Chapter 18 - The Poisoned Legacy
Eleanor didn't panic. Instead, a slow, sickening smile spread across her face. Without dropping the syringe, she took half a step backward, positioning Lily directly in the line of fire.
"I knew you'd come, Ethan," Eleanor cooed, her eyes gleaming with manic delight. "You always were the devoted, foolish protector. But you won't shoot. Not with your precious little girl in the way. And even if you kill me, you'll never clear Caroline's name."
"I don't care about the news, Eleanor," Ethan growled, advancing half a step, his weapon locked steady. "I care about my daughter."
"Oh, but you do care," Eleanor taunted, tapping her temple with a gloved finger. "The original documents that prove Caroline was innocent—the real financial audits signed by the board before Vanessa doctored them—are sitting in an encrypted drive in my coat pocket. If I die, the auto-delete protocol triggers. Caroline will forever be remembered by the entire world as a thief who stole from sick children. Lily will carry that shame for the rest of her life."
Lily looked at her father, tears finally spilling down her cold cheeks. "Dad... don't listen to her. Shoot her! Don't let her hurt you!"
"Quiet, brat!" Eleanor hissed, suddenly grabbing Lily by the hair and pulling her head back, pressing the needle of the syringe against the soft skin of Lily's throat. "Drop the gun, Ethan. Drop it, or she dies right in front of you."
Ethan's heart hammered against his ribs like a caged beast. Every muscle in his body screamed at him to pull the trigger. He was an expert marksman; he could take the shot. But Eleanor was shifting, using Lily’s small body as a human shield. A millimeter off, and he would hit his own child.
"Okay," Ethan said softly, his voice trembling slightly to sell the defeat. "Okay. Don't hurt her."
Ethan slowly lowered his weapon, bending his knees as if to place the Glock on the wooden floorboards.
"Push it toward me with your foot," Eleanor commanded, her eyes widening with greedy triumph. "Do it now!"
Ethan set the gun down. But as his fingers left the grip, his gaze locked with Lily's. In her eyes, he didn't see panic. He saw the fire of a girl who had survived Vanessa's chains.
Ethan gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Lily understood.
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With a sudden, violent screech, Lily stomped down with all her might using the heavy rubber heel of her school loafer directly onto Eleanor’s instep. At the same instant, Lily threw her head backward, slamming the crown of her skull into Eleanor’s nose.
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