Lillian and Chloe were finally sitting on the couch, the tension of the past few weeks slowly easing—or at least they were trying to make it.
"I still can't believe everything that happened," Chloe said, shaking her head as she took a sip of her tea. "Three weeks taking care of Sebastian, putting up with his stubbornness, and now quitting Sovereign?"
Lillian let out a long sigh. "I just… I can't handle it anymore. I can't be humiliated like that again."
"You mean… emotionally trampled?" Chloe added with a smirk.
"I suppose." Lillian gave her a faint, tired smile. "It's complicated."
Chloe laughed softly. "Everything with Sebastian Wolfe is complicated. But you know what? You survived it. And you're here, alive, breathing, and sane enough to drink tea."
Lillian chuckled quietly, but the sound was hollow. She picked at the edge of her cup, her mind replaying every scene at Sovereign—the argument, the way he'd looked at her, the coldness that cut her more than she wanted to admit.
They were quiet for a few minutes, just letting the calm fill the apartment. The soft ticking of the clock, the faint hum of traffic outside, it all felt… safe.
Until there was a knock at the door.
Lillian's chest tightened immediately. She frowned. "Who…?"
Chloe leaned forward, peering toward the door. "No idea. Probably a delivery?"
Lillian hesitated. "I don't think so."
She walked over and peeked through the peephole. Her heart sank the moment she saw him.
Ethan. Her ex.
And in his hands, a bouquet of flowers—an attempt at charm that only made her stomach twist with irritation.
She opened the door cautiously.
"Lillian," Ethan said softly, stepping forward. "We need to talk."
"I don't want to see you," Lillian said firmly, stepping back. "Leave. Now."
"You don't understand," he said, a hint of pleading in his tone. "I made a mistake. I want you back."
"No. Not ever," she said, her voice steady despite the tension curling in her chest. "I don't forgive you. I don't want to be with you again."
Ethan's face darkened, and suddenly, his tone was sharp. "You think I care about what you want? You're coming with me, Lillian."
"What?!" she exclaimed, taking an instinctive step back.
Chloe moved to intervene. "Hey! You can't just—."
Before she could finish, Ethan grabbed Lillian's arm. The sudden grip sent a shock of pain up her arm, her wrist already bruising.
"Let go of me!" Lillian shouted, twisting her body.
Chloe lunged forward, trying to pull Ethan away. "Release her!"
Ethan shoved Chloe violently. She fell backward onto the hardwood floor, clutching her ankle and letting out a cry.
"Chloe!" Lillian cried, but Ethan didn't loosen his grip. His strength was overpowering.
"Lillian, come with me!" he ordered, dragging her toward his car.
"No! I won't go back!" she screamed, struggling against his hold. "You have no right!"
"Right?" he growled, ignoring her. "I've always had more right than anyone. You're mine, Lillian!"
"I am not yours!" she yelled, her voice cracking. "I never was!"
The car door slammed as Ethan forced her inside the passenger seat. Lillian landed hard against the leather, gasping as pain shot through her arm and shoulder. Her wrist throbbed, already turning purple where he had grabbed her.
Chloe hobbled to the car, trying to keep up on her injured ankle. "Lillian! Fight back! Call the police! Do something!"
"I can't!" Lillian shouted, clutching the edge of the seat for leverage. "He's too strong!"
Ethan slammed the door and got behind the wheel, ignoring Chloe completely. "Quiet," he said, his tone a mix of control and menace. "You'll get home safely if you just stay quiet."
"Safe?!" Lillian shrieked. "You call this safe? You're insane!"
Ethan didn't answer, instead speeding down the street toward their old apartment.
Her mind raced, panic and frustration colliding. I cannot go back there. Not ever. I won't. She gritted her teeth, her chest tight, trying to steady her breathing.
"Why are you doing this?" she demanded, voice trembling.
"Because I won't take no for an answer," Ethan said harshly. "You're mine, Lillian. You always have been. You don't get a say."
"You're lying!" she shouted. "I'm not yours! I'll never be yours again!"
His hand slammed against the console, rattling the car. "You'll see," he snapped. "You'll come back to me."
Lillian's resolve hardened despite the fear coursing through her. I'm not going back. I refuse. She knew she had to stay strong. She had to plan her escape.
Her mind flicked to Chloe. Chloe will help me if I can just get out of this car safely.
The city blurred past the windows, lights streaking in elongated lines. Lillian pressed herself against the door, trying to assess every possible escape route.
Ethan's focus was on the road, his jaw tight. "Why are you making this harder than it has to be?" he asked, frustration creeping into his voice.
"Because I won't be controlled!" Lillian shouted, her voice shaking with fury. "I will not go back to that life!"
"You're acting foolish," Ethan muttered, but the anger in his eyes betrayed him.
Lillian's arm throbbed. She knew she needed to act, but she also needed to remain calm. If I panic, I'll give him power. I can't. I won't.
"You've lost me," she said through gritted teeth. "I'm done with you. Done with this. Done with everything you ever promised and broke."
Ethan glanced at her, his face a storm of frustration and disbelief. "You'll regret this," he said darkly.
Lillian's lips pressed into a thin line. "I don't care."
Her words were like fire, and for a moment, Ethan's grip loosened slightly as he processed them. Lillian saw her chance.
Her mind calculated. Ineed to survive. I need to escape. Every instinct screamed at her to fight, to not give in.
"You think you can control me, but you can't," she whispered under her breath, more to herself than to him.
Ethan didn't respond, but the tension in the car was palpable.
Lillian focused on steadying her breathing, counting in her head. Stay calm. Don't panic. Think. You can get out.
Her arm throbbed, her wrist aching, but the pain was secondary to the rush of adrenaline coursing through her. She wouldn't be a victim again.
And deep down, as the car sped through the streets, she promised herself something: she would fight. She would escape. And she would never go back.