Rebirth After Being Betrayed by My Husband by Isabella Reed

hapter 78

Finished

When Ethan arrived at his apartment, he rushed inside, his heart pounding. He found Mia anxiously knocking on the bedroom door, repeatedly calling our Lily’s name. Her face lit up with relief as soon as she saw him.

“Ethan, thank goodness you’re here,” Mia said, stepping aside. “Lily she won’t open the door. I’ve been trying for so long”

Ethan nodded quickly, barely pausing to listen. “Let me handle it,” he said, his breath coming in short gasps as he approached the door. He knocked gently. “Lily, it’s me. Please, open the door, love.”

Silence.

He tried again, softening his tone further. “Lily, baby… please open the door for me.”

Still, there was no response. The eerie quiet on the other side of the door filled Ethan with a sense of dread. His chest tightened, and his mind raced. The longer the silence dragged on, the more suffocating his worry

became.

“Lily!” he called, his voice trembling with urgency. “Please, open the door!”

Mia, observing the scene, suggested hesitantly, “Ethan, do you have a spare key?”

Ethan blinked, mentally chastising himself for not thinking of it sooner. “A spare key… Yes!” he muttered, rushing to a nearby bookshelf. He grabbed the spare key, his hands trembling slightly as he fumbled to unlock the door.

When the door swung open, Ethan froze. The room was pitch dark, the curtains drawn tightly shut, -blocking out any sunlight. He quickly flipped on the light switch, his eyes scanning the room. His gaze

She was curled up tightly, her knees hugged to her chest, and her face buried

physically unharmed. He exhaled shakily, the weight on his chest easing just a little. “Sister Mia,”

Mia gave him a reassuring nod. “Of course,” she replied, stepping out of the room and closing the

his full attention back to Lily. He approached her carefully, lowering himself to the floor to

at the sight. Reaching out, he lightly placed a hand on her head, his fingers brushing through her hair. “Lily, it’s me,” he whispered.

head up in alarm. When her tear–filled eyes met his, Ethan felt a sharp pang in his chest. Her face was streaked with tears, her eyes red and swollen, and an unmistakable fear lingered in her

and broken. In an instant, she launched herself into his arms, clinging to him like he was her lifeline.

nearly sent Ethan toppling backward, but he caught himself, bracing one hand against the bed for support while his other arm wrapped securely around her waist.

the sight of her en vulnerable and afraid

Chapter 78

he murmured, his voice stenly despite the turmoil he felt insile.

you”

softly patted her head. His voice was filled with worry as he asked. “Lily what’s wrong, sweetheart? You frightened me

tighter to him, burying her face in his chest Shaking her head, her voice came out broken and fearful. “N–No. 1–than you don’t understand. They’ll kill me

confusion clouding his mind. Kill her again?

fire that huge fire. No, I can’t go back. They’ll kill

“they” What had happened to her? Keeping his

me,” she whimpered, her grip tightening around him. “They didn’t care about me… I was nothing but a tool to them. They controlled me like

she spoke. “I gave them everything. I trusted them blindly, without question. But what did I do wrong? Why did they kill me? Why did they burn me alive? Ethan. am I so

are not unlovable. If you were, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with you. You mean everything to me. I swear to you, no

his, filled with doubt and pain. “Really?”

of loneliness, fear, and