Chapter 103: Lily’s Death 

Chapter 103: Lily’s Death 

(Ethan’s POV) 

“No, Lily has long been buried.” My voice was hoarse, barely recognizable even to my own 

ears. 

The words hung in the sterile air of the Silvercrest Pack Medical Den. Each syllable felt like 

broken glass in my throat. 

Victoria’s hand tightened around mine. Her blue eyes widened with what appeared to be 

shock. 

“Five years,” I continued, the admission tearing at my soul. “She’s been gone for five years, and 

I didn’t know.” 

The weight of this truth crushed me. My daughter had died, and I hadn’t been there. Hadn’t 

known. Hadn’t mourned. 

Memories flooded my mind–painful, sharp–edged fragments of a life I’d barely acknowledged. 

Lily’s small face looking up at me, her emerald eyes–so like her mother’s–filled with hope 

whenever I entered a room. 

I remembered how she would approach me cautiously, always careful not to displease me. 

Her tiny voice would tremble slightly as she greeted me. 

“Hello, Father,” she would say, standing straight, trying to make herself worthy of my attention. 

And what had I done? I’d barely acknowledged her. I’d been too busy with pack business, too 

preoccupied with Victoria and Emma. 

Emma. The thought of Victoria’s daughter sent a fresh wave of guilt crashing over me. How 

many times had I showered Emma with affection while my own daughter watched from the 

shadows? 

I recalled a particular day at Imperial Gardens when both girls had been present. Emma had 

run to me, throwing herself into my arms with complete confidence that I would catch her. I 

had swung her around, laughing at her delighted squeals. 

And Lily? My own daughter had stood apart, watching with longing in her eyes. When Emma finally released me, Lily had approached hesitantly. 

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< Chapter 103 Lily’s Death 

“Father,” she’d said softly, “would you like to see the drawing I made?” 

+15 Points 

I had glanced at it briefly, muttered something about it being nice, and turned back to Emma who was demanding I watch her dance. 

The memory made me physically ill. How could I have been so blind? So cruel? 

“I failed her,” I whispered, more to myself than to Victoria. “I failed my daughter in every way 

possible.” 

I thought of the night I’d just spent at Sacred Moonlight Cemetery, kneeling before Lily’s 

Moonstone Tombstone until dawn. My knees had ached against the cold ground, but I’d 

welcomed the pain. It was nothing compared to what Lily must have felt, watching her father 

love another child while ignoring her. 

“I never deserved her love,” I said, my voice breaking. “But she loved me anyway. She loved me 

despite everything.” 

Victoria’s face contorted with what appeared to be sympathy. She stroked my arm gently, her 

touch meant to comfort. 

“Ethan, you need to heal,” she murmured, her voice honey–sweet. “Lily wouldn’t want you to 

suffer.” 

Her words, though well–intentioned, felt hollow. How could she know what Lily would want? How could anyone? 

A terrible thought struck me then. I could have known about Lily’s death sooner. Olivia had 

told me repeatedly, but I hadn’t believed her. 

“She tried to tell me,” I said, my amber eyes darkening with self–loathing. “Olivia tried to tell me 

Lily was dead, but I accused her of hiding our daughter.” 

I remembered the day I took Emma to Enchanted Kingdom Theme Park. My phone had buzzed 

repeatedly with calls from Olivia, but I’d ignored them, assuming they were accusations about 

my favoritism toward Emma. 

“I didn’t know,” I whispered, my powerful frame seeming to shrink with each word. “I didn’t 

know that Lily had been waiting for me at Moonlight Fair, and had died that same day.” 

Victoria’s eyes filled with tears. “Oh, Ethan, how terrible for you.” 

I felt compelled to justify my actions, though I knew nothing could excuse them. 

“The healers said Emma’s condition was worsening,” I explained. “I arranged that birthday celebration because I feared it might be her last. I never imagined it would be Lily who 

< Chapter 103 Lily’s Death 

wouldn’t get another birthday.” 

+15 Points 

The irony was unbearable. I had devoted so much attention to Emma, fearing for her health, 

while my own daughter had been the one truly in danger. 

Victoria’s voice broke through my thoughts. “I feel so guilty,” she said, tears streaming down 

her face. “If I hadn’t called you that day, begging you to come because Emma was upset… if I 

hadn’t pulled you away from your promise to Lily…” 

I shook my head, absolving her of blame that was rightfully mine alone. 

“You were worried about Emma,” I said. “I can’t blame you for that. The fault is mine. I made 

the choice to break my promise to Lily.” 

Victoria leaned into my embrace, weeping against my chest. I held her, but my mind was 

elsewhere–with a little girl who had died waiting for her father to keep his word. 

The next morning, despite my injuries and lingering fever from Olivia’s attack, I returned to Sacred Moonlight Cemetery. My body protested every movement, but I ignored the pain. 

