When Grandma Helen learnt that her grandson had rushed into marriage, she felt both relieved and disappointed. She was relieved that Alexander had not been so cruel as to give away his grandfather's hard-earned legacy to orphans, but she couldn't help but be disappointed that he had chosen to marry under such pressure.
She sat on the huge terrace of their ancient mansion, taking in the serene view of the garden. "Camila!" she shouted out.
"Yes, Ma'am?" Camila, who had been tirelessly serving the Kane family for years, appeared by her side.
"My grandson has married a girl," Helen replied, her voice tinged with regret and resolve. "Even if she may not be a legitimate granddaughter-in-law, I believe it is only right that I extend an invitation to her and learn more about her personality. "What do you think?"
Camila considered this for a moment before nodding. “That is a good idea, Grandma.”
“Then hand me my phone,” Helen instructed.
Camila swiftly handed Helen the phone, and she dialled Alexander's number. The call was answered after many rings, but the other end remained silent.
"Hello, Grandma,” Alexander’s voice finally came through, strained and distant.
Helen was frustrated by the stillness and spoke up. "If you're not going to say anything, why even bother picking up, you rascal?"
“Alexander’s voice, now more alert, replied, “What is it, Grandma?”
Helen didn’t waste any time. “How could you marry someone out of the blue when there were perfectly suitable candidates from the list I gave you last year?”
Camila shook her head in silent sympathy. She knew Grandma Helen’s intentions were good, but her directness could sometimes be off-putting.
"Alexander,” Helen began her tone, a blend of sweetness and firmness, “I’m relieved that you’ve taken this step, but it’s unfortunate that it had to come to this. I miss you, my boy.”
There was a little silence before Alexander softly said, "I miss you too, Grandma." I know we haven't seen each other yet, but I did what I needed to."
"I understand, my dear," Helen responded softly. "That's why I want to meet your wife, Lily. I want to get to know the woman who has joined our family, even if only for supper."
Alexander sighed with frustration. "Grandma, you don't have to meet her. "This marriage will end in a year and a half."
"What?" Helen was taken aback, her dismay obvious. "So you're saying you plan to divorce her after that?"
Alexander raked his fingers through his hair, evidently angry. "I am really busy, Grandma. "I need to go."
"But I…" Helen began, but Alexander hung up before she could finish. "He's as stubborn as ever," she told herself, her eyes narrowing with new determination. She turned to Camila with a determined look.
Camila sighed inwardly, sensing trouble on the horizon.
“Since he won’t bring her here, maybe I should pay them a visit. I’m sure she’ll be there.”
"Camila nodded decisively. “A good idea.
Camila, prepare the car. I’m going to pay them a visit.”
With that, Helen went inside to prepare for her unexpected trip.
*************
Back at Alexander's mansion, Lily was watching a movie in the sitting room when a scene recalled memories from her past. She was quickly absorbed in meditation, reflecting on the events that had formed her life.
Lily remembers leaving her father's home to start a modest life in one of Aurora City's disadvantaged neighborhoods. For the past few years, the slum had been her haven, a place where she could hide her true identity while seeking justice for her twin sisters' sad deaths.
Eight months ago, Lily lost her sisters due to the wicked activities of her stepmother and stepsister, who were motivated by greed and a desire for their fortune. After discovering the details of their father's will, they pursued Lily and her sisters with ruthlessness.
Tragically, they were successful in killing her sisters, but Lily was able to escape just in time. In the underprivileged neighbourhood, she kept her true identity hidden from everyone. No one there knew she was the Emerson empire's sole successor, a position putting her and her sisters at severe risk.
Lily couldn't help but feel a mix of grief and anticipation as she thought back on the circumstances that had brought her to this point. She fell in love with her ex-boyfriend while living in the slum. Despite her unwillingness to sleep with him, he and his companion raped her, resulting in a pregnancy that she subsequently miscarried due to the agony and stress.
Lily couldn't help but blame her father for the unfortunate outcome of events. His infidelity introduced her stepmother into their life, and her stepmother's jealousy and greed caused her sisters' deaths.
Lily's late mother was warned by her own father, Lily's Grandfather, not to marry him, but she now wishes she had listened.
Following her father's death, the Will left everything to Lily and her twin sisters, as their late mother held the majority of the assets and came from a wealthy family. However, Lily was now the lone surviving heir, shouldering the burden of the estate as well as the responsibility to seek justice for her sisters.
They had returned to their home country after earning their degrees overseas, eager to join the family business. However, a few weeks later, their stepmother and stepsister descended on them, driven by their dread of losing the inheritance.
Lily's eyes welled up with tears as she watched television. Seeing a tragedy so similar to her own, she wanted to fight for vengeance, but she felt powerless. She had always attempted to keep the tragedy hidden and no one knew about her history.
Lily's thoughts were in complete turmoil now that she was with Alexander. If he ever found out about her past, she knew he would call her a gold digger and accuse her of manipulating him with her tragic history. The prospect of him discovering she had been raped and calling her a bitch made her even more anxious.
All of these anxieties gnawed at her, making her nervous and uneasy. She'd managed to keep her past hidden thus far, but the continual fear of being discovered and condemned by Alexander hung over her like a heavy cloud.
Lily badly wanted to move on from her horrific past, but the dread of being misunderstood and rejected by Alexander kept her in a condition of continual vigilance.