Becoming strangers again (Lily and Ryan)

MAYA

After everything, my mother and I ended up on the streets with nowhere to go. It was a feeling of helplessness that I can't quite put into words. But then, just when things seemed bleakest, the man we met the other day unexpectedly pulled up beside us. He offered us a place to stay.

It was a small apartment, nothing luxurious, but it had four walls and a roof and that was enough. I didn't care whose apartment it was or how he'd managed to arrange it; all that mattered was that my mother and I were no longer out in the cold. As we settled in, my mother broke the silence. "Do you think we should set up a GoFundMe account?" she asked.

I felt my frustration flare up. "With what reputation?" I shot back, unable to hide my irritation. "After everything that's been said online? Do you think people are going to do anything other than mock us?" She didn't seem to grasp that things had changed. Maybe, back when we still had people's sympathy, it could've worked. But now? Now it felt too late.

Just then, the front door creaked open, and the young man stepped into the living room. I looked at him for a moment, trying to put a name to his face. "What was your name again?" I finally asked, realizing I didn't even know who this stranger was who'd offered us shelter in our time of need.

Clover dropped a bottle of water onto the table, then settled into his seat, picking up his plate with a quiet sigh. "Clover."

I let the name sink in, intrigued by its unusualness. "Clover," I repeated. "So, why do you have it out for the Williams family? And why go out of your way to help me?"

He shrugged, a bitter smirk playing on his lips. "Isn't it obvious?" he murmured, his voice filled with an old resentment. "They tore my life apart, just like they did yours. And all because I dared to want even a taste of the privileges they hoard for themselves." Oh... maybe this is an avenue to use this to my favor. "So... do you have a plan? A way to take them down? Lily and Ryan, specifically?"

A spark flickered in his eyes as he nodded. "Oh, I've got the perfect way," he said, savoring the words as he spoke them. He carefully set his plate aside, replaced the lid, and grabbed one of the water bottles he'd brought with him. "There's a guy named Jake," he continued, "someone who despises them as much as we do. And he once told me that the most effective way to hurt them... is to target what they cherish most." Clover paused, letting his words sink in. "Their kids."

My eyes widened, and I felt my stomach churn. "You want to abduct their children?" I whispered, the enormity of it hitting me hard.

Clover shook his head, his expression dark. "No, not abduct. I'm talking about silencing them-permanently. They took away the one person I cared about, and I'm going to make them feel that same loss."

I choked on my food, feeling a rush of fear and disbelief. "You're talking about... killing their kids?"

Clover shrugged nonchalantly. "I'm not asking you to be involved. I've already set everything in motion."

A cold sweat prickled at the back of my neck. Wouldn't I still be considered an accomplice if anyone found out? Just knowing about this-being aware and doing nothing-was enough to make me guilty in the eyes of the law. It could ruin me. The thought of years behind bars flashed through my mind.

Clover must have noticed my anxiety because he leaned forward, his voice low and reassuring. "Don't worry. I'm not getting caught," he promised, his tone calm and confident. "I didn't come out of prison just to end up back there."

Wait... prison? Clover had actually been in prison, which meant he wasn't just talk-he was serious, capable, and likely very dangerous. Reaching for my water bottle, I took a long drink, trying to swallow the knot of food and anxiety caught in my throat. My mind raced, weighing the risks. Was I really willing to get wrapped up in something that could go horribly wrong? This was crossing a line, and I knew it.

"I don't think you should agree to this," my mother's voice broke through my thoughts, soft but insistent.

I shot her a sharp glare. "Shut up," I

snapped, not bothering to hide my frustration. She had no right to weigh in here, not when I was the one fighting tooth and nail to build life out of the pieces she'd let crumble. After all the struggles I'd endured, I wasn't about to take advice from the person who'd failed me over and over.

Turning back to Clover, I raised an eyebrow. "For someone who's fresh out of prison," I said, "you seem strangely eager to head right back there. And frankly, I have no intention of going down with you."

He leaned forward, and there was a desperation in his gaze that made me pause. He licked his lips, choosing his words carefully. "Listen," he said, "just hear me out. Let me tell you exactly what the plan is. I promise if you still don't want in, I'll leave you out of it. No strings attached."

There was a part of me that knew I

shouldn't even be listening. I could almost hear the warning bells in my head. But curiosity-mixed with a stubborn desire to know what Clover had in mind-got the better of me. Maybe it was the lure of power or maybe just the thrill of knowing someone was finally challenging the Williams family, but something made me stay seated, leaning slightly forward.

"Fine," I said. "Let's hear it. What exactly are you planning?"

Clover leaned back. "Look, the specifics of how I plan to handle things aren't any of your concern," he said bluntly. "Where you come in is afterward-when Ryan and Lily are broken, mourning the loss of their children. While they're drowning in grief, you quietly move in and take whatever you can before they even start to get their bearings back."

I nodded slowly, mulling over his words. "So, basically, I just sit tight, wait until you've done... whatever it is you're planning, and then make my move?"

"Exactly," he replied. "It's that simple."

If it was that simple, then why drag me into it at all? I could have stayed out of this completely. Still, I figured I'd make myself clear. "Fine," I said, waving a hand around the room. "But remember, this meeting never happened. You do your part, and if it all goes wrong, I was never here."

Clover chuckled. "Relax," he said. "You don't have to worry about that."

I leaned forward, meeting his eyes. "And when you get caught don't even think about mentioning my name."

With a smirk, he made a sign as if crossing his heart. "I don't drag people down with me unless they give me a reason to."

I narrowed my eyes, studying him closely. "What exactly is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that as long as you don't betray me, I won't betray you," Clover said, his hand outstretched, waiting for me to take it. "We can make this happen, Maya. We can bring them down-make the Williams name nothing more than a footnote in history."

From the corner of my eye, I saw my mother shake her head, a look of disapproval etched on her face. Without a word, she stood up and left the room.

Ungrateful bitch. She didn't understand what this meant, how hard I was fighting to claw my way out of the mess she'd left me in.

"Thanks for the space," I said, turning back to Clover, masking my frustration with a cool smile.

He waved my thanks away. "It's fine, really. I'm glad to help." But then his gaze drifted toward the direction my mother had gone, his brow furrowing slightly. "I don't have to worry about her, do I?"

I scoffed, shaking my head. "My mom? You don't need to worry about her. She's already stained by her own mistakes." I gave a small, dry laugh. "She's capable of far more than you think."

He blinked, clearly surprised. "Really?"

I nodded without hesitation. "Yes, really. So, don't worry about her." I couldn't be bothered with my mother's objections-this was bigger than her, and I was done trying to please people who had never fought for me.

I was finally in control of my own destiny. I couldn't wait to set my plans in motion. Getting to Ryan Williams wouldn't be hard. After all, I already had an insider-someone close enough to him to give me the leverage I needed. This was going to work.