How can I forget Sophie? She was the lady who slowly destroyed everything I built in these past six years.
Sophie was Rose’s sister. When Rose ran away, she tried to grab the opportunity and marry Liam, the sole heir of the Wane family.
But, Liam’s mother, Mrs Wane, chose me over her. Ever since that day, she had been secretly manipulating Lily, making her believe I was the reason Rose left her and her Dad.
And, it seemed like she finally succeeded.
Lily was not like this before. She used to call me Mommy, and ran after me the whole day. Her whole world revolved around me and mine around her.
It was also the reason Liam and I never discussed the contract and silently accepted this family, just for Lily’s sake.
But now, everything has changed. Lily hates me. Liam, who always saw me as a bed warmer, thinks I’m getting irritated day by day.
There wasn't any string holding me back to the Wanes’ mansion.
I watched the wall clock. It was 8’ o clock. It was Lily’s dinner time.
Even though I was having a tough time and planning to leave, I could not tolerate seeing Lily sleep hungry. I shook my head to get rid of all thoughts as I rushed to the Kitchen, to cook for Lily.
As soon as I entered the kitchen, my gaze met Lily’s cold eyes. She was standing right before my eyes, holding a hot pan in her hands.
As soon as she saw me, she burst out angrily, “Have you done snitching about me to Dad? If you are done, then cook for me. My Dad doesn't pay you for nothing.”
Her last sentence echoed in my head for a long while. However, I didn't want to waste my time arguing with her. I knew she was hungry and that she didn't eat anything else other than what I cooked for her.
So, I hurriedly made something for her and served her dinner. She sat on the dining table as she dug in. Not long after she threw up, saying, “Day by day, You are getting worse at cooking.”
“Mommy, you are the best!”
“The food you cook is all amazing, Mommy.”
“No one understands me the way you do, Mommy.”
“Will you please cook for me the rest of my life?”
“Mommy, will you teach me how to cook when I grow up?”
Suddenly these words echoed in my head that she had been telling me all these years. Now, suddenly she doesn't like the food I cook.
I held my tears back as I replied in a low voice, “Don't worry, you don't have to eat these dishes any longer. Your new Mommy will cook you tasty dishes.”
Lily remained silent for a long while before she smiled, her smile so innocent and cheerful as she said, “That's great! I don't have to tolerate your face any longer.”
“After you are kicked out from this house, maybe my Mom will come back.” She added.
A lump was formed in my throat seeing how happy she sounded by the news of my departure. Just when I felt hopeless, Lily added,
“Since it's your last day at our home, I want to do something for you.”
I was surprised at her enthusiasm as she rushed to the kitchen and came back with a bowl of ice-cream.
She put the bowl on the dining table and said, “It's your favourite ice cream, isn't it?”
“Yeah…” I muttered while staring at the bowl of ice-cream. I couldn't help feeling amazed that my daughter still remembered what I liked even though she hated me.
“Take it.” She said, “It's for you.”
I was taken aback, and was only staring at her in a daze. Whereas she looked at me with a pair of cold eyes, saying, “If you don't want to eat it, it's okay. I’ll give it to Aunty Sophie. She will love it.”
With that, she raised her hands to grab the bowl. But, I held it first, saying excitedly, “I’ll eat it. Since you have made it for me, it's going to be my all time favorite ice-cream.”
She didn't smile or show any emotions on her face. Instead she watched me taking the bowl and taking bite after bite, a cold mirthless smirk on her face that I wasn't going to forget any time soon.
I felt the taste of the ice-cream bitter, not knowing if it was about the taste or the cold expression Lily was putting on.
But still, I finished the whole bowl of ice-cream thinking it was the first thing my daughter did for me. After I finished the whole bowl of ice-cream, Lily looked at me with a pair of curious eyes and asked,
“Did you like it?”
“I loved it, Lily.” I said. She only grinned in her response before replying,
“That's great! After all, it's going to be the last thing you eat.”
I frowned, wondering what she meant. Meanwhile she added,
“I mixed the rat poison in it. You are going to die in a few minutes, Emily, and I’m going to celebrate this day every year as my freedom.”
Lily's words left me speechless, and before I could react to it I spit a mouthful of blood, making me feel miserable.
