Chapter 10

Lily's POV

The drive back from the hospital was quiet, my freshly bandaged wrist throbbing with a dull ache that reminded me of tonight's dramatic events.

William's hands gripped the steering wheel with precision, but I noticed he glanced at my injured arm more than once.

"Still feeling guilty about mommy's little scheme?" I thought, leaning back into the leather seat.

The city lights blurred past the windows as we drove toward Sterling Manor, and I couldn't help wondering what kind of aftermath we'd encounter when we returned.

Elizabeth wasn't the type to accept defeat gracefully.

When we pulled into the circular driveway, I noticed that most of the lights in the main house were still on.

"Interesting. Looks like someone's having a late-night conversation."

When William and I entered through the front door, I heard voices coming from the living room.

Walter and Elizabeth were in heated argument, their voices carrying clearly through the spacious foyer.

"Lily has been in this house for barely three days, and you're already targeting her at every turn!" Walter's voice was sharp with anger, more furious than I'd ever heard him.

Elizabeth's laugh was cold and bitter.

"And whose fault is that, Walter? Tell me, why did you really bring Lily into this family?"

William and I exchanged a quick glance, and he looked as surprised as I felt.

This conversation was clearly not meant for our ears, but we were already in the foyer, and retreating now would be obvious.

Walter's response was measured but firm.

"I've told you before, Elizabeth. James and I reached an agreement about our children years ago."

"An agreement?" Elizabeth's voice rose, dripping with sarcasm. "Everything is just an excuse, isn't it? Isn't it really because you were once in love with Lily's mother, Jane Spencer?"

The silence that followed was deafening.

Even from where I stood, I could feel the tension radiating from the living room.

William had gone completely still beside me, his expression unreadable.

"Well, this is unexpected," I thought, my pulse quickening. "What secrets are about to come to light?"

Walter's voice, when it finally came, sounded strained.

"Elizabeth, that was a long time ago..."

"I knew it!" Elizabeth's frustration was evident.

"You've been carrying a torch for that woman all these years, haven't you? That's why you brought her daughter here, why you treat Lily like your own child!"

I felt my breath catch.

My mother, Jane Spencer—the woman I barely remembered—had been the center of some love triangle between Walter and my father?

Things were starting to come together in ways I hadn't anticipated.

Walter's heavy sigh echoed through the house.

"It's not what you think, Elizabeth. Yes, when we were young, James and I both cared for Jane. We were roommates at Harvard, both brilliant, both ambitious. Making money after graduation was as easy as breathing for us."

His voice grew softer, tinged with old memories.

"Then we met Jane. She was beautiful, intelligent, full of life. We both fell for her."

I could hear Elizabeth's sharp intake of breath.

"The Spencer family had already arranged an engagement between Jane and me," Walter continued. "Our families thought it was a perfect match. But Jane... she chose James. They eloped together."

The revelation hit me like a physical blow.

My parents had been runaways, escaping an arranged marriage just like the one I was now part of.

"The irony is almost poetic," I thought, my mind reeling.

"All these years," Elizabeth's voice was full of malice, "you've been pining for a dead woman, and now you've brought her daughter here to torture me!"

"No!" Walter's voice exploded with emotion. "You don't understand, Elizabeth. Jane's death was years ago. You're the only woman I love now."

There was a pause, and when Walter spoke again, his voice carried old pain.

"But I owe James everything. Do you know what happened at that charity gala fifteen years ago? When the terrorists attacked?"

Elizabeth's silence indicated she didn't know.

"James took a bullet meant for me," Walter's voice trembled slightly. "He threw himself in front of me without hesitation. The bullet shattered his left leg—he walked with a limp for the rest of his life because he saved mine."

I pressed my hand to my mouth, stifling a gasp.

Dad had never told me the complete story of his injury.

I'd always known he'd been hurt in some kind of accident, but this...

"That's why he stayed in Blue Mountain all those years," Walter continued.

"He could have had any life he wanted, but he chose to raise Lily quietly, away from all this. Before he died, he made me promise to take care of her. How could I refuse the man who saved my life?"

The living room fell quiet except for what sounded like Elizabeth's soft sobbing.

"Dad," I thought, tears welling in my eyes. "You never told me you were a hero."

As Walter continued speaking, his voice grew distant, lost in memory.

"Elizabeth, there's something else you should know. About Jane..."

But he stopped himself, as if some words were too dangerous to speak.

"What about my mother?" I wondered, straining to hear more.

But Walter seemed to have decided against sharing whatever revelation he'd been about to make.

William gently touched my arm, gesturing toward the stairs.