I carried Lily’s favorite treats–moonberry cakes, forest fruits, and small carved wooden toys. Things I’d noticed she liked in the Imperial Gardens surveillance videos I’d reviewed 

obsessively since learning of her death. 

I also brought the Crystal–Embroidered Ice Princess Gown I’d never given her. The moonstone crystals embedded in the fabric caught the morning light, sparkling with a beauty Lily would 

never see. 

My knees ached from kneeling all night at the cemetery and being submerged in the Moonlit 

Reflection Pool searching for Lily’s Ashes Crystal Pendant. Each step up the cemetery path 

sent shooting pain through my legs. 

As I climbed the steps leading to Lily’s grave, I stumbled. My vision blurred momentarily, and I 

had to pause to steady myself. 

I carefully set down the items I’d brought, my amber eyes fixed on the Moonstone Tombstone 

ahead. The colored photograph of Lily embedded in the stone seemed to watch me, her 

innocent smile a reproach to my failures. 

“Ethan!” 

Victoria’s voice startled me. I hadn’t heard her approach. She rushed to my side, her face a 

mask of concern. 

“King, let me help you,” she said, reaching for my arm. 

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< Chapter 103: Lily’s Death 

I turned to her, my expression hardening. “Why are you here?” 

+15 Points > 

My tone was low with displeasure. This moment was meant to be private–a father’s belated 

tribute to his daughter. 

Victoria’s eyes widened with practiced innocence. “Ethan, don’t be angry, I’m just worried about 

you. You’re not fully recovered yet, and you insisted on coming to see Lily.” 

She stepped closer, her hand still on my arm. “I know I can’t persuade you, but I’m really afraid 

that something might happen to you if you come to the Cemetery alone…” 

Her voice broke, tears filling her eyes. “And…I’m really guilty! Knowing that Lily died on the day 

Emma fell ill, I really…” 

Seeing her tears, I felt a pang of sympathy. Victoria had always been emotional, her heart easily moved by others‘ suffering. She felt as guilty as I did, though her guilt was misplaced. 

“You were also worried about Emma,” I said, patting her hand reassuringly. “You couldn’t have 

known about Lily.” 

Victoria leaned into my embrace, sobbing with convincing despair. Her body trembled against 

mine, her tears soaking through my shirt. 

“But I really feel guilty… That was Lily… Your daughter…I really wanted to treat her as my own.” 

(Victoria’s POV) 

I sobbed against Ethan’s chest, my tears flowing freely. Years of practice had made me an 

expert at crying on command. 

Inside, I felt nothing but relief. Lily was dead and buried, no longer a threat to my plans. The daughter who might have eventually revealed my true nature to Ethan was gone forever. 

I had worried when Ethan first mentioned Lily’s death. Had Olivia told him everything? Did he know about the kidney transplant that should have gone to Lily but went to Emma instead? Did he suspect my role in redirecting that donor? 

But his reaction had confirmed my safety. He knew nothing of my involvement. He still saw me as the compassionate friend who would never harm a child. 

If only he knew the truth–that I had personally ensured the kidney meant for Lily went to Emma instead. That I had manipulated medical records, bribed officials, and threatened a 

doctor to make it happen. 

Emma had needed that kidney. My daughter’s life was worth more than Lily’s–at least to me. I 

would have sacrificed a hundred children to save Emma. 

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< Chapter 103 Lily’s Death 

And now, standing at Lily’s grave, I continued my performance. I wept for the child I had 

helped kill, all while planning my next move to secure my position in Ethan’s life. 

+15 Points > 

“But I really feel guilty… That was Lily… Your daughter…I really wanted to treat her as my own.” 

The words tasted like ash in my mouth. I had never wanted to treat Lily as my own. I had 

wanted her gone, out of the way, no longer competing with Emma for Ethan’s attention or 

resources. 

I glanced at the Crystal–Embroidered Ice Princess Gown Ethan had brought. I remembered how 

Lily had begged for that exact dress–the same one I had bought for Emma. I had delighted in 

her disappointment, in the tears she had tried to hide from her father. 

Now Ethan was bringing it to her grave, too late for her to ever wear it. The irony was delicious. 

I pressed closer to Ethan, making my body tremble with false grief. He held me tighter, his 

strong arms offering comfort I didn’t deserve or need. 

Over his shoulder, I stared at Lily’s tombstone. The colored photograph showed a smiling child 

with Olivia’s emerald eyes. Those eyes had always unnerved me–too observant, too knowing. 

Even at four years old, Lily had seemed to see through my facade. 

Good riddance, I thought, even as I continued to sob dramatically. 

“But I really feel guilty… That was Lily…Your daughter…I really wanted to treat her as my own.”