Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 1014

Lillian pressed her lips together, her face calm and unreadable. She could tell the woman in front of her was lying. She hadn’t brought her here out of love, or because she cared about her mom. From the very beginning, her intentions were bad. They were the same as always. Lillian wasn’t going to believe a single word she said.

Barbara tried to sweet-talk her for a while, her voice gentle and coaxing, but Lillian just sat there, unmoved and silent. After a bit, Barbara’s patience wore thin. She dropped the nice act and went straight to threats.

“As long as you behave and don’t make trouble, I’ll treat you well,” she said. “But if you don’t listen or start acting up, don’t blame me if I punish you.”

Mason stepped in right away, frowning. “Don’t scare her like that.”

He could see how distant the girl already was. Talking to her like that would only push her further away.

Trying to smooth things over, Mason brought out a stack of toys and gifts, his voice warm. “Lillian, these are all for you. Your grandfather picked them out himself. Why don’t you take a look?”

Lillian didn’t argue. She glanced at the pile of toys, then gave a polite, “Thank you.”

She didn’t touch any of them. Instead, her gaze drifted to the window. All she could think about was, When is Daddy coming to get me?

Mason and Barbara tried for a while to get her to open up, but her attitude stayed cold and distant. Eventually, they gave up. It was almost ten, past her usual bedtime. The nanny came in to take her for a bath, and Lillian went along quietly, no fuss at all. After she washed up, she went straight to bed.

Barbara and Mason watched her from the doorway, surprised at how quiet she was. No crying, no tantrums, none of the dramatics most kids her age might pull. Barbara whispered, “She’s really changed. She used to be so timid, always glued to Camila.”

Mason nodded, looking pleased. “Camila might be stubborn, but she’s done a great job with Lillian. She’s so well-behaved.”

Barbara agreed, but there was a strange heaviness in her chest. Lillian was quiet now, but she felt like a stranger. There was a distance between them, something they couldn’t cross. She wasn’t like Daniel, always eager to please them. That bothered Barbara more than she wanted to admit. She decided this child needed some proper guidance.

After Lillian fell asleep, the couple went off to bed.

The house grew quiet, every light out, the night pressing in around the estate. In the darkness, the door to Lillian’s room eased open. Someone slipped inside, tall and slender, moving so quietly that there was barely a sound.

It was as if Lillian had been waiting for this moment. The second the figure reached her bed, she sat straight up, her eyes wide and shining.

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