Part 22 –
The night was colder than usual.
But it wasn't the wind that made Lila shiver as she stood in the middle of Ethan's study it was the weight of her decision.
A decision that could change everything.
She wasn't going to betray him.
Not even to save him.
Instead, she was going to fight.
On her own terms.
The Trap They Never Saw Coming
Lila paced the floor, thinking fast.
If Julian Drake wanted to use her against Ethan, maybe it was time to turn that threat around.
She pulled out her laptop, heart racing, and started working on an idea.
It was bold.
Dangerous.
Maybe even reckless.
But so was loving Ethan Wolfe.
The plan was simple:
Use herself as bait.
Leak a carefully constructed rumor to Wolfe Enterprises' internal channels that Lila was considering Julian's offer.
Make them believe she was wavering.
That she could be turned.
Once Julian's side moved to "welcome" her betrayal, she and Ethan would have the evidence they needed to expose them publicly
to destroy them legally and financially before they could land the fatal blow.
It was risky.
One wrong move, and they would crush her before she even had a chance to fight back.
But the thought of standing idle while Ethan was hunted?
Unbearable.
She finished setting up the leak and hit send.
There was no going back now.
When Walls Break Down
Hours later, as the city slumbered beneath them, Ethan found her still sitting at the edge of the balcony, staring out into the darkness.
He didn't say anything at first.
He just came and stood behind her, the heat of his body grounding her, steadying her.
Finally, he asked quietly, "What's going on in that beautiful mind of yours?"
Lila swallowed the lump rising in her throat.
She turned to face him, searching his face this man who had given her nothing but loyalty and trust, even when she didn't think she deserved it.
"I made a move without telling you," she admitted. "It was dangerous. It still is."
Ethan's brows drew together.
"What did you do, Lila?"
She told him everything.
The fake leak.
The trap she had set.
The danger it invited straight to her doorstep.
For a long moment, he just stared at her, unreadable.
Then, to her shock, he smiled.
Not with amusement.
Not with anger.
With something rawer.
Deeper.
Pride.
"You're incredible," he said hoarsely, cupping her face in his hands.
"And infuriating. And reckless. And brilliant."
Tears stung Lila's eyes.
"You're not mad?"
"I'm furious," he said, voice low and rough.
"At the people who made you think you had to fight alone."
Before she could reply, he kissed her.
Hard.
Desperate.
Like a man on the edge of losing everything and willing to burn the world down to keep her.
Lila melted into him, her arms sliding around his neck as he deepened the kiss, stealing the breath from her lungs and replacing it with something infinitely more dangerous.
Hope.
When they finally pulled apart, both breathing heavily, Ethan rested his forehead against hers.
"We fight together now," he said.
"No more secrets between us. No more sacrifices without backup. Deal?"
Lila nodded, voice breaking.
"Deal."
The Enemy Takes the Bait
The next morning, the trap was already working.
An anonymous email arrived in Lila's inbox:
We knew you were smarter than him.
Meet us tonight. Alone.
We'll make sure you get what you deserve.
Attached was a location a rundown private club in the industrial part of the city.
Exactly the kind of place where betrayals were meant to happen far from prying eyes.
Lila forwarded the email to Ethan immediately.
He replied with one word: Ready.
They were going in together.
But only one of them would show themselves.
The other would be hiding in the shadows, recording everything.
Tonight, they would find out who the real enemy was.
And when they did
There would be no mercy.