Chapter Three::
Lily stared at Ethan through the open car window.
"My family already knows about you… and they're planning something.
Her heart skipped.
"Planning… what?"
Ethan glanced around the street before unlocking the door.
"Get in first."
She hesitated only a second before stepping inside. The leather seat felt too expensive for her life. Too soft. Too unreal.
The door shut and the world outside disappeared.
"What's going on?" she asked quietly.
Ethan leaned back slightly, his jaw tight.
"My mother called you, didn't she?"
Lily's eyes widened.
"You know?"
"yes"She called me too."Ethan said
Lily looked down at her hands.
"She told me to stay away from you
"Silence filled the car.
Ethan exhaled slowly.
"She does this."says Ethan
"Does what?" lily asked
"Controls everything." Ethan replied
The driver pulled away from the curb.
Lily swallowed and said "
"I already lost my job this morning."
Ethan turned sharply.
"What?"
"The club suspended me. They saw the pictures."
His expression darkened.
"I'll fix it."
"No." lily hesitated
Her voice was firm. And she said "I don't want you fixing everything."
"You shouldn't suffer because of me."
She looked at him and said "This is exactly why your family thinks I'm a gold digger."
The word hung heavy to Ethan and his eyes hardened.
"I don't care what they think."
"But I do." lily hesitated
The car grew quiet again.
Outside, Manhattan moved like nothing had changed.
But inside… everything felt different.
"So what are they planning?" she asked finally.
Ethan hesitated.
"My mother will try to scare you away first."
"But She already did."lily said
"Yes. If that doesn't work… she'll dig into your life."Ethan replied
Lily's stomach tightened.
"My life?"
felt exposed,Because she doesn't no what else Ethan's mother will be planning against her.
"There's nothing to dig."They'll still try , Ethan said
Her heart raced.
"This is insane. We only had one dinner."
"I know."but she doesn't see it that way ,she See's you as poor,but I see you as my world.
"Lily's heart melted as she heard that.
But your family already hates me?"she asked
"They don't hate you," he corrected quietly
"They hate the idea of you."
Then lily felt more sad and said that ,"that hurts more"She looked out the window and said.
"This is why this won't work."
Ethan leaned forward,held her on her hand and told her not to decide that yet." but lily wasn't convinced by Ethan's word.
"I don't belong in your world, Ethan."
"And I don't belong in yours. But here we are,lilly"
She didn't respond.
Because he wasn't wrong.
Stop! This is my house. "Pointing at her building" Ethan stopped the car outside her apartment building.
he looked at it — peeling paint, broken mailbox, flickering light.
Embarrassment crept inside lily because she thinks that Ethan will judge her because of her home.
"You live here?" he asked softly.
"Yes."
He didn't judge.
Just nodded.
"Can I walk you up?"
She shook her head.
"No. If my neighbors see you, I'll become headline news again."
He almost smiled.
"Alright."
She reached for the door.
But he spoke again.
"Lily."
She paused.
"I'm not scared of my family."
She looked at him.
"But you should be," she whispered.
Then she stepped out.
Upstairs, Lily dropped onto her couch.
Her head spun. She was thinking about every ups and downs happening since she met Ethan.
Paparazz ,Threat, lost job.
All in less than 24 hours.
Her phone buzzed.it was an unknown number calling,
Unknown number again.
Her chest tightened
She answered cautiously.
"Hello?"
"This is HR from Velvet Halo."
Her heart lifted.
"Yes?"
"We've decided to terminate your employment effective immediately."
Her stomach dropped.
"I… what?"
"The negative publicity is affecting business."
"But I need—"
The line cut.
She sat frozen and said
Job gone Completely.
Tears filled her eyes.
She laughed weakly.
"All because of one dinner…"
Her phone buzzed again.
This time — it was a message from unknown sender.
She opened the message and a photo appeared. It was a photo of her walking into her apartment building.
The photo was taken from across the street.
Her heart stopped in fear.
Another message followed immediately.
The message says"stay away from Ethan Blackwood. This is your first warning.
Her hands trembled as if Someone was watching her.
She quickly locked the door.
Her breathing grew fast.
This was no longer just rich family drama.
This felt dangerous.
Across the city, Ethan stormed into the Blackwood mansion.
His mother sat elegantly in the living room, sipping her tea.
Victoria Blackwood didn't look up as Ethan walked inside the sitting room.
"You're late."she said "
And I no you must have contacted her and she took another sip with you.
"Yes."
His voice hardened.
"I told you not to ever meet with her again,"she said with a hardened voice"as she was looking at him in anger.
"And I told you she's not suitable for us."
"You don't know her and can't dislike someone that you has not have any encounter with"ethan hesitated
"I don't need to know her or have any encounter with her before dislikng her."she said with a hardened voice.
Ethan stepped closer to his mum and said.
"You threatened her?
"No"I warned her."
"That's not your decision to make mum."
Victoria placed her cup down calmly.
"You're embarrassing this family."
But Ethan laughed softly and said.
"By having dinner?"
"By being seen with a club girl."
His eyes flashed.
But his mum says that She's not just a club girl.but She's poor. Unknown. No background. No class." and a nobody.
"That's enough mum."
She leaned forward slightly.
"You'll end this before it damages your reputation."
"No I can't mum."
Her expression hardened.
"You don't get to say no."
"I just did and I mean every of my word."
Then she said quietly—
"Then don't blame me for what happens next."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"What does that mean?"
Victoria stood.
"You'll understand soon."
She walked past him.
And for the first time in years… Ethan felt uneasy.
Back in her apartment, Lily paced nervously.
She checked the locks again.
Her phone buzzed.
And this time it was Ethan .
She answered immediately.
"Hello?"
"Lily, are you okay?"
Her voice shook.
"I think someone's watching me."
"What happened?"
She explained the photo.
The message and the warning.
Ethan's tone changed instantly.
"Stay inside. Don't open the door for anyone."
Her heart pounded.
"Is this your family?"
"I don't know."
That scared her more.
"I'm coming over," he said.
"No — if they see you it might worsen the situation"
"I don't care."
She heard urgency in his voice.
He was already moving.
Her chest tightened, some minutes passed
Then someone knocked at her door.
Her heart jumped and She froze.
"Lily," Ethan's voice called softly. "It's me."
Relief flooded her.
She opened the door.
He stepped inside quickly.
His presence made the room feel safer instantly.
"You shouldn't be here," she whispered.
He ignored that.
"Show me the message."
She handed him her phone.
His expression darkened.
"This isn't from my mother."
"Then who?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he walked to the window and looked outside.
His eyes narrowed.
"What?"
"There's a car parked across the street."
Her heart raced.
He turned slowly.
"you think they're watching."lily asked with a tremblin voice
Her breathing stopped.
Then suddenly…
Headlights flashed into her window.
And the car door outside opened.
Someone putting on a black suit stepped out from the car
Walking towards her building.
Lily's voice trembled.
"Ethan…"
He stepped in front of her.
Protective and silent.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Closer,and more closer
Then someone stopped outside her apartment door.
And the doorknob slowly… started turning.