

There was only one picture inside.

Lily let out a gasp.

It was a photograph of them, taken outside the courthouse earlier that evening. The focus was too exact to be chance, and the angle was acute. They had been observed by someone.

Ethan flipped the picture. One statement was written in bold, black ink on the back:

You made a mistake.

Lily’s heartbeat accelerated. "He thought you were going to leave."

Ethan tightened his jaw. "And he knows I did now."

They were more than merely being pursued. They were being manipulated.

The Dissecting Plan

With his thoughts racing, Ethan poured himself a drink. He had dominated the story for years, always one step ahead of his adversaries. Now, however, Damien had turned the tables on him.

Lily paced at his side. "What are we going to do?"

Ethan gazed at his glass of amber liquid and then put it down. "We alter the regulations."

Lily scowled. "What is meant by that?"

His voice was hard as he stated, "It means we stop playing defense." "Stop waiting. Stop responding. We confront him in combat.

Lily paused. This isn’t only about using force, as you stated. Damien never stops thinking ahead. We must become more intelligent.

Ethan looked at her for a while. "You’re thinking of something."

She inhaled deeply. "You do realize that Damien thrives on control? He anticipates and manipulates. However, what if we provide him with false information? Make him believe that we are putting ourselves in danger when, in reality, we are the ones laying it?

Ethan’s mouth curled a little. "A double-blind trick."

Lily gave a nod. We give him the impression that he is still in charge. And we take everything away from him after that.

Ethan observed her while leaning on the counter. "You’re improving at this."

She looked him in the eye. "I had a good instructor."

Something changed between them for the first time that evening. Trust, not simply survival or strategy.

A Risky Transaction

Before the sun even dawned, the plan was put into action. With a measured tone, Ethan called.

"I would like to meet," he declared.

On the other end, the man laughed. "Calloway, you were brave to ask."

Ethan grinned. "Tell Moreau that I’m making him an irresistible offer."

A pause occurred. Then, "Midnight." The former rail yard.

The line died.

Lily’s eyebrows went up. "That simple?"

Ethan let out a breath. "I can tell he’s anticipating a trap because of that."

Lily folded her arms. Therefore, we need to make sure it’s a decent one.

The Moment of Change

Midnight arrived sooner than anticipated.

Beneath the flickering lamps, the rusty lines of the ancient railroad yard stretched out in a haunting silence. Lily and Ethan waited in the shadows.

Then the darkness was broken by headlights.

As a group of black SUVs arrived, their engines roared like ravenous animals.

With his sneer fixed firmly in place, Damien emerged first, wearing yet another immaculately fitted suit.

"Calloway!" he said. "Don’t you enjoy dramatic meetings?"

Ethan took a step forward. "I came to negotiate."

Damien laughed. "A bargain? After all? I have to say, I’m intrigued.

Ethan’s eyes were icy. "You’re interested in my empire? My strength? Alright. It is yours to have.

Lily tensed alongside him, but she didn’t respond.

Damien’s gaze narrowed. "You want me to think you’re giving up?"

Ethan shrugged. "What is the other option? Continue running? Continue waging a battle that neither of us can win?

Damien looked at him. Then he grinned. "You’re telling lies."

Ethan grinned. "Am I?"

Damien glanced in Lily’s direction. What about her? Is she aware that you also want to betray her?

Ethan’s mouth clenched. "She is not involved in this."

Damien smiled. "Oh, but she is, Calloway. You’ve made her part of this."

His soldiers shifted slightly, adjusting into position. Unspoken threats began to permeate the air.

Ethan was aware that they were only a few seconds away from gunfire.

Then—

The yard was jolted by an explosion.

As smoke filled the air, Damien’s troops were flung into disarray. Ethan and Lily were already on the move when gunfire broke out.

They had prepared their trap.

They were going to put a stop to this now.

The Game Modifies

The fight was harsh and swift. Ethan was a precise mover who dispatched individuals with brutal efficiency. With her piercing and precise shots, Lily covered his back.

With a curse, Damien turned back to his SUV. "Calloway, this isn’t over!"

With his rifle pointed, Ethan took a step forward. "That’s for you."

Despite his bleeding, Damien grinned. "You believe you’ve triumphed?"

Ethan remained silent.

Since he was aware of the reality.

This wasn’t a triumph.

The end was just around the corner.

Ethan and Lily stood together as Damien vanished into the darkness, both of them aware that everything had changed.

Forever.