The news spread across the country before sunrise.
Victoria Harrington was officially wanted by the police.
Television stations interrupted their regular programming.
Newspapers printed her photograph on their front pages.
Social media exploded with updates.
But despite the nationwide search…
Victoria Harrington had vanished.
A New Reality
Wayne Corporation was placed under heightened security.
Every entrance was guarded.
Visitors were searched.
Employee identification was checked twice before anyone entered the building.
Captain James Holloway gathered the security team.
“Until Victoria is found, no one takes unnecessary risks.”
He looked directly at the officers assigned to Lily.
“Miss Carter is never to be left alone.”
“Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
An Awkward Morning
Lily arrived at work just before eight.
She hadn’t slept.
Damian’s confession echoed in her mind over and over again.
“I’ve fallen in love with you.”
She had wanted to answer him.
She truly had.
But Marcus’s interruption had stolen the moment.
As she stepped into the executive floor, she found Damian already waiting.
Their eyes met.
Neither knew what to say first.
Finally, Damian smiled softly.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning.”
There was an unfamiliar shyness between them.
It made both of them laugh quietly.
“I never imagined we’d be awkward around each other,” Lily admitted.
“Neither did I.”
He rubbed the back of his neck.
“I meant every word I said.”
Lily looked at him for a long moment.
“So did I.”
His eyebrows lifted.
She smiled, her cheeks warming.
“I wasn’t the only one.”
“I’ve loved you for a while now.”
For a second…
The walls Damian had built around his heart over the years seemed to crumble completely.
He stepped closer.
“So…”
“What happens now?”
Lily smiled.
“We catch the woman trying to ruin our lives.”
“And after that…”
She reached for his hand.
“We’ll figure out the rest.”
Damian intertwined his fingers with hers.
“I’d like that.”
A Break in the Case
Later that afternoon, Marcus rushed into Damian’s office.
“I’ve got something.”
He spread several documents across the desk.
“Victoria used one of her old company accounts this morning.”
Damian looked up.
“Where?”
“Near the western highway.”
Captain Holloway frowned.
“She’s still in the city.”
Marcus nodded.
“Not for long.”
“We traced the transaction to a fuel station.”
The police immediately organized search teams.
For the first time…
They had a lead.
The Call
At exactly 5:42 p.m., Lily’s phone rang.
The number was unfamiliar.
She answered cautiously.
“Hello?”
A weak voice whispered.
“Lily…”
Her eyes widened.
“Eleanor?”
The elderly woman sounded frightened.
“They’re taking me…”
“Please…”
The line crackled.
Then another voice came through.
Cold.
Calm.
Dangerously familiar.
“Hello, Lily.”
Victoria.
Lily’s blood ran cold.
“What have you done?”
Victoria laughed softly.
“I told you.”
“This isn’t over.”
“If you ever want to see Eleanor alive again…”
“Come alone.”
Lily’s breathing became uneven.
“You touch her and—”
Victoria interrupted.
“You have one hour.”
“No police.”
“No Damian.”
“Or your future grandmother dies.”
The call ended.
Lily stood frozen.
He was in a meeting with the legal team.
If she told him…
He would never let her go.
But if she didn’t…
Eleanor could die.
Tears filled her eyes.
“I’m so sorry…”
She whispered.
The Decision
Lily quickly scribbled a note and placed it on her desk.
Then she quietly left the building through a staff exit while two security officers were distracted by a delivery truck at the front entrance.
She climbed into a taxi.
“Old Riverside Warehouse,” she told the driver.
As the taxi pulled away…
Marcus stepped out of the elevator.
He frowned.
“Where’s Lily?”
One of the guards looked around in confusion.
“We thought she was in her office.”
Marcus’s expression changed instantly.
He ran toward Damian’s office.
Damian looked up.
“What is it?”
“Lily’s gone.”
Damian was already on his feet.
“What?”
Marcus handed him the handwritten note they had just found.
Damian unfolded it.
It read:
I’m sorry.
I couldn’t risk Eleanor’s life.
Please don’t follow me.
The paper slipped from Damian’s hand.
His heart pounded.
He whispered one word.
“No.”
Then he looked at Marcus.
“Call Captain Holloway.”
“Alert every police unit.”
“I’m going after her.”
Outside, dark clouds rolled across the evening sky.
Lily’s taxi disappeared into the distance.
She was driving straight into Victoria’s trap.
And this time…
There might not be anyone there to save her.