CHAPTER 7: The Choice That Changed Everything
CHAPTER 7: The Choice That Changed Everything
Nathan did not remember crossing the hallway.
One second he was holding the phone.
The next he was standing inside Lily's bedroom, staring at the white envelope on the neatly made bed.
James stood frozen nearby.
Emma had collapsed to her knees, clutching Lily's stuffed rabbit to her chest.
"My baby..." she whispered brokenly. "Please... not my baby..."
Nathan picked up the envelope.
Inside was a single photograph.
Lily sat in a chair, frightened but unharmed, holding her rabbit. Behind her was an old warehouse wall painted with faded blue numbers.
On the back was a message.
Come alone. Midnight. Bring no police, or the child dies.
Nathan studied the background for only a few seconds before handing the photo to Alan.
"The numbers."
Alan narrowed his eyes.
"Pier 17."
Nathan nodded.
"The abandoned shipping terminal on the river."
Alan immediately objected.
"It's a trap."
"I know."
"We'll surround the area."
Nathan shook his head.
"They're expecting that."
Alan looked at him.
"So what's your plan?"
Nathan's expression became ice.
"I'm going to let them believe they've won."
At eleven fifty-eight that night, Nathan drove alone toward the abandoned terminal.
The warehouse doors slowly rolled open.
Inside, Lily sat tied to a chair.
She was crying quietly but trying to be brave.
"Nathan..." she whispered.
"I'm here."
A familiar voice echoed from the darkness.
"I knew you would come."
Victor Hale stepped into the light.
Beside him stood Meredith.
She no longer looked frightened.
She looked relieved.
Nathan's eyes moved between them.
"So it was both of you."
Victor smiled.
"Finally."
Nathan's gaze settled on Meredith.
"Why?"
For the first time since they met, Meredith stopped pretending.
"Because you were never supposed to care about them."
She gestured toward Lily.
"She ruined everything."
Nathan said nothing.
Meredith laughed bitterly.
"You were supposed to marry me, merge our families, and sign the inheritance agreement. Instead, you replaced me with a maid and her child."
Emma's voice suddenly rang out from behind.
"No."
Everyone turned.
Emma had followed Nathan.
She stood just inside the doorway despite Alan's instructions to stay away.
"You never lost Nathan because of me."
Meredith frowned.
"You lost him because you don't know what love looks like."
Meredith's face twisted with rage.
"You think you're better than me?"
"No."
Emma answered quietly.
"I think Lily taught him something neither of us could."
Nathan never took his eyes off Victor.
"You've been manipulating lives for decades."
Victor smiled.
"I've been protecting investments."
Nathan's jaw tightened.
"My sister wasn't an investment."
Victor's smile disappeared.
"Your father refused a partnership that would have made certain people very wealthy."
"So Grace died."
Victor shrugged.
"Collateral damage."
Nathan moved before anyone saw him.
His fist struck Victor with enough force to send him crashing across the concrete floor.
The warehouse exploded into chaos.
Hidden officers rushed through every entrance.
Alan had ignored Nathan's request to stay away—but kept far enough back to avoid detection.
Police flooded the building.
Victor reached for a gun.
James, who had secretly followed as well, struck Victor's arm with a steel pipe.
The weapon slid across the floor.
Meredith tried to flee through a side exit.
Emma stepped directly into her path.
"You used my daughter."
Meredith shoved her violently.
Before she could run farther, officers tackled her to the ground.
Lily screamed.
Nathan reached her first.
He untied the ropes with shaking hands.
"It's okay."
She threw her arms around his neck.
"I knew you'd come."
May you like
Nathan closed his eyes.
"I'll always come."
