They got into the ballroom and were welcomed by the guests. They cheered happily as they walked in. The reporters stood in a corner and took pictures of them.
The Blackwells smiled and waved at the guests but Lily just stared.
Axel leaned closer to her like he was about to kiss her and it made the crowd gasp and giggle.
“Please smile.” Axel whispered to her and kissed her cheek before pulling away. Lily blinked rapidly before smiling.
After their grand entrance, they started to meet the guests and welcome them formally. Mr. Blackwell was the happiest in the room. He kept catching up with long time friends.
Lily was exhausted, she was tired of putting on a fake smile. Her cheeks were hurting already. She had greeted a lot of guests.
“It’s okay. You can give her to me, I am used to things like this.” Max said seeing the look on her face and she sighed in relief.
“Thank you.” She replied as she gave Kendra to him.
Axel looked at her and noticed she was tired.
“Are you okay?” He asked and she nodded.
“Yeah, I just need a drink.” She replied.
“Let’s go. They can have fun.” Nora said and pulled Lily before she could respond.
She pulled her to a table filled with drinks and Lily hurriedly poured herself a glass of water.
She gulped it immediately and exhaled heavily.
“Woah, easy girl.” Nora muttered.
The few guests around them smiled at her and she smiled back at them.
“Ugh, how do you guys live like this?” Lily asked and Nora chuckled.
“I hate it too but I have no choice.” Nora replied and smiled at another set of guests that waved at her.
She looked around like she was searching for someone and Lily noticed.
“Who are you looking for? The Robbins?” Lily asked.
“Oh, no. Everyone would know when the Robbins arrive, they would make a grand entrance. I am looking for your crazy mother and sister.”
“They are here?”
“Seems so. Susan invited them.”
“I don’t think they would show up. Won’t it be humiliating?” Lily asked and Nora chuckled, she shook her head and took a sip out of her drink.
“I don’t think you know your mother.” She chuckled.
Out of the blue, everyone paid attention to the entrance. The waiters and waitresses, the couples on the dance floor. Everyone paused and focused on the family coming in.
“Told you the Robbins would make a grand entrance. They always do.” Nora said with a smile with her eyes fixed at the entrance too.
Lily was so curious, she couldn’t wait to see them.
They finally walked in with their heads up high, they looked elegant in their outfits and Lily was impressed.
The middle aged couple at the front and their children behind them. Their son looked elegant in his tuxedo, while their daughter looked pretty in her dress.
“Look at Dexter, he is so cute.” Nora giggled and held Lily’s arm. Lily stared at him, he looked normal to her. No doubt that he was good looking, but he wasn’t as good looking as Axel. He wasn’t even close.
“Ugh, Max looks way better than him.” Lily scoffed and Nora frowned.
“What?”
“Yeah. I know you, you just want to know what he does in bed.” Lily replied. Nora didn’t find it offensive, instead, she shrugged. Maybe it was true.
“Do you think he will like me?”
“Of course. You are Nora, everyone likes you.” Lily replied with a smile.
“This might not end well.” Nora sighed as she noticed Mr. Blackwell walking towards them.
“It might not be that bad. They seem nice.” Lily shrugged.
“Ugh, everyone seems nice to you.”
Nora looked away from them and her eyes caught Mrs. McCall and Malia at a corner. They were trying to avoid the crowd.
“Hey, I found your crazy mother.” Nora said and Lily also looked in the direction. She sighed as she saw her.
“Come, let’s dance,” Nora said and pulled Lily to the dance floor before she could decline. It wasn’t a slow song that was being played and it made it fun.
Lily tried to walk away but Nora pulled her.
Everyone paid attention and she had no choice but to dance. As she did, memories of last season’s ball kept popping up in her head. Slowly, she started to recall what happened that night.
She was so lost in thought, that she just did random things as she danced.
She suddenly froze when she recalled it all, she finally remembered what happened that night. It took her a whole year to remember.
“I have to go.” Lily said to Nora and walked away. She felt uneasy seeing her mother after she had recalled what happened. She knew she would be up to something again.
Lily walked towards Axel who was standing next to Max and was a few feet away from Mr. Blackwell and the Robbins.
“Hey,” Max called as she got to them.
“Mrs. McCall is here.” She said to Axel and he nodded.
“Yeah, we know.”
“And?” Lily asked.
“And what?” Axel asked back.
“Kick her out. I don’t want her here, she might do something dangerous.”
“Don’t worry. I have everything under control.” Axel replied and Lily scoffed.
“Like you did a year ago.” She replied angrily. She knew she might be a little bit overreacting. She was just so scared and worried.
Her mother found a way to turn everyone against her a year ago, she might do it again. She couldn’t go through what she did before, not when everything was going smoothly. Not when her kids can have a good life.
“Calm down, Lily. Nothing can go wrong.” Axel said but she shook her head.
“You must be Lily.” She suddenly heard a voice say as she was about to speak and she turned to see the Robbin’s son. Dexter.
“Nice to meet you. I am Dexter Robbin and I have heard so much about you.” He said with a smile.
Lily suddenly furrowed her brows as she stared at him. Axel was about to speak but she beat him to it.
“Have we met before?”