Blaine guided her toward the car. Tony, who was coming to the café, saw the reporters outside trying to get through Blaine to Lillian. He ran toward them and helped.
"Good thing you're here. Take the keys. You'll drive." Blaine handed him the key and got into the back seat with Lillian. The reporters kept shouting questions. They ignored them, and Tony drove off.
In the car, Lillian scrolled through the latest news on her phone. Then she saw her father standing with a group of people behind him.
He talked about how Lillian had burned her mother and siblings to death, and how he had barely survived the fire. He showed a burn scar to the viewers. The people behind him nodded, confirming his story.
Lillian laughed like a maniac. She threw her phone onto the seat and brushed her hair back in annoyance.
"He even brought some of the stupid citizens of Haleton to support him. Is the story that believable?" she asked out loud, not expecting an answer.
Her phone rang. It was the CEO of the publishing company she worked for.
"Good day, sir," Lillian answered.
"I need you in my office now!" the man on the other end shouted, then hung up.
Lillian sighed in frustration. "Turn around. Core Ink Publishing now." Tony obeyed. Blaine looked worried.
---
Near a popular local garage, Shawn was about to get into his car when he heard a voice behind him.
"I guess we meet again," Mirabel said.
Shawn turned. "Oh, hi, Mira. What are you doing here?"
"This place is pretty popular for a local garage, don't you think?" Mirabel said, avoiding the question.
"So that's why you came here?"
"Yes. And you see over there? That's a convenience store. I went to buy something when I saw you fixing your car."
"You waited until I was done?" Shawn asked.
"Of course. I waited so that you could fix my car." Mirabel pointed to her car.
"Uhm, the thing is, I'm closed for the day. I have somewhere to be." Shawn tried to look cool.
"I promise I will call you when my garage is open again." He turned to open his car door. He smirked and counted in his head: one, two, three…
"How would you call me if you don't have my number?" Mirabel asked.
Shawn almost jumped in excitement. "Oh, silly me. Can I have your number, then?" He swallowed his excitement and stretched his phone toward her.
"Of course. I need my car fixed by an expert like you." Mirabel typed in her number and handed the phone back.
Shawn tried to open his door again.
"Why are you working as Lillian's bodyguard and also as a popular mechanic?" Mirabel asked.
Shawn almost choked. He turned slowly, sweat beading on his forehead. "You see… Lillian is my favorite author. I heard she needed bodyguards, so I registered. Luckily, I was chosen."
Mirabel stared at him for a moment, then shrugged. "I believe you. Now, I better let you go." She walked to her car and opened the door. "You better call me." She drove off.
"Didn't she say her car wasn't okay?" Shawn muttered to himself, then left.
---
At Core Ink Publishing, in the CEO's office.
"Lillian, what's all this I hear about you?" Carl asked.
"It's not true. I never did such a thing," Lillian defended herself.
"Is that man your father or not?" Carl pressed.
Lillian paused and sighed. "He is my father, but—"
"Exactly. He is your father. Are you telling me your father lied to bring you down? Sort everything out with him. I don't want you to cause any trouble for my publishing house. I only signed a contract with you because of my friend Hudson, but I won't hesitate to cancel it if you violate any clause." Carl sat back in his chair.
"Okay, sir. I'll prove the truth to the public," Lillian said, trying to calm him.
"Good. I give you three days." Carl said firmly. Lillian's eyes widened. "You can leave."
Lillian didn't move for a few seconds, then she left.
She walked out to where Blaine and Tony were waiting.
"How did it go?" Tony asked.
"I have three days to prove my innocence," Lillian replied, not stopping.
"That's too short," Blaine said, following her.
"Not for me." Lillian's voice was cold with confidence. "Tony, send a message to the others. Tell them to meet at the castle, not the café."
Tony pulled out his phone. Blaine looked at Lillian curiously.
She smirked. "I have a plan."
---
Miles was leaving the meeting room as other directors dispersed when his phone buzzed.
He stopped and saw the trending article about Lillian. He went back into the room. His father, Hudson, was about to leave.
"Dad – I mean, sir. Lillian is in trouble. She needs my help," Miles said.
