Ella's eyes fluttered open, and for a moment, she didn't recognize where she was. The dim, flickering light above her cast long shadows on the cold walls. Her body ached, her mind spinning with fragments of the past day.
"Lily?" she croaked, her voice dry and cracked.
"Here," Lily replied, sitting against the far wall. Her knees were drawn up to her chest, her arms wrapped tightly around them. She looked pale, her usual spark dimmed.
The door creaked open, and both sisters froze. A man stepped inside, dressed sharply in a tailored suit, his expression unreadable. He didn't carry the same menace as the men who had brought them here, but his presence was unsettling.
"You're free to go," he said, his voice calm but firm.
Ella narrowed her eyes. "Why? What changed?"
The man didn't answer. Instead, he stepped aside, gesturing toward the door.
Lily grabbed Ella's arm. "Let's just go, El. Don't ask questions."
Reluctantly, Ella followed her sister out. The hallways were eerily quiet as they were escorted to the exit. A sleek black car waited for them outside.
"Get in," the man ordered.
Ella hesitated. "What's the catch?"
"There isn't one," he replied, sounding bored.
Lily tugged at her arm. "Come on."
---
The drive was silent. Neither of them spoke as the car sped through the city, the familiar streets of their old neighborhood coming into view. When the car finally stopped in front of their old apartment building, the driver didn't even wait for a thank you before driving off.
Ella stared at the crumbling steps leading to their door. The peeling paint, the broken window in the hallway—it was all the same. It was like stepping back in time.
"I can't believe we're back here," she muttered, her voice hollow.
"It's better than that place," Lily replied, already heading inside.
They climbed the rickety stairs to their tiny apartment. The moment they stepped through the door, it hit them like a wave. The smell of old wood, the faded wallpaper, the creak of the floor—it was all so painfully familiar.
Ella sank onto the worn-out couch, running her hands over the threadbare fabric. "I never thought we'd be back here."
Lily picked up a photo frame from the table. It was their dad, his arms around both of them, smiling as if the world wasn't falling apart around him.
"He'd hate this," Lily said softly. "He'd hate knowing we ended up like this."
Ella's chest tightened. "He tried so hard to protect us. Even when he was sick, he didn't stop fighting for us."
Lily sat down beside her, clutching the photo tightly. "He worked himself to death, El. And what do we have to show for it? We're still stuck in the same cycle."
"No," Ella said firmly, though her voice wavered. "He gave us more than that. He gave us hope. He believed in us, Lily. Even when everything was falling apart, he never gave up."
Lily's eyes filled with tears. "I miss him so much."
"Me too," Ella whispered, her voice barely audible.
The sisters sat there, the weight of their father's absence heavy in the room. The apartment was small and run-down, but it was home. It was where they'd been a family, where they'd shared love and laughter, even in the hardest times.
Lily leaned her head on Ella's shoulder. "We'll figure it out, El. We always do."
Ella nodded, her heart heavy but determined. "Yeah. We will."
A sudden knock on the door broke the quiet moment between the sisters. Ella and Lily exchanged wary glances, their hearts racing.
"Who could that be?" Lily whispered, standing up slowly.
Ella shrugged, her muscles tensing. "I don't know. Be careful."
Lily tiptoed to the door and peeked through the peephole. Her eyes widened, and she quickly unlocked it. "Oh my God. Mia?"
The door swung open, revealing a young woman with curly brown hair and a warm smile. She looked out of breath, like she had been running.
"Lily! I've been looking for you everywhere," Mia said, pulling her into a tight hug.
Lily stepped back, confused. "What are you doing here? How did you even find me?"
"It wasn't easy," Mia said, glancing at Ella and giving her a polite nod. "But I had to. I have news. There's an opening at The Daily Journal. I thought of you immediately."
Lily's jaw dropped. "You're kidding."
"I'm serious," Mia said, her excitement contagious. "They're looking for someone fresh, someone with a unique voice. You've always wanted to be a journalist, and this is your chance."
Lily hesitated, her gaze darting to Ella. "I don't know… things are complicated right now."
Ella stood up and walked over to her sister, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You should do it, Lily."
"But—"
"No buts," Ella interrupted, her voice firm. "This is what you've always dreamed of. Don't let anything hold you back."
Lily looked between her sister and Mia, her resolve wavering. "Are you sure, El?"
Ella smiled softly. "Positive. You deserve this."
