Lily's Downfall
Lily was sorrowful at the cemetery as she stood next to her Dad’s new grave. She wore black clothes, just like everyone else, showing how sad everyone was except for some of them who attended to witness the downfall of their family. Lily even heard mockery as she passed some of the attendees.
“Look how pitiful she is now,” said one of the girls sitting beside the aisle. “She used to be the princess of the Green and Evans family, but now they are almost as poor as a beggar.”
The girl beside her laughed. “I’ve heard she transferred to a school for the poor. I wonder how her experience was. Students must bully her every day.” The two girls laugh, thinking it must be a good sight.
People can be cruel sometimes, but Lily ignored them to honor her father for the last time. The heavy feeling of sorrow made Lily’s shoulders feel heavy, especially when they put dirt on her Dad’s coffin, and the sound made everything even sadder.
Lily was once the daughter of a highly respected Green and Evans family. But now named by many as worthless as a penny and is subject to mockery. She clung to the hope that her father would soon be able to gain back the reputation and richness they used to have, but everything vanished in thin air. Two years ago, she lost her mother and now her father, leaving her devastated and hopeless.
“Dad, why did you have to leave me? Mom was gone, and now you, I’m all alone. There is no reason for me to live.” Lily’s voice muffled through her sobs as her tears flowed down her cheeks, blurring her sight. “If only you could take me with you, it would be fine.” She thought out of hopelessness.
Though her father, Anthony, wasn’t the ideal father for her, she still held onto the hope that one day, he would change, just like when she was a kid when Anthony was the perfect father for her, who loved her dearly. Despite her father’s mishaps, Lily couldn’t deny that he is still her family, her only family that could have saved her from disgrace and discrimination, but what else could she expect when Anthony couldn’t even keep her from her bully stepmother and stepsister. Good fate was never Lily’s friend.
Surrounded by understanding looks and silent expressions of sympathy, an unexpected person appeared. Bruce Grant, a man with a commanding presence, walked toward Lily with a seriousness that pierced through her sadness. His refined appearance, characterized by a well-fitted suit and silver hair that hinted at wisdom, stood out starkly against the melancholic atmosphere enveloping them.
“Lily,” Bruce’s voice carried a genuine concern, “I can’t imagine what you’re going through. Let me help you,” he said sympathetically.
Lily wiped her tears as she was startled to see Bruce Grant at her father’s burial. Her Dad and Bruce were never on good terms, as she knows. Bruce even hated Anthony for being an irresponsible father to her and a husband to Leila Green. The only person who connected Lily with Bruce was her mom, who introduced him to her as a long, trusted friend.
“I am here for you, my dear. You are not alone.” Bruce’s offer, a lifeline in the aftermath of her father’s funeral, resonated with a sincerity that eased the burden pressing upon Lily’s heart. His words, a subtle reassurance amidst the overwhelming grief, elicited a flicker of gratitude in her eyes.
“I appreciate that, Mr. Bruce,” Lily responded, her voice a fragile melody of grief, “I don’t know where I’ll go now. The apartment, the memories... It’s all too much.”
“Just Uncle Bruce for you. You are not different from me as you are my close friend’s daughter. Your mom would be mad if I would never lend a helping hand.”
Understanding the weight of her words, Bruce extended an offer that promised a fresh start. “Come with me, Lily. I have a job for you, and you’ll have a place to stay. I want to help you.”
Grasping onto this unexpected lifeline, Lily nodded in silent agreement when Vanessa came by her side. She stroked Lily’s back as if trying to comfort her, which was strange. Living with Vanessa for 2 years, she never showed Lily an ounce of affection. But Lily understood it was nothing but a facade of love because of Bruce Grant’s presence. Knowing how opportunistic Vanessa was, she would take advantage of every opportunity she could benefit from.
“Mr. Grant, I didn’t mean it, but I overheard your conversation with my daughter, Lily. I appreciate your help. Since we are family, does it mean you’re taking me and Maddy in your massive mansion, too?” Vanessa asked, delightfully beaming with satisfaction.
Lily glared at Vanessa as she came to realize the woman’s motive. “That was the first time she called me daughter.” The word kept repeating in her head.
“Mrs. Evans, I am here for Lily. If you don’t mind, please give us some time alone,” Bruce said, his voice carrying an air of authority.
