Chapter 48
1066words
"You are a lying, manipulative and greedy asshole!" Charlotte screamed and grabbed Lilly's hair, forcing her to look up at her.
Lily's left cheek was now a very bright shade of red and her lower lip had a cut , but the sight of it did nothing to placate Charlotte, and she was about to smack her again, when Mr Morgan's voice stopped her right in her tracks.
"That's enough, Char. Asher is still upstairs and some of the maids are lurking around." She stared long and hard at Lily before she pushed her away and stood to her feet, disdain clouding her gaze.
Lily's lower lip trembled as she fought to keep the tears that had formed in her eyes from falling. They might have humiliated her, but they won't see her cry for them. Never.
"Lily..." Mr Morgan's voice rang in her ears, and she forced herself to meet his gaze. Just like she expected, it was cold and unfeeling, unlike the warmth and love he looked at Charlotte with, even when she committed the most atrocious acts. She could physically taste the question she wanted to ask him at the tip of her tongue, but she knew better so she swallowed her words, and just tried to match his gaze, but she knew it was impossible. He was her father, she loved him, and all she has ever wanted was for him to love her back. It was impossible for her to mimick hate for him.
"Why did you lie and embarrass your sister and I?" His question brought Lily back to the present, and her eyes darted briefly towards Charlotte, who was shooting daggers at her, before they averted to her father. "I do not appreciate your silence as a response to my question. Speak."
" I forgot." Pain shot through her as she spoke. Her lips were more injured than she thought.
Mr Morgan breathed out an unsure laugh. "Did you say you forgot?"
Lily rubbed her lips together nodding, and instantly she was met with a kick to the stomach and a painful hiss left her mouth as she clutched her stomach, coughing hysterically.
"Letting you off the hook all these years seemed to have dulled your memory of what your place is." He squatted to her level, and grabbed a fistful of her hair, and forced her head up, and the tears she desperately tried to keep in, trickled down her face. "Do you know how embarrassed your sister and I were when we walked in here, and we were practically shown to the door? You did not leave like you were instructed to, and you did not teach your Helps manners."
"I..." Lily's words were cut off by a slap.
"You will not speak till I allow you to."
Her shoulders shook and she cradled her face with both hands.
"You are in luck that we are not home." He let go of her hair abruptly, causing her head to fall back forcefully as he stood up, "you are going to come home tomorrow, Lily. Do not make me come here to get you myself." He turned to Charlotte and his face softened. He beckoned on her with his hands and she immediately rushed to his side. " Do something about your face and do not have Allard suspect a thing. Have a miserable day." Sparing her a last glance, they both walked away.
As the door shut behind them, the sob Lily had been holding in finally rippled out of her throat, and the dam caged in her eyes finally let loose completely.
"My goodness!" Marie's voice echoed around the room when she walked downstairs and saw Lily sprawled out on the floor, sobbing. "What happened?" She gently lifted Lily from the floor and her eyes widened in horror when she saw Lily's face.
"Please take me to my room."
She swallowed down every question that was dancing at the tip of her tongue, and gently led Lily to her room. Once she set her down on the bed, she rushed to the kitchen and got the first aid kit, and immediately got to work.
Throughout the process of cleaning her wound, none of them said a word to each other except when Lily would hiss in pain and she would tend in an apology. When she was done, Marie packed up everything and made to leave the room when she suddenly paused and faced Lily.
"When you walked into this house 5 years ago, I instantly adopted you as my daughter without you knowing. I swore to look out for you to the best of my ability because I know that Ash- Mr Allard is a difficult one, but it turned out that you didn't need my help, you managed well on your own. Today, however, it looks like you need my help, but it seems you don't want it, and I'm not going to force my help down your throat, but here's something you should know, Lily..." She paused and took a breather, checking if Lily was actually listening before she continued. "People who love you won't treat you like this. Family don't treat you like this, Lily, you have to tell Asher." Lily's eyes slowly widened at her words, and Marie nodded.
"I was here when they came, Lily."
"Please don't..."
"I won't tell him," she clarified and Lily took a deep breath. "But he'll find out if this continues."
"I know..." She whispered, her voice barely audible as she gripped the corners of the bed. "I can't do anything, Marie... They are my..."
"Family?"
She tucked her bottom lip in and nodded. "Yes."
"But do they see you as one?" Lily's eyes widened , and Marie closed hers as she expelled a breath, "I'm sorry, I crossed a line there. I shouldn't have said that." She shot her an apologetic smile, and turned to get the door. "He's been asking for you since you left. You should go see him soon."
Lily gave her a tight-lipped smile and nodded, but she had no plans of going to see him yet.