Mia clapped her hands together. "Great! The interview is tomorrow morning. I'll text you all the details."
As the door clicked shut behind Mia, Lily paced the room, excitement and nerves written all over her face.
"I don't even know what to wear," Lily muttered. "Do you think I should wear my blazer? Or is that too formal?"
Ella smiled faintly from the couch, watching her sister ramble. "Anything you wear will be fine. You'll do great."
Lily paused, her expression softening. "Thanks, El. I know things are rough right now, but… this could be a way out for us."
Ella nodded. "It could. And you deserve it."
Lily grinned and disappeared into the tiny bedroom, probably to start planning for tomorrow. Ella leaned back, the weight of the day pressing down on her.
Her phone buzzed on the table, breaking the moment of calm. She picked it up, her brow furrowing at the unfamiliar number. The message popped up on the screen, and her blood ran cold.
"We're not done yet. Watch your step."
Ella's breath hitched, her fingers tightening around the phone. She glanced toward the bedroom where Lily was humming to herself, blissfully unaware.
Her stomach twisted as she reread the message. She didn't need a name to know who it was from. The words were enough to send a chill down her spine.
Ella locked the phone and placed it face down on the table, her mind racing. Whatever this was, it wasn't over. Not by a long shot.
***
AT THE CALLOWAY'S MANSION
The air in the Calloway mansion was thick with tension as Damien stood in his father's study, his jaw clenched and his patience wearing thin. Henry Calloway, seated behind his massive oak desk, seemed unusually subdued, his fingers tapping lightly against the polished wood.
"Damien," Henry began, his voice low and deliberate. "I need to clear the air about what happened with Ella."
Damien's eyes narrowed. "You should."
Henry sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I lied. It wasn't Ella who made any advances. It was me. I… I wanted to test her."
Damien froze, his expression shifting from confusion to anger. "You what?"
"Calm down," Henry said quickly, raising a hand. "It was a test. I needed to see what kind of woman she is. You've never been the type to settle, Damien, and I wanted to be sure she wasn't after our name or money."
Damien's voice was cold, cutting through the room like a blade. "And you thought seducing her was the way to do that? Do you have any idea how humiliating that is for her? For me?"
Henry stood, his tone softening. "Damien, listen to me. She passed. She didn't give in. She's a good girl. I'm saying this as your father—I think she's the right one for you."
Damien turned away, pacing the room, his hands buried in his pockets. "That doesn't excuse what you did."
"I know," Henry admitted. "And I'm sorry. But you should know I was impressed by her. She has dignity, strength… qualities that aren't easy to find."
Damien didn't respond, his mind racing.
Henry stepped closer, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Now that we've settled that, we should talk about the wedding."
Damien stiffened. "What wedding?"
"Yours," Henry said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You and Ella. You've been engaged for months. It's time to make it official."
Damien forced a tight smile. "Ella isn't rushing into anything. She wants to take things slow."
Henry raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. "Slow? How slow, exactly?"
"Slow enough," Damien said firmly, trying to steer the conversation away.
Henry studied his son for a moment before nodding, though his smile didn't fade. "Well, whenever it happens, I'll be ready. You know the terms, Damien. The moment you're married, the company is yours."
Damien's heart sank, though he didn't let it show. "I'm aware."
"Good." Henry clapped him on the shoulder, his grin widening. "Don't keep me waiting too long, son. I'm looking forward to seeing Ella as part of this family."
Damien didn't respond, his mind a whirlwind of frustration and doubt as he left the room. Henry's words echoed in his ears: The company is yours on your wedding night.
For the first time, the weight of his choices felt heavier than ever.
Reaching for his car keys, he stepped outside to the driveway. The night was still, the cool breeze brushing against his face. Just as he opened the car door, the sound of screeching tires tore through the silence.
A black SUV sped into view, its headlights blinding. Before Damien could react, the vehicle swerved and clipped him hard, sending him sprawling to the ground. Pain shot through his leg as he clutched it, blood seeping through his tailored pants.
The SUV screeched to a halt a few feet away. The door swung open, and a figure stepped out, silhouetted by the headlights.
Damien's vision blurred, but he could make out the cold gleam of a gun pointed directly at him.
"Consider this a warning," the voice said, low and threatening, before the figure disappeared back into the car.
The SUV roared off, leaving Damien lying on the ground, his breaths ragged, pain radiating through his body, and a thousand questions swirling in his mind.