Chapter 30

Lilly's eyes fluttered open, her senses groggy and disoriented. The first thing she noticed was the soft silk of the sheets beneath her and the faint scent of lavender in the air. She pressed her hand instinctively to her abdomen, her breath hitching until relief swept over her, there was no pain.Her baby was safe.

As her mind cleared, she sat up and took in her surroundings. The room was spacious, the decor blending timeless elegance with subtle modern touches. But what caught her attention most were the portraits hanging on the wall, hers. One showed her as a carefree teenager, and the other, more recent, captured her with an air of quiet defiance.

A chill ran down her spine as recognition struck. This wasn't just any room; it was her room from years ago. Though updated with a larger bed and an adult aesthetic, the space remained unmistakably hers. She hadn't set foot here in over a decade, not since she and her sisters had fled the Blake mansion after their mother's death.

Memories flooded her, some warm, most bitter. She had lived here under the protective shadow of her grandfather, shielded from the betrayals that had torn their family apart. But even his watchful eye hadn't been enough to erase the scars Bella, her father, and Kate had inflicted. Her mother had been pregnant with her when her father's affair with Bella came to light, Bella, bold and unapologetic, had moved in, claiming her place as a second wife with her infant daughter, Kate. The scandal had shattered their family, leaving her mother a ghost of the vibrant woman she once was. She died when Lilly was five, the circumstances shrouded in secrecy, a mystery Lilly had vowed to unravel. Her hand brushed against the vanity table as she walked around the room.the sound startling her. She couldn't suppress a bitter laugh. She had known returning to the public eye would catch her grandfather's attention,but she hadn't expected him to kidnap her from the banquet.

Still, it was a twisted relief. For a fleeting moment, she had feared it was Bella, or worse, Kate, attempting to harm her and her unborn child. Yet here she was, safe under her grandfather's roof.

Her thoughts darkened, she knew he would be waiting, likely in his study.He would demand answers for her two-year absence and the secrets she had kept. But she had made peace with the confrontation, she had returned stronger, with plans in motion to bring the culprits to justice.

Lilly approached the door, squaring her shoulders. When she opened it,two of her grandfather's guards stood at attention, their imposing figures blocking the hallway.

"Where is my grandfather?" she asked, her tone calm yet firm.

One of them stepped forward. "This way, ma'am.”

They led her down the long corridors she hadn't walked in years,their familiarity both comforting and suffocating. Each step echoed with memories, laughter with her sisters, the coldness of betrayal, and the weight of her mother's absence.

Finally, they reached the study. She paused at the door, her pulse quickening. After a deep breath, she knocked. “Enter," came the deep, authoritative voice that could silence an entire room. She pushed the door open and stepped inside, closing it softly behind her. The air was thick with tension, the room dimly lit except for the warm glow of the lamp on her grandfather's desk.

Caleb Blake sat behind it, his form as imposing as she remembered.Despite his age, his presence commanded respect and fear in equal measure. He was hunched over, writing with an ink pen on a scroll, a tradition he refused to abandon even in the digital age.

Lilly walked to the center of the room and lowered herseIf onto a mat,bowing until her forehead touched the floor in a gesture of deep respect.She remained in that position, waiting for him to acknowledge her.

Minutes stretched into what felt like an eternity before the scratching of the pen stopped.

Caleb raised his head, his sharp eyes boring into her. The worry etched into his features betrayed the anger in his voice. "So, the wayward granddaughter returns."

Lilly lifted her head, her voice trembling.“Grandfather.”

The crack of his palm hitting the desk made her flinch.

"You dare call me that?" His voice thundered through the room.“You selfish child! What kind of granddaughter disappears for two years without a word? You didn't even attend your sisters' funerals!"

Tears stung her eyes as the weight of his words settled over her. He stood, his towering figure casting a shadow over her. "Do you have any idea what you've put me through? And to hear just now that you married,without my knowledge or consent? You've disgraced this family!" Lilly's voice broke as she replied, "Do you think I wanted to disappear? After my sisters died, if I had stayed, you would have lost me too. I had no choice; I had to hide, gather evidence, and bring their killers to justice."

Caleb's glare softened, a flicker of doubt clouding his anger. He sat back down heavily, his face grave. “You speak as if you know who killed them."

"I do," she whispered, her tears falling freely now. "But without proof, I couldn't risk exposing myself. I would have been their next target."

The room fell silent, and Caleb lost in thought. He had spent every resource at his disposal hunting for the culprits and his missing granddaughter. Their ability to evade him spoke to the power of their enemies.

"You could have been protected," he finally said, his voice quieter but no less firm. "After your sisters' deaths, I ensured the strongest security. And yet you still vanished."

Lilly bit her lip, knowing he didn't suspect Bella or Kate. Their guilt was a truth she carried alone, one she couldn't reveal until the evidence was undeniable. But now that they knew she was alive, they would make a move,and she would be ready.

“Grandfather, I'm sorry," she said, bowing deeply again. “Forgive me for the pain I've caused you."

Caleb studied her for a long moment before exhaling sharply. “Since you've apologized, I'll lessen your punishment." Her stomach dropped. She remembered his punishments all too well,creative, thorough, and unforgettable. "And also," he added, his gaze hardening, "you will divorce him." Lilly's head snapped up. her heart racing."Wha?"

"You heard me." he said coldly. "You will divorce Alexander Kane."

The weight of his command hung heavy in the air, and for the first time in years. Lilly felt truly trapped.