Chapter 50 Sudden crisis
In the Hart residence, there was utter tension. The Harts were under pressure from the board over finding investors as many started avoiding them. Where ever they went in the city, they found that people did not respond to them when they talked.
Old madam Hart, who had been living in seclusion since her husband died had returned and they had thought everything would be better, but it only got worse. This treatment was far worse than when they had framed Lilac a while back. Even a fool knew that they had been trying to frame the Black family, so they had been blacklisted.
When Old Madam Hart walked into their house that day, her daughter, Bella almost jumped on her in relief. She felt as long as her mother in law was here, all will be better.
“What are you standing around for? Call everyone up,” Old madam Hart said and took a seat and waited. It did not take long for Carl, Lilac's father, to appear as well as June. His younger brother and his children also came down.
“Mother,” Carl said.
“Did you get a call from the Leslie family?” she asked and Carl paused.
“Yes,” he answered.
Old madam Hart smashed a cup. She had never thought that she would actually fail to capture Lilac, now the Leslies were probably getting impatient.
“What did they say? Who called exactly, what did you talk about?” she asked and Carl raised a brow in confusion.
“They asked when you would have time to meet them. But since they have not moved to help us, I dismissed them. You know how we are struggling mother, but they have delayed their investments instead. Isn't it normal that I would get angry?” Carl asked. He thought that his mother had heard of how rude he had been to the Leslie family a was angry about it.
Old Madam Hart was silent for a moment as though in deep thought, before she finally spoke again.
"What about Lilac? Have any of you called her or heard from her?" She asked and they all paused. Carl was not sure how to respond. He had not bothered to contact Eric since she went crazy at the family dinner.
When did Lilac become Lilac become so important to his mother? He was not the only one that thought this? Lilac was the black sheep of the family. Even the Old Madam would refuse to help Lilac when she begged for help. Why was she acting this way?
Seeing them unbothered by her anger, Old Madam Hart fumed all over.
“We have been carefully protecting your Grandfather's bloodline. She is still family after all, and you have not been in contact?” she asked.
“When we planned to frame her back then, were you not aware, mother?” Carl asked.
“I have only stayed out of your business because you can handle your family. Now we are being shunned but the entire business sector? Should I stay quiet?” she asked and June finally got up to answer her grandmother.
“Grandma, don’t be angry,” she hurriedly consoled, “You also know why we had to do that back then, but we have not done much to her since then, so why is the Black family out to destroy us?" she said pitifully.
“Oh? Then when you took a loan in her name? Now the bank has blacklisted us and the matter might escalate to court, is that not provoking her?,” Old Madam Hart turned around to ask June.
“Grandma, Eric Black has never cared about her, how could she fight us? There is no way it is because we took loans in her name, right? Besides, now we are in trouble, can't she contribute? You said Lilac is family. Yes. And because she is family, because she was raised by the family, is it not right for her to help the family?” June asked.
“June, do you understand how keeping Lilac in check is important to your life? Do you think things are as they used to be? Do you think Micheal will stay married to you if Lilac cannot return? You entire happiness is hinged on the fact that Lilac listens to what I say!” old Madam Hart scolded and June immediately turned furious.
“My happiness is hinged on Lilac? Why? Because she is married to Eric Black? The man does not like her! She is useless! Besides, you decided to marry Lilac out to a family much more powerful than my husband's so she could ride on my head, right? Do you think I will just let her jump around?” June asked.
“Were you not the one insistent on marrying Micheal? I only agreed because Lilac was being kept in check. Do you know why Micheal married you? He wants to marry your grandfather's only grandchild. That is not you! That is Lilac!” Old Madam said and June turned pale. Her face looked lost as confusion settled in her heart.
"Mom, what are you saying?" Carl said nervously.
"How can that woman's daughter be considered father in law's bloodline and not June?" Bella asked incredulously.
“Are you saying I not a Hart?,” June asked.
“Your father isn't so how could you be? I could not give your grandpa children and soon he got some woman pregnant. So did what I could to to secure my position. That woman's son had Lilac and your father adopted her. Your grandfather found out and left everything to lilac! This entire family, the business, Everything! I may have managed to get my hands on some, but it was only a slice of what he had left. He had it in several trust that only Lilac can get her hands on. Do you know how many people in business want to get their hands on that inheritance? I could not even go near it,"Old Madam Hart said.
June panicked and looked to her father, Carl and he looked away. It was all the confirmation she needed.
"But..." June stuttered.
"Do you think you had that many suitors because you were the blessing that fell from the sky?bit was because we were baised towards you. So everyone thought you were the granddaughter. Why else would Micheal Leslie marry you? To get you the man of your dreams, I hinted that he could get that inheritance if he married you! But now Lilac is rogue! Do you think your marriage is safe?" Old Madam Hart asked.
June felt lightheaded. It was as though the world had crumbled.
"There is no way you hinted such a thing without ulterior motives, right? I don't believe you had no shady plans. Was it because you could not access the rest of the inheritance and you felt the Leslies had the means to get you closer to it? Then why are you blaming June? If Lilac was so important to keep in check, why didn't you ever do anything for her? Why are we at fault?!" Bella screamed! She too was having a hard time breathing.
The only reason she had married Carl was because elf who his father was. Her own father and now her brother who inherited the family company have their connections tied to her husband being her father in laws son. What happens when people find out? Bella felt as though she would go crazy.
June was not any better. She thought to Micheal and felt it hard to breathe.
Now what? Was she really going to loose her marriage? Her place in the Leslie family? They were a large family, and she was still treated well there. She could not even dream of leaving because her children would loose the inheritance.
If she left the Leslie family, it would be hard to find another family that would be willing to marry her with her children.
The room became sombre. They had not known Lilac was that important.
Old Madam Hart looked at them solemnly, “The family, her bloodline is the most important asset to us. From now on, If you all meet Lilac, try to bring her back!"
To make sure her words had completely sunk in before she looked to June again.
“When you all met her, how did she seem?” She asked June. There was no question of whom she was referring to; Lilac.
“She looked like she was doing fine.She was more confident, she looked a hint from madness, like she would go crazy at anything…” June paused.
“What?” Old Madam asked.
“But if she is so crazy, can't we take custody of her and say she is mad?,” June asked and then looked around the room for support.
“She said she did not care about us. Whether we live or die in the future, it is our lot,” June continued, "So the chances she would come back are basically impossible no matter what we do. So, we should just declare her mentally insane and take custodianship of her," June pressed on.