Page 24 of The Vow Thief
Holloway didn’t move, didn’t blink.“Careful.”
She blinked, the threat landing but not enough to stop him.“Does your wife know about us?” she asked suddenly, the question sliding across the table like a blade.
For the first time, Holloway smiled, a real one, cold and deliberate.“No,” he said,“and she won’t.”
Then his tone shifted, slow and precise.“Does your father know about your current status?”
Her face paled.“Why do you keep bringing him up?”
“Oh, you don't know, do you? He's the reason you have a job,” he said.“Your father called in a favor. I obliged. He was proud of you then. I wonder how he’ll feel when I tell him his daughter is sitting in a jail cell because she couldn’t keep her legs closed for a married man.”
Lily froze, breath caught between fury and fear.
Holloway rose, adjusting his jacket, every motion measured.“Think about that, Ms. Thompson. Because the moment you bring another scandal to my door, I won’t just fire you. I’ll make sure your father knows exactly what you’ve done to his reputation.”
He turned for the door, pausing just long enough to twist the knife.“Enjoy your stay. Reflection builds character.”
The door clanged shut behind him.
Lily sat motionless, the silence pressing in. Then, slowly, her fingers curled into fists.
He thought he could threaten her. He thought she was done.
He had just given her something new to destroy.
Outside the cell, Holloway walked the corridor with his usual calm.
A woman like Lily behind bars was a liability contained. And while she cooled off, Matt could take that trip to Charleston, no distractions, no scandals, no mistakes.
Everything, for once, was exactly where he wanted it.
Chapter 12 - Charleston's Not for Everyone
Sarah's POV
I told Matt it would be better if he went to Charleston alone. The kids had school, soccer, gymnastics, and a calendar that looked like a marathon. He believed me. What he did not know was that while he secured the client, I planned to confront the woman who had torn my family apart.
I waved goodbye as he threw his bag in the back of his car. The moment his taillights disappeared, I moved.
My stomach knotted tight. Lily was young, beautiful, and cruel enough to remind me more than once that my best years were behind me. If I were going to face her, it would be on my terms.
I pulled a sweater dress from the closet, form-fitting and unapologetic. It was not flashy, but it clung in the right places, showing a body honed by early morning runs and discipline Lily could only fake. I brushed my hair until it fell in a glossy curtain down my back, applied concealer, and lined my eyes just enough to look effortless. Younger. Sharper. Untouchable.
When I checked my reflection, I did not see a woman Lily could dismiss as too old. I saw the version of myself who had survived heartbreak and come out harder.
Sliding into my SUV, I turned the key, scrolled through playlists, and landed onLoud Barkby Mannequin Pussy. The first notes rattled through the speakers, raw and electric. Perfect. By the time I pulled into the jail lot, my confidence had shifted into something steadier.
I am not just here to visit, I am here to do emotional harm.
The guard unlocked the door to the visitation room and gestured for me to enter. Lily was already perched on the edge of the metal bench, posture stiff, eyes burning like she had been waiting for this moment.
Her lips curved into a smile.“Finally. I knew you’d come. You can’t keep me out of his life forever.”
I sat down across from her and folded my hands neatly on the table. My tone was calm, almost polite.“Hello, Lily. I figured it was time you and I had a little talk.”
I leaned forward, voice cool and precise.“You’re right, you know, I am conspiring against you. Look at you behind bars. Look at me walking free. It’s working.”
Lily’s smile faltered, confusion flickering in her eyes.
