Chapter 2 The Return

The next morning, Lila woke to her phone vibrating nonstop. Missed calls. Unknown numbers. News alerts.

She groaned, tossing the phone across her bed in her tiny one-bedroom apartment-the total opposite of the crystal tower she'd stood in the day before. Everything about Damian Hart's world reeked of power. Control. Secrets.

Secrets she was just beginning to uncover.

But the knock on her door brought a whole new level of chaos.

Three knocks. Calm. Familiar.

She padded to the door, still in her oversized shirt, and opened it halfway-only to freeze.

"Miss me?"

Liam.

Her ex.

The boy who vanished three years ago. Right after Damian. Right before her life began to spiral.

He looked older. Rougher. Jaw tighter. Tattoos crawling up his neck now. But it was the same crooked smile-the same one that once made her laugh in the rain.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she demanded.

"I heard Damian's back in your life," Liam said coolly, leaning against her doorway. "Thought I'd come warn you."

"Warn me?" She scoffed. "You ghosted me."

"And I did it to protect you," he snapped. "From him."

She slammed the door. But he pushed it back open.

"Lila. Listen to me. Damian's not who you think he is."

"I know who he is," she spat. "A manipulative, arrogant control freak who lies for a living. But at least he shows up. You didn't."

Liam's face softened.

"I left because he gave me a choice. Disappear... or disappear for good."

She blinked.

"He threatened you?"

Liam nodded. "He owns half the city. The other half? They owe him favors. You think your sister's accident was just a tragic coincidence?"

Her breath hitched.

"No. No way."

"I can prove it," Liam said, pulling a small black flash drive from his coat. "There's a hidden side to Hart Industries. Money laundering. Bribery. Even death."

She hesitated.

"And you're just giving this to me?"

"I'm giving you the truth. Something he'll never do."

Lila took the drive, hand shaking slightly.

Liam stepped back.

"Be careful, Lila. Obsession can look a lot like love when you're standing too close."

He disappeared down the hallway.

Her hands clenched the flash drive so tightly it dug into her skin. She looked down at her phone. Another message from Damian.

> "Meet me tonight. 8 PM. Don't bring questions. Bring answers."

Chills raced down her spine.

She looked at the drive.

Then back at the message.