The hospital was a flurry of activity, reporters swarming the lobby like vultures, all clamoring for the exclusive scoop on Lily's condition. Her father, John Ashton, a ruthless billionaire with a reputation for stopping at nothing to get what he wanted, paced back and forth, his eyes fixed on the doors to the ICU. He wore a tailored black suit, his face set in a cold, calculating mask.
Lily's stepmother, Sophia, a blonde woman with a pinched face, sat on a nearby couch, flanked by Lily's three older stepsiblings, Bryce, Brody, and Sophia's daughter, Ava. Bryce and Brody, identical twins with chiseled features and athletic builds, looked bored, their eyes fixed on their phones. Ava, a beautiful young woman with long, curly blonde hair and piercing green eyes, looked equally uninterested, flipping through a magazine.
As the doors to the ICU burst open, Emma, bright and energetic high school student im uniform with long, dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes, rushed in, followed by Lily's three friends, Rachel, Mike, and Chris.
Rachel, a petite, bubbly young woman with long, curly brown hair and bright hazel eyes, looked worried, her eyes fixed on Emma. Mike, a tall, lanky young man with short, spiky black hair and piercing blue eyes, looked calm, his eyes fixed on the doctor. Chris, a striking young woman with short, choppy black hair and piercing green eyes, looked fierce, her eyes fixed on anyone who dared to get in their way.
Just as it seemed like things couldn't get any more chaotic, Eliot walked in, accompanied by his new girlfriend, Elise. Emma's eyes narrowed, her face twisted with anger, as she spotted Eliot.
"You're the last person she needs to see," Emma spat, her voice venomous, as she took a step forward, her fists clenched.
"I just want to know if she's okay," Eliot protested, holding up his hands in a calming gesture.
"She's not okay, thanks to you," Emma snarled, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Emma, stop," Chris warned, grabbing Emma's arm and holding her back.
Just then, the doctor emerged from the ICU, a somber expression on his face.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news," he said, his voice low and serious. "Lily's injuries were too severe. She has slipped into a coma."
The room fell silent, as if the very air had been sucked out of it. Emma let out a loud wail, her body shaking with sobs, as she cursed all those who had hurt her sister.
"This can't be happening," Rachel whispered, her eyes wide with shock.
"I'm so sorry, Emma," Mike said, putting a comforting arm around her shoulders.
John Ashton's face turned red with rage as he turned to Eliot. "You're going to pay for this," he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Eliot took a step back, his eyes wide with fear. "John, I—"
But John Ashton cut him off, his voice rising to a shout. "You're going to regret the day you ever crossed me!"
"You killed her!" Emma screamed, her voice echoing off the walls. "You and your mistress, you're both going to rot in he
Elise took a step forward, her eyes flashing with anger. "How dare you," she spat. "You don't even know what happened."
"I know that my sister is dead because of you!" Emma shouted, her face twisted with grief and rage.
Just as Emma was screaming at Eliot, the doors to the ICU burst open and Ava and Alexis, Lily's younger stepsister twins, walked in. They were identical twins with long, curly blonde hair and piercing green eyes, their faces a picture of perfect teenage beauty. They were Emma's age, and they had always made it clear that they despised her.
Ava sneered at Emma as she walked in. "Look at the little freak," she said, her voice dripping with contempt. "Crying and screaming like a baby."
Alexis chuckled and shook her head. "Pathetic," she said, her eyes scanning Emma's tear-stained face.
Emma's eyes widened as she took a step back, her heart racing with fear. She had always been intimidated by the twins, who seemed to take great pleasure in tormenting her.
"You're just mad because your precious Eliot is getting what's coming to him," Emma spat, trying to sound braver than she felt.
Ava's face turned red with rage as she took a step forward. "You little bitch," she snarled, her hand raised to slap her.
But before she could make contact, Chris jumped forward, grabbing Ava's arm and holding her back. "Don't even think about it," Chris warned, her eyes blazing with anger.
Ava's face twisted with rage, but she knew better than to mess with Chris. She took a step back, her eyes never leaving Emma's face. "This isn't over," she snarled.
Emma's eyes widened as she took a step back, her heart racing with fear. She knew that she had just made a powerful enemy, and she wondered what the consequences would be.
As the tension between Emma and Ava escalated, John Ashton's voice cut through the room, cold and commanding. "Enough," he said, his eyes fixed on Ava. "This is not the time or the place for your petty squabbles."
Ava's face fell, and she took a step back, her eyes dropping to the floor. Emma, however, stood tall, her eyes still flashing with anger.
John Ashton turned to Eliot, his eyes blazing with fury. "You have a lot to answer for, Eliot," he said, his voice low and menacing. "You're going to regret the day you ever crossed me."
Eliot's face went white, and he took a step back, his eyes wide with fear. Elise, however, stood by his side, her eyes flashing with defiance.
"I don't think so," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "Eliot and I are happy together, and nothing you can do will ever change that."
John Ashton's face turned red with rage, and he took a step forward, his fists clenched. But before he could do anything, Chris intervened, grabbing his arm and holding him back.
"Wait," she said, her voice calm and soothing. "This isn't going to solve anything."
John Ashton's face twisted with anger, but he slowly regained control of himself, his breathing slowing as he stepped back.
"You're right," he said finally, his voice cold and calculating. "I'll deal with Eliot and his mistress later. Right now, I need to take care of my daughter."
As he turned to leave, Emma's voice stopped him. "Dad," she said, her voice trembling. "What's going to happen to Lily?"
John Ashton's face fell, and he turned back to Emma, his eyes filled with sadness. "Lily is in a coma, Emma," he said gently. "We don't know if she'll ever wake up."
Emma's face crumpled, and she burst into tears, Chris and Rachel rushing to comfort her. As the scene unfolded, Eliot and Elise slipped out of the room, unnoticed by anyone.
Here is the continuation of the chapter:
John Ashton's eyes narrowed as he watched Eliot and Elise slip out of the room. He turned to one of his security guards, a tall, imposing man with a stern expression.
"Find out where they're going," John Ashton said, his voice low and menacing. "And make sure they don't get far."
The security guard nodded and quickly followed Eliot and Elise out of the hospital.
John Ashton turned back to Emma, who was still crying in Chris's arms. He took a deep breath, trying to compose himself, and then walked over to Emma.
"I'm so sorry, Emma," he said, his voice soft and gentle. "I'm going to make sure that Eliot pays for what he's done to Lily."
Emma looked up at him, her eyes red and puffy from crying. "Make him pay, Dad," she said, her voice trembling. "Make him pay for hurting Lily."
John Ashton's face hardened, and he nodded. "I will, Emma," he said. "I promise you that."
As he turned to leave, Chris stopped him. "John, wait," she said. "What are you going to do to Eliot?"
John Ashton turned back to her, a cold smile spreading across his face. "I'm going to ruin him," he said. "I'm going to take everything he has, and I'm going to make sure he never sets foot in this city again."
Chris's eyes widened, and she took a step back. "John, that's not going to bring Lily back," she said.
John Ashton's face twisted with anger, and he took a step forward. "I don't care about bringing Lily back," he said. "I care about making Eliot pay for what he's done. And I'm going to make sure he pays, no matter what it takes."
Meanwhile, a figure watched from the rooftop of a nearby building, their eyes fixed intently on the hospital. They were a shadowy figure, dressed in black, and they seemed to blend into the darkness. Their eyes narrowed, their face twisted with a mixture of anger and sadness, as they watched the scene unfold.