Lilith’s Pov
I stood there, frozen. My ears heard the words, but my mind refused to accept them.
Disowned?
My father–my own blood–just said he has disowned me.
“You…. you can’t do that to me, Dad,” I said, my voice cracking, barely more than a whisper. “I need you right now. You’re the only family I have. I don’t have anyone else to turn to.”
He stepped closer, his face hard and unforgiving. “You only care about yourself, Lilith. That’s all it’s ever been. Now my wife is dead. Because of you.”
“No!” I gasped. Tears fell freely now. “She shouldn’t have done that. If she knew the truth, she wouldn’t have killed herself. Not for nothing-”
“For nothing?” he thundered. “Did you just call your sister’s death nothing?”
“You don’t know the truth!” I shouted, the pain bubbling out of my chest. “None of you do! You all keep blaming me, and if the truth ever comes out–none of you will point fingers again!”
My father began to clap slowly. Clap. Clap. Clap.
“Oh, now you’re trying to rewrite the story because she’s not here to defend herself? Classic Lilith. Always the victim.” He scoffed. “I regret having you as a daughter. Leave. And don’t come back. And don’t you dare show up at your mother’s burial. I’ve cast you out.”
I dropped to my knees, shaking. “Please, Father. Please. I have no one else. It’s only you. Please don’t do this.”
He glared down at me. “I’m glad I have a son somewhere else.”
My head shot up. “What?”
“You heard me. A son. From another woman. At least someone to carry on my name. Everyone I love–my wife, my daughter–dead.”
“What about me?” I sobbed. “I’m still here. I’m still your child.”
“No. Not anymore. And maybe one day, you’ll meet your brother. But for now, get out of my house.”
I stood up slowly, my heart shattered into sharp pieces. “I’ll leave, but you can’t stop me from coming to my mother’s burial.”
“If you dare, I’ll have the private security throw you out. I won’t regret it for a second.”
I looked at him one last time. “You don’t know what you’re doing, Dad. And I hope—one day—when you finally learn the truth, it won’t be too late for me to accept you back as my father.”
“I’ll never want that.”
I turned and walked away, not even feeling the weight of my steps. When I stepped outside, the sight of Emily waiting broke me all over again.
I ran into her arms and broke down completely.
“What happened?” she whispered, holding me tightly.
“Let’s just go,” I choked out. “Please. I just want to get out of here.”
“Okay,” she said gently, brushing my hair back. “Okay, fine. We’ll go.”
We got into the car. The kind of heartbreak I was feeling–it was the kind of pain that needed a husband’s arms. The kind of day that needed vows to hold you steady. But Killian… he was worse than anyone I could ask for.
So I picked up my phone and did the only thing that made sense. I dialed Nolan. My voice shook as I spoke.
“Please… can I ask you for a favor?”
There was a pause on the line, like he was holding his breath. Then Nolan replied, “Yeah… what’s that?”
“Can 1… please spend a night or two in your other house?”
“Sure,” he said almost immediately. “You know where the key is.”
“Thank you,” I whispered, clutching the phone tighter. “I’m really, really grateful.”
“Anytime,” he said, and then the line went dead.
I already knew the place. The route. The code. Everything.
Emily glanced at me as I continued driving. “Where are we going?”
“Nolan’s apartment,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. “Just to stay there for a little while. I can’t stand anything right now. My father just disowned me. And Killian… he said he’s happy I’m the only one left in my family.” I paused, swallowing the lump in my throat. “And the worst part? I found out I have a stepbrother. A whole brother I never knew existed.”
Emily was quiet for a second, then looked at me. “I know it’s a lot to take in… but are you sure you want to go stay in Nolan’s apartment? With everything you’re feeling toward him?”
I blinked, then shook my head. “I’m not feeling anything toward him. It’s just a phase. I’ll pass it.”
Emily nodded slowly. “Okay.”
We reached the apartment. I stopped the car, got out, and walked straight to the door. I typed in the code. The lock clicked open. As soon as I stepped inside, the tears came rushing again.
Emily followed me in and pulled me into a hug. “I’m so sorry,” she said softly. “Please stop crying. Everything’s going to be fine. I’m here.”
Just then, her phone started ringing.”
She checked the screen and frowned. “It’s my mum… Please let me take this call.”
I nodded. I didn’t have the strength to speak.
She stepped aside. Minutes passed. Then I heard her whisper sharply, “What?”
When she ended the call and came back inside, her face was pale.
“What happened?” I asked, my voice small.
“It’s my mum… she’s in the hospital. It’s getting worse. I need to go, Lilith. I’m so sorry, 1-”
“Go.” I said quickly. “Don’t worry about me. Just go. I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll come back, I swear-”
“Emily, please. Just go.”
She gave me one last hug before rushing out.
The silence came back. That awful, loud silence. I dragged my hands through my hair, let out a scream, and reached for my phone. I couldn’t be alone. Not now. I needed someone.
I dialed Nolan again.
“Can you… please come stay with me here? Just for a little while?”
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