Chapter 107 A stranger

Chapter 107 A stranger
CHAPTER 107: A stranger

Vera

I froze.

The air in my lungs suddenly vanished as the disturbing weight of my blunder settled over me. Cherry looked at me, waiting for an answer… something she couldn't even imagine. She had no idea about the horror that happened on the rain-slicked pavement of that highway that night—the sickening thud of the hit-and-run that had claimed Simone. She had no idea that I had already paid Damien a staggering sum to stop him from revealing that secret. Neither was she aware that even after I’d given him everything to buy his silence, he had still betrayed me.

“The last time?” Cherry furrowed her brow. I only stared at her, my mind racing feverishly with a believable lie.

She leaned closer, her eyes searching mine with a terrifying intensity.

“Vera... what the hell did you mean by last time? What else has that bastard done to you?” She paused, her eyes narrowing, “Don't tell me this isn’t the first time he’s doing this?”

My heart skipped a beat.

I opened my mouth, ready to weave a lie that would deny the truth she was inching dangerously close to. Suddenly the door was flung open with a violent crash.

“Vera! Oh my God!”

Lily burst into the room, her face a frantic, distressed mask of tears as she rushed toward the bed.

I gasped. “Lily.”

“What happened to you?” She continued hysterically, approaching the bed.

I tried to sit up, but the pain in my side stole my breath. “Sweetie, it's just—”

“Why is the house crawling with guards? Why didn't anyone tell me anything?” She didn't even wait for me to breathe before her hysteria turned into a jagged accusation.

“Lily, sweetheart, it's nothing.” I bit back a groan as I managed to sit up. “Don't worry about anything.”

She scoffed, crossing her arms.
“How could I not worry, Vera? I’m your sister! I had to find out from a loud mouthed maid that you just returned from the hospital. Did you even think about me for one second?”

The guilt hit me like a physical blow. She still ended up distressed because of me.

“Sweetie, I'm so sorry,” I whispered, reaching out a trembling hand. She didn't draw closer. “We didn't want to worry you, that's why Silas thought it was best not to tell you. I just needed to make sure the baby—”

“The baby,” she cut in hotly. “Recently that's all I hear. That's all you care about!” Her eyes flashed, her voice rising an octave.

“Are you seriously standing there accusing her and throwing tantrums?” Cherry’s voice cut through the air, sharp and biting as she stood up.

Lily stiffened, finally acknowledging Cherry’s presence with a look of cutting, cold irritation.

She raised a brow. “What are you talking about?”

“Don't you have eyes?” Cherry asked, trying to keep her own growing irritation under control. “Look at her! Your sister was beaten within an inch of her life and almost lost her baby, and you’re making this about your own hurt feelings?”

“I was worried about my sister,” Lily snapped. There was an edge in her voice that I recognised— sharp, defensive, and bitter.

Cherry scoffed, shaking her in disappointment. “Well, it doesn't look like it. You have a very awful way of showing it.”

“How dare you say that to me?” Lily shot back. “I don't need a stranger telling me how to feel about my own blood.”

I gasped softly, my mouth hung open with shock.

Hurt and disappointment flashed across Cherry’s face.

“A stranger?” She scoffed, crossing her arms. “You know I'm not really surprised. You've always been a brat, Lily.”

Lily’s eyes widened. “How dare you—”

But Cherry was not done yet. “Hold on. I'm not finished.” She took a step closer to her. “What you just showed… It didn't look like worry for a sister that has always cared more for you than herself—”

“Cherry, please that's enough…”

“Not now, Vera,” she replied without looking away from Lily who was silently fuming. “Your attitude sounds like an ego trip while “your blood” is fighting to keep her child alive.”

Lily’s nostrils flared, her eyes narrowed into slits as she stepped toward Cherry.

“Do you have something you want to say to me? Frankly, I don't remember having a second sister. You’re overstepping, Cherry. Way overstepping.”

“Maybe someone needs to,” Cherry inclined her head. “Because all I see is you being a brat when your sister can’t even sit up straight without agony.”

“Enough!” I intervened, the effort of raising my voice sending a flare of white-hot pain through my jaw. “Both of you, just stop it! Please! My head is spinning. Please don't fight.”

They both glared at each other, chests heaving and so much more left to say.

The heavy oak door creaked open again, and the nurse stepped in, her expression stern.

“Excuse me, ladies.That's quite enough.” They barely spared her a glance. “Mrs. Rutherford needs absolute rest… and quiet,” she stressed. “Any further stress could be detrimental to the baby’s safety. I must ask you both to lower your voices or leave immediately.”

“No. It's fine. You can excuse us,” I said. “It won't happen again.”

Though not satisfied with my response, she left.

I was a bit worried she would report this to Silas and he might restrict further visitations.

Cherry sighed, her face softening as the fire died out. Her expression was pained as she approached the bed.

“I'm so sorry, Vee. I didn't mean to... are you feeling okay? Does anything hurt?”

I shook my head. “I’m okay, Cher. Just… stop fighting you two,” I pleaded.

She straightened, then exhaled. “Fine.” She turned to Lily, her expression softer.

Lily didn't apologize. She didn't even look at Cherry. She simply spun on her heel, her movements stiff and resentful.

“I’m leaving. I’ll check on you later, Vera,”she tossed over her shoulder before vanishing into the hallway.

The room fell into a heavy, uneasy quiet. Cherry sank back into her chair, her brow furrowed as she stared at the empty doorway.

“Vera,” she whispered, her voice sounding
far away, laced with a new kind of suspicion. “What is wrong with Lily? Why is she acting like that?”