241“Lily invited me to her grandmother’s birthday,” he said, his tone steady. “If you have a problem with that, maybe you should take it up with her.”Lily stood a little taller, her earlier hesitation replaced by a spark of defiance. “You don’t get to tell me who I can invite to my own family’s celebration, Tobias,” she said, her voice clear and unshaken. “If Allvar is coming, then that’s my choice.”Tobias’s expression darkened, his smirk faltering slightly. “Is that so?” he said, taking a step closer, his posture oozing with superiority. “Well, I just thought you might want someone more... suitable. Not someone who looks like he’s barely making ends meet.”Lily shook her head, her hands balling into fists at her sides. “You don’t know anything about him,” she snapped, her voice rising. “And you don’t get to judge him.”Allvar glanced at her, a small flicker of admiration in his eyes. Her defense of him was unexpected, but it felt good to know she wasn’t backing down, not for him,

243“You’re pathetic, Tobias. You spend all your time belittling others because you think it makes you important. But the truth is, you’re just insecure. All of this? It’s just a mask for how small you feel inside.”Tobias’s face contorted with fury. His jaw clenched as he stared at Lily, his nostrils flaring with every breath. “You think you’ve figured me out? Please.” He scoffed, taking a step back. “You don’t know me. You’re nothing to me, Lily. But him?” He pointed a finger at Allvar, who stood silently, his face impassive. “You’ll see him for what he really is soon enough. It won’t be long before he’s just another disappointment in your life.”Lily could feel her heart race, her pulse pounding in her ears. Tobias’s words were like poison, but she was done being intimidated. She squared her shoulders, standing tall. “Don’t talk to me like that. Not anymore, Tobias. I’m done letting you walk all over me.”Tobias’s eyes gleamed with mockery. “Oh? You think that just because you stan

245She took a deep breath, feeling the tension in her shoulders ease just a little. “I guess it’s just hard when it’s someone you’ve known for so long. You start to wonder if they’re really as bad as they seem, or if you’re just seeing things the wrong way.”“You’re not seeing things wrong,” Allvar said with a seriousness that surprised her. “People show you who they are through their actions, not their words. And Tobias... he’s been showing you exactly who he is for a long time. Don’t ignore it just because it’s familiar.”Lily’s heart skipped at his words. There was something about the conviction in his voice that made her pause. It wasn’t like him to speak so firmly, but when he did, she found herself listening. Really listening.“I guess I’ve been hoping he’d change,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “That one day he’d see me for who I am, not just... his idea of what I should be.”Allvar’s gaze softened, and for a moment, Lily thought she saw a flicker of empathy

“Allvar’s not the problem here,” Lily said, her voice trembling with fury. “You are, Tobias. Always have been.”Tobias let out a dry laugh, as if he found her resistance laughable. “Really?” he scoffed. “You think he—this nobody—can make you happy? Don’t kid yourself, Lily. You’ve been trying to break free from me, but you can’t. You won’t. I’m the one who knows you, the one who knows what’s best for you.”Lily's hands clenched into fists at her sides, every nerve in her body screaming to put him in his place. She turned to Allvar, her eyes locking with his for a moment, silently asking for support, silently telling him that she wouldn’t back down, no matter what Tobias said. Allvar nodded slightly, his expression unwavering.She turned back to Tobias, standing taller now, her voice steady and full of conviction. “You think you know me? You think you’re the one who gets to decide what’s best for me? Well, you’re wrong.” She shook her head. “You don’t get to control me anymore. I’m don

249Two days later,The cell door buzzed open, and Mrs. Abbott stepped out, flanked by two guards. Her movements were sharp and deliberate as she adjusted her blazer, her fiery determination evident. Jake and Edgar followed closely behind, their expressions a mix of confusion and relief.“How…?” Edgar finally stammered. “How are we out?”Mrs. Abbott smirked, her confidence fully restored. “Did you really think I’d let Falck win without a backup plan?”Jake frowned. “But the charges—the evidence—”“All part of the game,” a voice interrupted. The tall visitor from the previous night emerged from the shadows, their trench coat billowing slightly as they walked. “Let’s just say some strings were pulled.”Mrs. Abbott crossed her arms, her gaze piercing. “What’s your angle? Why help us?”The visitor’s lips curled into a sly smile. “I told you—I despise Falck. But more importantly, I see potential in you. With the right guidance, you could be more than just pawns in his game.”Jake glanced n