Moments later,

The air was thick with tension as the hospital doors shut behind Eliot and Eloise . The flashing lights of the paparazzi cameras blazed like a thousand suns, each click a reminder of the empire they’d just built atop Lily’s fall from grace. Reporters swarmed around them, pushing microphones and cameras into their faces.

“Eliot! Is Lily going to make it?” one reporter shouted, her voice sharp with urgency.

“How does it feel knowing your marriage is officially over?” another yelled, snapping a photo just as Eliot’s eyes darkened.

Eloise , ever the actress, immediately plastered on a perfect smile, folding her hands delicately in front of her. She leaned into Eliot as the reporters turned their attention to her. 

“Of course, we’re deeply concerned,” she said in a tone dripping with feigned sympathy. “Lily’s health is our number one priority. We just want her to wake up and get better.”

Eliot’s eyes flicked nervously to the crowd, but he said nothing. He could feel the heat of their stares, the weight of their questions, and his discomfort was palpable. He hadn’t felt this cornered in years.

Eloise continued her performance, making sure to stand just a bit too close to Eliot, letting the cameras capture their intimacy. She was good at this - too good. Her blonde hair cascaded down in perfect waves, her outfit as pristine as always, while her eyes gleamed with ambition.

But Eliot wasn’t fooled.

The moment they stepped into the back of the car, Eloise dropped the act, her facade cracking like glass.

“Oh, that was brilliant,” she smirked, rolling her eyes as she adjusted her seat. “You really think they bought that? It was almost like a scene from a movie. The heartbroken husband and the concerned girlfriend… I swear, I’m Oscar-worthy.”

Eliot exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. “You’re insane, Eloise ,” he muttered under his breath, looking out the window.

“What’s the matter, darling? Feeling guilty?” Eloise ’s voice was sweet but laced with malice. 

She leaned back in her seat, a smug grin spreading across her face. “You know, we’ve finally done it. We’ve gotten rid of that little nuisance. No more Lily, no more drama. You can finally be free to enjoy your life with me, the way it was always meant to be.”

Eliot’s jaw clenched. “It’s not that simple, Eloise . You know that. Lily might wake up. She might remember everything. The lies… the betrayal…” His voice trailed off, uncertainty lingering in his tone.

Eloise rolled her eyes dramatically. “Oh please, Eliot. You’re still letting that pathetic little girl get to you. She’s gone, and she’s not coming back. Trust me. We’re fine.”

Eliot turned to face her, his voice low but sharp. “You don’t know that. What if she remembers what we actually did to her? What if she comes after us?”

Eloise laughed, a sound that felt cold and hollow. “You’re still scared of her? That’s adorable.” 

She reached across the seat and took his hand, squeezing it in a mock display of affection. 

“Don’t worry, Eliot. I’m not going anywhere. And neither is the money.”

A chill ran down Eliot’s spine, but he pushed the thought away. His mind kept returning to one thing: 

Lily. 

The guilt gnawed at him, especially when he imagined her waking up in that hospital bed, surrounded by questions she might never get answers to. She didn’t deserve this. Not really.

The car continued its journey, winding through the streets of New York. But then, without warning, the vehicle swerved sharply, taking a detour into a narrow, dimly lit alley. Eliot’s heart skipped a beat. He looked up, his eyes narrowing as he noticed the eerie silence of the street around them.

“What the hell is this?” Eliot muttered, leaning forward slightly in his seat.

Eloise didn’t seem fazed at all. “You’re being paranoid, Eliot. Relax.”

But Eliot couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. The driver — who had been eerily quiet the entire time - wasn't staring straight ahead, his expression blank and unblinking. His skin was an unnatural shade of pale, and his posture was unnervingly still. Eliot couldn’t remember the last time a driver had made him feel so… uneasy.

The car stopped abruptly, the tires squealing as it skidded to a halt at the end of the alley. The driver turned his head slowly toward them, a faint, emotionless smile playing at the corners of his lips. 

"We’ve arrived,” he said, his voice smooth, almost hypnotic.

Eliot’s pulse quickened as the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. This wasn’t right. He glanced at Eloise , who seemed completely unbothered. “You know him?”

Eloise shook her head. “No, but it’s not like we can’t afford his services. We don’t exactly have the luxury of choosing drivers these days, Eliot.”

The car door opened with a soft click, and the driver stepped out. He didn’t make a sound as he swung the door open, revealing the large Carrington mansion looming before them. The towering structure seemed to swallow up the surrounding light, casting an ominous shadow over the street.

Eliot felt a shiver run down his spine.

“I don’t like this, Eloise .”

“Oh please,” she sighed, unbothered. “Stop overthinking everything. We’re just here for a quick stop. I just need a few things before we head to your place.”

But Eliot couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped. The overwhelming sense of dread that had settled in his stomach refused to go away. Something wasn’t right. He could feel it in his bones.

He stepped out of the car reluctantly, his gaze flicking back toward the driver. The man’s blank stare never wavered, his smile stretching just slightly, as though waiting for something. Something that Eliot couldn’t quite grasp.

As Eliot entered her mansion, the door closing behind him, he couldn’t help but wonder if he’d made a terrible mistake.

Behind him, the car door shut with a finality that echoed in the air before driving off into the night.