Chapter 126: Plan B

We traveled quietly; even in the bright daylight, the silence was suffocating. The van’s interior was closed off, and I couldn’t see the road or where we were heading. The faint glow from the driver’s seat illuminated the back, casting long shadows across the cramped space. Armand sat across from me, distant and absorbed in his own thoughts.

His focus was elsewhere, completely ignoring me, which only heightened my unease. I tried several times to engage him in conversation, but it was clear—he wasn’t present, not in the way I needed him to be.

Minutes later, the van came to a sudden stop. Without a word, Armand stepped out, leaving me alone with my racing thoughts. Two guards appeared at the door, their expressions unreadable, as they took positions by my side.

“What are Armand’s plans?” I asked, my voice breaking the tension in the air, but, like him, they remained silent. The knot in my stomach tightened. “Fine, if you won’t talk, at least tell me where we are.”

One of the guards’ phones buzzed, breaking the silence. He answered it swiftly. “Yes, boss,” he muttered, then ended the call. He turned to me, his face still devoid of emotion, and opened the van’s door.

“You can step out now, Madam,” he said, his tone polite yet cold.

I hesitated for a moment but then slowly climbed out of the van. As soon as my feet hit the ground, the door slammed shut behind me. The men didn’t wait. They jumped back into the vehicle, leaving me standing at the side of a desolate road.

“Just follow that road to the forest,” one of them had said before they disappeared.

I glanced at the road they’d mentioned—a narrow, dusty path leading into the thick trees. The forest loomed ahead, dark and foreboding despite the midday sun. The heat of the sun told me it was noon, but the coldness I felt came from within.

I stood there for a long moment, weighing my options. Armand hadn’t said anything, but I knew this was about Lily Brinson. Whatever plan he had, it involved her, and for now, I had to play along. I was bait again.

I glanced around, hoping for some clue, but all I had was this road. With no other choice, I took a deep breath and started walking, my footsteps stirring the dust beneath me. The trees loomed closer, and the air grew heavier.

After a few minutes of walking, I spotted a car ahead, moving deliberately toward me. My heart sank as I recognized it—it was Lily Brinson’s men. The car screeched to a halt in front of me, kicking up dust, and Ed, one of her most trusted enforcers, stepped out, his face a storm of anger and suspicion.

“What the hell happened to you?” Ed growled, grabbing my arm roughly and shoving me into the back seat of the car. His grip was tight, almost bruising, and I was too disoriented to resist. Inside, he sat beside me, his gaze sharp, dissecting me with every glance.

“Where have you been? ”He demanded, his voice cold.

“What happened at the street party?” He snarled, leaning in closer, his face inches from mine.

I glared at him, barely holding back the urge to lash out. “I should be asking you that! What the hell happened at the party? ”I snapped back, the frustration boiling over. “Where is Lily Brinson? ”

He ignored my question. The tension between us was suffocating, and his silence only made it worse. “Just wait for your punishment,” he muttered darkly.

The car came to a stop, and I glanced out the window, my stomach tightening as I recognized the place—the old, decaying house that Lily had used as a hideout. Confusion swirled in my mind. How did Armand know about this place? Had they forced Karen to reveal Lily’s location? It didn’t make sense, but there was no time to think it through.

Ed yanked me from the car and dragged me inside, shoving me so hard that I stumbled and fell at Lily Brinson’s feet.

She didn’t waste a second. Grabbing a fistful of my hair, she yanked me upright, her face twisted with rage. “Where the hell were you?” She spat, her voice seething with fury.

“You vanished from the street party! Where did you go? ”

Her words hit me hard. She knew I had disappeared, but clearly, she didn’t know the full story. I hesitated for a split second, wondering if I should tell her everything. But no, I had to choose a side, and at that moment, I chose Armand. I couldn’t trust Lily anymore.

“I saw Armand,” I said, locking eyes with her. “He was dressed as Count Dracula, hiding in the shadows. I followed him into a dark alley, and that’s when his men grabbed me.”

Lily’s grip tightened and I could see the flicker of doubt in her eyes. She wasn’t sure whether to believe me or not. I knew this could go either way, and I had to tread carefully.

She released me abruptly, pacing in front of me like a caged predator. “Armand...” she muttered under her breath, trying to piece things together.

I stayed silent, waiting, and I had to be ready.

Lily stared at me, confusion etched on her face. Then something clicked, and her expression twisted with rage. “Who brought you back here? ”She screamed, her voice sharp like glass.

“Armand’s men left me,” I replied, my tone flat and detached. “Maybe he’s sending you a message through me.” I paused, locking eyes with her. “Where’s mother?”

Her lips curled into a cruel smile. “Far away. You’ll never find her unless you

cooperate,” she hissed, her words dripping with venom.

I couldn’t believe this was my twin sister. The idea of her holding our own mother hostage felt like a nightmare, yet it was real—too real. She wasn’t the sister I want to have—Lily had become a hollow shell, a dangerous, shattered soul. “Then shoot me,” I demanded, my voice steady.

Her eyes widened at my boldness. “You want to die now? ”She sneered, her finger twitching near the trigger.

“If you’ve hurt our mother, you better kill me before I do something you’ll regret,” I warned, feeling the tension inside me rise. Memories of the orphanage flashed in my mind—how William and I had been heroes for the other children. Why couldn’t I be a hero for myself now, against my own flesh and blood?

“What happened to you, Lily?” I asked, my voice softening despite the fear. “Is this because of my father?”

Her eyes darkened, flickering with something unreadable as I mentioned him. “Did he turn you into this? If he hurt you, don’t let it consume you. Don’t punish mother for his sins.”

Lily’s gaze snapped back to me, fire burning behind her eyes. “You turned me into this!” She shouted, her voice breaking. “I was left alone with that monster while my mother saved you instead of me! She protected you, put you somewhere safe, and left me to rot with Adonis, letting him mold me into this monster!” Her voice trembled with fury as she yanked a gun from her waistband, pointing it directly at my head. “You should die.”

Her words shook me to my core. This wasn’t the Lily I wanted to meet—she was broken, twisted by the same father who had scarred me. We were both victims, but in different ways.

“There’s still time, Lily,” I said softly, meeting her gaze. “We both lived through hell, but we don’t have to stay there.”

She shook her head bitterly. “No. You were always the favored daughter. Mother never wanted me, and now you both pay for it.”

Her words cut deep, but they didn’t break me. I stood still, unflinching even with the gun aimed at my life. “You’re wrong. We both deserved better. But if you think destroying us will fix anything, you’ll never be free of this hate.”

"We're moving to plan B," Lily snapped, her voice sharp and unyielding.

Before I could react, her men seized me, their grip unforgiving as they pinned my arms. I struggled, but it was no use. One of them pulled out a syringe, the needle glinting in the dim light. I thrashed harder, panic surging through me.

"Hold her still," Lily ordered coldly, watching without a trace of emotion.

I felt the sharp sting of the needle as it pierced my skin, the cold liquid burning as it spread through my veins. My limbs grew heavy, and my vision blurred.

“What was Lily’s plan B?” The question echoed in my mind, but before I could even begin to grasp the answer, darkness swallowed me whole.