I tilted my head, watching Lily with amusement. She was furious, hands clenched into fists, eyes blazing with confidence—as if she had already won.
“Are you really going to play dumb?” she sneered.
I let out a small, confused laugh. “What do you mean?”
Lily glanced around, lowering her voice. “I’m only telling you this so you’ll finally leave. But don’t you dare tell Harold.”
I raised an eyebrow, pretending to be curious. “Go on.”
She leaned closer. “He’s just using you, Charlotte. Hurting you. This isn’t about love—it’s about revenge.”
My expression didn’t change.
Lily smirked, thinking she had my attention. “Your brother stole what was supposed to be his company. Harold is getting back at him—through you.”
I blinked, feigning shock. “That’s… a lot to take in.”
“Oh, I’m not done,” Lily whispered.
She smiled, slow and cruel. “That little girl? Sam?”
I waited.
“She’s our daughter.”
I knew that. But I let my lips part in pretend surprise.
“So,” Lily continued, watching my reaction carefully, “I think that’s enough reason for you to step aside. The wedding? It’s mine.”
I let silence hang between us for a moment. Then, I laughed.
Lily’s smirk dropped. “What’s so funny?”
I met her eyes, smiling. “What if I don’t leave?”
Her nostrils flared. “Did you not hear what I just said?”
“Oh, I heard you,” I said, voice calm. “But tell me—why would I make things easy for you?”
Lily’s expression twisted in frustration.
I leaned closer, voice dropping. “You want Harold? Fine. Have him. But don’t think for a second that I’ll let the both of you win. I’ll pretend none of this ever happened.”
I turned to leave. But before I could wheel myself away—Lily grabbed me. She yanked my arm, forcing me down as pain shot through my legs.
I gritted my teeth, but I didn’t fight back. She smirked, realizing I wasn’t resisting.
And then—she hit herself. Hard.
I inhaled sharply. Oh, damn her. She would really go this low?
“Help!” Lily suddenly screamed.
The doors burst open. Harold rushed in, Sam clinging to his hand.
Sam gasped. “Mommy!”
Lily sobbed, clutching her cheek. “She—she attacked me.”
Harold’s face darkened. His gaze snapped to me.
Sam’s tiny voice trembled. “She hurt Mommy?”
“She did,” Lily whimpered, looking at Harold with tearful eyes. “I’m sorry. Maybe she was mad because I was going to be a stand-in and she thought I was going to steal you. But that wasn’t it. I was just being nice. For your wedding, and also for the sake of company."
Lame. They both have lame and pathetic excuses. I was blinded by those before but I knew better.
Harold turned to me, anger brewing. “Charlotte, what the hell? Is that it? Why would you hurt her? You can just talk to me.”
I swallowed, voice steady. “She started it. It wasn’t my fault. She told me to leave you!”
“What? No!” Lily protested. “That is not true! I told her to even take care of you like I hadn’t done before!”
Harold scoffed. “Why would Lily say that? You heard her. She was happy for us… you are being dramatic.”
“She—”
He cut me off. “You’re disabled and still picking fights?”
Sam glared at me, pure hatred in her little face. “You’re bad. I don’t want you near my daddy!”
I stayed silent. Harold shook his head and helped Lily up. Not me. He carried her in his arms, murmuring soft reassurances.
Then, he left. I sat there, on the ground, alone. A moment later, a staff member rushed in to help me.
I let them. But inside? That was the last straw. I was truly done… with them. I only want revenge now.
Later that night, Harold walked into my hospital room, sighing. “I’m sorry.”
I didn’t respond. He sat on the edge of my bed, running a hand through his hair. “I had to help Lily first. You understand, don’t you?”
I nodded. Pretended.
“She’s going to be the stand-in at our wedding tomorrow,” he continued. “I need her to be okay for it.”
I barely reacted. “Right.”
Harold exhaled in relief. “You’re always so understanding.”
I smiled weakly. He reached for my hand. “Just wait for me, okay?”
I tilted my head.
“It might be Lily standing there tomorrow,” he explained, “but it’s our wedding. Our certificate. Once you get better, we’ll have another wedding just for us.”
I nodded. “I understand.”
His shoulders relaxed.
“Good,” he murmured, brushing his lips against my forehead. “I knew you would.”
The day of the wedding, Harold left with Lily, heading to the venue while I was picked up by the limousine that my brother had prepared. I was finally coming home.
At the wedding venue, Harold stood beside Lily, radiating victory. This was his moment. His perfect wedding. Then—a staff member rushed toward him, pale-faced.
“Sir,” they said breathlessly. “There’s a bad news.”
Harold frowned. “What news?”
The staff hesitated. “Miss Charlotte… boarded a plane this morning and it crashed to the sea.”
