Chapter 160: Lilian Baker

Andrew didn't even say a single word. He didn't even acknowledge our presence. He didn't even ask if Cally had left or not.

His eyebrows were still furrowed and his jaws were still tight.

Whatever it was, Lewis had advised me to ignore him. He had asked me to stop waiting for Andrew's approval. Or thinking about what Andrew might think.

By the time I got home, I felt as if I'd lived through three different days in one.

There was school, then the basketball game, then Lewis' unexpected hug, then Andrew's lecture, then the long ride home replaying every conversation in my head.

All I wanted was to disappear into my room, take a shower and pretend the world didn't exist for the rest of the evening.

Apparently, life had other plans.

The moment I stepped into the living room, I almost walked straight back out.

"Mum?"

She looked up from the dining table, where catalogues, fabric samples and what looked like invitation cards were spread out in front of her.

"Lily!" Her face lit up immediately. "Come here."

I smiled cautiously.

Whenever Martha looked that excited, it usually meant she had either spent too much money or had received too much money.

I approached slowly.

"What happened?"

She clasped her hands together excitedly.

"I've been waiting for you."

That sentence alone made me nervous.

"I have good news."

"What kind of good news?"

"The best kind."

She practically bounced in her chair as I sat opposite her.

"My business."

"What about it?"

"It's finally happening."

I watched her carefully as she reached across the table and grabbed one of the glossy papers.

"I've secured the partnership."

My eyes widened in astonishment.

"Seriously?"

She nodded rapidly. "The biggest one I've ever had."

I blinked several times.

She laughed, unable to contain herself.

"Lily, this could change everything."

The excitement in her voice was contagious. Despite everything weighing on my mind, I couldn't help smiling.

"Congratulations."

She reached over and squeezed my hand.

"Thank you."

"I knew it would happen eventually."

"So did I."

She laughed.

"But I didn't expect it this soon."

I looked over the papers scattered across the table.

"You've already started planning."

"I started an hour ago."

I laughed.

"Of course you did."

"You know me."

That was true.

She never did anything halfway. If she committed to something, she gave it everything she had.

"So..." She leaned forward. "I'm hosting a launch party."

"That makes sense."

"And I want it to be memorable."

"It will be."

"I've invited everyone important to me and that includes you," she said.

I frowned dramatically. "I wasn't aware attendance was optional."

She ignored my sarcasm.

"I want you to invite your friends."

"My friends?"

"Yes."

"The young people."

I couldn't stop myself from laughing.

"The young people?"

She nodded proudly.

"You know..." She waved her hand vaguely. "...your generation."

"You make us sound like we're a completely different species."

"You practically are."

I shook my head, smiling.

"Bring your friends."

Something about the way she'd said it made me suspicious.

"What friends exactly?"

"If you have any friends left, you can invite them."

If?

I stared at her in disbelief.

"If?"

She smiled innocently.

"Yes."

"Mum."

"What?"

"You think Becky is the only one I had?”

"I don't see you with other people," she countered shamelessly.

"That's because they're at school. And I just want to keep my business as my business."

“But you never mentioned any of them. You go around walking like a lone wolf.”

"So now my social life is under investigation?"

"I'm just saying.”

"I have friends."

"Oh?" she said, raising her eyebrows.

"Oh my god, mum.”

"Are you sure they are real people and not your imagination?"

I gasped dramatically. "I'm offended."

"It's just a question, Lily."

I pointed at her accusingly. "You're attacking me."

"I'm encouraging you."

"By insulting me?"

She smiled sweetly. "You know that's what often motivates you."

I shook my head.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"I'll prove you wrong."

"How?"

"I'll invite my friends."

"Wonderful."

"And..." The words left my mouth before I had time to think about them.

“I'll bring my boyfriend."

Silence settled as Martha blinked twice. Then she leaned forward so quickly that I almost laughed.

"You finally want to bring him?"

"Yes

She stared at me as though I'd just announced I was moving to the moon.

“The last time I asked you to invite him, you turned pale like a Virgin ghost. What changed?”

Virgin ghost?

Was today “insult Lily day”?

Because I didn't get the insults she had been throwing at me.

“I was surprised when you asked me the other time. But now, I'm ready to introduce him to you.”

"What's his name?" She asked.

Here it was… the dreadful moment that would determine if my fake boyfriend would be accepted or not.

"Lewis Walker."

Her smile disappeared immediately. It vanished so quickly that I wondered whether I'd imagined the first one.

"What did you say?"

"I said Lewis Walker."

She repeated the name slowly.

"Lewis… who?”

"Walker," I answered.

“Walker as in Susan and Derek Walker?” she asked.

I nodded slowly. “Yes. Lewis is Susan's second son.”

She didn't reply immediately.

I knew what was coming next.

I would be a fool if I said I didn't know what was coming next.

The disapproval was already written all over her face and she wasn't even trying to hide it at all.

"Mum?"

She looked away for a brief moment before looking back at me.

“Mum?” She repeated. "Don't mum me.”

I blinked. "You can't just say that."

"But I can say I don't approve."

My heart skipped.

"What?"

"You heard me, Lily."

"Mum, you don't even know him yet."

"I know enough about the Walker boys."

I stared at her in disbelief.

"I'm not talking about Andrew. I'm talking about Lewis here."

"Andrew or Lewis, as long as he is a Walker, it is a no. A big no,” she said firmly.

I laughed awkwardly. "You can't reject someone you don't even know that well."

"You must be kidding me, Lily."

"Mum"

"No."

I searched her face for some sign that she was joking. There wasn't one.

Her expression had completely changed. The excitement she'd carried moments earlier had vanished. And it was now replaced by something much harder.

Honestly, I was grateful it was a fake relationship.

Imagine if I was actually in love with Lewis. Was this the way she would trample upon my affection? Was this the way she would ignore my feelings?

Fake boyfriend or not, she must accept him. That was the only way I could escape dating Nate Davies.

“Mum,” I tried again.

She didn't respond.

"Did he do something?"

Still nothing.

"Did his family do something?"

She remained silent.

"Mum."

"I said no."

"But why?"

"Because I don't want you dating him."

"You don't even know him well."

She stood from her chair and began gathering the invitation samples.

The conversation was clearly over in her mind but I wasn't ready to let it end.

"Mum."

No answer.

"Mum."

She continued stacking papers.

"Martha!"

That finally made her stop.

Slowly turned around. "I said I don't want you dating Lewis Walker. End of discussion."