Chapter Twelve:
Lily stared at the photo. Her hands trembled so badly she nearly dropped the phone.
The man beside her mother…Looked exactly like her father.Same face,same eyes and Same scar above his eyebrow. Her voice barely came out.
"…That's impossible." Ethan stepped closer.
"What is it?"
She showed him the screen and his expression changed instantly.
"That's your father?"
"He died… five years ago," she whispered.
The message below the photo burned into her mind:Your mother isn't the only secret.
Lily's breathing became uneven.
"This… has to be fake."
Ethan examined the image and said
"It doesn't look edited."Her stomach dropped.
"No… I buried him… I was at the funeral…"
Sophia laughed from the police van,
"Interesting, isn't it?"Lily snapped her head toward her and said."You know something!"
Sophia smiled calmly and said
"I know everything."
"Who is that man?!Sophia leaned forward.
"You should ask your mother… when you find her.Rage filled Lily's chest.
"This is all your doing! Sophia shrugged.
"You're giving me too much credit." Ethan's voice hardened.
"If this isn't you, then who?"
Sophia smirked and said."You're about to find out." Lily's phone buzzed again.
It was Another message.She opened it slowly.
Come alone if you want the truth.
Her heart pounded ,a location was sent immediately ,An old pier,Near the river.
Ethan shook his head immediately.
"No. You're not going alone."
"They have my mom… and my dad… or whoever that is."
"It's a trap."
"I don't care."lily replied.He grabbed her shoulders.
"I do care."Her eyes filled with tears and she said."I need answers, Ethan."
"He told her",You won't go without me."The phone buzzed again.It was a new message.
If he comes with you… they both disappear forever.Lily's chest tightened,and she told Ethan that"They're watching…"Ethan's jaw clenched. I'm not letting you walk into danger again." but lily told him ,"I don't have a choice.Then she whispered—
"If that's really my father… I need to know why he left us."
Ethan's eyes softened.
"I understand… but I won't risk losing you."
Her voice broke. "You might lose me either way."
That word hit him so hard. He didn't respond. She slowly stepped back.
"I'm going."lily said""No don't go ."said Ethan ,but lily insisted,"Yes I have to go."
Ethan went close to her and held her on her hand, She shook her head.
"Please… trust me this once." said Ethan.
"I can't." lily replied.
"You have to."Before he could stop her, she turned and ran toward the waiting taxi.
"Lily!" he called.but She didn't stop.
The taxi sped away.Ethan stood frozen.
Then he pulled out his phone and told daniel to track her now."
The pier was dark and fog rolled across the water.
Old wooden boards creaked under Lily's steps.Her heart pounded.
"Hello?" she called softly.No answer.
Then—A figure stepped from the shadows.
Her breath stopped,It was her mother.
"Mom!"She ran forward,They hugged tightly. "I was so scared…" Lily whispered.
"I'm okay," her mother said.
Lily pulled back. "Who's the man? In the photo—"Her mother looked nervous.
"He's… inside."Lily's heart pounded and she asked , "Inside where?"Her mother pointed to a small boat tied to the pier.A light glowed faintly inside.Lily stepped forward slowly.
Each step was heavier than the last.
She climbed onto the boat.Opened the cabin door and froze.
A man sat inside alive. It was her father,Still exactly as she remembered.He looked up and said.
"…Lily."tears filled her eyes.
"Dad…?"He stood slowly and said to lily.
"I'm sorry."Her world spun.
"You're alive…" "Yes I am."
She shook her head."This can't be real…"
"It is."She stepped closer.
"Why did you leave us?"
Before he could answer—
Footsteps sounded behind her.
The door slammed shut.She turned and it was her mother standing outside locking it.
Lily's heart stopped."Mom…?"
Her father's expression changed.Cold and different.Then he said quietly—
"You weren't supposed to come with Ethan."