Chapter 16: Shattered Truth 

Chapter 16: Shattered Truth 

(Olivia’s POV) 

I stared at Ethan across his desk. His face was a mask of cold indifference. How could he be 

so heartless? 

“This is your daughter we’re talking about,” I whispered, my voice breaking with every word. 

Ethan’s amber eyes remained distant. Unmoved by my tears. 

“I’ve told you, stop lying about Lily’s life. If you needed money, just ask,” he said flatly. 

Something inside me shattered. The dam holding back my grief finally broke. 

“You don’t understand,” I said, my body trembling uncontrollably. “You never understood.” 

Ethan sighed impatiently. “What don’t I understand, Olivia?” 

I looked up at him. My emerald eyes overflowed with tears. 

“Lily… she’s dead! My Lily… she’s really dead!” 

My voice broke on the last word. The admission tore through me like a knife. 

Ethan’s expression shifted from impatience to disbelief. His amber eyes narrowed 

dangerously. 

“What did you say?” he asked, his voice deceptively soft. 

“Our daughter is dead,” I repeated. Each word dripped with pain. “She died three months ago. 

On her birthday.” 

Ethan rose from his chair. His powerful frame towered over me. 

“Stop lying,” he growled, slamming his fist on the desk. 

“Lying?” I laughed bitterly through my tears. “Why would I lie about this?” 

“To manipulate me. To gain my sympathy. To turn me against Victoria.” 

His accusation was like another knife to my already bleeding heart. Even now, facing the truth 

about our daughter, Victoria was his first concern. 

“You think I’d use our daughter’s death to manipulate you?” My voice rose with incredulous 

anger. “What kind of monster do you think I am?” 

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Chapter 16 Shattered Truth 

Ethan’s jaw clenched tight. “Where is she then? Where is Lily if she’s dead?” 

My heart pounded painfully in my chest. This was the moment of truth. 

“I’ll show you,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper. 

I grabbed his arm. My fingers dug into the expensive fabric of his sleeve. 

“I’ll show you,” I repeated, pulling him toward the door. 

His amber eyes flashed with accusation. “If this is some trick-” 

“It’s not a trick!” I shouted, beyond caring who might hear. “Come with me. Now!” 

I was surprised when he allowed me to lead him. My grief had transformed into desperate 

determination. 

He needed to see the truth. He needed to face what we had lost. 

As we left the private lounge, we nearly collided with Victoria in the hallway. Her eyes widened 

at the sight of us together. 

“Ethan?” she questioned, her voice soft and concerned. “What’s happening?” 

I couldn’t bear to look at her. This woman who had everything while I had lost everything. 

My daughter was gone, and Victoria still had her Emma. She still had Ethan’s love. 

Without thinking, I pushed past her. I shoved her aside harder than necessary. 

Victoria stumbled. She fell against the wall with a cry of pain. 

“Ethan!” she called out, her voice echoing down the hallway. 

To my surprise, Ethan didn’t stop. He followed me without a backward glance at Victoria. 

His face was set in grim determination. For once, he was focused solely on me. 

The drive to Maple Grove passed in tense silence. Ethan’s knuckles were white on the steering 

wheel. 

His jaw was clenched so tight I could see the muscle twitching. 

With each passing minute, my heart beat faster. I was about to open my most private wound 

to the man who had caused me so much pain. 

When we arrived, I led him toward my residence. My steps grew heavier as we approached. 

The sanctuary I’d created for Lily’s memory had been my private refuge of grief. Allowing 

Ethan inside felt like the final surrender. 

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At the door to Lily’s room, I paused. My hand trembled as I reached for the doorknob. 

“Go in I said softly Lily’s ashes and death certificate are all inside.” 

I wanted to see his face when he realized the truth. I wanted to watch him understand what 

his neglect had cost us 

Just as my fingers touched the cool metal, Ethan’s phone rang. The harsh electronic sound shattered the heavy silence between us. 

He glanced at the screen, then back at me. Hesitation was clear in his eyes. 

breath. Would he choose this moment–this crucial moment to prioritize someone 

I held my else again? 

Ethan finally accepted the call. He put it on speaker 

Victoria’s voice filled the hallway. “Ethan!” she cried, sounding breathless and panicked. I just 

saw her! I saw Lily!” 

My heart stopped. For one wild, impossible moment, hope flared in my chest. 

It was so bright and fierce it hurt. Could it be true? 

“What?” Ethan demanded, his eyes fixed on my face. “Where?” 

“Near Howling Woods Park” Victoria replied quickly. “She was running, and I tried to catch her, but she disappeared into the trees.” 

The hope died as quickly as it had come. I remembered holding the Moonwood Ceremonial 

Urn that morning. 

Feeling its weight in my hands. Seeing Lily’s face in the Memorial Portrait. 

This was a cruel lie. Another of Victoria’s manipulations. 

“She’s lying,” I whispered, fresh tears spilling down my cheeks. “Lily is dead.” 

Ethan’s expression hardened. The brief uncertainty vanished from his face. 

He believed Victoria over me. Of course he did. 

“I’m coming,” he told Victoria, ending the call. 

He turned to me. His amber eyes were cold and accusing. 

“You’ve been hiding her from me all this time, he said. 

I shook my head. Desperation clawed at my throat. 

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Chapter 16, Shattered Truth 

“No, Ethan. She’s gone. Please, just look inside-” 

48 Points 

Olivia Winters,” he cut me off, his voice like ice, “it was Lily’s greatest misfortune in this life to 

be reborn as your daughter.” 

The cruelty of his words stole my breath. I stood frozen, unable to speak. 

He turned and walked away, leaving me alone with my grief once more. 

(Ethan’s POV) 

I raced toward Howling Woods Park. My mind was reeling with possibilities. 

Victoria had seen Lily. My daughter was alive. 

Olivia had been lying to me all this time. Hiding my own child from me. 

The thought made my blood boil with rage. 

“It was for the best,” my wolf, Noah, whispered in my mind. “The child is better off without her.” 

I pushed aside the nagging doubt. The strange weight in my chest when I’d seen Olivia’s tears. 

Victoria wouldn’t lie to me. Not about this. 

I found a parking spot and jumped out of my car. My eyes scanned the area frantically. 

I spotted Victoria immediately upon reaching the park. She was standing near the treeline. 

Her perfect hair was disheveled. Her clothes were wrinkled. 

This was so unlike the always–immaculate Victoria. I felt a surge of concern. 

“Victoria,” I called, approaching quickly. 

She turned. Her face was streaked with tears. Her expression distraught. 

“Ethan!” she cried out. 

She fell into my arms. Her body trembled against mine. 

“Lily… I didn’t catch her…” she sobbed. 

I held her tightly. My eyes scanned the trees behind her. 

“Where did you see her? Which direction did she go?” 

Victoria pointed toward a dense patch of trees. “There. She was wearing a blue dress.” 

Her voice broke with emotion. “I’m sorry, I…I didn’t catch her….”