CHAPTER 165: THEN WHO?

Lily had finally been discharged after a day.

The hospital room that had once been filled with soft beeping monitors and quiet footsteps now stood empty. The bedsheets were folded, the curtains were drawn back.

It was quiet now and he was thankful for it.

Gray stood near the exit, his arms crossed loosely as he watched Lily walk ahead with Selina. They were on the way down now.

Lily’s steps were light and small. She was even wearing her favorite sneaker, one that she refused to throw away even if the sole of the shoes were starting to peel already.

Lily looked healthy now. She was still a little pale, but her cheeks had color now, and her eyes were clear. She was clearly better.

However, something inside Gray made him still feel uneasy.

"Let’s go to my car. I’ll drive us back to the condo.

Selina’s car was parked just outside the hospital’s drop-off area. It was a compact white sedan that still smelled faintly like lavender inside.

Gray opened the back door for Lily, keeping his hand on the frame so she wouldn’t bump her head. She climbed in with a soft, "Thanks brother," and settled into the seat.

Selina, on the other hand, moved to the driver’s side without a word and Gray sat beside her.

The moment the door closed behind him, he let out a sigh. There were no more hospital smells and no more faint beeping machines.

As Selina started the engine and began moving them out of the lot, Gray twisted slightly in his seat to look back at his sister.

Lily sat there with her hands folded neatly in her lap, her expression unusually quiet.

She must’ve felt it too.

"Lily," Gray said, his voice steady but serious.

Lily quickly looked up to him.

"You can’t just buy food from random stalls anymore. Especially from places you don’t know. Do you understand?"

"I—" Lily paused. Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. "I just thought it looked nice..."

"I know," Gray said gently, but firmly. "But even if it looks good, that doesn’t mean it’s safe. You got lucky this time. Really lucky. If Selina hadn’t been there, I don’t even want to think about what could’ve happened to you."

The car turned onto the main road, the traffic lights blinking lazily up ahead.

Gray didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to. He rarely scolded her, and Lily knew that. That’s why when he voiced out something, Lily knew she got to listen to it.

Gray’s eyes softened. "I’m not angry, okay? But you need to take care of yourself too, when i’m not around? That’s what matters to me."

Lily nodded slowly, her voice small. "I won’t do it again, brother."

There was a moment of silence. Then, quietly, Gray reached out a hand and gently ruffled her hair.

"Good," he murmured. "That’s all I needed to hear."

From the driver’s seat, Selina said nothing, but a small smile tugged at the edge of her lips as she drove.

Back at Rosewood Residences, the elevator chimed softly as it reached their floor.

Gray stepped out first, carrying a few takeout bags in one hand and a small white cake box in the other. Selina followed beside him with Lily in front. Their footsteps echoed quietly through the polished hallway.

When the door to their condo finally opened, the familiar scent of home wrapped around them. After days, Gray finally felt like they were safe again.

"We’re home," he said, turning the lights on with a soft click.

Lily slipped off her shoes by the entrance, wobbling slightly as she did. "It smells nice," she said, her voice light. "I missed the couch."

Gray let out a short laugh and patted her head as she passed him. "Good thing it missed you too."

He set the takeout and cake box on the dining table.

"Go sit down. We’ll get everything ready."

Lily nodded. She happily took a seat. She curled up on one end with a throw pillow clutched in her arms, her legs even swinging lightly.

Selina moved beside Gray. She enthusiastically took out containers from the take out bag and took of their lids. The scent of warm rice, grilled chicken, and egg soup slowly filled the air.

Gray plated the food while Selina fetched drinks from the fridge. And then, at the end of the table, she carefully unboxed the strawberry cake.

The cake was ordered beforehand so that Lily wouldn’t be able to see it. It was their surprise for her.

It was small, round, and perfectly frosted with light pink and white. There were also big slices of glazed strawberries on top. It was just the way Lily liked it.

When they brought everything to the table, Lily’s eyes lit up immediately.

"Oh! That’s my favorite one," she said, sitting upright. Her face brightened as she leaned closer toward the cake. "You remembered, brother!"

Gray grinned faintly. "Of course I did."

Selina placed a spoon next to her plate. "We figured you deserved something sweet after surviving your first hospital stay."

Lily made a small sound of laughter and nodded excitedly.

"This is way better than the hospital food, Sister Selina!"

"Really?"

"Yes!"

They all laughed at how excited Lily’s voice sounded. After a moment, they all sat down and began eating together. The meal was quiet, but warm.

Lily hummed happily between bites, her energy was slowly coming back as she swung her feet under the table. Selina also joined in. She talked to Lily and told her stories, while Gray mostly listened.

Halfway through the cake, Gray’s phone buzzed in his pocket.

He glanced at the screen and stood up quietly from the table.

"I’ll be right back," he said. "I just need to make a call."

Selina gave a nod before smiling at him.

"We’ll be here."

Gray made his way down the hall and into his room. He closed the door softly behind him. The sound of conversation and the clink of spoons faded into the background as he sat on the edge of his bed.

He pulled out his phone and dialed Marcus again.

The line only rang twice before it got picked up.

"Gray," Marcus’s voice came through, steady but low. "I was just about to update you with your question yesterday about how Will was doing."

Gray leaned back, running a hand down his face.

"Alright. Tell me everything."

Marcus didn’t hesitate to answer after that. His voice stayed calm, but there was a certain tone of seriousness in it now.

"Will’s officially been handed over to the police."

Gray stilled. His hand dropped slowly from his face.

"They took him in just after what happened in the," Marcus continued. "We submitted everything—including the surveillance footage, the HR investigation reports, and the witness statements. But what really nailed it was the attempted coercion."

Gray’s eyes narrowed.

"Right, the threat against Rome."

"Yeah. He tried to intimidate Rome into withdrawing his statement before the hearing. The officers didn’t take it lightly."

Gray exhaled at it slowly and tight. His jaw clenched faintly.

"How long?"

"He’s going to serve time," Marcus said. "Two to four years minimum, based on what the legal team said. Might be longer if the prosecutors dig deeper into other past behavior. There’s talk of additional workplace misconduct cases that might get reopened now that he’s no longer protected."

Gray didn’t respond right away. He just stared at the floor for a moment, the weight of it settling over his shoulders.

"Also," Marcus added after a pause, "since he’s been in holding, Will hasn’t received any visitors. No family. No friends. Not even his uncle."

Gray’s head lifted at that.

"No one?"

"Not a single one. It’s like he disappeared from their radar the second he got arrested."

Gray let out a slow breath, and for some reason, the silence that followed wasn’t satisfying. It just felt... heavy.

After everything that happened, after all the damage he caused, Will had no one left to even ask about him.

"He made a lot of enemies over the years," Marcus said, his voice quieter now. "

Gray was quiet for a long time.

"...Good," he finally said, the word sharp and soft all at once. "Let him think about what he did."

"Yes, Marcus didn’t push further. "If anything changes, I’ll let you know."

"Thanks," Gray said. "I appreciate it."

He ended the call and set his phone down on the desk beside him. He sat there for a while longer, the weight of the conversation lingering like a shadow over his thoughts.

Two to four years. Alone with no one visiting him. Not even his uncle.

That part didn’t sit right with him.

Gray leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His eyes drifted toward the door, the only reminder that life was still going on outside.

"At least, we’re safe now..." he sighed and shook his head.

However, he soon realized it.

If it wasn’t Will, then was it his uncle?