Chapter 15 - Lily’s Decision
Two weeks passed.
The bruises on Lily’s arm faded.
The one inside her did not.
Oliver became terrified whenever a stranger entered the nursery.
He woke crying almost every night.
Lily slept in the room beside him.
Victor often found her sitting beside the crib at three in the morning.
One night, he entered quietly.
“You should sleep.”
Lily looked up.
“So should you.”
Victor sat in the rocking chair.
Oliver was finally resting.
Victor lowered his voice.
“I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“For not seeing what was happening.”
“You were traveling.”
“That isn’t an excuse.”
Lily looked toward the crib.
“No.”
Victor appreciated her honesty.
He had spent years surrounded by people who softened reality for him.
Lily never did.
Victor continued.
“You protected him when I couldn’t.”
“He’s my job.”
Victor shook his head.
“What you did wasn’t a job.”
Lily said nothing.
Victor looked at her bruised wrist.
“I’m increasing security.”
“That’s not what Oliver needs.”
“What does he need?”
“Normal.”
Victor almost laughed.
Nothing about his life had ever been normal.
Lily stood.
“He needs breakfast without guards standing behind him.”
“He needs walks without photographers.”
“He needs people who don’t see him as an inheritance.”
Victor looked down.
Lily continued.
“And I think I need to leave.”
Victor looked up immediately.
“What?”
“My contract ends next month.”
“I’ll renew it.”
“That isn’t the problem.”
“Then what is?”
Lily swallowed.
“I became too attached.”
Victor stared at her.
“So did Oliver.”
“That’s exactly why.”
“I don’t understand.”
Lily’s voice softened.
“He lost his mother.”
“He almost lost his sense of safety.”
“If something happened to me, he’d go through it again.”
Victor stood.
“You cannot live your life based on what might happen.”
Lily smiled sadly.
“Isn’t that exactly what you’re doing?”
Victor had no answer.
She continued.
“I love him.”
The words were simple.
They hit Victor harder than he expected.
“I love him enough to know I’m not Claire.”
“I never asked you to be.”
“No.”
Lily looked at him.
“But sometimes I think you need me here because I make this house feel like she’s still protecting him.”
Victor’s face changed.
Lily immediately regretted saying it.
But she did not take it back.
Victor walked toward the window.
After a long silence, he whispered.
“Maybe you’re right.”
Lily looked down.
Then Oliver stirred.
“Li-Ly.”
Both adults turned.
The toddler reached through the crib rails.
Lily immediately went to him.
Victor watched her lift his son.
Oliver rested his head against her shoulder.
And Victor suddenly realized Lily was wrong about one thing.
She was not keeping Claire’s memory alive.
She had created something entirely her own.
A bond Oliver had chosen.
Victor stepped closer.
“Don’t decide tonight.”
Lily looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because everything Serena took from us was based on fear.”
May you like
Victor gently touched Oliver’s tiny hand.
“I don’t want fear making this decision too.”
