CHAPTER 102
LILY’S POV
After I got out of the taxi, I quickly rushed into the house. I slammed the door shut and pressed my back against it as though I just encountered something horrifying. That horrifying thing was Robert.
I broke down in sobs that I had been holding back all through the ride as I screeched my back against the door and crumpled hopelessly on the floor. I tried to hold back my outburst as Liam was probably upstairs in his room and I didn’t want him to hear me crying. But my sharp intake of breath was making it extremely difficult.
Shaking my head in agony, I managed to get a grip and pushed myself up. I dragged myself to the refrigerator in the kitchen. I pulled its door open and rummaged through but didn’t find what I was looking for. A frustrated groan escaped my lips as I slammed it shut and checked the shelves but still couldn’t find it.
I was desperately searching for a strong alcoholic drink to drown the storm of emotions raging inside me and hope it would somehow make me feel better. But my search was futile. I didn’t keep alcohol at home. I never liked it, given its harmful effects on health. At this stage in my life, I was fully committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Running my hands through my hair and messing it up, I regretted ever making that decision. I never imagined there would come a day when I’d crave it more than anything else in the world. Just a glass or two of whiskey or vodka couldn’t hurt, could it?
The only thing closest to alcohol I could find was an old bottle of red wine with an unimpressive 10% alcohol by volume. I had stacked a few bottles of it away for what seemed like an eternity at the topmost part of the kitchen pantry.
Quickly as if my life depended on it, I uncorked the top. I poured myself a glass, filling it to the brim, hoping it would offer some semblance of comfort. But on the contrary, it made me feel worse than I already was, conjuring past memories and opening up old wounds.
Red-hot anger surged inside me. I didn’t know what came over me as I aggressively swept the bottle and glass off the table. The loud shattering sound as they broke to a thousand pieces on the floor pierced the atmosphere of the house, almost like thunder roaring.
A torrent of tears poured down my eyes and I lowered my head in despair. After all these years, why did he have to find me just when I was starting to leave my best life? I know he didn’t follow me after I left that building. But knowing Robert as someone who always gets what he wants no matter what it takes, something kept telling me he wouldn’t rest until he found out everything about me from where I worked to where I stayed.
I can’t believe he kept calling my name in that tone that made my skin crawl and even tried to touch me as if nothing ever happened. How dare he? Did he suddenly forget the damage he caused me? The contrite expression he had was probably an act he was putting on like Jane said over the phone. He was doing it to make it feel like he was sorry and had turned a new leaf while in reality, his sole intention was to finish me off and take the kids from me. I won’t let that happen.
What do I do now? The only solution I could think of was to change location. I’ll have to leave this city and start all over again. I knew how hard moving out and settling in in a new place could be. I didn’t want it to be my only option. I can’t leave my work at the company especially now I got promoted to the highest position, the house, the kid’s school. I know how hard it was to acquire all that. I wasn’t willing to let it all go in the blink of an eye.
I sank to the floor with my back against the base of the kitchen island. I bit hard on my lower lip till it throbbed as I gave in to the compulsive tears that shook me. My mind was a whirlwind of chaos as I thought of what to do in this situation. If only I had just moved far away to another country, this wouldn’t have happened. I won’t have to be worrying like this.
I heard the wooden floors of the staircase creak as someone was coming down. Afraid it might be Liam, I quickly tried to wipe the tears from my face and gather my miserable self up before he saw me, but it was too late. Fortunately for me, it wasn’t Liam but Nana Mae.
She stood directly in front of me, assessing me critically. I didn’t know she was around. I thought she left after dropping Lila off at school.
Slowly, her gaze travelled from the broken mess of glass and wine on the floor beside me to my tear-stained face. I could see the mixed feelings in her expression. Her eyes widened with shock and confusion but softened with a motherly empathy and affection that hinted she’d still forgive me and take me in despite whatever mess I’d gotten myself into.
Seeing it was her, I didn’t see any reason to get up from where I was. I just stayed there and sobbed quietly with my gaze on the floor. This was the first time she was seeing me like this, but that was the least of my worries now.
“Oh dear, what happened?” To my surprise, she lowered herself to sit beside me on the floor, her voice filled with concern. “I’ve always known you to be strong and unshakable like the wonder woman. What could have possibly made you this way?”
A dry smile curved my lips. I appreciated she was going to try to make me feel better, but even Wonder Woman does break down at times.
I lifted my head and looked at her. “What about Liam?”
“He’s playing a video game in his room.”
I smiled, glad he was doing well. But didn’t he hear the sound of the glasses shattering? It was loud enough and could even be heard from outside the house. Since Nana Mae was coming from upstairs on hearing it, that meant he too must have heard it. Why didn’t he come rushing downstairs? Was she sure he was really upstairs in his room or was there something she wasn’t telling me?