Chapter 134: Facade Of A Caring Mother
The atmosphere in the Chadwick house was thick with unspoken tension. Brooke and Lottie’s constant hovering, their forced displays of affection, only amplified Lyse’s discomfort and had her considering returning to her apartment. The only impediment was Brandon, there was a sinister and dishonest way about him and she did not want to be at his mercy.
After a strained dinner, Lyse excused herself, claiming exhaustion. She retreated to the guest room that had been prepared for her, longing for a moment of solitude. Once she was safely out of earshot, Brooke turned to Lottie, her carefully constructed facade of concern crumbling into frustration and anger.
"She refused me," Brooke said, her voice tight. "She would not even bother to take a look at my designs." Lottie’s perfectly manicured eyebrows furrowed.
She was still burning at Lyse’s rejection. She had wanted Lyse to look at the work for two reasons, to see if she recognized it as hers and also because what Brooke had gotten from Kim was unfinished work since Lyse had not finished working on it before her accident.
"What do you mean, she refused?" Lottie asked, her voice laced with disbelief. "I told you this was the perfect opportunity to use her. With her amnesia, she is completely dependent on us."
"I know," Brooke retorted, her voice rising slightly. "But she just... shut me down. She said she needed to focus on her recovery. She wouldn’t even look at the folder. She is... different."
Lottie’s lips pressed into a thin line. The Golden Fleece competition was a prestigious event in the fashion world, a chance for Brooke to make a name for herself. With Lyse’s talent and expertise, Brooke had been confident that she could create a winning submission. Now, with Lyse’s refusal, those hopes were fading.
"I will talk to her," Lottie said, her voice firm and confident . "Don’t worry, she has no other choice than to listen to me."
Brooke watched her mother with a mixture of hope and skepticism. She knew that Lottie was capable of persuasion, if there was anyone who could convince Lyse it was her. After all, Lottie had done it before, she could do it again. But then, Brooke also noticed that Lyse, even in her confused state, possessed a strong will.