novelnext Chapter 7
Chapter 7
He shook off Coco's hand and stepped to the side, lowering his voice. "Tell her I won't pursue this. Let her out now. When I get back, I'll bring her favorite chocolate cake from the bakery."
The chocolate cake from that bakery had been our silent way of making up for over a decade. Whenever I was upset in the past, just one slice could easily cheer me up.
But it had been two years since I last had that cake. Not because he hadn't bought it, but because all the cakes he bought were for Coco.
He always said that Coco was our family's adopted daughter. She was fragile, sensitive, and had depression. He claimed I owed her, that I should be more understanding. But I never understood exactly what I owed her.
She lost her family because her parents were criminals who died in an accident while fleeing. My dad died because of her, the daughter of criminals.
I gave up my mom. I gave up my husband. I gave up the dream I'd worked for my entire life.
Now, I'd even given up my life.
And now, he remembered to buy a slice of cake to make it up to me.
How ironic.
The housekeeper on the phone was frantic. "Young master, I swear I'm not lying! A fire broke out in the missus's room. By the time we realized something was wrong and tried to open the door, it was already too late. Now the fire in the villa is out of control. The firefighters are trying to rescue her…"
"Enough!" Jack snapped, pressing his temples in frustration. "I know she's mad I locked her in. I've already agreed to let her out. How long is she going to keep this up? She set the fire herself. There's no way she could be dumb enough to burn herself alive!"
But what if I didn't set the fire?
The thought hit him like a ton of bricks. His breath quickened, his complexion went a few shades paler. "Alright, I'm coming back now."
He was about to hang up when Mom grabbed the phone from him.
She wasn't as calm as Jack. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "You're lying to us, right? She's probably just upset because of what I said earlier. Tell Lily I didn't mean it, that I'm sorry. I'm coming back to apologize right now."
The housekeeper was silent for a moment, knowing that they weren't ready to face the truth. He finally sighed. "Alright, I'll pass it along."
Mom, trying to reassure herself, forced a dry smile. "I knew it had to be a joke. A fire? In a house with so many people? Impossible. That Lily, always making a scene."
Despite her words, the quiver in her voice betrayed her anxiety.
"Jack, let's hurry back. Today's your wedding day. We need to comfort Lily. She's our only precious daughter. We can't let her suffer any more."
Jack nodded absentmindedly. "Okay, I will."
Coco, trailing behind them, tried to go with them, but Jack stopped her. "You go back home. Lily doesn't want you around. I don't want to upset her today."
Mom added, "Exactly, Coco. Go home. You've already taken Lily's modeling championship. Don't show up too much in front of her."
Coco opened her mouth to protest, but they didn't even spare her a glance before turning away. She clenched her teeth, her expression morphing from sweet and gentle to pure malice. She muttered, "Lily, you stubborn bitch! Even in death, you're still trying to fight me!"
As they made their way back, real-time news about the fire at East Linden Villa flooded their phones. The headlines dominated the screen.
Jack's mind was numb. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white, his veins bulging. He ran several red lights before finally pulling into the villa's driveway.
But the moment he stepped out of the car, the sight in front of him made his legs buckle.