Meanwhile,

Aston Estate,

Eliot Aston stood at the window of his apartment, staring out over the city. His eyes, bloodshot and tired, traced the familiar skyline as his mind raced. The last few days had been nothing but a blur — confusion, guilt, and endless questions that he couldn’t answer. 

Lily was gone. 

Or worse, she wasn’t. 

And the fact that he didn’t know which one of those fates had befallen her gnawed at his soul.

The phone buzzed on the kitchen counter, pulling him out of his spiraling thoughts. He picked it up, his heart skipping a beat when he saw the caller ID.

Detective Hayes.

“Eliot, we’ve got something.” Hayes’ voice came through, rough but determined. “We’ve got a lead. A person of interest. Someone who was seen near the scene of the accident and at the hospital the night Lily went missing.”

Eliot’s pulse quickened. He gripped the phone tighter, trying to steady his voice. “Who?”

“We’re working on it. But this person is connected to Damien Hawke. I’ll need you to meet me as soon as possible. I think we might be onto something.” she said, crisply.

“Where?”

“A diner near 8th Park road. Fifteen minutes. Don’t be late.” Hayes hung up before Eliot could respond.

Rachel had always been a wild card. Eliot had known her for years — someone who worked the shadows, always having information but never revealing too much. He didn’t trust her entirely, but right now, trust was a luxury he couldn’t afford.

It was early evening when Rachel messaged him, asking to meet. The coffee shop she picked was nearly empty, with only a few scattered patrons nursing their drinks in silence. 

Rachel was sitting at the corner booth when Eliot walked in, scanning the room before locking eyes with her. She didn’t look like someone who had just come from an intelligence drop. 

In fact, she looked more like a college student sipping her cappuccino, the picture of casual indifference.

But Eliot knew better.

He slid into the seat opposite her, not wasting time on pleasantries.

“You’ve got something?”

She didn’t answer immediately, instead taking a slow sip of her drink, her eyes calculating. 

“I have something,” she said finally, sliding an envelope across the table to him. The thick paper was discreet, unmarked.

He didn’t even hesitate before pulling it open. Inside were the blueprints — detailed designs from Mr. Hawke’s fashion company. Eliot’s brows furrowed as he skimmed through the intricate sketches. 

“These designs... What am I supposed to do with these?” Eliot asked, his voice laced with frustration. “How does this help me find Lily?”

Rachel’s lips curled into a faint, almost imperceptible smile. 

“These designs are more than just patterns. They’re connected to Mr. Hawke's latest project. And where there’s a project, there’s money. Where there’s money, there’s leverage. Where there’s leverage, there’s power. And where there’s power, you’ll find the truth.”

Eliot shook his head, confused. “This isn’t making sense.”

Rachel leaned forward, her expression shifting. “Listen, Mr. Hawke's tangled up in this, whether he likes it or not. His company, his empire — it’s all connected. You want to find Lily? This is your key. But you better be careful. Damien doesn’t take kindly to people poking around in his business.”

Eliot absorbed the weight of her words. He had always known Damien was dangerous, but this was different. He could feel the layers of this conspiracy starting to take shape, but the more he uncovered, the more he realized how deep it went.

Rachel stood abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor.

“I’ll be in touch. But don’t trust anyone,” she warned, her voice low and urgent. “Especially not Mr. Hawke.”

As Eliot stepped out of the coffee shop, his thoughts were already spinning. He had the designs, but something still felt off. Rachel wasn’t being entirely honest with him. But for now, the designs were all he had to go on.

He walked briskly toward his car, determination setting in. If there was even a chance that this could lead him to Lily, he would follow it, no matter where it took him.

As he approached his car, his stomach lurched. A black luxury sedan was parked across the street, the engine still running. He didn’t need to see the driver to know who it was. The car’s polished exterior, the darkened windows — everything about it screamed Damien Hawke.

Eliot’s breath caught in his throat. A moment of hesitation passed before he walked toward the vehicle, every step feeling heavier than the last. As he got closer, the car door opened.

Damien’s figure emerged from the shadows, his imposing presence dominating the street. He wore a tailored black suit, his dark hair slightly tousled as if he’d just woken up. His eyes, cold and calculating, met Eliot’s with an intensity that made Eliot’s blood run cold.

“We need to talk,” Damien said flatly, his voice low and controlled. There was no question in his tone - only command.

Eliot clenched his fists, fighting the urge to lash out. 

“About what, Damien? You’ve already taken everything from me.”

Damien’s lips curled into a cruel smile, his eyes narrowing. 

“I’m not here to take anything from you, Eliot. You’ve already lost everything. But we both know that Lily is still out there. And I can help you find her.”

Eliot’s heart skipped a beat. 

“You think I’ll trust you?”

“No,” Damien replied, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming. “But you’ll have to. You see, there’s something bigger at play here. Something you’re not seeing.”

Eliot’s jaw tightened. “What are you talking about?”

Damien’s expression remained unreadable. “Meet me at the location I'll forward to you in two hours. I’ll explain everything. Or you can keep chasing ghosts, and I’ll leave you to your futile attempts.”

Before Eliot could respond, Damien was already in the car, the door slamming shut with a finality that echoed through the empty street. The car pulled away, disappearing into the night.

Eliot stood there, feeling the weight of the decision before him. 

Was this another trap? 

Was he walking straight into Damien’s game, or was this the lead he had been searching for?