Ford pulled out his handkerchief and carefully wrapped it around his bleeding hand, his mind still churning with thoughts of how to handle Vivian and Fredrick. The sting of the injury didn't matter; his focus was elsewhere.
Just then, Daniel entered the hall, his eyes widening in shock as he noticed his boss's injured hand. "Sir, are you alright?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. Daniel's confusion was evident—he had been waiting outside the boardroom, unsure if he should enter after being scolded earlier. Ford hadn't granted him permission to attend the meeting, so Daniel had chosen to remain out of sight, baffled when the meeting ended far earlier than expected.
Now, seeing his boss bleeding, he couldn't help but wonder what had transpired.
"Get the car ready," Ford said calmly, his voice steady despite the tension in the air. "It's my mom's birthday tomorrow. I need to get her flowers and gifts as usual."
"Yes, sir," Daniel replied quickly, still glancing at Ford's bandaged hand as he turned to leave. While he hurried to follow the instructions, his mind raced, trying to piece together what could have happened in the boardroom to leave his boss in this state.
Meanwhile, during the ride home, Mr. Lugard sat silently in the back seat, his expression unreadable. The tension in the car was palpable. Fredrick, unable to contain his irritation any longer, broke the silence.
"You know, Dad, Ford is becoming something else lately," Fredrick said angrily, his tone sharp and filled with frustration. His words hung in the air for a moment, and he glanced at his mother, hoping she would chime in to reinforce his point.
Vivian smiles backing her son up "Yes, I agree," she said smoothly, her voice laced with subtle malice. "Your late wife must have over-pampered him."
The moment she mentioned his late wife, Mr. Lugard's demeanor shifted. His calm exterior cracked, and he turned sharply to face her, his eyes blazing with anger.
"Vivian," he began, his voice low but dangerously controlled, "I can ignore anything you choose to say, but don't you ever question my late wife's upbringing." He leaned closer, his gaze piercing. "Keep her name out of your lips."
The rage in his voice silenced Vivian instantly. She looked away, her previous confidence faltering under the weight of his intensity. Fredrick shifted uncomfortably in his seat, clearly surprised by his father's sudden outburst.
The rest of the ride was consumed by an oppressive silence, Mr. Lugard's warning hanging heavy in the air. Vivian kept her gaze out the window, her thoughts churning, while Fredrick fidgeted nervously, unsure how to proceed. Mr. Lugard, however, sat back in his seat, his mind drifting to memories of his late wife, his jaw clenched tightly.
Vivian was stunned by Mr. Lugard's sudden outburst. She hadn't expected such a strong reaction. Attempting to diffuse the tension, she forced a smile and said, "Calm down, I was only joking," her tone lighter now as she tried to soothe him by rubbing his thigh gently.
But Mr. Lugard wasn't swayed. He turned his face away from her, staring out of the window. His thoughts wandered to Ford, to the unmistakable irritation his son carried every time they interacted. The look in Ford's eyes was filled with disappointment, resentment, and anger.
Deep down, Mr. Lugard knew he had made a terrible mistake by forcing Ford to compete with Fredrick for his birthright. He had allowed Vivian's influence to cloud his judgment, and now, his hands felt tied.
His mind drifted to the past, to a time when Ford had been happy—before his mother's death. Back then, Ford's smile was genuine, lighting up the room with ease. But those days felt like a distant memory now. It had been years since he'd seen his son truly happy.
A pang of guilt stabbed at his chest. But what could he do, Mr Luggard knew was stuck with Vivian and her son.
As the car moved along, Mr. Lugard remained lost in his thoughts, his heart heavy with regret. Meanwhile, Vivian sat beside him, quietly observing his distant expression, unsure of what to say next.
For the first time, her husband Lugard really scolded her with anger all because of his dead wife. Looking at him she could see he meant it, squeezing her palms into a fist in anger, for now that's all she could do.
"Wait and watch how I take everything from you" she whispered quietly whilst facing the window of the car.
——
"You look stunning," Lily complimented Elena. She had spent hours helping Elena select a variety of clothes, yet the generous amount of money her brother had sent barely made a dent.
