Chapter 860
[ 441 words ]
Chapter 860:
Jeremy was visibly running out of patience. “Ethan!” he snapped. “What are you waiting for? Do you really want to stand by and watch Lianne cough up blood over and over again? Her body can’t keep taking this.”
My eyes drifted toward the living room.
Lianne was smiling at something Tracy had said, laughing so freely that the corners of her eyes curved into crescents. The afternoon sunlight rested softly against her face, making her look so beautiful that my chest tightened.
All I wanted was for her to walk away from this nightmare once and for all. As for everything else, I’d bear it myself.
Just then, my phone vibrated.
Melisa’s name appeared on the screen.
Jeremy immediately understood what it meant. Without exchanging another word, he followed me into the study.
Once the door was shut, I answered the call and switched it to speaker.
“Ethan.” Melisa’s voice flowed through the room, calm and composed as ever, yet every word carried an unmistakable chill. “I’ve considered your proposal about taking Lianne’s place. My answer is no.”
𝗕е p𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝘧 𝗈𝘂r 𝗰o𝗺𝗆𝘶𝗇i𝘁y 𝗈n 𝗀a𝗅n𝗼𝘷e𝘭ѕ.𝘤оm
My fingers tightened imperceptibly around the phone.
“You already know the reason,” she continued evenly. “Lianne is your greatest weakness. As long as she’s in my hands, every move you make remains under my control. She’s the most valuable bargaining chip I have. Replacing her with you introduces too many unknowns, and I don’t gamble on uncertain outcomes.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and clenched my jaw.
“Besides,” Melisa went on, “this game has always centered on Lianne. She trusted me enough to drink the poisoned water I gave her. Regret won’t change anything now. I’ll continue treating her little by little, but I’m not abandoning my plan.”
Without another word, she ended the call.
Silence settled over the study.
Jeremy looked at me helplessly before letting out a frustrated sigh. “She’s completely set on controlling you through Lianne.”
I offered no response.
Slipping the phone back into my pocket, I walked out of the study with Jeremy. Looking through the glass doors, I saw that Lianne, Tracy, and the children had wandered into the garden.
Golden afternoon light spilled across the grass. Ruby and Silas chased a butterfly from one end of the lawn to the other, their carefree laughter drifting through the air.
Melisa’s answer hadn’t surprised me in the least. To someone like her, replacing Lianne with me came with far too many risks. She would never willingly make a move she couldn’t completely control.
But I also understood something else.
If all I ever did was retreat, we’d never truly be free. Sooner or later, if I wanted to protect Lianne, I’d have to cross a line I could never come back from.
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