Vanessa smiled fakely as she was forced to oblige. “Of course, Mr. Grant,” she said as she nodded, leaving Lily and Bruce alone. She lightly pinched Lily’s arms as if sending her a message.
Lily went home after the funeral to pack everything she left in the 3-bedroom apartment she used to live in with her Dad, stepmother, and stepsister. As she began packing her few belongings, a storm brewed in the form of Vanessa and Maddy. The duo, creators of Lily’s recent struggles, approached with a wicked demeanor.
“What do you think you’re doing, Lily? Trying to escape again?” Lily’s stepmom, Vanessa, sneered at her appearance, a canvas of disdain.
Maddy, Lily’s stepsister, echoing the sentiment, added, “You’re not going anywhere. We have plans for you, remember?”
“I can go wherever I want. You two don’t own me, especially since Dad is not here anymore. I am so sick of this family, to begin with,” Lily said, gritting her teeth. “There, I’ve said it. I have been holding on for so long and couldn’t take it any longer. There is no reason for me to stay in this rotten apartment.”
Vanessa’s eyes widened in shock as Lily never answered her in the past and would let her words pass to the other ears. “Don’t you dare complain,” she said, pointing a finger to Lily. “You should be thankful we let you stay in this apartment for free.”
“I stayed here for free? Do you hear yourself? The money used in renting this apartment and for our daily needs is from our old mansion. The one you insisted on selling, and now you dare to say I stayed here for free? Vanessa, maybe you’re referring to yourself with that statement.”
Vanessa was raging in anger while Maddy narrowed her eyebrows. “So you’ve learned how to answer after meeting the old rich man. What is he to you? A sugar Daddy?”
“Maddy, between the two of us, it is more likely that you’ll get yourself a sugar Daddy to fend for your needs instead of me. Unlike you, I don’t need one; I have true friends willing to lend a helping hand.”
Maddy was on the verge of grabbing Lily’s suitcase when her mother waved a hand to dismiss her. “But mom, this girl needs to learn a lesson. Let me teach her,” Maddy suggested.
“Let me handle this, Maddy. Think about it. If you hurt her, how would I explain that to Mr. Grant? We need Lily to convince Mr. Grant to live with her in the massive Grant’s mansion.”
Maddy raised an eyebrow upon getting her mom’s message. They are indeed a perfect team together. Lily rolled her eyes out of disgust. “So they plan to use me as their gateway to Grant’s mansion. They’re delusional.” She thought as a smirk slipped through her lips.
“Lily,” Vanessa said softly, trying to calm the storm in the room. “After everything that happened, I suggest we forget and forgive. After all, we are family.”
Lily scoffed; she couldn’t help but laugh. “Family? So, I am family to you now? Vanessa, save your drama to yourself. I’m not taking garbage with me.”
“Lily, you’re not going to the Grant’s mansion unless you’re taking us with you,” Vanessa thundered.
Bruce’s heroic assistant, Tom, arrives and steps forward, creating a barrier between Lily and her tormentors. “Enough. She’s coming with us without the two of you. Your plans end here.”
The assistant knew how poorly they treated Lily after Vanessa married Anthony and lived under the same roof. He couldn’t stand Lily’s struggles in their hands, so he didn’t hesitate to stand up for her.
Vanessa was an evil stepmother, and Maddy was the jealous step sister who wanted everything Lily had. As they married into the Evans family, they brought nothing but pain and sorrow to Lily, trying to make her suffer at every opportunity they saw.
Vanessa and Maddy, their faces changing to show a mix of anger and frustration, were filled with a strong desire for control that was blocked. They didn’t dare to utter a word as they knew how influential the assistant’s comments were to Mr. Bruce Grant. It was rumored that Bruce’s assistant was like a brother to him.
In the middle of this unexpected situation, Lily saw a slight possibility of a better future with Bruce Grant. “Thank you, Tom; I appreciate your presence and help,” Lily said, beaming happily.
“I am here to help you, Miss Evans.” The assistant carried her things, leaving Vanessa and Maddy’s contorted faces out of envy.
“Lily, we will see you again,” Vanessa whispered as Lily passed by before her. Lily pretended she didn’t hear Vanessa and held her head high, walking out of the room that served like her prison for a year. The entire apartment and the people living with her prevented her from achieving her goals in life, and it felt like prison.…
