Chapter20
The nextmorning,theshrillsound ofthedoorbellwoleLily,Irritated,shekickedoffhernket,lookinglikeshewasreadytopick afight.WhenLilywentdownstairs,Loid<b>had</b>alreadyopenedthedoor.Shepaused,surprisedbythesight.
Itwasastunningwomanwithperfectmakeupandawlessfigure.Shecarriedherselfwithelegance.
ThewomanimmediatelynoticedLilystandingbehindLoidandquicklyapproached,grabbingLily’shand.
Abrightsmileappearedonherexquisiteface.“Oh,thismustbemydaughter–inw?You’reevenmorebeautifulinpersonthaninthephotos.”
“Hello,”Lily,caughtoffguard,greetedthewomanpolitely.Shereinedinherusual<b>roguish</b>demeanorreinedinAll text ? N?velD(r)a''ma.Org.
ThewomanwasLoid’smother,MnieJensenLilyhadseenherphotowhileresearchingLoid.
“Good”MnieseemedverypleasedwithLily.She<b>held</b>Lily’shandandguidedhertothecouch,hersmileunwavering.“WecouldnLattendyourengagementbecauseLoid’sfatherandIwerebusy.Ihopeyoudon’tmind.”
“Notatall.”Lilyrepliedcalmly.
“We’llbestayinginLagersfieldforawhile.I’llfindtimetoinvite youandyourfamilyforameal,”Mniesaid,increasinglysatisfiedwithLily.
Loidsatnearbypletelyignoredbyhismother.
“It’sfine,”Lilyresponded,annoyedatthethoughtofmeetingtheMartinezfamily.
“Iinsist.”MniepattedLily’s<b>hand</b>.
“Loidtoldmethathewassupposedtomarryyourstepfather’sdaughter,butshe’sunderage,sotheychoseyou.Iunderstanditmustbehardforyou.Beingthestepdaughterofawealthyfamilyisn’teasy.
“Nowthatyou’remarriedtoLoid,we’lltreatyouwell,andtheMartinezfamilywillnaturallytreatyouwelltoo.”
Mniehadasimplethought.Lilywastheirdaughter–inw,andnoonewasallowedtomistreather.MeluciewantedtoensureLilyhadstrongsupportsothattheMartinezfamilywouldn’tdaremesswithher.
Mniesmiledandcontinued,“Invitingthemtodinneristoshowthemthatwe’reverypleasedwithyouasourdaughter–inw.Youshouldn’tfeelstressedout.Justcontinueasyouwerebefore.<b>”</b>
Onthedayoftheirengagement,MnieandLold’sfathercouldn’tattend,buttheyaskedLoidfordetailsandphotos ofLilyMniewasn’toverlyconcernedaboutLily’sfamilybackground.Besides,shedidhavesomeselfishreasonsforthearrangedmarriage.
Lald’sconditionwasgettingworse.Heonlyhadtwomonthslefttolive,sogettinghimmarriedwasmeanttobringhimjoyandtoensurehewasn’talone.
Mniewasn’tangrywhenshelearnedthattheMartinezfamilyrefusedtomarryShannonandinsteadsentthestepdaughter.Instead,shewasdeterminedtotreatthisgirlwell.Onceawomanwasengaged,theirreputationwouldtakeahit.So,Mniewasgratefulthat LilyagreedtomarryLoid.
SeeingLilyinpersonmadeMnieevenmoresatisfiedEvenifLoid passedaway,shevowedtoprotectLily.
Shannon,whohadjusedownstairs,overheardthis,andherfacetwistedinrage.WhatwassospeciboutLily?WhydidMnielikehersomuchontheirfirstmeeting?TherehadtobesomethingwrongwiththeLaurier<b>family</b>tobethiscrudecountrygirl
Shannonclenchedherfists,hersharpnailsdiggingintoherarms.Theynearlybroketheskin.Afteramoment,shetookadeepbreathandslowlyapproachedMnie.
“Hello,Mrs.Laurier.”shannonhaddresseduptoday.Lastnight,afterdecidingtostay,shecalledSusantobringoversomeofherfavoriteclothes.
Shewaswearingayellowdress,andherhairwasstyledintwopigtails.Shealsohadlightmakeuponherface.Shepresentedherselfasana?veand innocentgirlMnielookedupatShannonwithapuzzledexpression.
“AreyouShannon?