Chapter 18 A Dangerous Game

• The days that followed were a blur of desperation and strategizing. Sophia and Ethan knew they couldn’t let Victoria win, but they were also painfully aware of the stakes. The photograph of Lily haunted Sophia, every moment filled with the fear that the next message would bring even worse news.
• Ethan, who had always been the pillar of strength, was now grappling with his own demons. The guilt of his past involvement in Victoria’s schemes weighed heavily on him, making him more determined than ever to protect Sophia and Lily. But there was also an underlying fear—fear that he might not be able to keep his promise, that he might fail them both.
• Sophia, once so sure of her path, was now torn between her desire for revenge and her need to protect her sister. The plan that had once seemed so clear now felt like a ticking time bomb, ready to explode and destroy everything she cared about. But no matter how much doubt gnawed at her, she couldn’t abandon her mission. Not now. Not when she was so close to exposing the truth and bringing Victoria down.