Elena, however, was exhausted. She was tired of trying on outfit after outfit, while Lily seemed determined to buy out the entire store. Shoes, bags, and clothes piled up in their shopping carts.
As Elena glanced at Lily, she found it hard to believe that someone could be this selfless—spending so much time helping her choose clothes without showing the slightest sign of fatigue or impatience. Then, all of a sudden, it dawned on her—Lily hadn't picked a single item for herself.
"Umm… Lily," Elena called hesitantly. It was the first time she had ever spoken her name aloud.
Lily turned to her immediately, eyes lighting up with excitement at hearing her name from Elena's lips.
"Finally! You spoke today. For a moment, I thought you didn't want to talk to me," Lily said, a playful smile on her face.
"Oh… I didn't mean to make you feel that way," Elena responded, her voice tinged with guilt upon realizing how her silence might have come across.
Lily's smile remained as she reassured her, "So, you called my name… I hope everything is alright?"
"Oh yes, everything is fine," Elena replied softly. "I just wanted to say that I truly appreciate all your help, but I don't need any more clothes. Instead, I'd love to see you try on some dresses for yourself too."
"Aww, you're really nice, Elena. Well, I already have plenty of clothes, but I guess I could get myself a pair of shoes," Lily said with a cheerful smile before hurrying off to check out the ones that had caught her eye.
As Elena glanced at the stunning dresses that had been purchased, a wave of gratitude washed over her. She couldn't deny how thankful she was to Ford for his generosity. However, along with that gratitude came an unsettling feeling—she hated the thought of being indebted to him. The realization weighed on her, and at that moment, she resolved to talk to him about finding a way to pay him back.
"Elena? Is that you?"
Still lost in thought, she was startled by the sound of someone calling her name. The voice was unmistakably familiar. Her heart skipped a beat as recognition dawned on her—it was Daniel.
Instinctively, she turned her face away from the direction the voice had come from, her chest tightening with anxiety.
Biting down on her lower lip, she clenched her fists. Daniel was the last person she wanted to see at that moment—especially not when she was with Lily. A cold wave of unease swept over her, making her hands tremble. She prayed silently that he wouldn't come any closer.
Immediately a firm tap on her shoulder sent a shiver down her spine. Her breath hitched, and frustration boiled within her. Without thinking, she spun around, her anger surging like wildfire.
"Can't you fucking leave me the heck alone?!" she thundered, her voice sharp and commanding.
The instant the words left her lips, reality hit her like a tidal wave.
It wasn't Daniel.
It was Lily.
Shock and regret flooded her face as she gasped, quickly covering her mouth with her palms.
"Elena… are you alright? Did someone upset you?" Lily asked coldly, her voice laced with concern as she gently pulled her hands away from Elena's shoulders.
"Oh my God, Lily! It's not you—I mean, I thought you were someone else," Elena stammered, struggling to explain. Her heart sank as she caught the hurt in Lily's eyes.
"Someone else?" Lily repeated in a low, almost hesitant tone.
By now, a few people had stopped what they were doing and were looking at them strangely. Whispers spread through the store, their hushed voices carrying judgment.
Elena swallowed hard. "Yes, Lily… just forget it. I didn't mean to shout at you," she said quickly, guilt heavy in her voice as she reached out and held Lily's palms in hers.
Lily, however, couldn't hide the confusion flickering across her face. She let out a small sigh before forcing a smile. "Well, looks like today's shopping trip has officially come to an end. It's clear you're stressed," she said, her tone laced with subtle disappointment as she signaled one of the store workers to carry their shopping bags.
Elena felt a pang of regret tighten in her chest. "I'm sorry, Lily. I really didn't mean to yell at you," she repeated, her voice softer this time.
Lily shook her head lightly. "It's alright, Elena. I'm not upset. Let's just get home, okay?" she responded calmly, her eyes fixed straight ahead, deliberately avoiding Elena's gaze.
But Elena could tell. She had hurt Lily's feelings. Worse, she had embarrassed her.