Chapter 132
Caleb took a sip of his green tea, then set the cup down, turning his attention to his granddaughter, sitting across from him.
"I was surprised when I heard you arrived here with all your belongings. What’s going on? Why did you make this decision, my child?" he asked.
Lily lowered her eyes, staring at the tea in her hand. "I’ve decided that Viola and I will stay here for a while. Alexander is aware of it," she replied.
Caleb leaned back in his chair, studying her. "My granddaughter is not someone who runs away when faced with challenges or enemies trying to bring her down. So, what’s truly going on in your mind? Why are you really here?" He was pleased to have her and his great-granddaughter with him, but he knew Lily wouldn’t choose to stay away from Alexander without a serious reason. She loved him deeply and wouldn’t willingly distance herself from him without cause.
Lily hesitated, unsure of how to begin, but knowing she had to explain her plan to her grandfather. He needed to understand who was behind everything and how she intended to put an end to it for good.
"I know who’s responsible for all of this, Grandfather," she finally said.
Caleb straightened immediately, his face full of anger. "Who?! Tell me right now!"
"Please, sit down. I’ll explain everything," she urged.
"How can you be so calm, knowing this?!" he shouted. They had been searching for the culprit, and to find out Lily knew all along left him in disbelief. He couldn’t understand how his smart and sharp-witted granddaughter could have kept this information from him.
"There’s a reason I’ve been quiet."
"What possible reason could you have for hiding the person’s identity?!" he demanded.
"Because this is something I need to handle on my own. I need to end it myself."
Caleb shook his head, incredulous. "You’re making a mistake. Give me the name, and I’ll make sure that person disappears without a trace."
"I’ll tell you, but only if you promise to stay calm and not take any rash actions."
"I can’t promise that, especially after they almost killed you! You could have been the one in a coma, not Alexander’s mother!"
"Please, Grandfather," she begged, dropping to her knees. "All I’m asking is for you to support me in what I’m about to do. The media is already all over her, and if we do something drastic like kill her, it’ll bring unwanted attention to us. We need to be smart."
"It’s a woman?" Caleb asked, surprised.
Lily nodded.
"Who is it?"
"Grandfather, please—"
"I said, who is it?!"
"It’s Ariana Martins."
Caleb’s eyes darkened. "Why didn’t I see that? That woman has been nothing but trouble for you since she arrived in this city. Isn’t she Alexander’s ex, the one who betrayed him?"
Lily nodded again.
"And you don’t plan to tell Alexander?"
"No. He’ll find out everything she’s done, just like the rest of the world will, in about a week."
"What exactly are you planning?"
Lily stood up and walked over to him. "Please, sit first, Grandfather."
Caleb sat down again, and Lily joined him. "I know what Alexander will do if I tell him, so I’ve decided to take action myself. That’s why I’ve come here, to keep my plans hidden from him. But I need your help. I need your underground contacts and resources."
"I’ll help you, but only if your plan is good. If it’s not, you’ll let me handle it my way."
Lily nodded. "Alright, Grandfather."
"So, what’s your plan?" Caleb asked, folding his arms and waiting for her to reveal the details.
Lily leaned in and laid out her strategy. By the time she finished, her grandfather was looking at her with admiration. Seeing the expression on his face, Lily knew she had impressed him, but she still waited for his verbal response.
"What do you think, Grandfather?"
Caleb nodded. "Go ahead with your plan. I’ll support you one hundred percent."
Lily let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Grandfather."
They spent the rest of the evening discussing other things and later had dinner together with Viola.
After enjoying his time with his granddaughter and great-granddaughter, Caleb was about to retire for the night when Victor, his right-hand man, informed him that Alexander had placed several guards outside the villa, guarding the outer walls.
Dismissing Victor, Caleb picked up the phone and called Alexander, who answered immediately.
"Grandfather," Alexander said.
It was unusual for him to pick up so quickly, but he did because his wife and daughter were under Caleb’s care.
"Acting all respectful now, are we?" Caleb teased.
"How are they, Grandfather?"
The only thing in the world that could make Alexander so polite and respectful was his love for Lily and Viola.
"Why do you have an army outside my walls?" Caleb asked. Victor had reported seeing a large number of guards, and upon checking the footage, Caleb confirmed that it looked like an army protecting the estate.
"For their protection."
"You know I have my own men guarding the property inside and out. What’s the need for all this?"
"I won’t be able to sleep at night if I don’t know they’re fully protected. After everything that’s happened, you should expect this from me."
"Fine. I’ll let it slide, but don’t go overboard," Caleb said before hanging up.
Alexander looked at the phone, then turned to James, who was waiting for instructions.
"Make sure the team monitoring Lily and my daughter sends daily reports of their activities."
The following morning, after breakfast with Viola and her grandfather, Lily left her family’s estate and headed to the hospital, leaving Viola in Caleb’s care. She had several stops to make that day, starting with the hospital.
Arriving at the VIP ICU unit where Angela was being treated, Lily changed and went in to see her. Tears filled her eyes as she saw Angela’s condition. All of this had happened because of one person’s greed, a person who wanted something that didn’t belong to her.
Lily had been the target, but Angela had paid the heavier price. Holding Angela’s hand, she kissed it gently.
"Please wake up soon. I promise you, by the time you wake, all of this will be over. I have a plan, and the enemy will be dealt with," she whispered, still holding Angela’s hand.
After leaving the hospital, Lily visited the grave of Pedro, her bodyguard, who had tragically died in the accident. She placed flowers on his grave, lit some incense, and offered a prayer, bowing three times.
"You gave your life to protect us, and I promise to bring the person responsible to this very spot to beg for forgiveness," Lily said, tears rolling down her cheeks. Pedro’s death weighed heavily on her. He had been a loyal bodyguard and, more than that, a good man. Without a family of his own, Pedro had been an orphan who served in the military. Now, he was gone, cut down in his youth. Ariana had robbed him of the chance to live and start his own family.
"I swear, she will pay for everything. And when that happens, you’ll finally be able to rest in peace. Just give me a few days, and it will all be over," she vowed.
"In just a few days, it will all be over."
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