Chapter 5 - The UltimatumInside the bedroom, Lily was trying to sit up against the headboard, holding a glass of water that Mrs. Brooks had handed her. Her hands were still shaking, but the terror in her eyes had shifted into something fragile and hopeful.
Ethan walked in, his expression instantly softening the moment he looked at her. He sat on the edge of the mattress, gently taking the glass from her hand and setting it aside.
"You shouldn't have gotten out of bed," he murmured.
"I heard you shouting," Lily whispered, looking down at her lap. "Ethan... you shouldn't fight your mother because of me. She's right. I'm just..."
"Stop," Ethan interrupted, placing two fingers gently under her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Never finish that sentence, Lily. Never. You are everything to me."
Downstairs, the front door slammed.
Elizabeth, in a blind fury of wounded pride, had stormed out of the mansion, calling for her driver to take her to her private estate in the Hamptons. She truly believed Ethan would come crawling back within forty-eight hours to beg for her forgiveness. She had underestimated the depth of his resolve.
Richard stood in the doorway of the bedroom, leaning against the frame with a heavy sigh.
"She's gone to the Hamptons," Richard said quietly.
Ethan didn't even look up. "Good. Tell the security detail she is barred from entering the gates of Briar Glen until she issues a formal, written apology to Lily and Jaden."
Richard blinked, stunned. "Ethan, that's your mother—"
"That is a toxic tyrant," Ethan corrected coldly. "And I am done letting her destroy the people I care about. Dad, you're welcome to stay here, but if you condone what she did, the door is open for you to join her."
May you like
Richard looked at his son, then at Lily, who looked away guiltily. The old man let out a long, weary breath, finally realizing that the old era of the Blackwell dynasty was dead.
"I'm staying," Richard muttered. "And... I'm sorry, Lily. For what it's worth."
