I scoffed at Ethan''s question about Lily''s whereabouts. The audacity of this man never ceased to amaze me. “You''re asking me where Lily is?" My voice trembled with barely contained rage. "Now you care?


    Ethan''s amber eyes narrowed dangerously. "Answer the question, Olivia."


    A bitterugh escaped my lips as memories flooded back. I remembered how Ethan had frantically searched the entire city when Emma got lost for a few minutesst year. He''d mobilized the entire pack, called in favors from neighboring territories, and hadn''t slept until she was found.


    "When Emma went missing for thirty minutes, you turned the city upside down," I said, my voice low and cutting. "But when Lily was dying in the hospital for months, you couldn''t even spare an hour to visit her." His jaw tightened. "That''s different."


    "Different how?" I challenged, stepping closer. "Because Emma is Victoria''s daughter? Because Victoria and not me?"


    Ethan''s expression hardened. "This isn''t about Victoria."


    you love


    "No, it''s about possession," I spat. "You don''t care about Lily. You never did. This sudden interest is because you can''t stand the thought of me moving on with Lucas."


    His eyes shed at the mention of Lucas''s name. "So you admit he''s helping you hide her."


    I shook my head in disbelief. "Our daughter is dead, Ethan. DEAD. And you weren''t there when it happened because you were too busy ying family with Victoria and Emma."


    "If you''d told me she was that sick-"


    "I CALLED YOU!" I shouted, no longer caring who might hear. "I called you every


    day for weeks! I begged you toe see her before it was toote!"


    Ethan''s expression flickered with something that might have been guilt, but it vanished quickly.


    "Ethan Stone, you listen carefully," I continued, my eyes reddening with anger and grief. "I am not your possession, and Lily is not your bargaining chip!"


    Despite knowing it was futile, I couldn''t help but confront his indifference toward our daughter. Five years of bottled rage and heartbreak poured out of me.


    "What kind of father doesn''t attend his own daughter''s funeral?" I demanded. "What kind of father throws away her ashes? What kind of father uses her mother of hiding her instead of facing the truth that she''s gone forever?"


    Ethan''s face darkened. "You''re the one who kept her from me."


    "I kept her from you?" I was incredulous. "You chose to stay away! You chose Victoria and Emma over us every single time!"


    "Because of what you did," he growled.


    I stared at him, momentarily confused. "What I did? What could I possibly have done to deserve you abandoning our sick child?"


    Ethan didn''t answer, his expression shuttered and cold,


    Overwhelmed with anger and disappointment, I pushed past him. "I''m done with this conversation,"


    His hand shot out, gripping my arm. "I''ll see how long you can hide her," he threatened.


    I yanked my arm free and stormed out of the private room, ignoring his words. Let him discover the truth about Lily''s death on his own. I was tired of trying to make him care about a daughter he had never truly


    loved.


    (Victoria''s POV)