Chapter27


    Lilyspokeslowly,hervoguidyetchilling.


    Susan’sheartpoundedrapidlyasLily’sgazemethers.ItwasstrangethatasinglelookfromLilysentshiversdownherspine.Whatwasitaboutherthatmadeherfeelsouneasy<b>?</b>


    Susanavertedhergaze,annoyedatherownfearofLily.IfShaunweren’there,shewould’vegivenLilyapieceofhermind.


    ButwithbothShaunandDanielbeingLold’sfriendsandLilybeingLoid’sfiancée,shecouldn’taffordtooffendher.


    “You’vemisunderstood,”Susansaid,tryingtomaintainheposure.“Ijustcametovisityourgrandmother.Shedidn’twanttogrovelbeforeLily,butshehadnochoice.Afterall,Loidwassomeoneshecouldn’tmesswith.


    Lilyletoutamockinugh,hereyesgleamingwithicydisdain.“Youdon’tdeservetovisitmygrandmother!”


    Susan’sfaceturnedashenwithanger,butsheheldback.“Lily,nomatterwhat,I’mstillyourmother.Howcanyouspeaktomelikethat?Exclusive ? content by N(?)ve/l/Drama.Org.


    Shaunsniggered,ahintofreguishnesscreepingintohisdemeanor,perhapsinspiredbyLily.“So,you’reamothernow?Ithought youweren’tevenhuman.”


    Hearingthat,Susanwasflustered“Shaun,You’vemisunderstood.”Hervoicetrailedoff.Shewasunsureofhowtodefendherself.Shehadno<b>idea</b>howmuchshamhadoverheard.Fornow,allshecoulddowaslowerherselfandplead.


    <b>Shaun</b>scoffed.“Thekeyisn’twhetherImisunderstoodbutwhetherLoiddid.Youshouldbemoreconcernedaboutthat.”


    Turning toLoid,headded,“Isn’tthatright?”


    Susan’seyeswidenedindisbeliefasshestaredatthemanstandingbesideLily.“You’re…Loid?”


    Shannonhadn’tyettoldSusanthatLald’sesshadbeencured<b>.</b>Susan’seyeswidenedindisbeliefasshestaredatLoid.Howcouldthisbe?Wasn’tshetoldthathisfacewasdisfigured?Butwhydidhisfacelookwless?


    Therewasn’tasingleblemishinsight,asthisfeatureshadbeenmeticulouslysculptedbythehandofagreatartist.


    Whatonearthhadshe<b>done</b>?EvenifamanlikeLoidhadonlytwoyearslefttolive,marryinghimwouldnothavebeenalossforShannon.PerhapsafterLoid’spassing,Shannoncouldeveninheritrgeportionofhiswealth.


    Butinstead,she hadgivensuchagoodmantoLily,<b>and</b>sheallowedLilytobullyher.Susantrulyhatedherself.


    Loidraised<b>his</b>eyesandncedatSusanwithanindifferent expressionHisthinlipspartedslightlyashesaid,“TheMartinezes?Verywell.”


    ThesefewwordsmadeSusanshverinvoluntarily.


    Loid’sruthlessreputationwaswidelyknown.Hewasregardedascold–bloodedandcruel,andthosewhocrossedhimoftenmetgrimfates.IfLoidwereto interveneonLily’sbehalf,theMartinezfamilywouldbedoomed.


    Susancouldn’tcarelessaboutherdignityanymore.ShehurriedlygrabbedLily’shandandsaidwithemotion,“Lily,Iwasjustjokingwithyourgrandmother.You’remydaughter.HowcouldInotloveyou?Don’tworry,I’lltakegoodcareofyourgrandmother andensuresheprovesthebesttreatment.”


    LilyraisedhereyebrowsslightlyasshelookedatSusanwithoutanyemotion.


    SensingLily’ckofresponse,Susancontinued,“Asyouknow,I’vebeenmarriedtwicebefore.Itwasn’teasyformeto<b>marry</b>intotheMartinezfamily.Nowthatthey’recoveringyourgrandmother’smedicalexpenses,Ihavetobemindfuloftheirfeelings.That’swhyIwasabitharshwithmywords.


    “Pleasedon’ttakeitpersonally”


    Herwordswercedwithemotion,butevenafoolcoulddetecttheunderlyingthreat


    Lilypulledherhandbackwithoutchangingherexpression.HergazewasfixedonSusan’sanxiousface.Asuddensmirkyedonherlips.“Money?DoInothaveany?


    Shaunscoffed.“Ofcourse,shedoes.LillyisLoid’swife,Whywouldshebeshortoncash?IftheMartinezfamilycan’taffordit,thendon’tbother.Loidwillnaturallycover themedicalexpenses.”