Chapter 130 : Complications

Chapter 130 : Complications
Two weeks after she'd met David, Lily had gotten a message on Facebook from a stranger.

"Rowan?" Lily's voice was unsteady. "I think I need to show you something."

The message was from a girl, Hannah Harrington. Sixteen years old. David's daughter.

I know who you are. My dad told us everything. About you. About the affair. About how he's been seeing you behind our backs. My mom is heartbroken. Our family is falling apart. I hope you're happy.

Rowan read it once. Twice. Anger flushing through his veins. "Did you reply?"

"Not yet. I don't know what to say."

"Don't. Not yet. Let me call Patricia."

"Why Patricia?"

"Because this could turn ugly. If David's family is going to come apart at the seams, they might come after you. And we need to make sure you're safe."

Patricia came over within the hour. She read the message. She swore.

"He told them. Without warning you first. That's irresponsible."

"What do we do?" Lily asked.

"Nothing. You don't reply. You don't engage. If she contacts you again, we document it. If she doesn't back down, we file for a restraining order."

"But she's my sister. Half-sister."

"She's a hurt teenage girl lashing out. That doesn't make it your responsibility."

In the following days, Lily received more messages. Not just from Hannah. From David's wife, Catherine. From his two sons, Michael and James. Each one angrier than the one before.

You destroyed our family.

My father was a good man before you came along.

Stay away from us.

Lily stopped sleeping. She stopped eating. Or only picked at her food. She shut herself in her room with the door closed and the lights off.

"We need to do something," Asher said. "She's falling apart."

"I know. But what? We can't control what they're saying."

"We can control whether she has access to it. Take away her phone. Shut down her social media."

"That's punishment."

"It's protection. She's thirteen. She's not equipped to deal with this kind of harassment."

Rowan knocked on Lily's door. No answer.

"Lily? Can I come in?"

"I guess."

The blinds were drawn. Lily was curled on her bed, phone clutched in her hand.

"We need to talk about the messages."

"I know. I should stop reading them."

"You should stop receiving them. Give me your phone."

"What? No."

"Lily, this is hurting you. I can see it. You're not eating, not sleeping. You're falling apart. And we can't let this continue."

"But what if David tries to call?"

"Then he'll call the house phone. Or my phone. But right now, you need a break from this."

Lily slowly put down the phone. Rowan took it from her. Scrolled through the messages. Dozens of them. Each one crueler, angrier than the last.

These are threats, Rowan said. We're filing a police report.

"No. That'll just make it worse."

"It can't get worse than this. They're harassing a minor. That's illegal."

"Please. Just let it go a few days. They'll stop."

Rowan wanted to protest, but he saw the despair in Lily's eyes and knew there was no fight left in her. "One week. If they haven't stopped by next week, we file a report. Agreed?"

"Okay."

But they didn't stop. In fact, if anything, the messages only got worse. Catherine Harrington called the house phone to scream about homewreckers and bastard children before Asher hung up on her.

David called the next day.

"I'm so sorry," he said. "I had no idea they'd take it like this."

"You told them without giving them any warning. What did you expect them to do?" Rowan's voice was cold.

"I thought they'd understand. Eventually."

"They're teenagers. Their whole world was just blown up. Understanding takes time."

"What can I do?"

"You know what you can do. Tell them to stop harassing Lily. Tell your wife to stop calling my house. And maybe just think before you make decisions that impact my daughter."

"Our daughter."

"My daughter. You lost the right to refer to her that way the minute you allowed your family to attack her."

"That's not fair."

"None of this is fair. But Lily didn't ask for any of it. She just wanted to know where she came from. And now they're punishing her for existing."

David was silent for a long moment. "You're right. I'll talk to them. Make them stop."

"Make sure you do. Because if this keeps up, we're getting lawyers involved."

After he hung up, Rowan found Lily in the kitchen with Emma. Flour dusted every surface. Emma and Lily were each making a batch of cookies, or at least trying to.

"We're stress baking," Emma announced.

"It's therapeutic."

"Is it working?" Rowan asked Lily.

"Not really. But the cookies will be good."

Later that evening, Lily's therapist called with an update.

"She's regressing. The messages from the Harringtons have triggered her abandonment issues. We need to address this before it becomes more serious."

"What do you suggest?"

"Increased sessions. Possibly medication for anxiety. And seriously consider cutting off contact with David until his family calms down."

"Lily won't like that. She just found him."

"I know. But she's mentally fragile right now. Her mental health has to come first. And this situation is not good for her."

Rowan and Lily talked about it after dinner.

"Dr. Morrison thinks we should take a break from David. At least until his family cools off."

"That's not fair. I didn't do anything wrong."

"I know. But you're hurting. I can see it."

"So now I'm supposed to just give up my dad because his other kids are jealous of me?"

"Not give up. Just pause. Until things calm down."

"What if they don't calm down?"

"Then we figure out another way around it. But right now, you need to be able to breathe without someone coming after you."

Lily's eyes filled with tears. "I just wanted a dad. Is that so bad?"

Rowan pulled her into his arms. "No, baby. It's not. But sometimes, wanting something and being ready for it are two different things."

"When will I be ready?"

"When the idea of him stops hurting more than it helps. When you're strong enough to deal with whatever his family dishes out. When you know, for certain, that you're enough exactly as you are."

"What if I'm never enough for them?"

"Then they're the ones missing out. Not you."

That night, Rowan sent David an email.

We need a break. Your family's harassment is causing Lily significant mental distress. Until you can guarantee they won't contact us, all contact is off. I know this isn't what you want. But it's what Lily needs.

His response came a few minutes later.

I understand. I'm sorry I failed her. Again.

Rowan showed the email to Lily.

"He's giving up," she said flatly.

"He's respecting a boundary. That's not the same thing as giving up."

"It feels the same to me."

"I know. Sometimes love means stepping back. Even when it hurts."