Hudson smiled. "Do you have to ask me first? Go help her if you can."
Miles nodded and rushed out. He took the elevator down, walked to the parking lot, and said to his driver, "I'll drive myself." He got in and sped off.
---
At the castle, Lillian, Blaine, and Tony arrived. Moments later, the others arrived as if on cue. Lillian led them to the library – a huge room with towering bookshelves, a large desk with her laptop, and a long wooden table surrounded by chairs. Everyone except Lillian and Blaine looked around in amazement.
"Sit down," Lillian instructed.
They sat. Lillian remained standing.
"I'm sure you've all heard the news about me," she said.
"No. I don't follow the news," Tiara replied sharply. Everyone stared at her.
"That's why I called you here. To help me show them the truth," Lillian continued.
"Wait. I thought we were here to talk about how to save Blaine," Bryan said, confused.
"You have to sort my case first," Lillian said.
"Why would we sort your case when one of us is about to die?" Diana shot back.
"Because mine is more urgent." Lillian's voice was hard.
"You think a public scandal is more urgent than an alpha being killed by his own blood?" Tyler demanded.
"He's not going to die any minute. You have time to plan. I have three days before my entire career collapses." Lillian crossed her arms.
Diana stood up. "I'm done with this conversation. Bryan, send your plan to our phones." She walked away and others followed except Blaine.
"What if it's a stone to kill two birds?" Lillian said, and they looked back.
"What do you mean?" Bryan asked.
"Sit down if you want to hear the plan," Lillian instructed.
The others looked at each other, then reluctantly sat back down.
"Good. The plan is to get his brothers to notice me. They'd have probably seen or heard my name on the news, but they won't know where I live. Shawn will find and deliver a message to my father under the pretence that Hazel sent it – telling him to come here and beat me up."
"That's dangerous," Blaine said.
"I know. But it will make him talk while hitting me. Every word he says and every hit I take from him will be on camera."
"Wait, wait, wait. Why should we pretend that Hazel sent it?" Shawn asked.
"Because I'm a hundred percent sure that Hazel paid him to lie against me. So the only person he would believe is Hazel."
"Oh, I see," Shawn said.
"What if he tries to kill you in that moment?" Blaine asked again.
"He won't. He loves to make a point before doing something drastic. So he would remind me of what he made people believe – thereby confessing unconsciously," Lillian said.
"How do you know that's exactly what he would do?" Tiara asked.
"I survived on the streets mainly because I learned to study people so that I can know which ones will be easy to manipulate," Lillian replied.
"Why must we help you? I don't see how any of this is helping Blaine," Diana said.
"It is helping Blaine. Because when the news gets out that my father's words were a lie all along, it will be in the headlines that he came to where I live – a castle deep in the forest. His brothers will follow every news about me, thereby knowing where I live."
"So you guys be on the watch. We should get ready to destroy some werewolves." Lillian announced with a smirk.
Everyone clapped their hands when Miles rushed inside.
"Lillian!" He called out as he looked around the living room.
"Who didn't lock the door?" Lillian whispered.
"It's Tyler," Luna said.
"It's not me, it's Tiara. I always lock my door," Tyler quickly replied.
"Me? Why would it be…" Tiara tried to argue.
"Shhh." Bryan shut her up. "Lillian, pretend to be thinking while we pretend to be standing guard."
Lillian started pacing, biting her finger.
"Lillian!" Miles finally came to the library. He rushed over and hugged her. "I heard what happened. Are you alright?"
"I am trying to be, but it's just too heartbreaking to hear. But I will reveal the truth." Lillian pretended to be sad.
"If you need any help, I'll be glad to do it," Miles said. She nodded. He patted her and faced the werewolves.
"Who are you guys?" Miles asked with a questioning look.
There was a moment of hesitation, but Bryan finally spoke.
"We are Miss Lillian's bodyguards," Bryan said.
"Yes, she hired us to protect her in case of times like this," Blaine added.
Miles shook his head in disagreement. "That's a lie. You're not Lillian's bodyguards.
---
The trap is set. Will it work? Keep reading to find out. "Three days. One truth. No mercy.""This is where the real game begins. Your support keeps it going."