Chapter 12
LILY’S POV
After spending time at the bar, I made my way back to my apartment, grateful today didn’t end as badly as it started. Robert will be pissed I haven’t completely moved out of the apartment to the family house but at that moment, I didn’t want to think of it.
His happiness was my top priority but with everything that happened today at the office, I just needed some time away from him. I wasn’t ready to face him after he treated me harshly and unfairly.
I tried to keep myself from thinking of the worst-case scenario of him telling his family members what happened at the office as I approached my apartment. However, I noticed something unusual.
My apartment was already open and some men were carting away with some of my property. I thought they were thieves but thieves don’t come stealing in broad daylight and my neighbours would have alerted the police if they were. They were dressed in special uniforms, looking like construction workers from a reputable construction company.
My brows furrowed deeply in shock and confusion as I struggled to make sense of what was happening. Had the government authorized this, or was something else going on?
“Hey!” I shouted at one of the guys carrying my bed lamp. “What are you guys doing? Who sent you? You do realize you’re trespassing on private property and I can sue you for it.”
He didn’t say anything, only observing me with a blank expression on his face. He shrugged nonchalantly all I said didn’t matter to him and was about to proceed forward to the truck they were loading my stuff into when I blocked him.
“Madam,” he called out sharply, becoming annoyed by my attitude. His colleagues were equally angry as they observed the situation while they trooped in and out of my apartment like it was some public market, murmuring amongst themselves. But I was too shocked and angry to care. “You’re wasting our time and being a nuisance. Please step out of the way so I can continue with my job.”
“I’m not going anywhere till you tell me why you’re taking away my stuff. Who the hell authorized this?” I yelled at him. “If you don’t tell me now I’m calling the police.”
I wanted to pull my phone out from my bag when he suddenly wanted to pass from the side. I rushed at him fiercely and grabbed the leg of my bed lamp. I wanted to snatch it from him. But his grip was tight and his colleagues gathered.
While struggling, the top of the bed lamp hit my forehead. I was distracted and the man used that opportunity to push me away. I fell butt hard against the floor, the impact running like an electric shock along my body.
“We’re not taking your stuff away, madam,” he said, his voice deep with frustration. “We’re only moving them to The Wilson’s mansion. This transfer was authorized by Mr. Robert Wilson. He’s the one you should speak with instead of getting in our way!”
As they made their way to the truck, I got up on my feet and dusted my butt. The shock of what he just revealed hit me with full force. Why would Robert do something like this without consulting me first? I knew he was angry about me still staying here at times but this wasn’t the way to go about this.
I ferreted my bag and pulled out my phone. I was about to put a call through to Robert when one of the men who was making his way to the truck with my family portrait and my mum’s jewellery box said in an unfriendly tone, “If you’re looking for Mr Robert, he’s inside.”
“Hey! You can’t take that…” my voice drowned, realizing he won’t listen to me. Robert was the one I needed to talk to. He had to stop this immediately.
Quickly, I turned off my phone, put it back in my bag and raced into my apartment. I couldn’t let them take all my stuff away. After my father’s company folded and he committed suicide, we had to sell off our mansion and a lot of properties to cover my mum’s medical bills, and my college expenses and buy this two-bedroom apartment. Life was really tough for us until I got this job at Robert’s company and agreed to this contract marriage with him.
The other reason I bought this apartment was because of my mum. She will stay here when she recovers and is discharged from the hospital. All our important stuff from our former home was here including some of my late father’s personal belongings. They were special and held a lot of memories. I didn’t want them tampering with them or anything at all.
When I entered the living room, I couldn’t find Robert. The living room was empty, completely stripped of everything. I wondered where he’d be keeping all that stuff because they couldn’t possibly fit into just one room. They’ll need at least two rooms. But as far as I know, every space in the mansion was occupied. The only spare rooms were the guest rooms, which were likely off-limits due to his mother. Knowing those belongings were mine, she’ll never let me keep them there. She had already made it clear at the dinner three days back that she didn’t like me and couldn’t wait for me to be replaced as his son’s wife. The other spare room which was upstairs belonged to Robert’s half elder brother the one directly older than Martin, who I learnt was currently abroad.
After taking all my stuff away, I was sure Robert was going to sell this house. But I can’t let him. This was the only property my mother and I had. We lost everything after my father died. We had nothing else.
As I made my way to my bedroom, I saw Robert standing there. His back was facing me and his head was lowered like he was going through something.
“Robert!” Everything I was feeling at that moment seemed to choke in my voice. “What are you doing? It seems you have a knack for punishing me. Haven’t you done enough already? Please tell them to stop. Some of that stuff belongs to my parents…my late father…. I need them here, safe and sound.”
Robert ignored me like I didn’t talk. Like I wasn’t even there. His head was still lowered, and all his attention was focused on what he was looking at. What was he looking at that was more important than what I was saying?
I thought of taking his arm and forcing him to face me but recalling how doing that almost caused me to crash into the table back at the office, I thought again.
“Robert please…” Left with no other option, I pleaded, tears welling up in my eyes. “Please…tell them to stop. I know you’re angry at me for not moving in entirely into the mansion, but please don’t let that be the reason. I’m sorry. All that stuff is important to me and I want them here. I promise to go with you right now if you could just…”
“What is this?” He cut me off and turned sharply, flinging a sheet of paper in my face. He had a dangerous frown on his face. That was enough for me to know whatever he saw in that paper didn’t sit well with him.
“What is what…?” My brows furrowed as I collected the paper from him only for my eyes to pop out in shock on realizing it was my pregnancy test result.