The Red Rose of Manhattan Chapter 11

The next few days were absolute hell for Lily.

In that place, the once-proud Miss Sterling was tormented beyond recognition.

Her cellmates seemed to have received special instructions, abusing her relentlessly. They kicked and beat her, deliberately stomping on her already injured wrist over and over until bones shattered...

A few days later, when she was finally released, she was barely human, covered in wounds, barely alive.

What kept her crawling out of hell was a message on her phone.

Her visa had finally been approved.

She took a cab back to the mansion to grab her luggage and head to the airport.

But as soon as she walked in, she ran into her best friend Bella Frost, who'd just returned from traveling the world and rushed over after hearing everything.

Seeing Lily's condition, Bella immediately burst into tears, hugging her and apologizing non-stop: "Lily! I'm so sorry! This is all my fault! I never liked my uncle's ex, and knowing he was still hung up on her, I deliberately goaded you into going after him... I never thought it would turn out like this... I didn't know his precious old flame was Serena! If I'd known, I never would have let you near him..."

Lily shook her head, her voice hoarse: "It's not your fault. It's over. I've... let it all go."

"Bella, I'm going abroad. I probably won't come back."

Bella froze, quickly trying to stop her: "Lily, don't go... Stay here, I'll take care of you, I'll protect you..."

"No need," Lily said softly. "There's nothing left here worth staying for."

Bella cried harder, but seeing the dead emptiness and determination in Lily's eyes, she knew she couldn't change her mind.

She could only help Lily pack her final belongings, tears streaming down her face.

Before leaving, Lily took one last look at this mansion that held all her childhood memories but had been taken over by her father's mistress and illegitimate daughter.

She pulled out the gasoline she'd prepared, and despite the servants' protests, expressionlessly poured and lit it.

Flames shot skyward, consuming everything from the past.

She picked up her last bag and turned away without looking back.

Bella drove her to the airport, apologizing the whole way, saying she'd give Lily her entire garage of luxury cars as compensation.

Lily shook her head, leaning against the car window, watching the scenery fly past, saying softly: "I don't need them."

"You have to say goodbye to the wrong ones to meet the right ones." She tried to smile, carrying the exhaustion of surviving disaster. "I'm so beautiful—as long as I want, from now on, every man will be better, richer, more devoted than the last..."

Bella quickly agreed: "Yes! Our Lily is the most beautiful! You'll definitely meet someone who treasures you!"

At the airport, Bella hugged her tight, crying: "Lily, you have to do amazingly well and show all those people!"

Lily hugged her back, patting her back gently, then let go, waving casually before walking toward security.

Bella watched her figure disappear at the end of the corridor, then finally collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably.

After crying for what felt like forever, she finally gathered her courage, filled with righteous anger, and called Ethan.

The phone rang for a long time before he answered.

"Uncle," Bella said, her voice thick with tears and accusation, "I know you like Serena, but Lily was with you for three years! She's leaving now! Never coming back! Can't you... at least come see her off?!"

The phone line fell into dead silence.

A few seconds later, Ethan's voice came through, carrying a rare, almost imperceptible tension and hoarseness:

"Who..."

"Who's leaving?"