Chapter 751 Conflict, Entrapment
Susan felt a pang in her heart whenever she thought of Ophelia. She took another sip of her drink and, feeling so sad, ended up drinking too much.
Lily helped Susan back to her room to rest. Gavin cleaned up the dining table, while Dylan sat in the living room smoking.
"Dad, Your health is already a mess. You know smoking is just asking for trouble.Next thing you know, you'll be coughing up a lung, and Lily will give you an earful. Don't expect me to take your side." Gavin nagged.
"Since when are you the boss of me?" Dylan replied. "How about you go wash the dishes and mop the floor instead of playing doctor?"
The Cooper kids weren't spoiled. With Lily's heart condition, Gavin usually helped with the housework.
Laundry, cooking, mopping—Gavin did it all.
Gavin didn't complain and finished the chores. He glanced at the room and saw Lily still taking care of Susan. He whispered to Dylan, "Dad, the Abbott family is looking for us. We can't keep this a secret any longer."
"There are no secrets that time doesn't reveal. I think Susan is reasonable," Dylan said. "As long as we have a clear conscience, that's what matters. But I'm afraid Lily won't be able to move on."
Dylan didn't ask much about Lily's time with the Abbott family. She had gone there pretending to be someone else's wife, living another person's life. Any emotional entanglements were beyond control.
Gavin glanced at the room again. Lily was about to come out. Shortly after, she emerged, gently closing the door behind her. Seeing Dylan and Gavin in the living room, she said, "Dad, why aren't you asleep? What are you doing sitting here? Dad, your health isn't good. Why are you smoking again?"
"I just took a couple of puffs. I'll put it out now." Dylan extinguished the cigarette.
Gavin said, "Lily, Dad only listens to you. I told him not to smoke, but he didn't listen."
Dylan gave Gavin a playful slap and pretended to be stern. "Go to bed. I need to talk to Lily."
Gavin walked away with a smile.
Lily sat down and said, "Dad, what do you want to talk about?"
"How are things with you and Finnegan?" Dylan asked directly. "You've been living with the Abbott family for over six months. Finnegan hasn't noticed anything? Is he not as sharp as Susan?"
Lily wrung her hands and said, "Finnegan and I have been living separately. He hasn't noticed. Otherwise, he would have kicked me out by now. Maybe it's because this heart of mine is Ophelia's. Sometimes, even I can't tell if I'm Lily or Ophelia. Their daughter, Warmie, always clings to me. That mother-daughter bond might be why Finnegan hasn't suspected anything."
For the past six months, Lily had often dreamed of switching identities with Ophelia. Perhaps because of the heart, she would unconsciously mimic some of Ophelia's behaviors and actions.
Because of this, Lily had managed to stay with the Abbott family without being discovered.
Moreover, after losing Ophelia, Finnegan's personality had changed drastically. He was so afraid of losing Ophelia again that he focused solely on mending their relationship, never suspecting anything else.
Seeing Lily's tired expression, Dylan said with concern, "If you're unhappy, just come back."
"But what about Finnegan and Warmie?" Lily was torn. She looked at Dylan and said, "Dad, sometimes I wish he would find out, and sometimes I'm afraid he will. This is my debt to Ophelia. I promised her I would help Finnegan get back on his feet and start a new life."
Dylan sighed, "I'm worried you'll get too deep and won't be able to get out."
"Dad," Lily said, trying to look cheerful. "Don't sweat it, I'm good. I'll hang back here for a bit longer this time. You just chill out, okay?"
Dylan didn't say much more. "Keep an eye on Susan tonight. She's old, and with the alcohol and her sadness, I'm afraid something may happen."
"Okay, I'll watch over her." Lily only went back to the bedroom after Dylan had gone to rest.
Susan was sleeping soundly, and Lily lay down beside her, planning to sleep with her tonight.
Meanwhile, Finnegan had arrived in Oceanview City and checked into a hotel. He hadn't told Lily he was coming, nor had he informed Susan.
Finnegan chose a hotel by the sea. Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, he could see the ocean.
The ocean brought back memories for Finnegan. Whenever he saw the sea, he always thought of Ophelia.
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