We needed to make our presence known before this conversation delved deeper into family secrets.

"We're back," William called out, his voice carrying into the living room.

The conversation stopped abruptly, followed by sounds of hurried movement and whispered exchanges.

When William and I entered the living room, I found Walter and Elizabeth sitting at opposite ends of the sofa, both looking emotionally drained.

Elizabeth's perfect makeup was slightly smudged, and Walter's usually impeccable appearance looked disheveled.

To my complete shock, Elizabeth stood up and walked directly toward me.

"Lily," she said, her voice formal but not hostile. "I owe you an apology for tonight's... incident. My behavior was unacceptable."

I stared at her, too surprised to respond immediately.

This was the same woman who had orchestrated an elaborate frame-up just hours ago, and now she was apologizing?

"Alright," I said simply, deciding not to make a big deal of it. "I choose to forgive you."

Walter smiled with obvious relief, probably grateful that his wife was finally showing some civility.

"It's been a long day for everyone," I added. "I think I'll head upstairs and rest."

After a hot shower, I had just put on my pajamas when someone knocked on my door.

I opened it to find Elizabeth standing in the hallway, looking much more composed than she had downstairs.

"Mrs. Sterling," I said, genuinely curious. "Is there something you need?"

"I'd like to talk to you," she said. "May I come in?"

I stepped aside, gesturing for her to enter.

She examined the space as if looking for clues to my character, then turned to face me directly.

"Lily," she began, her voice taking on a business-like quality, "I'm prepared to accept your presence in this family. I'll even support your marriage to one of my sons."

I raised an eyebrow, sensing the inevitable "but" coming.

"However," Elizabeth continued, meeting my eyes with steely determination, "there's one condition. You cannot choose William."

"There it is," I thought, not entirely surprised.

"May I ask why?"

Elizabeth's expression hardened.

"William is my most outstanding son. I've already found him the perfect partner, someone who truly understands our world and can properly support his ambitions."

The implication was crystal clear: I wasn't good enough for her precious firstborn.

"And that perfect partner would be Fiona, I assume," I thought, remembering the elegant woman who was so eager to claim her place in the Sterling family hierarchy.

"I see," I said simply.

Elizabeth seemed surprised by my lack of argument.

"So you understand? William needs someone who can match his sophistication, someone who was born into this life. The other four boys... well, they're more suitable for someone with your... background."

"How diplomatically she phrases 'you're not worthy of my best son,'" I mused.

"I understand completely," I replied, offering her a smile that revealed nothing.

Elizabeth looked relieved, probably expecting more resistance.

"Good. I'm glad we can reach an understanding."

After she left, I sat on my bed, processing tonight's revelations.

The complicated history between Walter, my father, and my mother.

The real reason Walter protected me so fiercely.

And now Elizabeth's ultimatum about William.

"Interesting how everyone thinks they know what's best for me," I thought, looking out at the city lights twinkling beyond my window.

"Too bad they have no idea who they're really dealing with."

The next morning arrived with the promise of new complications.

Today was my scheduled day with Thomas, the brother who supposedly couldn't stand William and made it his mission to oppose everything his older brother did.

"This should be interesting," I thought, choosing a casual but stylish outfit for whatever Thomas had planned.

I went downstairs to find Thomas waiting by his silver Mercedes, wearing an expensive but more relaxed suit than William's usual formal attire.

He had an easy smile and confident bearing that made him immediately more approachable than his older brother.

"Ready for an adventure?" Thomas asked as I approached, but I noticed he didn't use any familial terms of address.

No "future sister-in-law" or even my name—just a deliberately casual greeting that suggested he was maintaining emotional distance.

"Interesting. He's already positioning himself as the anti-William," I observed.

I slid into the passenger seat of his car.

As soon as we were on the road, Thomas glanced at me with a grin that seemed designed to be charming.

"So," he said, his tone deliberately casual, "how did your day with my dear brother go yesterday?"

The question was loaded with subtext, and I could hear the slight edge beneath his friendly demeanor.

"It was fine," I replied, deliberately keeping my answer vague.

Thomas laughed, but there was something calculating in his eyes.

"Fine? That's it? Come on, Lily, you can be honest with me. I know what William's like—cold, controlling, completely lacking in warmth or charm."

He shot me a sideways look.

"I'm telling you, that guy is bad news. Ruthless in business, emotionally unavailable in life. You'd be crazy to choose him."

I felt a smile tugging at the corner of my mouth.

"Here comes the sales pitch," I thought, amused by Thomas's transparency.

"Is that so?" I said, letting a note of interest creep into my voice. "Then should I choose you?"