From Ruin to Radiance

Ethan gripped his phone tightly and asked "What did he say?" His assistant's hesitant voice came through. "That guy says he wants ten million before he'll hand over the video..." Ethan replied right away. "Agree to it. Tell him to meet me in the private room at Horizon Tower tomorrow!" After hanging up Lilah noticed his grave expression and asked, "What happened?" Ethan let out a slow breath. "There's a new development in your sister's suicide..." He finished speaking but failed to notice Lilah's face drain of color beside him. She paled completely and dug her nails deep into her palm. Lilah tugged at his sleeve. Her face strained with effort. "Ethan, it's been so many years. Why do you still want to..." Ethan's expression turned icy. "I need to know who killed Rosalyn and make that person pay what they owe!" The next morning, Ethan shrugged on his coat and headed out. Lilah tried multiple times to stop him. First she claimed hunger, then stomach pains. Ethan assumed she feared being alone and soothed her. "It's okay. I'll be back soon. Stay home and wait for me." Ethan drove fast. His heart raced in time with the speeding car. He had sworn the day before to uncover the truth. Now as the moment neared, he felt a twinge of fear. He dreaded that Rosalyn's death truly linked to Nora. He arrived at the base of Horizon Tower. Rather than go in right away, he lit a cigarette and leaned against his car. Just as he steeled himself to enter, his assistant called. "Mr. Stanley, the witness just got into a car accident on his way here!" Ethan jolted in shock. The cigarette fell from his hand to the ground. "What happened?" His assistant rushed on. "A drunk driver on West Bridge rammed his car straight into the river." "And the man? How is he now?" His assistant's tone sank with dismay. "They're still pulling him out..." Ethan sped to the scene. He found chaos upon arrival. The rescue team he had dispatched earlier were still looking for the guy. No sign of the man emerged. Ethan's face grew heavier. Then a person who should not have been there appeared. Ethan asked her in surprise, "Lilah, what are you doing here?" Lilah's eyes reddened with tears. "I saw you on the news live stream. I worried so I came to find you. It's so dangerous here. Can we please leave?" Ethan shook his head. "No. I have to see him pulled out with my own eyes!" Lilah's face stiffened. Then her eyes lit up. She pointed at the drunk driver, now cuffed by police. "I've seen him talking to Miss Payne before. Did she send him?" Her eyes brightened more as she spoke. "Yes it must be Miss Payne! She doesn't want you to know about my sister's death. She sent someone to destroy the evidence!" Ethan frowned at her flushed excited face. He asked suspiciously, "Where did you see them?" Lilah faltered for a moment unable to answer. She pretended not to hear and covered her face to cry. "Ethan, my sister was only eighteen when she died. You have to avenge her for me!" "We've got him! They've found the man!" Shouts erupted amid the commotion. A blood-soaked man got lifted out. He lay gasping on the brink of death. Ethan pushed past the sobbing Lilah to inspect him. The rescue doctor said the man still breathed, but his injuries proved severe. He needed immediate treatment. Ethan ordered his assistant at once. "Spend whatever it takes. Get the best doctors to treat him. He cannot die!" His assistant nodded quickly and made the calls. Outside the emergency room. The witness's heart stopped the moment they reached the hospital. Doctors fought to revive him inside. Ethan paced anxiously back and forth. Lilah sat nearby. She stared fixedly at the emergency room door as if to burn it through. A sharp beep cut off. The machines fell silent. Lilah's heart pounded wildly. Cold sweat beaded instantly on her forehead.