Chapter 122
When Lily got home, she was surprised to see James leaving the house. If James, Alexander’s assistant, was here, that could only mean one thing—Alexander had returned.
"Good evening, ma’am," James greeted her politely.
"Is he back?"
"Yes, ma’am."
"And he wasn’t pleased to not find you at home."
Lily’s heart raced. How would she explain that she had gone to the hospital for a checkup? She had no idea what Clara might have told him, but she knew he would ask her questions.
"Good night, ma’am."
"Good night, James."
James quickly left, not wanting to be called back by his boss. He had been working non-stop for two weeks, and finally, Alexander had given him the day off tomorrow.
Lily walked into the house, only to see Clara coming down the stairs.
"Oh, ma’am, you’re finally home," Clara sighed with relief.
"Yes, did he ask you anything?"
"Yes, ma’am."
"And what did you say?"
"I told him you went to the hospital to visit Sophia."
Lily nodded. "That’s good."
"What did the doctor say, ma’am?" Clara asked with genuine concern for her health.
"It’s just stress and not eating properly."
"That’s it?" Clara seemed to be expecting different news.
Lily noticed Clara was hoping she’d be pregnant. Lily nodded, sensing Clara’s anticipation.
"Let me know if you need anything, ma’am," Clara offered.
"You can call it a night, Clara."
"Alright, ma’am. Good night."
Lily made her way upstairs to their room. Not finding Alexander there, she figured he was in his study. She freshened up in the bathroom, changed into her nightwear, and then headed to the study.
She knocked on the door and waited.
"Since when do you knock?" came Alexander’s voice.
Lily pushed open the door and stepped in.
Alexander’s eyes scanned her from top to bottom. She was wearing a short nightgown that revealed her legs.
Lily walked over and sat on his lap, planting a kiss on his lips before resting her head on his chest. "I missed you."
Whatever anger Alexander had vanished instantly. He wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek. "Where did you go?"
"To the hospital."
"You’re not feeling well?" he asked, concerned.
He looked at her closely and noticed how pale she appeared. He placed his hand on her forehead—it felt warm. "You’ve got a fever."
Lily nodded.
"Why didn’t you tell me?"
"I didn’t want to worry you while you were busy with work," she explained softly.
Her words made him frown. "Since when do you hide things from me? Even if I’m away, you can always call. Unless there’s more you’re not telling me," he said suspiciously.
Lily looked away, avoiding his gaze.
Her reaction only confirmed his suspicions. He gently turned her chin so she would face him. "Tell me everything. Don’t leave anything out," he warned.
Lily bit her lip before confessing, "I thought I might be pregnant. The symptoms felt like it, but it turned out I was just sick."
Her voice wavered as she spoke. She had hoped to keep it from him, but she knew he’d find out eventually.
"My love," Alexander said softly, resting her head on his chest and rubbing her back comfortingly.
He wasn’t concerned about having another child, but he knew how much she longed for it.
"I’m not worried about that, love. You and Viola are everything to me. If we have another child, great. If not, that’s fine too."
Lily looked up at him, recognizing the sincerity in his words. While he wasn’t bothered, she still longed to give him more children.
He wiped away her tears and kissed her. "Please stop crying."
She nodded and rested against his chest again.
The following day, Alexander decided not to go to work. He stayed home to care for Lily since she wasn’t feeling well and to spend time with their daughter.
Meanwhile, in a different part of the city, Ariana got dressed and left the house with her bodyguard, Samson, without her mother’s knowledge. After the humiliation Lily had put her through the previous day, it was time to take action.
Sitting in the backseat of the car, she stared out the window, lost in thought. Memories of her past with Alexander flashed in her mind—back when she had been the love of his life. Their relationship had made others envious, and she remembered the affection he showered on her.
Ariana knew that the one thing Alexander despised most was betrayal, thanks to what his mother had done to his father. That’s why, when she betrayed him, she was certain he’d stop loving her. After her betrayal, she had tried to flee from him, only to end up in an accident that nearly claimed her life.
When she finally woke from her coma, all she wanted was to be with Alexander again. Even though he hated her now, she believed he would eventually love her again—if only she could remove Lily from the picture. To make that happen, she had decided to visit the one person who hated Lily even more than she did.
Smiling at her plan, Ariana arrived at the country’s most secure prison after hours of driving. It wasn’t surprising that Lily had placed her stepmother, Bella, in this heavily guarded facility. Lily must have feared Bella could easily escape otherwise, so she’d ensured the highest level of security.
Stepping out of the car, Ariana stared at the towering prison walls lined with sharp metal spikes.
"Wait here for me, Samson. I won’t be long."
"But ma’am, what if they find out you’re here?" Samson asked, clearly worried. He knew how powerful Alexander and Lily were, and Ariana’s actions could backfire.
"Don’t worry. I’ve handled everything. Just wait for me," she said, walking towards the entrance.
Ariana had arranged this visit in advance, bribing key officials to ensure she could meet Bella without detection.
Lily and Alexander had not only confined Bella to this prison, but they had also forbidden anyone from visiting her. Every move Bella made was closely monitored by Alexander’s people. However, Ariana had paid a hefty sum to the prison’s chief to bypass these restrictions.
In order to avoid being seen by Alexander’s watchers, the visit would take place in a secret location within the prison.
Ariana was escorted to a small, hidden room where Bella would meet her in private. She sat in a chair and waited for Bella to arrive.
Bella was taken aback when she learned she had a visitor. She feared it might be Alexander or Lily, as they were the only ones who ever came to see her. But when the prison chief hinted that the visitor could be of help to her, Bella became curious.
She had no idea who it could be, but she was eager to find out.
Bella was led to a part of the prison she had never seen before. A door opened, and inside stood a woman with long brunette hair, her back to the door as she looked out the window.
As Bella entered, the door shut behind her.
Ariana turned around, her eyes widening at the sight before her. The woman standing in front of her looked nothing like the pictures she had seen. The Bella in those photos had been a vibrant, middle-aged woman. But the person before her now looked old and haggard.
Her hair, once long, was now short, and her appearance was almost frightening.
"Wow, your stepdaughter really did a number on you. She turned you into an old hag. How could you let her do this to you?"
Bella, unsure of who this woman was, asked, "Who... are you?"
Ariana smirked, stepping closer but keeping her distance. "I’m your savior."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
