The atmosphere was oppressively tense. An unsettling quiet descended upon the penthouse as soon as Graham Whitmore departed, like the eye of a hurricane poised to release its wrath. The weight of his remarks caused Lily's mind to race as she paced the room.
**"Ethan will survive if you leave. No more dangers. "No more war."**
She tried to ignore the notion, but it kept coming back to her. Ethan had been so certain that they would fight together, so certain. Was she prepared to risk his life, though? If her presence turned out to be the cause he lost everything, could she live with herself?
Ethan stood at the window, his fingers clenched into fists, watching her. "Don't even think about it," he replied in a stern but quiet voice.
She faced him and looked into his storm-black eyes. "Ethan, we can't ignore what he said."