Chapter 89

Lilian collapsed to the floor with a loud thud as the elevator lurched violently. A wolf had just slammed into the elevator door, and she trembled uncontrollably. Its bloody mouth was open, revealing long, sharp fangs. Had she been even a second slower, the enormous wolf would have bitten her neck.

"How could this happen?" she thought, stunned. She never imagined encountering such a thing. Several wolves howled outside, one after another, their cries filled with savage intent.

After a few seconds, Lilian remembered she could call for help. Fortunately, her phone was still in her pocket. She dialed 911, only to find the signal jammed. "This is too cruel, Cynthia! What should I do now?" she cried silently.

Her eyes fell on the last message she'd sent—to Filip. He would come, she was certain. Because of Cynthia's unexpected appointment, Lilian knew they would have a fight that day. She'd messaged Filip earlier, hoping he'd witness Cynthia's harshness while Lilian sincerely admitted fault.

However, this had happened before Filip arrived. Terrified, she feared she couldn't wait for him. The howling outside intensified her fear.

Suddenly, the elevator's display screen lit up, showing Cynthia's face. The background indicated she was back in the monitoring room, sitting comfortably in a chair.

Lilian screamed, "Cynthia, have you gone—"

Cynthia smiled, tossing her wavy hair. Her smile was captivating, but her eyes were icy. "Lilian, you're not the only one capable of ruthlessness. You deserve everything you've suffered today."

Lilian was shocked by Cynthia's rage. 'Is this still the Cynthia I knew, radiant as the sun? She's a monster now,' she thought.

Desperate, she pleaded, "Cynthia, please forgive me. I'm sorry. I'm pregnant and terrified. Don't joke like this!" A glimmer of hope remained.

Cynthia sneered. "Lilian, we can do this the easy way or the hard way." She stared at the screen, her tone calm yet oppressive. "Who was it? Tell me. You know who violated me."

Lilian knelt, crying bitterly. "I don't know. I really don't know."

"Lilian, I can open the elevator door at any time," Cynthia said.

Lilian's eyes widened. "Right—this is a smart home. She has the remote."

She heard the wolves' paws scratching the door; there were more than one. Terror seized her. She stumbled back, collapsing in the corner. "Filip, why aren't you here yet?" she panicked.

Cynthia's calm voice echoed from the screen. "I'll count down from ten. If you still won't tell me you're on your own. Ten!"

Lilian's heart pounded. Dazed with horror, she watched the numbers decrease. Cynthia's countdown continued. Lilian, regaining her composure, began to plead on screen, though she continued to deny any knowledge.

"Eight! Seven!" Cynthia remained unmoved.

Lilian's expression shifted, and she began to curse. "Cynthia, why are you doing this? You're breaking the law! If you kill me, you'll go to jail!"

"Six! Five!" Cynthia continued.

"Cynthia, please, let's talk this out! We were friends! You took a knife for me, I ran six miles for you. Have you forgotten?" Lilian pleaded.

Cynthia ignored her. "Four!"

Lilian raged, "Cynthia, I hate you! How can someone like you understand hitting rock bottom? You have everything! Why do you care about someone like me who has nothing?"

"Three!"

"Cynthia, please let me go! There's something I've always wanted to tell you!" Lilian begged.

"Two!"

Lilian continued, "You don't know me! You're always surrounded by people—so many friends, I'm jealous. I always wondered, if you had nothing like me, would you…"

"One!" Cynthia reached the final number. Lilian heard the elevator door begin to open. She frantically pressed the "close" button, but it was useless.

The door cracked open, and two sharp claws reached in, trying to force it open. Lilian saw the claws and blanked.

Just as the door was about to fully open, she screamed at the monitor, "It's Scar! He did it!"

The elevator door slammed shut. Lilian collapsed, sobbing.

Cynthia, in the monitoring room, trembled uncontrollably. "Scar!" Memories flooded back. Scar, real name Silas Wood, was Lilian's neighbor.

Misty Alley was a rough place. Scar, a few years older than Lilian, was a violent gangster with mafia connections. He'd harassed Lilian since junior high, relentlessly pursuing her despite her efforts to avoid him. In high school, he claimed to be her boyfriend, causing constant trouble.

Lilian was ostracized; even the principal wanted to expel her. It was Cynthia who repeatedly intervened, even beating Scar up several times, which fueled his resentment.

One day after school, Scar harassed Lilian again. Cynthia intervened, and Scar, unable to defeat Cynthia, stabbed Lilian instead, venting his anger.

Cynthia, without hesitation, shielded Lilian, taking the knife in her shoulder. The deep scar remained. Scar was convicted of assault and imprisoned.

As Cynthia recalled the past, the pain returned. Sweat beaded on her forehead.

But even then, Cynthia's voice remained cold and terrifying. "Lilian. I almost lost my life saving you from Scar, and then you teamed up with him…"