The Twisted Obsession-Chapter 254: Find us

"Lily, are you listening to me?" Alice’s voice cut through Lily’s thoughts, pulling her back to the present.

Lily blinked and looked across the table at her best friend, who was staring at her with a mix of concern and irritation. They were seated at their favorite café, a cozy place they frequented for their catch-ups. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, but today, Lily couldn’t focus on anything but the turmoil in her mind.

"I’m sorry, Alice," Lily said, offering a weak smile. "I guess I’m a bit distracted." freewebnσvel.cøm

Alice sighed, stirring her latte with a small spoon. "A bit distracted? You’ve been staring off into space for the past ten minutes. What’s going on?"

Lily hesitated, unsure of how to explain the whirlwind of emotions she was feeling. She picked up her coffee cup, cradling it in her hands as if it could somehow provide the answers she sought. "It’s just... Cage. He said he loves me."

Alice’s eyes widened, her spoon clinking against the cup as she set it down. "He what?"

Lily nodded, her own confusion mirrored in Alice’s expression. "He said he loves me. And I... I said I love him too."

Alice leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Lily, you know I care about you, right? But I have to be honest. I don’t trust Cage. I’ve never trusted him."

Lily felt a pang of defensiveness rise within her. "Why? He’s been nothing but kind and supportive."

Alice shook her head. "That’s exactly why I don’t trust him. It’s all too convenient. The timing, the way he’s suddenly nice to you. It feels like he has an agenda."

Lily frowned, her heart sinking. She had hoped for support, not skepticism. "You think he’s using me?"

Alice softened slightly, reaching across the table to take Lily’s hand. "I don’t know, Lily. But I do know that you’ve been through a lot, and you’re vulnerable right now. I just don’t want to see you get hurt."

Lily’s mind flashed back to the tender moments she had shared with Cage, the genuine affection she felt in his presence. "He’s different, Alice. He really cares about me. I can feel it."

Alice sighed, her concern deepening. "I hope you’re right. But please, promise me you’ll be careful. Don’t let your guard down completely."

Lily nodded, appreciating her friend’s concern even if it conflicted with her own feelings. "I promise. I’ll be careful."

They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation hanging heavily between them. Alice was the one person who had always been there for Lily, through thick and thin. Her opinion mattered, but so did her own heart.

Alice crossed her arms, her skepticism evident. "Lily, are you really going to throw everything away for Cage? Do you even trust him?"

Lily looked down at her hands, fidgeting with her fingers. "It’s not just about love, Alice. It’s about the future. Cage has a plan to take over the family business. Even though he’s an illegitimate child, he has a right to it. And I want to help him."

Alice’s eyes widened in surprise. "Help him? How are you planning to do that?"

Lily took a deep breath, preparing to divulge the secrets she had been keeping. "Alex is involved in some very shady activities. He’s been laundering money through the family business. If we can find proof of it, we can expose him. The patriarch of the Sinclair family wouldn’t want someone like Alex running things if he knew what he was really up to."

Alice leaned back, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. "Are you serious? How do you even know this?"

Lily met her friend’s gaze, her eyes resolute. "Cage and I have been gathering evidence. We have a private investigator helping us. We’re close to having enough to take to the authorities."

Alice shook her head, her face pale. "This is dangerous, Lily. If Alex finds out what you’re doing, he won’t hesitate to retaliate. You know what he’s capable of."

Lily nodded, her determination unwavering. "I know the risks, Alice."

Alice studied her friend for a long moment, then sighed. "Okay. If this is what you really want, I’ll support you. But please, be careful. I don’t want to see you get hurt."

Lily smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Alice. I knew I could count on you."

*****

When Lily got back home, she immediately sensed that something was wrong. The usually warm and welcoming atmosphere of her house felt heavy and oppressive. She stepped into the living room, her heart sinking as she saw her mother sitting on the couch, staring blankly ahead, her face pale and expressionless.

"Mom?" Lily called out, her voice trembling with concern. "Mom, are you okay?"

There was no response. It was as if her mother was trapped in some kind of daze, completely unaware of her surroundings. Panic began to set in as Lily hurried over to her, dropping her bag on the floor.

"Mom!" she repeated, more urgently this time, gently shaking her mother’s shoulders. "Mom, what’s wrong? Talk to me!"

Her mother’s eyes flickered slightly, but she remained unresponsive, her lips moving as if she was trying to speak but couldn’t find the words. Lily’s heart pounded in her chest as she continued to shake her mother, desperate to snap her out of whatever state she was in.

"Mom, please! Snap out of it!" Lily shouted, shaking her harder.

Suddenly, her mother let out a piercing scream, jerking away from Lily’s grasp. Her eyes were wide with fear and confusion, darting around the room as if she were seeing things that weren’t there.

"Mom, it’s me, Lily!" she said, trying to calm her down. "What happened? What’s going on?"

Her mother’s eyes finally focused on her, but the fear didn’t leave her face. She began to speak, but her words were incoherent, a jumbled mess that made no sense.

"Dark... shadows... they... they took everything... can’t... can’t trust... he’s watching... always watching..." she muttered, her voice trembling.

Lily felt a chill run down her spine as she listened to her mother’s fragmented words. "Mom, who’s watching? What do you mean they took everything?"

Her mother shook her head violently, tears streaming down her face. "Gone... all gone... nothing left... betrayed... everyone..."

Lily held her mother’s hands, trying to steady them. "Mom, you need to calm down. Take a deep breath and tell me what happened."

But her mother’s hysteria only seemed to worsen. She clutched at her head, rocking back and forth. "No escape... no escape... they’ll find us... they’ll find us..."

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