Chapter 171
“What is wrong with you?” Mia snapped at Lily the moment their mom carried a curious and confused Aiden outside to play.
She had, of course, covered up what Lily had said a few minutes ago by distracting Aiden with playful tickles and jokes. He was still young, too young to understand what Lily had blurted out–but that didn’t change the fact that Lily had no damn filter.
Lily stared at her, a bit taken aback. Then she nodded slowly, like she was trying to convince herself that she wasn’t in the wrong. “That came out wrong,” she said. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not the truth.”
Mia looked at her like she was losing her mind.
“It’s not about if it’s true or not. You’re not supposed to say that in front of him. That’s the point,” Mia said, her voice sharp but shaking a little.
Lily sighed and nodded again. “True. I’m sorry about that.”
Mia looked away, hoping that would be the end of it. She expected Lily to back off. Just let it go. But of course, Lily always had something else to say–she couldn’t help herself.
“I don’t know if I’m the only sane one in this family who knows moving to a big city in Singapore with him is a risk. Especially since you don’t want his
father to know about him.”
Not this again…
She rubbed her temples and let out a deep breath.
“Singapore is not Willowcrest,” Mia said quietly. “It’s not like I’m going there to appear on TV or something. How on earth would his father–living far away in Willowcrest, married and probably with kids now–how would he know about Aiden? And even if he did, he might not even care.”
She tried to sound confident, but there was a tiny crack in her voice near the end. One Lily didn’t miss.
Lily stared at her. “What do you usually tell him when he asks about his father?”
Mia’s eyes dropped immediately.
“He asked me all the time too, you know,” Lily added.
Mia turned toward her “What did you tell him?”
“What you told all of us to say. The same bull crap story. You know that won’t hold for long. As he gets older, he’ll start poking holes in it. Kids are not stupid, Mia. And you’ll just keep piling lies on top of lies until you can’t anymore.”
She sounded exhausted. Like she wasn’t just talking about Mia. Like she was speaking from some personal pit of disappointment.
Mia sank into the chair behind her and let out a tired breath. “So what exactly am I supposed to tell him, huh?”
Lily didn’t even hesitate. “Since you don’t want them to ever meet, maybe just tell him his father is dead.”
Mia’s head whipped toward her so fast, she felt a sharp pain in her neck. “No. What the hell, no.”
“Why not?”
“I can’t say that about him. I can’t wish him that-”
“It’s not about wishing anything,” Lily cut in, staring at her with narrowed eyes. “Again, why do you even care if he’s alive or dead…” she paused, tilting her head, looking Mia up and down like she just saw something new.
“You’re still in love with him. You still care.”
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Chapter 171
Those words hit Mia like a slap. Her whole chest felt like it got hollow in a second.
She scoffed and shook her head like she could shake the words out of the air. “Stop saying nonsense.”
“Oh really? Lie all you want, but you can’t fool me. You’re really pathetic though”
Mia clenched her jaw. “Fool you? For what? What does it even matter to you what I feel about him?”
Lily gave a short, bitter laugh and looked away, like she was remembering something that stung.
“I don’t know. I’m just mad at everything about you,” she said, shrugging like it wasn’t that deep, but her voice cracked just enough. “You got the opportunity we all wanted back then, and then you wasted it.”
Mia frowned, confused. “What are you talking about?”
Lily looked at her like she wanted to swallow the words, but she couldn’t hold it anymore.
“I wanted Blackwell,” she said. “Hell, I wanted the richest heir in Willowcrest. I had this embarrassing crush on him. I tried to get his attention in clubs, wore the tightest dresses, showed up at places he hung out. I was never even allowed near him.”
She laughed bitterly.
“I hated his girlfriend. One time, I snuck into a hotel room he was staying in and laid on his bed–naked. He just stared at me like I was a piece of trash. Not even desire. Just disgust.”
Mia’s heart sank. She didn’t know this. She had no idea.
“And then out of nowhere, boom, you were with him,” Lily said, looking at her like it still hurt. “You, of all people. You were attending the freaking unicorn party i spent years trying to get into. Just like that. Without even trying.”
Mia opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
“That’s how it’s always been,” Lily continued. “You get things easily. While i… Ì have to do everything I can and still won’t get it.”
Mia sat there, frozen. Her mouth was dry. Her chest was tight. She was trying to find the right thing to say, but nothing came.
“Is that what you’ve always felt?” she asked softly. “Is that why you’ve always hated me?”
Lily let out a laugh that sounded more like a sigh. “It’s not hate…. 1 don’t even know why I’m saying this. But yes. That’s part of it.”
“Part of it?” Mia repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes.”
“Then tell me”
“Mia-”
“Say
