Chapter 45 Birds of the same feather
LILITH
Did he think he would get rid of me easily? That was the greatest joke of the century. I was here to stay. Giving up on him wasn't in the agreement. I spent my youth on him. For 9 years, I clung to him without letting go, only to be tossed to the side because of a fucking stand-in?
I knew Dashiell only slept with her that night because of her hair. Had she not been blonde, he wouldn't have done that.
To have a stand-in take over the real person's relationship was unheard of, something I wouldn't condone. I will make Nova regret the day she met Dashiell. I didn't succeed in killing her off as I planned five years ago. The abortion was just a cover-up. I had already paid those men to get rid of her. My plans were solid, with no loophole, but that brat spoiled it.
She was lucky enough to escape, and I hoped, for my sake, that she would stay hidden, but she didn't. Returning to Paris was the mistake she made. She would have been better off hiding.
Now, I will stop at nothing to get my man back. Letting her have the last laugh wasn't part of the deal, not when I had already marked Dashiell as mine.
Letting go of my position next to him is almost close to impossible. Standing next to him had been my dream ever since I was blacklisted from modelling. I had always coveted a place next to him, to be known as the wife of the richest man in the country. Letting go wasn't an option.
As for Dashiell, I will give him a chance to seek my forgiveness. However, if he doesn't, I will make his life a living hell, just like I planned for Nova. Everyone will feel the brunt of my anger. Hell hath no fury like a woman shun.
I called him for the 100th time, but he didn't pick up, nor did he respond to my messages. The messages went unread and my calls were unanswered.
"Fuck you!" I seethed, throwing my phone to the couch, and tugging on my hair as hot tears streamed down my eyes, despite my resolve not to shed tears.
My phone ringing caused me to let go of my hair. Hastily wiping the tears off my face, I reached for my phone, thinking it was Dashiell, but it wasn't. His mum was the one calling.
Drying my tears, I picked up the call. "Hello, mum." I sniffed.
"Lils? Are you okay? You don't sound good. Were you crying?" Her concerned voice filtered in from the other end, causing my sniffing to turn into a full-blown wailing. "Mum!" I cried out.
"What's wrong darling? It's okay, don't cry. You can tell mum everything." Dashiell's mum had always been caring towards me, right from the time we met. It seemed like we were two souls that found each other, and over the years, we clicked.
The only one who didn't tolerate me in the family was his grandma. She hated my guts, and I couldn't be more happy when she left the world. The witch was the reason I didn't show myself in the family house until Nova left five years ago.
Dashiell's father tolerated my presence. Though I have only seen him thrice over the years, we have communicated little. Aside from the greetings and all that. The rest of the family? They acted like I didn't exist, and I believe they were this way with Nova, if not worse, which was why I didn't let that bother me.
I was getting married to Dashiell, and not them. Whatever they thought about me didn't matter. As long as the man I love loves me, that is all I want, nothing else.
"Lils?" Her voice filtered into my thoughts, reminding me I was speaking to her.
"He broke up with me," I wailed, my voice rising as tears streamed down my cheeks. "I don't know what I did wrong, mum. He didn't even tell me!"
"It's okay," she consoled. "I will speak to him about this when he calms down. You know how Dashiell acts when he's excited, right? I will take care of it for you. Don't worry."
Sniffing, I nodded, as if she could see me. Hearing her reassuring words strengthened my beliefs. With his mum backing me up, I doubt Dashiell would try anything funny.
"You are the only daughter-in-law I recognize, and Dashiell knows that. I will get him to divorce his old wife, and hasten your union with him," she promised. "You don't have to worry about this. Wipe your tears, my darling. Crying doesn't look good on you."
"I'm afraid, mum."
"It's alright. You don't have to be. Dry your tears and give mummy a smile, will you?"
I did as she asked and smiled, even though she couldn't see it.
"Now, that's better. You have no reason to cry. If there should be anyone shedding tears, it shouldn't be you. It should be that bitch!"
"Nova?" I pretended like I didn't know who she was talking about, acting clueless to a fact I knew.
"Of course. She's back!"
"What??!" I gasped dramatically, placing my plan over my mouth as I feigned ignorance. "That's not true! Didn't she run away with her lover? Why will she return? Was that why Dash broke up with me? To be with that cheating slut? It's not fair!"
I think I need a medal for my acting. Had Dashiell been here, he would have been shocked by how I acted as if I didn't know Nova was back.
"I know, that's why I'm going to stop it. You don't deserve this. You deserve so much more, and as your mother-in-law, I will make sure nothing bad happens."
"Thanks, Mum."
As we chatted, my mother-in-law's words filled me with intense happiness, knowing my mother-in-law had my back. With her, it would be difficult for Nova to steal in and take my man, wreaking havoc on a plan I had meticulously made for years.