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Chapter 5

Grandma Helen stood on the grand terrace of the old Kane estate, her sharp eyes taking in the serene view of the garden that had witnessed generations of family history. A faint sigh escaped her lips, betraying the mix of relief and disappointment swirling within her. Relieved that her grandson hadn’t been foolish enough to squander the Kane legacy on mere strangers, disappointed that he’d resorted to marrying under such dubious circumstances.

Her wrinkled hands gripped the arms of her chair as she called out sharply, "Camila!"

"Yes, Ma'am?" Camila, the loyal servant who had been with the Kane family for decades, appeared immediately at her side, ever attentive.

"My grandson has married a girl," Helen said, her voice laced with a bitter edge of resignation. "Even if she may not be the most fitting choice, I still feel it’s only right to meet her. To understand who she is… to see what kind of woman has joined our family."

Camila paused, considering the request. She knew Grandma Helen’s bluntness could be overwhelming, but there was no denying that Helen's intentions, however harsh, were always rooted in concern. After a brief moment, she nodded. “That is a good idea, Grandma.”

“Then fetch me my phone,” Helen commanded, her voice steady and decisive.

Camila handed over the phone without a word, and Helen dialed Alexander’s number with practiced ease. It rang several times, and then the call was answered—but there was only silence at the other end.

"Hello, Grandma," Alexander’s voice finally broke through, cold and distant, as if he had been expecting her call but dreading it nonetheless.

"Why the silence?" Helen’s sharp tone cut through the air. "If you’re not going to speak, then don’t bother picking up the phone, you rascal."

After a moment’s pause, Alexander's voice was sharper, though tinged with a hint of weariness. “What is it, Grandma?”

Helen wasted no time. “How could you rush into marriage like this, without even considering the candidates I gave you last year? You know what I mean, Alexander. There were better choices.”

Camila, standing in the background, couldn’t help but shake her head in silent sympathy. She understood Helen’s love for her grandson, but her bluntness often did more harm than good.

"Alexander," Helen continued, her voice softening with a mix of sweetness and steel, "I’m relieved you’ve finally settled down, but you could’ve done better. Even though I’m disappointed, I understand why you did it. I miss you, my boy."

For a moment, there was a heavy silence at the other end. Then, Alexander’s voice, quieter now, spoke, "I miss you too, Grandma. I know we haven’t seen each other yet, but I did what I had to do."

Helen felt the pang of regret stab at her heart. She wasn’t giving up yet. “That’s why I want to meet your wife, Lily. I want to understand the woman who’s joined our family, even if it’s just for dinner.”

Alexander’s frustration crackled through the phone. “Grandma, there’s no need. This marriage—it’ll end in a year and a half, okay?”

“What?” Helen’s voice rose in shock, her dismay evident. “So, you’re telling me you plan to divorce her after that?”

Alexander raked a hand through his hair, his irritation flaring. "I’m busy, Grandma. I have to go."

“But I—” Helen started, but the line went dead before she could finish.

"That stubborn boy," she muttered under her breath, eyes narrowing as a surge of determination took hold of her. She turned to Camila, her mind already made up.

Camila’s heart sank as she saw the fire in Helen’s gaze. "You’re thinking of going there yourself, aren’t you?"

Helen’s lips curved into a steely smile. "Since he won’t bring her here, I’ll go to them. I’m sure she’ll be there."

Camila hesitated for a moment but then nodded decisively. “A good idea. I’ll prepare the car.”

Helen stood with a decisive air and walked inside to ready herself for an unexpected but necessary journey.


Meanwhile, in Alexander’s mansion, Lily sat in the sitting room, half-heartedly watching a movie. Her eyes glazed over as a scene triggered a flood of memories, ones she desperately wished to forget but could never erase. The laughter and chaos of the movie faded, and she was left alone with her thoughts.

She remembered leaving her father’s home to start a new life in one of Aurora City's poorest neighborhoods. The slums had become her refuge, a place to hide her true identity, and a place to search for justice for the tragic deaths of her twin sisters.

Eight months ago, everything had changed. Lily had lost her sisters to the greed and cruelty of her stepmother and stepsister—women who were willing to kill for the fortune left in their family’s will. In the wake of their deaths, Lily had escaped with nothing but a heart full of grief and rage. Her name—the heir to the Emerson empire—was the reason her sisters were dead, and now she alone carried the weight of their family legacy.

She couldn’t stop the memories from rushing back. Her ex-boyfriend, a man she had loved despite her reservations, had betrayed her most horrifically. He and his companion had raped her, and in the aftermath, she had suffered a miscarriage from the trauma. Her heart broke all over again, the unbearable grief threatening to consume her.

Lily’s gaze hardened as she thought of her father. His infidelity had brought the malicious stepmother into their lives—his choices had led to the tragedy that had taken everything from her. She remembered her late mother’s warnings, how her grandfather had begged her mother not to marry him. She wished her mother had listened.

After her death, everything was left to Lily and her twin sisters. But now, she was the only one left to carry the burden. The knowledge that she was the last surviving heir, forced to face the peril of her family’s inheritance alone, haunted her.

As Lily sat there, her thoughts swirled in chaos. If Alexander ever found out about her past—about the rape, the pain, the death of her sisters—he would never look at her the same way again. He would see her as a gold-digger, a woman who had used her tragic past to manipulate him into marriage. And the idea of him calling her a "bitch," as he coldly rejected her, made her shudder with dread. The fear of being exposed, of having everything she had worked for unraveling, consumed her.

With a shiver, Lily curled up on the couch, hugging her knees to her chest. She could see it all so clearly in her mind’s eye—the day Alexander found out, the disgust in his voice, the hurt in his eyes. And the thought of him walking away from her forever…

Her breath caught in her throat, and she squeezed her eyes shut, willing the thoughts away. She didn’t want to lose him, but every step she took seemed to lead her closer to that inevitable end.

And somewhere in the depths of her mind, a chilling thought lingered: What if it’s already too late?

As the door to the sitting room creaked open, Lily froze, her heart hammering in her chest.

The truth—her truth—was about to catch up with her.

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