chapter fifty-four

**POV Lily**

As soon as I entered the dungeon, the darkness and the damp smell of the place enveloped me. Julie was there, handcuffed to the wall, with wide and fearful eyes. Her body was covered in bruises and cuts, and I could feel the pain and fear she carried.

"Julie..." I murmured her name with a cold tone, showing no compassion. "How long has it been? We have a lot to talk about, perhaps you'd like to start by explaining why you killed my babies?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she swallowed hard before responding. "Lily, I... I didn't want to. I swear. I was forced; she deceived me."

"Forced by whom?" I asked, keeping my gaze fixed on her.

"Olivia," she confessed. "She deceived me and forced me to poison you. She said she'd kill me if I didn't follow her orders. I swear I considered you a friend; I didn't want to do this," Julie replied, crying.

Olivia was a monster. I couldn't believe my friend had betrayed our trust in this way. The pain of betrayal burned within me, but I