Chapter 187
Chapter 187
Renee's POV
After managing to escape my father, I was finally driving to meet with Lily.
My head replayed the shock on his face.
He was so emotional and couldn't believe his ears.
I told him Vivi and Val were going to walk me as well. So, I decided it'll be half and half.
He'll walk me the rest of the way to the front while they'll walk me from the entrance, halfway through.
He was so happy. He kept going on about how he doesn't deserve it.
But I wanted him there. I really did.
I didn't think I'd be truly happy if it didn't happen.
Thank goddess he's on board.
My mind spiralled back to the present.
Right.
Lily.
I was currently driving to an address she sent me.
Her house.
She was very surprised when I asked to meet with her but really, it was long overdue.
I had managed to forgive her for everything because I understood her reasons. And although trusting her will take a while, I was willing to try.
But she didn't know any of this. And I needed her to.
I finally pulled up to a driveway and parked my car.
I surveyed the house as I walked towards it.
The soft colored exterior made it so inviting to enter.
It was fairly big and looked like the perfect space.
It looked “just right”.
I don't really know how else to explain it but it made me feel like I could sleep there all day and feel extremely safe.
As soon as my hand reached for the door bell, the door swung open, revealing an awkward looking Lily.
Awkward was probably putting it nicely.
She looked like she crashed into a bucket of nerves.
Even more surprising, she had changed her hair colour and style. I almost couldn't recognize her but somehow, she looked so good with it.
“Hi” she said, drawing my attention from her red colored hair.
“Hey” I responded, my voice soft.
“Come on in” she said as she stepped out of the way for me to go in.
Almost as soon as I stepped in, a lavender grape-ish scent flooded my nostrils, making me hum in pleasure.
“My goodness, what is that heavenly smell?” I asked, as I looked around the cozy living room.
She chuckled.
“It's an incense that I made with one of my mother's recipes. This was her favourite” she said, trying to mask her sadness with a small smile.
“I can see why, it's amazing” I stated and she nodded.
“Thank you” she said, before telling me to sit down.
“I'll be right back,” she said before disappearing somewhere.
I crossed my legs as my eyes automatically started to look around.
If the exterior looked cozy, I didn't know how else to describe the interior.
It was so warm and made me feel mushy all over.
The warm colored theme made it all the more cozy.
The sound of shuffling shifted my attention from the house to the direction of the sound.
Lily was holding a tray with juice and a glass cup.
She set it down on a small table in front of me.
“Oh! You didn't have to” I said and she shook her head.
“Courtesy demands” she said and I smiled softly.
“Thank you” I said as she settled on the plush couch beside the one I was sitting on.
My eyes were so focused on her hair again.
“Your hair looks amazing” I found myself saying and she reflexively touched her hair.
“You think so?” She asked, a proud look on her face.
“Definitely. It really suits you” I said and she smiled.
“Thank you. I just wanted to try something new. I never really cared about my physical appearance, so this means a lot to me” she said and I smiled softly as I watched her.
One could tell she was trying to make up for the years of her life she lost in a misdirected revenge.
“And your house… it's so lovely and warm and cozy” I said, a successful attempt to change the topic before things got too awkward.
“Thank you” her smile was even brighter.
“It’s the house I grew up in,” she explained and I froze.
Like… the house her family was murdered in?
She looked at me like she heard my thoughts.
“Yes, that house. Honestly, it was so hard moving back in here, especially since I literally have a major bad memory here. I could barely do anything without thinking about it. But my therapist advised me to stop running from the things that terrify me and what better way to do that than to move back here? Surprisingly enough, it's getting better. I don't wake up screaming in the middle of the night in cold sweat as often as before. It's a tad bit easier now. I also try my best to focus on the good memories I had here”
I couldn't help but feel sad for her.
I gave her a sad smile and subconsciously leaned over to touch her knee.
“You're a very strong woman, Lily. And if anything, this proves that even further. So, keep doing what you're doing and you'll feel even better in no time” I said and she smiled at me appreciatively, before I pulled away.
“Okay! Enough talk about me. You wanted to see me?” She asked and I nodded.
“Well, we do have an overdue conversation, don't we?” I asked and she looked away before nodding.
“I guess we do,” she said.
I tried to piece my thoughts together to make a proper sentence but she beat me to it.
“I'm sorry” she said and I looked at her.
“I'm so so sorry” she said again. She couldn't even look at me.
“It's fine, I understand,” I said but she shook her head adamantly.
“No, it's-” she paused, sighing, before she finally continued.
“It's not fine. Yes, I had my reasons but what I did to you was so wrong. I used you for my own selfish reasons, and messed with your feelings, all because of my stupid revenge plot. You didn't deserve that. And I'm so sorry. I know I broke your trust, I know I betrayed you and I know you probably won't believe this but, I really did see you as my friend. Yes, it all started out with the wrong intentions but then, you suddenly became someone so important to me. This doesn't justify anything, so I understand if you never want to have anything to do with me ever again”
She finally finished.
I was so lost on what to say.
“You're right, you broke my trust and you hurt my feelings so bad, I couldn't breathe.” I said and she bowed her head, looking away from me.
“But do you really think I would come all the way here to tell you that I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore? When I can literally just ignore your existence?” I uncrossed my legs and leaned forward slightly.
“I really do understand everything that happened with you and if anything, you're more of a victim in this entire situation. I'm not cutting you off. I'm here to try to fix our relationship” I said and she suddenly looked at me, shock written all over her expression.
“I cannot say I trust you again or that I'll fully trust you again, but I'm willing to try. You were the first real friend I made and I'm not just going to throw that away, especially not when there's a valid reason you behaved the way you did. So, yeah, it's going to take some time, but like I said, I'm willing to try.” I explained.
She looked so happy, at the same time, looked as if she was about to cry.
“Thank you so much,” she said, her voice shaky.
“Don't do that” I said, shaking my head.
“It's all good now” I said and she sniffed back the tears that threatened to spill out.
“There's one more thing we have to talk about” I said and she straightened, her eyes set on mine.
It was my turn to look away.
Okay, here we go.
“So, I already asked Emma and she agreed, but I need to ask you as well. Lily, would you like to be my bridesmaid?” I asked and all within the blink of an eye, she screamed “Yes!” and basically jumped into my arms, hugging me tight.
I was caught off guard but I recovered quickly, hugging her back as I giggled in amusement.
I ran through the setting with her.
I wasn't looking for a ‘maid of honour’. I only planned to have two bridesmaids. Well, they were all I had anyway.
But if the term ‘maid of honour’ must be used, I'd say they were both my maids of honour.
We spoke at length about the dressing and other stuff related to the wedding.
Eventually, it was time to leave. She gave me some of the incense she made and we made plans to meet again, with Emma this time.
I left her house feeling very accomplished.
I had quite a fulfilling day.
The goddess must be smiling upon me.
“Well, after all that bad luck, it's only normal she does” Hera piped up and I hummed in agreement.
Fair point.