Chapter19All text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.
NottomentionLily’s<b>m</b>
‘smedicalskills,ifshewanted,shecouldearnmillionswithoutaproblem.
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Lily’sphonerangwithatextmessagenotification.Shepickedit<b>up</b>andncedatit.<b>While</b>replying,sheansweredLold’squestion,“<b>Monday</b>”
“EmberCreekHighSchoolisn’tassimpleasitlooks.Becareful.”LaidwassomewhatcurioustoseehowthisdefiantgirlwouldfareatEmberCreekHighSchool.Itseemedhewouldneedtoarrangesomeoprotectherinsecret.
“Gotit”Lilyleanedbackinherchair,finishingherbeerinonegulp..
ShannoncamedownstairsandsawtheharmoniousscenebetweenLoidandLily,herresentmentgrowingdeeper.ShethoughtthatLoidwasabrutalperson,sowhywashebeingsokindtoLily?
Afterhesitatingforamoment,ShannonhidthecoldnessinhereyesandwalkedovertoLoid.Shesaidsoftly,“Mr.Laurter,mysisterdoesn’tknowanyonehere.CanI staywithherforawhileuntilshegetsusedtoit?ThenI’llmovecut”
”
ShannoncameheretodayonJulia’sorders.JuliainstructedhertousethepretextofhelpingLilygetacquaintedwithLoidsothathecouldgettoknowher.Afterall,theyhadonlymetonce,attheengagementpartyforLoidandLily.Theybarelymanagedtoconnectwitheachother.
JuliathoughtthatLoidonlyagreedtomarryLilybasedonherlooks.SinceLoldinitiallywantedtomarryShannon,aslongasshebehavedsensiblyandwell,LoidmightpreferShannonmore.Afterall,shewasthereal daughteroftheMartinezfamily,farsuperiortothatcountrybumpkin
However,Juliadidn’tintendforShannontostayatLaurierResidence.ShewantedShannontoshowupandhaveabriefconversationwithLoidbeforeleavingsothatLoidmightdevelopasenseofattachment.
ButShannoncouldn’tresist.Shehadtostay.Shecouldn’tletanypotentialfeelingsbetweenLoidand<b>Lily</b>develop
ToldraisedaneyebrowandlookedatLily.“Areyounotusedtobere?”
“Notreally.”Lilysmiled<b>yfully</b>.Sheimmediately<b>saw</b>throughShannon’sintentionsbutcouldn’tbebotheredtocare.AslongasShannondidn’tinterferewithherns,shedidn’t<b>mind</b>whatshedid.
“So,shouldshestay?”LoidwassomewhatsurprisedbyLily’sreaction.ShehadseenthroughShannon’sintentionsbutstillwentalongwithher.Hefounditquiteinteresting“Sure.”Lilystoodup,notbotheringwiththedishesonthetable.Shewentstraightupstairs.
AsshepassedShannon,shestoppedandtiltedherheadtolookather.“Seemslikethere’snodriverhere.””
ItwasclearthatLilywasimplyingthatShannonwouldhavetofindherownwaytoschool.Thiswasthesuburbs.Itwasatleastanhourandahalf’sdrivetoEmberCreekHighSchool
TheMartinezfamilyonlyhadonedriver,whousuallytookLiamtoworkandShannontoschool.Now,theywouldneedtohireanotherdriver.
Shannon’sexpressionfell,butshegrittedherteeth<b>and</b>asked,“Isn’tDadpullingstringstogetyouintoEmberCreekHighSchool?Wecangotoschooltogether.”
“Me”LilysmiledandpointedatLoid.“He’stalkingme.”
Shannonwass
speechless
Loidsuddenlyguwed.Ashisfiancée,itwasonlynaturalforhimtotakeLilytoschool.HewasnotobligatedtotakeShannon.Shewouldn’tdareaskhimtotakehereither.LoidfollowedLilyupstairs,ncingatthedishesonthetable.
“Ms.Martinez,therearenomaidshere,soI’llleavethistoyou.”
Shannonwas soangrythattearswelledupinhereyes.Shewantedtosaysomething,butLoidhadalreadytakenLily’shandandgoneupstairs.
Shannon’sfingersclenchedintofistsasshewatchedtheirintimateinteraction.Herdelicatefeaturestwistedwithrage.
Chapter20