Chapter 261: Next
Meanwhile, Margaret sat in Fredrick’s apartment, a cup of tea cradled in her hands. She had just returned from her meeting with Lily, and her heart was heavy with the memory of her daughter’s devastated expression. She had tried to explain, but the media frenzy had tainted everything.
Fredrick sat beside her, his hand resting on her knee. "We’ll get through this," he said softly. "Lily will come around once she understands the truth."
Margaret nodded, though her eyes were filled with doubt. "I hope so. I can’t stand the thought of her hating me."
Fredrick squeezed her knee gently. "She doesn’t hate you, Margaret. She’s just confused and hurt. Give her time."
Margaret sighed, leaning her head on Fredrick’s shoulder. "I just want all of this to be over. I want a fresh start, without all this chaos."
Fredrick kissed the top of her head. "We’ll get there. One step at a time."
*****
Across town, Lily sat in her bedroom, staring at her phone. Her mother’s voicemail played in her head, but she couldn’t bring herself to listen to it again. The images from the coffee shop, the reporters’ questions, and her mother’s presence with another man—all of it swirled in her mind, creating a storm of emotions.
She felt betrayed, hurt, and deeply confused. Her mother had always been her rock, and seeing her involved in such a scandal was a shock she couldn’t process. She wanted to talk to her, to understand, but the anger and pain were too fresh.