Lily's heart raced as she struggled against her captor, her mind whirling with fear and adrenaline. With a sudden burst of strength, she wrenched herself free, stumbling backward into what felt like a cluttered storage room.
"Who the hell are you?!" she shouted, her voice raw with panic.
The room was plunged into darkness for a moment before a harsh fluorescent light flickered to life, revealing her attacker. Lily gasped, recognizing the silver-haired man in the crisp suit from the VIP lounge.
"Stay back!" Lily warned, her hand fumbling for her phone. "I'll call 911 right now. My father is Maxwell Smith. You have no idea who you're messing with!"
The man held up his hands, his expression calm. "Please, Miss Smith. I'm not here to harm you. I have two daughters myself. I'm no rapist."
Lily's eyes darted around the room, taking in the mops and cleaning supplies. A janitor's closet. Her gaze snapped back to the man, wary and confused.
"Then what is this? Why did you drag me in here?"
The man sighed, loosening his tie. "I apologize for the dramatics, but I needed to speak with you privately. No prying eyes or ears. I know about your situation with Chris Eaton and the contract."
Lily's breath caught in her throat. "You... you do? But how?!"
"Yes. I overheard you speaking with your friend," he nodded solemnly. "And believe me, Miss Smith, this goes deeper than you realize. There are things you need to know about Chris Eaton."
Lily's mind raced. Could this man really have information that could help her? Or was this another trap?
"Why should I trust you?" she demanded, her voice steadier now but still laced with suspicion.
The man reached into his jacket, slowly pulling out a business card. "Because, Miss Smith, I might be your only chance at getting out of this contract."
Lily hesitated, her eyes fixed on the outstretched business card. She took a deep breath, steadying herself.
"Who are you? Really?" she asked, her voice firm. "I come from a business family. I know people don't just help others unless they want something in return. So tell me who you are first!"
The man nodded, a hint of respect in his eyes. "You're right to be cautious. My name is Michael Thornton. I'm a lawyer, like my father before me.
"My father used to work for Chris Eaton. But he's been missing for the past year. I suspect something bad happened to him, and Chris Eaton refuses to respond to my inquiries. The police won't even accept a complaint against him."
Michael's eyes blazed with determination as he continued, "Exposing Chris Eaton's shady business dealings has become my life's mission. I won't rest until I see him behind bars, paying for what he's done to my father and who knows how many others."
Lily shifted uncomfortably, her brow furrowing. "Look, I understand your situation, but I don't care about taking down Chris Eaton's empire or whatever. All I want is to get out of this ridiculous marriage contract I signed unknowingly. That's it."
Michael's face fell, a mix of frustration and disappointment clouding his features. He ran a hand through his silver hair, sighing heavily. "You don't understand, Lily. You can try all your life, but you'll never find a lawyer willing to go against Chris Eaton. He's too powerful, too connected."
He leaned in, his voice dropping to an urgent whisper. "The only way to defeat him is to expose him. And this marriage contract? It's not a curse, it's a blessing in disguise. You're in a unique position now. You can get close to him, and find the truth from the inside."
Lily scoffed, taking a step back. "Are you kidding me? I don't want to get involved in more trouble. I just want out of this mess, not dive deeper into it!"
"But don't you see?" Michael pressed, his voice rising with passion. "This could be your ticket to freedom. If we can expose Chris's illegal activities, your contract will be null and void. You'd be free, and we'd be bringing a criminal to justice."
Lily shook her head vehemently. "No. No way. I'm not playing spy or putting myself in danger."
Michael's shoulders slumped, the fire in his eyes dimming. "I request you to reconsider your decision, Miss Smith. You know that all the other doors are closed."
For a moment, Lily hesitated. So there was really no other way out of this?! Was she really doomed?! Either way, she knew better than to play spy to someone else for their personal vendetta. She didn't want more trouble than she already was in.
"I appreciate what you're trying to do, Mr. Thornton. But I can't be part of this. I won't," she said firmly.
Michael held out his business card one last time. "At least take this. In case you change your mind. In case you realize that sometimes, the only way out is through."
Lily looked at the card, then back at Michael's earnest face. For a split second, she was tempted. But then she shook her head. "I'm sorry, but no. I'll find another way. Goodnight, Mr. Thornton."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Michael standing alone in the dim light of the janitor's closet. As she made her way back to the parking lot, Lily's mind raced. Part of her wondered if she was making a mistake. But another part, the part that had kept her going through all the bullying and hardship, told her to trust her instincts.
She definitely shouldn't trust a man she knows nothing about; instead, it would be wiser to trust Chris Eaton, himself. She'd find another way out of this contract. She had to—before her parents found out about it.
…
Lily's heart nearly leaped out of her chest as she stepped out of the janitor's closet and came face to face with Chris Eaton.
How the hell does he manage to be everywhere she goes?!
Perhaps he was really tracking her by her phone, as her friend Jude had said before.
He stood there in the now brightly lit parking lot near his luxury car, tall and imposing, his broad shoulders filling the narrow hallway. His steel-blue eyes were fixed on her, a mixture of anger and chillness—swirling in their depths.
Chris's jaw was clenched tight, a muscle ticking in his cheek. His usually perfectly styled brown hair was slightly disheveled as if he'd been running his hands through it in frustration. Despite the tension radiating from him, he still managed to look devastatingly handsome in his tailored suit.
"My dear wife," Chris said, his voice low and controlled, but with an edge that sent shivers down Lily's spine. "Care to explain what you were doing in a closet with another man?"