“Let
me hear Eva’s voice. I need to know she’s safe.”
Leonard’s cold, emotionless volce came through the phone. Lily glanced at me and nodded, signaling for me to speak.
‘I’m fine, don’t worry.”
I tried to keep my voice calm, but Leonard became increasingly agitated.
“Eva, are you okay? Did she hurt you? Where are-”
“Leo, are you out of your mind? You think I would let her tell you where she is?” Lily waved the knife in front of my face, warning me to stay silent.
“Just clear my name on Twitter. If I’m leaving the country, I can’t be a fugitive.
“None of this was my fault. Just tell everyone you made it all up.”
*Remember: Lily, the innocent woman who was deceived by you, the woman you forced to get rid of her
child. Got it?”
“Fine.”
Leonard’s voice was tight with anger, and I could practically hear him gritting his teeth.
“I’m expecting to see positive comments about me in half an hour’s time.
Lily sounded very happy as she hung up the phone.
That half–hour felt like an eternity. The delivery guy called Lily outside, leaving me alone in the room.
I regained a bit of strength from eating the oatmeal earlier and started to take in my surroundings.
I realized we were at what seemed to be an abandoned quarry.
I vaguely remembered hearing about a quarry on the outskirts of town that had been shut down after an accident.
Half an hour later, Lily came back, holding my phone in her hand, a gleeful look on her face.
“Look at this! Leonard really did it. Isn’t he amazing?”
Although she sounded like she was smiling, I could sense the resentment in her tone.
“See? He loves you so much. Look at him, taking all the blame, playing the perfect husband. The internet’s praising him already.”
“Of course, he’s in love with you–so much that he’s willing to throw himself under the bus. What a hero.”
I glanced at the screen. Leonard had posted a statement, completely reversing his previous stance. Not only did he claim that the child was his, but he also said he had always loved Lily and had no feelings for me anymore.
The netizens were divided. Some saw him and Lily as the perfect couple, believing he’d been forced to slander her out of some twisted loyalty to me. Others condemned him for cheating and said Harmon Group should be mine.
But as long as Lily came out looking innocent, she didn’t care what anyone else thought.
The police, apparently, had already lifted the warrant for her arrest.
“Isn’t it incredible? Mr. Harmon can fix anything. Just like that.
“But Eva, Love that comes too late is worth less than nothing. You get that, don’t you?
“He’s
a scumbag. He’s only starting to play the role of a devoted husband when you’re dying. What’s next? Is he going to mourn you at your grave with all that undying love?”
I couldn’t help but stare at her in disbelief.
She knew everything. So, why hadn’t she just stuck to making money from the start?
Lily ignored my silence, her bitterness spilling out as she dialed Leonard’s number again. This time, she made it clear,
“Leonard, if you want Eva alive, come alone. Meet me in the mountains.
“But don’t worry–once the money’s in my account, you can take her home. I swear on my dead child.”
Leonard didn’t have a choice. He agreed.
After the call, Lily tossed my phone into a bucket of water without a second thought.
“Now we just wait for him to show up.
“And when you die, be sure to visit me in my dreams. I’d love to know if Leonard feels guilty about everything he’s done to you. If he does, that’s the best punishment for him.
“Don’t worry. I’ll bring tons of fresh bouquets when I visit your grave.”
