The Billionaire's Drunken Bride

No more running

Chapter 8

After James had rushed off to have a tendency to his grandmother, Lily found herself alone within the health center room, the load of the whole lot pressing down on her. Her father's precarious fitness, the constant media scrutiny, Chloe's vicious blackmail scheme - it became all becoming an excessive amount of to undergo.

Lily glanced at her father's slumbering form, his face gaunt and light, and felt her coronary heart clench. She reached out and lightly squeezed his hand, silently inclined him to pull via.

"I'm so sorry, Dad," she whispered, tears stinging her eyes. "I never meant for any of this to happen."

She sat again in her chair, trying to accumulate her mind. Chloe's chilling words echoed in her thoughts, the chance of her "sordid past" being exposed sending a kick back down Lily's backbone. Whatever skeletons had been in her closet, Chloe has decided to use them against her.

Lily's thoughts raced, seeking to figure out a way to cope with this modern crisis. She could not maintain mendacity to James, no longer while he have been so supportive and know-how. But the concept of him locating out approximately her beyond, of him looking at her with disgust or pity, became almost greater than she may want to bear.

As Lily grappled with her inner turmoil, the door to the health facility room swung open. She looked up, watching for to see a medical doctor or nurse, only to find Maggie striding in, her face a mask of barely contained fury.

"Lily, what the hell is going on?" Maggie demanded, her voice sharp. "I just got off the phone with Granny Daphne's assistant, and that they stated she collapsed on the courthouse! What really happened?"

Lily felt her belly drop. "Granny Daphne? The courthouse? Maggie, what are you speaking about?"

Maggie set free an exasperated sigh. "Apparently, after she left right here, Daphne went to the courthouse to satisfy with Chloe's legal professionals. But she collapsed earlier than the assembly ought to start. They rushed her to the ER."

Lily's eyes widened in horror. "Oh my god, that is all my fault. Chloe came in right here earlier, Maggie, she threatened me. She said she had dust on my past, and she was going to apply it towards me unless I performed by way of her policies."

Maggie's expression shifted from anger to surprise. "What? Lily, why did not you say some thing? We have to tell James approximately this."

Lily shook her head vehemently. "No, Maggie, I can not. I can not threat Chloe exposing my beyond, now not with Dad's fitness hanging in the balance. And now Granny Daphne is within the health facility due to me! I cannot allow everyone else get harm."

Maggie reached out and gripped Lily's shoulders, her eyes intense. "Lily, listen to me. This is not your fault. Chloe is the only gambling dirty, not you. You can not permit her win."

Lily felt the tears she were retaining returned eventually spill over. "But what if she does, Mag? What if she ruins everything? I cannot lose Dad, and I can't lose James both. I just...I do not know what to do."

Maggie pulled her into a tight hug, letting Lily cry into her shoulder. "We'll determine this out, Lil. I promise. You're not alone on this, ok? We're all here for you."

Lily nodded weakly, clinging to her cousin. She knew Maggie turned into proper, that she couldn't allow Chloe win. But the concern of what might take place if Chloe made correct on her threats become paralyzing.

Just then, the door burst open again, and Louis strode in, his expression grim. "Lily, we've got a trouble."

Lily straightened, unexpectedly wiping at her eyes. "What is it, Louis?"

Louis glanced nervously between the two women. "It's Chloe. She's holding a press convention, and she is threatening to expose a few destructive records about you."

Lily felt her blood run bloodless. "No, no, this can't be happening. I should forestall her."

Louis shook his head regretfully. "I'm sorry, Lily, but there is not anything we are able to do. Chloe's were given the upper hand here. All we can do is try to contain the fallout."

Maggie improved, her eyes blazing with willpower. "The hell there isn't always. Lily's no longer going to just sit down again and let that complain spoil her lifestyles. We're going to fight this, absolutely everyone."

Louis raised a hand placatingly. "I recognize, Maggie, but you have to apprehend the gravity of the state of affairs. Chloe is backed by the whole force of the Adams family's wealth and affect. Going up against her head-on can be disastrous."

Lily took a deep, steadying breath. "I do not care. I can not simply permit her to win. Not when so much is at stake."

She turned towards Maggie, her expression resolute. "Mag, call James. Tell him what's taking place, and inform him I want his assist. I'm going to that press convention, and I'm going to stand Chloe head-on."

Maggie opened her mouth to protest, but Lily cut her off. "Please, Maggie. I need you to do that for me. I can't combat this warfare alone."

Maggie searched her cousin's face, seeing the dedication burning in her eyes. Finally, she nodded. "Okay, Lil. I'll call James. But you better be cautious, you hear me?"

Lily mustered a small, grateful smile. "I will. Thank you, Maggie."

As Maggie stepped out to make the decision, Lily turned to Louis, her expression hardening. "Louis, I want you to do some thing for me. I want you to get me in front of these cameras, along with Chloe. I'm going to put an end to this, as soon as and for all."

Louis eyed her warily, but nodded. "Alright, Lily. I'll make the preparations. But be careful, ok? Chloe's is not going to move down without a combat."

Lily squared her shoulders, her resolve strengthening with every passing second. "I know. But I'm no longer going to permit her to win. Not this time."

With a newfound determination, Lily strode out of the clinic room, ready to face whatever Chloe had in save for her. She knew the conflict ahead could be hard, however she was finished running. It was time to take the fight to Chloe, and she wasn't going to stop till she had gained.