"Mrs Kathy?" Morgana muttered as she took a step back.
Mrs. Kathy was dressed in a white designer gown, with her hair combed upward into a clean and attractive ponytail.
Growing up with Aunt Kathy, Lilith could swear that her aunt struggled to survive in meeting everyday needs for herself and her husband, but now that Lilith's gaze was focused on her Aunt Kathy, she was astounded to see her aunt looking elegant and more beautiful, implying that Aunt has been living well.
Lilith was taken aback by seeing her aunt because she still remembers what she did to her. Her aunt had sold her to an elderly man named Mr. Felix, and Lilith believes her aunt did not even blink an eyelid while doing so.
Morgana and Lilith had resolved to cut ties with Mrs. Kathy two and a half years ago, so they were both surprised when they saw her.
"Lilith!" Mrs Kathy screamed, spreading her hands and making her approach towards Lilith.
Lilith couldn't help but keep still and hold her breath as she waited impatiently to be free of her aunt's embrace.
Mrs. Kathy drew away after a minute, placing her hands on Lilith's shoulder and looking intently into her eyes.
"If only you could see me now Lilith." She whispered, forcing a smile to form on her lips. "If you could see me, then you would know that I'm super excited to see you." She continued, her eyes twitching in the side as she forced fake tears to form in her eyes.
Lilith sighed and shook her head sideways.
She grew up with Aunt Kathy, and one thing her aunt was good at was seeming to care for her when others were present, but behind closed doors, her aunt despised her to the core of her being.
On the other hand, Lilith could tell that her aunt had no idea she could now see with her eyes, so she pretended she couldn't see her.
Morgana, who had noticed Lilith's demeanor, resolved to save her friend. "Aunt Kathy, it's nice to see you." Morgana began by grabbing Aunt Kathy's hands and entwining them with her own. "We have to get going so…"
As Morgana was making her last statement, she quickly grabbed a white Monot one-shoulder cut gown and smiled forcefully while pulling Lilith as they both walked out of Mrs Kathy's front and sprint to the cashier's desk leaving Mrs. Kathy dumbfounded.
'What a brat!' Mrs Kathy muttered under her breath.
Morgana, horrified, paid for the dress, but Lilith remained motionless throughout.
As Morgana pulled Lilith's hands and they were about to step out of the boutique, Lilith immediately heard her name being called from behind.
The words rang out like the crack of a whip, sharp and biting in Lilith's ears. "Lilith Raziel," Mrs. Kathy said, her tone dripping with disdain. "Don't you think it's ethical to give your aunt some money? Besides, you should offer to pay for the clothes that I require because if I hadn't made Mr. Felix your man, you wouldn't have the luxury of visiting such an expensive boutique." Mrs Kathy spoke.
Lilith could tell from her aunt's tone of speaking that she was unaware of the fact that Mr Felix had died.
'If my aunt is unaware that Mr Felix has died, that means she has not called Mr Felix in a long time to check on me.' Lilith thought to herself.
"Aunt Kathy. Lilith doesn't have more change left so why don't we make it up to you next time?" Morgana whispered as she smiled at Mrs Kathy, hoping that she would yield to her statement.
Mrs Kathy, on the other hand, scoffed and shook her head sideways, disappointed. "Do you and your husband now stay on this side of the city?" She questioned Lilith with her hands on her waist, casting a frigid look at Lilith from head to toe as she tried to strike up a conversation with her.
Lilith, who couldn't speak, shook her head sideways in answer to her aunt's question.
"So you both stay outside town?" She inquired, investigating Lilith even further with a sneer.
Once again, Lilith uses her head to respond to her aunt. She shook her head sideways as an answer to her aunt's question.
Lilith's silent only seemed to enrage Mrs. Kathy further. "Cat got your tongue?" she hissed, her voice laced with contempt. "Well, if you can't speak, at least you can open your purse. Hand over the money, and then you can get back to your fancy life."
The air around them seemed to turn icy, as Mrs. Kathy's callous demand echoed through the boutique.
Lilith stood motionless, her gaze fixed on the floor as Mrs. Kathy's anger boiled over, like a geyser ready to erupt at any moment.
Lilith gently shifted her gaze to Morgana, and as her sapphire blue eyes met Morgana's, she softly nodded her head.
Morgana understood her friend's plight based on Lilith's simple art. "Aunt Kathy, please accept this," Morgana said, gently placing a thousand dollars into Mrs Kathy's outstretched hand.
Morgana's voice was a cool whisper of reason amidst the tense atmosphere.
Mrs Kathy's eyes flashed with a dangerous glint, as she pocketed the cash without so much as a word of thanks.
Before Mrs Kathy could say anything, Lilith had turned around and walked away, prompting Morgana to hurriedly trail behind her.
"Lilith, wait for me!" Morgana called out as she hurriedly walked towards Lilith to catch up with her friend.
Since Lilith didn't bother to wait for her friend, Morgana had no other option but to hasten her steps and eventually, she was able to catch up with Lilith.
Lilith, who led the way, called a cab and gave the cab driver directions to Morgana's residence, and both Lilith and Morgana remained silent throughout the car ride.
Morgana did not say anything to Lilith since she wanted her to clear her mind first, and eventually, they arrived at their destination.
Morgana took a bath in the middle of the silent room before preparing for her late-night job. "Do you want me to grab you some takeaway while I'm on my way home?" Morgana asked Lilith with concern.
Lilith was seated on Morgana's bed and she was staring at the floor while lost in her thoughts. Lilith was deeply thinking about how on earth could her aunt be so cruel to her.
Lilith and Morgana were staying on this side of the city so that they wouldn't run into Lilith's aunt, who lives ten cities away.
Morgana who had questioned Lilith a minute ago and still hasn't gotten a reply immediately snapped her fingers. "Lilith!" Morgana called out.
Lilith stares at Morgana in a swift motion.
"Yes?" She signed with her finger, waving unspoken words. "Would you want me to grab a takeaway while I head back home at midnight?" Morgana asked.
Lilith quickly shook her head sideways, her ginger hair leaping in the air. "I'll get ready for the art exhibition." Lilith's fingers flew across the screen of her phone, determination surging through her veins. "I won't let my aunt ruin what I have longed for," Lilith added in her phone notebook, her eyes burning like wildfire.
As her fingers stilled, Lilith took a deep breath, silently steeling herself to look at the bright side of life.
A smile played across Morgana's lips as she gave Lilith a confident thumbs-up. "Let me give you a makeover for the exhibition," she suggested, her enthusiasm radiating like a beacon.
Unbeknownst to Morgana, her seemingly harmless suggestion would cause commotion at the art exhibition that Lilith was about to attend.