Chapter 53: Panic.

Ethan, still in search of Lily, began to feel restless, and for the first time in years, panic gripped him.

It was very clear on his face.

His heart raced, the pounding audible in the tense silence, reflecting his inner panic. A cold sweat broke out on his face as his eyes darted anxiously, scanning the surroundings. A clear panic attack, just because Lily left his arms.

The last time someone he loved slipped from his grasp, he found them being attacked. It wasn't a singular occurrence – it happened not only with his sister but also with Emma, his ex-girlfriend.

Sometimes he felt like he was the cause of everything. A walking curse, a force that brought harm to those close to him.

Stopping abruptly, he took out his phone to track Lily down, using the tracker he had discreetly placed in her new phone. He followed it and noticed it was leading him to where he and Lily first sat. His heart began to calm a bit as he approached the chair, thinking Lily might have found her way there.

But as