The mansion was eerily quiet as I slipped out the back door, my heart pounding in my chest. The night air was cool, a sharp contrast to the tension simmering inside me. I knew what I was about to do was dangerous, possibly even reckless, but I couldn't shake the feeling that it was necessary. I needed answers, and there was only one person who could give them to me—Ethan Liu.
Ethan had been a close friend of my family for as long as I could remember. Charming, intelligent, and resourceful, he had always been someone I could trust. But ever since my marriage to Alexander, Ethan had kept his distance, his usual warmth replaced by a guarded coolness. Something had changed between us, something I couldn't quite understand.
I had reached out to him earlier that day, a simple text asking to meet. His reply had been cryptic, but he had agreed, instructing me to meet him at an old café on the outskirts of the city—a place we used to frequent before everything in my life had turned upside down.
As I approached the café, my nerves began to fray. The small, dimly lit building looked just as it had in my memories, but now it felt different—more like a place where secrets were exchanged than a place where friends met for coffee. I hesitated at the door, wondering if this was a mistake. But before I could change my mind, the door creaked open, and I found myself face-to-face with Ethan.
"Lily," he said, his voice low and urgent. "Come inside, quickly."
I followed him into the café, which was empty except for a lone barista who seemed more interested in her phone than in the two people who had just entered. Ethan led me to a secluded booth in the back, where we would be out of sight. As we sat down, I noticed the tension in his posture, the way his eyes darted around the room as if he were expecting trouble.
"What's going on, Ethan?" I asked, unable to keep the anxiety out of my voice. "Why are we meeting like this?"
He leaned forward, his expression serious. "I wanted to talk to you in person, away from prying eyes. There are things you need to know, Lily. Things about your marriage."
My stomach tightened. "What do you mean?"
"Alexander Wu is not who you think he is," Ethan said, his voice barely above a whisper. "He's dangerous, Lily. More dangerous than you realize. You need to be careful."
My heart skipped a beat. "Ethan, what are you talking about? I know Alexander has enemies, but—"
"It's not just his enemies you need to worry about," Ethan interrupted, his tone urgent. "It's him. Alexander is ruthless, and he'll stop at nothing to get what he wants. You've been caught in the middle of something much bigger than you understand."
I stared at him, trying to process his words. "What do you know, Ethan? Why are you saying this?"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I can't tell you everything, not yet. But I've been keeping an eye on Alexander for a while now, and there are things about him that don't add up. Deals he's made, people who've disappeared... He's dangerous, Lily, and I'm afraid for you."
The concern in his eyes was genuine, but it only served to confuse me more. "Why didn't you tell me this before? Why now?"
"Because I didn't realize how deep it went until recently," Ethan admitted. "I thought I could protect you from a distance, but now I see that you're in more danger than I anticipated. You need to be careful around him, Lily. Don't trust him completely."
His words sent a shiver down my spine. I wanted to argue, to defend Alexander, but a part of me couldn't ignore the doubt creeping in. There were so many things I didn't know, so many secrets that had yet to be uncovered. Could Ethan be right? Could Alexander be hiding something even darker than I imagined?
"What should I do?" I asked, my voice trembling.
"Keep your eyes open," Ethan said, his tone firm. "Don't let him manipulate you. If you ever feel like you're in danger, call me. I'll be there."
I nodded, feeling a mix of fear and gratitude. "Thank you, Ethan. I don't know what I'd do without you."
He reached across the table, taking my hand in his. "You're not alone in this, Lily. I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe."
For a moment, we just sat there, our hands clasped together, the weight of his words hanging between us. I had always trusted Ethan, and his warning only deepened the uncertainty that had been growing inside me since the wedding. But I couldn't let fear control me. I had to be strong, to face whatever was coming with my eyes wide open.
"Promise me you'll be careful," Ethan said, his voice softening.
"I promise," I replied, squeezing his hand. "And you be careful too."
He gave me a small, sad smile. "I will."
With that, he stood up, his eyes scanning the room one last time. "We should go. It's not safe to stay here too long."
I nodded and followed him out of the café, the cold night air hitting me like a slap. We walked in silence to where I had parked my car, the weight of our conversation still heavy on my mind.
Before I got into the car, Ethan stopped me, his hand on my arm. "Lily, remember what I said. Don't trust him completely. And if anything happens, call me."
"I will," I promised, my heart aching at the concern in his eyes.
He hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say more, but then he just nodded and stepped back. I got into the car and drove away, watching him in the rearview mirror until he disappeared from sight.
As I drove back to the mansion, Ethan's words echoed in my mind. Could I really trust Alexander? Or was I walking into a trap, blinded by the need to protect my family? The more I thought about it, the more uncertain I became. I had already been thrust into a world of secrets and lies, and now it seemed that even the man I had married was hiding something from me.
But what choice did I have? I was bound to Alexander by marriage, by duty, and by the promises we had made. I couldn't simply walk away, not without putting everything I cared about at risk.
When I reached the mansion, I parked the car and sat there for a moment, staring at the grand building that had become my new home. It looked imposing, even in the darkness, and for the first time, I felt a sense of dread creeping in.
I needed to find out the truth, to uncover the secrets that were being kept from me. But I couldn't do it alone. I would have to play the game, to pretend that I was the perfect wife, all the while searching for the answers I needed.
As I stepped out of the car and made my way to the door, I knew that my life had changed once again. The stakes were higher than ever, and the danger was real. But I had to be strong. I had to protect myself and those I cared about.
Because in this world of shadows and deceit, trust was a luxury I couldn't afford. And the only person I could truly rely on was myself.