Chapter 2: The Secret Lily Hid From Me
I carried Lily away from the floor myself.
She was seventeen years old.
Almost an adult.
But at that moment, she felt like the little girl who used to hold my hand whenever she was scared.
I took her to the hospital.
The doctors confirmed she had injuries that were not caused by an accident.
Someone had hurt her.
Someone inside my own home.
When we returned, Victoria was waiting.
She looked angry.
Not sorry.
Angry.
“You embarrassed me.”
I stared at her.
“Embarrassed you?”
“You took my daughter to the hospital because of you.”
She laughed bitterly.
“Your daughter?”
Those two words made my stomach twist.
Then she said:
“You never accepted that this family changed.”
I stepped closer.
“What does that mean?”
Victoria crossed her arms.
“It means Lily should understand I am your wife now.”
“She is not the center of your world anymore.”
I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
That night, Lily finally told me everything.
The insults.
The punishments.
The threats.
Every time Victoria whispered:
"Your father will choose me eventually."
Lily looked down.
“I thought you loved her more.”
My heart broke.
“Lily…”
“I was afraid you would think I was lying.”
I held her hand.
“You should have told me.”
She cried quietly.
“I didn’t want to destroy your marriage.”
That sentence hurt more than anything.
May you like
My daughter was protecting the woman who was hurting her.
Because she was afraid of losing me.
